Online pokies free spins: how free spins offers work

How do online pokies free spins offers work?

Online pokies free spins are bonus spins that a casino credits to your account on a named pokie, at a stake it sets. You play them like normal spins, but without using your balance. What you win is added to your account, usually as bonus money with terms attached.

Free spins come in several forms:

The list at the top of this page shows the sites we currently feature for Australians; check each site's promotions page for its current offers. For offers that need no deposit at all, see our guide to no deposit bonus pokies.

How do you work out what free spins are worth?

You work out what free spins are worth by multiplying the number of spins by the value of each spin. The headline number of spins on its own says very little.

• 100 spins at 10 cents = AU$10 in stakes.
• 50 spins at 40 cents = AU$20 in stakes.
• 20 spins at AU$1 = AU$20 in stakes.

The second and third offers have fewer spins but twice the value of the first. The spin value is in the terms or shown in the game when the spins are loaded.

On average, the pokie returns its RTP on those stakes. AU$20 of spins on a 96% RTP pokie returns about AU$19.20 on average, before wagering. Some sessions return much more, many return less.

How does wagering apply to free spins winnings?

Wagering applies to free spins winnings by turning them into bonus money that must be bet a set number of times before you can withdraw it. It is the term that most reduces what free spins are worth.

A worked example:

1. You play 50 spins at 20 cents (AU$10 of stakes) and win AU$9.
2. The terms say 35x wagering on free spins winnings.
3. You must bet 35 x AU$9 = AU$315 before the balance can be withdrawn.
4. On a 96% RTP pokie, AU$315 of bets costs about AU$12.60 on average, more than the AU$9 you won.

Wager-free spins skip steps 2 to 4: the AU$9 is cash and can be withdrawn. That is why a smaller wager-free offer is often worth more than a large one with high wagering.

Which pokies can you use free spins on?

You can use free spins only on the pokie or pokies named in the offer. The spins load when you open that game, and the stake per spin is fixed. Common choices are well-known online pokies from large studios, such as Book of Dead, which you can try first in demo mode: see our guide to free online pokies.

Two rules often catch players out:

• Bonus money from spins may be restricted to some pokies while you wager it, and table games often do not count.
• A maximum bet applies while you wager the winnings. One spin above it can void the bonus and the winnings.

What do expiry and maximum cashout mean?

Expiry is how long you have to use the spins and to complete the wagering, and maximum cashout is the most you can withdraw from the spins, whatever you win.

• Activation and use: spins often must be claimed and played within a few days. Batch offers credit a set number per day and expire daily.
• Wagering deadline: a separate period, after which unwagered winnings are removed.
• Cashout cap: common on no deposit spins and some welcome spins. With a AU$100 cap, a AU$400 result pays AU$100.

How do you compare two free spins offers?

Compare two free spins offers by putting the same five numbers side by side:

Offer A looks bigger, but its winnings must be wagered 40 times and are capped. Offer B pays its winnings as cash. For most players Offer B is the better deal, despite having a quarter of the spins.

Do free spins need a deposit?

Some do and some do not. Sign up spins need no deposit, but often require identity verification, and many casinos ask for a deposit before you can withdraw their winnings. Welcome and reload spins come with a qualifying deposit, set in the terms. If you deposit by PayID, our PayID pokies guide explains how deposits are credited.

For small first deposits, check the minimum needed to qualify for the spins: a deposit below it gets no spins.

When should you say no to free spins?

Say no to free spins when the terms do not fit how you play. Decline an offer if:

• the wagering is high and you would rather withdraw winnings freely,
• the maximum bet is lower than the stake you like to play,
• the expiry is shorter than the time you have to play,
• or the spins push you to deposit more than you planned.

Most casinos let you decline a bonus at deposit or cancel it before you start. Ask support if you are not sure how.

How do you keep free spins from costing more than they give?

Free spins are designed to keep you playing. Set your budget before you claim, and do not deposit extra to finish wagering or to unlock more spins. If you notice that bonuses are deciding when and how much you gamble, take a break, and read our guide on how to win on pokies for what bonuses can and cannot do. Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858. For a wider view of the sites and how we choose them, see our online pokies Australia guide.

Gambling is for adults only (18+).