Most casinos are stacked to the virtual rafters with bonuses and promotions, and slot games are at the center of many of them. Whether it’s a handful of free spins for loyal players or a bountiful bonus for newcomers, slots and bonuses work in perfect tandem. Here’s how to make the most of these offers:
Always Read the Terms and Conditions
It’s obvious, but important, nonetheless. The bonus terms will tell you everything you need to know about the offer, and you’ll find them on all online casino bonuses. The key terms include:
- Qualifying requirements: How to collect the offer, such as meeting a minimum deposit amount.
- Wagering requirements: The number of times you must wager your free spin winnings before you can withdraw them.
- Free spin value: The value of each spin. 200 free spins might seem more promising than 100, but not if the former are worth $0.05 each and the latter are worth $0.50.
- Cash out limit: The maximum amount you can win and cash out from the bonus.
- Time periods: Free spin promotions have fixed time periods for using the free spins and meeting wagering requirements.
Check the RTP
Every slot has a return to player (RTP) rating. Developers run millions of simulated spins and then compare total wagers and total returns. So, if the RTP is 96%, it means the game returned $96 of every $100 wagered during the simulation.
Higher is usually better, but you can ignore marginal differences. A difference of 0.01% won’t impact the average slot session unless you play for many hours.
The average is around 96%, but some creep above 97%. These are the games you should focus on.
Enjoy the Experience
Gambling is about recreation, not winning money—it’s one of the key rules of responsible gambling. It’s also a good mantra to live by because if you’re not having fun, what’s the point?
If you’re just playing slots to win money, you’re setting unrealistic expectations. It means you’re more prone to getting frustrated when things don’t go your way. It also means you’ll have nothing to show for a session if you leave empty-handed.
If you were enjoying yourself, at least you can leave knowing it was time well spent.
Play the games you want, and if they stop being fun, try something else. It may also help to try some free slots sites with bonus spins like Gambino Slots, where you can play for fun using virtual currency and even invite friends along for the experience.
Find a Suitable Volatility Rating
Players often overlook volatility in favor of the RTP, but it’s equally important.
A high volatility slot pays large sums infrequently; a low volatility slot does the opposite. Check the volatility and use it to guide your sessions.
For example, if you only have 20 free spins, choosing a high volatility slot means there’s a good chance you could win nothing. Playing a low volatility slot, on the other hand, means you’ll likely get a return from those 20 free spins.
It’s your choice whether you want to take a risk, but if the goal is to maximize your returns, here’s a rough guide on which volatility levels to choose:
- Up to 20 free spins = low volatility
- 20 – 50 free spins = medium volatility
- 50+ free spins = high volatility
Combine Bonuses Where Possible
Many free spin promotions exclude certain slots and leaderboard promotions, but not all of them. Check loyalty programs, tournaments, and leaderboard offers to try to combine bonuses.
If that’s not possible, keep an eye on the site’s other promotions so you can move straight on to another offer when your current one finishes.
Summary: Get More From Your Slot Bonuses
Check the terms and conditions, look for high RTPs, align the volatility with your free spins and goals, and try to have fun! What’s more, you shouldn’t feel like you need to rush through a slot bonus. You’re more likely to make mistakes or take unnecessary risks that way.
It also quickly stops being fun and becomes chaotic.
Take it easy, find the most suitable slots, move from game to game if you feel like it, and don’t panic if you only have a few days left to clear a wagering requirement.
