How the free play bonus works can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook. The industry standard is much like when you get a free chip at a casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
You use your free chip to place a wager, if the wager wins, the winnings from the wager are added to your bankroll and if the wager losses nothing is removed, so a free play is basically a risk-free wager.
Here’s an example, let’s suppose you deposit $500 and receive a $250 free play bonus. In this case $500 will be added to your account and $250 will be added to your free play account.
If you make a $250 bet on the Patriots -7 and you win the bet, the $250 you won will be added to your sportsbook account and you will have a $750 bankroll. The $250 you risked from your free play are lost, you will only be credited the winnings.
If you lose the bet then your original $500 bankroll remains intact.
Keep in mind that a free play bonus can’t be used to bet both sides of a game. If you do so your free play bets will be graded no action and you will forfeit your free play bonus.
Check with your sportsbook to see on what types of bets you can use your free play on, as the options can vary. Most sportsbooks let you place straight wagers only. Some even require you to play your free play in one shot.
One sportsbook that stands out above the rest is America’s Bookie, they allow you to use your Free Wager on straight bets, 2 team parlays and teasers. You can also break the free play up into as many bets as you like.
Keep in mind that all sportsbook bonuses require that you complete a rollover before cashing out, so make sure you read our Sportsbook Bonus Rollover article.
