Best Free Bets & Offers for South Africa 2024

Welcome to the exciting world of free bets. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the most important aspects of free bet offers, including:

●    What are free bets? 
●    How do free bets work? 
●    How to pick a great free bet offer for you

Ready to discover more? Let’s go! 

1.    Betway

Established in 2006, Betway is one of our favourite sites for sports betting and free bets offers.

Enjoy a range of promos, including Betway Boosts, and discover a wealth of sports betting opportunities with this established and well-revered bookmaker.

Licences: Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, Alderney
Key features: Easy to use with a good range of payment options, regular promos 
Excluded countries: Australia, Denmark, France and its territories, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, Netherlands, USA
Payment methods: Mastercard, Visa, Google Pay, Trustly, Siirto, Euteller, Neteller, Skrill, Skrill 1-Tap, Rapid Transfer, Paysafecard, Payz
Bonus: 100% First Deposit Match up to R1,000
T&Cs: Opt-in required. New players only. Wagering and other terms apply
Support: Help centre, email, 24-hour live chat
Ratings: Odds: 4, Promotions: 4, Mobile: 4, Other: 5

Pros and cons

• Wide range of bonuses including Betway Boosts 
• Loyalty program for returning customers 
• Competitive odds on a wide range of markets
• Lacking customer service channels  

2.    Star Sports

A veteran of the sports betting world, Star Sports burst onto the scene in 1999 and continues to be one of South Africa’s premier destinations for sports betting and multiple promos.

We love Star Sports’ comprehensive sportsbook, as well as its ever-changing promotions page which offers plenty of chances to land free bets.  

Licences: UK Gambling Commission, National Gambling Board of South Africa
Key features: Great range of domestic and international betting markets 
Excluded countries: USA, China, Russia
Payment methods: MasterCard, Visa, Maestro, bank transfer
Bonus: Get 50% of your stake back as a Free Bet if your Moneyline selection is beaten in Overtime/Extra Innings
T&Cs: Max refund £100 as a Free Bet. Offer open to new & existing Star Sports accounts
Support: Phone, Twitter 
Ratings: Odds: 4, Promotions: 4, Mobile: 4, Other: 4

Pros and cons

• Comprehensive sportsbook
• Regular promos
• No live chat

3.    10Bet

Giving you the best that the world of sports betting has to offer since 2003, 10Bet is one of our favourite sites for free bets and others.

Enjoy betting on a wide range of sports, events and matches that include eSports and virtuals at this super-modern casino and sportsbook.

Licences: UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, National Gambling Board of South Africa
Key features: eSports and virtuals available, regular promotions, crypto payments available 
Excluded countries: Australia, China, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, UAE, USA
Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Apple Pay, Neteller, Skrill, Trustly, Paysafecard, Fast Bank Transfer
Bonus: Get 100% up to R3 000 bonus
T&Cs: The bonus can be played on sports or/and games or/and live games. The minimum qualifying deposit for this bonus is R20.
Support: Email, live chat, phone, Twitter 
Ratings: Odds: 4, Promotions: 3.5, Mobile: 4, Other: 5

Pros and cons

• Sleek site with user-friendly interface 
• Competitive odds
• Crypto available
• Restricted in many countries 

• EN - TonyBet
• EN-GB - StarSports 
• INDIA - 10Cric
• SOUTH AFRICA - BetKing
• NIGERIA - NairaBet
• KENYA - MozzartBet 

Free bets are a particular promotion extended by a sportsbook or casino that lets you place a wager for free on either a sports match or casino game.

When it comes to bookmakers, you’ll find plenty of chances to pick up the best free bets, whether you’re a new customer or a loyal returning one. 

To never miss a free bet offer, make sure you check in with all the top sportsbooks’ promotions page regularly. Or if that’s too time-consuming, you can also join mailing lists and receive email newsletters.

Alternatively, come directly to us here at SportsBoom. We’ll keep you up to date on all the latest news, reviews and promos, including free bet offers from all the leading sports betting sites. 

It should come as no surprise that all bonuses and free bet offers come with terms and conditions. It’s essential that you read and understand these terms so that you can cash out successfully.

Some of the most common terms include:

• Expiry date
• Minimum odds
• Maximum win caps 
• Play-through requirements 
• Excluded matches/events

Can you withdraw free bets? 

In short, no. Bookmakers will not allow you to cash out the stake amount itself; only the winnings.

For instance, if you place a £10 free bet on a match with odds of 2/1 and win £20, you can take home the £10 winnings and the bookie will take back the initial £10 stake.

Again, keep in mind that any winnings won from a free bet are usually considered ‘bonus funds’, so you must pay attention to the terms and conditions in order to walk away with your winnings. 

Aside from free bet offers, you can also take advantage of sports betting bonuses for both new and existing customers. 

Let’s explore what kind of bonuses you can get as a new punter at the leading online sportsbooks. 

Welcome package 

Typically the most generous offer, a welcome package is usually a combination of one or more bonuses in one deal for new customers only.

Betting offers for new customers typically include free bets, match deposit bonuses and other perks. 

Match deposit bonus

You can find match deposit bonuses as both a new or existing customer. This is where the sportsbook will match your initial deposit amount with a percentage of bonus funds.

For example, if you take a 100% match deposit offer and deposit £20, you'll receive an additional £20 in bonus funds. 

No deposit bonus 

Exactly what it sounds like, a no deposit bonus is where you do not need to deposit any money with a sports betting operator in order to receive the bonus.

These deals are becoming rarer as time goes on, however, if you see one, it's definitely worth considering. 

A good bookmaker will look after its returning clients. Not only is this good customer service, but it also means you can find plenty of ongoing promotions for existing customers all year round.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best betting offers for existing users.

Reload bonuses

The term ‘reload’ refers to any additional deposits you make after your first one. Therefore, a reload bonus is any type of promotion that rewards you for making an additional deposit at a sportsbook.

Cashback

Cashback is like a safety net for your bets, offering a percentage return on your losses. It provides a measure of reassurance, softening the impact of unsuccessful wagers.

For example, let's say you're participating in a sports betting platform's cashback promotion. The promotion specifies that you'll receive a 10% cashback on your net losses over the weekend, up to a maximum of £50.

During the promotional period, you place several bets on various sporting events totalling £500 in wagers. Unfortunately, luck isn't entirely on your side, and you end up losing £200 overall.

With the cashback offer, you're entitled to receive 10% of your net losses, so, you'll receive a cashback amount of £20. Since the maximum cashback limit is $50, you'll receive the full £20 cashback.

Acca insurance

‘Acca’ is short for ‘accumulator’, and an acca bet is a single wager that combines multiple selections into one bet. To win, all selections within the accumulator must be successful.

Acca insurance safeguards your accumulator bets against unforeseen outcomes. Should one leg of your multiple bet selection fail, the bookie refunds your stake as a free bet, thereby mitigating potential losses.

In this day and age, mobile sportsbooks are just as good, if not better, than their desktop counterparts.

The best sports betting operators offer Android and iOS native apps, as well as mobile-optimised sites that work on any device.

The good news here is that these operators may also offer you specific bonuses to incentivise you to download the app or use their mobile-friendly site. 

All sports betting sites offer a wide range of tools and information to help you enjoy your hobby responsibly.

From setting deposit limits and time-out periods to self-assessment quizzes and reality checks, these tools can help you manage both your time and your bankroll.

Regardless of whether you’re new to the world of sports betting, or an experienced veteran, you should always gamble responsibly.