The Pros and Cons of Free Bet Offers You Need to Know
Operator: Pros & Cons
- Great coverage – lots of offers available
- Place bets with no outlay
- Possible to win real money
- Perfect for new customers
- Can provide good value for regular bettors
- Strict T&Cs apply
What Are the Main Types of Free Sports Bets Available Online?
Take it from me that when it comes to the best sports betting bonus offers, knowing what to look for can make all the difference. Whether you’re new to sports betting online or are simply on the market for the best free bet deals of the moment, this guide has you covered with the types of offers to look out for and the T&Cs to bear in mind.
| Type of free bet offer | Key details | Example | T&Cs to watch out for |
| Welcome free bets | Free bets are considered an attractive incentive when joining a new sportsbook, so it’s no surprise that countless brands offer them as part of their welcome packages. | Deposit and bet $10 to receive $50 in free bets. | Free bets attached to a welcome bonus often have short expiry windows, so make sure you check the details so you know how long you have to use the bonus. |
| No-deposit free bets | In some cases, you might be able to score a free bet without depositing at a new sportsbook. They’re a little rare and do have strict T&Cs, so proceed with caution. | Claim your first $10 bet with no deposit required. | “Too good to be true” is a mantra to live by when approaching no-deposit sportsbook deals. Look out for high wagering requirements attached to bonus bet winnings. |
| Risk-free bets | Also known as “second-chance bets”, risk-free bets are offered on a win-or-lose basis, so you can place a wager knowing that you’ll get a refund if you lose. | Enjoy a risk-free bet of up to $50 on your first EPL wager. | Risk-free bets typically have a fixed minimum odds requirement, so make sure your qualifying wager falls within these parameters. |
| Fixture-specific free bets | Big game coming up? Look out for promotional free bet offers. Some bookies see marquee fixtures as a chance to drum up business with an eye-catching bonus bet deal. | Grab a free $25 bet on Arsenal vs Manchester City, this Friday in the EPL. | Match-specific bet offers only apply to listed games for a very limited time. Look out for minimum odds, too. |
| Sportsbook credit reloads | To incentivize regular bettors to deposit again, some bookies offer deposit-match reload bonuses, granting free bet credit on top of your cashed-in sum. | 100% deposit-match reload offer up to $100 in bet credit. | Bet credit is often rewarded in single-bet intervals (for example, x4 $25 free bets). Look out for exclusions on bet types and teams, too. |
That’s not an exhaustive list of the various promotional bet offers you can cinch when utilising sports betting bonus codes, but it should give you an idea of the main types of deals available. Bookies tend to offer a mix of free bet promos, including some fantastic new user bonuses and betting offers.
How Do Sports Betting Free Bets Work?
Grabbing a free bet offer on your favourite online sportsbook is usually a pretty straightforward process, although it’s important that you remember to check over the T&Cs of the bonus in question. For those who’ve never claimed bonus bets at an online bookmaker before, here’s a basic look at how the process unfolds (assuming that you’re claiming bonus bets at a brand-new online sportsbook).
- Make sure you find a legit promo at a reputable sportsbook, as there are plenty of bogus deals out there and many others that have either expired or that may not be available in your region. Need a little inspiration? You’ll find a selection of expert-approved sportsbook offers in the banners around this page.
- Read the offer’s small print and T&Cs from top to bottom, just so you know exactly what’s required, what the rules are, and when the bonus is scheduled to expire. Free bet bonus T&Cs offer a blueprint of how to claim a specific promo, so make sure you’re familiar with all the core details.
- Check expert and user ratings for the brand in question, ensuring that it’s available in your region. I know just how easy it is to get blindsided by a particularly attractive sportsbook offer, but it’s important not to overlook the essentials – like whether it’s a reputable bookmaker, for example. These kinds of due diligence checks are super important, whether you’re claiming free sportsbook bets or casino free spins.
- All set and confident that you’re in the company of a legit bookmaker? Go ahead and register for a new account. Note that you may need to drop in a sportsbook promo code to activate the free bet deal in question, so do that when prompted during sign-up.
- Often, online sportsbooks will require you to verify your phone number and/or email address before your account is fully up and running. Take care of any of these requirements before proceeding to the next step.
- With your new sportsbook account open and active, your next step may be to make your first deposit (unless you’re claiming a no-deposit sportsbook bonus, of course). Proceed to make your first deposit, ensuring that you add enough funds to meet the minimum requirement.
- Checking that there isn’t a minimum odds requirement or other qualifying criteria, place your first wager on an eligible sports betting market.
- The next step will depend on the kind of bonus you’re claiming. For most types of free bet offers, your free bet allowance will be automatically credited to your account, ready for you to use on qualifying sportsbook markets.
Naturally, this guide is purely for reference only and may not reflect the exact requirements of the offer you’re claiming. So long as you check the bonus T&Cs thoroughly and avoid betting beyond your limits, you should be ready to take advantage of the best free bet offers on the web.
Consider These Sports Betting Sites for Online Free Bet Deals
I promised that I would give you some tips and advice on the best betting sites for free bet deals, so here we go. I’ve handpicked three reputable bookies that regularly dish out free bet offers, and, depending on your location, you may be able to pick up additional promos like no-deposit free spins on these platforms, too.
A slight caveat before I launch into my shortlist: since this guide is intended for international readers, I can’t guarantee that all the promos mentioned will be available in your location. Bookies with global reach tend to offer different deals by region, so the bonuses I personally received on my version of these sites may look a little different from those in your country of origin.
With that in mind, the following information should be treated as a reference only, and is based purely on my experience of using these sportsbook retailers. For an accurate look at the different free bet sportsbook promos, be sure to check out the offers listed on the banners around this page as they’re tailored to your region.
Stake.com – A Swathe of Sportsbook Deals Are Up for Grabs
Stake.com is pretty much world-renowned for the strength of its promotional offering, with the brand excelling in bringing new, creative bonuses and deals to the table. In my time using Stake for sports betting, I’ve encountered “bet and get” style free bet offers, along with promotional bonus bets attached to accumulators. Occasionally, Stake.com releases match-specific free bet promos, too, so I find that it’s always worth checking out the brand’s “Promos” page to keep track of the different deals that are on the table in your region.
Â
I should also mention that you can benefit from an exclusive welcome bonus at Stake.com when you use our exclusive code, , at sign-up. This offer entitles you to a 200% bonus up to $2,000 on your first deposit at Stake, with the offer available across both the brand’s sportsbook and casino portals. Of course, the usual T&Cs apply, and it’s important to check that Stake is available in your country of origin before you attempt to claim this offer.
Betano – “Second Chance” and “Bet and Get” Promos Are Regularly Featured Here
Betano has quietly become one of the world’s most popular sports betting retailers, owing to its deep sports market coverage, awesome in-built analysis tools, and, of course, its eye-catching promotions. Of course, free bet offers can differ broadly by location, so the bonuses that I was able to claim on the site may not be exactly the same as what you’ll get.
Â
That said, it’s worth saying that Betano is no stranger to “bet and get” offers either; I was able to bet £10, get £30 in free bets when I signed up to use the site. There’s also sport-specific free bet offers of a similar persuasion, with horse race bettors receiving the biggest allocation of free bets (£40) on my regional version of the site. Elsewhere, I was frequently offered second-chance bet deals at Betano, so you might like to look out for similar deals, too.
888 Sports – Look Out for Insurance, Bet and Get, and Event-Based Bonus Bets at 888
Since signing up at 888 Sports, all kinds of promos have crossed my desk, many offering the chance to place free bets on qualifying sports markets. While the brand does offer lots of different deals across its global platform, you might be able to pick up similar promos to the ones I was privy to; bet and get, insurance, and event-based free bets were all part of the promotional offering when I last tested 888 Sports in my neck of the woods.
Â
Should you decide to sign up at 888 Sports, be on the lookout for the brand’s bonus T&Cs. While these may differ slightly by region, I found that most of the retailer’s promos had a 7-day expiry window, so you don’t have a whole lot of time to both use and redeem your free bet credit. Note, too, that 888 Sports ran weekly “bet and get” offers on my regional version of the site, so there were definitely lots of opportunities to pick up free bets.
Daily Promos
Daily Fantasy at its Best!
Learn MoreReady to Claim Free Bets Online? Check the Page Banners for Top Offers!
So, there you have it, a definitive guide to free bet sportsbook promotions, including a handful of examples from trusted brands like Stake.com, Betano, and 888 Sports. You can also check out my guide to new betting sites for more options. In my experience, free bet promos are pretty easy to come by at reputable sports betting sites, both as a new customer and a regular bettor. Of course, sportsbook welcome offers tend to offer the best free bet promos, but you should look out for second-chance and event-specific bonus bets, too.
Don’t forget that all the sportsbook promos featured in this guide were cited for illustrative purposes only. I’ve featured some of the best free bet deals for your region in the banners around this page, so be sure to check them out. That said, all that’s left for you to do is to pick your favorite betting site with free bets and enjoy responsibly!
Betting Sites With Free Bets FAQs
Can you withdraw sportsbook free bets?
You won’t be able to withdraw the value of a free bet at cash out betting sites until you’ve used it to place a qualifying wager. If you win your bet, you will be able to withdraw any winnings, provided that no wagering requirements apply. Note, too, that you won’t be able to withdraw the free bet sum, only the winnings accrued.
When do free sportsbook bets expire?
That depends on the promotion in question. However, in my experience, you usually have 7 days from the date that you activated a bonus to use the free bet credit and satisfy any additional wagering requirements and T&Cs.
Do all free bets have wagering requirements?
Not always, no. While wagering requirements are relatively common, they don’t apply to all types of bonus bet deals, particularly in cases where other T&Cs (like minimum qualifying bet and minimum odds) apply.
