
Canadian sportsbooks aim to stand out from the competition by offering generous bonuses. These promotions come in various forms — bonus bets are some of the most popular options you’ll come across.
With the best bonus bets in Canada, you can place wagers without touching your actual betting balance. Such bonuses also have reasonable terms and conditions, making it easy to satisfy the necessary criteria and receive your bonus winnings. I’ll discuss everything about bonus bets in this guide, so read on to learn more.
Claiming bonus bets undoubtedly comes with several perks. They offer you more for your betting sessions, you get them easily, and the best ones have reasonable conditions. However, they are not without their downsides. Below, I’ve listed the pros and cons to note about bonus bets:
Bonus bets are exactly what they sound like: promotional offers from sportsbooks that let you place wagers without the need for an initial deposit. Think of them as credit that gives you a chance to place some sports wagers at no cost of your own. However, when you win using a bonus bet, you might only keep the profit, not the bonus bet amount itself - though this depends on the site.
Sportsbooks, especially new betting sites in Canada, are often generous when they offer bonus bets. But they also use them as a powerful marketing tool to attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back. These promotions typically come with some strings attached. You might need to deposit money first or bet a certain amount before you can withdraw any winnings.
Bonus bets in Canada come in various forms. Yes, they all offer the opportunity to place wagers at no cost of your own, but you must note how to claim them and how each works. Below is a breakdown of the different types of bonus bets you'll find as a Canadian bettor:
| Offer | Brief overview |
| No deposit bonus bets | Offer you receive without making a deposit |
| Matched bonus bets | The sportsbook matches your bet amount |
| Bet insurance | Get your bet amount back if you lose |
| Reload bonus bets | Bonuses that are available for only existing players |
These are the most straightforward options you can get. They are also the most sought-after options because you receive them without making an initial deposit. Most times, the sportsbook gives you a bonus bet as a new user, but you might have to meet a specific criterion to activate the promo. For example, a platform might offer a $10 bonus bet no deposit package, and you get it only after verifying your email and completing KYC.
With matched bonus bets, the sportsbook matches your first bet with a bonus bet of equal value. Let's say a sportsbook offers a "Bet $20, Get $20" promotion. If you place a $20 bet on Manchester United to win, you'll receive a $20 bonus bet regardless of whether your initial bet wins or loses.
In the first example, the operator matched your amount 100%. But, some platforms might offer a higher or lower percentage. Regardless of the percentage, there is usually a maximum bonus amount. In that case, you cannot get more than the maximum bonus, regardless of your bet amount.
When you get a bet insurance as a betting bonus Canada, you receive a bonus bet if the wager you placed loses. To further illustrate, consider placing a $50 bet as a new user at an online sportsbook after claiming the promotion. If that bet loses, the sportsbook refunds the $50 in bonus bets. However, if you win, you don't get a bonus; you just take out your returns.
Just as bonus bets with no deposit are mostly for new bettors, reload bonus bets are for existing users. These bonuses are great because they encourage existing users to return and use the platform. Such offers could come in various forms, ranging from matched bonus bets to bet insurance options. The most important thing to note is that they are usually available only to bettors who have deposited at least a certain amount on the sportsbook.
Bonus bets might seem straightforward at first glance, but they come with various terms and conditions you must understand before diving in. That's because such criteria tell you what you must do to get your bonus or the winnings you accumulate from using the bonus bet. Below are more details of these conditions:
This is the least amount you must pay to qualify for the bonus. Note that this amount might differ from the overall minimum accepted on the sportsbook. For instance, a platform might have a minimum deposit requirement of $20, but you must fund your account with at least $50 to get the bonus bet.
The minimum bet and odds tell you the least bet amount and odds you must cover to qualify for the bonus. Such conditions usually apply to bet insurances. To illustrate, consider a promotion where the sportsbook offers you bonus bets only if your first wager is at least $20 on minimum odds of +200.
Similar to how the best Canada casino bonuses can only be used on specific games, bonus bets might also have sports restrictions. This means that when you get the offer, you can use it only on specific sports. Some platforms go as far as specifying the market to pick when using the bonus bet on that sport.
Always pay attention to the frequency at which you can claim the bonus. For instance, a welcome offer is usually a one-off, meaning you can’t receive it more than once. On the other hand, the same reload bonus can be available every week. You might also see some special promotions you can accept monthly.
The wagering requirements are some of the most essential factors to note because they can prevent you from getting your bonus winnings. These conditions appear as numbers — 20x, 10x, 5x — and tell you how many times you must play through your bonus before getting your wins. So, say you get $20 worth of bonus bet with a 5x wagering requirement. This means you must bet $100 for your winnings to be cashable. So, the higher the number, the more you have to bet. Thankfully, some bonus bet promotions don’t have wagering requirements.
Also known as expiration dates, these tell you one of two things: the time you have to activate the bonus and the time frame for meeting wagering requirements. Some platforms include both time limits. This means you must accept the bonus or meet all conditions within the specified period, or you will lose the bonus bet.
This is usually common with cash bonuses, but some sportsbooks attach them to payment methods. If such conditions are present, then it means you won’t get the bonus if you deposit using certain payment methods. For example, a platform might not let you claim a welcome offer if your initial deposit was made with cryptocurrencies.
When claiming bonus bets online, note whether or not the bonus amount is withdrawable. Let’s take a $50 bonus bet as an example. You use this to place a bet and win $200. If the offer is non-withdrawable, you can only cash out the $200 you made with the bonus bet. On the other hand, if the bonus bet amount is withdrawable. You’ll be able to withdraw $250 ($50 bonus and $200 returns).
You’ll find various platforms, including live betting sites Canada, that offer bonus bets. However, when selecting such sportsbooks, ensure they meet other criteria besides having a bonus bet in Canada. Check if they are licensed and safe, with extensive coverage for popular and niche sports. There should also be other bonuses, reliable payment methods, and 24/7 customer service.
Claiming bonus bets in Canada is simple. Once you join the platform, you meet the necessary requirements, and the brand will release your bonus. I’ve detailed how to claim a bonus sports bet below:
Bonus bets, like the best Canada casino bonuses, can be valuable when you use them strategically. Here are two tips you can use to get the most of these bonuses:
The best bonus bet offers are right at your fingertips, thanks to the sites I’ve handpicked. Now that you know how these promotions work, you just have to select one of my recommended platforms, register, and claim the promotion. They come with terms and conditions you must satisfy to activate them or get your bonus winnings. Once you meet these criteria, you'll have no issues cashing out the returns you got from using bonus bets.
Yes, bonus bets in Canada have terms and conditions. Pay attention to the minimum bet, minimum odds, qualifying markets, and wagering requirements. There might also be time limits on when you can claim the bonus bet in Canada or meet the necessary terms and conditions to get your bonus winnings.
If a sportsbook does not have bonus bets, you can opt for another platform with such promotions. Alternatively, you can opt for other promotions on the site. Such sportsbooks will most likely have other bonus types like matched deposit offers, cashback, and odd boosts.
Yes, you can receive bonus bets without depositing. However, this depends on the promotional terms and conditions. If the sportsbook is offering a no deposit bonus, then you might have to meet other criteria to activate the offer. For instance, the sportsbook might request that you complete KYC verification to get the bonus.
Yes, you can claim bonus bets as a new bettor at an online sportsbook. Just note the terms and conditions you need to satisfy to receive your bonus bets. For instance, new bettors might have to place bets of at least a specific amount before the bonus is added to their accounts.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
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