If you’re new to the world of online sports betting listen up! You need to pick a bookie that gives you great value for your money. One of the ways you can do this is by assessing the promotion and bonus offers they have on offer, beyond the odds they give on the various betting markets featured on the site.
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. A bonus bet is a betting voucher of a pre-determined value that punters can use to place a bet without having to stake a real-money wager. For example, if your betting site of choice gives you a £10 free bet, this means you can place a £10 bet without having to spend any of your real money balance. 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. Like every other site mentioned here, Sportsbetting.ag doesn’t leave you hanging when it comes to the best online betting bonuses. They offer a nice 50% welcome bonus (up to $1,000) and also reward their loyal customers in the U.S. With a nice 25% reload bonus.
To determine if a particular bookmaker is right for you, you need to assess them on three main criteria. First, consider the amount being offered to both the new and veteran members of the site. Next, think about the type of free bet that’s on offer. Finally, review the terms and conditions attached to each offer.
This guide explores the best online betting bonus offers and where to find them.
Types of Betting Bonuses
There’s no rule about the type or amount of offers a site should give to its customers. Different bookies feature different types of bonuses. Some may be easy to qualify for while others, hard to get. Some may constitute generous amounts while others may be average.
Whatever the case maybe it’s a great way to rack up customers. Here’s what you need to know about them before you settle on one.
Free Bets Promotions
A Free Bet is a common type of offer given to new members of a sportsbook. However, a common condition attached to them is that you have to deposit funds before you can claim it. You can fund your account in different ways including debit and credit cardpayment methods, eWallets and Bank Wire Transfer.
With that said, free bet bonuses come in several different forms. Some of the most common ones include:
Match Stake
Sites that offer match stakes typically require that you first register an account with them and then fund it. You would then place a bet on any of the available sports markets. The bookie would match the amount spent on this first wager giving you double the stake of what you placed on the original bet.
For instance, if you wagered $10 on any of the football markets on a site, the bookie would match that stake by crediting you an additional $10 in a free bet to give you a total stake of $20.
Always take a moment to view the restrictions and conditions for this type of free bet. They usually have a limit on the minimum and maximum amounts you can wager. For most sites, this is usually anywhere between $5 and $25 for both minimum and maximum stakes. They also have odds requirements attached to them which, in most cases, are games or markets with a minimum of 1.50 and 2.00.
Free Bet Series
These are very similar to the match stakes you’ve seen in the previous section. But, instead of receiving the bonus free bets as a lump sum, it is instead broken down into a series of free bets. This would look something like “Bet $50 and get five $10 free bets!”
They usually come with a time restriction attached requiring the bettor to use them within a certain period before they expire. Another common condition is that all the free bets aren’t usually available at a go. The next bet in the series usually becomes active on a specific date once the previous one is used or expires. Sports betting sites usually place these conditions to encourage players to return to their site and bet again in the future.
How Do Free Bets Work
Regardless of the type of free bet you get, always ensure that you read the fine print in the terms and conditions section of the site to understand what it entails. So how do they work?
Free bets are quite different from regular bets in several ways. For one, if you lose a free bet, you don’t incur any monetary loss. However, in a regular bet, you would end up losing your stake. If your free bet wins, you only get your profit, and not the stake plus the profit – like you would in a regular bet.
Promo Codes for Sports Betting
This is a popular trend in the betting world and is used by bookmakers to shave off a few extra bucks at the time of registration. Promo codes are considered the holy grail of betting bonuses and are highly sought after by players the world over.
However, not all sites offer them and those that do generally restrict them to welcome bonuses and specific offers reserved for existing members of a site. Nonetheless, if you know where to look, you’ll find them in abundant supply. 888sport casino, for instance, gives new customers $30 in Free Bets when they fund their account using the promo code 30FB.
Deposit Bonus – How It Works
Deposit bonuses are the second most common type of sports betting offer you’ll come across after free bets. This is essentially a match bonus offered by a bookmaker where they match a percentage of a bettor’s deposit up to a specific amount.
Here’s how it works. You might have come across a sportsbook offering a 50% bonus on all deposits made to fund a punter’s betting account up to a maximum of $200. What this means is that for every $1 you deposit, the bookie gives you $0.5. So if you funded your account with $100, you would have a total balance of $150 to bet with.
Likewise, if they were giving a 100% deposit bonus, it means that for every $1 you deposit, the site credits an extra $1 to your balance. So, if you funded your account with the same $100 like in the previous instance, you would have a total of $200 to bet with.
Ideally, you should try to find a betting site that awards its members 100% or more to double or even triple your bankroll. Deposit bonuses are typically reserved for new customers joining a site. However, these are not the only kinds that exist.
No-Deposit Bonus
Unlike a deposit bonus that requires you to fund your account with a certain amount of money before the bookmaker can match the amount, the no-deposit version of this works a little differently. A betting site credits your account with a small amount of money – no strings attached. This is usually in the range of $5 and $50. It provides a great risk-free way for prospective punters to test out a bookie before they decide if they want to spend some real cash there.
Reload Bonus
This is identical to a deposit bonus in nearly every way – except for the fact that it is usually offered to the existing customers of a sportsbook. In most cases, the amount matched is significantly less than you would find in your run-of-the-mill deposit offers. In most online betting sites, the amount falls anywhere between 10% and 50%.
Terms and Conditions
Regardless of the type of betting bonus you receive, always ensure that you read the fine print attached to these offers. Free money and free bets are great and all but make no mistake about it – the bookmaker isn’t doing it purely out of the goodness of their heart. At the end of the day, they are driven by the revenue which comes from getting as many customers as possible to pick them as their preferred betting partner.
Always read the terms and conditions to get a better understanding of what is required from you to cash in on these offers. Here are the most common ones you’re likely to come across.
- Rollover / Turnover Requirements
These conditions usually apply to deposit bonuses, but they can also be attached to any other bonus offer you receive from a site. The idea behind them is that the bookie expects you to bet the amount a stipulated number of times before you can cash out.
A typical example would be something like “A 10x rollover on a 100% deposit bonus up to $200”. This means the sportsbook requires that you wager your bonus 10 times before you can cash out. If you attempt to cash out before meeting your turnover requirements there’s a good chance that the site will void your winnings and the bonus money. More often than not, however, the bookie simply rejects the withdrawal request.
So, when picking an online betting site based on the deposit bonus they’re offering to new customers, be sure to check what their rollover requirement is first before you sign up. You want to find a site that has a low rollover requirement. The sweet spot would be 5x but 10x is fine too.
You also need to check whether the rollover requirement applies to the bonus only, or the deposit and the bonus. This will allow you to do some quick math beforehand to establish which of the two gives you more bang for your buck.
The final thing you need to look out for is the deadline attached to the offer. Most bookmakers usually impose a time limit on the validity of the offer. This gives bettors a specific duration within which they have to complete the offer. Whatever money will not have been wagered by then will simply expire. So keep this in mind when looking for the best online betting offers. The rule of thumb is – the longer you have before it expires, the better.
- Betting Requirements
Another common condition you need to be keen on is the betting requirement attached to a particular offer. Some bookmakers usually define the sports and the respective markets that you can bet on with the bonuses.
For instance, you may receive a deposit bonus or free bet but the betting requirements confine you to football wagers only. They may further stipulate that you have to bet on parlay or prop wagers only.
Other common betting requirements on offers require punters to wager on specific matches with predefined odds. For instance, they may require that you use the bonus to wager on football matches or cricket matches that have odds of 1.5 or higher.
- Cashable
Another important condition to look out for involves checking whether a deposit bonus is cashable or not. For a large number of betting sites, the no-deposit bonus is for betting only and cannot be cashed out. You might be able to withdraw your profit but not the stake that you received to bet on the site. Others like deposit, or reload bonuses can become cashable once you meet the rollover requirements.
While this may not be a big deal to some people, it can play a role in the decision-making process when deciding which sports betting site to go with. Ensure that you only accept an offer once you understand what it takes to earn it. If the terms are ridiculous – to say the least, then you should probably find a site that offers better terms.
Best Indian Sports Betting Bonus Offers
One of the markers of an outstanding sports-betting website is how generous it is when it comes to giving new (and existing) customers great value for their money in bonuses and regular promotions. If you are an avid bettor in India looking for the best sports betting bonus offers that you can take advantage of, then you’re in luck. Here are some that you’ll find to be right up your alley.
Parimatch Offers
Founded in the mid-1990s, Parimatch has grown exponentially to become one of the world’s top sports betting sites with a huge global member database that spans across several territories including India.
Some of the top bonus offers from Parimatch include:
Welcome Bonus : 100% up to $25
- Bonus valid for 7 days from registration date
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.5
- 10x rollover requirement
Profit Boost : 50% boost on profit
- Reserved for existing customers
- Wager on a minimum of three events
- Parlay bets only
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.3
Bet365 Offers
Bet365 has earned a reputation for being one of the best and most trusted bookmakers in the world. They offer a massive amount of promotions across a wide array of sports that many other sites find hard to beat.
Some of the top betting bonuses from Bet365 that you can take advantage of include:
Open Account Offer : 15% up to $60
- Valid for 30 days from registration date
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.2
- 12x rollover requirement
Bore Money Back Bonus : 100% refund on stake
- Available for new customers
- Only applicable to soccer matches that finish 0-0 at full time
Betfair Offers
Betfair has emerged as one of the most popular online sportsbooks thanks in large part to the 20-plus years of experience it has garnered in the industry. Its regular promotions and unbeatable offers have made it a fan-favorite for many.
Some of the bonus offers you’ll find at Betfair include:
New Customer Offer – Option 1 : 100% up to $60
- $30 deposit required to qualify for the offer
- Valid for 30 days from registration date
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.6
- 10x rollover requirement
New Customer Offer – Option 2 : Up to $100 in Free Bets
- Wager 5 x $10 or more to get $ 20 of free bets
- Repeat up to 5x to get the equivalent $100 bonus
Betway Offers
This sports betting site may be one of the newer industry players but it is certainly giving the older more established bookies a run for their money. It has a huge amount of exciting offers and unbeatable bonuses that make it hard to resist especially for betting enthusiasts looking to get more value for their money.
Some of the best betting bonus offers you’ll find at Betway include:
New Customer Offer – Option 1 : Up to $30 In Free Bets
- Minimum deposit: $10
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.75
- 1x rollover requirement
- Valid for credit and debit card deposits
New Customer Offer – Option 2 : 100% up to $250
- Minimum first, second and third deposit: $20 each to claim $250 bonus
- 50x rollover requirement
- Valid for credit, debit card, and PayPal deposits
William Hill Offers
The betting site is touted for being one of the safest and most trusted bookmakers you’ll come across in your online sports betting escapades. As far as solid bookies go, it truly doesn’t get any better than William Hill and it makes sense since they’ve been around since the 1930s.
Some of the bonuses William Hill gives its customers include:
New Customer Offer : $30 in Free Bets
- $10 deposit required to qualify for the offer
- Valid for 30 days from registration date
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.5
- Credited as 2x $15 bets
888sport Offers
888sport may have originally started as a poker and casino operator but the sportsbook section of their company is truly the star of the show. They have earned a solid reputation over the years for being master innovators as far as their customer-centric offers and promotions go.
Here are some of the top bonuses and promotions you’ll find at 888sport.
Welcome Offer : $30 in Free Bets
- $10 deposit required to qualify for the offer using promo code 30FB
- Bonus valid for 7 days from registration date
- Odds requirement minimum: 1.5
Paddy Power Offers
If you’re looking for a sports betting site that pushes the envelope to give its customers a one-of-a-kind experience that they won’t find anywhere else, then Paddy Power may be just what the doctor ordered. Their unconventional approach has seen them amass a huge global following and a large array of awards making them one of the top bookmakers of recent times. This is also evident in the attractive offers and promotions available for both new customers.
Here are some of the betting bonus offers you can only find at Paddy Power.
New Customer Offer : Full stake money back if the bet loses up to $10
- $10 risk-free deposit required to qualify for the offer
- Valid for credit, debit card, and PayPal deposits
One interesting aspect of signing up with a legal betting site is the range of promotions and rebates offered to enhance the betting experience.
This guide looks at a variety of ways in which you can claim rebates and other forms of extra funds. We will discuss some of the most popular bonus types, in detail, with examples from some of the leading racebooks. The guide ends with advice about how any bonus works.
- Horse racing rebates: How the online horse racing betting sites replaced flat-rate rebate deals.
- Welcome offers: Bonuses when you sign up at a new site.
- Cashback and bet insurance: Lose your bet but meet the conditions and get your money back.
- Best odds guaranteed: Best of available odds, whether taken early or at the start.
- Understanding rollovers: How do rollovers work and what to look for to maximize value.
- Free past performances: Studying the form without payment.
Top Horse Racing Bonus
Horse racing rebates: Offline and online
Offering bettors flat rate rebates on bets — win or lose — has been a popular way to offer loyalty rewards for many years. This (live) betting offers return between 3% and 10%, depending on the type of bet (singles, multiples, trifectas and so on) and the amount you bet.
While many gray-market bookmakers offer flat rate rebates, the risks associated with betting at these books make them dangerous for informed bettors.
What you will find from legal horse betting sites is a mix of welcome offers and ongoing loyalty rewards that take the place of rebates. These promotions cover regular and occasional bets. You might also find special loyalty programs aimed at high rollers.
Examples of rebates and promos available at the three biggest legal online horse racing sites
#1TVG: Use promo code LSRTVG to claim a risk-free bet of up to $200 on your first single wager. Earn credits for every bet, which can then can become wager rewards. TVG promos include sweepstakes, free past performance reports, and cashback for three out of four picks.
#2 BetAmerica: You can get a 100% matched welcome bonus, up to $100. Customers earn points for each bet they make. Promos include VIP Daymaker, where losing bettors can get their stake back on their star selection, plus specials for the big races.
#3 TwinSpires: Get $20 in bonus bets for every $100 in bets (up to $100 max). Loyalty points scheme gives regular bettors additional free bets, separate VIP scheme for high rollers. It offers a long list of promos including “Winsurance,” “Bet Back” and added prize money offers.
Welcome offers at online racebooks
Online racebooks compete for business by offering a welcome deal for new customers. These take the form of matched welcome bonuses or occasionally a free bets bonus.
An excellent example of a welcome bonus is at TwinSpires, which offers a $100 bonus to all customers. This is a straightforward bonus that awards the customer in increments of $20 every time he or she bets $100 at the site.
There is no expiration on this bonus. You must make an initial deposit, keep betting, and the full $100 bonus will be yours. High rollers might want to place a $500 bet immediately and claim the $100 right away, while others might want to place 50 bets of $10 over a few weeks.
While this looks like a 20% rebate, you need to account for the need to bet the bonus money before you can withdraw it.
100% matched bonus
One of the attractive welcome bonus offers featured by racebooks is a 100% match on your first deposit.
For example, when opening a new account at TVG, customers will receive a 100% match bonus up to $200.
The TVG matched bonus has no strict conditions attached to the bonus money – just as long as you use it for a bet. This makes it the equivalent of an instant rebate, win or lose.
Loyalty rewards
As well as creating offers to entice new customers, racebooks also offer a series of incentives to keep existing customers happy.
Most sites offer a loyalty scheme, where customers will earn points every time they bet. Once earning a certain amount of points, customers can convert them into cash and add it to their account.
A good example of a loyalty scheme is Wager Rewards at BetAmerica. By earning 1 point for every dollar wagered, and additional bonus points if placing exotic bets such as exactas and Pick 6 bets. Customers can convert these points into cash at any time.
The rebate potential for these loyalty schemes depends on the mix of bets made. While small in percentage terms, this money will add up over time, providing a bankroll boost.
High rollers can sometimes qualify for VIP schemes. By betting a certain amount, bettors can enjoy additional benefits such as special promotions and extra deposit bonuses. The biggest bettors can expect custom offers and even a dedicated host.
Horse racing rebates via cashback or bet insurance
Another way of rewarding customers is via cashback offers. This is much like insurance on bets involving multiple selections.
As an example of a cashback offer, a horse racing betting site will offer you a rebate on your stake should your selection finish second in a selected race. This kind of offer is usually only available for the bigger races, such as the Kentucky Derby, or the more significant lead-up races to the main events. Occasionally these offers extend to third place, too, with your stake returned to your account.
Insurance bets are slightly different, as they offer rebates when one leg of a combination bet doesn’t win. For example, if you enter a Pick 4 contest and only pick three of the winners, a promotion such as this will see you win your initial stake back as a rebate.
Best odds guaranteed
These are promotions mostly available at European sites that offer their own odds, as opposed to betting in a pari mutuel pool. You’ll usually have a choice of either taking the current odds offered by the site or taking the odds at the starting of the race (the starting price.)
With a “Best Odds Guaranteed” offer, you get the best of the two. If you opt for an early price and the odds do become longer, you’ll get those longer odds. If you took a price early and there is a lot of money for the horse, you’ll keep those longer odds.
Understanding bonus rollovers
At some sites, you’ll receive a bonus with rollover requirements. A rollover requirement is the number of times you’ll need to play through your account cash and the bonus funds before your bonus cash clears.
For example, you might sign up to a new site with a 100% deposit bonus with a 5x rollover requirement. If you then deposit $100, you’ll receive $100 in bonus cash. This means you’ll have to bet the total $200 five times to make the bonus cash yours. And, in this case, it’s $1,000 worth of betting.
Make sure you compare rollover requirements when deciding between bonuses. These affect the rebate potential for each of the offers.
Best Bonus Betting Sites
Free past performances
Past performances are a key aspect of reading the form. You would usually pay for the opportunity of reading them. However, some online horse racing sites will offer past performances as an additional perk.
For example, at TVG, you can purchase a series of past performances. However, if you place a bet of at least $10 on the meeting in question, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost of this information.
Some sites will also offer free past performances to all members on selected races, especially at the largest race meetings.
Live streaming
In this day and age when there seems to be a cost attached to any streaming channel, racing fans can enjoy free streaming widely.
All of the three legal horse racing sites offer standard live streaming. You can watch any race you have placed a bet on, and many significant events you can watch in real-time.
Read the terms and conditions
Whenever you sign up at a new site or take part in any bonus or promotion, check the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of both the site and the bonus in question. Yes, the T&Cs can seem a little long-winded at times, but you will find out valuable information.
For example, in the terms and conditions, you’ll find the expiration date for the bonus. You’ll also find out if there are any state restrictions when using a particular site.
Betting Sites With Welcome Bonus
Generally, you’ll find all of the terms and conditions above board. However, they can be useful in finding out if a bonus offer is not such a good one.
Best Sports Betting Bonus
For example, if you read in the T&Cs that a bonus has a 50x rollover requirement, it’s pretty clear immediately that this offer probably is not as worthwhile.