The Fresh Bookies Guide to Free Bets
Ever checked out a fresh bet, only to think ‘Nah this looks too risky for me.’ If only there was a way to place bets for free, without the risk of putting your cash on the line. Well folks, bookmakers around the net cooked up a bonus deal that does just that! Sports Betting free bets are one of the most sought-after bonuses, but what exactly do they offer? Are these bets really free or is there a whole lot of fine print that comes with them? We’ll give you all these answers and more, even giving you a look at the freshest free bet around.
So… What is a Free Bet?
So, let’s get right to it, shall we? Sportsbook free bets do exactly what it says on the tin, giving you a set of bonus wagers on the house. They’re mostly offered as a welcome bonus and can be claimed when you make your first deposit or wager. Simple, right? Well, even though free bets can be claimed and used easily enough, they do come with their fair share of terms and conditions. We’ll walk you through the most common of these regulations, but boring as it may be, we suggest you do your homework and read a bonus’ terms and conditions thoroughly before signing up for anything. You’ll thank us later!
How do Free Bets Work?
Itching to get your hands on a free bet bonus yet? You’ll get there soon enough, but first, we’ll walk you through the way these bonuses work. Most free sports bet offers are given as a welcome bonus and get activated with your first deposit or wager. But sportsbooks have gotten creative over time, creating different free bet types that you can enjoy in a variety of ways. Have a look at the free bet bonus types we’ve outlined below, and you’re bound to find the one that suits you best.
Stake Not Returned (SNR)
We’re kicking things off with a tricky free bet type. Whenever you place a wager, any winnings you make will include the money you staked in the first place. So, if you place a bet of £10 on 4/1 odds, you’d get a return of £40. But some free bets follow an SNR (Stake Not Returned) method, where your initial stake is removed from the winnings themselves. So, an SNR win from a wager of £10 with 4/1 odds, will give you a £30 return instead.
Matched Free Bet
The most common free bet bonus type around, matched free bets give you your bonus wagers in exchange for a wager you place using real money. In most cases, the bonus offers something like £10 wager for £30 free bets. This means that if you place a wager of £10, the sportsbook will match you with £30 in free bets. These bonuses can also ask that you wager at specific odds, with most bookies asking that you place bets with odds at a minimum of 1/2.
Matched Deposit
Rather than matching free bets with your wagers, matched deposit bonuses are awarded upon placing your first deposit. An offer can ask for a £10 deposit for £30 free bets. The £30 free bets are credited to your account as soon as the £10 deposit has been placed. Simple and straightforward, just the way we like it.
Enhanced/Boosted Odds
This bonus type takes a bit of a left turn, getting a bit more creative than the others on this list. As the name implies, you get to place specific wagers with enhanced odds that can leave you with some great winnings in hand. Sportsbooks don’t simply open these bonuses up across the board, instead, they choose specific betting markets that can take advantage of the bonus. So, if a certain bet would have odds of 2/1, its enhanced version could double that up to 4/1 or more.
No Deposit Free Bets
These betting sites’ free bets are as honest as they come, giving away their bonus without asking for anything in return. You can claim a sportsbook free bet no deposit bonus as soon as you create your account with a sportsbook, without having to make any deposits or wagers. Of course, these offers still come with their terms and conditions, which can be higher than those found on other deals. No deposit-free bets also offer smaller bonuses than their matched deposit counterparts.
Free Bet Sign-Up Offers
As a newly registered punter, you get treated to some sweet sportsbook sign-up offers. These welcome bonuses tend to mostly offer free bets which can be given away through no-deposit bonuses, matched deposits or matched free bets. They’re a great way to kick-start your betting with confidence!
Risk-Free Bets
Sure, all free bets are risk-free in their own way. But while some give you free bet credit to place instead of using your funds, risk-free bets work differently. These deals still use your own real money, but with a guarantee to get it back on any losses you suffer. If the deal offers a £10 risk-free bet on your first wager, this means that should you lose this initial bet, you get the £10 back. Some sportsbooks return this in real money, while others credit you in free bets which come with their terms and conditions.
What about Existing Punters?
So new punters get fussed over with lots of free bet deals and offer, but what about existing users? Isn’t your loyalty worth a few freebies? Well, sportsbooks certainly think it is. That’s why they’ve come up with a set of promotions that existing punters can claim time and time again. Some of these may not be online sportsbook free bets, but they’re still fresh offers that could give your betting the boost it needs.
Reload Bonuses
All out of bonus ammo? A quick reload is all you need. Sportsbooks offer reload bonuses on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, giving more reasons to keep coming back for more. A reload bonus can take different shapes and forms with some offering matched free bets, while others deliver cashback deals or enhanced odds. Every online bookmaker comes up with its own reload bonus, which you can take advantage of regularly.
In-Play Bonuses
Tailored specifically for existing users, in-play bonuses boost your wagers on specific bets. So, say a sportsbook offers an in-play bonus of up to £50 on a specific football match, this means that any bet you place on the game will be matched by the bookie. The bet will need to be placed before the event starts and the amount matched never exceeds the maximum cap. That is to say that if you place a £50 wager, your in-play bonus will be £50, and if you place £100, your in-play bonus will also be £50.
Odds Boost Offers
Bookies are always looking to push you out of your comfort zone, exposing you to more interesting ways of betting. With odds boost offers, sportsbooks select specific betting markets that get a boost in their odds, giving you the incentive to place a cheeky wager. The bonus might give away higher odds on a tricast bet in a horse race or improve the potential of a goals-scored wager on a football match. Either way, you get the chance to win big on select bets.
Moneyback Specials
Ever wish you could get some of your money back from a crushing loss? Thankfully, moneyback specials do just that. These deals return some of your losses on select bets, giving you the confidence to place wagers risk-free. A typical moneyback special looks like this, ‘Win a moneyback special with matched free spins up to£100’. This means that your lost bet is matched in free bets up to the maximum limit of £100. So, if you lose £50, the moneyback special will award you £50 back in free bets that you can then place on other wagers.
Best Odds Guaranteed
Tired of wrecking your brains comparing sportsbooks as you try to find the best odds for a sporting event? Lucky for you, leading bookmakers offer best odds guaranteed promotions. These deals make sure a specific sporting event or betting market has the best odds anywhere on the net. So, if a sportsbook is offering the best odds guaranteed on a ‘first to score’ bet for a particular football match, you can wager away with confidence, knowing that you won’t find better odds elsewhere.
What’s the Difference Between a Free Bet and a Bonus Offer?
There are loads of sportsbook bonuses out there, but what separates free best from other bonus offers? Bonus offers tend to offer bonus funds, which can be used across a site’s sportsbook section, as well as any online casino or lotto options that they offer. On the other hand, free bets are specifically tied to the sportsbook section and can only be used to place wagers that follow their respective terms and conditions. Both offer fantastic rewards that can be used in different ways. What you should always make sure of is to…
Look at the Basic Conditions!
Right, we’ve been hinting at these mysterious T&Cs for a while now, so it’s time to buckle up and find out all about the most common ones that accompany free bet offers.
Timeframe/Expiration date
Free bets can run out, you know. All free bet deals have an expiry period which can last for 24 hours, 7 days or even longer. Make sure you use your free bets before they expire, otherwise the entire bonus is lost. You’ll also need to clear any wagering requirements associated with the free bets before the time runs out if you hope to withdraw any potential winnings.
Minimum deposit/stake
Many free bet offers ask for something upfront in return for their bonus. We’re looking at you, matched deposit bonuses and matched free bets! These deals ask you to place a deposit or stake above a minimum amount before giving you their free bets. So, a free bet bonus can ask for a £10 minimum deposit, or a £5 wager with odds of over 1/2.
Promotion can apply to either the first bet or future bets
Online bookmakers like to keep things spicy, offering different ways for you to claim your free bets. In most cases, the deal applies to the first bet you place, so you need to make sure it’s made in line with the offer’s requirements to get the bonus right away. But in other cases, the bonus is claimed across multiple bets which you place in the future, giving you time to decide when and how to get your free bets.
Stake requirements
Apart from the minimum stake requirements needed to get the bonus in the first place, sport free bets can even dictate how you spend your bonus. Free bets can ask that you only use them to place wagers with specific stakes, so you need to keep an eye for these conditions before you start betting away your bonus.
Offers can only be claimed once
Except for the reload bonus, which is offered regularly, free bets can only be claimed once. That’s right, once you’ve signed up for a bonus, you cannot claim it again. Make sure you only pick the bonuses you need at a time which is convenient for you to use them.
Generally – but not always – free bet credit cannot be withdrawn in cash or via bank transfer
Look, some sportsbooks are generous enough to give you free bets as real money which can be withdrawn immediately, but these deals are pretty rare. Free bets are usually given out in free bet credit, which you’ll need to wager on the sportsbook you’re playing at. Although free bet credit cannot be withdrawn, you can still withdraw any winnings you make using it.
Market restrictions
You might already be thinking up ways to spend your free bets but keep an eye out for market restrictions. These terms can limit the betting markets you can use your free bets on, forcing you to stick to the specific sports and markets they support.
Country Restrictions
Even though a sportsbook might be available in your country, the bonuses it offers might still be restricted. Not all free bet bonuses are available worldwide, so make sure a bonus is available in your country.
T&Cs differ between bookies – make sure to read them!
Great, so we’ve managed to cover some of the common terms and conditions that accompany free bets, but there are many other rules and regulations out there. We always recommend reading thoroughly through a free bet bonus’ terms and conditions. Yes, it’s a chore but you’re better off knowing exactly what you’re signing up for.
Example Free Bet Offers
And finally, here it is, the moment you’ve been waiting for. We’ve told you all about free bets, their different bonus types and the terms and condition that come with them. But we can see you’re itching to get your hands on a sweet free bet bonus, so let’s get to it. Here is our list of the best betting free bets. They’re all coming from fantastic sportsbooks, with adequate free bets on offer and fair terms and conditions. Have a look at these fresh free sports bets UK punters can enjoy and pick the best deal for you!
Unibet
£30 in bet credits (Minimum deposit £10. Place a £10+ bet on football of odds 1/1 (2.00) or greater to receive £30 in football free bets once the qualifying bet is settled. Valid for 7 days. £10 Casino bonus is credited the day after you have deposited. T&Cs apply.)
Coral
£20 in bet credits (Minimum £5 bet within 14 days of an account registration at minimum odds of 1/2 to get 1 x £20 free bet. The free bet is available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Valid for 7 days, stake not returned. T&Cs apply.)
Spread Ex
£30 in bet credits (Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2, get 2 x free £10 fixed odds bets and 2 x free £5 Total Goals football spread bets. T&C apply.)
BetVictor
£30 in bet credits (Bet £10 at 2.00+ odds, within 7 days, with no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, for set events at 2.00+ odds. Valid for 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply.)
Ladbrokes
£20 in bet credits (Minimum first £5 bet within 14 days of an account registration at minimum odds of 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets are available on selected sportsbook markets only. Valid for 7 days, stake not returned. T&Cs apply.)
The Freshest Free Bets!
And there you have it, the freshest guide to free bets on the net! At Fresh Bookies we’re always on the lookout, finding ways to make your betting experience as fresh as can be. Our guide has given you a good look at all that the best sportsbook free bets have to offer, with a few cheeky recommendations to get you started.
Ready to find more sportsbook bonuses? Why not check out our other fresh guides? You’ll be claiming the freshest bonuses in no time at all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a free bet?
A free bet is a promotional bonus offered by online sportsbooks. These free bets are offered to both new and existing players and can be used to place wagers across a variety of sports and betting markets.
How do I claim a free bet?
Free bets can be claimed by following the bonus requirements. Match deposit free bet deals ask you to make a minimum deposit to claim the deal. In the case of match free bet bonuses, you’ll need to place a wager above specified odds and a minimum amount.
What can I use free bets on?
Free bets can be used to place wagers across the sportsbook. In some cases, they are restricted to specific sports or betting markets.
Do free bets have an expiry date?
Yes, free bets all come with an expiry date. Any remaining free bets left after the expiry date are lost. You must also complete any related wagering requirements before the expiry date if you wish to withdraw any winnings you make using the free bets.
How many free bets can I claim?
This varies from one sportsbook to another, but most free bet deals can only be claimed once, and you may only have one active free bet bonus active at any given time.
Can I get free bets without a deposit?
Yes, some sportsbooks offer a no-deposit free bets bonus, which gives you free bets without asking for an upfront deposit in return.
What is a risk-free bet?
A risk-free bet is an offer that guarantees your money back if you lose the wager. The money can be returned as real money which can be withdrawn immediately or credited as free bets which can be used to place additional wagers.
How do bonus bets make money?
You can make money from bonus bets by using them to place wagers on betting markets at online bookmakers. Any winnings you manage to get using the bonus bet are given as real money and can be withdrawn from your account.