No such thing as a free lunch?

They say that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but occasionally, with a new restaurant or when an outlet has a promotion, you get the next best thing.

There’s usually a catch with any free lunch (Photo by Charles Rondeau / Public Domain CC0)

They say that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but occasionally, with a new restaurant or when an outlet has a promotion, you get the next best thing. It’s a useful analogy when it comes to thinking about free spins offers, too, because many of the motivations and restrictions are the same. Think of your online casino as your local restaurant, and you’ll soon start to understand what their “free lunch” gives you, and how you can make the most of the offer.

Restrictions

Like any restaurant offer, even if you choose among the better free spins deals, you will inevitably be restricted. You won’t be able to choose from the whole menu of slots on offer, and there will usually be limits on when your free spins are valid. Some are only available for 48 hours, to get you playing fast before you lose interest, while others deliver your free spins a few at a time, to keep you coming back again and again in the hope that you will form a habit. Just like with a “Tuesdays only between 12 and 2” restaurant deal, you need to make sure you are ready to use your free spins when they are available.

On the plus side, even trying limited dishes at a restaurant gives you an idea of the overall quality of the cooking and service. The same is true with online casinos. You may not be able to use your free spins on all the machines, but you will get a feel for the casino and how simple it is to play.

Earning Your Free Lunch

Loyalty may not be optional if you want your free spin winnings (Photo by Nick Webb / CC BY 2.

Another way restaurants and coffee houses give away freebies is by encouraging their customers to visit regularly to collect points or stamps that go toward free stuff. Sometimes, you find that online casinos use the same approach, making you earn that “free lunch.” Check the small print and see if you must earn loyalty points, through playing cash games, before you can withdraw any promotional winnings.

Even if you don’t have to risk real cash, you may still find that you must earn your “free lunch” by betting your free spins winnings over and over, up to 40 or 50 times, before you can take any profits. That’s called wagering, and it both build the habit of playing and reducing the risk of the casino has to pay out.

Too good to be true?

Just like any dining promotion, the more you appear to get for free, the more cautious you should be. Casinos don’t want to give away cash any more than restaurants want to give away food. Always check the small print to see what you get and what you must do to earn that free lunch.

That is especially true when it comes to winnings. You wouldn’t expect to order from the a la carte menu on a free meal offer, and similarly, you won’t be able to play for the multimillion-dollar progressive jackpots with your free spins. Your winnings will usually cap in one of two ways: either at around $100 or much lower at $5 or $10. So, if you want free cash, then you need to look out for the lower caps. The bigger the cap on your winnings, the harder you must work to get it whereas you will generally find that smaller amounts pay like free taster samples in withdrawable cash.

Try Before You Buy

There is nothing more disappointing than trying out a new restaurant, at a significant expense, only to find that you don’t like it. Like a “free lunch,” free spins are an excellent way of avoiding this scenario by letting you test out a new online casino at no cost. But make sure that you eat for free, and not only getting a two-for-one deal where you must pay at least half. And though deposit-match offers may seem generous, you still must put up your cash before you taste the offerings and ambiance of the casino. It is much better to look for real free offers that do not involve any upfront commitment from you. That way, if you decide you do like the place, there is plenty of time to invest your hard-earned cash later.

Understand the Game

Thinking of free spins as a “free lunch” is an excellent way of comparing the hundreds of different deals available. Just remember that like a restaurant, the casino wants to tempt you in and get you to spend, subtly selling you up with attractive starters and desserts. It takes focus and determination to go in and get your free main course without spending anything else, but it is doable. Once you understand the game played, it is much easier to come away as a winner and enjoy a full belly without emptying your pockets.