Free spins are slot spins you play without using your own balance for each spin, either as a casino promotion given after a qualifying deposit or stake, or as a bonus round triggered inside a slot. The promotional kind has a fixed spin value, a list of eligible games and a deadline, so its real worth is easy to calculate in pounds.
The term covers two things: a promotional batch of spins, and a bonus round inside a slot.
Promotional spins usually follow a qualifying deposit or stake, so they aren't free of conditions.
Face value is simply spins × spin value: 100 spins at 10p is £10 of spins.
Spins are tied to named slots and expire, often within days.
In-game bonus rounds need no extra stake, and RTS 14 exempts them from the speed rule.
Two meanings
Promotional spins; in-game bonus round
Typical spin value
10p on our partners' offers
Face value
Spins × spin value
Usually triggered by
Qualifying deposit or stake (promo); scatters (in-game)
Games
Slots only, as named in the terms
Free spins: the two meanings
You'll see the phrase used in two different ways, and it helps to know which one a page is talking about.
Promotional spins and in-game free spins compared
Point
Promotional free spins
In-game free spins round
Who gives them
The casino, as an offer
The slot itself, as a feature
How you get them
Usually a qualifying deposit or stake, plus opt-in
Landing a set number of scatter symbols on a paid spin
Spin value
Fixed by the offer, often 10p
Matches the stake of the spin that triggered it
Where they work
Only on the slots named in the terms
Inside that one slot
Deadline
A claim window and an expiry date
Played out as part of the triggering game
This entry focuses mainly on the promotional kind, because that's where the terms matter. For the feature inside slots, our guide to slots on mobile explains scatters and bonus rounds, and the full list of slot words sits in our casino app glossary.
What free spins are worth in pounds
Start with face value: the number of spins multiplied by the value of each spin. Then apply the slot's RTP to estimate an average return. If a slot pays back 96%, standard game maths says £10 of spins returns about £9.60 on average. A single batch can return nothing or much more, so treat this as a long-run guide.
Face value of our partners' spin offers
Offer
Spins
Value each
Face value
Average return at 96% RTP
Coral (bet £10 on slots)
100
10p
£10
About £9.60
Ladbrokes (play £10 on slots, all 10 days claimed)
500
10p
£50
About £48
PlayOJO (first deposit £10+)
80
10p
£8
About £7.74 at Big Bass Bonanza's published 96.71%
The Ladbrokes figure assumes you claim every daily batch. Miss a day and that day's 50 spins are gone. Big Bass Bonanza's RTP comes from the developer's published figure, so check the game's help screen for the version the app runs.
Free spins terms to read before you opt in
The qualifying step. Coral asks for a deposit and £10 on slots; Ladbrokes asks for £10 spent on slots; PlayOJO asks for a £10 first deposit.
Eligible slots. Spins usually work on a named game or a short list of selected games.
Claim window and expiry. Coral gives 48 hours to accept and 7 days to use. PlayOJO's help pages say spins expire after 24 hours, with the deadline shown in its Rewards section.
Wagering on winnings. All three partner offers above pay spin winnings without playthrough. Elsewhere, any wagering is capped at 10x since 19 January 2026; see no wagering.
Excluded payments. Several e-wallets and prepaid cards don't qualify for spin offers.
The wording isn't accidental. The ASA's guidance on free bets and bonuses (opens in a new tab) says marketers shouldn't call an offer free if the customer has to risk their own money to qualify, and significant conditions such as deposit and wagering requirements must be stated clearly.
So the honest reading is this: the spins don't cost you anything per spin, but the offer usually costs a qualifying deposit or stake. Our explainer on why casino apps give free spins looks at the business side.
UK slot rules that apply to free spins
Spins are played on online slots, so the slot rules still frame them:
Stake limits. Online slots are limited to £5 per game cycle for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds. The Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) doesn't say whether promotional spins count, though a 10p spin sits far below both limits. See slot stake limits.
Speed. Paid slot spins must take at least 2.5 seconds. RTS 14 (opens in a new tab) guidance exempts bonus or feature games that need no extra stake from the rule on speeding up results.
No autoplay. Each paid spin must be started on its own.
Feature buys. Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players, so the in-game free spins round is reached by playing, not by paying to skip ahead.
How to claim free spins in a casino app
Read the offer's full terms in the app, including the deposit methods that don't qualify.
Opt in if the offer asks you to; UK operators can't enrol you automatically.
Complete the qualifying deposit or stake with an eligible payment method.
Find the spins in the app's rewards or bonus area and accept them within the window.
Open the named slot and play the spins before they expire.
Our step-by-step guide on how to claim a bonus in a casino app covers each stage in more detail, including what to do if a bonus fails to appear.
Related terms
Welcome bonus: the new-customer offer that spins often belong to.
RTP: the figure behind the average-return estimate above.
Volatility: why a small batch of spins can swing so widely.
Free spins offers on our partner apps
Each partner below gives spins for a qualifying deposit or stake, and all three pay the winnings without wagering. These are slot-only offers. 18+, new customers only, and terms apply.
Coral Casino: bet £10 on slots, get 100 free spins. Deposit (certain types excluded) and stake £10+ on slots; spins are 10p each on selected games, must be accepted within 48 hours and last 7 days. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Offer runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes Casino: play £10 on slots, get up to 500 free spins, delivered as 50 a day for the first 10 days. Spins are 10p each on selected games; claim before 23:59 each day; each batch is valid for 7 days. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits are excluded.
PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each with a first deposit of at least £10, winnings paid in cash. New UK customers only, excluding Northern Ireland; one offer at a time, through the designated offer link.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Are free spins really free?
Not entirely. Each spin costs you nothing, but promotional spins usually need a qualifying deposit or a stake on slots first, and they come with an expiry date and game list. That's why UK ads phrase them as "bet £10, get 100 free spins". The house edge still applies to every spin. Our guide to free spins in casino apps explains the conditions you'll meet most often.
How much are 100 free spins worth?
At 10p a spin, 100 spins have a face value of £10. On a slot with a 96% RTP, the average return is about £9.60, though any single batch can return far more or nothing at all. If the winnings carry wagering, subtract the expected cost of that play. Our RTP entry explains where the 96% figure comes from and why it's a long-run average.
Can I choose which slot to use free spins on?
Usually not. Promotional spins are tied to one named slot or a short list of selected games, and they won't work elsewhere. PlayOJO's welcome spins, for example, are on Big Bass Bonanza. Check the offer terms before you opt in if you have a game in mind. Our Big Bass Bonanza review covers that slot's specifications and features on a phone.
Do free spins count towards the £5 slot stake limit?
The Gambling Commission's stake limit guidance doesn't say either way. The limits are £5 per game cycle for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. In practice, partner spin offers use 10p spins, well below both figures. Our page on slot stake limits explains what counts as a game cycle and how the age bands work.
What is a free spins round in a slot?
It's a bonus feature built into a slot, usually triggered by landing a set number of scatter symbols on a paid spin. The extra spins play at the same stake as the spin that triggered them, with no further cost. Many slots add features such as multipliers during the round. Our guide to Megaways slots on mobile shows how one popular format handles its bonus rounds.
Can free spins winnings be withdrawn?
Yes, if the offer pays winnings as cash or once any wagering is complete. All three partner offers on this page pay spin winnings without playthrough. Your account must be verified, and the withdrawal goes through the operator's normal review. See our no wagering entry for how wager-free winnings differ from bonus funds that need playing through.
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