What are free bets, and how do I use them?
Free bets are among the most widely used promotions offered by online bookmakers. With thousands of pounds in free bets up for grabs for new and existing customers alike, it’s well worth finding out where you can find and use them, potentially turning a risk-free punt into a big cash return.
Read on to learn more about how to use free bets and the different ways to qualify.
What are free bets?
So let’s start with the basics – what exactly are free bets? They come in all different shapes and sizes from ad hoc, token offers of just a few pounds, through to £200+ matched deposit offers for new customers.
These free bets each carry with them a different value and, depending on the bookmaker you’re using, will need to either be used in one go or can be spread across multiple selections.
You can use free bets in exactly the same way as when placing a standard bet and these are available on the best sports betting sites in Canada. However, you’ll usually have the added option to the effect of ‘use my bonus balance’ or ‘use free bet’ to ensure you aren’t funding these bets with your own cash. These can be used on almost any market including horse racing, football accumulators and even virtual sports.
Is my stake included in any free bet winnings?
No. For those who are new to using free bets, it can often be a little confusing to see your returns be less than you initially expected. The reason for this is because your free bet stake will not be included in your returns, as you were never required to stake any cash. For example, if you staked a £10 free bet at 5/1, you would get £50 back in total.
How do I know if I have free bets?
Most bookmakers will have a promotions section on their website which explains in detail all of the new and existing customer offers. They will also explain exactly what you need to do to qualify for these offers.
Any offers that you’ve already qualified for will appear in the ‘bonus’ or ‘free bets’ section of your online account. You’ll be able to see exactly which sports or markets your free bets are eligible for.
New free bet offers are released all the time, so it’s well worth checking your marketing preferences to make sure these are finding their way to your inbox.
What are the wagering requirements?
The wagering requirements of any free bet or bonus offer will explain whether you need to turn over your free bet amount a certain number of times before the winnings can be withdrawn as cash. This doesn’t apply to all free bets and is more commonly seen in casino and games betting websites instead.
For example, if you had a £5 free bet with a 5x wagering requirement, you would need to bet £25 in total stakes before any winnings can be withdrawn. This does not apply to all free bets and, certainly, with sportsbook promotions, wagering requirements are rarely applied any more.
