- Are New Customer Offers for Betting Worth Accepting?
- Betting Sign Up Offers to Try Today
- How to Claim the Welcome Bet Bonus
- Payment Restrictions: The 101 On Which Payment Method You Can Use
- Understanding the Difference Between The Welcome Bonus Types
- Other Betting Bonuses to Target After the Sign Up Bonuses
- Betting Bonuses on the Top Betting Apps
- How to Use Your Sign Up Bets Responsibly
- Choose the Best Betting Sign Up Offers for You
- New Customer Offers Betting FAQ
Are New Customer Offers for Betting Worth Accepting?
Betting sign up offers are available everywhere. They’re available on practically every of the best betting sites online that we’ve tried, tested, and reviewed, and you might be wondering if they are worth the effort at all.
Welcome bonuses can boost your betting strategy, but only if you’re prepared to clear the wagering requirement attached to them, which vary by offer. Free bets come with fewer restrictions, while matched deposits come with higher bonus amounts, but often high requirements.
Some are modest while others sound big, but the one thing that’s so important for everyone to remember is that you don’t need to accept them. If you’re unsure about whether the welcome bonus is right for you, just go through this comprehensive guide. We’ll go through everything you need to know, so you can bet responsibly and within your budget.
Betting Sign Up Offers to Try Today
For those of you who are already 100% on board with welcome bonuses and are ready to clear their wagering requirements, we’ve put together a list of the best betting sign up offers available today. These offers are all from reputable operators, and many of them offer promotions to existing customers as well, so this welcome offer won’t be the only opportunity you have after signing up.
22Bet – Traditional Sportsbook with Big Matched Deposits
- Matched Deposit Welcome Bonus
- 40+ Sports Categories to Use Bonus On
- Reasonable Odds
- Choose Between Sportsbook and Casino
- 7 Day Bonus Validity Period
- Can’t Transfer Bonuses
22Bet is a great choice for those who want a matched deposit bonus specifically for sports bets. On 22Bet, new customers get a 100% matched bonus up to €122 or equivalent. Don’t worry if you’re a casual bettor, the minimum amount you can deposit and still be able to claim this offer is just €1 or equivalent.
When signing up, you can choose which wallet you want the bonus funds to go to, so either the sportsbook or the casino. This is a unique feature that makes the bonus accessible to any type of gambler. Pick carefully since you won’t be able to transfer them later on.
If you choose the sportsbook, the wagering requirement is to simply wager 5x the amount in accumulator bets within 7 days. Each accumulator must have at least three selections with 1.40 odds or higher; additional legs won’t have to meet the odds.
The great news is that there are over 1,000+ sporting events across over 40 sports to place your bets on, making finding accas with 1.40 odds very reasonable. If those numbers aren’t enough for you, then head over to Bet365, which streams more than 8,000 live events a year towards which you’ll be able to use another unique bonus.
Bet365 – An International Favourite Offering Free Welcome Bets
- Free Bet Welcome Bonus
- 30 Days to Claim Free Bets
- 300% Bet Bonus
- Free Bets Don’t Expire
- Can’t Cash Out Free Bets Early
- Acca Only for Free Bets
Bet365 is one of the few operators offering free bets as its bookie sign-up offers. In this offer, if you bet £5 or £10, you get 300% of that bet back in free bets. This means that if you place a £10 bet with the offer, you’ll get £30 in free bet credits that you can use later on. There’s no time limit once you have those free bet credits, which gives you total flexibility to use them when you are absolutely ready – you just have to access your account and use it once every 90 days.
To get the free bets, you must place your own bet in an accumulator where at least one selection has 1.20 odds or higher. Most acca free bets apply rules to the first three selections, but here it’s more lenient. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose the bet, just the amount that you bet. If you don’t claim this offer straight away, you have 30 days to claim it from the My Offers section, which is ample time to think through your options. If you want more from your welcome bonus, or greater sports coverage, however, you’ll want to head over to Unibet.
Unibet – Biggest Free Bet Welcome Offers
- Big Free Bet Welcome Bonus
- Unique Regional Bonuses
- May Include Casino Bonus
- Low Wagering for Free Bets
- Might Force Sportsbook and Casino Participation
- Complex 2-Part Bonuses
Unibet has a lot going for it. It has a bigger welcome bonus, and a great aspect is that this bookie tries to differentiate its offers based on local betting preferences.
In the UK, you can get up to £50 in free bets (£40 in sports bets, £10 in casino bets); in the US, you get a bet refund of up to $50; and in Canada, you get a 100% deposit match with a $10 free bet for the casino. These welcome bonuses can be a bit tricky to understand, so read through their full terms and conditions in advance. For example, to get the free bets in the UK and US, you’ll need to lose your first bet.
How much you get in free bets depends on how much you lose. A £10 loss gets you £10 in free bets. To clear the requirements, you need to wager 3x the free bets on sports bets, which is fairly low, however this jumps to up to 50x for the casino side. Only when both are cleared can you move the funds from the bonus wallet to your betting wallet, which is great if you tend to dabble in both, but not ideal if you only wanted to focus on sports betting.
How to Claim the Welcome Bet Bonus
The best betting sign up offers can either be claimed during your sign-up, or shortly after. With few exceptions, there’s no difference between accepting it right away, versus later. In fact, it can sometimes be to your benefit if you wait. With Bet365, for example, waiting means that you can verify your account first, which opens up the number of payment options you can use both to deposit and also to claim the welcome bonus.
If you want to claim the betting welcome offers right away, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Create an account
- Select the offer you want before you make a deposit.
- Make a qualifying deposit.
- Start clearing the wagering requirements.
If you want to claim the betting welcome bonus later, we recommend using these steps:
- Don’t select or unselect the welcome offer when creating your account.
- Verify your identity.
- When you are ready to use the offer, go to My Accounts.
- Then go to My Offers or Promotions.
- Click on the offer you want.
- Make a qualifying deposit.
- Start clearing the wagering requirements.
Your wagering requirement progress can be seen on a separate page in your account. You’ll see how much you’ve wagered that’s applied towards the wagering requirements, and how much further you have to go.
Payment Restrictions: The 101 On Which Payment Method You Can Use
All betting welcome offers have payment restrictions. Sometimes, this restriction will be lifted if you verify your identity or financial information, but most of the time, the restrictions remain true across the board. For example, you can’t claim any bonus on 22Bet with cryptocurrency, despite the site accepting cryptocurrency. Each welcome offer will have in-depth terms and conditions, and if there are restrictions, it will outline them in those.
It’s possible some offers only accept debit for your first qualifying deposit, or some might exclude specific options like Neteller or Skrill. There’s no hard rule, which is why what payments you can use will always depend on your bookie and sign up offer.
Understanding the Difference Between The Welcome Bonus Types
Online betting bonuses are one of the biggest reasons why bettors swap from physical bookies to online sportsbooks. The most common type of bonus you’ll see is the welcome bonus, which gives new players a boost in the form of a matched deposit amount or a free bet. If you’re sure about the differences, or what each one means, then read on.
Matched Deposit Bonus
Matched deposit bonuses make up many of the betting sign up offers you’ll see. With a matched deposit bonus, the house matches your deposit contribution up to a certain amount. It is often express as percentages at first, followed by a cap:
Example:
- 50% deposit match up to X
- 100% deposit match up to X
- 300% deposit match up to X
There is also often a minimum deposit involved, which can start as low as $1.
No matter how much money you get matched on your first deposit, remember that it isn’t simply free money that you can withdraw immediately. You’ll first need to wager the combined amount a certain number of times (for example, usually anywhere between 25x–50x).
Let’s take a look at all of this together in an example. If you deposit $5, you could get a 100% matched deposit contribution of $5, so you’ll have $10 total. With a 30x wagering requirement, you’d have to wager $300 to clear the requirement and release those bonus funds and any winnings to your main account. The bets you place will also probably be limited, usually to bets with certain odds (like 1.20 or 1.40 or higher).
Free Bets
The other common option in regard to betting sign up offers is the free bet. We’ve reviewed all the latest free bet offers, and what you need to get them, so if this is the type of welcome bonus you prefer, you can head straight to the source. Free bets are generally easier to use since they have less stringent wagering requirements. In most cases, for example, you just need to place a qualifying bet with your free bet credits, and maybe just wager them 1x-3x at most. If you win, the house gets its initial stake, and you keep the winnings on top, and if you lose, it’s no harm, no foul.
Of course, you might still see rules on minimum deposits, qualifying bet rules like minimum stake or sport/market and general claim periods.
Other Betting Bonuses to Target After the Sign Up Bonuses
Betting welcome offers are usually either free bets or matched deposit bonuses. This doesn’t mean that these are the only bonus types that exist or that you’ll ever have access to. Some sites offer a robust list of ongoing bonuses for their existing customers. This way, you can continuously add these promotions into your bet strategy as you see fit. Not every operator offers all types of bonuses, or even regular bonuses for existing customers, of course, but the list below outlines the types of options you’re likely to see:
| Bonus Type | Description | Examples | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odds Boosts | Increased odds applied to your chosen selection. | Get 5/1 odds instead of 3/1 on the underdog boxer. | Potentially higher winnings, adds excitement to familiar bets. | Limited to specific events or selections, temporary promotion. |
| Acca Boosts & Bonuses | Enhanced winnings for accumulator bets with multiple selections. | 20% bonus on winnings for 5-leg accumulator bets. | Incentivise multi-event bets, potentially bigger pay-outs on higher-risk bets. | Increased risk due to multiple selections, may have minimum odds or stake requirements. |
| Reload Bonuses | Percentage bonus on subsequent deposits. | Get a 50% reload bonus up to £100 on your next deposit. | Top up your betting bankroll, encourage continued play. | Usually smaller than welcome bonuses, may have wagering requirements. |
| Loyalty Programmes | Reward points earned for every bet placed, redeemable for various benefits. | VIP Programme-specific bonuses and perks. | Rewarding regular play, long-term value, additional perks. | Points accumulation can be slow, benefits may not be very exciting. |
| Cashback Offers | Percentage of your losses refunded in the form of bonus cash. | Get 10% cashback on all your net losses in a week. | Mitigate losses, provides a safety net against bad luck. | Often capped at a certain amount, may have minimum loss requirements. |
Betting Bonuses on the Top Betting Apps
If you prefer to use apps, then you may be wondering if using the top-rated betting apps means forgoing the bonuses. The good news is that it doesn’t. You’ll usually be able to see and accept all the betting sign up offers and returning customer promotions available on the website right in-app with the top providers. The only thing to keep in mind is that the sign-up and verification process might be easier on your laptop or computer, so you may prefer to sign up on a desktop and then swap over to the app later.
How to Use Your Sign Up Bets Responsibly
It’s common to feel like you try to chase your bets when you have a high wagering requirement. That’s why it’s important to keep your bets responsible, so you can continue to wager with a cool head. These tips will help:
If the offer doesn’t sound like a good deal to you, don’t accept it. There’s nothing stopping you from betting outright with your own funds. Or if the timing isn’t right and the welcome bonus is a complex matched deposit offering that comes with extensive wagering requirements you just don’t think you’ll have time to bet through, then you don’t have to accept it. Plus, if you change your mind, you usually have a few days (sometimes 7 days, but usually 30 days) to accept it later.
Only deposit money you can 100% afford to lose.
Set deposit, loss, and time limits to help you to keep a cool head and avoid chasing losses.
Choose the Best Betting Sign Up Offers for You
At the end of the day, the best betting sign up offers are the ones that work well with your personal betting strategy and betting budget. You can claim them right away or wait to verify your identity and see how you feel about the site before claiming the bonus and making a deposit.
So long as you fully understand the terms and conditions that come with these bookie sign up offers, and are ready to try to clear the wagering requirements in time, then you’re good to go. Stick with our top-rated options and use the responsible gambling tools to keep yourself in check, and you’ll be all set.
The best betting bonuses of 2025
New Customer Offers Betting FAQ
😥 Why can’t I open a new account?
The most common reason why you may not be able to open an account is if someone else in your household has already created one. New accounts can only be made once per email/bank account/email address, but also once per computer/IP address, meaning even if you use a separate payment method, you won’t be able to open an account if someone else in your household has opened an account.
🤩 Can I back both sides with free bets?
No, most betting sites will prevent you from placing a free bet on each side (for example, bet that Team A will win, and then place a second bet that Team B will win).
❓ Are bonus funds in the same wallet as my real money?
Usually, any bonus funds or free bets are in a separate wallet, so your personal funds are kept separate. This way, bonus amounts and winnings from those bonuses are separate. They only join your main wallet after you clear the wagering requirements.
🧐 Do I have to use the welcome bonus when I sign up?
No, you can opt out of the sign-up bonus when you sign up. If you change your mind, you usually have up to 30 days to claim the bonus later. Exceptions include first-deposit bonuses, which would be voided if you make a deposit without the bonus.
👀 I understand the concept behind these welcome bonuses, do I still need to read through the terms and conditions?
Yes, the terms and conditions attached to each bonus can change at any time, and without notice. This is why it’s important to read through the terms and conditions every time before you accept a bonus.
