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There has been a bit of a furore over free spin no deposit bonuses over the last few years. While the name of these types of promotions seems to imply that players will be on the receiving end of totally free spins, during which anything won can be kept and withdrawn, the truth is often a bit murkier than that.

The UK Gambling Commission has played no small role in attempting to clear up the matter. According to them, to use the term “free spins” casinos must genuinely offer free games with no strings attached, such as wagering requirements. The old, standard spins are to be referred to as “bonus spins” instead.

When Free Spins Are Not Truly Free Spins

There are several occasions when free spins (now known as bonus spins) aren’t free. Any spins which come with wagering requirements, for instance, breach the concept of being truly free. Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough rates, denote that a player must wager whatever they win a specific number of times before they can withdraw those funds.

Wagering requirements are common in deposit bonuses (where players must wager any bonus and deposit funds a given number of times) but shouldn’t be included in any offer which proclaims itself to be free.

Free Spins With No Wagering Requirements

Fortunately, the new regulation issued by the UK Gambling Commission, Swedish Gaming Authority and others are aiming to fix this issue. True free spin deals should come with no hidden terms and no strings attached. They should be offered to players with a genuine chance to win real money for free, money which can – if a player desires – be withdrawn from the start. This doesn’t mean to say that there aren’t other terms and conditions.

Many top free spin bonuses tend to come with dates attached, only being valid during a predetermined period. Moreover, they may only be valid on select slot machines and could be limited to players in a specific region.

Only a Handful of Chances to Win

There is a downside to the new “free spins” offers at casinos. They generally tend to provide a limited number of spins, far fewer than the old no deposit bonuses with wagering requirements, and deposit offers. Moreover, they are often only valid on slot games which do not offer substantial cash prizes, including many simple 10-15 line games from NetEnt and others.

Promos Which Are Ideal for Test Driving Casinos

Such free spin bonuses which come with no wagering requirements at all are hardly going to be appealing for players who fancy landing big wins. As mentioned, they tend to be valid on slots which don’t offer such epic wins. However, these promos and deals may make the ideal introduction to slot gaming for new players, or those who wish to test-drive a slot before deciding to wager real money on it.

The East Lothian Courier encourages readers to gamble responsibly. For advice and information, please visit the BeGambleAware website here for free, confidential help.