Bonus spins vs free spins

Bonus spins vs free spins: the short answer

In UK casino promotions, bonus spins and free spins describe the same thing: a set number of spins on a named slot at a fixed value, paid for by the casino. Neither name is defined in the Gambling Commission's rules, and neither guarantees better or worse terms. One casino's bonus spins may be wager-free; another's free spins may pay winnings as bonus funds. You have to read the terms to know.

There is one real distinction worth knowing. 'Free spins' is also the name for a round built into many slot games, triggered by symbols during play. That round belongs to the game, not to any promotion. This page separates the three ideas and shows how to compare them. For every spin format on the site, see the free spins hub.

Three things people mean by bonus spins and free spins

The first two rows are the same product under two names. The third is a different thing entirely: it is part of the slot's return to player, already counted in the published RTP, and it can be triggered whether you are spinning with your own cash or with promotional spins. Our glossary entry on the free spins round explains the game feature on its own.

Why some casinos say bonus spins instead of free spins

UK advertising rules make the word 'free' a sensitive one. CAP's guidance on gambling promotions, set out in the ASA's advice on free bets and bonuses (opens in a new tab), says an offer shouldn't be described as free if the customer has to risk their own money to qualify. CAP rule 3.24 adds that marketing must make clear the commitment needed to take a 'free' offer.

A welcome deal that needs a £10 deposit or a £10 slots bet first is an obvious example. Some operators keep the familiar 'free spins' wording and place the condition right beside it, such as 'bet £10, get 100 free spins'. Others switch to 'bonus spins' or 'extra spins' to avoid the issue. Either approach can be compliant; what matters is that the deposit, wagering and time limits are clear. Our page on the 'free' rule in gambling ads covers the detail, and are free spins really free? answers it from the player's side.

How winnings are paid on bonus spins and free spins

The single biggest difference between two spin offers is what happens to the winnings, and the label doesn't tell you. There are two common set-ups.

• Paid as cash. Winnings go straight into your withdrawable balance. This is what 'no wagering' or 'keep what you win' means. Our free spins winnings entry covers how they are credited.
• Paid as bonus funds. Winnings sit in a bonus balance and must be wagered a set number of times before they become cash. Since 19 January 2026 that multiple can't exceed 10x at UK-licensed casinos.

The Gambling Commission's glossary of terms (opens in a new tab) defines a wagering requirement as any requirement to make wagers totalling a particular value before funds become withdrawable. Deposit and bonus balances must also be shown separately, so you should always be able to see which pot spin winnings have landed in.

Bonus spins vs free spins: a worked comparison

Imagine two offers that look identical in the advert: 50 spins at 10p on a slot with 96% RTP. One calls them free spins and pays winnings as cash. The other calls them bonus spins and pays winnings as bonus funds with 10x wagering. Here is the expected value of each.

The name on the offer had nothing to do with the result; the wagering term cut the expected value by 40%. And these are averages: many runs of 50 spins return less than £4.80, and wagering can end with a zero balance before you finish. Our guide to wagering requirements shows the same sum for larger bonuses, and the wagering calculator lets you try your own numbers.

The free spins feature inside a slot

In most modern video slots, a free spins round is triggered by landing a set number of scatter symbols. During the round the game spins on its own for a set number of turns, often with extras such as multipliers, sticky wilds or collecting symbols, and the spins don't take further stake from your balance. Each game sets its own rules, shown on its help screen.

Casino promotional spins can trigger this round if the symbols land, and some games allow it to retrigger. The round's value is already built into the game's RTP, so it isn't a bonus on top. Our answers to can free spins trigger the bonus round? and can you retrigger free spins? go further. Since 31 October 2021, UK online slots have had no autoplay or turbo play and a minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin.

Other names for bonus spins and free spins

Casinos have plenty of labels for the same basic product. This list explains the common ones and what to check for each.

More on the last three in our entries on cash spins and free spin credits, and our pages on mega spins and super spins.

UK rules on bonus spins and free spins in 2026

The rules don't care what the spins are called. Since 19 January 2026, under changes the Gambling Commission announced in its news release on safer, simpler promotions (opens in a new tab), wagering on any bonus is capped at 10x and an incentive can't combine different gambling products. Terms must be clear, fair and readily available, and significant conditions must be shown with the headline offer. Our pages on the 10x wagering cap and the mixed-product promotion ban have the detail.

You must also verify your age and identity before you deposit or play, and you can't fund gambling with a credit card. If any spin offer is pushing you to play for longer than you planned, you can opt out of promotions; our guide on how to opt out of bonuses explains how.

How to compare any two spin offers, whatever they are called

1. Ignore the label and write down spins × value per spin.
2. Check whether winnings are cash or bonus funds; if bonus funds, note the wagering multiple.
3. Find any cap on spin winnings.
4. Note the named slot and its RTP from the help screen.
5. Check the claim window and how long the spins last.
6. Check which payment methods don't qualify and what deposit or bet is needed.
7. Compare expected values, not headline counts.

Bonus spins or free spins: which suits whom

Because the names are interchangeable, the useful question is which set of terms suits you. If you want winnings you can withdraw straight away, look for spins paid as cash with no wagering, whatever they are called. If an offer pays winnings as bonus funds, it suits only someone happy to keep playing through the wagering at the house edge, which costs money on average. If you prefer short sessions, a single batch of spins suits better than daily drops over 10 days.

No version makes gambling cheaper over time. Treat any spins as a small add-on to money you had already set aside for entertainment.

Partner spin offers, whatever the name

Our three partner spin offers all call themselves free spins, and all three state their condition and pay winnings with no wagering. PlayOJO: 18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland; make a first deposit of £10 or more for 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, £8 of spins, winnings paid as cash; read the PlayOJO casino bonus page. Coral: 18+, new players, from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; deposit and bet £10 on slots for 100 spins at 10p on selected games, accepted within 48 hours and valid 7 days; Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded. Ladbrokes: 18+, new customers; deposit and spend £10 on slots for 50 spins a day for 10 days at 10p, up to 500 spins, each batch claimed before 23:59 and valid 7 days; prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers are excluded.

Terms apply to all three. For free, confidential support at any time, the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare (opens in a new tab).

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