How Sportsbook Bonuses Work

Legal online sportsbooks know that once they sign up a new bettor, they will likely have their business for a while. This is combined with a strong wish to show those who have not bet online for a long time what today’s sportsbooks can offer. They figure once you try live betting, see their apps and check out the huge amount of sports and lines on offer, you’ll stick around!

Free bets are loss-leaders to get you in the door. There are several different types to look out for.

• No Deposit Bonuses: Typically, a small bet (think $10 to $25) just for registering.
• Risk Free Bets: Here you’ll bet with your own money, if your selection loses, the sportsbook will refund your stake in the form of a new bet.
• Matched Bet Offers: Sportsbooks will offer a free bet based on the amount you initially bet at their site.
• Free Bets: This type of free bet gives you a specific amount of bonus betting based on reaching milestones. For example, wager $500 and get $100 in free bets.

Freebets.com brings you the best free bet no deposit bonus & free spins offers for UK players each & every day. Just choose a brand, complete the registration process and you can start betting for free, no deposit required! Don’t miss out on our low deposit offers. Free Bet No Deposit Offers. Min deposit £10. A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expires after 7 days. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days. To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40. Some betting sites (OK, one) are so confident (cocky?) in the service they offer that they give away a no deposit free bet. Betting Promotions – As well as free bets, any bookie worth their salt also offers ongoing and event specific promotions. A completely free bet no deposit is a very popular type of bonus that gives you an opportunity to learn more about the chosen bookmaker and try to obtain real-cash prizes without any additional risks. No Deposit Bonuses: Typically, a small bet (think $10 to $25) just for registering. Risk Free Bets: Here you’ll bet with your own money, if your selection loses, the sportsbook will refund your stake in the form of a new bet. Matched Bet Offers: Sportsbooks will offer a free bet based on the amount you initially bet at their site.

Once you are a regular customer of a book, they will offer even more incentives. This can include loyalty (points based) schemes, special lines or risk-free wagers or promotions – which can be regular or one-off. There are also offers which return your stake on parlay bets where just one of your selections loses.

Who Can Take Advantage of Sportsbook Bonuses?

At the time of writing New Jersey, Indiana, West Virginia and PA has online sportsbooks. Each state has its own regulations surrounding online sports betting. To be able to take advantage of their offers, you need to be physically inside the state borders. While you can’t bet from outside these states, there is no requirement to be a permanent resident.

You’ll also need to be over 21 (Id will be requested). Sportsbook offers are restricted to one per household, device and person.

How to Claim Your Free Betting Offers?

Depending on the sportsbook, you’ll either receive your free bet automatically on registration, or use a bonus code to claim the offer. You will find information on all the free bet bonus codes here at OnlineGamblingSites.com. Head to the page that covers betting in your state for the full list.

Registering for an account at a regulated book is very easy. You’ll supply your e-mail address, plus some personal information like name, address and date of birth. Following an e-mail approval, your account will be created – and your bonus money will follow. You will be asked to supply backup documents as part of the ‘Know Your Customer’ responsibilities of these sites. If you make a deposit to claim your free bets, this will include backup documents for your deposit method too.

Sportsbook Bonuses & Free Bet Offers Explained

As you will see from the detailed information below, there are plenty of specific terms and rules for the different free bet bonuses. These often have a minimum odds requirement, with -200 the benchmark. This stops people taking advantage of the offers on huge favorites.

With all the examples below, I strongly recommend that you read the terms and conditions before you place your first wager.

1. “No-Deposit Sportsbook Bonuses”

This is the single most popular form of sportsbook bonus for obvious reasons. You get to bet real money for free – and in many cases you keep all of your winnings. These deals range from $10 through to a maximum of about $50. They work by giving you a single bet which needs to be at odds of -200 or better. If your selection wins, then you get the profit from this, though not the stake part.

For example, if you bet $20 of your own money on a money line of 110, then you’d get $22 in profit + your $20 returned = $42 back. That same bet with free money will only see the $22 land in your account.

An important factor with “no deposit bonus” offers is time. These are often very short duration (though this can vary). If your offer only lasts for 7 days, then you can’t use it for futures bets. The offer would have expired by the time the wager is settled. Some books may also restrict the type of bet you can make. Examples include no parlays or only popular lines on major leagues.

Example of a No-Deposit Bonus in Action: Unibet Accepted in PA, NJ & IN

Unibet Sportsbook now has a live sportsbook, and an online site using the popular European brand. You can access this via apps or a website, with the technology powered by Kindred Group – a respected global operator.

Unibet offers a $30 no-deposit bonus for all new sign-ups. Here are the steps:

• Use this link to register your account via Unibet
• You’ll receive $30 free, which must be used for a bet within 7 days
• Odds must be greater than -200 to qualify
• Winnings from this bet will be credited, though the stake will not be returned

This is a simple bonus, with no additional wagering requirements. What I like best about this free bet is that you can still claim the 100% up to $600 risk free welcome bonus at any time.

Free Betting Sites with No Deposit Bonus Offers

The list below is a complete list of legal online sportsbooks offering no deposit offers. I’ve sorted the list by legal state. If you’re not in one of the legal states, you can take advantage of either DraftKings or FanDuel DFS offers.

2. “Risk-Free Bets”

You will normally need to make a deposit to take advantage of a risk free bet bonus. The idea is simple. You make a bet and get your stake back if it loses. If you win, then there are no further actions required – your bankroll is already off to a great start.

If your first bet loses, then your stake is returned in the form of a new bet. Since this can’t be withdrawn, these offers are not entirely risk-free. Having said that, you can always bet the bonus money on a strong favorite (as long as the odds are better than -200). You will also need to bet this bonus money all at once, splitting it into several smaller bets is not normally permitted.

While these are generous bonuses and removing much of the risk gives new bettors a big boost, there are drawbacks. To get the best from these, your first bet often needs to be big. For example, if your regular ‘fun’ bets are in the $20 range, then betting $200 in one go might be outside of your comfort zone. Once again, time limits will vary between the sportsbooks.

Online Betting Sites with Risk Free Bets

Example of a Risk-Free Bet Bonus: DraftKings Accepted in PA, NJ, IN, WV, IA, CO, NH, IL

DraftKings is the company behind the huge DFS brand – and one of the biggest fantasy sports operators. Their online sportsbook, brings innovative bets (cash out betting, in-play betting) and exciting promos.

New depositors get a risk free first bet up to $500 + $25 in 5 x $5 free bets. Here is how it works:

• Register your account and make a deposit
• Your first bet (straight bets and parlays only) up to $500 will be risk free
• If it loses, you are refunded your stake as a free bet
• You have 90 days to place your initial wager, then 7 days to use your free bet if needed

While $500 risk free is a generous offer, there is still some risk! The offer returns the stake for losing bets as a further free bet. This means you have to gamble it once again to get the benefit. While your risk could be reduced by betting on a strong favorite, minimum odds of -200 are needed – limiting this to an extent.

3. “Matched Deposit Bonus”

Of all the free bet bonuses offered by online sportsbooks – the matched bonuses are the biggest. Some of these will reach 4 figures. Once again, the idea is simple, though the devil is in the details.

You make a deposit at a book, who will offer you free bets that match the amount your deposited. For example, you deposit $500 and get to play with $500 in free bets, as well as your own cash balance.

What I like about these offers is that you are not usually restricted to a single bet. You have a bonus money balance, which can be used for as many bets as you wish within a certain timeframe. The best sportsbook bonuses only require that you wager your bonus once. Look out for books that require more play-through than this. It will make clearing your bonus a lot more difficult.

Depending on the size of your matched bonus, time can play an important role. For example, if you start your account off-season for your favorite sports, then making enough bets within 30 days might be a stretch. Some books allow 60 or more days to clear this type of free bet offer.

You will usually be able to take advantage of a matched first deposit bonus after enjoying the no-deposit free bets.

Matched deposit offers are also available for loyal bettors at many sites. These are known as ‘reload bonuses’, as they kick in when you reload your account.

Example of a Matched Deposit Bonus: SugarHouse Accepted in PA

SugarHouse operates an online sportsbook in both PA and NJ. They use an in-house platform by Rush Street interactive.

SugarHouse offer an ‘old school’ matched deposit bonus up to $250. The idea is that your first deposit gets matched at 100% with free bets. You then need to wager this bonus money in order to ‘clear’ it into your real money account. Here is how the offer works:

• Visit Sugarhouse Sportsbook here and use bonus code PLAY250
• SugarHouse Sportsbook will match your deposit at 100%, up to $250 max
• You need to wager this bonus money 1x to clear it into your cash account
• You need to activate and wager your bonus with 30 days of your deposit

Many books have minimum odds, or much shorter durations – making this SugarHouse free bet offer both generous and simple. This book combines sports and casino into a single platform – meaning you’ll get to take advantage of promos from both sides.

4. “Free Bets Based on Wagering”

The final common way in which regulated sportsbooks offer bettors bonuses is to give you free bets as you reach milestones. For example, you make a deposit, wager as normal, then get free bets each time you hit $100 in wagering.

A big advantage here is that you can bet in smaller units. There is no need to have a single huge bet to take full advantage of an offer. If that offer is for $20 in free bets every time you wager $200, then you can make 10x $20 bets to get there (or any other sizing).

Free bets are different to free cash. This bonus does mean you’ll have to wager it at least once before it can be withdrawn. As a rule of thumb, this will need to be at -200 or better and in a single bet. Once again, make sure you have enough time based on your regular betting style to reach the target. With this type of bonus, you will still get a proportion of the bonus if you don’t make it in time!

Example of a Wagering Based Free Bet: FoxBet Accepted in PA, NJ & CO

While the welcome offer is a risk-free bet, free bets every week keep loyal patrons happy! While this free bet is an ongoing promo, many of the big international brands will use this type of promotion for new customers.

At FoxBet, the wagering-based free bet is super-simple. You bet $25 in any given week – and then receive a $5 free bet in your account. The usual rules apply, with this free bet lasting 7 days before it expires. Bets can’t be on huge favorites – with the -200 minimum still in place.

You’ll find that FoxBet Sportsbook look after their regular bettors really well – this is one of many promotions they offer.

Take Full Advantage of Sportsbook Bonus Offers

With the roll-out of regulated sportsbooks underway, it is a great time to take advantage of those marketing offers and get your share of the free bet bonuses on offer.

As you’ll see above, there are 4 main types of free bet offer. These are completely free bets (no-deposit offers), matched deposit bonuses, risk free bets and wagering based free bets.

Which one is best for you will depend on the size of your initial betting bankroll. Your appetite for risk also plays into this. For bettors that would like to see how the new online sportsbooks work, then the completely free bonuses are a great way to start. What I like about those is that you can always take advantage of the bigger deposit bonuses later if you like what you find.

One of the perks of being new at any South Africa bookmaker is there’s usually a carrot dangling in the form of a bonus or free bet. As customers, we’re in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose from the best offers available. Better still, we can claim as many bonuses and free bets as we like to get even more free money!

Welcome offers from bookmakers come in many forms but the most common of these is a First Deposit Bonus. New customers are rewarded with a bonus usually equal in value to their first deposit, which must usually be wagered a certain number of times before any money can be withdrawn from their betting account.

We love deposit bonuses because they provide more bang for your buck and can help you build up a decent bankroll in your betting account. But for the purposes of this article, we’ll be talking about a different kind of sign up offer we adore too—the Sign Up Free Bet!

Deposit vs No Deposit Sign Up Free Bets

Like men, not all free bets are created equal. So let’s discuss the two distinct types of Sign Up Free Bets and how each of them works.

Bookies generally fall into two camps when it comes to the terms and conditions attached to their Sign Up Free Bet. Thankfully, all of them allow you to place your free bet as soon as your account is activated. This is a big plus for new punters who might not have their banking details handy when registering or rushing to get a bet down before the game starts. Depending on whether the account verification process of the bookmaker is automatic, it can take anything from several minutes to 48 hours to get your free bet.

Where bookies differ however is that Camp A requires you to make a deposit before you can request a withdrawal from the account, and Camp B does not. With these bookies, you’ll get your free bet after signing up but you’ll have to deposit money to withdraw any winnings. The minimum deposit required is usually equal to the value of the free and can be made before or after you’ve used it.

Free Bet Welcome Offers in South Africa

Now that you know how the various free bet offers available to new customers work, let’s introduce you to 3 bookies with great Free Bet Sign Up Offers you should take advantage of today!

Gbets

R30 Sign Up Free Bet (No Deposit Required)

Gbets are offering new customers a free R30 when signing up a new account. To claim your R30 welcome offer from Gbets simply visit Gbets and register for a new account. The free bet will be credited within 24 hours of registration and the winning can be withdrawn once the wagering requirements are met. Gbets also have a 100% deposit match bonus that you can claim once you have used your R30 Free Bet.

Gbets R30 Terms and Conditions

• The bonus expires 30 days after being claimed
• The bonus is subject to a wager turnover requirement of 5 x (times).
• The bonus is for use on BetGames, Live Games (Roulette, Bacarrat, etc.)
• The bonus cannot be used on Lotto / Lucky Numbers and System Bets
• Should bonus requirements be met, the maximum amount of real money winnings generated from the bonus money is R30 (equivalent to the bonus money issued). On withdrawal, the R30 bonus will be declared null and void, and not be included in your withdrawable winnings. Any additional remainder of winnings will be forfeited and removed from your account.
• The maximum withdrawal of winnings generated from real cash that has been solely converted from bonus money is R50.
• The minimum amount permissale for withdrawal is R50.
• Bets placed using bonus money are not applicable to Cash Out and / or Edit My Bet features
• In the case of a match / event being cancelled or called invalid, the bonus staked shall not be considered in the playthrough requirements
• Should it be identified that a customer mistreats their bonus issued, Gbets reserves the right to deny that customer further bonuses in the future
• Should Gbets deem that irregular betting or wagering has occurred, Gbets reserves the right to close an account, return deposited funds to the customer and report the customer to the relevant authorities
• Bonuses offered are intended for recreational use only. Customers also have an option to not claim a bonus offered by Gbets
• Unless stated by Gbets, respective bonuses are issued on a per account basis only, i.e. 1 bonus for 1 account based on IP address, family, home, email address, etc.
• Irregularities between the name of the account holder and the name of the individual making a deposit/s for that account may invalidate any bonus issuing.

Supabets

R50 Sign Up Free Bet (No Deposit Required)

SupaBets is currently offering new customers a R50 Sign Up Free Bet. To claim your free bet, simply register for an account and the bonus will be credited the next day by 7 am. Before requesting a withdrawal, you must wager your R50 Free Bet at least 3X at odds of 11/10 or bigger and make a minimumdeposit of R50.

Supabets R50 Sign Up Free Bet – Terms and Conditions

• This offer is for new Sign-Ups only (Valid from 29 March 2019).
• All Accounts will be credited the following day at 7 am.
• R50 Bonus to be rolled over 3 times at 11/10 or better before it can be withdrawn. Please note that stake will not be returned to your bonus wallet.
• All Bonus withdrawals will be subject to a minimum deposit of R50.
• Only single bets can be placed with bonus money
• No split bets will qualify for the bonus or count towards wagering of the received bonus amount.
• Supabets has the right to cancel or withdraw the Free Bet Bonus or change any of its terms at any time and without cause or notice.
• The Free Bet Bonus is designed for recreational accounts only and will be attributed accordingly. Any accounts deemed to be non-recreational and an attempt to abuse the nature of the Free Bet Bonus will be voided without hesitation. Supabets decision in this regard will be final.
• Supabets reserves the right to reject all payouts and cancel all bets taken with any bonus, if it considers that any fraud, breach of the terms or bonus abuse has been performed.
• If you do not wish to be given a Free Bet Bonus, kindly notify us by way of e-mail or our website before making your first bet.
• If a bonus is to be withdrawn via any payment method, the client first would have to have made a deposit matching the bonus received.

More Offers You Can Claim From Supabets

Other promotions up for grabs include a 200% First Deposit Match up to R5 000, Super Rugby specials, Lucky Numbers cash prizes, EPL prediction games, plus loads more multi-bet and money-back specials! See the full list of current Supabets Promotions.

Want to learn more about Supabets? Read our Supabets Review.

Hollywoodbets

Hollywoodbets continue to impress through their revamped desktop site, an impressive selection of sports and other betting options such as Jika Sports, Lucky numbers, and many others.

• One of the most popular sites in SA
• R25 Free Bet on Registration
• Excellent Betting, Banking and Casino Options

Hollywoodbets Info

• Betting Sites: Hollywoodbets
• Website: https://www.hollywoodbets.net/
• Country: South Africa
• Deposit Bonus: R25

R25 Sign Up Free Bet (NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED)

Hollywoodbets is currently offering new customers a R25 No Deposit Sign Up Free Bet. To claim your free bet, simply register for an account. Your R25 free bet is credited once your account is activated and must be used within 24 hours. Before requesting a withdrawal, you must wager your R25 Free Bet at least 1X at odds of 5/10 or bigger.

Hollywoodbets R25 Sign Up Free Bet – Terms and Conditions

• To qualify for the FICA Bonus, the customer must sign up for an online/mobile betting account.
• The R25 sign-up bonus must be used in 24 hours of account activation or it will be forfeited.
• Persons who have signed up but have not yet submitted FICA documentation can also participate.
• The account holder must submit his/her FICA documentation, be FICA compliant and have his/her FICA documentation approved before qualifying for the FICA bonus.
• The account holder will not be entitled to withdraw the R25 out of their account until the funds have first been bet and turned over in full.
• The bonus credited cannot be wagered on both markets in the same event. This includes betting on Lucky Numbers (High/Low), To Bat First, To Kick-Off First, or any markets related to an event of the sort as deemed by Hollywoodbets in its sole discretion. Any accounts found doing this will have their bonus revoked, and Hollywoodbets will not be responsible for any losses that are incurred.
• Betting on individual markets with odds of less than 5/10 (0.5 decimal) will not be deemed to be compliant.
• To participate, the individual must be over the age of 18.
• A limit of one account per customer applies.
• Abuse or irregular activities noted at Hollywoodbets discretion will result in the bonus being revoked.
• Hollywoodbets reserves the right to revoke this promotion at any time and without cause or notice.
• Hollywoodbets reserves the right to change any of its terms and conditions at any time and without cause or notice.
• Every Hollywoodbets account holder and cash customer participating in the promotion shall be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the rules by their participation.
• Suspicious and/or fraudulent activity will be reported to the Financial Intelligence Centre for criminal investigation/s to proceed

More Offers You Can Claim From Hollywoodbets

Other promotions up for grabs include the Ozow R5 000 competition, R50 Refer a Friend bonus, soccer and horseracing money-back specials, Lucky Numbers competitions, and much more! See the full list of Hollywoodbets Promotions on offer.

Want to learn more about Hollywoodbets? Read our Hollywoodbets Review.

Betting Site Offers No Deposit Fee

Betway

One of the best South African sports betting and casino sites. Offering excellent odds, promotions and banking options. They also have data free betting and accept a wide variety of deposit methods.

• Wide range of games to pick from
• Fast deposits and withdrawals
• Live support 24/7 done via chat or phone

Betway Info

• Betting Sites: Betway
• Website: www.betway.co.za
• Country: South Africa
• Minimum Deposit: R10

R25 Sign Up Bonus (Deposit Required)

Betway is currently offering new customers a R25 Sign Up Free Bet. To claim your free bet, simply register for an account. Your free bet is credited once your account is automatically verified and must be used within 180 days. Before requesting a withdrawal, you must wager your R25 Free Bet at least 1X at any odds and make a minimumdeposit of R50.

Best Betting Offers

Betway R25 Sign Up Free Bet – Terms and Conditions

Betting Site Offers No Deposit

• These terms and conditions govern your participation in “The Betway R25 Welcome Offer” offered by Betway. If you do not agree with these terms and conditions, you are not permitted to participate in this promotion.
• The Betway Welcome Offer gives customers a Sign Up Bet of R25.
• To participate, the customer must be over the age of 18.
• The offer is only valid for new Betway customers
• The R25 Sign Up Bet can only be claimed once per new customer
• The customer must pass FICA verification through Betway’s automatic verification tool at the time of registration. Should the automatic verification fail, Betway will request FICA documents and only once the customer’s FICA documentation has been verified will the R25 Sign Up Bet be awarded to the customer.
• Qualification of the Sign Up Bet is entirely at the discretion of Betway.
• The Sign Up Bet doesn’t have any hidden requirements. Customers who place bets using their Sign Up Bet will receive any and all winnings (minus the initial Sign Up Bet stake) and that amount will reflect in their cash balance – ready for another bet or to be withdrawn upon meeting withdrawal requirements.
• The R25 Sign Up Bet can only be used to place wagers on sports events, and cannot be transferred, substituted or exchanged. Any available Sign Up Bet balance cannot be withdrawn.
• Any winnings from the R25 Sign Up Bet cannot be withdrawn until a customer has made a minimum deposit of R25 and wagered the deposit of R25 in full.
• A Sign Up Bet is available for a maximum of 180 days from the date that the Sign Up Bet was credited to your Betway Account. If not used, your Sign Up Bet will automatically expire after 180 days and will be removed from your Betway Account (unless specified otherwise in specific promotional terms).
• Your Sign Up Bet must be used in its entirety as a single bet. This single bet can include single selections or multiple selections in one bet.
• Should the Sign Up Bet be placed on a selection that is later voided, the original Sign Up Bet wagered amount will be returned to your Betway Account.
• The Sign Up Bet is non-refundable and the wagered amount is not included in any winnings. Only the winnings will be paid to your Betway Account. Example: If you wager R25 using your Sign Up Bet, with odds of 4.0, the potential return would be R100, since the R25 wagered is a Sign Up Bet credited to your Betway Account, only the winnings of R75 will be added to your Betway Account.
• The maximum return on any Sign Up Bet is R5,000.00
• If you make a withdrawal, any Sign Up Bet balance you have available will be forfeited.
• Before any withdrawals are processed, your play will be reviewed for any irregular playing patterns. Using a combination of bets which include both the Sign Up Bet and Cash on the same event to place equal, zero or low margin or hedge bets, shall all be considered irregular gaming for Sign Up Bet requirement purposes. In the interests of fair gaming, should Betway deem that irregular game play has occurred, we reserve the right to withhold any withdrawals and/or confiscate all winnings.
• Suspicious and/or fraudulent activity will be reported to the Financial Intelligence Centre for criminal investigation/s to proceed.
• Withdrawals cannot be made from the Sign Up Bet balance, but the Sign Up Bet balance can be used to place wagers.
• This offer is only available to accounts opened after 17/02/2020
• Players who registered before 17/02/2020 will be bound to the preceding Welcome Offer terms and conditions.
• Betway reserves the right to cancel this promotion at any time and without cause or notice.
• Betway reserves the right to change any of its terms and conditions at any time and without cause or notice.

More Offers You Can Claim From Betway

Other promotions up for grabs include the R10 000 First Four Goalscorers special which is free to enter, a 150% Multibet Boost, 20X Your Bet Back on 6+ leg accas, and much more! See the full list of Betway Promotions on offer.

Want to learn more about Betway? Read our Betway Review.

Best Betting Sites Offers

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our Free Bet Guide as much as we’ve loved sharing these awesome offers with you. Let us know what’s on your mind in the comments section below!