Free Bets
Free bets are used by sportsbooks to attract and retain customers. They regularly form part of welcome offers, but they are also used as a way of re-engaging punters. Essentially, a free bet is when a bookmaker provides the stake up to a specified amount. In this article, we’ll take a look at free bets in full, highlight what they are used for, and give you some tips and tricks to ensure you get the most out of them.
Updated on:
- January 30, 2026
Offer of the month
welcome bonus
Get up to
R3000.00
First Deposit
FREE bET
10£
- Deposit a minimum of £10 to get a £10 free bet instantly
- Free bet is valid once per new player on first deposit
Kick off your Winissimo journey with a £10 free bet when you make your first deposit of just £10!
FREE BET
50%
- Valid for EFL Cup, DFB Pokal, Serie A, Taça da Liga & Copa del Rey
- Get 50% back as a Free Bet (max €100) on losing bets
Bet on top European cup matches and get a 50% Risk Free Bet up to €100 if your bet loses!
FREE BET
25€
- Welcome Bonus 100% up to €100
- Sports Welcome Freebet: €25 on Registration
- Weekend Sports Reload Bonus up to €100
21bets offers a new Sports Bonus: up to €100 Bonus for your bets and a €25 Freebet
FREE BET
10£
- Opt in and bet £75+ on tennis during the Paris Masters
- Receive a £10 free bet once your qualifying bets settle
Get rewarded for your tennis bets during the Paris Masters! Bet £75 or more and receive a £10 Free Bet.
FREE BET
100$
- Wager your first deposit 5× to unlock a free bet
- Max reward: $100 free bet
- 30 days to complete wagering
Deposit and wager the amount 5× (min odds 1.50). Once completed, you receive your original deposit back as a Free Bet, usable on any sport.
This is by far the most common type of free bet. Also known as a ‘bet token’ or ‘bet credit’, this is where a bookmaker will only return your winnings and not the stake. For example, if you place a €10 SNR bet at 3/1 (4.0) and win, you will only receive €30 back (the winnings) rather than €40 (winnings + stake) as you usually would.
These are becoming increasingly popular and sees a bookmaker refund your stake if a certain thing happens. The most common is ‘Money back if your horse finishes second’. Sometimes bookmakers have ‘Stake Returned as a Free Bet’ offers which are again dependent on a specific result happening in a specific market. An example is ‘Back Liverpool to win and if they lose, get your stake back as a free bet’.
This is when you have to place a bet in order to receive a free bet. An example would be ‘Bet €10, get €30 in Free Bets’.
This usually forms part of a bookmaker’s offer and thus is generally more generous than a Qualifying Free Bet. An example would be ‘Bet €25 and Get a €25 Free Bet’.
Some bookmakers offer a bonus just for depositing. This is often when you deposit using a particular payment method.
Refer-a-Friend offers tend to include a free bet once you have signed up and deposited a certain amount of money.
The Most Common Types of Free bet
How To Claim Free Bets
It is common for free bets to form part of a welcome offer. This is how you claim free bets if you are a new sportsbook customer:
- Browse our list of bookmakers, assessing their free bet options. Choose the one that’s right for you by clicking on the link.
- Sign up for an account with the sportsbook and undergo any KYC and identity checks as required.
- Deposit funds into your account using your payment method of choice. Make sure this is compatible with the terms of the free bet.
- Place your bet, ensuring you adhere to all T&Cs stated in the free bet offer.
- Note that the betslip may give you an option to use a free bet – if so, make sure this is selected.
- If you have adhered to the T&Cs, your free bet should be credited once your initial bet has been settled.
Free Bets – What You Need To Know
When placing a free bet, you are not using any of your own cash. However, as you would expect, this comes with important conditions. These include:
Conclusion
Free bets are a common way for sportsbooks to attract new customers, as well as retain existing ones. They effectively allow you to place bets risk-free, enabling you to experiment with different markets and betting strategies. However, like all bookmaker offers, it’s important to check the terms and conditions thoroughly before signing up. It is also important to gamble responsibly.
FAQS
What is a free bet?
A free bet is when a bookmaker gives you funds to place a bet. This means you don’t need to use your own money. It’s important to note that if your bet wins, you do not get your stake back.
Can I use a free bet on any sport?
Yes, you can usually use free bets on any sport. However, it’s not uncommon for sportsbooks to have specific offers based on particular sports such as horse racing. Consequently, we always recommend checking the terms and conditions of any free bet offer before signing up.
Can you withdraw free bets?
No, you are not able to withdraw free bets directly – they must be used to bet on a particular sports market. However, you are able to withdraw any winnings from a free bet. Note, though, that some free bets may have rollover or playthrough requirements.
Can I Cash Out free bets?
Usually, sportsbooks do not allow you to use the cash out function with free bets.