Sports Betting 101: Free bets and bonuses

Last updated Oct 12, 2022 4:58 PM ET

Utilizing free bets and bonuses is an extremely important way to maximize your sports betting profits. You've heard of sportsbooks promote free bets and bonuses, and you've no doubt seen the enticing promos for them on this and every other sports betting site. But let's start to unravel the mystery about how they actually work and how you can make them work for you.

How do free bets work? When it comes to betting on your favorite sports, there's nothing like having risk-free money to wager with. Better still, the concept of getting free bets is by no means too good to be true. Yes, that's right, reputable US sportsbooks regularly dish out free bets to new and existing customers, giving you a chance to bet without risking your own money.

How do no-deposit bonuses work? A no-deposit bonus can mean different things depending on whether you are joining an online gaming platform or an online sportsbook. For sportsbooks, these no-deposit bonuses are usually free bets you can use or a certain dollar amount that is given to your account freely.

What are risk-free bets? Risk-free betting is a popular topic in the sports betting world that you may have already heard of. These risk-free betting offers can look different depending on the sportsbook, but normally they share some similarities. Overall, this is one of the most common welcome offers you will encounter and thus it is important to be familiar with how these offers work and how to leverage them to your own benefit.

These are just a few of the ways bettors can gain an advantage as they get started. For more, check out OddsChecker's Complete Guide to Free Bets and Bonuses, which is just one of OddsChecker's Betting Guides, designed to give you, the bettor, every possible advantage to have a top-quality (aka winning) betting experience.

Meanwhile, if you're new to sports betting, here are some handy tips that can help you stay on the right track.

Be disciplined - Don't get carried away, set a budget and stick to it. Don't chase losses and just make small bets to start with until you're more familiar with how it all works
Track your bets - Make a note of all the bets you place and their outcomes. You may want to do this with a spreadsheet, a piece of paper or an app. Once you have enough data, it'll help you understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie
Find picks - While you're getting to grips with how sports betting works, you may want to take advantage of the experience, knowledge, and insight of professional handicappers who offer picks and predictions that you can use when making your bets.
Find free bets - Free bets can help you get more for your money by taking away some of the risk. Most sportsbooks offer free bets to new customers, so check out our list of the latest free bets to find the ones that are right for you.
Compare odds - While most sportsbooks offer odds on most sports, they won't all be equal. Placing a bet with the best odds means you'll receive more if you're successful. We make this easy by comparing the odds of all the leading bookies in the US, helping you to always get the best value from every wager you place.