Most bookmakers offer a free bet to encourage sign ups. These sign-up free bets vary from bookmaker to bookmaker and also have terms and conditions you must comply with to receive the sign-up free bet.
The most common example of a sign-up free bet is “bet and get”, for example bet £10 (your real money) and get £30 in free bets. As mentioned above, the free bets will nearly all be subject to some stipulations such as betting at a minimum price, bet type, win or each way etc.
Some sign up free bets vary from the “bet and get” and these include a matched free bet up to a certain amount allowed so you may see bet up to £50 (your real money) and receive a free bet up to £50.
Enhanced free bets are also used by bookmakers to drive new customer sign ups. Here the bookmaker will use a selection on a high-profile event that is usually a very short price to win and enhance the odds to a massive over inflated price. On such occasions there will usually be a maximum bet amount on the enhanced odds of say £1 and this will be sold as deposit £xx and bet £1 and receive £xx in free bets.
Historically bookmakers have offered no deposit free bets. These were used as a headline offer during festivals and tournaments with the bookmaker hoping the new customer would like the site experience and then go onto deposit. The no deposit sign-up free bets are not seen as much today as once they were.
The other type of sign up offer you will see which is becoming more prevalent is a “bet and get” as described above, but includes free play on gaming products to compliment the sports free bets. Again, it is strongly advised to read and understand any terms and conditions regarding this type of sign-up bonus.
Existing customers also receive free bets for different reasons. Being rewarded with free bets occurs if you adhere to certain stipulations over a period of time like weekly or monthly loyalty programs and bet clubs. These are similar to the “bet and get” sign-up free bets where you are asked to fill certain criteria around the number of bets, stakes or player days which will trigger the free bet.
Free bets can also be awarded by taking part in offers and promotions where free bets are often used as the consolation for near misses or hard luck. For example in horseracing “if your horse finishes second in the 3.00pm at Doncaster we will refund your stake as a free bet up to an amount of £xx”
There are many offers, concessions and promotions offered daily by bookmakers that award free bets so be sure to check these out.
** Free bets are usually credited once the qualifying real money bet(s) have been settled. Also remember ALL winning free bets do not include the free bet stake in any returns, so for example a £10 free bet on a 3/1 winner returns £30 rather than £40 if you had used real money to place the bet. **
All or most bookmakers reserve the right to remove by individual customer, offers, promotions and free bets at their discretion and this will be covered in their terms and conditions.
The Major wishes you “good luck with your account sign up choices and betting, however please gamble responisbly”.
