If you’re new to the world of sports betting and feel perplexed by the choice and amount of betting bonuses out there, you’re not alone. The world of betting promotions is a daunting place. However, it can be exciting and very lucrative if you understand bookmakers' bonuses and know how best to use them.
The best online gambling sites often offer bonuses like welcome packages, free bets, and cashback. When you take advantage of these offers it can boost your bank balance and also give you the opportunity to try different types of bets.
It’s very important to have a full grasp of how these bonuses work and understand the often intricate terms and conditions that come with them. If not you could find yourself out of pocket and left with a nasty taste in your mouth.
Most Common Betting Bonuses
Here are the most popular bonuses that you will see on bookies sites. They’ll sometimes have slightly different names but the keywords will be in the title and you will start to learn what you’re looking for.
Other names: First Deposit Bonus, Deposit Doubler
What is it: The bookmaker matches your deposit with bonus funds, often 100% but this can vary between 50% to 300%. This bonus will come with a reward limit and will usually only apply to certain bet types (for instance accumulator bets, or single bets are common). These bonuses will often have steep wagering requirements and need you to bet your deposit amount multiple times, increasing the risk if you don’t playthrough. Most bookies will also have minimum odds restrictions.
The Catch: You sometimes need to wager both deposit + bonus a set number of times at minimum odds. Most bonus funds will only become available to you after you have played through.
Example:
You deposit $200. The bookmaker matches your $200 deposit with $200 bonus funds.
Total balance = $200 real money + $200 bonus = $400.
The rollover requirement is 5x. You’ll need to wager your deposit 5x to qualify. $200 x 5 = $1000
The minimum odds are 1.80 so all wagered bets need to have greater odds than this to count towards the bonus.
Other names: Bet Credit, Free Play, Bonus Bet
What is it: You’re given a “free bet” token to use on a market. If it wins, you get the winnings only (not the stake). Free Bets are a risk-free way to try a bet. They’re best used on medium to higher odds (e.g., 2.0–4.0) to maximise the potential return, since using them on very low odds gives little value. The Free Bet winnings are usually added as real withdrawable funds, (sometimes subject to a small wagering requirement)
The Catch: Often must be used on bets with certain minimum odds and it usually expires quickly.
Example:
You use your $20 Free Bet on a football match: Arsenal to beat Chelsea at odds of 2.50
If You Win:
A normal bet would mean: Stake × Odds = $20 × 2.50 = $50 total payout.
But since it’s a Free Bet, the stake ($20) isn’t included.
You only receive the profit part: $30 winnings.
If You Lose:
The $20 Free Bet is simply lost. But you don’t lose any of your own money, so no harm done.
Other names: Money Back Bet, No Sweat Bet
What it is: Place a bet, and if it loses, you get your stake back (as cash or bonus funds). It’s actually quite rare to find a truly risk-free bet but they do exist. The terms and conditions are important to note here; Every bookmaker is different and some use the term “risk-free” very differently to others.
Sometimes, for instance, the money back will be returned as a free bet and that free bet will be SNR (Stake Not Returned). So that doesn’t make it truly risk-free.
The Catch: Refund is often given as bonus funds with wagering requirements, not straight cash.
Example:
A bookmaker gives you a Risk-Free Bet up to $50 on your first wager.
Terms say: if your first bet loses, you get your stake refunded as bonus funds (not cash).
You bet $50 on Manchester United to beat Liverpool at odds of 2.20.
If You Win:
A normal payout = Stake × Odds = $50 × 2.20 = $110 total return.
Since you won, the risk-free part doesn’t activate.
You keep your $50 stake + $60 profit.
If you Lose:
You lose the bet, but your $50 stake is refunded as bonus funds.
To use it, you might need to wager it once (e.g., bet the $50 bonus again).
If your bonus bet wins, you usually only keep the winnings, not the refunded stake.
4. Enhanced Odds Bonus
Other names: Price Boost, Odds Boost
What is it: An Enhanced Odds Bonus is when a bookmaker offers boosted odds on a specific bet or market. Instead of betting at the normal odds, you get a much higher price for the same outcome. They are good for arbing (when an event has back odds that are significantly higher than the odds available at the exchange). but there is still the facet of potentially not getting much value.
The Catch: Often there are limits — like maximum stake $5–$10, winnings may also be partly paid in bonus bets/free bets instead of full cash.
Example:
There’s a match you want to bet on: Manchester City vs Arsenal
Normal Odds (without promo): Manchester City to win = 2.00 (even money).
Enhanced Odds Offer: “City to Win at 10.00 — Max Bet $5.”
You stake $5 on Man City to win, using the enhanced odds promotion.
Normal payout at 2.00 odds = $10 (profit $5).
But with enhanced odds 10.00: $5 × 10.00 = $50 total return.
Bookmaker usually pays $10 in cash (as if you bet at normal odds) + $40 as free bets/bonus credits.
If City Loses:
You lose your $5 stake.
Other Names: 2Up Bonus, Win Bonus
What is it: An Early Payout Bonus means your bet is settled as a winner before the match officially ends if a certain condition is met. Even if the result changes later (and your team goes on to draw or lose), you still keep your payout. This is an excellent offer for anybody who likes doing some Matched Betting. Early payout promos are great for reducing risk on bets where your team often takes the lead but doesn’t always hold it. They’re most common in football (2-goal lead), tennis (win 2 sets up), or basketball (lead by 20 points).
The Catch: Often restricted to major leagues/tournaments (e.g., Premier League, Champions League). If early payout triggers, the bet is settled then and there. You can’t keep the early win and still get paid if your team extends the lead further — it’s one or the other.
Example:
Offer: “Get early payout if your team goes 2 goals ahead”
You bet $100 on Arsenal to beat Chelsea at odds 2.00 (even money).
Although lots of these bonuses may seem tempting, there are pros and cons to consider when claiming any gambling site bonus.
Pros:
Cons:
Important Bonus Rules to Remember
It’s really important to always read the terms and conditions before committing to any bonus. On their site bookmakers will list the wagering conditions, rules and any restrictions on their offer, including the minimum deposit amount, payment methods, and any other exclusions. Bookmaker comparison sites like GamblingArabia will give you a thorough breakdown of the most popular bookmaker’s bonuses too.
Terms and conditions of sports bonuses will usually consist of:
A lot of bonuses come with a wagering requirement that you must meet before you can access your winnings. These conditions differ from site to site but will usually range between 5x to 40x. If you don’t meet this requirement, the bonus and any winnings will be invalid.
Bet Type Restrictions
Only certain bet types with particular odds will be accepted on lots of these bonuses. This ensures that there is an element of risk for the player, rather than “playing safe and low” just to meet the wagering conditions. Bet types that are sometimes excluded can include, for example, Asian Handicaps or Player Props.
Some promotions will require a bonus code to claim them. If you don’t enter this code, you may not get any bonus. Be vigilant when entering your code too as a small typo can lead to missing out on the whole offer!
There will ordinarily be an expiry date on the offer, which is usually between 3, to 30 days. The bonus and any potential winnings from it will be forfeited if you don’t manage to meet the wagering requirements or use your free bets within that time.
Eligible Sports and Markets
Sometimes bonuses are only for specific sports. For example, a bonus might only apply to Premier League or UEFA markets. Always check which markets and bet types qualify for these sports too before placing your bets.
