Free spins, in the bonus sense, are spins on a slot that a casino credits to your account as a promotion, usually after you deposit or stake a set amount. Each spin has a fixed value and can only be used on named games before an expiry date. They're different from a slot's own free spins feature, and the conditions decide what they're really worth.
Casino free spins are a promotion with conditions; the in-game free spins feature is part of a slot's design.
Every offer fixes the spin value, eligible games, claim window and expiry.
Since 19 January 2026, any wagering on bonus winnings in Great Britain is capped at 10x.
Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO all pay their welcome spin winnings without wagering (18+, deposit and terms apply).
Given by
The casino, not the game
Usually needs
A deposit or qualifying stake
Spin value
Fixed, often 10p
Wagering cap (GB)
10x since 19 January 2026
Not the same as
Free spins feature
Free spins (bonus): what the term means
In casino promotions, a free spin is a spin you don't pay for directly from your balance, credited by the casino once you have met a condition. You might need to deposit £10, stake £10 on slots, or opt in to a weekly promotion. The casino sets the value of each spin, which games it works on, and how long you have to use it.
This is not the same as the free spins feature inside a slot, which is a bonus round triggered by scatter symbols during play. A promotional spin can, in fact, trigger a game's free spins feature if the scatters land. The two meanings simply share a name.
The parts of a free spins offer
Every promotional spin offer can be broken into the same handful of terms. Reading them in this order tells you nearly everything:
Term
What it means
Typical UK example
Qualifying action
What you must do to receive the spins
Deposit and stake £10 on slots
Number of spins
How many you get, sometimes spread over days
50 to 500
Spin value
The fixed stake each spin plays at
10p
Eligible games
Which slots the spins work on
One named game or a short list
Claim window
How long you have to accept them
48 hours, or daily by 23:59
Expiry
How long the spins last once credited
7 days
Wagering on winnings
Playthrough before winnings can be withdrawn
None, or up to 10x
Payment exclusions
Deposit methods that don't qualify
E-wallets and prepaid cards
The spin value and the number of spins together give the face value: 100 spins at 10p is £10 of spins. The wagering term then decides how much of what you win is actually yours to withdraw. Our free spins terms explained guide goes through the wording line by line.
How free spins winnings are paid
There are two models. With no wagering spins, whatever the spins win is added to your cash balance and can be withdrawn straight away, subject to normal verification. With wagering spins, winnings land as bonus funds and must be staked a set number of times before they convert to cash.
Since 19 January 2026, the Gambling Commission caps that playthrough at 10 times. So if 50 spins win £6 and the terms set 10x wagering, you would need to stake £60 before withdrawing. Before the cap, terms of 35x or more were common, which made many spin offers worth little in practice. The same rule change banned promotions that mix products, such as betting on football to unlock slot spins.
Types of free spins offer at UK slot sites
Welcome spins: for new customers after a first deposit or qualifying stake. See 100 free spins and 500 free spins for two examples.
Daily or drip-fed spins: a batch credited each day for a set period, often needing to be claimed before midnight.
Existing-customer spins: weekly or seasonal promotions for current players, usually opt-in.
No-deposit spins: credited on registration with no payment. None of the five casinos we work with offers these; the free spins no deposit page explains why they're rare in the UK.
Free spins offers compared: three real examples
Casino
Qualifying action
Spins and value
Wagering
Key limits
Ladbrokes
Deposit and spend £10+ on slots
50 a day for 10 days (max 500), 10p each
None
Claim from the inbox before 23:59 each day; spins valid 7 days
Coral
Deposit and bet £10+ on slots
100 spins, 10p each
None
Accept within 48 hours; valid 7 days; selected games
PlayOJO
First deposit of £10 or more
80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza, 10p each
None, paid in cash
Excludes Northern Ireland
Each excludes some deposit methods: Coral and Ladbrokes list e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller among the exclusions, along with prepaid options. Check the full terms for your chosen payment method before depositing.
How to judge a free spins offer
Work out the face value: number of spins × spin value.
Check the eligible game's RTP; the expected return is roughly face value × RTP.
Check the wagering on winnings and the time allowed.
Check for a cap on what the spins can win, in the full terms.
Check the payment exclusions and claim deadlines so you don't lose the spins on a technicality.
The how to work out free spins value guide runs these numbers for several offers. Whatever the value, spins are a promotional extra on top of gambling that costs money, and the house edge applies to every spin.
Where to find no wagering free spins
Ladbrokes (up to 500 spins over 10 days), Coral (100 spins) and PlayOJO (80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza) each require a £10 deposit or slot stake from new customers aged 18+, value each spin at 10p and pay winnings without wagering. Terms apply, including excluded payment methods and claim windows.
All three welcome offers below are spin-based and pay spin winnings without wagering, which makes them straightforward examples of the term. 18+, deposit and terms apply.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What are free spins in a casino bonus?
They are spins on selected slots that a casino credits as a promotion, usually after you deposit or stake a qualifying amount. Each spin plays at a fixed value set by the casino, often 10p, and must be used within a time limit. Winnings are either paid as cash or added as bonus funds with wagering, capped at 10x in Great Britain since January 2026. Our guide on how to claim free spins explains the process.
Are free spins really free?
Not usually, because most offers need a deposit or qualifying stake first. The spins themselves don't come out of your balance, but you normally have to put in money to unlock them, for example by betting £10 on slots. Offers with no deposit at all are rare in the UK, and none of the five casinos we work with has one. Treat spins as an extra on top of play you were already planning. See do you have to pay to play slots for more.
What's the difference between free spins and the free spins feature?
Free spins as a bonus are credited by the casino as a promotion. The free spins feature is a bonus round built into a slot, triggered during play by landing scatter symbols, and often comes with extras such as multipliers or expanding symbols. A promotional spin can trigger the feature if the scatters land. Both share the name but come from different places. Read the free spins feature entry for how the in-game version works.
Can I withdraw winnings from free spins?
Yes, once any conditions are met. With no wagering spins, winnings go straight to your cash balance and can be withdrawn after the usual account checks. With wagering spins, you must stake the winnings up to the stated multiple, no more than 10x in Great Britain, within the time allowed. Some offers also cap the amount that can be won. Our answer to can you withdraw free spins winnings covers the detail.
Why can't I use my free spins on any slot?
Because the casino chooses which games the spins work on, and the spin value is fixed to match. Offers usually name one slot or a short list, and spins simply won't appear on other games. PlayOJO's welcome spins, for example, are for Big Bass Bonanza only. If spins have vanished, check whether they have expired or whether the claim window closed. The why can't I use my free spins page lists common causes.
Do free spins have wagering in the UK?
Some do and some don't, but any wagering on bonus winnings has been capped at 10x since 19 January 2026. Many UK spin offers, including the welcome spins at Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO, have no wagering at all, so winnings are paid as cash. Where wagering applies, the multiple is calculated on the spin winnings. Always check the expiry alongside it. See do free spins have wagering for worked examples.
Which payment methods stop me getting free spins?
It depends on the casino, so check the offer's exclusions before depositing. Coral's offer excludes Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards. Ladbrokes excludes prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers. Using an excluded method usually means the deposit doesn't qualify, even though it still goes into your account. Our guide to slot site payment methods explains the common options.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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