As sports betting becomes legalized across more US states, online sportsbooks are doing more and more to stand out against competitors and attract new bettors. Sports betting bonuses are one of the best ways to do this. Many online betting sites offer free bet bonuses to new customers, which means that whether you want to bet on football, soccer, or any other sport, you can take advantage of a free bet for sports betting. Sounds good, right? Compare.bet has everything you need to know about claiming your free bet bonus at top US sportsbooks. We even have a list of free bets offers available at US betting sites, to help you on your way.
Select your state for legal free bet offers:
What are Free Bets?
Free bets might sound like you’re getting something for nothing, but that isn’t always the case. Even at the best US sports betting sites with free bets, you’ll usually need to make a deposit before you can get your hands on a free bet bonus. At other sites, you’ll also need to make a qualifying bet before your bonus is credited to your account.
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Bet MGM - Weekly free bets for regular customers
A standout feature at BetMGM is its Monday Money Club. This promotion gives players a $10 free bet every Monday, providing you’ve placed at least $50 in wagers at odds of -300 or greater during the preceding seven days. What’s more, the BetMGM Rewards program lets you accumulate points as you wager, and these can be redeemed for free bet credits. You can watch sports events live through the BetMGM site, while the native mobile app is as sleek and well-designed as the desktop site.
What we like:
- Live streaming available for select sporting events
- Great range of sports
- ‘Edit My Bet’ tool lets you amend some bets after they’ve been placed
- Provides profit boosts of up to 40% on 4-7 leg parlays
- Attractive site with an upscale feel
What we don't:
- No free bet or deposit match welcome offers
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Draftkings - $150 free bet reward for winning wager
A top sportsbook with great market depth, DraftKings is currently awarding new members $150 in free bets if they make a minimum $5 deposit and place a winning bet of at least $1 on any NHL or NBA moneyline. DraftKings will also give you a free bet for referring someone who isn’t currently a member of DraftKings. If your friend uses your link to join and deposits $25-$49, you’ll both get a $25 free bet. The free bet value rises to $50 if they deposit $50-$99, and to $100 if they deposit $100 or more.
What we like:
- Matched deposit sign-up bonus
- Generous free bet offer for first-time bettors
- Wide selection of sports and markets
- Rewards program gives the chance to earn bet credits
- Well-designed native app
What we don't:
- Steep 25x playthrough on matched deposit bonus
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Fanduel - Free bet for referring a friend
FanDuel members located in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan can earn free bet rewards if they successfully refer friends to the site. Your friend has to sign up through your unique referral link, then make a real money sports wager of at least $10 in order for you both to receive a $50 free bet. FanDuel boasts several other great features, including live streaming of selected events, regular odds boosts and the handy Same Game Parlay Plus betting feature.
What we like:
- Clean, easy-to-navigate interface
- Same Game Parlay Plus lets you combine parlays from different events
- Sprawling selection of sports and markets
- Live streaming of many events
- Risk-free first bet worth up to $1,000
What we don't:
- Free bet referral bonus is only available in select states
- No sportsbook rewards program
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Pointsbet - Rack up points for free bets
PointsBet members can obtain free bets through the site’s loyalty program. It awards you 1 point for every $5 you wager on fixed odds selections, and 1 point for every $1 you wager on parlays and the site’s signature Points Betting selections. You can then redeem points for free bets, with the rewards rising from a $2.50 free bet for 250 points, all the way up to a $1,000 free bet for 100,000 points. Parlay profit boosts and the ability to make partial cash outs are just some of the popular features available at this site.
What we like:
- Daily profit boosts
- Two-part matched deposit welcome bonus
- Points Betting is unique to this sportsbook
- Potentially refunds losing stakes if defeat is down to bad ref calls, injuries, etc
- Big range of sports
What we don't:
- Website could be easier to navigate
- Points Betting can be a risky way to wager
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Bet Rivers - Free bet deals available weekly
Fans of college basketball will be in their element at BetRivers. If you place a minimum $25 wager on a 3+ leg parlay on any Saturday during the promotional period, BetRivers will award you a $10 free bet. BetRivers members can also enjoy a range of profit boosts on various days of the week. For example, a 20% boost on winning NHL bets every Thursday. More benefits can come your way through the iRush Rewards program, which you can keep tabs on through BetRivers’ great native app.
What we like:
- Matched deposit sign-up bonus
- Expansive rewards program
- Selection of profit boosts
- Live streaming of sports events
- Matched deposit welcome bonus with 1x playthrough
What we don't:
- Customer support isn’t available 24/7
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Barstool - No deposit bonus offer for new players
Minimum effort is required to obtain bonus bet credits at Barstool Sportsbook. You just have to successfully register as a new member, and the bookie will credit your account with $10 in bonus funds. What’s more, Barstool will also give you a $5 bonus just for customizing your profile preferences by selecting your favorite sports categories. Barstool provides other perks, including a wealth of live betting markets and the ability to combine different same game parlays.
What we like:
- Bonus funds just for signing up
- Fun, playful site with real personality
- Parlay+ tool for blending parlays
- Impressive rewards program
- Diverse range of sports and betting markets
What we don't:
- Website design could be more user-friendly
- Irreverent tone may not to be all tastes
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Wynn Bet - Big free bet offer for first timers
There’s a generous ‘bet and get’ deal for WynnBET newbies. You’ll need to make a minimum first deposit of $10, then place a minimum $10 bet at odds of -120 or more. Whether you win or lose, the site will award you $200 in free bets. Then, there’s the ‘WynnBET Weekdays’ promotion, which provides a $10 free bet if you wager at least $50 between Monday and Friday the previous week. Other offers abound at the site, with free bets awarded for placing 4+ leg, $20+ basketball and hockey parlays on certain days, and for placing four $50+ basketball bets on weekends.
What we like:
- Multiple free bet promotions
- One hour reduced juice from 5-6pm ET every Thursday
- Free bets can be purchased using loyalty points
- Attractive, well-designed site
- Runs special promotions awarding trips to Wynn resorts
What we don't:
- No live streaming of sports events
Types of Free Bet
There are a few different ways you can claim a free bonus for sports betting. Here are the most common:
Free Bet Welcome Bonuses
Some online sportsbooks have free bets as a welcome bonus for new customers. These offers mean that you get a sports betting bonus when you create a new account. Your free bet welcome offer is usually credited when you make your first deposit, but some sports betting sites may even offer a no deposit bonus, whereby you receive a free bet just for signing up. You’ll usually need to opt-in to receive these bonuses, or you might also need to enter a promo code at some sportsbooks.
Free Bet Promotions
Free bets aren’t just for newbies. Some of the best sports betting sites have free bet offers as part of their regular promotions. Exactly how you claim free bets promotional offers varies between sites. While some sites offer these to punters who have deposited or bet a certain amount, others set up free bet promotions when there’s a big sporting event, such as the Superbowl or World Cup. These free bets may be exclusively for wagers on those set events.
Risk-Free Bets
While a free bet offer works as a free bet credit, a risk-free bet effectively acts as first bet insurance. With these bonuses, online betting sites will give customers their money back if their first bet loses, up to a certain amount.
Free Bets Terms and Conditions
You’ll need to read the full terms and conditions of your free sports betting bonus before you sign up. The exact terms vary between online sportsbooks, but there are a handful of terms that apply to pretty much every bonus offer. These include, but aren’t limited to:
Minimum Deposit Requirements
In most instances, you need to make a deposit before you qualify for a free bet bonus. The minimum qualifying deposit will vary between sportsbooks – while you may only need to deposit $5 at one site, others stipulate that customers must deposit and bet $10 on a specific market before the bonus bet is credited to your account.
Minimum Odds
A sportsbook may set minimum odds restrictions on both your qualifying real money bet and the markets on which you may use your free bet bonus, though some just set these restrictions on the bonus. For example, you may be required to wager your free bet on markets of 1.5 or higher.
Wagering Requirements
Also known as playthrough requirements, wagering requirements most often apply to casino bonus offers, but also apply to some sports betting bonuses. These requirements stipulate how much you must wager in real money bets before you can withdraw any winnings accrued with your bonus token. At some US betting sites, for example, you must wager any winnings 6 times before you can withdraw them as cash.
Market Restrictions
Some free bets offers are to be used on just one betting market, such as football or basketball betting, but you may also be restricted when it comes to the bet types you can make. Even if you have the choice of all sports, you might not be able to use the free bet stake on round robin bets, for example.
Time Limits
Free bets don’t last forever- pretty much every bonus must be used within a specified timeframe. In many instances, your free bet will expire seven days after you claim it.
You may also be subject to maximum win limits, maximum withdrawal restrictions and payment method exclusions, to name just a couple of other rules surrounding the use of free bets online.
Claiming a Free Bet on your Mobile
You don’t have to bet on sports on your desktop to take advantage of a sportsbook’s free bet bonus. The best betting sites make their bonuses available to mobile and desktop players alike, which means you can make a free wager on your favorite sport even when you’re wagering on the sports betting mobile app.
Claimed your reward from our list of free bet bonus deals and want the latest on US sports betting? You can count on Compare.bet to keep you updated on the latest sports betting news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many betting sites stipulate that customers must use their free bet token in its entirety on one wager. This means you cannot split your token across a number of smaller bets.
Not usually. You can usually use just one sports betting bonus at a time. This means that you’ll need to pick between the free bet and the enhanced odds offer, for example.
No. Most betting sites set rules that stipulate bettors must use their free bet token to wager on sports and that they must wait for the event to finish before they can withdraw any winnings.
This depends on the betting site in question. While some betting offers can only be used on future sporting events, others allow you to bet on a game or race while the action is underway. This is perfect if an underdog looks like they might be in with a chance of winning.
Yes, at some sportsbooks. While some US betting sites set restrictions on certain e-wallet deposits, you can often use alternative payment methods, including PayPal and debit and credit card deposits, to claim other bookies’ free bet offers.