There are several different sorts of free bets, and it might be confusing for a newcomer to understand what the differences are, so we'll go through them below.

Matched Free Bets

This is the most common sort of free bet, in which the bookmaker matches your initial wager rather than your deposit, as some companies claim. You may find the bookmaker stipulates a minimum amount to qualify for the free bet offer also.

Bets with No Risk

This is when you place a wager with a bookmaker, and if it loses, they will return you the same amount up to the maximum amount stated, thereby making it "risk free."

Free Bets with No Deposit

No deposit bets are uncommon with bookmakers, but they are simply where bookmakers will give you a free bet without requiring you to deposit any money, allowing you to test out their website before continuing to bet. More commonly connected with casinos, however Jackslot does occasionally receive these specifically, so keep a watch out!

Deposit Bonus Free Bet

This is a free bet bonus applied usually to match the amount of your deposit up to a certain amount, sometimes it can be a 50% match or even 200% bonus free bet, so be sure to check the terms.

Bookmakers go crazy with their free bets when major athletic events are on the calendar! Because it's significant business for bookies, large events like the World Cup, Cheltenham Festival, or Royal Ascot entail big free bet incentives.

If you're considering about joining a bookmaker and one of these big events is approaching, you might want to wait until closer to the event to take advantage of the massive promotions they'll be offering.

Why should you choose new betting sites over established bookmakers? There’s no doubt familiar names such as Bet365, Paddy Power and William Hill are world-class operators.

In fact, we’d actively encourage you to read our reviews and see what they have to offer. However, since we’re focusing on the newbies, let’s throw out a few reasons why they can steal the limelight from industry veterans.

Bigger and Better Bonuses

We’ll discuss this in more detail later on in this guide. However, it’s a point worth making: the best new bookmakers often offer the best bonuses. Why?

Because they have to make an impact in a crowded marketplace. Competing with BetVictor et al isn’t easy. Sports betting bonuses make an instant impact. That’s why some of the biggest payouts come courtesy of new sports betting promos.

New Tech As Standard

New gambling sites have new tech as standard. This is almost by default because the developers have to conform to modern standards.

Look at it like this. If a bookmaker developed an app in 2010, it would have conformed to 2010’s standards. The developers would then be in a battle to update the app to keep it relevant.

In contrast, a new betting site that went live in 2020 would have an app that makes the grade in 2020. Thus, it’s going to have the latest innovations as standard.

Non-Standard Betting Markets

There are traditional betting sites that focus on niche sports but focusing on something left-field is a strategy almost all new bookies adopt. Competitive gaming, aka eSports, is popular at the newest betting sites online. Virtual sports are also common, as are odds for politics, current affairs, and TV shows.

Basically, if it’s outside of the norm, new bookmakers will probably have odds for it.