Free bets and bonus cash: what each one is and how the terms treat them

A free bet is a stake credited by the operator, earned by a qualifying bet placed with your own money when the terms require one. Its terms set minimum odds, an expiry date and whether the stake is returned. Bonus cash is a credited sum with wagering requirements. The wording of the terms decides which one you hold.

Bookie Ledger editorial team · checked 7 November 2026

What is a free bet?

A free bet is a stake placed for you by the operator. Where the terms require a qualifying bet, you must first place that bet with your own money, and it must meet the stated conditions.

Read four items in the terms:

the qualifying bet and what counts as one;
minimum odds, in the format the terms use;
the expiry date or period;
whether the stake is returned with any winnings.

ASA Code 5.22 allows the word "free" where the customer pays nothing beyond minimum unavoidable costs.

Bottom line: A free bet is a credited stake whose worth depends on the qualifying bet, minimum odds, expiry and stake-return rules.

What is bonus cash?

Bonus cash is money added to your balance. Where the offer has a wagering requirement, the terms state a total amount you must stake before the money, or winnings from it, can be withdrawn.

The terms also say which bets count towards the requirement and how long you have. The E-Commerce Regulations (reg 8(1)(d)) require the conditions of a promotional offer to be easy to access and clear.

Bottom line: Bonus cash is a credited sum; the wagering requirement and the time limit decide when it can be withdrawn.

How do the two compare?

What to read for each type. Source: general structure of promotional terms; operator wording not yet recorded · Checked 7 November 2026
Feature	Free bet	Bonus cash
What is credited	A stake placed for you	A sum added to your balance
Condition to receive	A qualifying bet, where the terms require one	As the terms state
Main limits to read	Minimum odds, expiry, stake return	Wagering requirement, eligible bets, expiry
Wording in the operator's terms	Could not be verified on 7 November 2026	Could not be verified on 7 November 2026

We will record the definitions used in the terms of at least three operators, without amounts. This page lists no offers and does not rank them.

Bottom line: The two differ in what is credited and in which limits apply; the operator's own definition settles it.

What does a worked example show?

The numbers are invented and are not an offer. Take a credit of €12.00 used at decimal odds of 4.00, and a winning outcome.

Free bet, stake not returned: the return is €36.00.
Free bet, stake returned: the return is €48.00.
Bonus cash with a wagering requirement of 5 times: you must stake €60.00 in total before withdrawal.

For the same credit, the stake-return rule alone changes the return by €12.00.

Bottom line: Identical credits can return different sums; always find the stake-return and wagering lines.