How free spins work

What free spins are and how free spins work

A free spin is a slot spin paid for by the casino rather than your balance. Each one has a stake the casino has set, often 10p, and it can only be used on the game or games named in the offer. The reels, symbols and payouts are exactly the same as a paid spin at that stake; the random number generator doesn’t know the spin is part of a promotion.

The word “free” describes who pays for the spin, not the whole offer. In the UK, spins are almost always tied to a condition, such as a first deposit or a qualifying bet. For an honest look at the trade-offs, see what the catch is with free spins.

How free spins work from trigger to winnings

1. Register and verify. UK casinos must check your age and identity before you can deposit or gamble, including with a bonus.
2. Meet the trigger. Usually a first deposit or a set amount of slot play, made with an eligible payment method.
3. Receive or accept the spins. Some appear automatically; others must be accepted within a window, such as Coral’s 48 hours.
4. Open an eligible slot. The spins show in the game or in a bonus area, at the fixed stake.
5. Play them before they expire. Coral’s and Ladbrokes’ spins are valid for 7 days.
6. Receive the winnings. Depending on the terms, they arrive as cash or as bonus funds with wagering.

Steps 2 and 6 are where offers differ most, so they are covered in detail below. Our guide to claiming a casino bonus shows the sign-up side.

What triggers free spins at UK casinos

Partner offers checked on 5 October 2026 use three kinds of trigger:

• Bet a set amount: Coral asks new players to deposit and bet £10 or more on slots, then gives 100 spins at 10p. The offer runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
• Bet, then collect daily: Ladbrokes asks new customers to deposit and spend £10 on slots, then gives 50 spins a day for the first 10 days, up to 500 in total, at 10p each. Each day’s batch must be claimed before 23:59.
• First deposit: PlayOJO gives 80 spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza when new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) make a first deposit of at least £10.

None of our partners currently offers spins without a deposit; our answer on getting free spins without a deposit explains why such offers are rare. Since 19 January 2026, a casino can’t ask you to bet on another product, such as sport, to unlock casino spins; the mixed-product promotions ban explains the rule. All offers are 18+ and terms apply.

What free spins are worth: face value and average return

Face value is the number of spins multiplied by the spin value. The average return is the face value multiplied by the slot’s RTP. For PlayOJO’s offer, the game is Big Bass Bonanza, which has a published RTP of 96.71%; for the others, the RTP depends on the selected game, so the table uses 96% as an illustration.

The average return is a long-run figure. Over 80 or 100 spins, actual results scatter widely: many sessions return less than face value, and a few return much more. Our free spins winnings guide covers the spread of outcomes and how winnings are paid.

Which games free spins can be used on

Spins are tied to named slots. PlayOJO’s are for Big Bass Bonanza, a Pragmatic Play slot with 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines, rated high volatility. Coral’s and Ladbrokes’ terms refer to selected games, listed in the offer terms and the promotions area. You can’t move spins to a different slot, and you can’t change the stake.

High volatility means frequent empty spins and occasional larger wins. On 80 spins, it is normal for most to return nothing. Check the help screen in the game for the live RTP, as some slots are supplied in more than one version.

Payment methods that don’t qualify for free spins

Spins offers often exclude some deposit methods, mainly e-wallets and prepaid cards. The published terms list these exclusions:

A debit card is the usual qualifying route. Our answer on why PayPal often doesn’t qualify for a bonus explains the reason. Credit cards can’t be used for gambling in Great Britain at all, a ban in place since 14 April 2020 that the Gambling Commission’s guide to gambling with a credit card (opens in a new tab) says also covers e-wallets loaded by credit card.

What happens to free spin winnings

Once the spins are played, the total they returned is credited in one of two ways. Either it is paid as cash, which you can withdraw after the casino’s normal checks, or it is paid as bonus funds with a wagering requirement, which since 19 January 2026 can’t exceed 10 times the amount under the Gambling Commission’s rules on safer and simpler promotions (opens in a new tab). Coral and Ladbrokes publish no wagering on spin winnings, and PlayOJO pays them in cash. Where wagering applies, our guide to how wagering requirements work explains the next stage.

UK rules that shape how free spins work

Free spins are ordinary spins under the law, so every slot rule applies to them. Slots at UK-licensed casinos have had no autoplay and at least 2.5 seconds per spin since 31 October 2021, which you can read about on our spin speed rule page. The online slot stake limits of £5 (aged 25+) and £2 (aged 18–24), set out in the Commission’s stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab), are well above a 10p spin, so they rarely matter for spins offers.

How to claim Coral’s 100 free spins

1. Register as a new Coral customer aged 18+ and complete the identity checks.
2. Deposit using an eligible method, such as a qualifying debit card (not PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe or a prepaid card).
3. Bet £10 or more on slots.
4. Accept the 100 free spins within 48 hours of them being offered.
5. Open one of the selected games and play the spins, at 10p each, within 7 days.
6. Spin winnings are paid with no wagering; check the full terms for any other conditions.

The full walkthrough is on our Coral free spins page. Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain), so check the terms before opening new accounts at both.

Free spins or a deposit bonus?

Spins give a fixed, predictable amount of play on a named slot. A match bonus, such as Casumo’s 50% up to £100 (minimum deposit £20, 10x wagering on the bonus within 7 days, £5 maximum bet; 18+, terms apply), gives more flexibility but brings wagering. Our free spins vs deposit bonus comparison and the page on bonus spins vs free spins cover the differences in depth.

Free spins offers to compare, checked 5 October 2026

Coral is the closest match for a standard spins offer: bet £10 on slots and get 100 spins at 10p, with no wagering on the winnings. PlayOJO gives 80 spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza for a first deposit of £10 or more, with winnings paid in cash. Casumo is listed as a match-bonus alternative. All are licensed by the Gambling Commission, for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply. See all current spins deals on our latest free spins page, or more explainers in the guides hub.

Spins are entertainment, not income. If you’re spending more than you planned, set a deposit limit or call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.