Why UK Free Spin Bonuses Are Going To Be Hard To Find

Casino free spins are dead! Long live free spins! The UK Gambling Commission is making drastic changes, so does that mean the end of casino bonuses as we know it?

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We’ve had a whole load of emails from you guys asking us why we’ve been changing how we call certain UK casino bonuses.

A free spin bonus is a free spin bonus, right? Well, yeah. It is. Everywhere but in the United Kingdom, where the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) have been trying to make things “clearer” for players.

The idea is to clarify terms and make sure players aren’t “duped” into casino bonuses that are predatory.

And whilst we applaud the sentiment, we have to say that the execution has made more UK gamblers confused than happy. So here we are, trying to clear the confusion.

What’s wrong with calling a UK casino bonus “free spins”?

It’s all down to advertising standards and being as clear as possible.

Which is great in theory; when you get people calling deposit “risk-free” or promising that you’ll “be rich if you deposit now”, you can understand what is the UKCG problem.

We agree. And often it’s a lot of ‘tipsters’ on Facebook, promising you that this bet on this horse will make you rich when no one can guarantee that.

We’ve written about it in our slot machine gaming guide, there are no guarantees in gambling. That’s why it’s called a ‘gamble’:

“What is a gamble? The activity or practice of playing at a game of chance for money or other stakes.” Dictionary.com

A game of chance has no conclusion until that spin or that ball lands. No one can make you bet now, or give you a bonus that will change that.

The problem is that free spins are not always ‘free’

The issues come with the term ‘free’; because sometimes you have to deposit to claim your free spin, and often times you have wagering requirements with the free spins.

So the UKGC are saying that you these aren’t free if they come with lots of T&Cs attached.

We would argue (though maybe not very loudly in case the UKCG read this) that this is still a ‘free spin on a slot machine’. Ie. You, yourself, don’t have to pay for making that spin; the casino does.

But, ok, yes, you sometimes have to deposit to get those spins and the winnings are seldom ‘free’.

The counter-argument to that is that the deposit can usually be played on literally any other casino game that you want – so it’s not tied to the slot free spin bonus.

And whilst wagering requirements can be evil and makes it impossible to withdraw, a casino with 30x the wins gives you a chance, considering that is the casino’s money you are technically playing with, to begin with.

As we’ve always said: all UK casino bonuses are, are a nice extra bit of fun money for when your real money runs out and nothing more. Always think of it as a way to play for longer, but not walk away with more.

There is nothing wrong with making bonuses easier to play

Personally, we are onboard with the fact that casino UK bonuses now have their main terms clear when you are going to take them, including the wagering.

We are even onboard with some of the very positive changes we’ve seen regarding bonuses and withdrawals.

Like, for example, how some casinos have had to change their withdrawal policy so you have to be able to take your real money out, even if you have a bonus and wagering tied to it.

Brilliant, we love it – you should never have to be forced to play with your real cash for longer than you want to.

But removing a term like ‘free spins bonus’, a term that we know and recognise worldwide, is just confusing for everyone.

However you’ve got to give it to casinos, they’ve been great at adapting.

But UK Free spins bonuses aren’t gone, they’ve just changed

Regardless of what you think about using the words “UK slot free spins”, or any variation, these are the rules, and that’s all anyone can say about it.

But the free spin UK mobile casino bonuses you know and love haven’t gone, you just won’t find the word ‘free’ in front of ‘spins’ as often.

However, that is not to say that you won’t be able to get “spins on a slot machine which the casino pays for”. But as that’s way too long, here are some other far cleverer terms.

The most popular terms are bonus spins or extra spins

This makes the most sense. It is, literally, a bonus or extra spin on a slot machine, whether you get it on registration or after a deposit.

Sometimes you don’t even get that. Some casinos just say: “100% deposit bonus + 100 Spins on this slot”, which is fine, it’s descriptive, and it does what it says on the tin.

However, be aware that these will still come with wagering requirements – so always read the terms and conditions.

Where you can still get free spins and fair spins

These are the best free spin bonuses in our opinion, and even the UKGC can’t argue with them because the term is as correct as it can be.

Namely, you get a slot bonus where you get to keep everything you win. So literally free money from a free spin on an Android or iPhone slot.

These will be at casinos such as Rizk, where you spin the wheel of fortune when you register, and any bonus you win will have no wagering requirements (or need to deposit).

Or it can be at places like BGO casino, who have nicknamed them ‘Fair Spins’ in order to not confuse them with their old offer.

If all casinos changed their terms to this, we’ll all be happier for it.

That said, just because it says free spins, doesn’t mean it’s always free – so always read the T&Cs!

Then there are bonuses like “Welcome spins” or “Wild spins”

Literally, any casino can call these spins they pay for any name they want; and so they have.

Watch for casinos, like Videoslots, who now call the spins you get as part of their welcome bonus ‘Welcome spins’.

Because that’s exactly what they are, spins to welcome you through the door of the casino.

Others, such as Go Wild UK casino have gone all out and branded their bonus, using their own name to add a little extra fun to the process… we guess?

So what difference does all this make to UK casinos?

Yes, if these bonuses can be called anything, you might wonder if you get the same thing as before or whether you are secretly getting screwed.

And the truth is that, in reality, casino bonuses haven’t really changed. Not really.

Even at casino such as Guts or Rizk which give you no wagering free spins, you should always stick to the golden rule of casino bonuses:

1. Pick a reputable casino
2. Always read the T&Cs
3. Make sure you don’t play just for the bonus

The casino bonus is such a small part of what makes a casino great. From slot tournaments like the Mr Green Reel Thrills to the software that create fantastic games, there are a million reasons to sign up and play that aren’t tied to a bonus.

Because, at the end of the day, a bonus, from a free spins to a deposit reload, is just that: “something extra or additional given”.

So don’t get too tied up in what kind of bonus you get, instead just make sure you play at best casino, with the best games, and have the best time.

And remember, always gamble responsibly.