What Triggers The Free Spins Bonus Round on Slots?
Free Spins are one of the most popular bonus features in slot games and can offer players extra spins without costing any funds.
Free Spins are widely available in slots these days, but how and what triggers them can be very different from game to game.
Check out the sections below as we look into the most common ways a free spins bonus round may be triggered, and some popular games which offer them.
What Is the Free Spins Feature?
The free spins bonus round gives you a number of extra spins that do not require you to stake your own funds. These spins provide additional chances to form winning combinations without using your balance.
Free spins can take several forms. Some games award a fixed number of spins, while others offer an open-ended batch that is limited in another way, for example, by a maximum cashout.
Games often add extra enhancements during free spins. These can include multipliers, extra wilds, or expanding symbols, all of which can change how wins are awarded.
Just like any other spin on a slot game, the outcome is decided by a random number generator.
How Do You Get Free Spins?
Triggering free spins is not always straightforward. Different slots use different methods to unlock this feature.
Scatter Symbols
Many slots require a certain number of scatter symbols to land anywhere on the reels in a single spin, typically 3 or more. When that number appears, the game awards the free spins round according to its rules.
Bonus Symbols
Some slots use bonus symbols as the key to free spins. These icons usually need to appear in specific combinations and may be represented by a special character, an object, or a symbol tied to the game’s theme.
Progressive Feature
Certain games use a meter or trail that fills when particular events occur, such as landing winning combinations or wild symbols. Once the meter reaches a set point or the trail is completed, the game triggers free spins.
Promotional Bonus Offers
Casinos sometimes include free spins in promotional bonuses, for example as part of a welcome offer. These are generally base-game spins played at no extra cost but are often subject to wagering requirements. Also, promotional free spins can carry different terms from in-game triggered spins.
Best Slots with Free Spins Bonus Rounds
Now that you are aware of some of the different ways to trigger free spins, it’s time to explore some of the best slot games that offer this feature. Here are a few popular titles that include a free spins round.
Big Bass Bonanza
Thie Big Bass Bonanza slot triggers free spins if 3 or more scatter symbols land anywhere in view at the same time. Three, four and five scatters award 10, 15 and 20 free spins respectively. During the free spins round, any wild symbols that land can collect the values of any Money symbols also in view. The wilds themselves are also collected and can potentially re-trigger the bonus round.
Book of Dead
Play’n GO’s Book of Dead is part of the Rich Wilde series. The free spins round triggers if 3 or more tomb symbols land in the same spin, awarding 10 free spins. During free spins a special expanding symbol can appear and expand to fill the reel it lands on, helping to create additional winning combinations.
Gonzo’s Quest
Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt replaces traditional free spins with the Free Falls feature, which includes increasing multipliers that can boost wins. To trigger Free Falls, three Free Fall symbols must land on a bet line from left to right starting from the leftmost reel.
How Do You Trigger Bonuses on Slot Machines?
Free spins are not the only bonus features you can find in slot games. Many titles include extra bonuses to make gameplay more varied and rewarding.
There is no single method to trigger bonuses because games and features differ widely and is determined by a random number generator. Below are some of the most common ways bonuses are activated.
Bonus Games: Some slots include mini-games within the main game. These bonus games are usually activated by landing specific symbols or symbol combinations. They can offer prizes not available in the base game, such as jackpot prizes.
Pick-Me Features: Certain slots present a pick-me feature that asks you to choose from a selection on screen. Your choices reveal hidden prizes, multipliers, or access to free spins or bonus games.
Random Events: In some games, bonuses occur at random on any base game spin. This adds an element of surprise to gameplay and can award a range of prizes or feature entries.
Are Free Spins Worth It?
Whether free spins are worth it depends on the type of free spins in question.
Free spins triggered during normal play with your deposited funds are widely regarded as worthwhile. They give extra chances to land potential wins without using your own stake and can extend gameplay. Some slots add further prizes during the bonus, such as multipliers, which can lead to substantial wins.
Promotional free spins are different and often less attractive. They are usually paid out as bonus funds and come with wagering requirements. Because of those conditions, some players do not consider promotional free spins to be worth it.
Even when you trigger a free spins bonus round, wins are not guaranteed.
Can You Win Real Money from Free Spins?
Yes. Winnings from free spins are often paid as real money and credited to your account when you hit a win during the bonus round. That possibility is a main reason players value free spin features.
Free spins triggered by a wagered base-game spin are treated as an extension of that paid spin. Because you triggered the bonus while staking your own funds, any wins from those free spins are normally paid as real money.
Rules vary between slot games. Some titles impose maximum win limits during free spins, meaning the bonus round will stop or cap payouts once that ceiling is reached and you return to the base game.
Promotional free spins are different. Winnings from promotional offers are commonly subject to wagering requirements, so you must wager those winnings a set number of times before they become withdrawable. Read the casino’s terms and conditions carefully to understand any limits, wagering requirements or other restrictions that apply.
The Bottom Line
The free spins bonus round on slot machines gives extra chances to land winning combinations without using additional credits. Most slot games include some form of free spins, but trigger methods and any extra features during the bonus will vary between titles.
Play responsibly and within your limits. Triggering a free spins round does not guarantee a win.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.