One major impact of the proliferation of sporting events in India is a constantly intensifying interest in online betting.
As a result, online betting sites, both within and outside the country, have channelled resources and efforts not only to fit into the Indian online gambling market but to sustainably meet the increasing demands of the market. One prominent effort being FREE BET promotions.
With the game of cricket as the flagship sport of the nation, sports betting in India is attaining new heights in 2022. In particular, with the use of rupees to bet on Indian cricket leagues and other sports through secure and easy methods of deposit and withdrawal available on betting sites.
Now, in the competition for the patronage of Indian players, betting sites offer free bets, with varying terms and conditions.
These promotions are a bit hard to come by. But, we’ve done the homework for you, and we’ve put together a list of the best bookmakers that offer free bets. Just pick one, click on it to visit their site, claim your free bet and start having fun!
What is a free bet?
A free bet literally refers to a bet you can stake for free, that is, without using your real money. Free bet is an incentive commonly used by online sports betting sites to encourage new customers to sign up.
Even so, depending on the sports betting site, you may be able to withdraw your free bet winnings automatically, but often times than not, there are wagering requirements attached that must be fulfilled in order to access your winnings from a free bet.
Here are few other things to note about free bets:
- Free bets are offered with valid expiry dates ranging mostly from 24 hours to 7 days expiry periods. Therefore, use within the time frame or they will be removed from your account.
- Free bets are limited by odds. The sportsbook specifies the minimum number of odds the free bet can be placed upon. E.g. some free bets cannot be used on odds shorter than 2.0.
- Free bets are restricted. For example, the sportsbook may restrict your free bets to only single outcomes.
- Free bets cannot be exchanged for real money. They can only be used as promoted on the site.
Types of free bet offers
Free bets in India are generally a package of different betting offers and bonuses for both new and existing customers of the sports betting site. Free bets for Indian players are of the following types:
Free bets no deposit
A sportsbook free bets no deposit means that you do not have to make a deposit before betting on the site. Since it is usually offered when you sign up with a sportsbook, it is sometimes called a free bet sign up offer bonus.
Despite of that, no deposit-free bets usually have very restrictive winning potential, such as 10 rupees max.
This is the most common promotion on any of our experts’ favourite brands. And if you’re up for it, you can claim it by clicking on any of the bookmakers and creating your account today.
Free bet sign-up offers
This offer requires you to make the sportsbook’s minimum deposit in order to be eligible for its free bet offers. It is peculiarly offered to new customers upon sign up and it becomes activated once the first qualifying bet is settled.
For example, the best sportsbooks offer free bet bonuses of up to 30 rupees for a first time. 10 rupees bet or 50 rupees in free bets for a first time, 20 rupees bet.
Risk-free bets
This offer means you will be refunded your money if your bet loses. It creates a no-lose situation as you keep your winnings if your bet is successful, and likewise have your money returned if your bet is unsuccessful.
Free betting sites use risk-free bets as consolation prizes for mostly new customers by giving them a free bet credit for a lost first bet.
Matched deposits
This offer means that the sportsbook will match the amount you as a new customer wager in your first bet, thereby allowing you credit to use on another bet.
Thus, for example, a sportsbook 100% match deposit means that if you sign up to the sportsbook and deposit 100 rupees, your sportsbook account will be credited with an extra10 0rupees to increase your betting capacity.
This free bet offer may apply to as much as first three or four deposits of the new customer with varying rates, and the respective deposits may be matched with either bonus cash or free bet tokens.
However, there is always a wagering requirement attached with terms depending on different online betting sites.
Free bet clubs
Sportsbooks in India also offer “free bet clubs” which credits Indian players, especially existing customers, with a free bet every week provided you place the required number of bets during the course of the previous seven days.
Reload bonuses
This is a kind of match deposit only being that it is mostly offered to existing customers and at regular intervals for a particular period of time.
The offer means that the sportsbook matches your deposit by a certain percentage every time you reload your account. It is also used by online betting sites in India to encourage long inactive players.
Consolation prizes
This offer refers to free bet concessions offered by sportsbooks in India to encourage existing players. It is common in situations whereby the player’s wager nearly hit the mark but didn’t.
For example, a player who staked on a horse race sport may be offered consolation prizes when their horse is beaten into second by a favourite or falls at the last flight of a race.
Also, for example, if you staked on a Grand Slam tennis match, you may be given consolation prizes in the form of free bet tokens if your player had two sets ahead but still lost.
Loyalty bonuses
This offer means a sportsbook can reward you for your loyalty, being a long-time regular customer through free bets.
For example, a free bet that is credited to your account after achieving a certain loyalty requirement such as logging in 5 days of a week or placing 25 rupees worth of stakes during a week to receive a 5 rupees free bet.
Please note that it is possible for some online betting sites to offer a combination of these free bet offers altogether, all contributing to a greater chance of winning.
How to claim free bets in India?
In general, claiming a free bet offer or bonus can be done in two manners; with a bonus code or without a bonus code.
Sports betting sites that require a bonus code to access their free bet offers usually specify the bonus code and how to get the code in the promotions section of their sites.
Then, all you have to do is follow the instructions to be eligible for the code and use the code to access the free bet bonus.
On the other hand, most online sports betting sites in India do not require you to use a bonus code to use a free bet offer.
As a result, all that is required of you is to sign up on the site, make the minimum deposit or no deposit at all and fulfil the wagering requirements attached to access your free bet bonus.
Thus, here are a few guidelines to follow in claiming free bets in India:
- For a sign-up or no deposit free bet; simply sign up and activate your account. You may sometimes need to click a link in your email, verify your identity, or claim the bet on a particular page.
- For a matched deposit free bet; simply sign up to the sportsbook and make a deposit, sometimes you may also be required to wager some or all of that deposit first.
- For a risk-free free bet; simply sign up and make a deposit, you’ll get your initial stake back if your bet doesn’t win.
- For a free bet forming part of a welcome offer; you need not follow any extra steps to claim it. The free bet is usually credited to the account you have created with the sportsbook immediately you make your first ‘real money’ bet for the specified amount in the offer.
Please note that the above are general guidelines and depending on each sport betting sites, there may exist slight differences in procedure.
Hence, pay attention to the terms of each sportsbook’s offer and patronise accordingly.
A big secret to note! All betting sites know that cricket is the most popular sport in India, and as a result, they build incentives for Indian players by offering tons of great cricket free bets.
Therefore, the best free bets to claim in India are cricket free bets and you can never get enough of them especially when the top cricket betting leagues commence their seasons.
Such leagues include Indian Premier League, Indian Cricket League, Karnataka Premier League, Tamil Nadu Premier League and many more.
Tips and strategies for using free bet offers in India
In this guide, we are also serving you the best betting strategy by equipping you with tips on things to consider when using a free bet offer in India in 2022.
Thus, in using free bet offers in India, here are the following things to consider:
1) License and safety of the operator
Before using a free bet offer, ensure that the sportsbook offering it is licensed by a legitimate online gambling authority.
Common licensors for free betting sites in India are The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and UK Gambling Commission.
You can always be sure that an online free bet is safe and secure when the betting site is licensed and regulated by a reputable online gambling authority.
Do you know what the best thing is? EVERY single one of the sites we recommend has a reputable international licence to operate.
So don’t hesitate any longer, choose one, or better, several sites, create an account and start living the real online gambling experience.
2) Pay attention to the operator’s privacy policy
It is a common thing for sportsbooks with free bet offers to use a “Secure Socket Layer” (SSL) encryption to protect confidential data and information provided by customers to the site.
Therefore, before using any free bet offer, ensure that the operator offering it has employed this technology for the safety of your transactions. You can easily confirm this by checking the site’s privacy policy.
Remember that it is your money and your details that you will be depositing into the betting site.
3) Examine the operator’s terms of payment
A sportsbook may be offering a very juicy free bet offer but it may not be available in your preferred banking method. Therefore, it is important to confirm such information before going ahead to sign up with the site.
It is also possible that some sportsbooks charge hidden fees on deposits and withdrawals, while some others even offer very slow withdrawal periods that can one way or the other affect your free bet bonus.
It’s therefore important to cross-check all this information before using a free bet offer. You are advised to pick an operator that supports both banks and e-wallets and select preferably the payment option with the least limitations on how you use your free bet deal.
4) Check out for good customer service
Any sportsbook in India offering free bets should have 24/7 customer support, live chat and telephone hotlines.
You are advised to ensure that the free betting site offering you a free bet bonus has a vibrant customer support system so that you can get the quickest possible response to any concerns regarding your free bet token.
5) Watch out for the best odds
It is common practice for trustworthy operators to be transparent about their odds and free bet deals, thereby allowing you to easily compare the best betting offers in the Indian market.
Having ticked the above tips off your checklist, the following are questions you should be able to give favourable answers to before taking up the sportsbook on its free bet offer:
- How much do I need to deposit/bet to get the biggest free bet bonus?
- Will the free bets be credited to my account immediately?
- What are the time restrictions on placing my free bets?
- Are there realistic restrictions on the amount I can win?
- Will I have to place additional bets before I can withdraw my free bet winnings?
- What is the minimum deposit required to trigger my free bet?
- What sports, events and market types do my free bets work on?
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
A free bet is a promotion offered by betting sites that gives you a chance to place a bet without risking any of your own money.
You can find lots of free bets here on our website and you can also find them by joining free bet clubs of betting sites. E.g. Betway free bets club.
No, not all Indian betting sites offer free bets. Despite of that, you can find a host of Indian betting sites with the best free offers here on our site. Examples are Jeetplay, Spin Casino, 22Bet Royal Panda, Jackpot City, and any of the brands we recommend.
Yes. You can use free bets to bet on any of your favourite sports including crickets on any Indian betting site offering free bets. Many Indian betting sites have specially dedicated cricket free bets for your patronage. Sign up with Fun88 to enjoy the best cricket free bets in the Indian Market.
Yes, free bets are really free because they do not require you to use your real money to bet. Although some Indian betting sites may require a minimum deposit in order to give you free bets, you still do not need to use any of the deposit to use the free bet.
Yes, you can. However, while some Indian betting sites may allow you to withdraw your free bet winnings automatically, many Indian websites specify some wagering requirements that must be fulfilled before you can be able to withdraw your free bet.
Conclusion
Cricket is the most popular sport in India and the Indian passion for this sport has driven online betting in India to great heights.
Online gambling sites are making dedicated provisions for cricket betting by making cricket free bet offers in different forms and manners, readily available in the Indian Market.
With a lot of options to choose from in the Indian market, Indian bettors are advised to equip themselves with the best betting strategy as instructed in the above-listed tips, to make an informed betting choice with free bet offers.
Make the best choice now with any of the gambling sites from the table we have left you in this article! Pick the best choice that suits you, create and account, claim your free bet, and bet on your favourite cricket team!