How to Choose the Best Free Bets Online
Choosing the best free bet bonus online can be overwhelming, especially for new players without much experience. There are so many things to consider when picking good free bets in South Africa. Free bets also come with terms and conditions that you need to be aware of. This is why we have compiled the below steps for a foolproof way to always choose good free bets.
Explore all the available deals. Go through our list of the best betting sites with free bets in South Africa and pick your favourite.
Validate the deal. We made sure that all of the online casinos/sportsbooks listed here have been verified as legal, fair and trustworthy by us first-hand.
Always read the terms and conditions. Make sure to check the terms and conditions specific to the deal you plan to claim. This will give you a holistic comprehension of the offer, how it works and what the limitations are.
Do a cross-comparison. Compare the bonus features with your other bonus contenders to clearly understand which ones are superior.
Check out other available bonuses. When you pick a bonus, you also want to ensure that the sportsbook/casino offering the bonus also has a good collection of games, and other bonuses too.
Factor in the wagering requirement. The lower the wagering requirement, the better the value of the bonus. Choose bonuses with low wagering requirements or no wagering requirements if possible.
What to Look for in a Welcome Bonus
Welcome bonuses are one of the reasons new users sign up with a betting platform. However, new bettors must take their time to compare welcome offers across many bookmakers to see which is best for them. This can be a challenge if they do not know what to look for during such comparisons.
Every welcome bonus has certain elements that determine its overall suitability. These include the qualification requirements, wagering requirements, bonus percentage, maximum bonus amount, validity period, compatible bets, etc. We have explained these elements below.
Wagering Requirements
Every welcome bonus comes with a set of wagering requirements. The online betting site expects the player to fulfil these conditions to access the bonus fully. It is the bookie’s way of ensuring users don’t abuse the offer.
Wagering requirements establish how many times players must bet the bonus amount. Sometimes, it may specify how many times players must bet the bonus and the deposit amount. Players must meet these conditions before they can withdraw the bonus or any winnings.
Here is an example. A betting website may offer a 100% first deposit bonus of up to R5,000 plus a 5x wagering requirement. If you deposit R2,000, you get a bonus of R2,000. However, you must stake R2,000 x 5 (R10,000) before you can withdraw the bonus or winnings from it. If the requirement states 1x, you must stake R2,000 x 1 (R2,000) instead.
It is advisable to look out for betting sites with lower wagering requirements attached to their welcome bonus. They are often more favourable, and you can easily fulfil them and withdraw your bonus.
Bonus Percentage
Bonus percentage is another important factor to consider when comparing sign up bonuses. It also contributes significantly to the value of a bonus.
By bonus percentage, we mean the proportion of the deposit the betting site will match as your bonus. For instance, if a bookie promises a 50% bonus on your first deposit, only 50% of your first deposit is your welcome bonus. If the offer states a 100% bonus, your bonus will be the same amount as your deposit.
The higher the bonus percentage, the more valuable the bonus offer is. The more valuable your bonus is, the higher your staking power. That said, it is important to note that a higher bonus percentage may attract stricter wagering requirements. For example, a 100% bonus percentage will most likely require a minimum of 5x wagering.
Overall, we recommend not settling for an offer based on a high bonus percentage alone. Ensure you consider the other elements explained in this section when determining the viability of an offer.
Maximum Bonus Amount
The maximum bonus amount is another major determining factor to consider when assessing bonus offers. It is the highest amount a bookie will offer a new bettor as a bonus, irrespective of their deposit amount.
Let’s explain with an example. Assuming a bookie provides a 100% bonus, up to R5,000, in their welcome package. It means they are willing to match the deposit by 100%. However, the match-up amount will not exceed R5,000, even if the customer deposits more than R5,000. So, if, for example, a customer deposits R10,000, they will still get a R5,000 bonus.
As with bonus percentage, a higher maximum bonus amount translates to a more interesting bonus. A sign up bonus with a higher maximum bonus provides you with more opportunities to bet. However, you may have to deal with stringent additional requirements like a short validity period and high minimum odds.
