What we need to do is rank the free-spins bonuses based on expected payouts. To help us understand how each of the mechanics works, I’ll describe how each generates wins and flag who each one is suited to. There’s no way to “beat” slots, because there just isn’t enough data to make predictions. But I’m writing this as a guide for choosing the type of bonus round that matches how you enjoy to play.
So here’s a brief overview of how free-spins bonuses work in slots — roughly two minutes of reading
A free-spins round is a feature that causes the game to play a set of spins without taking down your wager. Your wager level from the last spin you triggered will apply to the free-spins round, so a free-spins round that uses a $1 wager would be equivalent to wagering $1 per spin. Most games will Trigger a round using scatter symbols (usually Three or more), but landing four or five scatter symbols might Trigger more free-spins or a better variant of the feature.
What makes free-spins interesting aren’t that they’re free — it’s the fact that the rules change. Game developers will turn on modifiers in the bonus round that never show up in the base game. Multiplier wilds that increase, wilds that remain sticky, symbols that expand, reels that grow — that’s where the big-win potential resides; therefore, the free-spins round is often the entire purpose of a game.
Now for the part many players never consider. Slots’ RTP is divided between the base game and the features. Low-volatility slots will typically derive the majority of their return from regular base-game hits and the free-spins round will provide a small bump up. High-volatility slots will have a significant percentage of the RTP locked within the bonus (this could be anywhere from 33% to greater than 50%, depending on the design). Game developers hardly ever release information regarding exactly how much of each. However, you can probably tell. If you’ve noticed your balance constantly decreasing due to small wins, it’s probably safe to say the money is being held back until the feature kicks in. The same holds true for average Trigger frequencies. While many mainstream slots tend to land free-spins roughly 1/150 to 1/300 spins on average, extreme volatility slots can extend this length significantly. These are rough estimates and not guarantees. Everyone experiences long losing streaks of 500 or 800 spins.
Free spins vs bonus buy: what you are really paying for
You can choose to bypass the base game and directly enter free-spins via a ‘bonus-buy,’ also referred to as ‘feature-buy.’ By doing so, you’ll need to spend a multiple of your current wager, normally ranging from approximately 50x to 200x, and sometimes even more (for super free-spins variations). Examples of such games include hacksaw gaming’s wanted dead or a Wild and chaos crew 2 and nolimit city’s mental.
Is bonus-buy changing RTP? Normally slightly
While bonus-buy doesn’t typically affect RTP much, there are instances where it does. Often, this is reflected by a slight variation within a fraction of a percent from the base-game RTP. Sometimes, it will be slightly higher, other times slightly lower. As stated previously, check the RTP associated with bonus-buys prior to making a purchase (the game-info screen typically lists this information). Additionally, note that operators can display different RTP figures than those reviewed online.
What bonus buy does change is variance.
Instead of distributing your session funds across numerous cheap base-gamespuns with rare triggers, bonus buy concentrates your session fund into a limited number of expensive entry attempts. An individual who wagers $1 and purchases a 100x feature is essentially wagering $100 with each attempt. A series of Three consecutive flat bonusevents (which is entirely reasonable) will leave you broke. Several jurisdictions, including the u.k., have banned bonus-buys altogether, and i agree with this decision due to how rapidly they drain your session fund.
Will buying free spins ever be worth it?
Only if you are willing to allocate your session budget for bonus-buy ahead of time and accept that each time you buy will likely return less than its cost. Bonus-buy is essentially speed-setting — it is not strategic.
Selecting the right type of free-spins round for your bank-roll
When it comes to matching your bank-roll with your preferred type of bonus-round, i flip rankings based upon who you are. For example, for individuals with $500 and a patient mindset, the best free-spins slots are not going to be the same as the best free-spins slots for players with small bank-rolls.
With small bank rolls, the main goal is to reach the bonus and play it more than once. Therefore, i recommend playing low or medium volatility games with standard or cascading free-spins rounds featuring raining wilds on sticky wilds or hold-and-win rounds that rarely result in empty rounds. You trade off for the chance at larger ceilings but gain longer sessions and more triggers.
Conversely, big win hunters will have reversed logic. They will want to pursue unlimited multipliers, sticky multiplier wilds, premium-expansion styles used in books and super-free-spins mode options. They will also acknowledge lengthy losing periods as required admission costs. Allocate a session budget you can afford to lose entirely and set your bets according to a minimum of at least 2-3 hundred base spinsto support your session duration, and stop when it’s gone.
To assist you with creating a fast reference guide prior to attempting any slot for its bonus-round, below are some of the key items i evaluate:
The RTP listed in the game-information screen, not what is reported in a review.
max win multiplier — this indicates volatility class at-a-glance. Whether or not the free-spins round includes a multiplier, and if so whether or not it resets. Re-triggers: how they occur and whether or not they add spins, multipliers or both. Cost-to-purchase a bonus relative to your wager-size, if purchasing is available. Retriggers: the quiet difference between average & great
Retriggers deserve mention since they are generally the underlying cause for why one bonus pays 30x while another pays 900x. Retriggers are additional free-spins awarded after more scatter symbols are landed during the original free-spins round. In cases where games employ multipliers or sticky-wilds persistently throughout the round, additional spins will be worth considerably more than their face-value because those subsequent spins will continue to utilize whatever multipliers or wilds had been accumulated by previous spins within the round.
Some games introduce a twist on re-Trigger: Bonanza’s Extra spins retain its increasing multiplier, while certain book-of style games will add an additional expanding symbol. Seeing a counter-increasing progressively in a progressive-multiplier game is one of the greatest aspects you can observe on a slot-screen. Know however, that Retriggers are intended to be relatively infrequent and most rounds finish without retriggering.
Frequently asked questions
What type of free spins pays best?
As far as maximum possible payout goes, unlimited & progressive multiplier free-spins are nearly always #1, followed very closely behind by sticky wilds carrying multipliers along with books utilizing premium symbol expansion. What constitutes “best”, obviously depends greatly upon your bank-roll size.
Are free spins using multipliers better?
Multipliers increase ceilings, but generate less successful rounds. A multiplier only truly provides value if actual winning combinations fall during its active window; thusly, a multiplier round that produces little activity could potentially yield less than a basic round.
Sticky wilds good in free spins?
Yes — particularly when the wilds themselves also possess multipliers. The round accumulates over time, resulting in much stronger subsequent spins. Anticipate a fair amount of dead air when early wilds fail to materialize.
What is “book”-style expanding symbol free spin mechanic?
Prior to commencing free spins rounds, one random symbol is designated as an expanding symbol. During free spins rounds, it expands across reels wholly and pays combinations across lines regardless of adjacent reel positions. Book of dead is probably the best known example.
More free spins = bigger wins?
Not necessarily. Eight spins with an unlimited multiplier could beat twenty simple spins hands-down. Additional spins are only valuable when an accumulation mechanism exists such as progressive multiplier or sticky wilds.
Can free spins re-trigger? How does re-trying work?
Most slots allow re-triggers; most games provide rules on how re-triggers function. Typically, re-triggers occur through landing additional scatter symbols during the round. Some games award predetermined amounts of additional spins whereas others award proportional increases based upon the quantity of scatters landed during re-triggers and/or possibly introduce new modifiers. The pay table should explain the specific details.
Does bonus buy change RTP? Are bonus buys high-volatility?
RTP changes from bonus-buy tend to be minimal and most games will list the bonus-buy RTP in their game information screens (typically close to base-game RTP values). Volatility is functionally increased by virtue of your session budget being focused into fewer and consequently more costly entry attempts.
What is best free spins bonus for small budget?
Games employing low-moderate volatility utilizing standard-cascading/free-spins rounds or raining wilds/sticky wilds or hold-and-win rounds utilizing limited symbols will typically provide longest-lasting durations for small budgets.
What is best free spins bonus for large wins?
Games employing unlimited/multiplier progressive free spins or sticky-multiplier wilds and premium symbol expansion in book-styled games provide largest ceilings.
How much of slot’s RTP comes from free spins rounds?
It varies widely based upon design. In low-volatility slots, base-game wins account for most RTP and free-spins rounds contribute minor additions. In high-volatility slots, bonuses tend to contain substantial percentages (sometimes exceeding 50%) of RTP.
Do free spins guarantee wins?
Absolutely not! While some rounds will certainly pay-out less than what was invested to activate said rounds; many rounds may generate zero revenue at all. Anytime you win money through a free-spins round treat it as gravy — do not expect it.
What is difference between free spins & Respins?
Respin: re-spun one or more reels while maintaining various held symbols (usually one to Three times); free spins: a complete bonus-round played under unique conditions and for an agreed-upon number of spins.
Where I would actually point my session budget?
If i am playing purely for fun with limited funds, i prefer cascading/cluster-pays games that incorporate growing multipliers as they offer a decent combination of action and opportunity without depleting my session balance in thirty minutes. If i am in the mood to try my hand at scoring something big i’ll either play an unlimited multiplier Megaways game or a classic such as dead or alive 2 featuring sticky-wilds; but only if i’m comfortable losing money allocated towards pure entertainment purposes.
Regardless of which free-spins round is ranked anywhere on this page, neither can alter the mathematical reality: house edge is embedded in every single game, and ultimately the best bonus round in existence will lose money over time. What selecting an appropriate type of free-spins round will provide you is a gaming experience tailored to your mood and budget; choose accordingly; establish limits prior to your first spin; and let your bonus-round experience be entertaining rather than providing motivation to continue playing.
