Free Bets and Bonus Terms: What the Small Print Means

Updated: 3 November 2026

Bookmakers often advertise free bets and deposit bonuses. A bonus is never simply extra money: it comes with terms that decide what you can withdraw, when, and how much you must bet first. This page explains the terms you will see most often, with worked examples, so that you can read any offer’s small print and see what it really means.

We do not list current offers, we do not name bookmakers and we do not recommend taking any bonus. All amounts on this page are made-up examples, not offers from any bookmaker. The only terms that count are the full terms on the operator’s own site.

Free bets: the stake is not returned

A free bet is a bet stake given to you by the bookmaker. The key difference from a normal bet: if a free bet wins, you usually get the profit only, not the free bet stake itself.

Example: a KSh 100 free bet at odds of 3.00 wins. You receive KSh 200, not KSh 300. With a normal KSh 100 cash bet at the same odds, you would receive KSh 300, because your own stake comes back.

Free bets also tend to come with their own conditions:

• Minimum odds: the free bet may only be used on selections at or above certain odds.
• Expiry: it often has to be used within a set number of days.
• One use: usually the whole amount must go on one bet; it cannot be split.
• Limited markets: some free bets work only on certain sports or bet types.
• No cash out: bets placed with a free bet are often excluded from cash out. See our guide to cash out.

Deposit bonuses

A deposit bonus adds bonus funds to your account when you deposit. It is usually a percentage of the deposit, up to a maximum.

Example: “100% up to KSh 1,000” would mean that a deposit of KSh 500 adds KSh 500 in bonus funds, and a deposit of KSh 2,000 adds only KSh 1,000, because that is the cap.

Bonus funds are not cash. They are usually locked until you meet the wagering requirement, and the terms may also lock your own deposit while the bonus is active. Remember too that in Kenya deposits for betting carry a 5% excise duty (see betting law and tax in Kenya).

The wagering requirement: a worked example

The wagering requirement (also called rollover or playthrough) is how much you must bet before bonus money, or winnings from it, can be withdrawn. It is written as a multiple, such as “5x”.

Example:

• You receive a bonus of KSh 1,000.
• The terms say “wagering 5x the bonus, at minimum odds of 1.50”.
• You must place KSh 1,000 × 5 = KSh 5,000 in bets at odds of 1.50 or higher before you can withdraw.

Read carefully what the multiple applies to. If the terms say “5x deposit plus bonus” and you deposited KSh 1,000 to get the KSh 1,000 bonus, the requirement is (KSh 1,000 + KSh 1,000) × 5 = KSh 10,000.

What wagering costs on average: every bet carries the bookmaker’s margin (our odds guide explains it). If the bookmaker keeps about 5% of stakes on average (an example figure), then KSh 5,000 of bets costs about KSh 250 on average, and KSh 10,000 about KSh 500. Real results swing much more than the average: a few early losses can use up the whole bonus before you get anywhere near the requirement.

Other points that often apply:

• Only settled bets count, and a bet you cash out may not count.
• Some bet types or markets may count less, or not at all.
• If you ask to withdraw before the requirement is met, the bonus and any winnings from it may be cancelled.

Minimum odds

Many bonuses and free bets count only bets at or above set odds, for example 1.50. Bets at lower odds do not count towards the requirement, even if they win. For a multibet, the minimum may apply to each selection or to the combined odds; the terms say which.

Higher minimum odds mean each qualifying bet has a smaller chance of winning. That is part of the real cost of a bonus.

Time limits

Bonuses and free bets usually expire. The terms may give, for example, a number of days to use a free bet, and another limit to complete the wagering. If time runs out, the bonus, and often any winnings made with it, are removed from your account.

Maximum win caps

Some terms cap how much you can win or withdraw from a bonus or free bet.

Example: the terms say “maximum winnings from this free bet: KSh 5,000”. Your free bet wins and the profit would be KSh 8,000. Under that term you keep KSh 5,000, and the rest is removed.

Caps can also apply to the stake you may place while a bonus is active, for example a maximum bet per slip.

Other terms to look for

• One account per person: opening a second account to get a bonus again usually breaks the terms and can lead to accounts being closed.
• Payment methods: some bonuses exclude certain deposit methods.
• Order of funds: whether your own money or the bonus money is used first on each bet.
• Changes: the bookmaker can usually change or withdraw an offer under its terms.

Deposit bonus and free bet compared

	Deposit bonus	Free bet
What you get	Bonus funds added to your balance	A stake for one bet
Linked to a deposit?	Yes	Depends on the terms
Stake returned on a win?	Depends on the terms	Usually no, profit only
Wagering requirement	Usually yes	Sometimes, on the winnings
Main things to check	Multiple, minimum odds, time limit, win cap	Minimum odds, expiry, win cap

How to read bonus terms

1. Read the full terms on the operator’s own site, not a summary in an advert, a group chat or a screenshot someone shared.
2. Find the numbers: the wagering multiple and what it applies to, minimum odds, time limits and any win cap.
3. Save a copy: take a screenshot of the terms with the date.
4. Ask before you deposit: if a term is unclear, ask the operator’s customer service in writing and keep the answer.
5. Know that a bonus is optional: the terms usually explain whether you can decline or opt out of a bonus. Without one, your balance is your own money, free of bonus conditions.
6. Check the operator first: a bonus means nothing if the operator is not properly licensed. See how to check a GRA licence.

A bonus is not a reason to bet

A bonus does not change the margin in the odds, and it does not make betting a way to earn money. Wagering requirements are designed to make you bet more than you planned. Never deposit more than your budget just to reach a bonus level, and never borrow to gamble. If you notice that offers are pulling you into betting more, read our guide to responsible gambling.

Frequently asked questions

What is a free bet? A stake given to you by the bookmaker for one bet, with conditions. If it wins, you usually receive the profit only, not the free bet stake.

Can I withdraw bonus money straight away? Usually not. You normally have to meet the wagering requirement first, within the time limit.

What does “wagering 5x” mean? You must place bets worth five times the stated amount (the bonus, or the deposit plus bonus, as the terms say) before you can withdraw.

Does tax apply to bets placed with bonus money? Deposits for betting carry a 5% excise duty, and tax on payouts is withheld by the operator before the money reaches your account. How a particular bonus is treated depends on the operator and the product; ask the operator and see betting law and tax in Kenya.