This guide is part of our list of the best online casinos in Australia and explains the types of free spins, how to value an offer and how to turn spin winnings into cash.
What are free spins?
Free spins are spins on one or a few pokies that the casino pays for. Each spin has a fixed stake set by the casino, and you cannot change the bet size or the game.
What you win goes to your account in one of two ways:
- As bonus money: the usual case. You must wager the winnings before you can withdraw them.
- As real money: only with no wagering free spins, where winnings can be withdrawn straight away.
Free spins are one part of the wider bonus picture. Our guide to casino bonuses explains wagering and bonus terms in general.
What types of free spins can Australians claim?
Offshore casinos that accept Australians offer five main kinds of free spins:
No deposit free spins
No deposit free spins are added when you sign up, sometimes with a code. They let you try a casino without paying, but the winnings come with the strictest terms. Our guide to no deposit bonuses covers them in detail.
Deposit free spins
Most welcome packages include free spins on top of a deposit match. Large packages such as “200 free spins” are often split into daily batches of 20 or 50, and each batch must be used before it expires.
No wagering free spins
No wagering free spins pay winnings as real money. They are the best value type, because nothing stands between the win and a withdrawal except the usual identity check.
Daily, weekly and loyalty spins
Existing players receive free spins as reload offers, weekend promotions or VIP rewards. They usually carry the same wagering as the welcome bonus, and many need a deposit in the same week.
How do you work out what free spins are worth?
The face value of free spins is the number of spins multiplied by the stake per spin. Two offers with very different headlines can be worth the same:
On average, spins return about the pokie’s RTP. A A$10 batch on a 96% RTP pokie wins about A$9.60. That amount is then subject to wagering:
- With 40x wagering: A$9.60 x 40 = A$384 in bets, which costs about A$15 on average at 96% RTP. The expected cash left is close to zero.
- With no wagering: the A$9.60 is yours to withdraw.
This is why 20 no wagering spins can be worth more than 100 spins with heavy wagering. Our guide on how to win on pokies explains RTP and volatility.
Which pokies do casinos use for free spins?
Casinos choose the pokie, and the choice affects your result as much as the number of spins. Before you play, open the game’s information screen and check two numbers:
Low or medium volatility suits free spins with wagering, because steady small wins keep a balance alive while you wager. High volatility suits no wagering spins with a high cashout cap, where one big hit can be withdrawn. Some casinos run the same pokie at different RTP settings, so the figure in the game’s own help screen is the one that counts.
Are 100 free spins no deposit offers real?
Yes, but read the stake and terms. Offers of 100 or more no deposit spins exist, usually at the lowest stake of A$0.10 or less, and often with a maximum cashout of A$50 to A$100. Their face value is about A$10, the same as a small free chip.
Three things to check on a large spin offer:
- Stake per spin: 100 spins at A$0.10 are worth A$10, not A$100.
- Release schedule: spins may arrive in daily batches you must log in to collect.
- Maximum cashout: a cap limits the upside however lucky the spins are.
Which free spins terms should you check?
Check these six terms before you claim free spins:
- Stake per spin: decides the face value of the offer.
- Eligible pokie: the game is fixed, and its RTP and volatility shape your results.
- Wagering on winnings: how many times you must bet what the spins win, and on which games.
- Maximum cashout: the most you can withdraw from spin winnings.
- Expiry: spins often expire within days, and the wagering has its own deadline.
- Payment exclusions: deposit spins may not apply to e-wallet or voucher deposits such as Skrill or Paysafecard.
How do you claim free spins?
Claiming free spins takes four steps:
- Sign up or log in: use your real details, because the casino checks them before any payout.
- Opt in or enter the code: in the promotions page, the cashier or the registration form.
- Open the eligible pokie: the spins appear when you load the named game.
- Wager the winnings: play eligible games within the maximum bet until the wagering is done.
If the spins do not appear, contact support before you play anything else. Playing another game first can cancel the offer at some casinos.
How do you turn free spin winnings into cash?
Spin winnings become withdrawable once the wagering and checks are done. Four habits help:
- Stick to eligible pokies: other games may count little or nothing towards wagering.
- Keep to the maximum bet: one bet above the cap can void the winnings.
- Verify early: upload your ID before you finish wagering, so the payout is not held up.
- Use a fast payout method: PayID and crypto pay out fastest at many casinos.
Our list of fast payout casinos in Australia shows measured payout times.
Free spins vs bonus cash: which is better?
Free spins and bonus cash suit different players:
No wagering free spins beat both when they are available. Among wagered offers, compare the face value and the wagering, not the headline number.
What are the red flags with free spin offers?
Avoid a free spin offer with any of these signs:
- No stake per spin stated: you cannot value the offer.
- Wagering of 50x or more on winnings: the winnings are almost impossible to keep.
- Spins on an unknown pokie with no RTP shown: you cannot judge the game.
- Spins promoted through social media messages: often a route to illegal or copycat sites.
Our guide to safe online casinos in Australia shows how to check a casino before you sign up.
Are free spins legal in Australia?
Free spins come from offshore casinos. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 bans operators from offering online casino games to Australians, but playing is not an offence for you as a player. ACMA has blocked more than 1,800 illegal gambling websites.
Licensed Australian betting sites cannot offer free bets or other rewards to open an account, under the National Consumer Protection Framework. Our guide on whether online gambling is legal in Australia explains the rules.
How can you use free spins responsibly?
Free spins are designed to get you playing, and daily spin promotions are designed to bring you back. Claim only offers you would use anyway, set a deposit limit in your casino account, and ignore spin offers that need a deposit you did not plan. BetStop does not cover offshore casinos, so use each casino’s own self-exclusion tool if you need a break.
Our guide on how to stop gambling lists the tools that work at offshore sites. If gambling stops being fun, Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.
