Everyone can testify that bonuses are one of the best things in sports betting. After all, who isn’t attracted to the prospect of free things? But at the same time, not many punters know how to get the most from these freebies. That is why we want to discuss some important tips on when and how to use sports betting bonuses effectively. Let’s get into it immediately.
1. Terms and Conditions Come Before Anything Else
Many punters make the mistake of falling for the face value of sports betting bonuses, but that is the wrong approach. Unfortunately, most bonuses are not necessarily as they appear at first glance. Often, there is a “catch”, and the only way you can fish it out is by scrutinising the terms and conditions.
Although bonus terms and conditions may look like gibberish at first glance, if you know the right things to look out for, you’ll find what you need within a minute. Be sure to look out for key terminology. For starters, your focus should be on the:
- Wagering/Playthrough Requirement: this is how many times you must wager the bonus before you can withdraw your winnings. The higher the number, the more unfavourable it is for you.
- Minimum Odds: this is the minimum you must stake to be eligible for withdrawal.
- Expiry Date: you must exhaust the offer before this date, otherwise, the bookie reserves the right to remove it from your account (including any winnings made so far).
Even if you can’t read through the T&Cs gibberish, at least look out for these three things.
2. Don’t Focus on One Sport
Unless the bonus limits you to one particular sport, try as many as possible to diversify your bets. Yes, we understand that football may be your favourite sport, but when using bonuses, you must have an open mind and give yourself a chance at all the possibilities. The more options you have, the higher your chance of netting something big.
If you are not sure of what to bet on, these are some sports that have some of the best odds:
- Football
- College Basketball
- NBA
- NFL
- Horse Racing
At the same time, as much as you want to diversify, don’t overdo it. Monitoring too many markets at once can lead to burnout, so do it in moderation.
3. Prioritise Value Over Big Numbers
From experience, the bonus with the biggest numbers usually has the most unrealistic betting terms. Don’t get us wrong, we don’t mean to say there are no exceptions, but most of the biggest ones can be very demanding.
So, if you see an offer for £10,000, pay extra attention to the terms because it is just too good for there not to be a significant catch. iGamingNuts highlights this in their latest article written by Alexander Assies — a responsible gambling advocate and critical content specialist — pointing out that some bonuses have unrealistic terms and how it’s bad not just for players but also platforms.
“Setting overly restrictive or complex terms and conditions, such as wagering requirements, can frustrate players to the point that they damage the operator’s reputation and cause players to leave for a competitor.”
Conversely, bonuses that are not seemingly very attractive tend to have the most accommodating terms. We mean low wagering requirements, lower limits, and high potential returns.
But that doesn’t mean you should chase smaller bonuses intentionally—this is another extreme. What we are suggesting is that you should find a balance between value and big numbers.
4. Use Multiple Bonuses With Different Bookies at Once
There is no rule against having accounts with different bookies at the same time. As long as you are not impersonating anyone, you can set up an account with two or three bookmakers. And, by extension, you can maximise bonuses from multiple bookies at once.
The only thing is that you must have a good system to track and manage it carefully because it is very easy to digress and miss out on lots. So, if possible, use a spreadsheet to manage it carefully, and your chances of success will be higher.
5. Use Tools as Much as You Can
Many punters (especially the old-school ones) don’t like the idea of using tools like betting calculators, trends, and odds comparisons, etc., but this is time to open your mind to a new age. Using these tools can now put you ahead significantly, so make the most of them. Besides, most are free, so what do you have to lose?
Make It Count!
Sports betting bonuses are great, but if you are not making the best use of them, you could be short-changing yourself. Luckily, we are always looking out for you, and these five tips should help put you on the right track.
Don’t let our efforts go to waste!