Online sports betting sites in Connecticut are always looking to attract new customers. They usually do this by offering a bonus that’s exclusive to new customers. One of the most popular bonus offers is free bets. These allow you to place a bet on a sportsbook without spending your own money. But, how do free bets in Connecticut work?

In this guide, we’ll discuss what a free bonus really is and where you can get one. There are a lot of things you need to be aware of when you claim free bets in Connecticut.

How free bets in Connecticut work

When you get a free bet from a sportsbook site in Connecticut, it means that you can place a wager without having to use your own money. The free bet is usually worth a certain amount of money and so, if you win from the bet, you’ll get the winnings credited into your account. Normally, the sports betting site will keep the stake.

There are a number of reasons why a sports betting site in Connecticut would give bettors free bets. One of the most common is to attract new players. Welcome bonus offers in the form of a free bet are very common. This is because they want to give you the chance to try out a new sportsbook without risking your own money. It’s a great way of establishing trust between the new customer and the online betting site.

Another reason why a sportsbook might give you a free bet is as a gift. It’s a way of keeping current customers happy and getting them to continue betting with the site. An important part of free bet offers is the terms and conditions. Since it’s basically like getting free money from the sportsbook, they’ll have rules around where and how you can use the bonus.

These rules usually include under what circumstances you can withdraw winnings from the free bet. They are meant to avoid bonus abusers. These are people who will come to the site, use the free bet and withdraw the winnings without ever having deposited any real money.

Types of free bets on Connecticut sportsbooks

Free bets gifted by Connecticut sportsbooks come in different forms and with different conditions attached to them. Below, we’ll take a close look at the most common free bets you’ll get at a Connecticut sports betting site:

  • No deposit free bet – A no deposit free bet is one you’ll get without the need to add funds into your new account first. All you have to do is to go through the process of registering with sportsbook, and you’ll get your free bet. You’ll need to make sure you check the terms and conditions to find out if there are any wagering requirements you need to be aware of.
  • Free bet on the first deposit – Again focused on new customers, a first deposit type of free bet is given to you after you’ve made your first deposit. This is an incentive, especially, for customers who may have registered an account, but haven’t made a deposit or placed a bet. It’s a very important step for sportsbooks when a new customer makes a deposit and places their first bet.
  • Stake not returned – Normally, when you place a bet and win, the winnings will include the initial stake. With a stake not returned free bet, it means that if you win, the sportsbook won’t include the stake in the winnings. Considering that you already have a bet for free and you haven’t lost any of your real money, it could be seen as fair that the sportsbook doesn’t include the stake.
  • Stake returned as a free bet – Another form of free bet is when you place a wager, but lose, then the sportsbook gives you back your stake in the form of a free bet. It’s almost like getting a risk-free bet, only that you’re not getting cash back, but rather a free bet. The stake returned as a free bet will have a limit to how much the sportsbook will give you in terms of value.
  • Qualifying free bet – With a qualifying free bet, all you have to do is to complete a certain requirement and you’ll get your bonus. These requirements could be registering a new account with the sports betting site, making your first deposit, or referring a friend.
  • Matched free bet – A sportsbook will give you a matched free bet when you place a wager and they give you another one of the same value. It’s usually given to new customers in order to not only encourage them to make a deposit but to actually place a real money bet on the site.
  • Risk-free bet – One of the most popular types of free bet offers is a risk-free bet. It is essentially an insurance type of bet where you place a real money bet, but if you lose, you still get to keep your stake. You’ll get a second chance to place another bet with the same stake, which many punters appreciate.

How to find the best free bets in Connecticut

Below we’ll have a look at the best ways to find free bets in the state of Connecticut:

  • Loyalty and rewards programs – Most sportsbooks in Connecticut have a loyalty program. It is basically a way of encouraging their customers to bet regularly on the site in exchange for a reward later on. Each sportsbook will have its own rules on how the rewards program works. For example, some will indicate that you earn one point for every bet you place, and when you reach a certain number of points, you’ll get your reward. A common type of reward is a free bet. It’s always a welcome gift from the sportsbook when you’re given the opportunity to not only place a bet for free, but get to keep the winnings.
  • Referral programs – A refer-a-friend program is a very common way of attracting new players via existing ones. When you sign up with a sports betting site, you might be given a unique, personalized code that you can share with people you know. The referral program promo code can be used by a new sign-up when it’s requested during the registration process, and you’ll get your free bet upon completion. At the same time, the referrer will also get a bonus gift, which might also be a free bet or something else.
  • Researching the best offers – If you don’t want to wait for the free bets to come to you, you can hunt for them online. Visit the legal sports apps in Connecticut to see if they have any free bets on offer. You can do this by heading to their promotions page and seeing what’s available.

Advantages and disadvantages of free bets in CT

To get a balanced view of free bet offers, let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of claiming free bets on Connecticut betting sites.

Pros of free bets

  • Try a new sportsbook for free: You can go through the full process of checking betting markets and odds before you place your free bet wager. This is perfect for someone brand new to online sports betting, for example.
  • Experiment with betting strategies: You also have the chance to try out different betting strategies on sports you’ve never tried before. You might discover a more profitable betting style
  • No risk to your bankroll: Of course, the biggest benefit of free bets is that you can wager on a game without worrying about losing your own money.

Cons of free bets

  • Wagering requirements: As a way of protecting themselves, sportsbooks will have wagering requirements on winnings made from free bets. This usually means you’ll have to make a number of real money bets before you can withdraw the funds.
  • Limited validity period: Most free bets will have an expiry date. You need to take note of this in order to make use of the bonus before it becomes invalid.
  • Limitations to bets you can make: The free bet offer you get is likely to be only useable on a specific game or sport. This can be a challenge if it’s a sport you’re not familiar with. The chances of you winning from the free bet are further reduced.

FAQ

Do all sportsbooks in Connecticut offer free bets?

No, not all Connecticut sportsbooks offer free bets. Some operators will offer others this kind of bonus from time to time, but it is not so common. If you look at it from their perspective, its like giving out free money to users.

Do I need to deposit on a CT betting app to get a free bet?

Yes, most of the time you need to deposit to get a free bet on a CT betting app. You might be lucky enough to come across a no deposit free bet, which means you don’t have to add money into your account first. But these are not common.

Can I withdraw winnings from a free bet on a Connecticut sportsbook?

Yes, you can withdraw your winnings from a free bet on a CT sportsbook but only after you meet the wagering requirements. To avoid bonus abusers, the operator will set up restrictions that will force you to wager the amount you won from the free bet a couple of times before you can withdraw.