Safer Gambling Week 2024: How to Use Bookmaker Free Bets Safely
5 minutes We cover some of the best tactics punters can use to ensure they are claiming safe free bets and using them responsibly.
Here at betting.bet, we offer a central resource for punters looking for quality betting offers, particularly free bets. Featuring a live feed of the latest bonuses from hundreds of bookies, we make sure our community knows exactly where to find the best value when building their betting selections. Having been offering our services for many years, we are by no means naive about the responsibility we have to encourage safe gambling.
This week marks Safer Gambling Week in the UK. This is an annual initiative focused on promoting safer gambling practices and raising awareness about responsible gambling behaviours. While run by charities and regulatory bodies, we at betting.bet wanted to get involved. This is why we thought we would share some safe gambling insights, focusing on our area of expertise - free bets!
Below, we cover some of the best tactics punters can use to ensure they are firstly claiming safe free bets and, secondly, using them responsibly.
Choosing a Bookmaker
The first step to forging a responsible relationship with free bets is choosing safe betting sites from which to claim them. When looking for betting operators, ensure you are searching for one that is licensed and regulated by the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission). This is because UKGC betting sites will need to have passed strict vetting processes regarding consumer protection, fairness, and legal compliance. Therefore, the free bets and other betting offers they promote will be legally safe to use.
Choosing Free Bets Offers
Understanding the different types of free bet offers can be a minefield. With different operators using different terminology, it can be challenging to brand which is best for you and your betting preferences. Below, we look at the main types of free bets to ensure you are fully aware of what each entails.
No Deposit-Free Bets: As the name suggests, a no deposit free bet is a free bet that is issued to a player and does not require them to make a deposit first. These free bets carry the least amount of risk.
Deposit Free Bets: Dissimilar to no deposit free bets, deposit free bets do ask players to make a deposit and place a bet before the free bet bonus is issued.
Matched Free Bets: Again, a matched free bet, is pretty self-explanatory. With these offers, the bookmaker will match the player's deposit with a free bet bonus up to a certain amount.
Free Bet Bundles: A free bet bundle is an attractive position that offers a series of free bets, rather than the standard one-off bonus. There will be qualifying criteria, which will have a high bearing on how attractive these free bet bundles are.
Loyalty-Free Bets: With the UK betting industry being so competitive due to the spike in news betting sites launching, bookmakers work hard to retain players. One tactic used is loyal rewards, which give players free bets and other rewards as a thank for staying loyal.
Insurance Free Bet: Insurance free bets or "money back" free bets are they are often called, give players their stake back as a free bet if a specific occurrence happens. A great example would be "Your Stake Back as a Free Bet if Your Horse Falls at the Last".
Free Bets and Terms and Conditions
Reading the Terms and conditions of the free bet offer is crucial if you want to air on the side of caution and go into free betting sessions with a responsible head-on. This is because the Terms and Conditions act as the fine print, highlighting all the essential details of the offers, all of which you will need to be aware of. Here are some parts of the terms and conditions we urge any player to focus on.
Deposit Requirments
As covered above, many free bet offers will carry a deposit requirement. This refers to the money you will need to first deposit and bet before the free bonus is added to your account and able to be used. There may well around what odds your qualifying bets need to be made at, as well as bet types and markets.
Withdrawal Terms
The same goes for withdrawals. A free bet offer will state when winnings generated from the free bet can be withdrawn. This is called the wagering requirement (sometimes referred to as playthrough requirement or rollover requirement). It is hugely important to think about this from a responsible gambling point of view; for instance, if the free bet terms and conditions have a high wagering requirement, the free bet may be too risky and not suited to your style of gambling.
Validity Period
Understanding the validity period of the bonus is paramount. The last thing a punter wants to do is find out they need to spend all of their bonus in the next few hours or it will expire. This tactic leads to risky and informed betting decisions being made. It is common practice for free bets to have a valid period of 30 days. However, some can be as short as 24 hours!
Claim Safe Betting Offers at betting.bet
While free bets are a great way to extend your betting opportunities without risking your bankroll, they shouldn't become a reason to gamble excessively. Always use free bets responsibly and as part of a balanced betting strategy.
To find the latest free bets from safe UK betting sites, head over to our Free Bets page.
