Free Spins Free Spins
The classic slot bonus round, triggered when a certain number of symbols such as scatters land, giving you a set number of spins with no extra bet.
| English | Free Spins |
|---|---|
| Classification | Game Features |
| English | Free Spins |
| Category | Game feature |
| Trigger | 3-4 or more scatters (varies by game) |
| Base spins | Usually 8-20 |
| Re-trigger | Retrigger |
| Common add-ons | Progressive multipliers, sticky wilds, expanding symbols |
| Related options | Bonus buy, ante bet |
Overview
Free spins (Free Spins) are the most common and important bonus round in slots. They start when a certain number of specific symbols, such as scatters, appear, and then run automatically for a set number of spins without any additional bet. Winnings during free spins are calculated based on the bet of the spin that triggered them.
Free spins matter because most slots concentrate their big wins in this phase. They come with rules more favorable than the base game (such as stacking multipliers or locked wilds), so the higher a game’s volatility, the larger the share of RTP that comes from free spins. For example, of Nolimit City San Quentin xWays’s 96.03% RTP, 37.29% comes from free spins.
Trigger conditions
In most games, free spins start when 3 or 4 or more scatter symbols appear anywhere on the screen. In many games, the more scatters you land, the more free spins you get or the better version you enter.
| Games | Trigger conditions | Free spins features |
|---|---|---|
| Gates of Olympus | 4 or more scatters | Tumbling free spins with accumulating multiplier orbs |
| Sweet Bonanza | 4 or more scatters | Tumbling free spins with bomb multipliers |
| The Dog House | 3 scatters | Sticky wilds with multipliers |
| Big Bass Bonanza | 3 or more scatters | A fisherman collects money symbols, with a retrigger and multiplier increase for every 4 |
| Sugar Rush | 3 or more scatters | Cluster free spins where position multipliers stay in place |
Types of free spins
Progressive multiplier type
A system where the multiplier keeps growing with each chain of wins or spins. Megaways games like Bonanza use an “unlimited multiplier” that does not reset until the free spins end.
Sticky wild type
A system where wilds that land during free spins stay locked in place until the end and build up. The Dog House is a typical example.
Expanding symbol type
A system where, at the start of free spins, one designated symbol expands across the whole reel when it appears. Play’n GO’s Book of Dead is a typical example.
Collection type
In games with money symbols and collector symbols, this is a system where collector symbols gather amounts during free spins. The Big Bass series is a typical example.
Choice type
A system where the player chooses between a version with “fewer spins and higher multipliers” and one with “more spins and lower multipliers.”
Related terms
| Terms | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Retrigger | Extra spins added when scatters land again during free spins |
| Super free spins | Enhanced free spins, such as starting with a higher multiplier |
| Bonus Buy | A feature that lets you pay a set amount to go straight into free spins |
| Ante Bet | An option to pay a bit more per bet to raise the chance of free spins |
Free spins entry frequency
How often free spins trigger varies greatly by game. For example, Gates of Olympus is known to trigger free spins about once every 448 spins on average. The higher a game’s volatility, the less often free spins appear, but when they do, the chance of a big win is greater. Running several rounds in the free demo gives you a feel for a game’s free spins frequency.
Distinguished from casino promotion “free spins”
The “free spins awarded” you see in online casino ads are spin vouchers given by the operator as marketing, which is a different concept from free spins as an in-game bonus round. This entry explains free spins as a game rule.
