What is a Free Bet?
The name of the bet gives away the explanation already. But let’s get a bit more in-depth. You don’t need to use your funds with this type of NY sportsbook promo. In other words, this is a risk-free bet or a complimentary wager given as a bonus.
Not so fast, though. You must meet certain conditions attached to the free bet if you win and need to claim your winnings. On the other hand, if you don’t win, you don’t lose a dime. What you’ll love about this deal is you can come across different types of free bets with various formats.
How to Use Free Bets: How Do They Work?
Now that you understand a free bet, let’s explore how it works. But before that, it’s essential to understand that online bookmakers commonly use free bets as promotional tools to attract new customers while also providing value to existing players. Therefore, if people don’t register, the sportsbooks get nothing in return. After creating an account at a preferred betting site, you can claim a free bet by entering a bonus, depositing funds, or opting in with a few clicks.
Opting in or using bonus codes ranks as the most common way to claim free bets. However, deposit-based free bets tend to come with favorable conditions. But then again, many players don’t want to deposit funds, making this option unpopular.
How to Claim Free Bets in New York
You’re just getting your feet wet in the world of free bets in New York, and you have no idea how to go about it. Well, things are about to get easy as we break down the process you must follow to start betting.
Pick one of our recommended offers
Bonuses come in all shapes and sizes; for a novice, choosing the best option can be challenging. Thankfully, you have our team of gurus who analyze NY sportsbooks for the top free bets.
We then compile a list with these bonuses, claim, and use them like any other player would. While using these bets, we check for key aspects such as the risk level and the bet value to determine the best option. This is what we present to you as our recommended bonuses.
Read the T&Cs
The terms and conditions page can be quite boring, no doubt. And it’s no surprise that you would skip past this part. However, this page contains important information about the free bet bonus that determines whether the bet is a good deal.
On face value, a bonus banner advertising a $100 free bet may be enticing. However, on further scrutiny of the T&Cs, you might come across tough wagering requirements such as 60x the bet amount and a $100 cap on winnings.
Claim it
We explained the different ways to claim a free bet. If the bonus requires you to opt in, simply claim it, and the funds will be credited to your account. It’s the simplest way to claim a free bet in New York. But not all NY sportsbooks provide the easy route to these bonuses.
In such instances, you may need to deposit funds, similar to the traditional deposit bonus. Therefore, choose a preferred deposit method and enter the amount specified as the minimum to qualify for the bonus. The free bet will be available in your account. You may also need to enter specific bonus codes.
Start betting on your favs
After claiming your free bet and the funds are in your account, it’s time to start betting. But before you do, remember these bets come with tough restrictions because this is
free money, and thus nothing in return for the sportsbook. Therefore, big winnings shouldn’t be on your mind.
With that in mind, we suggest prioritizing having fun betting on events that you have a special attachment to.
Things to Look Out for with Free Bets at New York Sportsbooks
After understanding free bets and how they work, it’s time to get to more important matters about these deals. Details matter, and this is where many players fall victim. The terms and conditions vary from one free bet to another. Therefore, it’s essential to read them to avoid surprises. This section examines the key aspects you should consider when vetting a free bet deal.
Wagering requirements
For any player out there, wagering requirements are the necessary evil when dealing with any bonus. Online sportsbooks in New York impose wagering requirements for their benefit. You can’t just sign up, claim a free bet, and walk away with the winnings. The bookmaker will make a loss. So, they impose a caveat where you must wager the bonus amount a specific number of times to claim your winnings.
Let’s use a practical example. For instance, you claim a free bet of $10 with wagering requirements set at 40 times. That means you must wager $400 to claim your winnings. The industry standard is set at 35x. And as a rule of thumb, you want to stay away from any deal that goes over 35x.
Bonus amount
Free bets often come in small sizes for the obvious reason that this is a free wager offered by a sportsbook. But there are instances when the bookmaker decides to be extra generous. Such instances are if there are upcoming crunch games such as the Superbowl. Sportsbooks tend to be more than generous during these events because they know bettors have a big appetite.
However, the big offers often come with strings attached, including tough restrictions such as a cap on the winnings and bet limits.
Eligible markets & sports
One of the biggest restrictions free bets come with is what you can do with them. There’s no such thing as express freedom since online bookmakers usually limit players on the sports they can bet on. In most instances, the sportsbook will set the minimum odds you must bet on.
New York betting sites
do this to prevent bettors from exploiting sports that offer almost no movement.
Validity period
Bonuses and promotions, free bets included, usually come with expiration dates. And online betting sites in New York state in the T&Cs the exact time when a specific promo should end. Therefore, you must be careful when a free bet ends.
With this in mind, you must never claim a free bet with a short validity period. Short periods only force you into making hasty decisions.
What Are the Best Ways to Use Free Bets in New York?
You can use free bets in several ways when betting in New York sportsbooks. However, as mentioned earlier, these bets come in small sizes, and bookmakers tend to impose tough restrictions when using them. As a result, you’re unlikely to score massive wins when using them. But there are ways you can use to maximize your free bet.
Give a new sportsbook a try
Free bets act as a gate to other bonuses and promotions, such as cashback and deposit bonuses on the sportsbook. And since this is free money, you can use it to explore how different NY betting sites work. Remember, you can check out a bookmaker, but knowing its inner workings is difficult without signing up and betting. A free bet in New York allows you to do this.
Pick an event and use the free bet to see how the operator works. And if everything turns out fine, you can deposit funds and enjoy the site.
Capitalize on big events
Daily bettors exist, and while this may be the case, many bettors look at betting as a pastime activity. As such, these bettors only bet on big or special events. One example is the Superbowl. Since you’re not a regular bettor, there’s a big chance you won’t go in hard. But you’ll still want to place a bet since it’s fun.
In such a case, you can take advantage of one of our listed free bets in New York to place a bet on the Super Bowl. Besides, this is free money, meaning you don’t have to dip into your pocket.
Test new markets
As a pastime player, the basic markets are all that you focus on; straight wins, O/U, and 1×2, just to mention a few. But as you continue familiarizing yourself with betting, you realize there are more complex markets that make online betting in New York even more fun. Some of these markets include player-specific props and handicap bets. But the more complex the markets, the higher the odds, which means a riskier bet.
Free bets allow you to try these markets without worrying about losing money. As such, you can scroll through the available markets and have fun with them as you figure out whether you can include them in your betting strategy.
Tips on How to Use Free Bets in New York
To this point, you already know what a free bet is, how it works, and the best ways to use it while playing at NY sportsbooks. But you’re not yet ready to start playing without tips on getting the most out of your free bet.
Hold Your Horses
Just because the free bet was good doesn’t mean that’s what you can expect with every other bonus on the platform. As such, it’s wise to proceed with caution when making big deposits in the future. Again, it’s a single bet that can’t give you insight into a particular site. Instead, make small deposits and then gradually move to bigger bets.
Bigger Isn’t Always the Better Choice
We mentioned earlier that a free bet might look enticing at a glance. But the devil is always in the details. And if the deal is too good, it most likely isn’t worth it, especially if it’s going against what other bookmakers are offering. For instance, why should a bookmaker offer a $200 free bet when others are offering $20 or so?
Letdowns Happen
Not everything goes according to plan or expectations. And that’s just the way it is. Sometimes what a sportsbook advertises as its free bet isn’t necessarily what you’ll get. If this happens, don’t get carried away by disappointment. Look at it as a forewarning of impending rip-offs. Besides, you got a free bet, right?
Free Bets or Deposit Bonuses: What Should You Go for?
Choosing between free bets in New York and deposit bonuses is tough, with each deal offering its pros and cons. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. But to help you choose, we’ve put these deals in a head-to-head clash.
| Feature/type of Promo |
Free Bets in NY |
Deposit Bonuses in the NY |
| 🎲 No money needed |
📌 Yes |
🎲 No |
| 🎲 Low wagering requirements |
📌 No |
🎲 Yes |
| 🎲 Strict bet limits |
📌 Yes |
🎲 No |
| 🎲 Caps on winnings |
📌 Yes |
🎲 Yes |
| 🎲 Easy to claim |
📌 Yes |
🎲 Yes |
Pros & Cons of Free Bets in New York
Pros
- Risk-free betting
- Allows you to test a bookmaker
- Potential for real winnings
- Suitable for one-time bets
Cons
- Tough wagering requirements
- Limited betting options
- Strict terms
Online Free Bets by US state
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Free Bets
Are free bets legal in New York?
Yes. Free bets are legal in the state of New York but only if the operator is licensed and regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission. While these bets may be legal, it’s still in your best interest to read the terms and conditions attached to these deals to avoid surprises.
Can you win money with free bets in New York?
Yes, you can win when using free bets in New York. But as you might have guessed, there are several strings attached. Many NY online bookmakers impose caps on winnings or the bet size and set wagering requirements to protect them from lucky wins.
Are NY free bets a scam?
No. Free bets are not a scam. They offer value by giving players free money to test NY sportsbooks. However, free bets vary in size and the caveats the bookmakers offer. Again, reading and understanding the terms of specific free bets will help you choose a suitable deal.
Many online sportsbooks in New York don’t allow players to combine free bets with other offers. Since these bonuses are free money, they don’t want players having a lot of their free money, hence the one bonus at a time policy. While this may be the case, you can still claim another offer once you’re done with the free bet.
Why do NY sportsbooks offer free bets?
Free bets are promotional tools used by NY bookmakers to attract new players. This is one of the ways online sportsbooks use to stand out from the competition. On the other hand, this is a plus for you since it allows you to scout for the best deals.
