Free Bets Explained – Are They Really Free?
Betting operators cohabitate in a competitive arena which often requires bookies to go to great lengths in order to attract new customers.
As they fight for your attention, betting sites come up with new ways to separate themselves from the crowd and offer great incentives and perks for new or existing customers in order to expand and keep their customer base.
One of the most common methods used by all major sportsbooks out there are Sing-Up bonuses, enhanced offers and New Customer offers most of which usually come in for of free bets.
So, what actually are those free bets and are they really free?
Before we answer this obvious question, let’s all take a moment to understand that bookies are lucrative businesses which cater to millions of users globally. With their eyes firmly set on making profit – like any other business for that matter – giving anything for FREE in the core sense of this word is highly unlikely.
As appealing as they sound, promotional incentives which include free bets often hold more than what’s revealed through a glance on the bet itself, so it is highly recommended to have a read through bookie’s terms and conditions to get a proper look on all pros and cons of a free bet.
Even though free bets come in various shapes and sizes – going from 100% matched bets to offers which reward you with many times the value of your first bet – all of them will require you bettors to make a deposit first and spend money before you are granted to have anything for free.
The three main categories of Free Bets exist, coming in forms of:
- Free Bet
- Promotional Cash
- Risk Free Bet
Bookies promote free bets as perfect way to place a bet without actually having to spend any of your money. That actually is what word free means in the first place, but in terms of betting it usually means that you are required to make a deposit which will then be matched with an amount that can go up to 100% to maximum $200 with Bet365.
The free bet cannot be withdrawn as it is a virtual amount of money you will be steered to use at some of the less profitable markets, since many of the bookies will make a provision that free bets can be made on at least one selection with odds equal to or higher than 1/1.
Ultimately, any possible withdrawal will require more money of your own and the same thing goes for the Promotional Cash as well which is a convenient term coined by the bookies themselves to get you drawn in.
Promotional cash is not meant to be kept or withdrawn and it can only be spent on selected and restricted markets.
Risk Free Bets are used to help you feel better once your selection fails. Bookies will give you your money back if your team loses, but that doesn’t mean that you can pick that money up and go home. You will be able to spend it through more wagering and basically the only thing that is free here is another chance to spend – or some would say – lose your money all over again.
A bettor should be well-informed prior to going over to claim any of those free bets, as they most often entail more than what initially meets the eye.
Best 10 New Bookmakers
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£30 | SIGN UP HERE |
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18+. New Players Only. Min deposit £20. Offer is a £30 free bet when you bet £10 in one single transaction, on any sports at odds of 2.00 or higher. Free bet credited upon qualifying bet settlement. Free Bet can be redeemed on any sports market and used in one single transaction. Winnings credited as cash and immediately withdrawable. Free bet expires 7 days after being credited. Free Bets non withdrawable. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org. |
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£30 | SIGN UP HERE |
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18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org |
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£20 | SIGN UP HERE |
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New verified customers only. Opt-in required. Deposit £20 and earn £1 of Free Bet value for every £1 staked on Bet Builders, with each qualifying stake counting towards a free bet builder reward, at combined odds of 2.0 (1/1) or greater. Min Reward: £1 Free Bet / Max Reward: £20 Free Bet. Cash in or claim within 48 hours of promo end. Free Bets expire 7 days after claim. 18+ GambleAware.org |
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£25 | SIGN UP HERE |
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New customers only. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.50 or more to qualify. Bets must be placed 25 hours within registration. £25 free bets must be wagered on sports. Full terms below. Gambling can be addictive, play responsibly 18+ |
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£10 | SIGN UP HERE |
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18+. New GB customers referred by selected marketing partners only. Activate the sports welcome offer on your first deposit and opt in to sports bonuses and marketing. Deposit £10+ and place a £10+ sports bet at odds of 2.00+. £10 Free Bet credited after the qualifying bet settles. Use within 24 hours at odds of 2.00+. Free bet stake not returned. Voided, cashed-out or partially cashed-out bets do not qualify. Cash funds are used before free bets. Cannot be combined with the casino welcome offer. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. |
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£20 | SIGN UP HERE |
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New online customers only. Register and place a £/€5+ first bet at 1/1 (2.0)+ on sports or racing within 7 days. Get a £/€10 Tote Credit and £/€10 Free Sports Bet within 48 hours of settlement. Voided/non-runner bets don’t qualify. Rewards expire in 7 days. 18+. One per customer. Selected customers only. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
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£30 | SIGN UP HERE |
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*New members only. £10+ bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. 2x£5 Free Bets for Bet Builder only. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware®. 18+ |
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£30 | SIGN UP HERE |
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New customers place your first bet of £10 at minimum odds of 1/1 on any sports market within 7 days of registering. Get £20 in ACCA Free Bets (2x£10 Acca Free bet (2+ selections, pre-match or in-play/live, min odds per leg 2/5 (1.4), max payout £50) . Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. Please gamble responsibly. |
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£30 | SIGN UP HERE |
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18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
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£100 | SIGN UP HERE |
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*New UK/IE customers . Place your first Football bet as an Accumulator (minimum four selections) and AK Bets will boost the return by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org." |
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