Why do casinos offer free spins for free?
Casinos offer free spins for a few reasons. Firstly, they are perfect as a no deposit bonus to attract new players to a site. The no deposit free spins give these players a taste of real money slots without spending any money themselves. A percentage of the players that register an account to claim the free spins will continue later and make a real-money deposit.
Also, casino operators use free spins to retain players. This is integral to the long-time success of an online casino, which is why it regularly has free spin offers for existing players. Furthermore, there’s nothing better than a free spins bonus to reactive players. For instance, if you stop playing at a particular site, the casino may send you an email after a couple of weeks tempting you with some free spins.
However, the casino may not be working alone in offering free spins for free. Software developers can also have a say in things. Take NetEnt for example, its magnificent slot, Starburst, is probably the most popular game for free spins. There is obviously some promotional arrangement in place between NetEnt and the casino.
None of that really matters to the players, as all we want is the ‘free’ free spins.
Finding the best free spins offers
To find the best free spin offers, you can visit each online casino in Canada and rummage through its promotions’ page to see what it has for you. However, Casino Select has already done the legwork for you.
Our specially curated list of free spins bonuses is the pick of the bunch from the top Canadian casinos. From our table, you can compare all the current bonuses to see which one you prefer. To calculate the value, you must look at the wagering requirements and see if there is a maximum win limit on the offer, too.
How wagering requirements work
The majority of free spins bonuses come with wagering requirements, which prevent you from withdrawing any winnings until they are cleared. The wagering (playthrough) requirement for free spins is based on how much you win from the bonus. Let’s explain.
- You get 100 free spins on Starburst. Each spin is valued at $0.10.
- You play the 100 spins, and win $20 in total.
- The wagering requirement is 30x. Therefore, the total wagering is 30 x $20 = $600
- With the $20, you can play any casino game.
- You continue playing until the $20 is gone, or you have wagered $600 (by continuingly rolling it over).
- If you manage to surpass $600 in wagered bets, then the remaining winnings are yours to withdraw.
Other Terms and Conditions
In addition to the probable wagering requirements which accompany free spins bonuses, there are a few other important terms and conditions you need to know about.
Time Limits
When you claim any of the top free spins bonuses, check the time limits. Firstly, the casino will stipulate how long you have to use the free spins. With most offers, the spins are only valid for 24 hours. After this, any unused spins will be removed.
The second time limit to be aware of relates to the wagering requirements. Operators tend to be more generous here, with most sites giving players 30 days to complete the wagering. However, there are no set rules, so don’t assume the T&Cs are the same for all casinos. That’s why it’s vital to scan the small print.
Restricted Games
The best free spins bonuses in Canada are co-promotions offered by the casino operator and software provider. As such, these offers are restricted to either a single slot or a choice of three or four from this developer. You don’t have the freedom to play whatever game you want to.
Further game restrictions also apply when clearing the wagering requirements. Rarely will a casino allow players to spin the reels on its progressive jackpot slots with bonus cash (which your free spins winnings are until you clear the wagering). Also, highly volatile slots tend to be off-limits. In the terms and conditions, the operator makes it clear which slots you can and can’t play. It’s your responsibility to check out this information.
Maximum Win Limits
To reduce the risk of multiple players hitting big wins with their free spins bonuses, the casino may impose a maximum win limit on its offer. It depends on what type of free spins offer you have claimed as to what the limit could be, but the win limit is usually between $50 and $100. Some of Canada’s top casinos make an exception for jackpot wins, so these sites are worth keeping an eye open for.
How we find the best free spins offers
Imagine casino A has an offer for 20 free spins, but casino B is giving you 100 spins. On face value, Casino B wins hands down. However, face value doesn’t always reflect true value. Casino Select ignores the face value and dives directly into the terms and conditions – that’s how we find the best free spins offers.
Minimum deposit
With the exception of no deposit offers, free spins bonuses are activated by making a deposit. We check this to ensure it’s not over-inflated in comparison to the number of free spins you get.
Wagering requirement
The wagering requirement is the most important aspect of a free spins bonus. Our team assesses that it is in-line with, or below, the industry average.
Time constraints
Time constraints apply to 1. How long the free spins are valid for, and 2. How long you have to clear the wagering requirement.
Maximum winnings
We also review the terms to see if there is a maximum win cap, and what it is. After all, you don’t want to make a $20 deposit and you can only win $10 maximum from the free spins. Casino Select searches for the fairest offers.
Free spins without wagering
No wagering free spins used to be a thing of fantasy, but not anymore. More and more casinos are turning to the no wagering model in a bid to land your custom. Let’s look at the two most popular types of free spins bonuses without wagering.
No deposit free spins no wagering
This is an excellent bonus for players. You get real money free spins on the house, and the winnings are instantly withdrawable. With such a generous bonus, which is high-risk for the casino, you only get 10 or 20 free spins, which will be worth up to $0.25 a go. Furthermore, no deposit free spins no wagering normally have a maximum win limit.
Deposit free spins no wagering
Deposit $50 and get 50 free spins with no wagering is an example of this type of bonus. The advantage of the offer is that you get more spins; however, you do need to make a deposit. These no wagering bonuses are more common, so take a look at our partner casinos to see which sites in Canada run this promotion.
Free Spins for Existing Customers
Regular casino promotions play a major role in making sure existing players remain active and don’t leave to join a rival operator. These are some of the best free spins bonuses in Canada you’ll come across.
Game of the Week Free Spins
Many sites offer some type of ‘Game of the Week’ promo. Often, these are for new slots to entice players to try them. An example promotion would be to deposit $20 and get 20 free spins on the game of the week. It’s a win-win because players have their deposit to spend how they want while also enjoying the 20 bonus spins on the house.
Slot Tournaments
There are many versions of slot tournaments, with each casino having its own rules. Typically, there’s a leaderboard and the players at the top win prizes, which can be free spins. These spins may come with different wagering requirements to deposit-related free spin bonuses, so check out the T&Cs before entering a tournament.
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs are another good way for existing players to get free spins. Canada’s top-rated casinos reward players with free games when they fill their progress bar and move up to the next level. As a player, you don’t have to do anything other than play your favourite games. The operator will inform you of your prize once you’ve completed the level you are on.
Free Spins No Deposit
If you’re looking for a ‘try before you buy’ deal, a free spins no deposit bonus is for you. Players can claim these offers merely for creating an account and verifying their phone number or email address.
Depending on the casino, you can get no deposit offers of up to 25 free spins, which is excellent value considering there is zero financial commitment. Naturally, the operator attaches a few terms and conditions, such as wagering requirements on any winnings from the spins, a max win limit and a minimum withdrawal amount.
However, even with the T&Cs, free spins no deposit bonuses are still a player-favourite. It only takes one spin to hit the jackpot, so there’s nothing to lose. It’s a win-win for players and casinos, as some players then go on to make a real money deposit.
On mobile
There are no device restrictions when it comes to free spins casino bonuses. Desktop, tablet or mobile, you can claim them on whichever platform you use.
Quite obviously, mobile players are able to use the best free spins bonuses at their convenience. This is useful because the time limits which accompany the bonus will probably determine that the spins are only valid for a specific number of hours.
For players with casino apps, operators use push notifications to share exclusive promotions. These can include on-the-spot free spins offers which have to be claimed the same day. Push notifications are more effective than email, as most people check their phones more frequently.
New bonuses
Such is the popularity of free spins bonuses, the majority of Canada’s online casinos offer these in one way or another. You can find them as part of sign-up bonuses, as well as offers for existing players. While slot games remain the focal point of the casino, free spins bonuses will always be relevant. These are some of the offers from which you can pick up some spins.
- No deposit
- First deposit / welcome bonus
- Reload bonus
- Game of the Month
- Loyalty rewards
- Slot tournament prizes