Free Spins Glossary
Every term you will meet in a free-spins offer, in plain English. If a casino's small print loses you, it is probably defined here.
Jump to a term
Deposit limit
A cap you set on how much you can pay in over a day, week or month. The simplest way to stay in control when claiming deposit offers.
Eligible slots
The specific slots a free-spins offer can be played on, named in the terms — usually popular titles like Starburst or Big Bass. See eligible slots explained.
Expiry
The window in which you must use free spins and their winnings — often 24 hours to 7 days. Miss it and you lose them. Always check the terms.
Free spins
A set number of spins on a slot, paid for by the casino rather than you, each at a fixed value (usually around 10p). The most popular UK casino offer. See how free spins work.
GAMSTOP
The free UK national self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from all UKGC-licensed online gambling for a chosen period. See GAMSTOP and self-exclusion.
House edge
The casino's built-in mathematical advantage on a slot, the inverse of RTP. It is why a casino profits over time even though its games are fair.
Mega Reel
A spin-the-wheel feature some casinos use to award free spins and prizes. The "up to" figure is the rare maximum, not the typical result. See Mega Reel casinos.
No deposit spins
Free spins credited just for registering, before you pay anything in. Genuinely free, but winnings are usually capped. See no deposit free spins.
Qualifying deposit
The minimum first deposit needed to unlock a deposit free-spins offer, often £10 (sometimes £5). No-deposit offers need none. See £5 & £10 spins.
RNG
Random number generator — the certified software that produces an unpredictable result for each spin. At licensed casinos it is independently tested and cannot be altered.
RTP
Return to Player — the percentage of stakes a slot returns over the long run. A 96% RTP slot returns £96 per £100 staked on average; the rest is the house edge. Higher is fairer.
Self-exclusion
A tool that blocks you from a casino (or, via GAMSTOP, all UK casinos) for a set period. A key safeguard if gambling stops being fun.
Spin value
The fixed stake value of each free spin, usually around 10p. 100 spins at 20p is worth far more than 100 at 5p. See spin value explained.
Stake limit
The statutory cap on paid online slot stakes: £5 per spin for over-25s, £2 for 18–24-year-olds, in force since 2025.
UKGC
The UK Gambling Commission — the statutory regulator that licenses all gambling in Great Britain. Only claim spins at a casino on its public register.
Verification (KYC)
The check every UK casino must run to confirm your identity and age before you can withdraw spin winnings. Usually quick with accurate details.
Volatility
How a slot pays: high-volatility slots pay larger amounts less often; low-volatility ones pay smaller amounts more frequently. Many free-spins slots are low-to-medium volatility.
Wager-free spins
Spins whose winnings are paid as real, withdrawable cash with no playthrough — the best kind of offer. See free spins no wagering.
Wagering requirement
The number of times you must stake free-spins winnings before withdrawing them. At 40x, a £20 win needs £800 of wagering. Lower is better. See wagering explained.
Win cap
A limit on how much you can win or withdraw from an offer, common on no-deposit spins (often £50), however well the spins go. See win caps explained.