🐼 Free bets give new sportsbook customers, and sometimes existing ones, an opportunity to use funds provided by the operator. We’ll share some of the best betting sites with free bets for 2024 and explain how each works.
What Are Free Bets and How Do They Work?
Free bets at betting sites are promotional incentives🌞 made available to new or existing users, permitting them to place a wager without using their own funds. These free promos are usually provided when an individual creates an account, deposits funds, or places a qualified wager.
ꦐ The primary goal of free sports bets is to attract prospective customers and encourage existing clients to continue playing with the bookmaker.
🍨 Terms and conditions are attached to free bets, including minimum odds and redemption deadlines. Free bets present a bonus chance to try out different betting strategies and potentially earn real money.
Types of Free Bets
This section will explain the prominent bookmaker free bets for new and existing users.
Deposit Match
💜 A deposit match is considered a welcome gift from a betting site thanking you for signing up. After making your first deposit, the operator matches it with a percentage in promotional dollars.
If it provides a 100% match of up to $500, deposit $500 and receive an additional $500 in bonuses to stake with. There is always a caveat, which is called a “rollover,” since you must bet a set quantity before withdrawing any earnings from the bonus.
⭕ Rollover requirements can be as low as 1x and as high as 30x. The lower, the better.
Bet & Get
ಞ Bet & Get free bonus bets are promos in which punters earn money or an incentive for placing a qualifying bet. Normally, the consumer places a minimum bet on a specific event or market.
꧂ Once the wager is placed and meets the sportsbook's requirements, the funds are awarded. These promotions are intended to stimulate increased wagering and provide additional value to the customer.
Bet Insurance
🌊 Bet insurance serves as an extra layer of protection for a wager. They are usually offered when betting on certain events. If your bet loses, you can receive a portion of your wager back. These are commonly associated with parlays and sometimes straight bets.
No Deposit Free Bet
A no-deposit free bet is essentially a “free sample” at a bookmaker. It lets you wager on a contest without depositing or using your money. You sign up by creating an account, and the platform will give you a free promo bet, often between $5 and $25.
🐭 Should you succeed, you keep the earnings (minus the initial free bet amount). Make sure to read the terms and conditions.
Bonus Bets
Bonus bets can be offered as a first bet when signing up for a sportsbook. These promos often take the form of “No Sweat Bets,” in which you place a bet using your own money. If your wager loses, the sportsbook will refund you with bonus bets up to a specific amount.
𝔉 This allows you to try out the betting site and perhaps win money back in the event your original wager is a loss. Be careful, however, there may be restrictions on what you may gamble with the promotional dollars and they expire.
Seasonal Free Bets
While free bet offers are typically associated with the perks afforded to new members at a bookmaker, certain bookies provide free bets to regular members, too. Generally speaking, these will be associated with sporting events considered “in-season.”
💖 For example, you might be able to claim free football bets during the fall or winter while the NFL is underway or an international soccer free bet for a summer event such as the World Cup or Euro.
Refer-a-Friend Offers
🃏 A number of betting sites provide “refer-a-friend” promotions. As the name suggests, these are rewards you are given in exchange for introducing a new customer to the site (you will need to send them a specific invitation). In most cases, you will receive a reward along with your friend.
Most bookmakers offer up to $100.
Free Bets for Existing Customers
ꦓ Despite free bets being primarily offered to first-time customers, some sites provide them to existing ones. A typical scenario involves receiving a free $25 bet for a unique event.
💫 Promotions that aren’t considered free bets but help give incentives to reward frequent bettors include odds boost tokens or parlay insurance.
Best Betting Sites Offering Free Bets
🧔 The following best free bets offered by BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars and BetRivers caught our attention.
BetMGM
The No. 1 free bet in our list comes courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook🔯. The renowned operator is giving new bettors a $1,500 “paid back” first bet offer if their first wager (up to $1,500) loses. The $1,500 is provided in bonus bets and expires in one week.
♐ Regular bettors are also rewarded by BetMGM thanks to its 50% odds boost tokens. Currently, it's giving out 50% odds boosts for soccer and hockey. During the NFL season, many promotions are featured as well.
🌠 There are even more bonuses at BetMGM, including when you refer a friend. Both parties receive a $100 bonus, and each customer can refer up to 20 friends.
- Excellent mobile app for iOS and Android.
- Free live streaming for certain sports.
- Regular bettors always have promo options.
- Geolocation problems have been reported by users.
- Bonuses expire relatively quickly.
- Customer support responses can be slow.
FanDuel
FanDuel🐻 is widely regarded by many punters as the top sportsbook in America because of its daily fantasy platform, promos, cross-sport parlays and highly valuable odds.
🐻 New members can deposit at least $10 and wager $5 to receive $150 in bonus funds. To receive the bonus, the wager must win.
💮 Additionally, FanDuel offers its users a $500 sweat-free bet in the horse racing department. For instance, your account will receive $500 in promo funds if you wager $500 on a horse and the wager loses. This is one of the top horse racing free bets available across all U.S. racing books.
🅘 FanDuel attracts a lot of regular consumers because of its daily promos. A three-leg same-game parlay offers bettors a 30% profit bump while the NBA playoffs are still in progress.
- Offers the best parlay odds on the market.
- Has a horsebook.
- Early cashout option.
- Welcome bonus is a little small.
- Geolocation issues arise every now and then.
- Must be invited to the VIP program.
DraftKings
Another top dog in the industry, DraftKingsꩵ, is allowing new users to take advantage of a $1,500 sweat-free bet, similar to BetMGM.
ꦐ If you fail to win your first bet after signing up, you can receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets. For example, if you meet the minimum deposit requirement of $5, place a $200 bet, and lose, you’ll receive $200 in promo funds.
๊ At DraftKings, you'll find a plethora of secondary markets to wager on, and the odds are posted faster than most other bookies. On Monday mornings, the odds for the PGA Tour are released sooner than other operators in the U.S.
- Minimum deposit is lower than competitors.
- Prebuilt same-game parlays.
- Offers a tiered VIP program.
- Player prop markets can have juiced odds.
- Not all sports are streamable.
- Parlay odds aren’t as generous as FanDuel.
Caesars
Caesars' acclaimed sportsbook offers a large incentive for first-time customers thanks to its “$1,000 back” promo. New clients can place a one-time bonus wager worth up to $1,000. If the bet fails, they will receive $1,000 in bonuses, which they can utilize within 14 days.
ಌ Caesars is accessible across 19 states and boosts odds for numerous major sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB and NFL.
♓ Its VIP program lets customers use points both online and in-person at retail resorts.
- Has a search bar to find markets.
- Promos are easily found.
- Odds boosts are offered for player props.
- Could have more markets.
- App can be buggy.
- Oftentimes features juiced odds.
BetRivers
꧂ Arguably, the best promo at BetRivers is a $500 second chance bet for new users. Enter the code “SPORTS” when depositing. Should your first stake lose, you’ll receive up to $500 back via a bonus bet. The promotional funds last for 30 days after being issued.
🍰 Existing customers who don’t qualify for the bet have plenty of other incentives to choose from, including NHL same-game parlay profit boosts, parlay insurance for the MLB, NBA and WNBA, tennis live bet insurance and nightly profit boosts for various sports.
- Offers a tiered VIP program.
- Loads of daily promos.
- Points can be redeemed at the BetRivers store.
- Only available in 14 states.
- Interface appears outdated.
- Some markets are hard to find.
How to Choose a Good Free Bet?
🧸 The following tips are important to understand when selecting a free bet offer. Remember to read the terms and conditions so you know all the detailed requirements such as the minimum odds and rollover requirements. In some cases, sportsbooks don’t require minimum odds and have a 1x rollover requirement.
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Do I need to deposit:🅘 You’ll almost always need to make a deposit and place a bet in order to receive the free bet. It’s nearly impossible to find a no-deposit free bet but they do exist.
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How much do I need to deposit:🌜 The sportsbook will tell you under the promotion or in the terms and conditions what the minimum amount is needed to deposit in order to receive the free bet.
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Is the bet limited only to one event:👍 Most bookmakers allow bettors to use their free bet on a wide range of sports. Others are restricted to one sport or specific match.
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Rollover requirements𝔉: Rollover requirements are essentially obstacles you must climb over prior to being able to withdraw any earnings from a free bet. The operator will detail how much or how many times you must risk a particular amount of your own money (often counting the promo amount) before you can cash out. For example, if you receive a $100 bonus and it has a 10x rollover then $1,000 must be staked before it can be pulled out. Rollovers can be as high as 30x and as low as 1x.
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Expiration date:ꦉ The bonus funds must be used by a certain date. Common ranges include a week, two weeks, or even a month. If you fail to use them, they will expire.
How to Use a Free Bet
The five steps below explain how to place a free bet.
ꦉ Sign in or create an account at your chosen sportsbook.
🌊 Click on the promotions section and “opt-in” to a certain free bet.
💙 Find a wager you want to make that meets the requirement. Make sure to do research before betting.
Select “use free play” on the bet slip.
Review and confirm the bet.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
🎶 Free bets can be an important way to increase your bankroll and can add value to using certain sportsbooks. Remember, though, in most cases, you will be asked to spend money, and none of your bets are guaranteed to hit.
💫 If you read the terms and conditions and the free bet has a low rollover, it can definitely be worth utilizing. Please gamble responsibly and never bet more than you can afford.
FAQs
🍬Sports bettors can use free bets online by signing up for a sportsbook and selecting their preferred bonus. New customer free bets are designed to entice visitors to sign up at online sportsbooks. If you wish to find more free bets online, search “free sports bets today” on Google to see other offers.
ꦉA bonus bet allows a punter to stake up to a certain amount of money and, if the bet loses, receive the quantity wagered in bonus funds.
🔯When first initially into your account, sports betting free bets are not withdrawable. However, if you win your free bet and meet the rollover requirements, you can withdraw the funds.
꧑New customers who deposit at least $10 and win their first bet ($5+) can earn $150 in free bets. This offer is one of the best FanDuel free bets currently on the site.
꧃Deposit $5 upon signing up and receive up to $1,500 back in DraftKings free bets if your first wager loses.