Football Programmes Centre

Read the Fine Print: Football Free Bets Terms and Conditions

When claiming free bets, bettors often focus too much on the value of the bonus and gloss over the other parts of the offer. Even though this is a common thing to do, it can hurt players who enter free bet promotions and find unpleasant surprises.

What are the rules for free bets?

On UK betting sites, free bets usually come with specific requirements to qualify. Here are the general rules that all players should be aware of:

Minimum deposit

Before claiming most free bets, you have to make a minimum deposit. The player takes less risk the lower this number is. For example, if a £20 free bet requires a minimum deposit of £10, a player would have to deposit at least £10 before the bonus is added to their account.

Minimum Odds

Most free bets require the bettor to place a bet with "minimum odds" to get the free bet. It's worth making a mental note of this, as in the case of free bets football betting, the odds will play a big part on the bet you choose. Before you claim any offer, make sure to read this section.

Limitations on time

You may only be able to use Free bets for a limited time, like a certain number of days after opening an account or placing a bet. This is usually seven days, but it can vary from bookmaker to bookmaker. The better, the longer the period. The longer a bet is good for, the less likely, it is that a player will be in a hurry and place a bet too quickly.

Bets You Have to Make

Before a person can cash in on a free bet, they may have to place a certain number of bets. The more this number goes up, the more times players will have to risk their bonus and any winnings they've made. So, a good strategy is to look for free bets with low wagering requirements.

Maximum Winnings

There may be a cap on how much you can win with a free bet, no matter how good the odds are or how big the bet is. Before you start betting, knowing how much this is worth is a good idea.

Limits on Market and Bet Type

Most of the time, a free bet will have rules about where it can be used. This means that the qualifying bet and/or the bets made with bonuses can only be made on specific sports. There might also be rules about what kinds of bets the free bet covers. For example, some bonuses don't let you use accas or multiples.