Free spins: the terms behind the spins
Free spins are the most familiar promotion in online casinos and among the most misunderstood. They are not a free amount of money; they are a number of spins at a fixed stake on a specific game, and what you win with them is usually subject to its own conditions. This page explains those conditions. Figures are an illustrative example, not a Kabaler term.
What a free-spin offer specifies
- Number of spins and stake — for example 20 spins at 0.10, a total face value of 2.
- The game — spins usually work on one named slot or a short list.
- Credit and expiry — spins may be credited at once or in batches, and must often be used within a short window, sometimes 24 hours.
- What winnings become — cash, or bonus money with a wagering requirement.
- Maximum cash-out — a cap on what you can withdraw from spin winnings.
Wagering on spin winnings
When winnings arrive as bonus money, the requirement applies to the amount won. Twenty spins that win 8, with a 35x requirement, need 280 in bets before the 8 can be withdrawn. Because spin winnings are often small, the requirement in absolute terms is often modest — but the cap and the time limit still apply.
The win cap
Caps are most common on free spins and no-deposit offers. With a cap of 50, a lucky 400 from the spins still converts to 50 at most. On high-volatility games like the Olympus-style multiplier slots described in our Rings Of Olympus guide, that clause matters more often than on steady ones.
Spins attached to a named game
When an offer names a game — Wild Piggy Bank or any other — the spins usually open only there, at the offer's stake. You cannot change the stake, and in many games feature buys are disabled during free spins. Read the game guide first if you want to know what you are spinning.
Wager-free spins
Some spins pay winnings as cash with no requirement. They tend to be fewer or smaller, and may still have a cap. They are usually the simplest offer to evaluate.
How to decline or cancel this offer
Spins are often credited on opt-in; if they appear unasked, you are usually not obliged to use them, and unused spins simply expire. If an offer is already active and you want out, ask support in writing to remove it before you place another bet, and ask what happens to the deposit and to any winnings. Removing a bonus normally removes winnings made with it, so decide before you play, not halfway through.