We all like free things. A free bet to add to our betting plate is the cherry on top. The best free bets can be used as a pre-game bet during live sports games or when you play casino games.
While it would be nice if you could place any bet you want with your free bet, there are limits. That’s why it’s so important to know how to spot a great bonus when you see one and how to understand the terms so you can bet with confidence. Ready to get started? Use this expert guide today.
Free bets are a very popular type of player bonus given by betting sites. In fact, betting sites with free bets are a dime a dozen. You’ll find free bets given as a welcome bonus, as a VIP promotion, or even given out regularly to celebrate big sporting events or even holidays.
Free bets differ from other bonuses, like matched bonuses, in that you aren’t given money in your digital play wallet. Instead, you can make a bet using the house’s funds. You can’t just make any bet under the sun, however. There will typically be wagering limits (like $10), and you may even be forced to place a bet that has certain odds.
If you do win with a free bet, that initial bet money (in this example, that $10) is taken from your winnings. If you lose, then it’s no harm, no foul. Of course, all sites offer a different set of rules and requirements. The best free bets online not only give you the most allowance to bet with, but they are also straightforward and easy to understand.
Betting bonuses are used by digital, online-only casinos and sportsbooks to draw in gamblers. Though they both offer you a perk to expand your wagers, they are different:
| Free Bets | Matched Bonuses | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A free bet is a bet placed with the betting brand’s money rather than your own. | A matched bonus means your deposit is matched up until a certain amount. |
| Do You Keep the House Money? | No, the free bet amount is returned to the house if you win. You don’t owe anything if you lose the bet. | If you clear the wagering requirements, you keep the matched bonus money. |
| Where Is It Used? | Usually used on live sports. | Usually used on casino games. |
| Wagering requirements | No wagering requirements, but there may be restrictions on what odds, sports or teams you can place the bet on. | You must wager between 25 to 50x your deposit before you can withdraw winnings. |
| Example | If you place a $10 free bet on 2/1 odds and win, you win $10 instead of $20, because the initial bet would be returned to the house. | If you claim a 100% matched bonus up to $100, the bookmaker will match your deposit with a bonus of $100. If you clear the wagering requirement (for example, $2500), then you can cash out all your winnings. |
| Overall | Free bets are a good way to try out a new bookmaker or bet on your favorite team. | Matched bonuses are a good way to boost your play money. |
Online free bets are one of the best betting sign up offers, and they’re available for both live sports and casino games. The free bet you use, however, will probably be locked for one or the other. You won’t be able to use a casino free bet on a sports game and vice versa.
You also likely won’t be able to add to your free bet. For example, you won’t be able to use the free bet money alongside your big matched deposit bonuses to beef up your wager. Free bets are little bonuses to add on top of your wagering strategy.
When you come across the best betting sites with free bets, you’ll need to know how to accept and use the offers correctly. Keep in mind that the exact steps will differ platform to platform, but in general, you’ll want to follow these steps:
All of the best free bets online come with terms and conditions. If the free bet you’re looking at doesn’t seem to have any terms, walk away. The site may not be licensed or reputable, and rather than offering you a safe gambling experience, it may instead be trying to steal from you. Every reputable platform will have T&Cs, and these should be easy to find from the promotions page. Read through them carefully so you understand:
Once you’ve read through the T&Cs for these top online free bets, it’s time to accept the bonus. In some cases, you may be able to accept the bonus by clicking the promotion and following the prompts. In other cases, the promotion may have a code you need to copy and then paste into the appropriate box when making your next deposit.
Once you understand the terms, how to use and activate the bonus, and have adjusted your responsible gambling approach, it’s time to place your bets. Free sports bets can usually only be placed on certain games and certain odds, so make sure you’ve picked out at least one bet that you can place your free bet on in advance.
Free sports bets are everywhere, and you have a good idea now of how to put them into action. So the next big question is, where are they? The secret is to get those free bets from the best betting sites. These sites all have a few critical things in common:
You can get free bets today just by signing up to a new betting platform. These offerings are available everywhere, from the best of the best in the business to the hot new rising stars in the online gambling industry. To help you cut through the vast number of options, here are a few of our top picks:
Bet365 is one of the oldest betting sites with free bets out there, and it’s well-known around the world. It covers all major league sports and plenty of niche sports, meaning it’s almost certain to cover your favorite team. With Bet365, if you’re in the UK, you can get £30 in free bets when you deposit £10, making it a go-to option for casual sports betters hoping to place a few wagers on their favorite team.
If you were hoping for one of the higher free sports bets, then have a look at one of the newer platforms like 22Bet.
22Bet is a newcomer, which means it’s keen to bring in new players. One of the ways it does this is by offering bigger and better bonuses to draw in a crowd. Just have a look at its welcome bonus, where you can claim a free bet of up to $122. That bet can be used on almost any sport or market, making it a freestyle option for those who don’t want to be tied down.
If you’re someone who wants free crypto bets, however, then you’ll want to head over to another popular newcomer, BC.Game.
BC.Game is one of the best betting sites with free bets for the cryptocurrency crowd. New members can claim a free bet up to 180% of their first deposit up to a certain amount. The amount is different depending on the cryptocurrency and the value, so check that info out in advance. You can then use that free bet on live sporting events or on casino games, making it a versatile option.
There are plenty of platforms out there that offer free bets, but if they don’t follow up with top features or cover the sport you want to wager on, they won’t be of much use to you. There’s also the risk that the free bet comes with strings you aren’t happy with. That’s why it’s so important to read through the terms and conditions so you know the restrictions, wagering requirements, and how to use it, as this info will help you get the most out of this special offer so you can start placing free bets today.
If you can’t access the betting website in question, then you are likely outside of their jurisdiction. If you are American, for example, you can only access Bet365 if you are located in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, or New Jersey.
For big free bet bonuses, you likely won’t be able to bet on just any outcome. Some free bets require that the odds are -500 or less, for example, -300. If this means your team is the favorite to win, you might not be able to place your free bet on them.
It depends. Some free bets are open for use in any sport. Others are given as promotions for a specific sporting event. In this second option, you can only use the free bet on the event itself.
Once you’ve reached the wagering requirements (if there are any), you can collect your winnings. To do this, you’ll need to log in to your account, go to either the withdrawal or cashier section, and then select the withdrawal method you want to use. Keep in mind that some payment methods come with different fees. You don’t have to withdraw everything at once, either. Simply enter how much you want deposited into your account and process the action.
You can occasionally use free bets with other bonuses. Bet365, for example, regularly offers bet boosts, which can be used to boost their other sports offers. This isn’t always going to be the case, however, and you may find you can only use a free bet once with no other offers alongside it.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
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