When looking to join an online sportsbook, one of the very first things you’ll be looking out for is a solid betting bonus. But what exactly is it that helps to separate the best betting offers from the rest?
We have tasked our team with filtering through the terms, playing through a selection of bookmaker bonuses, and compiling a list of those that stand out. We’ve found that competitive wagering requirements, a stream of eligible markets, and inclusive limits are a must. Read on to make sure you aren’t missing out on a fresh betting bonus in January.
While working your way through our reviews of the very best online betting sites, we suspect most of you will be looking out for bonuses and promotions. Why are they so important, though? Well, for a number of reasons, actually.
Firstly, and most obviously, they hold the potential to later be added to your withdrawable cash balance. Of course, you’ll need to meet all of the minimum requirements and potentially make a deposit to begin, but all bonuses have the potential to be played through and withdrawn further down the line. That said, there are never any guarantees.
Additionally, you’ll find that specific bonuses allow you to simply get familiar with the site and how bet-building works. All bonus bets have the potential to help you in this way, but a sports betting no-deposit bonus doesn’t even require you to spend any cash. In turn, you can test the waters and soon decide whether it is the right place for you.
Finally, you have to think of your own personal experience. If you have a smaller starting balance, you may want to consider a bonus with lower limits, and if you are new, you may want to consider a promotion with a smaller playthrough requirement. In short, the correct bonus can significantly bolster your personal experience – even if it is simply to help you get acquainted with a new place to bet.
One of the most popular sports betting bonuses is the deposit match. As the name suggests, you’ll find that your qualifying deposit is matched up to a certain percentage. Often, a minimum qualifying deposit and upper limit are imposed, meaning anything greater than this will still see the same capped bonus added to your account.
As an example, you may find a 100% matched bonus of up to $1,000. If you decide to deposit the $1,000, you’ll receive $1,000 in bonus bets to use across the sportsbook. Should you deposit $1,050, you’ll still unlock $1,000 in bonus bets, as this is the capped upper limit. To play through this bonus, you’ll be expected to meet relevant wagering requirements, and you are likely to find a few ineligible bet types, too. Of course, this will all become clear within our bonus reviews.
Again, another aptly named bonus is the no-deposit promo. These will allow you to get your hands on a number of bonus bets without spending any cash. Often, instead of your deposit, you’ll be expected to claim, opt into the promotion, or complete some basic tasks. This could even be as simple as registering and verifying your account.
As a new user, you can provide some basic personal details, enter one of our exclusive bonus codes, and soon create your account. Then, you’ll be expected to enter an OTC or click on the link sent directly to your email address in order to verify your details. Once you’ve logged back in, you may then find $50 in bonus bets released as part of a no-deposit bonus. Of course, this is just an example — you’ll need to check out the banners on this page to find some promotions available in your area.
The first bet offer is another fantastic betting bonus that can be enjoyed at the sign-up stage or throughout your time online. The idea is simple enough, and requires you to make a qualifying deposit, set your bets, and wait for the results to flood in. Generally speaking, any winning bets will result in you walking away with your winnings only. Any losses, however, will see your initial stake returned in bonus bets.
For instance, let us say that you’ve bet $20 on Real Madrid to beat Aston Villa. Should Real Madrid win, you’ll leave with your initial stake and any wins based on the secured odds. If Aston Villa wins, you’ll find that your initial stake is returned to you as a bonus bet. You will then need to play through this $20 a set number of times before it is considered a part of your cash balance.
A weekly reload can be found across the sportsbook or online casino. However, when looking at sportsbooks specifically, it relates to a bonus that takes your negative net losses into account for the previous week’s activity. A set percentage of these losses will then be returned to you as a bonus bet. Again, an upper limit is often imposed here, too.
As an example, you may opt into a 20% weekly reload with a $100 maximum limit. This means that any losses of more than $500 throughout the week will still result in a maximum of $100 in bonus bets being returned. For anything lower, you’ll take 20% of this value and find it returned in the shape of bonus bets. Like many bookmaker bonuses, you’ll then be expected to play through your weekly reload a number of times before you can withdraw.
Odds boosts can be found throughout your online betting experience; however, they also come as standard when building parlays and accumulators. The odds boost promo takes this initial boost into account and will then add a specific boost of its own. Often, these odds boosts are only eligible on specific sports based on the number of selections you make. As you would expect, a bigger boost is added to a larger number of selections.
If we say that an odds boost is available on all NFL moneylines, then you may find that a 10% additional odds boost is added to 2-4 selections, a 20% boost is added to 5-8 selections, and a 30% boost is added to 8+ selections. You will then benefit from these enhanced odds, provided you don’t cash out. The kicker here is that all selections must be successful in order for your bet to be a winner.
Early payouts are a relatively new sports betting promotion that will reward your bet as a “winner” before the final whistle has blown. The idea of these promotions is that you will be deemed a winner if your team goes ahead by a set number of goals or points. Regardless of how things pan out, your bet will still have “won”.
If that sounds a little confusing, this real-world example should help. An early payout promo will declare your team a winner if they go ahead by two goals. In this instance, you have picked Arsenal to beat Chelsea. At one stage in the match, Arsenal are leading 3-1. In turn, your selection is deemed a “winner”. However, even if the match ends 3-3 at the final whistle, you’ll still leave with your winnings.
The refer-a-friend bonus is another bonus that can often be used at the online sportsbook or online casino. However, at an online sportsbook, you’ll be expected to copy your unique code and forward it to your friends. From here, they will need to enter this code at the sign-up stage, verify their account, and join.
To access your bonus, a friend must then make a qualifying deposit. As an example, they may need to deposit a minimum of $100 for you to unlock $50 in bonus bets. You will then have to play through your bonus bets a number of times before they are considered a part of your cash balance. Plus, you may find that a set limit is applied to the amount of friends that you can invite.
By now, you will be well aware of the types of bookmaker bonuses available to you. In this table, we’ve done all we can to condense things, in order for you to see those with specific requirements attached.
| Betting Bonus | Deposit required? | Wagering requirements | Eligible sports and markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit match | ✅ | 1x – 100x | Most sports will be eligible |
| No-deposit bonus | ✖️ | 5x + | Most sports will be eligible |
| First bet offer | ✅ | 1x – 10x | Most sports will be eligible |
| Weekly reloads | ✖️ | 1x – 10x | Most sports will be eligible |
| Odds boosts | ✖️ | N/A | Specific sports only |
| Early Payout | ✖️ | N/A | Specific fixtures only |
| Refer-a-friend bonus | ✖️ | 1x – 10x | Most sports will be eligible |
That should just about have covered the ins and outs of the most popular bookmaker bonuses that you will come across in January. Now, it is time for us to share some wisdom on how you can get the most out of them.
To begin, you’ll want to take some time to check out the banners on this page. Here, we have done all we can to highlight the very best free bets and deposit offers that can be enjoyed in your current location. You’ll be able to review limits, requirements, and eligible markets before clicking on the links and making use of our exclusive promo codes.
Although we do our best to keep all terms and conditions within our reviews updated, things are subject to change. So, we would always advise taking some time to filter through the fine print before you get started. Here, you’ll spot ineligible sports and how to play through it. Remember, some betting bonuses will expect you to play through the combined value of both your deposit and bonus.
We cover everything from high-roller sites to the lowest deposit betting sites and can safely say that there is no link between the terms and conditions found at these sites. With that, we would always say that bigger doesn’t always mean better. In other words, pay attention to your own betting limits and try to find something that works within your usual activity level. There is no need to add extra stress to the experience by betting beyond your means.
Following on nicely from the above – don’t get greedy. Although this links with the idea of betting beyond your means, we also don’t want you to start unlocking additional promotions along the way. Not only will this confuse things, but it could also completely void your current progress. Make sure you take the time to play through one bonus before considering the next.
There seems to be a bit of a theme here, don’t you think? We also believe that you should be patient and wait until you are ready to deposit and begin betting at a sportsbook before you join up. Many betting bonuses will start the clock running as soon as you have created your account. By waiting to join until you are ready to deposit and bet, you’ll add some serious time to the expiry date associated with your bonus.
Some of the best betting bonuses available in January are now within touching distance. However, before we leave you to do those final tick-box checks, let us make sure that we’ve shown you how to work your way through the process of redeeming your first welcome bonus.
As you can see, you’ve got a big decision to make. We’ve done most of the hard work, providing you with a number of bonus comparisons. Now, you need to take this information and figure out which of these top betting sites offers the perfect promotion for you.
To get up and running, you are likely to find a deposit match, no-deposit offer, or a first-bet bonus. However, we would always recommend looking beyond the sign-up stage to ensure that your ongoing experience is packed with perks. Regular odds boosts, early payouts, and weekly reloads offer simple but effective ways to add to your bonus experience. Plus, a refer-a-friend scheme can help to keep things social while still benefiting your bonus balance. Just remember to stay within your limits, be patient, and enjoy the process.
The best bookmaker bonuses available will vary based on your preferences. In the banners on this page, you’ll find everything from sizable deposit matches to simple no-deposit offers available in your area.
Although you aren’t always going to find a new customer offer, it is incredibly common. For those that don’t, you may find that you automatically enrolled onto the VIP program or enhanced odds are gifted as standard.
It all depends on the bonus you choose. Often, new customer bonuses will be short-lived, ending within 7-30 days. That said, you’ll soon find plenty of ongoing promotions to enjoy afterwards.
