Why do casino apps give free spins? Because they are one of the cheapest ways to win a new customer: the spins have a modest face value, usually need a qualifying deposit or stake, and cost the operator less than they look because the house edge still applies to every spin. Here is what they are really worth.
Free spins are a marketing cost used to attract new customers and keep existing ones playing.
Face value is spins × spin value: 100 spins at 10p are £10 of play, not £10 of cash.
The house edge applies to free spins too, so their average value is a little below face value.
UK rules require clear conditions next to the word 'free', cap wagering at 10x and ban mixed-product offers.
Check the qualifying stake, payment exclusions, eligible games and expiry before you deposit.
Typical spin value (partners)
10p
Coral offer face value
100 spins × 10p = £10
Ladbrokes maximum face value
500 spins × 10p = £50
PlayOJO offer face value
80 spins × 10p = £8
Wagering cap since 19 January 2026
10x the bonus
Why do casino apps give free spins? The business reason
There are dozens of licensed casino apps competing for the same players, and switching costs nothing. A welcome offer gives you a reason to pick one app over another, and free spins are easy to understand: a set number of spins on a named slot at a fixed value.
For the operator, the sums work because most new customers who like the app keep playing after the offer ends, and every game has a house edge. The spins are a one-off cost; the ongoing play is where the operator earns. The margin itself is explained in how casino apps make money.
That doesn't make the spins worthless to you. A no-wagering spin offer can return real cash. It just means you should see the spins for what they are: a promotion with conditions, not a gift. Other quick answers are in our casino app questions hub.
Five reasons casino apps hand out free spins
To win new sign-ups in a crowded market where every app is a free download.
To get you to make a first deposit, since most spin offers need a qualifying deposit or stake.
To show you the app's slot lobby, often starting with a popular game such as Big Bass Bonanza.
To bring you back on consecutive days, as with offers that release spins daily.
To reward existing players through loyalty and reward schemes that keep them using the app.
Reasons four and five are worth noticing. Offers that drip-feed spins day by day are designed to build a habit of opening the app. That is fine if you enjoy it and stay within your budget, but it is a good moment to set a deposit limit before you start.
What free spins are really worth in pounds
Start with face value: number of spins × value per spin. Then remember that each spin is played on a slot with an RTP below 100%, so the average return is a little lower. Winnings vary wildly around that average, especially on high-volatility games.
Partner free spin offers worked out
Offer
You put in
Spins and value
Face value
Average return at stated RTP
Coral
Deposit and bet £10 on slots
100 × 10p
£10
About £9.60 if the game's RTP is 96% (selected games; check RTP)
Ladbrokes
Deposit and spend £10 on slots
Up to 50 a day for 10 days × 10p
Up to £50
Up to about £48 at 96% RTP, only if claimed every day
PlayOJO
First deposit of £10+
80 × 10p on Big Bass Bonanza
£8
About £7.74 at the game's 96.71% RTP
The 96% figure is an example, because Coral and Ladbrokes name selected games rather than a single slot; check each game's information screen for its RTP. Big Bass Bonanza is a high-volatility slot, so many players will win less than £7.74 from the 80 spins and a few will win much more. The average is a long-run figure, not a promise.
Don't forget the qualifying stake. Betting £10 on a slot with a 96% RTP has an expected cost of about 40p (£10 × 4%), which is small next to the spins' value but is still money at risk.
Why 'free' spins always come with conditions
UK advertising rules govern how the word is used. The ASA's guidance on free bets and bonuses in gambling ads (opens in a new tab) says marketers shouldn't describe an offer as free if the customer must risk their own money to qualify. Separately, CAP rule 8.17 requires significant conditions, such as deposit or wagering requirements and time limits, to be stated clearly and prominently.
That is why offers are written with the qualifying step up front, as in 'bet £10, get 100 free spins', so the commitment is visible before the spins. If a promotion talks up free spins but hides the deposit, the eligible games or the expiry, treat it with caution. Our guide to reading casino app bonus terms shows what to look for.
UK rules on casino app free spins
Several Gambling Commission rules shape the free spin offers you see in UK apps.
Rules that affect free spins
Rule
What it means for spins
In force
10x wagering cap
Any wagering on bonus winnings can't exceed 10 times the bonus
19 January 2026
Mixed-product ban
No 'bet on football, get casino spins' style offers
19 January 2026
Age and ID checks
You must be verified before using spins or any bonus
7 May 2019
Slot stake limits
£5 a spin for 25+, £2 for 18 to 24
9 April and 21 May 2025
Harm indicators
Operators must stop new bonus offers to customers showing strong signs of harm
All three partner welcome offers on this page pay free spin winnings with no wagering. For players, that is the cleanest kind of offer: what you win from the spins is yours to withdraw, subject to the usual checks. The Commission's consumer guide to free offers and bonuses (opens in a new tab) also reminds players that they can walk away at any time and keep winnings from their own deposit.
No-wagering spins also make the operator's cost easy to predict, since the spin value is fixed at 10p and the game is chosen. With wagering capped at 10x since January 2026, the gap between wagering and no-wagering offers is narrower than it used to be, but no wagering is still simpler. Our explainer on what no wagering means and the no wagering casino apps list go further.
The catches to check before claiming free spins
Payment exclusions: Coral and Ladbrokes exclude PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe and prepaid cards from their offers. See payment methods excluded from bonuses.
Eligible games: spins only work on the named or selected slots. They can't be used on live casino or table games.
Time limits: Coral's spins must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days; Ladbrokes' daily spins must be claimed before 23:59. PlayOJO's help pages say free spins generally expire after 24 hours, with the deadline shown in its Rewards section.
One per customer: welcome offers are for new customers only, and Coral and Ladbrokes share an operator.
Northern Ireland: PlayOJO's welcome offer excludes it.
These are the spin offers we promote. Each is 18+ and terms apply.
Coral welcome offer: new players, deposit and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games; accept within 48 hours, valid for 7 days, no wagering on free spin winnings. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes welcome offer: new customers, deposit and spend £10 on slots to get 50 free spins a day for the first 10 days, up to 500 at 10p each; claim before 23:59 each day, valid for 7 days, no wagering.
PlayOJO welcome offer: new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland, first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each; no wagering, winnings paid in cash, can't be combined with other offers.
All three partner welcome offers are free spins with no wagering on winnings. 18+, terms apply.
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 on casino apps really free?
Not usually in the everyday sense. Most free spin offers need a qualifying deposit or stake first, such as betting £10 on slots, and UK advertising rules expect that condition to be shown next to the word 'free'. Once you have them, the spins cost nothing to play and, on no-wagering offers, the winnings are yours. None of our partners offers spins without a deposit. Our guide to free spins in casino apps and the free spins glossary entry explain the types.
How much are 100 free spins worth?
Multiply the number of spins by the spin value. At 10p each, 100 spins are £10 of play. Because the slot has an RTP below 100%, the average return is a bit lower: around £9.60 on a game with a 96% RTP. Real results swing a lot either side of that, especially on high-volatility slots. Check each game's RTP in its information screen. Our Coral welcome bonus page works through Coral's 100-spin offer in full.
Why do casino apps want me to deposit for free spins?
Because the offer is designed to turn sign-ups into paying customers. A deposit shows you are ready to play for real money, and the qualifying stake means you have tried the slots. It also ties the offer to a verified account and payment method. UK rules require age and identity checks before you can use any bonus. Read what is the 10 deposit rule for bonuses and our first deposit guide for the details.
Can I use free spins on live casino or roulette?
No. Free spins are slot offers and only work on the named or selected slot games. Live casino, roulette and blackjack are not eligible for spin offers, and other bonuses often exclude table games or count them for less towards wagering, so check the terms. If you prefer live games, a spin offer may not suit you at all. Our page on using a bonus on live casino explains how game restrictions usually work.
Do casino apps give free spins to existing players?
Many do, through reward schemes rather than welcome offers. Coral's app listing mentions Smart Rewards, Rewards Grabber and Coral Coins; Ladbrokes mentions free-to-play games and LadBucks; PlayOJO runs OJO Levels and daily Kickers. What each scheme gives changes, so check the promotions area of the app. Remember these are designed to bring you back, so keep them within your budget. Our page on whether casino apps reward regular players covers loyalty schemes.
Why do free spins have such short time limits?
Short deadlines encourage you to play soon after signing up, while the app is fresh in your mind, and they limit how long the operator carries the cost. Coral gives 48 hours to accept and 7 days to use its spins; Ladbrokes' daily spins must be claimed before 23:59 each day; PlayOJO's help pages say free spins generally expire after 24 hours. Don't let a deadline push you into playing when you'd rather not. See do free spins expire on casino apps.
Why was my PayPal deposit not eligible for free spins?
Because several operators exclude some payment methods from welcome offers. Coral and Ladbrokes both exclude PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe and prepaid cards, and Coral also excludes certain debit cards. Operators don't always explain why, so check the payment terms before you deposit if you want the spins. A debit card or another qualifying method is usually needed. Our pages on payment method exclusions and PayPal casino apps list what to check.
Are no-wagering free spins better?
For most players, yes. With no wagering, anything you win from the spins can be withdrawn straight away, subject to verification. Spins with wagering ask you to stake your winnings again, up to 10 times at most under the UK cap since 19 January 2026, and the house edge applies throughout. All three of our partner welcome offers are no-wagering. Our guide on how wagering works in casino apps and the no wagering glossary entry explain the difference.
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