The Best Free Spins Bonuses for UK Players in 2024

What is a free spins bonus?

A free spins bonus is a set number of spins on one or more slots. They serve as an incentive to play an online casino’s games for nothing. If you're unfamiliar with free spins bonuses, there are two main types: deposit-based free spins, and no-deposit free spins.

Deposit-based free spins bonuses

Deposit-based free spins bonuses are dependent upon you making a deposit in order to get them. Sometimes, the free spins come on their own, e.g. deposit £10, get 20 free spins. Other times, they can be paired with a deposit bonus, e.g. deposit £10, get a 100% up to £20 bonus and 10 free spins. Free spins bonuses can be offered at any stage during the player's journey. You will find them in welcome packages, retention-based loyalty and VIP bonuses. In most cases, the free spins are credited to your account as soon as you make your deposit. Then, you simply open the game and play.

No-deposit free spins

No-deposit free spins don't need you to make a deposit at all and are the most sought-after free spins bonuses as a result. These offers can be hard to find, but when you do they can be extremely rewarding. No-deposit free spins offers tend to be smaller than deposit-based ones. This is mainly to reduce the casino's exposure. To claim no-deposit free spins, simply complete the conditions described in the offer, such as filling in your account profile, verifying your mobile number, or just logging in.

What to look out for in a free spins offer?

A high-quality free spins offer should include a combination of factors based on the number of spins, wagering requirements and winnings caps. Take a look at the range of factors below: 

• A large number of high-value free spins

• Low or no wagering requirements

• No winnings caps

• Minimal or no triggering deposit

• Eligible on a wide range of games or a popular game 

• Long time limit and expiry

A majority of the best online casinos will bring these features in abundance, but what I have seen is that the most significant factor is how much they minimise the downsides of a free spins bonus. I recommend you always check the wagering requirements before using a free spins offer, as many casinos will have increased figures for this particular bonus. So much so that this could in turn take the value away from the offer in and of itself, despite possessing all the factors I mentioned previously.

If you're looking for a free spins bonus, you'll want it to meet at least a few of these elements; the more, the better. Frequently this involves reading the T&Cs, it's a bit of a chore, but I recommend you do so. A knowledgeable player is a smart player!

What types of free spins bonuses are there?

Free spins bonuses can be classified into four basic types: 

• Welcome offers

• Free spins deposit bonuses

• Free spins no-deposit bonuses

• Free spins with no wagering requirements. 

While there is often some overlap, these are the main types to look out for.

Welcome offers are generally for new players and often include free spins. Free spins deposit bonuses are frequently part of a welcome offer, but they can also be presented to players at other times. This may include a regular weekly or monthly promotion, after a period of inactivity, or as a loyalty reward. Free spins no-deposit bonuses are rarer and usually offered as an incentive to register at an online casino. Free spins with no wagering requirements are also rare but well worth looking out for, as you get to keep all your winnings.

Bonus Type	Key Points	Best Casino	Offer
Welcome Offer	Available to new players, can be standalone or paired with a bonus	Mr Vegas	100% Bonus up to £200 + 11 Wager-free Free Spins
Free Spins Deposit Bonus	A deposit is needed to claim, and can be offered as part of a welcome, reload, reactivation, loyalty or VIP offer	Win British Casino	Bonus up to 500 Bonus Spins
Free Spins No-Deposit	No deposit is needed to claim, usually offered to new players for completing registration, sometimes offered as a loyalty/VIP reward	888 Casino	88 free spins No Deposit at this online casino
Free Spins with No Wagering Requirements	Winnings do not need to be wagered before withdrawal, sometimes have winnings caps	MrQ	20 free spins on Big Bass Splash

Breaking down free spins terms and conditions

Free spins terms and conditions set out important rules in terms of how the free spins must be used. If you want to get the most out of your free spins bonus, it pays to read the T&Cs. That way you can avoid inadvertently voiding winnings or even getting your account closed through accidental bonus misuse—it happens more often than you think!

Here are a number of terms and conditions you need to pay particular attention to in the context of a free spins offer:

• How to claim 

• Which game or games you can play 

• How long you have to claim your free spins 

• How much you can win

• Wagering requirements 

Calculating wagering requirements

Wagering requirements are the betting conditions you must complete before making a withdrawal. It is sometimes referred to as playthrough requirements. Let's use an example to highlight how wagering requirements work.

Say you want to claim a site's free spins bonus of 20 free spins when you deposit £20. You check the T&Cs and find that the wagering requirement for the free spins is 30x. So you play your 20 free spins and win £20. 

Now you have to complete the wagering requirements before you can make a withdrawal. The 30x wagering requirement in this example applies to the winnings from your free spins: in this case, £20. This is the amount you have to bet before you can make a withdrawal: £20 x 30 = £600.

As you can see, free spins can come with some pretty hefty wagering terms. These can have a huge impact on not just your winnings, but your overall account balance too. That's why it's crucial to read the T&Cs before you claim any bonus.

Other important terms

Wagering requirements aren't the only terms and conditions you need to be aware of when it comes to free spins bonuses. Here's a rundown of some other crucial terms:

Term	Explanation
Time limits	You often only have a limited time to claim and use a free spins bonus offer, e.g. 7 days
Cash-out limits	Sometimes called a winnings cap, this is the maximum amount you can win and withdraw using the free spins bonus. For example, if you win £200 from your free spins, but the winnings cap is £100, you will only be able to withdraw £100.
Available games	Often referred to as eligible games, this is the games that the free spins can be used on, e.g. Big Bass Bonanza, Pragmatic Play slots
Expiration	Free spin bonuses sometimes come with an expiry date, meaning that you’ll have to complete any associated wagering requirements within a certain period, e.g. 30 days
Contributions	When completing wagering requirements, gameplay on some games counts more than others. For example. a £5 bet on slots contributes 100% (£5), but a £5 bet on table games like online Blackjack may only contribute 50% (£2.50.
Deposit method restrictions	Some payment methods are not accepted for this type of bonus e.g. Skrill
Free spins value	This is the set real money equivalent value of each of your free spins (bet per spin amount), e.g. 10p

How to find the best free spins bonuses

My step-by-step guide to finding the best free spins bonuses includes considering reviews, checking the offer, learning the deposit amount needed, working out wagering requirements, and checking for additional restrictions. If you're looking for these features in your bonus, follow this guide and you'll be able to separate the bad from the good:

1. Read casino reviews: Do some background reading to get an overview of the industry's best performers, especially when it comes to bonuses, so you know where to start. Check out casino reviews by our industry experts for the most detailed and up-to-date info.

2. Check the offer: Consider how many free spins are being offered, the value of each, and which game or games they are eligible for use on.

3. Find the deposit amount and any codes: If it's a deposit-free spins bonus, check how much you need to deposit to claim and make a note of any bonus codes you need to enter when depositing.

4. Check wagering requirements: According to the UK Gambling Commission, these must be listed alongside the bonus, so they should be easy to find. Look for low wagering requirements, 30-35x is typical. If they are wager-free that’s great!

5. Check for restrictions: Read the T&Cs to make sure you can claim the free spins using your preferred payment method. Also, look for any cash-out limits and the bonus expiry time.

6. Keep a note of seasonal promotions: Online casinos may be more liberal during seasonal periods as they join in on the festivities. Christmas casino bonuses will likely feature free spins for new and existing players, so check the promotions pages!

Tips for maximising free spins bonuses

I've found there are a few ways you can get the most out of your free spins bonus. These include using free spins on higher RTP slots, keeping a close eye on your gameplay, and completing your wagering requirements on high-contribution games. If you want the best bang for your free spins bonus buck, follow my five steps above. Beyond that, how you use your bonus can determine how much value you get.

For example, some UK online casinos let you play your free spins bonuses on any of a small selection of games. Keep a close eye on the number of free spins you've used and how many you have left, so you don't accidentally start playing with real money without realising.

After you've played your free spins, if you're lucky enough to have some winnings to show for it, you'll need to complete the wagering requirements before you can withdraw. Check the T&Cs for the free spins bonus winnings game contributions and play the games with the highest contributions . That way, the maximum amount of every bet you place will contribute to clearing your wagering requirements, so you'll get your winnings faster.

Free spins casino bonuses: Play responsibly

Free spins bonuses are valuable incentives for UK players to explore online slots and even win real money. They are an excellent introductory offer for new players and a great way to play popular and newly released slots. That said, free spins bonuses are generally not entirely free. It's crucial that you take the time to carefully analyse free spins bonus offers, to make sure you fully understand what's expected of you.

While free spins are a lot of fun, especially the prospect of winning something for nothing, I strongly suggest you keep your feet on the ground. Keep an eye on how many free spins you have left to avoid eating into your real money balance by accident, and don't bet past your limits in an effort to clear the wagering requirements quicker. Enjoy the fun of free spins, but always gamble responsibly.