Free Play in Sports Betting – Benefits & Mechanics

Free play is a term that refers to bets that are given as bonuses or incentives by bookmakers, casinos, or betting platforms to attract and retain customers. Free play bets are different from regular bets, as they do not involve any stake or risk from the bettor. The bettor only receives the potential payout or profit from the free play bet, not the original amount of the bet.

How Free Play Works

To use free play, you need to follow these steps:

• Choose the bookmaker, casino, or betting platform that offers free play. You can select from various online or offline options, such as Bet365, 888 Casino, DraftKings, etc.
• Register and create an account with the bookmaker, casino, or betting platform that offers free play. You may also need to make a deposit or meet certain requirements or conditions to be eligible for free play.
• Check the amount and the terms and conditions of the free play. The amount of free play may vary depending on the bookmaker, casino, or betting platform, and may range from $10 to $1000 or more. The terms and conditions of the free play may also vary depending on the bookmaker, casino, or betting platform, and may include expiry dates, wagering requirements, minimum odds, maximum payouts, or restricted markets or events.
• Choose the sport or event that you want to bet on with your free play. You can select from various sports and events, such as football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, etc.
• Choose the type of bet that you want to place with your free play. You can select from various types of bets, such as moneyline, point spread, totals, props, or futures.
• Choose the selection that you want to bet on with your free play. You can select from various teams or players that are competing in the sport or event.
• Check the odds and the payout of the free play bet. The odds are the ratio of the payout to the stake. The payout is the amount of money that you can win if the bet is successful. The odds and the payout of the free play bet may be different from regular bets, as they do not include the original amount of the bet.
• Enter the stake that you want to wager with your free play. The stake is the amount of money that you risk on the bet. The stake of the free play bet is usually equal to the amount of free play that you have received.
• Confirm and place the free play bet.

The outcome and payout of your free play bet will depend on the results of each selection. There are two possible scenarios:

• Scenario 1: The selection is correct. You win the payout of the free play bet, which is equal to your stake multiplied by the odds of the bet minus your stake. For example, if you have received $100 of free play and placed a $100 free play bet on Team A to win at +200 odds, you will win $100 x (+200) – $100 = $100 if Team A wins.
• Scenario 2: The selection is wrong. You lose your free play and receive no payout. For example, if you have received $100 of free play and placed a $100 free play bet on Team A to win at +200 odds, you will lose your $100 of free play if Team A loses.

Examples of Free Play Bets

Here are some examples of free play bets with different sports and types of bets:

Example 1

A free play bet on a football game with a moneyline bet:

• Bookmaker: Bet365

• Free play amount: $50

• Sport: Football

• Bet type: Moneyline

• Selection: Dallas Cowboys to win

• Odds: -150

• Payout: $33.33 for every $50 wagered

• Stake: $50 (equal to free play amount)

• Bankroll: $1000

• Scenario 1: Dallas Cowboys win. You win $33.33 and your bankroll increases to $1033.33.

• Scenario 2: Dallas Cowboys lose. You lose your $50 of free play and your bankroll remains at $1000.

Example 2

A free play bet on a basketball game with a point spread bet:

• Bookmaker: 888 Casino

• Free play amount: $100

• Sport: Basketball

• Bet type: Point spread

• Selection: Los Angeles Lakers -5.5

• Odds: -110

• Payout: $90.91 for every $100 wagered

• Stake: $100 (equal to free play amount)

• Bankroll: $1000

• Scenario 1: Los Angeles Lakers cover the spread. You win $90.91 and your bankroll increases to $1090.91.

• Scenario 2: Los Angeles Lakers fail to cover the spread. You lose your $100 of free play and your bankroll remains at $1000.

Pros and Cons of Free Play Bets

Free play bets can have some benefits and drawbacks for bettors. Some of them are:

Pros:

• They can provide a risk-free and cost-free way of betting, as they do not involve any stake or loss from the bettor.
• They can offer a chance to win real money or increase the bankroll, as they do involve a potential payout or profit from the bettor.
• They can allow the bettor to try new or different sports, events, markets, or types of bets, as they do not have any financial consequences.

Cons:

• They can have lower returns or higher losses than regular bets, as they do not include the original amount of the bet in the payout or the loss.
• They can have stricter or more complicated terms and conditions than regular bets, as they may have expiry dates, wagering requirements, minimum odds, maximum payouts, or restricted markets or events.
• They can be scarce or limited in availability or quantity, as they may depend on the bookmaker, casino, or betting platform’s generosity or promotion.

To Sum Up

Free play is a term that refers to bets that are given as bonuses or incentives by bookmakers, casinos, or betting platforms to attract and retain customers. Free play bets are different from regular bets, as they do not involve any stake or risk from the bettor. The bettor only receives the potential payout or profit from the free play bet, not the original amount of the bet. Free play works by choosing a sport, event, market, type of bet, selection, odds, payout, and stake that are equal to the amount of free play received. Free play can have some pros and cons for bettors, depending on their goals and preferences.