Free bets might sound too good to be true, but this betting bonus really does give you the chance to make wagers without using your own bankroll. But how do they work, and how exactly punters get the chance to claim a free bet offer? We’ve got the lowdown on this betting offer and how free bets can give you a chance to win real money without putting your own money on the line. Household names and new betting sites alike offer this bonus deal, and we’ve highlighted the very best in our list of recommendations. Check out our list of the recommended betting sites with free bet bonuses to get started.
Beginner’s Guide to Free Bets
While the idea of a free bet remains the same, there’s more than one way to cash in on the generosity of the top online bookies. From matched bet deals to promotional free bet tokens and weekly free bet clubs, there’s plenty to choose from. We take a look at some of the most popular free bets bonuses to help you pick out the best offer for you.
Free Bet Welcome Bonus
Free bets are a popular welcome bonus at top online bookies, as they’re a great way to entice new customers. What better way to stand out in a competitive market than giving punters something for nothing? But even free bet welcome bonuses come in different forms. The most common free bet welcome bonus sees bookies offer a set value free bet to all players, but here are some of the other new customer free bet offers you’ll find:
Matched Bet
Rather than stating a set value, some online free bet promotions match a percentage of your first bet. These are popular betting bonuses as they allow you to determine the size of your bet – the more you wager on your first punt, the bigger your bonus bet. Of course, there’s always a limit on the value of the free bet you can receive. So if you see a “100% matched bet up to £30”, your free bet will be capped at £30 even if you wager more on the qualifying stake.
No Deposit Free Bet
Arguably the most attractive offer on the market, a no deposit free bet does what it says on the tin – you get a bet at the expense of the bookie without even making a deposit. While this is a great opportunity to essentially try before you buy, don’t expect the bookies to break the bank here – no deposit free bets are rarely worth more than £10. Unfortunately, this deal is as enticing as it is rare; bookies offering no deposit free bets online are few and far between.
Money Back Free Bet
These free bet bonuses see betting sites offer players a free bet if their first bet doesn’t come in. Think of this offer as a consolation prize should your first bet lose. The free bet may be equal to your stake, but only up to a certain amount – “free bet up to £40 on your first losing bet”, for example.
Free Bet Promotions
Free bets are a great way of attracting new customers, but many of our handpicked top bookies offer the best free bets promotions to keep existing players coming back too. While some sportsbooks reward players with free bets when they put money on certain markets, others offer event-based promotions. These are some of the types of free bet promotions you can expect from sports betting sites.
Regular promotions
Many bookies offer promotions which allow punters to have their stake returned in certain situations. For example, you might receive your first goalscorer stake as a free bet if the football match ends scoreless. Of course, there will always be limits to how much you are eligible to receive, but this is usually clearly stated beforehand.
Event-based promotions
The biggest sporting events present a huge number of betting opportunities and of course, the top online betting sites want to prevent their existing customers from heading elsewhere. To keep punters coming back, bookies often offer event-based free bets promotions. Let’s say the Rugby World Cup Final is coming up, “Bet £20 and get a £5 free bet” is an example of such an offer.
Loyalty Reward Free Bet
The best online gambling sites often reward frequent bettors with some sort of loyalty scheme. Casinos, for example, often allow players to accumulate loyalty reward points which can be spent on casino games. Sportsbooks, on the other hand, reward punters with free bets. All you’ll need to do is bet a predetermined amount in a certain space of time, for instance, £20 in a week and you will be rewarded with a free bet. These are often referred to as “Free Bet Clubs”.
Free bet restrictions
Free bets are great, but there are a few factors to bear in mind before you sign up to claim. The biggest free bet isn’t always the best deal, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for when you’re looking for free bets bonuses:
Minimum odds
Most free bet offers stipulate minimum odds for both qualifying for and wagering your bonus,and these odds vary from site to site. You’ll often need to make the qualifying bet at odds of 1:1 or over, but the minimum odds for free bets tokens can vary dramatically between sites. Of course, this might impact the markets you were intending to bet on, meaning that particular free bets bonus isn’t right for you.
Market restrictions
Many free bets bonuses also have market restrictions, which means you can only qualify for the bonus, and use bonus bets, when betting on certain markets. These market restrictions will vary from site to site, and could prevent you from betting on your favourite sports, so keep an eye out for the terms and conditions.
Time limits
As with all betting bonuses, free bet offers usually come with time limits. This means you’ll need to use your bonus bet in a specified amount of time before it expires. While some sites will give players just a couple of days to use this bonus, others offer more than two weeks.
Wagering requirements
Wagering requirements are less common with free bets bonuses, but it’s important to keep an eye out for them. These requirements stipulate how much you must wager before you can withdraw any winnings you’ve earned with your bonus.
How to claim your free bet bonus
- Compare sports betting sites
Before you claim a bonus, you’ll need to compare bookmakers to find the right one for you. We’ve made this process nice and easy by bringing you the very best free bet deals from the top sports betting sites, highlighting the terms and conditions to help you understand what you’re signing up for. As well as free bets, you can use our carefully curated list and specialist reviews to find out about the markets on offer, payment methods, withdrawal times and much more. - Sign up and opt in
Once you’ve found the right sportsbook for you, it’s time to create your account. Registering at our recommended online betting sites is as simple – all you need to do is follow the link to head straight to the sign up page. Once there, you’ll just need to provide some basic personal details to get started. When creating your account, remember to opt in to the free bet offer- it’s usually as simple as ticking a box, but some sites will require a promo code. - Deposit
Nearly there! It’s time to head to the cashier page to make your first deposit – unless you’ve been lucky enough to bag a no deposit free bet! The online bookies we’ve recommended boast a wide range of secure payment methods, from the traditional bank transfer and bank card payments to betting sites that accept PayPal deposits, prepaid cards, and pay by phone bill options. Your deposit should be credited to your account almost instantly, so you can start betting right away. - Claim your free bet
The only thing left to do now is stake your qualifying bet and claim your bonus! Bear in mind the minimum bet and minimum odds requirements to be sure your wager qualifies for the bonus. Your free bet bonus will be credited to your account almost instantly- good luck!
Claim your free bet!
Whether you’re a new customer looking for a top free bet offer, or a returning punter after a freebie, our top list of bookies is sure to give you what you’re looking for. We’ve scoured the internet for the best free bet offers at the most reputable licensed bookies, each with competitive odds, amazing promotions and outstanding market depth on major sports. All that’s left for you to do is compare, sign up and claim your free bet!