One of the most popular online casino bonuses in the world, which you will most likely come across when visiting any fully licensed and regulated casino site that’s legally permitted to operate in your country, is the free spins bonus. But what exactly is this bonus, how does it work, and is it worth claiming?
Most sites call them free spins, whereas others call them bonus spins or even extra spins, which adds to the confusion. However, the thing to remember is that whichever term they use, it all means the same thing.
Let’s dive straight in to find out more about one of the iGaming industry’s most common promotional offers for new and existing players.
Why do Some Online Casinos Call These Bonuses Free Spins, Bonus Spins, or Extra Spins? What’s the Difference?
Anyone who has visited an online casino website before will have already seen an advert for a new player welcome bonus, which usually includes free spins and/or some kind of guaranteed matching deposit bonus.
As mentioned, on most sites, they are called free spins, but it’s also common to see some website operators offering “bonus” or “extra” spins, and the main reason for this is that the wording used in these promotional offers must be compliant with local online gambling laws.
That’s right; some governments don’t like operators using certain terms, such as free spins, even though players receive free spins.
Sometimes, players must make a minimum deposit to unlock free spins, so some people might say they aren’t free, but they ARE free. Operators just can’t use that terminology because of that jurisdiction’s gambling laws.
Here is a comprehensive guide to this unique term that can only be found on today’s safest iGaming websites.
What are Free Spins, Bonus Spins, and Extra Spins, and Are They Worth Claiming?
A free spins bonus is essentially when an online casino operator drops anywhere from 1 to 20 or more free spins into your account. Those free spins can then be used to play any of the selected slots (the exact games are usually stated in the terms and conditions attached to that bonus) for the chance to win real money.
Most free spins are only valued at around $/€/£0.10, $/€/£0.20, $/€/£0.25, or $/€/£0.30 (or equivalent currency value), and the winnings you can make from those free spins is usually capped at a certain amount. In other words, you generally can’t win a multi-million-dollar progressive jackpot from your free spins.
Instead, the winnings might be capped at $/€/£100 or $/€/£500. Each bonus is different, and it depends on what the operator has capped your winnings at. Some bonuses are more generous than others.
Any free spins you receive usually have to be used within a specific amount of time, say one day, one week, or one month, before they expire. If you don’t use them in time, you will miss out because they will no longer be available in your account, so remember to use them before they expire.
How to Get the Best Free Spins Bonuses in 2025
The quickest, easiest, and most reliable way to find today’s best free spins bonuses (for new and existing players) is to visit the official askgamblers.com website, which has thousands of the latest and most lucrative offers.
The best thing to do is stick to claiming only one free spins bonus at a time before moving on to the next. Also, perhaps start by claiming any free spins bonuses that you think will be worth your time on their top 10 or 20 sites before working your way back through their list of trusted casino sites.
Another important thing to remember about these generous promotional offers is that they usually come with wagering requirements attached, which essentially tell you how much money you must spend before you can withdraw your free spins winnings.
It may sound a bit harsh to some players, but without wagering requirements, there would be a lot more bonus misuse, and there would be nothing to stop players from simply withdrawing the free spins winnings as soon as they receive it and spending it elsewhere.
If every player who received a free spins bonus ended up winning big, and simply withdrew that “free money”, online casino operators would quickly go out of business.
Top Tips for Claiming the Best Free Spins Bonuses
Before claiming any online casino bonuses that you randomly find while searching for them online, stop and think if the site is safe. Do your own basic research, and don’t forget to read the expert reviews for that site to check it’s legitimate.
Here are a few top tips for claiming free spins bonuses in 2025
- Look for free spins bonuses with zero wagering requirements (0X), and remember that the lower this number is, the better. However, zero-wagering free spins bonuses are very hard to find these days. Most of the time, they come with a 20x to 50x wagering requirement attached. Perhaps avoid claiming ones with a 60x to 70x or higher wagering requirement attached
- Read the Ts and Cs to find out how long you have to complete your wagering requirements.
- Only claim FS bonuses on fully licensed and regulated sites controlled by trusted operators.
- Find out if your preferred online payment method is included in the promotion.
- Only claim one FS bonus at a time.
- Look for FS bonus offers where they can be used on famous online slot machines from award-winning software providers/game development studios.
- Find out if the FS bonus you are about to claim is available on your preferred device. For example, some free spins may only be for mobile users, etc. or for people who deposit with cryptocurrency, and so on.
- Find out what the FS winnings are capped at so you aren’t too disappointed if you win big but don’t receive the entire windfall.
- FS bonuses are optional, meaning you don’t have to claim them, but you have nothing to lose, so you may as well take advantage of them as and when they are offered to you.
Conclusion
On a final note, to ensure you always have a safe and fun time when claiming free spins bonuses at your chosen casino sites, always gamble responsibly. Never claim these offers while tired or intoxicated, and only deposit money that you can afford to lose.
Finally, too many players fail to read the Ts and Cs when claiming these offers, so to avoid disappointment, take a minute or so to read them to ensure you get the most out of them.
