Guides
Free spins vs. deposit match: what is the difference?
A deposit match adds bonus money to your balance, while free spins are rounds on one named game, often with wagering on the winnings and a cap on what you can withdraw. When a welcome offer shows both, they are two separate products, and Root Score rates the cash match on the first deposit.
5 min · Updated 4 Sep 2026
Keep these
- 100 free spins on one game are a different offer from a 100% match, and the limits and wagering on spins are usually stricter.
- The cash match comes with a wagering requirement, while the spins are a set number of rounds on one game, usually with wagering on the winnings and a cap.
- Ice gives 150 spins on Joker Stoker, which is why we have a separate page for that slot.
- Lucky7even’s first stage is 100% plus spins, and Root Score rates the cash part of that first deposit.
- Root Score rates the cash bonus; free spins do not make a 40x requirement easier.
The named game
Ice gives 150 spins on Joker Stoker, which is why we have a separate page for Joker Stoker. The spins are only useful if the game counts 100% toward wagering, the spins stay under the maximum bet, and the cap on winnings is high enough to matter. If the named game is highly volatile, the spins are a gamble on a big hit rather than steady progress.
Example: Lucky7even’s first deposit
The first stage is 100% up to €500 plus 50 spins on Elvis Frog in Vegas or Gold Rush with Johnny Cash. The spins are part of that first offer, and unclaimed spins expire after 14 days. The terms do not state a spin value. Root Score rates the first deposit. CLAIM50, CLAIM75 and CLAIM100 are later deposits.
What Root Score rates
Root Score rates the cash bonus: its wagering, whether it applies to the bonus (B) or to bonus plus deposit (B+D), its deadline and its limits. Spins can change a note on fairness, but they do not make a 40x requirement easier. No-deposit spins are covered in their own guide; this one is about spins that come with a deposit bonus.
FAQ
Are free spin winnings paid as cash?
It depends on the terms. Winnings from free spins are often credited as bonus money, carry their own wagering requirement and have a cap on what you can withdraw. Wager-free spins are the exception. Check the free spins section of the bonus terms to see which rules apply to your offer.
Why does Root Score not count the spins?
Root Score rates the cash bonus on the first deposit, because its wagering, base, deadline and limits are stated in the terms and can be compared across casinos. Spins depend on one game, a spin value and a cap, which are often not stated, so they are noted separately instead.
Do free spins expire?
Often, yes. Many casinos give a fixed number of days to claim and play the spins, and unused spins are removed afterwards. At Lucky7even, unclaimed spins expire after 14 days. The deadline for the spins can differ from the deadline for the cash bonus, so check both in the terms.
18+. T&Cs apply. Never chase a bonus to get even.