Introduction to sports bonuses
If you’re all about sports betting, then you’re in luck. Sports bonuses and promotions are a thing, and boy are they great. They can come as free bets, odds boosts, cashback on losses, no deposit bonuses and more.
These allow you to place bets with practically free cash, receive cash back to your account if your bet loses, increase the odds of a bet to increase the payout, and introduce you to the world of sports betting without the need to deposit.
In this article, we will focus on arguably the most sought after of the bunch, free bets.
What are free bets
Simply put, they’re bets that you can place without the risk of losing your own money. What’s great is that the winnings, minus the amount staked, will go straight into your account balance as real cash. Though this may depend on the terms of the sportsbook this is most often the case. From there you can either use the real cash to place more bets or just withdraw them.
They are a brilliant way to keep the fun going when your other bets have settled by offering you more opportunities to secure a win.
You can land free bets through welcome offers, deposits, festive seasons and event-specific promotions. Chances are, sportsbooks are running promotions based on your favourite events, such as the NHL and NBA playoffs. So, take advantage and make the playoffs much more intense.
What is a qualifying bet
Promotions can have specific terms and steps required to qualify for its reward. It is essential to read and follow these terms and steps to a T to ensure you receive the promised sports bonus. Whether it is on the promotion page or in an email sent to you by the sportsbook provider, you will find the relevant terms and steps required to release and activate the bonus.
Your free bet will release only once your qualifying bet has been settled.
A qualifying bet that has been forfeited does not count towards a promotion if the stake placed has returned to your account balance. In such cases, you would only qualify by placing another bet and having it settled. Your free bet will release only once your qualifying bet has settled.
Let’s take a live or in-play bet promotion as an example. In this scenario, you would need to place a qualifying bet on an ongoing event. Tournaments or leagues that are ongoing do not count, but only the individual games within those tournaments and leagues. If a bet is placed on an event which isn’t ongoing it wouldn’t qualify for the promotion. Most sites allow you to switch to in-play or live events and may show a relevant tag within your betslip for further confirmation.
How to use free bets
Now that your qualifying bet has settled, as long as you’ve followed the right steps, you will find the bonus waiting for you within the appropriate tab in your account. For big and time-specific promotions the bonus may not release instantly so don’t panic if you’re not seeing it. Recheck the terms of the promotion and contact support if you need reassurance.
The way to use free bets can vary among different sportsbooks. Some will direct you to any relevant bets when selecting it. Others will have it displayed in the bet slip to select and use there and then. Most sportsbooks will help guide you to make it as simple and user-friendly as possible.
Although they are bonus bets they can also have their own set of rules. While you can use some freely, for others you would need to apply them to a specific event, structure or type of bet. If you’re not seeing the option to use it within the betslip it likely means that you cannot use the sports bonus with that particular bet.
If you’re unable to apply the bonus after reading its terms and are sure you’re selecting the right type of bet, you may be experiencing a technical issue. While this doesn’t often happen it is a possibility. Refreshing the site or reloading the app can correct it, if not, check their FAQs and contact support.
Remember…
Sportsbooks are not likely to have any systems in place to prevent you from applying your qualifying bet to an incorrect bet selection. If you place a bet that isn’t in line with the terms of the promotion, the bonus will not release into your account and you must place another bet to qualify.
Free bets can also expire. It can be months, days or even hours away. You don’t want to miss out on using it. This should be the first thing you look at when receiving the bonus. Knowing its expiry date can help you save it for a favourite event.
Casinos and sportsbooks may send you notifications and emails informing you of any bonuses released onto your account. If you have these notifications turned off chances are you won’t realize you received anything and it will expire. Keep your account notifications ‘on’ to take advantage of every bonus you receive.
Having bonus cash in your account at the time of receiving winnings from a free bet and then withdrawing your winnings may result in you giving up the bonus cash. There are terms specific to each casino and sportsbook for placing bets while having bonus cash on your account. It is highly recommended to check what is, and is not, allowed in these circumstances.
As always, if you’re unsure about anything don’t be afraid to contact customer support. It is advisable to know this information before depositing. Thus you know where and what to look for from the get-go.
So, what are you waiting for? Claim your Free Bet now!
