Sports betting welcome bonuses – the key need-to-knows
So, sports betting bonuses – what are they, then? Well, in a nutshell, an iGaming bonus is simply a promotion that awards you one (or more) of the following:
- A free sports bet.
- “Risk-free” bet insurance.
- Free spins at casino games.
Due to fierce competition, betting sites with welcome bonuses aren’t just common – they’re the norm. Basically, sites battle it out to the death to offer the best bonuses possible in their efforts to attract a steady flow of newbies to their sites. And this happens in both the sports betting and online casino worlds.
This is great news for the likes of you and I, of course, but before claiming any bonus, it’s important to remember that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. All bonuses have their terms and conditions, and it’s especially important to pay attention to the following three things:
| Point of consideration | Why it matters |
| Wagering requirements | Wagering requirements state how many times you’ll need to play through your initial deposit and bonus bets. The numbers can range anywhere from 1x or 2x times on a sportsbook bonus, to up to 70x on some casino offers, so make sure you feel comfortable with the numbers before claiming. |
| Time limits | Some bonuses need to be played through fast. For example, you might need to wager your bonus bets 4x within just two days. Unless you’re the kind of bettor who relishes such thrills, you might want to think twice about promos with tight time restrictions. |
| Game/odds restrictions | Not all sports bonuses can be played on all sports. So, if you’re an NHL nut, don’t go claiming an offer that’s advertised as not being playable on hockey. |
To be fair, everything all boils down to giving the T&Cs attached to any bonus a thorough read-through and knowing what to expect before you commit. It’s also worth noting that generally, there are two kinds of bonuses out there:
- Deposit bonuses.
- No deposit bonuses.
Though the difference between this is pretty self-explanatory – the former require you to put down a cash deposit to unlock your free bets or spins (e.g, $20 USD), while the latter are available for free from the get-go, but might come with stricter-than-average wagering requirements and time limits as a result. Awareness is everything, yeah?
What are the pros and cons of claiming a welcome bonus?
- Claim free bets
- Sample a bookmaker’s offerings
- Activation is usually dead-easy
- T&Cs always apply
- There might be regional restrictions
How do you activate a sportsbook welcome bonus?
Now, in my many years of playing I’ve found that how a bonus is activated is always going to vary depending on one all important factor – and that’s whether you’re claiming a deposit bonus or a no deposit bonus.
Having said that, if you scrape away the actual deposit requirement itself (or lack thereof) the process for activating most welcome bonus offers is similar enough in other ways.
What do I mean here? Well, basically, once you’ve found a site with a tasty bonus using the banners here at Game Champions, you’ll simply need to follow these steps to set yourself up with it:
- Hit “Sign Up” or “Register”.
- Click the appropriate bonus ad.
- Enter some basic information.
- Verify your account by email or SMS.
- Hook-up a deposit method.
- Put down a deposit (if required).
- Viola – receive your free bets.
Of course, depending on the bookie’s own regional rules, you might need to enter a
sports betting promo code
during Stage Three. If so, you’ll usually find the code you need clearly displayed in the offer’s ad – and you should note that the codes required can sometimes vary from region to region, too. So yeah, try to avoid using VPNs to make sure you land the right one.
What’s more, once your bonus has been credited, you’ll need to play it through in-line with any time limits, wagering requirements and game restrictions stated. But you already knew that by now, right?
So… who’s offering the best sportsbook welcome bonus today?
Take a quick look around and you’ll soon see that you can claim a sports betting sign up bonus with pretty much every bookmaker on the market. But as I said before, these can vary in quality – which is where comparing your options comes in.
On this page, I’ve collated the hottest, most competitive sportsbook bonuses that are currently on offer in your region. These include:
- No deposit bonuses.
- Free bet offers.
- Online casino promotions.
- Two-in-one iGaming deals.
I’m sure you guys are already aware that, when playing at online casinos or using app-based bookmakers, you need to follow the law. The long and short of it is, you should only ever bet with brands that hold a proper iGaming license from your local regulator – much like those in my banners here.
The bookmakers worth your time
1.
2.
3.
Bet now
No wagering requirement. after the first week Rakeback will start again from 6% go up by the different levels.
4.
200% up to 1?
+ 50 Free Spins
5.
200% Bonus up to 25,000 EUR + 50 Free Spins
How can players unleash the full potential of a welcome bonus?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – familiarizing yourself with the T&Cs and knowing what to expect early-on is the general key. But of course, I’ve a few more specific tips for you here that I’m certain will set you off to a flying start:
Now, most sportsbook welcome bonuses have pretty standardized terms that’ll stay rigid for as long as the offer’s available. For example, you might spy a sportsbook bonus offering:
- A $10 free NBA bet.
- 2x wagering requirements.
- A three-day time limit.
Chances are, unless NBA season burns out early or the brand decides on a big shake-up, this bonus will likely stay as-is – meaning you can wait strategically for the hottest NBA games with the best odds to roll around the corner first before claiming it. Selectiveness can go a long way here, believe me.
Wagering is also everything
Fail to fulfil a welcome bonus’ wagering requirements and, guess what? You’ll forfeit your entitlement to the bonus altogether.
For this reason, I always advise bettors to:
- Read the T&Cs early-on.
- Come up with a wagering strategy.
By doing this before you actually place your bets, you’ll be better prepared to meet your wagering obligations properly, and within any pre-stated time limits.
How can you do this? Well, if you’re claiming, for example, a Premier League soccer bonus that needs to be wagered 7x within seven days. Take a look at the upcoming matches and odds, plan-out how much you’ll wager, where, and when, all while making sure your game plan doesn’t overstep the seven-day limit.
Follow the rules to the letter
Betting sites with welcome bonuses aren’t always so kind when players put a foot wrong. Just as you’ll lose-out on your bonus if you don’t hit the wagering requirements in time, it’s equally easy to accidentally disqualify yourself by betting on the wrong sports market or odds.
But don’t fret, because all you really need here is good old-fashioned common sense. So, if a bonus says it needs to be played on odds of 2.0 or greater, for example, then do so. If you’re claiming a rugby bet, don’t go trying to wager it at Wimbledon, and so on.
What features should you look out for in betting sites with welcome bonuses?
Now, I totally get that this is a guide to claiming and using the internet’s
best sports betting bonus
offers. But realistically, you guys should be thinking about a lot more than just bonuses and their potential when comparing betting sites alongside one another. Think of this as a top tip.
As I’ve revealed already, licensing is essential – as betting with a brand that’s not properly regulated in your state or province basically constitutes breaking the law.
But there’s a lot more to it than that. You see, there are a ton of betting sites out there, and you guys need to keep your eyes peeled for these all-important features to be sure you’ll only ever spend your time betting with the absolute best ones:
| Feature | Why it’s so vital… |
| VIP rewards and existing player promos | It’s easy to get blindsided by a big-value sign-up bonus, and simply forget that you’re probably going to want to claim more bonuses later down the line as an existing customer. My advice? Check out what other offers are up-for-grabs on the brand’s “Promotions” page before registering. |
| Good responsible gambling resources | You’d be surprised how easy it is to get carried away with a good bonus. My top tip here would be to find a betting site that offers self-exclusion tools and links to top-notch help organizations, just on the off-chance you ever need them. |
| Reliable customer support | Practically all the betting brands highlighted in my banners offer top-tier customer support. Some provide this round-the-clock and in multiple languages, even. Again, you’d be surprised how handy these services can come in when you have a weird question or two about a bonus. |
Conclusion – have a game plan before hitting up any betting sites with welcome bonuses
It’s not hard to find a sports betting welcome bonus. Pretty much every bookmaker out there offers one, but as we’ve seen, some are better than others. What’s more, unless you fully understand what to expect from your bonus, and have planned ahead sufficiently beforehand, you might struggle to unlock your preferred offer’s full potential.
So, allow me to backtrack a little. The key points of consideration with any bonus, are:
- Wagering requirements.
- Time limits.
- Early planning.
And of course, once you know what to expect, it’s on you to use all the tools in your arsenal to get the absolute max out of whatever free bets are on the table. Remember, this means picking claim day carefully, planning ahead, and betting in-line with the rules.
Get off to a great start with these betting bonuses
1.
100% up to 500$
Requirements (WR): 10x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 10$
2.
100% up to $1000
Requirements (WR): 15x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $20
3.
15% Rakeback Bonus
Min. Deposit: 1
No wagering requirement. after the first week Rakeback will start again from 6% go up by the different levels.
4.
200% up to 1?
+ 50 Free Spins
Requirements (WR): 35x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 20?
5.
200% Bonus up to 25,000 EUR + 50 Free Spins
Welcome bonus FAQ
If a betting brand’s offering a bonus that requires a regional promo code, it’s important to ensure you’re using the right one. You can usually find this highlighted somewhere in the ad or on the T&Cs page for the bonus you’re claiming, or in my latest bonus reviews for your area.
?? Which betting brand has the best sportsbook welcome bonus?
Due to national and regional licensing laws, the best bonus in one place will very rarely be the same as the hottest promo in the next. All my bonus guides contain geo-targeted banners detailing the best deals available where you live right now. Pay me a visit and bag a great bonus today.
?? What tricky bonus T&Cs are most likely to catch bettors out?
Every sportsbook welcome bonus comes with T&Cs, but those you should pay closest attention to are the offer’s wagering requirements, time limits and game restrictions. My latest guides run through everything you need to know about each of these, so you can be better prepared when you claim your next bonus.
