Betting Bonuses – All You Need to Know

How Betting Bonuses Work

If you’ve ever spent any time at an online bookmaker, you’ll have likely seen the large banners advertising various promotions on offer. While bookies use these to encourage bettors to sign up and spend money at their sites, they can also present an opportunity for you to get a bit of extra value from your bankroll.

A betting bonus can come in all shapes and sizes, from free bet stakes to use in place of your own cash, to odds boosts that maximise your winnings, or even a casino bonus to use on the slots. 

To unlock your bonus, you’ll need to fulfil the qualifying requirements. This could be a minimum deposit, a qualifying bet, entering a promo code, or simply just signing up for an account. Once this is done, you’ll receive your bonus which can then be used in line with the terms and conditions. 

Ultimately, every bonus is different, and can deliver more or less value depending on the bonus terms and your preferences as a bettor. Keep reading and we’ll dive in deeper. 

Choosing a Betting Bonus

There’s a vast range of betting bonuses up for grabs at our recommended sites. When you’re picking which to go with, there are several factors to think about:

• Size – How big is the bonus? This is often the first consideration when comparing offers. Of course, bigger doesn’t always equal better. But if you’re simply looking for a free bet, you’ll likely prefer a £30 bonus over a £20 bonus, all else being equal. 
• Qualifying requirements – What do you have to do to claim the bonus? Most will require a bet of at least £10 to be made at minimum odds, but some offers can be claimed with just a deposit.
• Eligible markets – Think about what you’d like to use your bet for. Markets like in-play bets and accas aren’t always included, so be sure to check if this is a priority for you. Likewise, some free bets are for use only on specific sports such as football or horse racing.

Want more detail on the different types of betting bonuses you might find? We’ve broken them down below.

Welcome Offers

Most bookies bestow new bettors with some kind of welcome offer, which will likely take one of the following shapes:

• Free bets – These bet credits can be used in place of a real money stake, and if your bet wins, you’ll keep the profit. Most bettors prefer this type of welcome bonus as it’s a fixed value that doesn’t depend on whether your qualifying bet wins or not. 
• Money back bets – With these offers, your first bet at the site will be refunded as a free bet credit if it loses, up to a certain value. 
• Matched deposits – Here, you’ll get bonus bet credit proportionate to your first deposit, say a 100% match up to £20. 
• Profit boosts – If your first bet at the site wins, the profit will be increased by a certain percentage, such as a 100% boost up to a maximum of £100.

Ongoing Promotions

Once you’ve exhausted your welcome offer, you’ll want to check out what else the betting site has to offer. This will likely include:

• Reload bonuses – Bag some extra betting bonus credit when you make your next qualifying deposit.
• Event-specific offers – In the lead-up to popular events like the World Cup or Grand National, bookies may dish out extra betting bonuses. 
• Free bet clubs – If you’re a regular bettor, taking advantage of this offer can mean bagging extra free bet tokens. To qualify, you’ll need to stake a certain minimum within a given period, say £25 in a week. 
• Acca insurance – If accumulators are your wager of choice, you can safeguard a total loss with acca insurance. Here, your stake is refunded as a free bet if you lose by just one leg. 

Claiming Your Betting Bonus

Taking advantage of a betting bonus is a simple process. Follow these easy steps:

Making the Most of Your Betting Bonus

When it comes to actually using your bonus, there are a few tips and tricks when it comes to getting maximum value from the offer. Here are some of our suggestions.

Betting Strategy

When using a betting bonus, you might consider a betting strategy a little different to what you’d normally do. For example, taking a punt on longer odds could seem more attractive, seeing as you’re not wagering your own money. The same is true if you’re using a money back bet. 

For things like profit boosts, you might want to choose a wager that has a decent probability of coming good to make the most of the offer. Enhanced odds tokens are similar — you’ll need the bet to win to see the benefit, so it may be more worthwhile to go for shorter odds. In any case, be sure to stick within your means when you return to betting with real cash. 

Wagering Requirements

If your offer comes with wagering requirements, these need to be completed before you can withdraw any bonus-related winnings. These are usually pretty low when it comes to sports betting bonuses, and often much more impactful against casino offers. Say the wagering requirements on a £10 bonus are 4x — you’ll have to bet £40 of your own cash before winnings resulting from the bonus can be withdrawn. Never let this sway you into spending more than you otherwise would. 

Time Limits

Make sure you’re aware of any time limits attached to your offer — once you claim the bonus, the clock will be ticking. While sites like bet365 won’t remove your bonus credit as long as your account remains active, some bookies will give you just 24 hours to use your free bet. Always check before you claim so you’re not caught unawares!

Eligible Markets

It’s important to choose a bonus that aligns with your betting preferences. Take a look through the smallprint so you know what’s available when betting with bonus credit. Some free bets are for specific sports or events, while others might be designed to give you a taste of live betting or accumulators.

Other T&Cs

We know they’re boring, but terms and conditions set out the limitations of your betting bonus so they’re a must-read. Some main things to consider include winnings limits (the maximum you can win from a betting bonus) and payment exclusions (using a disqualified deposit method will render you ineligible for the bonus). 

Responsible Gambling

While a betting bonus can add to the enjoyment of your gambling experience, it’s important to stay in control — even when you’re betting with bonus credit and not real cash. Furthermore, you shouldn’t bet more than you ordinarily would for the sake of claiming a bonus or clearing wagering requirements. 

Before you start betting, make sure you understand how to gamble responsibly. We’ve got you covered here at Compare.bet with our responsible gambling guide. This guide provides plenty of advice to help keep things enjoyable, such as setting a budget, using on-site limiters, and taking time-outs. If you feel like you need further help with your betting, or gambling is affecting you negatively, visit GamCare or BeGambleAware.org for more support and advice. 

Compare Betting Bonuses and Sign Up

Now you’re an expert on all aspects of betting bonuses, all that’s left to do is try one for  yourself. Here at Compare.bet, our job is to make it easy for you to find the best gambling deals. With that in mind, we’ve collated top betting bonuses and reviewed each site to help you find the perfect bookmaker. Simply check out our betting bonus page to get started.