Everything you need to know about free spins casino bonuses
Free spins are one of the most popular casino bonuses on the market, and it’s easy to see why. What’s not to like about spinning the reels for free and potentially bagging some winnings? With just about every online casino out there boasting some kind of free spins reward, there are loads of bonuses on the market. Compare.bet is here to help you narrow down your options and find the free spins bonus that’s best suited to you.
We’ve rounded up the best of the bunch in our top casino list, complete with expert reviews to cover the ins and outs on everything from banking options to wagering requirements. Want to find out more about the different types of free spins rewards and the all-important terms and conditions? Read on for everything you need to know about claiming a free spins bonus at online casinos.
Why claim free spins?
Here’s what makes free spins casino bonuses so popular with fans of online pokies.
Play pokies for free
You might have to make a deposit to claim your free spins —unless you bag a no deposit free spins casino bonus— but you’ll be able to use them on pokies without dipping into your bankroll. Of course, you can play free demos at most sites, but with free spins you can enjoy the thrill of real money games without using your own cash.
Try before you buy
Free spins are a perfect way to test the waters at a new casino and see whether it’s to your taste without putting any money on the line. If it turns out to not be quite what you had in mind, then you can simply move on. Bonus spins are also ideal for trying out a new pokies without making a dent in your budget.
Keep what you win
If you manage to land some winnings using your free spins, then you could end up with a tidy profit. Of course, you’ll have to complete the wagering requirements first, but if you do that and come out in the green, you’ll be able to withdraw your returns in line with the bonus withdrawal policy.
Types of free spins bonuses
Free spins come in all shapes and sizes- let’s check out what’s on offer.
Free spins upon deposit
Most welcome bonus free spins require you to head to the cashier and make a deposit to claim your bonus. The number of spins up for grab can vary massively- some sites offer 20 free spins while others offer 100 free spins. The most generous free spins offers boast 200 free spins, giving your bankroll a healthy boost for extra playtime on some top titles!
Free spins usually form part of a welcome bonus package along with a matched deposit. For example, you may come across the following bonus:
- 100% up to $200 + 100 free spins
At some online casinos, your free spins reward will be a set number of spins, while other sites give you spins according to how much you deposit- up to a certain amount. A few pokies sites also hand out free spins in installments, such as 20 daily free spins over five days. This is handy for making your spins last and not using them all at once, as well as maintaining responsible gambling habits.
Free spins no deposit
No deposit free spins are the holy grail for pokies fans as there’s no need to make a payment- you get a bonus simply for signing up! These are perfect for settling in at a new casino, and they’re also great for beginners feeling their way into online pokies or more experienced players trying out new pokies titles. You won’t be able to claim as many free spins as a paying customer- these bonuses usually max out at 10 or 20 free spins with no deposit required.
It’s also fairly common for free spins no deposit casino bonuses to have higher wagering requirements and tighter win limits, but they don’t cost you a penny, so they’re well worth snapping up!
Free spins promotions
It’s not just newbies that get to benefit from free spins bonuses; plenty of the best online casinos and slot sites have regular free spins promotions for existing players too. Happy hour free spins are a popular promotion, and allow players to bag some freebies when they deposit in a specific timeframe. Reload bonuses are another common deal, awarding players free spins for making a qualifying deposit. Some sites even offer free spins to promote the newest slot games– the perfect way to give the freshest titles a spin and see if they’re to your liking.
VIP free spins
If you’re a frequent casino player, you may be able to get your hands on even more free spins through VIP bonus schemes and loyalty programmes. Plenty of New Zealand sites use these to reward their most loyal customers for making regular deposits and playing games. While some VIP schemes reward players with a set free spins bonus, others allow you to collect points in exchange for a range of exciting prizes and bonuses.
Some VIP schemes are aimed specifically at high rollers, while others are open to every player. Most work on a level system: the higher your level, the bigger your prize, and you climb these levels as you play.
No wagering free spins
Wagering requirements are the catch that come with most free spins casino bonuses and make it tricky to withdraw any winnings. However, a handful of operators now offer more player-friendly no wagering free spins bonus deals. As the name suggests, these free spins have no wagering requirements, meaning any funds you win are added directly to your account balance ready to be withdrawn.
As you can imagine, these are one of the most enticing free spins offers out there. However, you should bear in mind that no wagering casinos tend to make up for this great deal by other means, such as lower win limits.
How can I claim my free spins bonus?
- Compare online casinos
First things first, you need to find a top online casino in New Zealand with a free spins bonus. Don’t worry about scouring the web- we’ve done the legwork for you. Simply flick through our carefully curated list and pick out your favourite. Our featured casinos offer the latest and greatest pokies, from the best new HD video pokies to classic 3-reel games, so there’s something for everyone. On top of this, our expert casino reviews delve deep into what a site has to offer so you can really understand what’s out there. - Sign up
Once you’ve picked out your ideal casino, follow our link to sign up and claim your free spins bonus. Creating your account is a breeze- all you’ll need to do is provide some basic personal details and you’ll be signed up within minutes. Remember to check whether you need to enter a free spins bonus code to claim your freebie. - Deposit & claim
Unless you’ve got your hands on a free spins no deposit casino bonus, you’ll need to deposit to claim your spins. Head to the cashier and select your preferred payment method. Our recommended casinos support a range of banking options, from e-wallets like PayPal to paysafecard, so you won’t be short of choice. Your bonus will be then credited to your account as soon as you’ve made your deposit. - Play
Free spins are usually be restricted to certain online pokies, so all you need to do is pick one that takes your fancy from the available options. The value of your spins is preset, so there isn’t much left for you to do other than start spinning the reels and hope they land in your favour! Good luck!
Free spins terms and conditions
Free spins are great, but pretty much every bonus comes with terms and conditions that you should check out before signing up.
Wagering requirements
Manage to land a lucky win from your free spins? Don’t get too excited just yet, as you may have wagering requirements to contend with. These come with most bonuses and mean you need to wager your funds a set number of times before they can be withdrawn. In short, wagering requirements make it harder for you to get your hands on bonus winnings and help casinos avoid big losses. A low wagering casino might set the requirement at 15x or 20x, but the industry standard is around 35x. Free spins no deposit required bonuses often have higher wagering requirements than other deals— sometimes as high as 60x— which is something to factor in before you sign up..
Here’s an example of how free spins wagering requirements work:
Let’s say you’ve bagged 100 free spins with a 40x wagering requirement and you win $20. You’ll need to wager your $20 returns 40 times before you can withdraw any of it. This means placing $800 worth of wagers.
As you can imagine, this makes converting bonuses to real cash easier said than done, and may mean you need to make a deposit to complete the wagering requirements- even with a free spins no deposit bonus. This is why we think it’s best to think of your free spins as a way to enjoy extra playtime on some great online pokies, and see any winnings as a handy little extra.
Wagering contribution
At most slot sites you’ll find that bets placed on some games contribute to the wagering requirements more than others. Usually, 100% of wagers placed on pokies go towards completing the wagering requirements. However, bets on table games like roulette and blackjack, live dealer games and video poker often contribute as little as 10%-20%, and in some cases are excluded altogether.
Game restrictions
Free spins casino bonuses are usually restricted to certain games, and the eligible games vary a lot from site to site. For example, one casino may let you use your free spins on any NetEnt pokies in its games library, while another may restrict your spins to just one title.
On the bright side, though, you can be sure that the eligible titles will include some top games. For example, free spins on NetEnt’s Starburst is a common offer. This is one of the most popular slot games on the market anyway, so you’ll still having fun using your freebies.
Time limits
Bagged yourself a juicy free spins casino bonus? Great – just make sure to use it before the time runs out! The timeframe in which you need to use your spins can range from a couple of days to a month. You’ll also have to complete the wagering requirements within the stated time, so make sure you don’t get caught on your heels.
Deposit restrictions
You won’t need to worry about this if you bag a free spins no deposit required bonus, but some slot sites are a bit picky when it comes to the banking options you can use to make your bonus qualifying payment. This most commonly applies to the e-wallets Neteller and Skrill, but it may also apply to other banking options at certain sites.
Keep in mind deposit limits as well- payment methods like phone bill payments often have low daily limits, such as $30, which may affect how many spins you can claim. Debit card deposits qualify for pretty much every bonus, so your bank card is always a safe bet for claiming free spins casino bonuses.
Win limits
You’ve claimed your free spins, completed the wagering requirements and come out the other end with some profit. Time to cash in on your winnings, right? Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple. While you’ll be able to withdraw some of your returns, online casinos often have win limits for free spins bonuses. Some sites have pretty generous limits, but they can be small at certain casinos— sometimes as little as $5— so do your research to avoid any unwanted surprises.
Free spins tips
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your free spins casino bonus:
Biggest isn’t always best
When browsing bonuses it can be easy to get drawn in by the biggest offer, but sometimes less is more when it comes to free spins. For example, low wagering requirements or higher win limits can make a 20 free spins bonus more attractive than a 100 free spins bonus, so bear this in mind when checking out different offers.
Try out free demos
While some casinos offer free spins on just one or two pokies, other sites give you more freedom on where to use your freebies. If you’re struggling to work out which title you want to play, try out free demo pokies. These are available at most of the best online casinos and are a great way to test out different titles, so that you don’t waste your spins on a slot you don’t enjoy.
Check out the RTP
Some pokies enthusiasts use their spins on titles with the highest return to player percentage (RTP) in the hope of landing a win. RTP is a theoretical estimate of how much of your wagers you can expect to win back over an extended period of play on a particular slot game. RTP varies a lot from game to game, and can range from 80% to over 99% on some titles.
RTP is far from the be-all and end-all- it’s based on an infinite period of play, so you can easily be winning well below or above the percentage at any given time. However, high RTP pokies do give you a better chance at winning back your wager, statistically speaking, so we’d advise sticking to pokies over 95% RTP.
Ready to claim your free spins?
Now you know all there is to know about free spins casino bonuses, you’re probably ready to get out there and claim one for yourself! Whether you’re searching for no deposit free spins or a larger bonus, look no further than our list of the top online casinos in New Zealand to compare the best offers available today. Once you’ve found your ideal free spins bonus, simply sign up and start spinning those reels!
