What You Should Know about Free Bets

Free bets, also known as bonus bets or bonus offers, are one way sports betting sites entice consumers to place bets on their sites. But they’re not free money. And there are a number of conditions that apply to these offers, which TINA.org has found are not always clearly disclosed to consumers, as required by FTC law.

While every free bet promotion is different, here are some of the terms that may apply:

• The offer is for new customers only.
• It requires an initial cash deposit.
• The bonus money cannot be withdrawn until it is wagered one time (i.e., it’s not free money).
• There are odds restrictions on which games or events can be wagered to satisfy the above play-through requirement.
• Payouts from bonus bets only include winnings and do not include the initial stake.
• The maximum award isn’t attainable for most bettors.
• Free bets expire in as little as seven days.

The takeaway? Read the fine print to avoid disappointment later.

See related coverage: DraftKings, FanDuel, PlaySugarHouse.