What Is a Betting Bonus?

A betting bonus is funds you are rewarded, usually, for registering with a new bookmaker, but they are however not withdrawable cash but something that you can only use to place bets. Claiming a betting bonus typically entails finding an offer that you like with a bookmaker you haven’t registered with before, signing up as a new player, meeting the qualifying requirements for your new customer offer, before you are then awarded the amount specified in the welcome offer.

A betting bonus isn’t always for new players though, with existing players also able to claim betting bonuses, sometimes on weekly occasions with certain bookmakers. Quite often you will see betting bonuses available if you wager a certain amount or more each week.

How to Decide The Best Betting Bonus For You

Deciding which betting bonus is best for you will depend on the type of offer you are looking for, how much you want to stake, and plenty of other factors. If you are somebody looking to deposit either nothing or as little as possible to secure betting bonuses, then you will most likely want to find no deposit bonuses or a bet and get bonus.

Alternatively, somebody looking to stake big might be more interested in a cashback bonus, or deposit match bonus which matches the cash amount you decide to add to your new account.

We suggest that you browse through all of the suggested betting bonuses at the top of this page and, provided you are a new player with the recommended bookmaker you are interested in, click on our claim button, register and meet the qualifying requirements of that welcome offer.

How we rate the best free bet offers

VPbet has a comprehensive process for rating free bet offers. Our team of experts follow multiple steps and examine each deal from numerous perspectives. Below are the features we look at when reviewing and ranking the best free bet offers.

Bonus amount

Naturally, bettors want their free bet to be as large an amount as possible. Here we’ll be looking out for how generous a sportsbook is with their bonus. We’ll also check if the amount can be split over multiple wagers or if it must be used on one single selection.

Wagering requirements

Typically, a sportsbook will have wagering requirements attached to a free bet that will need to be fulfilled in order for you to withdraw your winnings. We’ll be looking at the T&Cs of each offer to assess how fair these requirements are for you. Low or non-existent wagering requirements will score the highest points.

Minimum odds

Some free bets will have restrictions on the minimum odds that they can be used on. Here we’ll be looking for sportsbooks that allow free bets to be used on low odds as well as high odds. Typically, most sportsbooks will have qualifying odds of 1.5 (1/2) or greater – this is what we’ll be using as our benchmark.

Validity period

Once your account has been credited with a free bet, there’ll likely be a validity period to use the bet by. Generous expiry periods let you take your time and use a bonus bet when it’s right for you. For this reason, we’ll be giving top marks to the sportsbooks that have large free bet validity periods.

Banking & payout

When reviewing the best free bet offers, we’ll also be looking out for a range of withdrawal methods. We’d expect to see a good range of valid debit or credit cards, e-Wallet and bank transfer options too. Then we’ll be assessing the payout speed to ensure bettors aren’t ever left waiting for their winnings.

Safety & customer support

We’ll only recommended sportsbooks that are of the highest standards. In every review we carry out a background check that covers the licensing and certification of each site. Then we’ll be looking out for their range of customer support options to ensure they have their bettors at the heart of what they do.

Approval & rating

After carefully analyzing all of the mentioned factors, our experts will rate the sportsbook and its bonus offer. The best free bet bonuses will be added to our shortlist. Rest assured our rankings are updated frequently to ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible.

Free bets & sports bonus types

Take it from us, not all free bet offers are the same. Explore the different sports bonuses below and find out what a sports betting site might have to offer.

First deposit bonus

This is a widely-available bonus that’s used to reward new bettors for registering with a sports betting site. Typically, you will make your first deposit which will then be matched by up to 50-200%. First deposit bonuses are often valid to use on all bets, but can also be applied to specific events like football or cricket matches. This bonus type works in the same way as a standard casino bonus.

Deposit matched bet bonus

This bonus matches your first deposit with a free bet of the same value. Bonuses can often be matched up to $100 and can be used right after registration. If used wisely, this bonus type can double the amount you have at your disposal to bet with. Just be aware of any minimum deposit or wagering requirements attached.

No deposit offers

No deposit free bets are the holy grail of sports bonuses. This type of offer can be rare to find and usually comes with specific criteria to meet. For example, the minimum odds and bet type might be restrictive. There may also be wagering requirements which means any winnings won’t be immediately withdrawable. This type of bonus is like a no deposit or free spins casino bonus.

Risk-free bets

Risk-free bets act as a safety net. They work by a bettor placing a real money bet, and if it falls short, the betting site offers a refund. Usually, the refund will take the form of bet credits to use on further wagers. Rest assured if the original bets win, a customer still gets to keep their winnings.

Money-back free bets

Similar to a risk-free bet, money-back bets offer a bonus if a bet loses, if the favorite wins, or if a certain event happens. The bonus will usually come in the form of bet credit. This bet type is hugely popular on a variety of sports, though you can usually find unique promotions for horse racing in particular.

Bonus code

Bonus or promo codes give access to specific offers by a sports betting site. The codes are usually only valid for a limited time with new bonus codes created regularly. They’re simple to use – when depositing, simply enter the code under the ‘Got a promotion code?’ field.

Boosted odds

For a limited time, betting sites offer boosted odds on specific bets. The ‘boost’ means that there’s a larger payout for the same bet. Also known as enhanced odds, this type of bonus can usually be found on high-profile events, like the NFL's Super Bowl or NBA Finals. This is a regular offer that’s valid for both new and existing customers.

Free bets clubs

Most sports betting sites will offer regular bonuses to reward loyalty in the form of a free bets club. Though named differently at different sites, free bets clubs work in the same way. If a customer bets a certain amount over a one-week period, they will be rewarded with a free bet. Minimum odds often apply for the free bet.

What is a Free Bet?

A free bet is a complimentary bonus of a specified value that bookmakers will provide to promote player loyalty. Free bets can only be used to place a bet at the bookmaker that provided the betting promotion and, therefore free bets or bet credits cannot be withdrawn as a cash amount.

To use a free bet offer, you need to meet the bonus requirements. This may include signing up as a new player with the bookie, registering a valid payment method and depositing into your account, or placing a qualifying bet on a specific sports event.

Make sure to check the terms and conditions before you place your first bet so you are clear on how your free bets work.

How do Free Bets work?

Players using a free bet offer in the UK are usually required to activate a new account with the bookmaker, as these deals are designed to attract new customers to place their first bet with this brand.

Depending on the form of the risk free bet, players should receive the betting offer immediately upon signup, or after completing the bonus requirements – such as making a deposit or placing qualifying bets at min odds on an upcoming sports event.

If the wager placed using the free bet proves successful, it’s worth noting that the winnings come with stake not returned. For example, if you place a £10 free bet on an outcome with odds of 3/1, you won’t receive £40 – you’ll receive £30 in winnings with stake not returned.

Furthermore, most free bet offers include a time limit which means it must be redeemed within a certain time period, such as 30 days.

Are there different types of Free Bet offers?

Yes, there are different variations offered by bookmakers. The best free bet offers are generally provided by the big brands, such as VPbet, as they have the budget to provide highly competitive sign up offers and free bets for new players.

The most popular types of free bets are - matched free bet, matched deposits, enhanced odds bonus, free bets no deposit and money back bets.

When claiming, it is important to look out for a bonus code. These are sometimes attached to welcome bonuses, and without the bonus code, you may not receive the offer you want, or may not receive the free bet welcome offer at all.

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