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Charles Miller
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Sportsbooks are always vying for your affections, and one way of doing this is through bonuses. But it’s the free bets that are usually crowd pleasers, and the ones you should pay attention to.

On this page, we have discussed the best sportsbooks offering free bets – all of which are licensed and safe to play – so you can get your betting experience off to the best possible start.

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Up To $1000 Paid Back If First Bet Loses

28/04/23

Up To $1000 Paid Back If First Bet Loses

  • Best Promo Code Offers
  • Fun and Interactive Features
  • Regionalized Promotions and Bonuses
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0

Bet $5, Get $150

28/04/23

Bet $5, Get $150

  • Second Biggest Sportsbook in US
  • App With Lots Of Great Betting Features
  • Best For Daily Fantasy Sports
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0

Up To $150 in Bonuses When You Deposit Min. $5

28/04/23

Up To $150 in Bonuses When You Deposit Min. $5

  • Top 2 Sportsbook for Daily Fantasy Sports
  • Awesome and Easy To Use UX
  • 24/7 Customer Service
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0

Up To $500 Second Chance Bet

28/04/23

Up To $500 Second Chance Bet

  • Plethora of Betting Markets
  • Levels Reward Program
  • Best in the Market for Live Betting
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0

5 x 2nd Chance Bets Up To $250

28/04/23

5 x 2nd Chance Bets Up To $250

  • Many Unique Bets
  • In-House Generous Odds
  • VIP Program With Personal Manager
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0

The Best Free Bets USA

With the sports betting market expected to grow with a CAGR of 9.2% in the forecast period of 2023 to 2030, it’s clear to see why sportsbooks are competition for business – and one way of attracting bettors is via their free bets.

If you want to collect the best free bets, then we have highlighted some of the most reputable sportsbooks’ free bets. These offers are available at licensed and regulated US sites, and they are worth tapping into. Usually, you will be able to see promo codes for free bets, however, none of the ones mentioned on this page have one to use. In the meantime, check out our table which explains more.

Sportsbook Promo Code Min Odds
BetMGM N/A -200
FanDuel N/A N/A
DraftKings N/A -300
BetRivers N/A -200
PointsBet N/A N/A

What are Free Bets Offers?

Free bet offers are as they sound — you can wager at a sportsbook risk-free. So, when you place a free bet, you will be betting with money or credits awarded to you by the sportsbook or with the knowledge that you will be reimbursed if your opening bet loses.

If your free bet wins, you will get to keep the winnings minus the stake which isn’t paid back. But there’s nothing to worry about if your free bet loses, as you won’t have lost any money.

Types of Free Bet Welcome Bonuses

Any of our recommended online sportsbooks will carry a wealth of free bet welcome offers, and they will come in all shapes and sizes.

Some of these will be sport specific, so if you wish to wager on the biggest events for NBA betting or like to delve into the latest tennis betting markets, you will find them at these sites. Let’s run through the main types of offers you will encounter.

Matched Bets

Matched bets are the most common type of welcome offer you will see. These will equate to an amount fixed based on the deposit that you make. Matched bets will be presented at different percentages, and they are ideal for those who stake more significant amounts. DraftKings, for example, offers a 20% matched deposit up to $1,000, so if you deposit $1,000, then you’ll receive $1,200 in free bets that you can use for any sport.

DraftKings matched deposit bonus

Risk-Free Bets

Risk-free bets are also popular at regulated sportsbooks. In a nutshell, risk-free bets offer the opportunity for you to make a bet without risking any of your funds in the process. Typically, with a risk-free bet, users will have to place a qualifying bet. However, they will not be penalized if they lose their bet, as the initial bet amount will be refunded.

This can be refunded either as a free bet or in real cash, but that is at the discretion of the sportsbook. The BetMGM free bets offer, for example, is a highly competitive risk free bets offer.

No Deposit Free Bets

Generally speaking, a free bets no deposit sportsbook is almost unheard of. However, when they do crop up, they are worth taking a closer look at.

With this kind of no deposit free bets offer, you won’t have to contribute any additional funds to your account, and you may find it easier to build up a betting bank.

How to Claim & Use a Free Bet in the USA

If you want to claim free bets today, but you are not sure how to, then this step-by-step guide will prove to be quite handy. The good news is that claiming a bookmakers free bets offer is straightforward. We have demonstrated how you can do this, using the BetMGM free bets offer as an example.

Step 1 – Go to BetMGM And Click “Register”

You can head over to BetMGM Sportsbook with most states that have legal online sports betting. Once on the site, click the “Register” button to bring up the sign-up form.

BetMGM tennis betting homepage

Step 2 – Fill in Your Details

To create a BetMGM account, you will need to supply a few personal details, such as your name, date of birth, address, phone number, and the last four digits of your SSN.

BetMGM step two

Step 3 – Enter The Sportsbook Promo Code

On the last page of the registration form, you will be asked to enter the sportsbook bonus code. If you don’t have a promo code for free bets, don’t worry, you can leave this blank and continue setting up your account. You will still benefit from the risk-free first bet of up to $1,000 at BetMGM.

BetMGM Bonus Code

Step 4 – Make Your First Deposit

To benefit from the BetMGM free bets offer, you will be required to make a deposit. Click the “Deposit” button to open the cashier, and then take your pick from the available payment methods. You will need to enter the required details and confirm the transaction.

BetMGM Sportsbook Deposit Methods 1

Step 5 – Start Betting

Once you have made your deposit, you can explore the markets and sports available to bet on using the free sports bets offer available to you. For example, you may be able to track the best NHL betting markets here.

BetMGM NHL betting lined sign up

Existing Customer Free Sports Bets

While the new player free bet offers grab the headlines for their size, you will take your rewards up to the next level if you can find free bets for existing customers. These are usually smaller but have the advantage of being available to use them daily as an existing customer, rather than just once as a new customer.

If you take a closer look at these offers, and work out how much they are giving you throughout the year as a whole, you will likely find that they are more worthwhile than the welcome offer. Of course, free bets for new players will always appear to be the biggest on offer, but when you dive a little deeper and work out what you gain with existing customer offers, they are often more lucrative over time.

The very best bookmakers will provide both types of free bet offers for you, as a new customer and an existing one. These can come in different forms, such as parlay boosts where you can increase the profits you make from a parlay bet. Alternatively, the typical FanDuel free sports bets offer for existing customers, consists of referral bonuses. So, for every friend that creates an account, the existing customer and the invited friend will receive $50 in free bets.

VIP Free Bets

VIP schemes are designed for the high rollers, so you will get even larger and better rewards as you bet. Most of the sportsbooks we have referred to in this guide will have one, including BetMGM.

These schemes are more exclusive, and work on an invite-only basis. There are usually different player levels inside the system, and the higher you climb, the bigger your rewards will be.

If you manage to get inside a VIP loyalty scheme, then expect more from free bets to enjoy and potentially other offers such as deposit bonuses and cashback offers.

BetMGM VIP rewards

Are Free Bets Really Free?

Free bets will generally be free in most cases, and that’s part of the appeal of sportsbooks with free bets. However, there are times in which you might place a free bet, but then not qualify for reimbursement. To understand why, it’s important to look at how free bets work and to read through the terms and conditions carefully.

For most of the best bookmakers free bets online, you will need to deposit money to a sportsbook. Now, that money can be withdrawn, there’s no cost to you.

At this point, your operator will either give you money to place a bet – like for a deposit match free bet – or you’ll need to place a bet with your own money and then be reimbursed. In the latter case, if you lose, you can submit for reimbursement and get money immediately.

The catch is that the new money in your account comes with some strings attached. You may need to wager a certain amount of money – often 10-20 times as much as your original bet – before you can withdraw the funds. So, it’s not as simple as just placing a single bet, and then walking away with no losses if you lose.

It’s important to note that the best free bets no deposit will be free. You will be reimbursed if your bet loses and walk away. However, remember, if your bet wins, there may be wagering requirements before you’re allowed to withdraw your winnings.

Free Bet Promo Codes

Normally, promo codes for free sports bets are essential if you want to take advantage of the offers advertised. If you don’t enter the correct promo code when prompted, then you could miss out on the offer altogether.

The best sportsbook promo codes will give you enough time to collect the offer, and they will have fair terms and conditions, but make sure you don’t trip up at the first hurdle, and take care when filling in your registration form.

Sportsbook Sign-Up Bonus Promo Code
BetMGM Risk-Free Bet up to $1,000 N/A
FanDuel Risk-Free Bet up to $1,000 N/A
DraftKings 20% Bonus up to $1,000 N/A
BetRivers Risk-Free Bet up to $500 N/A
PointsBet Risk-Free Bet up to $500 N/A

Free Bet Offers Terms & Conditions

With free bets offers, these will come with a swathe of terms and conditions. So, whether you wish to capitalize on FanDuel free bets or BetMGM free bets, you need to read through the T&Cs, as they will vary and come with their own restrictions.

To help you, we have pinpointed the main factors you need to get to grips before proceeding with a free sports bets offer. After all, you will want a smooth experience when betting at one of our recommended bookies.

Minimum Odds

Some free bet offers will come with minimum odds attached. This means that either the qualifying bet you place, the free bet, or both, will be subject to betting at minimum odds. These will be listed for you to follow and may mean you have to search out specific selections to use with minimum odds while you are claiming the offer, rather than just betting on anything you find on the site.

Market Restrictions

Not all bookmakers free bets can be used across every sport and market. Some will come with restrictions, and these will be limited to specific sports and markets.

For example, some free football bets may only be available on soccer markets, or they could be available on everything except soccer. When it comes to markets, the restriction could be that free bets can only be used on the win market, not on markets such as player props or parlays.

Wager Requirement

This is one of the most common restrictions in place and a vital one to understand for players. A wagering requirement is an amount you need to turn over before the bonus funds become real cash that you can withdraw.

The best way to describe this is to use an example

Deposit $200 matched to 100% = $400 in total added to your account.

The wagering requirement for the offer is 10x. This means your deposit plus bonus ($200) needs to be wagered 10x before you can withdraw the bonus funds, which means $4000 is the target you will need to hit.

While big bonuses may look appetizing, if you are not a big staking player, you may struggle to hit the wagering requirement to receive the bonus, so make sure you work this out before choosing a bonus and know what you need to do.

Valid Period

Regardless of the free bets online offer, whether it be FanDuel free bets or otherwise, they don’t last forever. You will have a specific time period, such as seven or 30 days for which you can claim, so make sure you are aware of this.
The valid period will begin from when you receive the offer, while some free sports bets promotions may have no fixed timescale.

Win Limits

When you receive a free bet, there is a chance that a win limit will be attached to it. This means that you will only be eligible to win a fixed amount of money from the free bet – anything after that will not count. While these are not too common, it is vitally important you find out if there is one or not because this could determine how you bet.

For example, if the win limit is $40, you don’t want to be putting together a large parlay to try and win $400, because all of your efforts will be to no avail, as you will only receive $40 of the money you win.

Payment Method Restrictions

Not all payment methods will be eligible for a bookmakers free bets online offer. Some sportsbooks may have more varied options, which will entail credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and in some cases, cryptocurrencies.

If you intend to make a deposit using a specific payment method, but this is not eligible for the bonus offer you want to claim, you may have to find an alternative payment method or find a different bonus that will accept your preferred banking option.

Payment Method BetMGM FanDuel DraftKings BetRivers PointsBet
Debit card Within 24 hours Within 24 hours Within 24 hours Within 24 hours Up to 48 hours
Credit card Within 24 hours Within 24 hours Within 24 hours Within 24 hours Up to 48 hours
eCheck 2-4 business days 3-5 business days 1-3 business days 2-5 business days 1-2 business days
PayPal Within 24 hours 3-5 business days Within 24 hours Within 72 hours Within 24 hours
GreenDot MoneyPak Up to 48 hours
PayNearMe 2-4business days Up to 48 hours 2-4 business days Up to 72 hours Up to 72 hours
Sportsbook Prepaid Card Within 4 hours Up to 24 hours 2-4 business days Immediately
Money Order
Check 2-4 business days 1-3 business days 1-3 business days 10-14 business days 1-3 business days
Wire Transfer 2-4 business days 1-3 business days 1-3 business days Up to 72 hours 1-33 business days

Top Mobile Free Bets

New customer free bets can also be accessed on mobile. There has been a big push for bonuses on mobile betting platforms, and these will be exclusive. While you may see an offer advertised on a free bets no deposit sportsbook, the promotion available on mobile sites may be somewhat different.

Indeed, many of the best sports betting apps will have push notifications enabled, so you will be able to find out about the latest deals as and when they crop up. If you prefer to bet via mobile, it is certainly worth checking out to see the bonuses available through our recommended operators. Also, here are some of the benefits of mobile betting.

Convenience

Through mobile betting, you can place wagers as and when suits you. As long as you have a good connection, you can access markets with ease without having to worry about any unnecessary pop-up ads. This will be hand when finding the best MLB betting sites to wager at for example.

Live Betting

Mobile betting has also helped with live betting. With in-play, bettors can keep track of live sports betting odds as they shift in real-time, and with just a few simple taps, you can place wagers or cash out as and when.

Deposits

Similarly, mobile betting has made it easier for players to handle their betting finances when on the move. They will be able to make deposits and withdrawals to and from their accounts more seamlessly, and above all, they will be able to do so in a safe manner if you wish to bet at Esports betting sites.

Top Free Bet Tips

Free bets are always great to use, especially for big events like Monday Night Football, which averaged 14.18 million viewers in the United States during the 2022 NFL regular season. With that number growing, sportsbooks are always looking to keep up by flagging plenty of free bets online, including free football bets.

If you want to claim the bookmakers free bets from one of our recommended operators, and you are new to sports betting, then here are some handy tips that you should follow.

Claim Free Bets that won’t affect how you bet

The best free bets online will allow you to bet in your usual style. For example, if a free bet only allows single bets, but you prefer to place accumulators, then this may not be suited to you. See how many free bet offers are available first before you commit to one.

Familiarize yourself with Matched Deposits

When you claim a matched deposit offer, this will be matched to a specific percentage. The bigger the better, and try to get 100% or more. The larger the percentage you get, the better your offer, even for smaller free bets.

Compare Existing Customer Offers

As part of your research before joining a site, see what offers are being advertised. They will give you a great deal if they can match how you bet. There will be other benefits, so make sure you have a look around before tapping up one.

Use Free Bets as a way to explore

Free bets are a great way to try and win some money, but by using these, they can help you to find new markets that you may not have thought of initially. So, if you can, take this opportunity to try out different lines, so you can extract value with your free bets online.

Focus on trying to become a VIP

If you are a high roller, then this could put you on the path to becoming a VIP. By becoming a VIP on a site, you can receive access to free sports bets and parlays in the future, which will be more than what regular players receive.

Conclusion

Free bets will ultimately enhance your betting experience, whether they are no deposit free bets or free football bets. These offers are fantastic, and the great news is that there are many of them available so that everyone can get involved. Regardless of what you wish to use them for, free bets will make things bigger and better than you possibly imagined.

Free bets are offered to new players if you want to get started with a sportsbook. On top of this, the best sportsbooks have many existing customers offers available, designed to keep giving you the great deal you have at the start.

FAQs

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Charles Miller

I am a freelance sports content creator with a wealth of experience in the igaming industry, reviewing all the biggest licensed operators.