Contrary to popular belief, generally the amount that you are gifted has nothing to do with how little or how much money you win or lose. It's all about timing! Casinos want to know that you are spending time in the casino. If you walked in the casino and lostR$1000 in 5 minutes, you may getR$5 in FreePlay next month.
Additionally, "free play" is a way for the casino to control the amount of money that is spent within their establishment. It also allows the casino to offer a prize without directly giving out cash, which may have legal and regulatory implications.