Types of Free Bet
There is a bewildering array of Free Bets available and it can be difficult to weigh up which Free Bet is right for you, but broadly speaking, there are four main types.
Matched Free Bet
This is by far the most common form of Free Bet and usually is offered only to new customers, although sometimes bookmakers will offer Free Bets to customers who have not used their account for a long period. When the customer opens an account and makes a deposit, the bookmaker will match that deposit with an identically-sized Free Bet.
There will usually be a minimum and a maximum stake level for the Matched Free Bet, and it often relates to a specific event, such as a big Premier League game. The amount of the Free Bet initially appears in the customer’s account as a separate balance, but once it has been used, any winnings are added to the customer’s main balance.
No deposit Free Bet
This is a rarer form of Free Bet, awarded to new customers simply for opening an account. The Free Bet is credited to the customer without their having to deposit any funds. As with the Matched Free Bet, these Free Bets are sometimes linked to a specific event, and there may be other conditions, such as a minimum time limit before any winnings from the Free Bet can be withdrawn. In most cases, this Free Bet will still apply even if you do make a deposit.