A matched deposit bonus can be a great way to boost your bankroll, but it comes with strings. You can’t just accept a matched deposit promotion and then withdraw the funds. First, you need to clear the wagering requirements.
Wagering requirements can be tricky to understand, but once you do, you’ll know how to take full advantage of this type of bonus. This guide will help you understand just what you need to do to use this matched bonus, but it’ll also help you learn how to use it wisely so you can continue playing responsibly.
A matched deposit bonus is one of the most popular promotions offered by the best online betting sites. It’s big, it’s flash, and it’s also commonly misunderstood. The offer is simple. The house promises to match your deposit up to a certain amount.
For example, you can deposit $5 and get $5 from the house, putting your betting wallet at $10. Similarly, you can deposit $100 and get $100 to boost you up to $200.
You’ll usually see these bonuses at 50% of your deposit, 100% of your deposit, or even higher. There will be a limit to how much can be matched (for example, $400). This will vary depending on which bookmaker you’re using and in which country.
Each of these bonuses will come with wagering requirements. These requirements outline how much you need to wager before you can withdraw your winnings.
When betting online, the two most common bonuses you’ll come across are free bets and matched bonuses. Getting top free bets from betting sites or a matched deposit can enhance your wagering options, but they can’t be used in the same way. Not sure what the differences are? Use this breakdown:
| Matched Deposit Bonus | Free Bet | |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | A bonus that matches a certain percentage of your first deposit up to a maximum amount. | A bet that is placed with the bookmaker’s money. If you win, the initial stake is returned to the bookmaker, and you keep the winnings. |
| Example | Deposit $100 and receive a $100 bonus (100% matched deposit bonus) for a total of $200. | Place a $10 bet with a free bet and win $40. You will keep the $30 winnings. |
| Wagering Requirements | Yes, there are typically wagering requirements that you’ll need to meet before you can withdraw the bonus funds. | No wagering requirements, but there may be restrictions like the bet can only be used on a specific sport or game. |
Ready to learn how to use your matched deposit bonus? These bonuses tend to come with more terms and conditions than other offers, like free bets, which is why you’ll need to do some digging before you jump on the offer.
The first step is to fully understand the wagering requirements. These may change from one match deposit bonus to another, so don’t skip this step just because you read through one beforehand. The welcome bonus may have had wagering requirements 30x the deposit. Some may count both your deposit and the house’s match as the starting point. Since these factors might differ from promotion to promotion, you owe it to yourself to carefully go through the terms and conditions before accepting.
The next step is to accept the deposit match bonus. This can usually be done in one of two ways.
Once you’ve accepted the deposit match bonus and have made your deposit, it’s time to start using it. You will usually have a limited amount of time to clear the wagering requirement, so it’s important to only deposit what you can afford to lose. A small deposit and matched bonus can boost your wagering options, yes, but you need to comfortably meet the wagering requirement.
One of the key ways to keep your betting responsible is to budget out what you can comfortably lose. Pick your budget, then work backward to figure out how much matched deposit you can claim.
Say your betting budget for the month is $250, and the wagering requirement is 25x your matched deposit. In this case, you’ll only want to deposit $5 with the bonus.
This means you deposit $5, and the house gives you another $5 to bring up your matched deposit bonus to $10. With a wagering requirement of 25x your matched amount, you’ll need to wager $250 before you can withdraw your winnings.
If you’re ready financially to spend $250 over a week or month without getting the money back, then you’ll be able to play responsibly and enjoy any winnings you get.
Almost every site offers a matched deposit bonus, at least to newcomers. The best of the best offer a match deposit bonus to regular players as well, either as a loyalty reward or to celebrate some event like your birthday. It can be tricky to figure out what betting site bonus to accept with so many options, so we’ve narrowed them down for you. Start your search with these top sites:
Bet365 is one of the biggest online betting platforms in the world, and also one of the oldest. With many millions of players around the world, it’s a go-to option for those hoping to transition from in-person betting to the convenience of their phones. While you won’t get huge matched bonus ranges, you will get attractive offers. For example, you can get a 300% matched bet up to £30. This means you deposit £10, and you get £30.
These bets are kept separate from your main wallet and are seen as bet credits. This type of offer is specifically for sports bets, so to meet the wagering requirements, you’ll just need to make a bet on an event with minimum 1/5 odds.
If you were hoping for a bigger matched bonus, however, then look at a newcomer like BC.Game.
BC.Game is one of the newcomers in the world of online gambling, but it’s come onto the stage with a splash. As a cryptocurrency-accepting, forward-thinking brand, it offers some of the best features. As a plus for betters, it’s still going above and beyond with its offers to draw in new customers.
Big bettors will be most interested, since you can get up to 180% matched deposits for newcomers, or even up to 300% if you make your first deposit within the first seven minutes. Keep checking in as well, as they offer matched bonus promotions for regular players as well.
If you’re looking for a non-crypto option that offers big matched limits, then check out N1Bet instead.
N1Bet is a recent addition to the online betting lineup, and as such, has some big offers to draw the attention of gamblers everywhere. New players, for example, can get up to 300% matched deposits up to $5000 in some regions. Their bonuses aren’t just for new players, however, as existing players also get access to fun promotions like sports bet boosts.
There are other bonuses and promotions that you can accept on top of or instead of the deposit match bonus, including:
The best match deposit bonus for you will depend on your budget and how you want to play. One deposit match bonus may be designed for a sports bet, others for casino play. Each promotion will also have limits in terms of what games you can wager on, and how much you need to wager before you can make a withdrawal. If you don’t clear the wagering requirements in time, then you may also forfeit the match deposit bonus. Ensure you’re using the funds on the right type of market and sport, for example, selected baseball odds may be excluded due to the possibility of void bets.
It’s a lot to think about, which is why you always need to look through the betting site sign up offers closely before accepting. Know the wagering requirements and use those limits to help you figure out what deposit you should choose that fits your budget. If you go in with the knowledge you will be financially secure if you lose your budget outright, then you will be able to keep betting as a fun experience.
For the most part, you can use your matched funds on most sports bets unless they will take months to settle. Keep in mind that some wagers won’t be counted 100% if you go down the casino games route with things like blackjack.
No, the winnings will be stored in a pending balance until you meet the wagering requirement. While you cannot withdraw those pending funds, you can use them in wagers to work down the wagering requirement.
The house has a low advantage with games like blackjack or roulette, which means that you could statistically win back most of what you bet (this is not a guarantee). The house knows this, which is why how much of your wagering requirements can be cleared by playing blackjack or similar games is limited, or even banned.
How long you have depends on the bonus offer. The bonus may only be valid for seven days, for example, though most often, you’ll find a 30-day timeline. If you don’t clear the wagering requirements in this timeline, you may lose the bonus and the winnings you get from those bonus bets.
Always check what the wagering requirement is in advance and see if that is within your budget. A $100 deposit matched with another $100 will give you $200 to bet with, but if there is a significant rollover requirement that may be too much for you.
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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