How to Turnover a Sports Bonus
I’m Boby – I don’t write too much content here on List Of All Bookmakers, I’m usually a behind-the-scenes guy. This page will be an exception. Claiming welcome bonuses, or ‘Bonus Hunting’ as I like to call it, is what really got me passionate about sports betting. Hunting for the most valuable offers, comparing bonuses, and working through turnover requirements is all part of the thrill for me.
As my speciality is sports bonuses, I’ve developed List of All Bookmakers to be the most transparent bonus comparison website online (okay, maybe I am a little biased). Nevertheless, I’ve learned lots of important info when it comes to finding the right bonus for you, and how to capitalize on welcome offers. This page is dedicated to anyone looking to claim a new offer, or for guidance on how to turnover an offer you’ve already claimed.
On this page you will find:
✅ Tips to turnover a sports bonus
✅ Important bonus restrictions to look out for
✅ How to choose the best bonus for your betting style
Expand the “On This Page” tab if you’d like to jump to a particular section.
On This Page
Before getting into the finer details, I need to emphasize that this is not a guide on how to get free money or any other type of money-making scheme. Gambling is not a realistic source of income (where do you think casinos get their big advertising budgets from?). This guide is for anyone who shares the same thrill as I do – hunting, claiming, and wagering sports bonuses.
Wagering a Sports Bonus: My Step-by-step Approach:
There are 3 overarching principals I use during a bonus hunt:
- Choosing a safe and reliable bookmaker 🍀
- Understanding key bonus terms and identifying red flags 🚩
- Finding the right bonus for your betting style ✅
1. Choosing the Right Bookmaker
This might seem like an obvious step, but it’s easy to overlook the quality of a sportsbook when you’re knee-deep in a bonus comparison rabbit hole. If you’re all about the bonus, you can make some concessions when it comes to a bookie’s UX, branding, product diversity, and maybe even odds quality. But no matter what, you need to make sure the betting site has these features. Otherwise, you risk losing any potential profits:
- The bookmaker accepts players from your country and is a legally acceptable option. If you live in a country where gambling is legal and regulated, you can usually find an official register of locally licensed brands. We have a directory of all European gambling regulators for those of you based in Europe.
- KYC requirements. If you successfully wager a bonus, there’s a good chance the bookmaker will require you to pass KYC before taking out the money. Make sure you have all the applicable documents, or complete KYC before depositing.
- Convenient payment methods for BOTH deposits and withdrawals. Many affiliate websites only highlight deposit methods, and more often than not, betting sites offer fewer withdrawal methods compared to deposit methods.
2. Understanding Key Bonus Terms
When reviewing and comparing welcome bonuses, there are many restrictions you need to consider. I break them into two categories: standard terms and fine print.
Standard Bonus Conditions
These are the standard conditions that are attached to 99% of bonuses. Bookies and affiliate websites can vary in how they promote these conditions, so it’s important to understand where things can differ.
Minimum Qualifying Deposit
The minium amount you need to deposit to activate a welcome bonus.
Turnover (also referred to as a wagering requirement)
This is how much you’ll need to bet before being eligible to make a withdrawal. There are two common ways that bookies apply turnover:
- Turnover applied to the bonus amount only. This is the most common method. For example, you receive a $10 bonus with a 5x wagering requirement. You’ll need to bet at least $10×5=$50 before you can make a withdrawal.
- Turnover applied to the bonus + deposit amount. This is a cheeky way that betting sites inflate turnover requirements. For example, you deposit $10 to claim a $10 bonus. There is a 5x wagering requirement applied to the deposit + bonus amount. You’ll need to bet at least ($10+$10)x5=$100 before you can make a withdrawal.
Minimum Odds
This condition stipulates what prices you can take when meeting wagering requirements. What you need to look out for is whether the odds are per event or on your total bet slip. There are a couple common applications:
- Total minimum odds, single bets or multibets. This is the most straightforward. For example, if minimum odds are 1.80, you just need to make sure your total bet slip has odds of 1.80 or higher.
- Minimum odds per selection, multibets required for wagering. For example, minimum odds are 1.50 per selection, but you must place multibets with three or more selections. This means the practical, or true minimum odds you’ll be looking at are 1.50 x 1.50 x 1.50 = 3.375. On our comparison lists we always display the true minium odds.
Bonus Expiry
A time-limit for when you need to complete the wagering requirements by. Standard range is 7-30 days, but it can vary.
Including the total bonus amount with the above conditions gives you an initial formula for comparing bonuses. Ideally, a bonus will have low odds and turnover, along with a reasonable timeline to complete the restrictions. Sadly, finding a bonus like this is a dime a dozen – you’ll need to make some concessions.
But this is just the starting point. After finding a bonus you like, you’ll need to fish through the fineprint bonus terms to make sure you don’t get misled.
Fineprint Bonus Conditions
I’ve always referred to these conditions as uncommon fine print, but unfortunately they seem to be getting more popular with time. Here are a few cheeky restrictions I’ve come across that you need to look out for:
Payment Method Restrictions
Many welcome offers are disabled for deposits made with e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and also cryptocurrencies.
Sticky vs Non-sticky Bonus
Sticky bonus: you can’t make a withdrawal until you meet the wagering requirements. Once you start the bonus, you stay locked in until you finish wagering or run your balance down to 0.
Non-sticky bonus: your deposit balance and bonus balance are separate. While wagering, any winnings are added directly to your real balance as withdrawable cash. Withdrawals made before completing wagering requirements typically cancel the remaining bonus.
Bet and Market Restrictions
It’s quite common to see that handicap and Asian markets won’t contribute to wagering requirements, but some bonuses also restrict you to particular sports. There may also be restrictions placed on live betting. Some bonuses have variable rates. For example, pre-match bets contribute 100% towards wagering, live betting contributes 50%, handicap markets 20%, and so on.
Rules on Cashed out & Void Bets
Typically, cashed-out and void bets don’t count toward your wagering requirements, but they also won’t hurt your progress.
Max Bet Size
While wagering, it’s common for your max bet size to be capped. This can be a fixed dollar amount or a percentage based on your total bonus amount.
Bonus Release Rate
Most bookies release the full bonus immediately after your first qualifying deposit, but some don’t. In some cases, they release the bonus in increments as you wager, or they lock the bonus amount until you meet certain wagering requirements.
Max Withdrawal Cap
Not the most common, but absolutely worth double-checking. Some betting sites hide this term in their “Bonus Terms and Conditions” page and don’t mention it explicitly in the T&Cs for the specific bonus.
Multi-Deposit Bonus vs First Deposit Bonus
On this site, our rule of thumb is that we only compare bonuses given on your first deposit. Unfortunately, that’s not the standard of all affiliate sites or bookmakers. For example, I have seen some betting sites promote a 500% deposit match bonus up to €500. But when you read the terms and conditions, it’s just 5x 100% bonuses up to €100. These offers are not only misleading, but when advertised next to other first deposit bonuses, it can make comparison impossible.
3. Finding the Right Bonus for You
This is the key. Don’t take a bonus that will push you out of your comfort zone by betting on sports or markets you don’t typically pay attention to. Go with a bonus that fits your play style. For example, I like placing single bets, so free bet offers are usually a good choice for my style. If you’re an active bettor, maybe a deposit match bonus is more your style. Here is an overview of the most common sports bonuses and the ideal situations to claim them.
Deposit Match Bonus
Definition: The sportsbook will match your first deposit amount in bonus cash. The match rate is most commonly set to 100%, but it can be lower or higher. You can use the bonus funds while meeting wagering requirements.
Ideal for: Frequent bettors, during a busy sports period, and/or those who like flexibility with their bonus. Deposit match bonuses typically come with 5x or higher wagering requirements and a max bet cap. You’ll likely need to place 10 or more bets to complete a deposit match bonus.
Cheeky terms to beware of: Sticky vs non-sticky, max win and bet caps, and restricted bet types.
Free Bets and Risk-free Bets
Definition (Free bets): Free bets are awarded after making a qualifying first deposit. They can be received as one free bet or multiple free bets. When playing with a free bet, your winnings typically exclude the amount staked.
Definition (Risk-free bet): This bonus requires you to deposit and wager with your own cash to unlock the offer. Most commonly, the bonus is only awarded if your first bet loses. The bonus can come as a free bet or bonus cash.
Ideal for: Punters who prefer taking singles, or when you’ve identified a good value bet. Minimum odds for these promos are typically set within 1.80-2.50. It’s good to have a couple of free bet offers up your sleeve for when you come across an attractive market that meets minimum odds requirements.
Cheeky terms to beware of: Max odds cap, free bet unlocked in one go or in chunks, and if the free bet match is awarded at a rate below 100% of your qualifying deposit.
Cash Bonus
Definition: You must meet wagering requirements with your own cash. Once met, you’ll receive a bonus that comes as instantly withdrawable cash. It’s a less common bonus type, but can be one of the most valuable if you play it right.
Ideal for: Frequent bettors on a hot streak. You’ll need to meet similar wagering requirements to a deposit match bonus, but you’re at the disadvantage of not having the bonus cash to use while turning over. The margin for error is thin, but the reward is well worth it.
Cheeky terms to beware of: Same as a deposit match bonus, plus whether you can make multiple deposits to meet wagering requirements.
Conclusion – How to Turnover a Sports Bonus
To turnover a sports bonus successfully, there will always be some luck involved – but you can increase your chances of success by using this guide. In short, you should follow these steps:
- Choose a legal bookmaker for your region and make sure you can pass KYC requirements.
- Compare common bonus terms: total bonus amount, wagering requirement, minimum odds, and bonus expiry.
- Review the fine print: look for restricted bet types and payment methods, sticky vs non-sticky bonus, max win and bet cap, and bonus release rate.
- Choose a bonus that aligns with your betting style.
If you’re using an affiliate website to compare bonuses, it’s important to understand how they promote betting sites, as transparency can vary. At List of All Bookmakers, we strive to have the most trustworthy and transparent bonus comparison tool – feel free to check out our international betting sites list to find your next bonus.
FAQs About Sportsbook Bonuses
What is the difference between a free bet and a risk-free bet welcome bonus?
Typically, you receive a free bet instantly after you deposit, while a risk-free bet requires you to wager your own money. If the bet loses, the bookmaker then unlocks the bonus.
Betting sites can release free bet bonuses as a single bet or split them into multiple bets, so check the T&Cs directly on the bookie’s website before claiming. Typically, any winnings from a free bet exclude the amount staked.
Risk-free bet bonuses look different from bookie to bookie. Bonuses can be free bet(s) or bonus cash, and they typically come with further wagering requirements.
What does sticky bonus mean?
A sticky bonus means you can’t make a withdrawal until you meet the wagering requirements or fail to complete the bonus. Practically speaking, the betting site treats your cash balance and bonus balance as one.
On the contrary, a non-sticky bonus treats your cash balance and bonus balance separately. While you wager the bonus, the betting site adds any winnings to your cash balance, and you can withdraw them at any time. Note that early withdrawals typically cancel the remaining bonus.
Non-sticky bonuses provide more flexibility and are the preferred option among sports bettors.
What sports bonuses are most valuable?
There is no universal answer to this question, as it depends heavily on your betting style. For example, players who prefer placing single bets are more likely to profit from a free bet bonus. Those who bet frequently may be more suited to a deposit match bonus. It’s important to understand which betting markets you will use before claiming a bonus.
Most importantly, you need a good tool to compare different welcome offers. Our list of international betting sites provides a transparent tool to compare offers from licensed bookmakers. We also have filter buttons if you’re looking for a specific payment method, bonus type, or anything else.
What does it mean to turnover a bonus?
Turnover refers to the amount you need to bet in order to convert the bonus funds into withdrawable cash. There are two common ways that bookmakers apply turnover:
1. Turnover applies to the bonus amount only.
2. Turnover applies to the bonus + deposit amount.
The distinction is important, as option 2 significantly inflates the requirement and is a method that affiliates and bookmakers use to make an offer look more attractive than it really is.
