Free Spins Feature Slot Games

Free spins are one of the pivotal features of slot games. It is a common type of bonus or feature round that allows you to spin the reels without using any credits.

One of the most common and popular bonus features in online slots is the Free Spins bonus.

Free Spins offer you the chance to seriously increase your winnings. The bonus varies from slot to slot, and from developer to developer, but essentially they do the same thing: you are awarded a set or a random number of free games, sometimes with a multiplier attached to your winnings. Spins can be re-triggered or reactivated again and again during the bonus. You may even find extra bonus symbols and Wilds included when you play the feature. They offer a great way of improving your balance.

What Are Free Spins?

Free spins are a regular bonus feature of many online slots generally awarded in-game by lining up special symbols or landing Scatters. In their most basic form, they promise players free games to help boost their winnings. Many games have fixed spins with a special multiplier attached. You might, for example, win 10 free spins with a 3x multiplier added to any wins. Once the round is over, you will return to the base game and continue playing. Any wins from the free spins round are added to your balance when the round finishes.

How Do You Trigger Free Spins?

Normally, free spins are triggered in three ways. You can either trigger free spins by landing three or more bonus symbols anywhere on the reels, by randomly triggering a free spins bonus after a paid spin, or by collecting a certain number of special symbols that results in the triggering of free spins.

Foremost, look at the slot paytable, from where you can learn more about finding the symbols needed to trigger the Free Spins round. Usually, they will be Scatters - symbols that pay wherever they land on the reels (i.e. they don't need to be on a pay line to trigger a win). Listed on the payable will be a description of the feature and any added extras. In general the more Scatters you hit, the more free spins you will win. So, three Scatters might trigger 10 free spins, four Scatters 20 spins, and five Scatters 30 spins (in addition to any regular payline wins).

Types of Free Spins Features.

Fixed Free Spins With Multipliers

The most common form of free spins bonus is a set number of spins with a multiplier attached.

Variable Free Spins and Multipliers

Many slots providers prefer to offer more spins the more Scatters you trigger the round with.

The 'Second Screen'

Some slots have your free spins done on the same screen you play the base game on. However, others have a separate 'second screen' packed with interesting symbols and possibly loaded with extra bonus symbols.

Choice of Spins and Multipliers

Some slots give you no choice on how many spins you win. Other titles give you a choice between three or four spins totals and multipliers. Usually, your choice will between lots of spins and a low multiplier or a few spins but a big multiplier. Do you opt for fewer spins but big multipliers or go for volume?

The 'Pick 'em Bonus'

Some developers make the free spins feature a little more interesting. Rather than give you a fixed amount or award more for hitting more Scatters, you'll have to play a quick Pick 'em or Skill game first. Once the mini-game is over, the free spins will begin. Other developers implement a short Pick 'em bonus first: select from a choice of objects to reveal your free spins total.