What is a Free Bet?
A free bet, most normally referred to as a bonus bet, or bonus credits, or perhaps even risk-free bet, is a bet you can make with a bookmaker in Ireland, once awarded, to place on a qualifying event of your choice.
The actual bet itself is best described as a risk-free bet due to the stake being used from bonus funds rather than your own account balance. In most cases, should this bet be successful, you would receive the profit, but not the original stake back.
You can get free bets in many ways. From a welcome sign up offer, to certain activity on site by making a specific bet on a specific event, being a regular punter and qualifying for a rewards scheme or free bet club being offers, and in some cases, especially on televised horse racing, by actually picking winners at certain odds.
The most important aspect of a free bet for punters in Ireland is to understand fully the terms and conditions attached to the offer, and to ensure that your activity qualifies the bet. Also that any free or bonus bets offered are used before an expiry date on them
How do Free Bet Offers and Bonus or Risk Free Bets Differ?
Free bets and sign up bonuses are essentially the same thing, but how you qualify for them on sign up can differ.
The deposit match offer has become rarer and rarer but it still available with some top bookmakers. More often you will find sign up offers that will match, double or even triple in some cases, your first settled bet value. Note the word 'settled' there and take note of it, if it appears in the terms and conditions of a free bet offer you are registering for.
Of course, the term bonus is more appropriate to an offer in which you have to make a bet first as it really isn't free if you have to take some risk with your own money, and any loss is replaced with non-withdrawable funds in the form of bonus credits.
The term risk-free is also used more and more. In this case, you will once again need to make an initial bet with your own money with the safety net of a free bet to the same stake should your first settled bet lose. Of course, if your first settled bet actually wins and you gain profit, in this case, you wouldn't receive the free bet/bonus funds/
As always, be certain you understand fully the terms and conditions when registering and qualifying for free bet welcome offers.
Can you get no deposit free bets?
The short answer is not often but they do appear from time to time, and you have to be quick as often they are available for only a limited time.
Fortunately, we are in a position to know when these become available and we immediately send emails to subscribers to inform them. If no deposit free bets interest you, subscribe to our newsletter to get the info to your inbox as soon as they become available.
The above applies to sports betting in the main, no deposit free bets are more often available for casino sites or casino sections of betting sites and especially in the form of free spins on slots.
What are the best free bets for existing users?
They usually come in the form of the promotions page on your bookmaker which is visible once you have registered, or for more assurance, register with a bookmaker that runs a loyalty scheme or rewards programme.
We have done a lot of the research here for you, so you can take a look at the best free bet clubs guide which will include all of the details.
Also reading through our full bookmaker reviews will provide more information on special promotions or long-lasting features such as Best Odds Guaranteed or Cash out options
