Bonuses & Promotions

Bet credits are sportsbook promotional funds that work like free bets. The stake is not returned with winnings. They cannot be withdrawn and must be used within an expiry period.

Bonus abuse is the operator's term for extracting value from promotions in ways the terms prohibit. It covers genuine fraud like multiple accounts, and also legitimate techniques like matched betting.

A bonus code is a string entered during registration or deposit to claim a specific offer. Codes are usually tied to affiliate tracking, and entering the wrong one, or none, can forfeit the offer permanently.

Bonus expiry is the deadline for meeting wagering requirements. Unfinished bonuses are removed at expiry along with any winnings derived from them, regardless of how close you were.

Cashback returns a percentage of losses over a period, usually as bonus funds with wagering requirements attached. Real-cash cashback with no strings exists but is much rarer.

A deposit match credits bonus funds as a percentage of what you deposit. A 100% match on £100 gives £100 in bonus money, which is subject to wagering requirements before it can be withdrawn.

A free bet is a sportsbook credit that stakes without your own money, returning only the winnings and not the stake. A £20 free bet at even money returns £20, not £40.

Game weighting determines how much each game contributes toward a wagering requirement. Slots usually count 100% while table games count 10% or less, which multiplies the real requirement on low-edge games.

The max bet rule caps how much you can stake per spin or hand while a bonus is active, usually around £5. Breaching it even once voids the bonus and all winnings at most operators.

A no deposit bonus credits a small amount of bonus funds or free spins without requiring a deposit. They are genuinely free but carry high wagering requirements and low maximum conversion caps.

Refer a friend pays an existing customer for introducing a new one, usually once the referral has deposited and wagered a set amount. Rewards are typically bonus funds rather than cash.

A reload bonus is a deposit match offered to existing customers rather than new ones. Terms are usually less generous than a welcome offer but often carry lower wagering requirements.

A risk-free bet refunds your stake if the bet loses, but almost always as bet credits rather than cash. The name overstates it: you recover most of the value, not all of it.

A sticky bonus can never be withdrawn itself, only winnings above it. When you cash out, the bonus amount is removed from your balance, which makes it worth considerably less than a non-sticky bonus of the same size.

A VIP programme rewards high-volume players with cashback, personal managers and enhanced limits. Rewards are calculated on turnover, so the programme is funded entirely by the losses it encourages.

A wagering requirement is the amount you must stake before bonus money can be withdrawn. A £50 bonus with 35x wagering means £1,750 of bets must be placed first, which is why most bonuses are never successfully cashed out.

A welcome bonus is the offer made to new customers on their first deposit, usually a percentage match plus free spins. Its value depends almost entirely on the wagering requirement, not the headline amount.