Types of Free Spin Bonuses
Free spins come in several common formats, with each type appealing to different users, depending on their playstyle:
No Deposit Free Spins
These bonuses let you sign up and play without the need to add any funds to your online casino account. Many sites offer between 10 and 50 free spins to players when they sign up and verify their details.
While many US online casino players enjoy the risk-free nature of these promotions, the downside often comes in the form of tougher rules. Wagering requirements for no deposit bonuses often sit at 50x or above, with max win caps also being applied to protect online casinos.
Welcome Package Free Spins
Typically, welcome packages will combine a deposit match with a number of free spins. Players will likely receive the most spins through this type of bonus, with many online casinos offering 100 to 300 free plays for new sign-ups.
These free spins may be split into different qualifying deposits, such as the first three or first five, and have wagering requirements of around 20x to 30x.
Bet and Get Free Spins
Players may also be awarded with free spins when they place bets on qualifying events. This could include wagering on sports or playing a specific game in order to unlock additional free spins.
Keep in mind that these bonuses often come with strict expiry and game lists, so reading the terms and conditions carefully before you start wagering is incredibly important. Many online casinos also have ongoing promotions, allowing players to earn free spins once per week.
Loyalty Program Free Spins
Loyalty programs give extra spins to regular players, which are often redeemable from a shop displayed on the casino platform. For example, players might get 1 point for every $1.00 they wager across all online slots, with the opportunity to redeem 500 points for 20 free spins on a specified game.
These types of free spin bonuses are available exclusively to returning players who have spent a while spinning slots or enjoying table games, and often come with favorable terms to thank users for their loyalty. Players who have reached a certain VIP level may also be able to claim daily login bonus spins to use on their favorite casino slots!
Common Restrictions for Free Spin Bonuses
There are plenty of restrictions that are applied to free spin bonuses to ensure they’re fair for both players and casinos. Understanding these restrictions can save you a lot of time and frustration when you claim a free spins offer for yourself!
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough, show how many times you must wager all of the bonus funds until they become available to withdraw. This is the most common restriction applied to free spin bonuses, with wagering requirements varying greatly depending on the online casino you pick.
For example, if players are awarded with $10.00 in potential winnings from a total of 50 free spins, with wagering requirements of 20x, then a total of $200.00 would need to be wagered before the funds become withdrawable.
Most of the time, players are allowed to adjust their stake size up to a maximum amount, which usually sits at around $2.00.
Game Restrictions
There are two key things to keep in mind regarding game restrictions for free spins bonuses. First is the game on which the free spins can be used, with one or a few games typically being selected for this.
Another thing to consider is the games that can be played in order to complete wagering requirements, all of which tend to contribute differently. Common examples include:
- Online Slots: 100% contribution
- Table Games: 10-20% contribution
- Live Casino Games: 10-20% contribution
- Casino Game Shows: 0% contribution
- Instant Win Games: 40-100% contribution
The contribution towards wagering requirements is almost always directly linked to the RTP (Return to Player) rate of a game. A higher RTP will usually mean a lower contribution and vice versa!
Time Limits
Every free spins bonus will come with two different time limits. One of these will reference how long players have to actually use the free spins, while the other will be linked to the time period in which the wagering requirements must be completed.
In both cases, should this deadline be reached, the free spins and any potential winnings generated will vanish if not used in accordance with the terms and conditions.
Minimum and Maximum Bet Limits
Betting limits control both spin value and the wagers used while clearing the bonus. Many sites cap the maximum bet at $2, as mentioned earlier, while the free spins themselves will usually carry a value between 10 cents and 1 dollar.
In some cases, the spin value might be based on a percentage of the deposit made, too. For example, some US casinos have bonuses that offer 50 free spins at the closest possible stake size to 10% of a qualifying deposit. In this case, a $10 deposit would award 50 free spins with a value of $1.00 each.
How To Claim A Free Spins Bonus
Claiming a free spins bonus offer at a US casino is relatively straightforward and can often be done in just a few steps:
- Choose one of the top USA online casinos that we recommend. We do all of the hard work to ensure that our list of casinos only includes sites that are safe, reputable, and have great customer support, alongside a range of different games and bonuses.
- Go to your chosen platform and sign up by entering your details and verifying your account.
- Head to the offers page and find the free spins bonus that you would like to claim.
- You can then make the qualifying deposit, should one be needed.
- Your free spins should then be credited right away, allowing you to spin the reels of select games without spending your real casino balance.
- After all spins have been played out, any potential winnings will be added to your bonus balance, unless otherwise stated.
- From here, you can complete the wagering requirements associated with the bonus, which can often be done across all online slots on the site.
- If any potential winnings remain after the wagering requirements have been completed, they will be added to your main casino balance, meaning they can be withdrawn or used to play other games.
You can then head back to the bonus offers page and pick another promotion to claim, if you wish!
Finding The Best Free Spins Bonuses
The best free spins promotions stand out from the crowd at online casinos if you know what to look out for:
- Games That Match Your Preferences: Free spins often target a few highlight slots, making it important to pick themes and features that align with your preferences. While this won’t necessarily improve your chances of success when claiming a free spins bonus, it can go a long way in making your overall gaming experience more enjoyable.
- Evaluate Wagering Requirements: One of the key figures to look out for is the wagering requirements associated with a bonus. The industry standard is around 40x, so finding a number lower than this is often a good sign. Regardless of what type of free spins bonus it is, promotions with lower wagering requirements are almost always favored by US players.
- Double Check the Casino: Choose licensed sites with clear terms and fast support to make sure that you stay protected. A legitimate operator will post its license, often in the footer of the website, while also using the latest SSL encryption and performing KYC checks before processing withdrawals. Even if the bonuses are fantastic, playing at untrustworthy online casinos should always be avoided.
- Read the Number of Free Spins: This might go without saying, but some bonus offers might not be clear in the number of spins that players will receive. When comparing offers, make sure that you take all the free spins into account, as some welcome packages will feature 3, 4, or even 5 batches of complimentary plays.
- Research Eligibility: While focusing on wagering requirements can be a smart move, it’s important to also make sure that you check the eligibility of certain games and payment methods. After all, if you can’t claim the bonus you want, you might be better off trying another casino.