To entice you to sign up with a bookmaker as a bettor, you’re frequently given the opportunity to claim free bets as a new member. It’s one of the few times in your life when you can receive a bit of free cash.
As shown on comparison sites like Findbettingsites (see their How to claim a free bet guide) , every betting site promotes various bonus options based on their customized suite of offers. Some operators offer first deposit bonus bets when you fund your account, or your reward can come in the form of a credit to your account after settling your first wager.
Either way, at the end of the day, free bets represent free money in your account to help you get started wagering until you start wagering with real money.
What Are Free Bets?
A free bet allows a player to make one free wager up to the offered risk amount. Free bets are shown as part of your account balance until you place a wager and win. Then it’ll be reflected in your account like any other winning bet.
However, you must know that each sports betting site may treat free bets differently. For instance, on some sites, if your free bet is a winner, you can treat it just like a paid bet, including withdrawing the money if you want.
Other sites may only allow a partial withdrawal over time, or they may tie withdrawals to additional deposits, or you may be required to keep playing with your winnings up to a specified maximum or until you lose it all. It’s your responsibility to ensure that you understand the restrictions on free bet winnings before signing up with a site.
How to Claim a Free Bet
Again, every site may do things a bit differently, but essentially, this is how you want to handle your free bets, with perhaps a few variations depending on the site and the rules they enforce.
Free bets will usually appear greyed out on your bet slip until you select the one you want to use because you may have multiple free bets available, depending on the site. After clicking the free bet you want, you’ll need to specify the exact value of the bet by entering it in the risk field.
If you enter a value different from the worth of the bet, you’ll generate an error message until you key the correct information. This type of error message is normal and protects you and the betting platform from errors that can lead to unintended losses—or wins.
Once you’re finished making the necessary entries, you click the “Place Wager” button precisely as you would for a paid bet, and you’re done making your first risk-free bet.
Finally, the site may require up to 48 hours to update your account balance with your winnings or losses, so don’t panic if you don’t see it immediately.
Final Words
Claiming free bets is an excellent way to begin enjoying the thrill of sports betting on a new platform. Most major gambling platforms offer welcome bonuses to get you to sign up with them. Therefore, the probability is high that you’ll have free bets to wager when you join.
Don’t forget that there are always strings attached to free bets, so make sure you understand the terms and conditions before wagering and take note of when you’re allowed to withdraw your winnings if you get lucky.
Otherwise, enjoy your free cash, and good luck placing those first few wagers and opening up an entirely new world of online sports betting for you to enjoy for many years to come.
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