Why Free Spins Feel More Exciting Than Real Wins

Everyone loves winning, no matter whether we’ve won big or only a little. Not only do our brains release feel-good chemicals every time we win, but we also walk away with more money.

So, why do wins feel so much more exciting when we’re spinning the reels with free spins than with our own money?

Let’s break down all the different types of free spins and talk about why players get more excited over wins made for free than with their own money.

What Are Free Spins?

Free Spin Casino Bonuses: Some online casinos offer players free spins to check out new games or as a bonus for signing up for a casino account.

These spins cannot be exchanged for cash and have no real-world value. You’ll need to play them first and possibly satisfy wagering requirements before you can withdraw winnings.

Slot Machine Free Spins: Some slot machines award free spins for landing select symbol combinations (or possibly a single free spins symbol).

You can play these spins without using your bankroll.

Slot Machine Bonus Rounds: When you land a combination of scatters, you can get a chance at the bonus round, where you’ll play with free spins.

5 Reasons Why Free Spins Feel More Exciting Than Real Wins

So, why do players love free spin wins so much anyway? Isn’t winning with free spins the same as winning with real money? Not necessarily.

Here are five reasons why the joy of winning feels that much sweeter when you’re playing with free spins.

1. You Feel Like You’ve Won 2x

When you win with free spins, you’ve technically won twice: once when you win the free spin and once when you win the spin itself.

No matter whether you receive free spins as a bonus or within a game, your brain releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical that enhances your freebie.

When you win for a second time when playing that free spin, those dopamine hits are doubled.

2. You’re Getting Something for Free

Everyone loves free stuff, right? Especially when you would have used your own money to play a slot machine.

Getting free spins can keep your hard-earned cash in your wallet while allowing you to play with seemingly less risk (but we’ll talk more about that in a second).

3. You Don’t Need to Spend Your Own Money

When you play with free spins, you’re not dipping into your casino budget to play slot games. You’ll either keep more money for yourself or have more money in your budget to continue playing.

4. You Might Feel as Though There’s Less Risk Involved

Playing with free spins feels like the smarter choice. Since you’re not betting with your own money, it’s not such a big deal if you lose.

Plus, when you spin the reels with your own money, you technically need to deduct the amount you’ve won from your original stake.

It’s important to remember that casinos don’t give away free spins out of the goodness of their hearts. They do it in the hopes that you will continue to play and they will continue to make money.

5. You Get to Try New Games

A lot of online casinos offer free spins for newly released games. By accepting these spins, you agree that you’ll only be able to play them on select games.

Even though you’re limited to certain slot machines, you’ll still be able to try out new games and see if you like them.

When you win these free spins, you’re not only winning, but you’re also discovering games you might not have tried otherwise.