What is a Freebet in sports betting and how to make the most of it?
In the world of sports betting, one of the most common terms is the freebet. But what exactly does it mean and how can you take advantage of it to maximise your winnings? In this article we explain what it is, how it works and how to make the most of this offer.
What is a Freebet?
A freebet is a free bet offered by bookmakers as part of a promotion.
Instead of having to put your own money on the line, the bookmaker gives you a specific value in the form of a free bet.
It’s like a bonus, but instead of being a percentage of your deposit, it’s a fixed amount that you can use to bet on a sporting event.
How does a Freebet work?
When you receive a freebet, you do not need to risk your own money. If the bet is successful, you will win the winnings, but the amount wagered will not be returned to you.
For example:
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Imagine a bookmaker gives you a freebet of €10 and you decide to use it on a football match at odds of 2.50. If your bet is a winner, you will receive €15 in winnings (€10 x 2.50 = €25, but the €10 freebet is deducted). However, if the bet is a loser, you will not have lost any of your own money, as you only used the bonus.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions of use of each freebet. Some bookmakers may have requirements such as minimum stakes, time limits for using it or restrictions on what sports or markets you can bet on with it.
For example ➡️ Some bookmakers may require you to bet at minimum odds, e.g. above 1.80, or set a 7-day deadline to use it before it expires. Others may restrict its use to specific markets, such as only on Champions League matches or on accumulator bets. Also, in some cases, winnings from a freebet may be subject to rollover requirements, meaning that you will have to wager the winnings several times before you can withdraw them.
Often non-professional bettors overestimate the benefits of freebets or fail to read the conditions for freebets to be usable. This leads to a mismatch that often results in expectations not translating into profitable bets.
How to Maximise Your Freebets in Sports Betting
Freebets are one of the most attractive offers bookmakers use to attract new bettors and keep existing ones on their platform. But, if you get caught up in the excitement and impulsive betting, you’ll be missing out on a great opportunity.
The key to maximising your freebets is not to gamble anyway, but to do it strategically.
1. Bet on higher odds with value ✅
Since you’re not risking your own money, free bets are an excellent opportunity to bet at higher odds than usual, seeking to maximize your potential profits. For example, instead of betting on a favorite team at odds of 1.50, you could look for a more valuable bet, such as a draw at odds of 3.00 or a straight score with good odds.
2. Use freebets on combination bets ✅
If conditions allow, betting on accumulators can significantly increase your profitability. For example, instead of placing a single single bet with a €10 free bet, you could bet on a three-match accumulator with odds of 2.00, 1.80, and 1.75, which could generate a considerable profit if you get all the selections right.
3. Take advantage of arbitrage strategies (surebets) ✅
Some bookmakers allow you to use free bets in surebets, where you bet with different operators to guarantee a risk-free profit. If you can find unfair odds at another bookmaker and hedge all outcomes with your own money, you can ensure a profit regardless of the outcome.
4. Play with alternative markets ✅
It’s not always necessary to bet on the winner of a match. With a free bet, you can explore less popular but high-value markets, such as “both teams to score,” “over 2.5 goals,” or “first goalscorer.” For example, in a Premier League match, betting on Erling Haaland to score the first goal can be more profitable than a simple bet on the winner.
5. Avoid restrictive conditions ✅
Before using a free bet, carefully review its terms and conditions. Some bookmakers impose requirements such as minimum odds of 2.00 or restrictions on certain sports. If you bet without checking this, you may be forced to comply with a rollover before withdrawing your winnings.
6. Synergy with additional promotions ✅
Some platforms allow you to combine freebets with other promotions, such as deposit bonuses or cashback. For example, if you receive a freebet after a lost bet, you could combine it with a cashback promotion to minimize the risk of losses.
But it doesn’t end there! Not everything is rosy… It’s essential that you be aware of the following:
The difference between a professional's pick and a regular bet.
Bookmakers offer free bets because they know that most bettors don’t use them properly. Why? Because most users don’t have a solid strategy and tend to make emotional bets based on hunches. This is exactly what bookmakers want: players who bet without thinking too much, keep playing, and eventually lose money.
If that weren’t true, bookmakers wouldn’t be giving away free bets or bonuses. They’re looking for people who will get hooked through these bonuses and then lose in the long run. But you don’t have to be one of those amateur bettors. To do so, it’s essential that you keep the following in mind.
Cons of Freebets:
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You cannot withdraw the value of the freebet ❌
Although you can make a profit with a free bet, remember that the bonus amount will never be yours. For example, if you bet €20 at odds of 2.00 and win, you will only receive €20, not the €40 you would have received if you had bet with your own money. This means that, compared to a normal bet, free bets have a lower cash value than they appear. -
Hidden requirements and restrictions ❌
Many free bets come with conditions that limit their use. Some bookmakers require you to bet at high minimum odds (e.g., 2.00 or more), which reduces your chances of success. Others impose restrictions on sports, markets, or even the type of bet you can place. If you don’t read the terms and conditions, you could end up wasting your free bet on an event you didn’t want. -
Rollover in earnings ❌
In some cases, bookmakers require you to wager the winnings from a free bet multiple times before you can withdraw them. For example, if you win €50 from a free bet, you may be forced to wager that money three times (€150 in total) before you can withdraw it. This increases the risk of losing everything before you can cash out. -
Mandatory minimum or maximum bet ❌
Some free bets require you to wager a minimum amount or don’t allow you to split the bonus into several small bets. This forces you to risk the entire bonus on a single bet, increasing the chance of losing it. -
Psychology and the “free money” effect ❌
Many bettors treat free bets as free money and use them thoughtlessly, betting at very high odds in the hope of a big win. This mentality is dangerous, as bookmakers count on you to continue playing with your own money after losing the free bet to “recover.” It’s a psychological trap designed to get you used to betting without truly assessing the risk. -
They are not always as “free” as they seem ❌
Some bookmakers require you to make a deposit or place a bet with your own money before receiving a free bet. In these cases, you could end up betting more than you originally planned, falling prey to the bookmaker’s strategy to trick you into spending real money.
To get the most out of your freebets, you need a solid strategy. And make no mistake, betting manually isn’t the solution. If you do it manually, you’ll lose much more money than you’ll win. The most effective way to maximize your freebets is to use more advanced tools than bookmaker algorithms. Read on…
How to beat the bookmakers at their own game
Instead of obsessing over manually capitalizing on each free bet or simply searching for a winning betting strategy…
Remember that bookmakers don’t give away free bets and bonuses because they’re generous. They do so because they know most players will fall into their psychological traps, bet without a strategy, and, over time, lose more than they win.
If you think you’re going to beat the powerful algorithms of bookmakers with intuition or manual analysis, you’re playing at a huge disadvantage. Bookmakers have advanced algorithms designed to adjust odds in real time, detect suspicious betting patterns, and minimize your risk. In other words, they want you to lose but at the same time keep you hooked and gambling.
You, as an individual bettor, cannot compete against them based on instinct or manual betting alone. The only real way to win against the bookmakers in the long run is to have an even more powerful algorithm at your disposal, capable of detecting bookmaker errors in real time.
We’re talking about the BetOven algorithm, the number 1 automated sports arbitrage software, which you can try completely free.
Can FreeBets be used with BetOven?
Of course. BetOven’s AI is fully compatible with the FreeBets offered by bookmakers. Our software can automatically detect and use these types of promotional credits to place bets without using real money.
Additionally, bets placed with FreeBets do not consume points from your BetOven account, as they do not involve any real financial risk.
This means that:
• If you lose, you don’t lose money.
• If you win, you make real profits (and on top of that, BetOven can maximize your profits by following solid strategies!).
• And all this without deducting points from your BetOven subscription (which you can try completely free).
Taking advantage of FreeBets with BetOven is a smart way to increase your profits without risking your capital or resources within the software.
And once I finish the freebets from the bookmakers?
As I said, if you follow a solid, automated strategy with BetOven, you can continue to win and take full advantage of the bookmakers’ mistakes.
Let’s see what else BetOven has to offer:
🔹 Odds Mismatch Detection: BetOven’s algorithm continuously scans multiple bookmakers, identifying value bets and sure bets before the odds are adjusted. This allows you to automatically bet only when there’s a real error in the odds, ensuring you always have the advantage.
🔹 Complete automation: Unlike manual betting, which is slow and inaccurate, BetOven analyzes hundreds of opportunities in seconds and executes optimal bets for you, maximizing your profits without you having to be glued to the screen.
🔹 Risk minimization: You don’t need to rely on hunches or uncertain predictions. BetOven relies on data, statistics, and mathematical models to find opportunities where the bookmaker’s edge disappears and the advantage shifts to your side.
🔹 Accessible professional strategy: What was once a secret reserved for high rollers with access to exclusive tools is now accessible to anyone. BetOven democratizes access to winning strategies, allowing you to play like a pro without the need for advanced knowledge.
While most people continue to bet the way the house wants, you can take advantage of their mistakes and turn the game to your advantage. The question isn’t whether you can win, but whether you’re willing to use the best tools to do so.
In the following video, you can see how BetOven’s AI works and how you can try it for free to maximize your profits in sports betting:
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