Do Free Spins Expire? | Our Experts Explain Validity Periods
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Did you ever lose your free spins bonuses because they expired? Our OnlineCasino365 experts believe the fine print of the free spin offers regarding the time limits to use them is too often ignored. Don’t leave your promotions unused, learn how to maximise your free spins playtime!
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Understanding Free Spins and How Time Limits Work
Free spins are bonuses usually given by online casino operators to accustom new or existing players to their most popular pokies or pokie providers. You will generally find these types of deals restricted to a single game or software developer. However, there are rare cases where you will be able to play any pokie of your choosing out of the entire catalogue.
There are two types of free spin promotions, the most common one is spins on deposit, but recently websites have started to offer no-deposit bonus rounds. To make the offers fair on both sides, on top of wagering requirements, operators are limiting the use of the extra rounds by hours, days or even weeks.
The Claiming Period Limit
Most times, after you make a qualifying deposit for a bonus, you will have a set period of time to claim the spins on the promotional pokie, this means opening the game and spinning the first reel to activate the free rounds.
The Usage Time Cap
After you claim your free rounds, they will most likely have a limited availability which will be dictated by the bonus terms and conditions imposed by the website. You must understand how much time you have to play them so you don’t feel like you need to keep playing not to waste your offer.
The Wagering Completion Period
Once you have used all of your extra spins, you will enter the rollover completion period in which you need to stake your winnings the required amount of times so you can cash out your earnings. It’s a good idea first to understand how to complete wagering efficiently before you claim a promotion with challenging conditions.
Typical Validity Periods for Free Spins
The lifespan of bonus spins can range anywhere from just 24 hours up to 30 days or more at some online casinos. However, the most common validity period for free rounds is between 3-7 days at major gambling sites. This means players have around a week to use up the spins before they vanish.
The validity period depends on factors like the generosity of the individual operator and the size of the free spin offer. Larger bundles of 50 or 100+ spins may come with longer expiry periods of 2-4 weeks.
Smaller bundles of 10-30 spins often have shorter 1-7 day periods. Newer operators also tend to offer longer expiry dates to attract new users to their platforms.
Here are some example validity periods at major casinos:
- SpinCasino – 7 days
- JackpotCity – 3 days
- Ruby Fortune – 5 days
- Royal Vegas – 30 days
- Casumo – 7 days
- PlayOJO – 30 days for the Book of Dead free spins
As shown, timeframes range from 72 hours up to 30 days. Checking the fine print is key to making the most of the expiry window.
Maximizing the Value of Free Spins
To optimize your bonus spins, learn how to pick the best pokies to use your promotional rounds on, and keep these tips in mind:
- Play on low variance pokies – These award smaller wins more frequently and prolong your play.
- Bet small – Lower bet sizes mean your spins last longer before running out.
- Play max lines – This increases your odds of landing more winning combinations.
- Set a time budget for play – Spread out your spin use over the expiry period.
- Claim spins on mobile – You can use spins conveniently on the go before they lapse.
- Look for free spin reactivation – Some casinos let you reactivate expired spins.
What Happens When Free Spins Expire?
It’s always regrettable to miss out on the value of bonus rounds by letting them expire. Make sure to avoid the drawbacks of seeing your free spins tick down to zero because these include:
- Losing the chance to win real money without investing any more funds.
- Missing out on potential jackpots. Even if unlikely, free spins could lead to a big payout.
- Having to forfeit the spins with no compensation. Casinos take back expired spins.
- Diminished chance of cashing out any winnings. Any unused spins likely reduce your withdrawal potential.
Can Expired Spins Be Reactivated?
The ability to reactivate expired free rounds depends on the policy of the individual online casino. Some casinos will allow players to contact customer support and request a one-time reactivation of unused bonus spins. This may only apply to certain free spin offers.
How to Request Expired Free Spin Reactivation
- Contact casino customer support via live chat or email
- Explain you were unable to use your spins before they expired
- Ask politely if the expired spins can be reactivated
- If the casino allows it, they may reactivate them as a one-time goodwill gesture
- Some casinos prohibit reactivating expired spins per their policy
- If reactivated, use your spins quickly so they don’t run out again
- Reactivation may only be allowed once per player
- Check casino terms for reactivation rules before contacting support
- Be polite in request, don’t demand or assume reactivation is allowed
While not universally offered, the ability to reactivate lapsed bonus rounds is a valuable perk to look for. Be aware that casinos will likely limit how often they grant reactivation, though. Check the casino rules, and if possible, request a one-time reactivation to recoup the value from your expired free spins.
Compare Expiration Policies at Different Casinos
Our main recommendation is to never go for free spins with less than 24-hour expiration periods because these bring unnecessary pressure that you shouldn’t have while playing for your entertainment.
By learning to pick the right promotion, you will never have to worry about running out of time or having to play more than you intend. The best NZ bonuses will never pressure you into spending more time on the website than you need to and are simply designed to be a good source of recreational gaming.
Offers to Look Out For
The user-oriented NZ gaming sites will always offer you free spin promotions with very friendly terms and conditions, long periods to claim and use the deals, favourable wagering conditions and high cashout limits. Always look for these kinds of operators so you don’t feel pressured into playing outside your means, both time-wise and fund-wise.
Promotions You Should Claim with Caution
Some online gambling sites are less player-friendly and offer very short expiry periods on free spins. On these platforms, you have to use your extra rounds quickly before they vanish. The short time windows limit your ability to use spins strategically. Always check expiry rules before claiming spins.
Don’t Let Your Free Spins Go to Waste
Free spins are fun but don’t last forever. You need to use them wisely before they expire. Know how long extra spins last at different casinos. Use our OnlineCasino365 tips to get the most out of them while they are valid.
Play smaller bets to make them last. Compare casinos to find those giving more time to use free rounds. If your spins do expire, see if you can get the casino to reactivate them.
The main advice is not to waste your spins. Use them up while you can to get the most value. Follow our tips to make spins more rewarding and long-lasting. Even though they expire, you can still have plenty of entertaining playtime if you use them right.