Different Types of Betting Bonuses in the UK
Every punter likes to be rewarded for being a loyal player at a betting site. Hence why the best UK betting bonuses tend to be aimed at scoring some free bets and refunding the players’ accounts.
When betting online, you’ll most likely run into these sports betting bonuses offered by bookkeepers:
- Free Bets
- Deposit match bonuses
- Cashback bonuses
Now, let’s get a closer look at each of these bonuses and what they entail.
Free Bets
Free Bets are a great way to start betting on sports fast and in style. Pretty much every betting site offers some kind of free bet program nowadays, especially as a welcome offer for newly registered players.
The way Free Bet bonuses work is by requiring the player to first make a qualifying bet before they unlock the free part of the offer. Usually, you’ll see them phrased like this:
“Bet £10 and get £20 in free bets”
This means you’ll need to make a £10 bet after which your account will be credited with a £20 bet package. Betting sites typically require you to use those bets within a certain period of time and only on odds above a certain threshold.
Deposit Match Bonuses in the UK
Another very common bonus offer for sports betting. A matched deposit bonus will be familiar to punters who have also played at online casinos.
It’s pretty straightforward - after you make a qualifying deposit, the sportsbook awards you a percentage of it as additional funds on your account. For example:
“100% up to £50 welcome bonus”
In this example, a £10 deposit would return a £10 bonus. But a £60 deposit would only return a £50 bonus, as that’s the upper limit set by the betting site.
Matched bonuses aren’t offered just as part of the introductory package. Sportsbooks often reward their players when they reload their accounts, so there’s more than a handful of opportunities to score bonus funds.
To collect these bonuses, though, you’ll need to meet wagering requirements, including wagering within an allotted timeframe.
Cashback Betting Bonuses
Cashbacks are some of the most interesting betting bonuses for UK players who bet on a lot of matches. Similarly to cashback on credit cards, these bonuses return the money back into your account.
The requirements and cashback offers vary wildly from sportsbook to sportsbook. Some sites simply give back a percentage of your losses once a week, while others may refund a single high-stakes bet if it doesn’t win.
The latter are often tagged as risk-free bets and are most sought after by punters who’d like to try a risky bet or two. Oftentimes, the sites will limit the maximum refund amount and, on top of that, they tend to issue these refunds as tokens, so players will have to spend them again on bets instead of outright withdrawing them from the sportsbook.
Bonus Terms and Conditions in the United Kingdom
We’ve already touched upon some terms and conditions for sports betting bonuses. After all, there’s never a totally free way to bet on sports, so sites tend to impose various limits and requirements before handing out bonuses.
Minimum deposit - the most common condition you’ll have to meet to activate bonus offers. This is especially important to notice when claiming a sports betting welcome bonus, as your first deposit will make or break your chance of winning said offer.
In most cases, this requirement is equal to the sportsbook’s minimum deposit, so you’ll get the offer anyway, but still - read the terms and conditions of the site carefully, or read up on details through our sportsbook reviews.
Wagering - after winning any kind of bonus funds from a betting site, you won’t be able to just cash out. You’ll first need to wager that money a certain number of times before the bonus funds turn into real money.
Qualifying bet - this is the minimum amount you need to wager in order to receive the bonus offer.
Timeframe - generally speaking, you have either 7 or 30 days to meet wagering and other requirements to collect your bonus. The exact timeframe is determined by the betting site you’re playing at.
There are, of course, other bonuses that online bookies tend to offer. But, knowing these common terms and requirements will help you get the most out of those bonuses and get some free punts along the way.
Betting Bonuses UK - What You Need to Know
As you’ve seen, even the best betting offers in the UK come with a few caveats. But, like each sportsbook is unique in its own way, so are these bonuses and some are better than others.
Here are a few tips on determining whether the bonus offer is worth your time and effort.
How much do you need to deposit or bet? Oftentimes, your deposit or a wager is what triggers the bonus offer. This amount should be what you’re most comfortable with, a sum that’s not too high so you can easily unlock the bonus.
Are there any market limitations? Bonuses might be exclusive to certain sports or bet types. It’s easy to miss this bit in all the betting excitement, so double-check the limitations before you go for that bonus.
What else do you need to complete to claim the bonus? Check the time limits, wagering requirements, and minimum odds. Discover how the sportsbook notifies its players when their bonuses are ready for claiming. Note that UKGC has a detailed guide on betting bonuses and offers that cites all the rights you have as a brittish player.
In short, become familiar with the site’s rules about its betting bonuses and you’ll be a hot-shot punter in no time.
