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:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
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.
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
Do I need to use my free bet bonus all at once?
Yes. Many betting sites stipulate that customers may use their free bet token in its entirety on one wager. This means you cannot split your token across a number of smaller bets.
Can I use a free bet token in combination with another offer?
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.
Can you cash out free bets?
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.
Can I use my free bet bonus to bet on in-play sporting events?
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.
Are PayPal deposits eligible for free bet offers?
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.
