Betting Bonus – Your Complete Guide to Sports Betting Bonuses

With sports betting offers changing so frequently, it’s important to understand the difference between the types of bonuses you might come across on this page and with our recommended bookmakers or betting apps.

Build your knowledge around the different types of betting bonus that you will find with online bookmakers below.

Betting Sign Up Bonus

A betting sign up bonus covers all the available offers for new players with sports betting operators, which could include a deposit match, money back in bonus funds, or another type of promotion.

For various different reasons, which could be due to the start of major football tournaments like the World Cup, or the start of the Champions League for example, sportsbooks will change their betting bonus for new players.

For example, a certain online bookmaker might offer a standard offer year-round, but decide to enhance that promotion and offer something different for the World Cup. Alternatively, they must just simply want to freshen up their welcome promotion, or elevate their offering to encourage more players to join the site.

No Deposit Bonus

A no deposit bonus is a sports betting offer that sees you rewarded with bonus funds in your account without even having to make a deposit. This is a much more commonly found promotion with online casinos though, instead of sports betting.

Therefore it is extremely rare that you will find a no deposit sports betting bonus available on this page or anywhere for that matter. If you do, we highly recommend that you claim it as soon as possible before it disappears!

This type of promotion is incredible in some ways because you don’t even need to spend any of your hard earned money to receive it. However, there are often wagering requirements attached to a no deposit bonus, meaning that even if you do win, you will need to deposit and wager to be able to withdraw your winnings.

Free Bet Bonus

A free bet is usually a set amount of bonus funds that are added to your account once you have qualified for the offer in question. For example, one offer may be bet 10, get 30 in free bets, and that might be awarded as 3x 10 in free bets.

Typically, these offers have no wagering requirements, enabling you to immediately withdraw any winnings you make from wagers placed with free bets. But, your stake will not be included in your returns, seeing as a free bet is a bonus.

Free bets can also be awarded to existing players, and will usually be based on the premise that you need to deposit and place a bet on a certain event, or an accumulative amount wagered will mean you are rewarded with a free bet.

Always read the terms and conditions closely with free bet offers to make sure that you have opted in correctly and will be eligible for the promotion.

Reload Bonus and Loyalty Rewards

Reload bonuses or loyalty rewards are more specifically related to existing players, offering them the opportunity to receive bonus funds thanks to placing regular wagers.

A reload bonus is where you are awarded bonus funds for depositing or staking a specific amount over a time period, which could be a week or a month. Similarly, loyalty rewards could come out the blue after staking a specific amount or depositing a certain amount, with the bookmaker feeling the need to reward you for your loyalty to their betting site.

Risk-Free Bets / Money-Back Offers

Both providing you with the same type of promotion, risk-free bets, or money-back offers allow you to place wagers knowing that even if you lose, you will get your money back.

There is a clear distinction in some cases with these offers though, with some offering you money back as cash, whilst others might provide you with your original stake as bonus funds if you lose.

Terms and conditions are available with every betting bonus, and clearly indicate if there are any wagering requirements, minimum odds you may need to meet, and more.

It’s pivotal that you always look through these terms and conditions when claiming a bonus so you have complete clarity and understanding of how the promotion works. Without reading the terms and conditions, it is easy to fall into the trap of placing a bet which doesn’t qualify, or receiving winnings but quickly realise you are unable to withdraw them due to wagering requirements.

To ensure you are always clear on what the promotion includes from start to finish, we have covered the most important points.

Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are a common condition attached to betting bonuses, but don’t always apply to sports promotions. They refer to the number of times you must wager the bonus amount (or sometimes the deposit and bonus combined) before you can withdraw any winnings.

For example, if you claim a 50 bonus with a 5x wagering requirement, you’ll need to place bets totaling 250 (50 x 5) before you can cash out any winnings. It’s important to note that not all bets may count equally toward meeting these requirements as some promotions may exclude certain bet types or markets.

Understanding wagering requirements is crucial to avoid surprises when trying to withdraw your winnings. You should always calculate the total amount you’ll need to bet and ensure it aligns with your betting habits and budget.

Minimum Odds and Market Restrictions

Most bonuses come with minimum odds requirements, meaning you can only place qualifying bets on selections with odds above a certain threshold. For instance, if the minimum odds are set at 1.50, any bets placed on odds lower than this will not count toward fulfilling the bonus conditions.

Additionally, market restrictions may apply because some promotions exclude specific bet types or limit eligibility for betting on certain sports or events. For example, a bonus might only be valid for pre-match bets on football and may exclude in-play betting altogether.

These limitations are designed to ensure fair play and prevent misuse of bonuses, and demonstrate why you should always check the eligible odds and markets before placing your bets to avoid invalidating your bonus.

Time Limits and Validity

Betting bonuses often come with strict time limits, requiring you to use the bonus or meet the wagering requirements within a specified period. This could range from 7 days to 30 days, depending on the promotion.

For example, if you claim a bonus on October 1st with a 14-day validity, you must complete all wagering requirements by October 15th. Failing to do so may result in the bonus and any associated winnings being forfeited.

To make the most of your bonus, plan your bets accordingly and keep track of the deadline, which could include setting reminders to ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to maximise your betting bonus.

Choosing the right bonus for you is dependent on many different factors, which include the way in which you bet, if you are new to sports betting, and even the sports that you bet on.

Investigate some of the key aspects to choosing the right betting bonus for you below.

Match Bonus vs Free Bets

For new bettors and those who only place bets casually on major events within sport, it may be more suitable for you to claim free bets. The reason for this is there is minimal risk involved, and the staking required is usually somewhat low.

Whereas those who bet frequently and are looking for a new welcome offer, the right betting bonus for you could be a deposit match. This may be because you are more willing to deposit a larger sum of cash to earn a larger bonus amount.

Consider Your Favourite Sport

It’s pivotal that you keep which sports you bet on in mind before claiming a sports betting bonus, and this goes for the offer itself, and what the betting site offers for your particular sport.

If for example you mainly bet on football, but also regularly bet on basketball, then you will want to sign up with a site that prioritises these two sports and has a strong market selection, competitive odds, and promotions that centre around those sports.

In regards to the betting bonus you are claiming, you should also check the conditions of the promotion to ensure that you aren’t restricted to betting on a sport that you don’t like with your bonus funds too.

Compare Multiple Sportsbooks Before Registering

Just because you see an amazing sports betting bonus available, doesn’t always mean that the online bookmaker is the right one for you.

You should always compare online bookmakers to analyse how their odds compare, the promotions they offer for existing players, their market selection, the usability of their website or betting app, and more.

Betting bonuses undoubtedly have their positives, which typically outweigh the negatives. But, it is important to analyse the whole picture and understand that there are some disadvantages to claiming some bonus offers.

Take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks to claiming sports betting bonuses below.