Esports Free Bet vs. Deposit Bonus – What’s Best?

One great thing about online esports betting is that you find plenty of bonuses. Most esports gambling sites offer a bonus as soon as you make your first deposit.

These deals typically include either a free bet or deposit bonus. In either case, you’re getting a chance at free money.

But these deals differ from each other in important ways. This guide discusses the differences between deposit bonuses and free bets and also suggests which one you should choose.

Basics of a Free Esports Bet

A free bet essentially lets you place your first wager at an online esports betting site without assuming any risk. If you lose, you’ll have an opportunity to win the money back later.

The key phrase here is “win back the money.” Operators don’t automatically return the funds when you lose.

Instead, they want you to continue betting until you’re able to meet rollover requirements (playthrough). Rollover refers to how much you must bet before the losses are officially yours to cash out or continue gambling with.

Here’s an example on how playthrough works:

• An esportsbook offers up to $30 free.
• You deposit and qualify for the offer.
• You place a $30 wager and lose.
• Rollover is 8x
• 30 x 8 = 240
• You must wager $240 before the $30 in losses are yours again.

Besides rollover, you need to consider all other terms and conditions attached to an offer as well. Other important terms include:

• Maximum bet – You can only place wagers up to a certain size until satisfying playthrough.
• Odds – Bookmakers force you to bet at minimum odds (e.g. -150, -145, -140, and up) to prevent you from always wagering on big favorites.
• Claim – You must visit your account area and claim a bonus before it’s active.

Pros and Cons of Free Bets

Pros

The best part about a free wager is that it’s theoretically free. You don’t have to worry about whether you win or lose the first bet.

Assuming you win, you’ll start off on the right foot at a betting site. Even if you lose, you at least have a fair opportunity to win back losses.

As explained above, you need to meet rollover before the losses are officially yours. However, the terms and conditions behind most offers are reasonable.

You don’t have to wager much to earn losses from free bets either. In the earlier example, you’d only need to bet $240 total before the $30 in losses are returned.

You don’t get the same courtesy with deposit bonuses. The latter are bigger offers than free wagers and, thus, they require you to bet more.

Cons

A free wager isn’t necessarily a bonus but rather, it’s insurance. It ensures that you stand an opportunity to earn back funds stemming from a loss and nothing more.

It’s great if you book a win right away at a new esports betting site. However, you’re not getting anything from free bets when you do win.

Additionally, the expected value behind these offers is severely limited. Most free wagers are only worth between $20 and $50.

These amounts certainly come in handy when you do lose that first bet. You won’t exactly be walking to the bank after you collect $25 or so.

Basics of a Deposit Bonus

An esports deposit bonus matches a percentage of your first deposit. You can cash out this bonus in a lump sum upon satisfying terms and conditions.

Here’s an example on how a deposit bonus works:

• An operator offers a 100% match bonus worth up to $200.
• You deposit $100.
• You now qualify for a $100 bonus.
• Rollover is 30x
• 30 x 100 = $3,000 must be wagered

Just like with free wager, you need to meet terms and conditions before withdrawing bonus funds. These terms are usually the same as with a free bet, only on a larger and drawn-out scale.

First off, playthrough is typically higher with deposit bonuses. High rollover leaves you needing to wager more before cashing out.

Secondly, you must avoid going under the minimum odds for a longer time period. If the minimum odds are -160, for example, then you’ll need to keep making bets worth -160, -155, -150, etc. until you’ve satisfied the wagering requirements.

Of course, accomplishing these goals is worthwhile when considering how much money you can get. Some deposit bonuses are worth hundreds of dollars, which provides a nice incentive to meet terms and conditions.

Pros and Cons of Deposit Bonuses

Pros

If you want the most free cash possible from an esports betting site, then you definitely want to seek deposit bonuses. These deals provide an opportunity to earn much more money than what’s available with free wagers.

As covered earlier, you can only look forward to between $20 and $50 with free bets. And that’s only if you lose the first wager. Deposit bonuses, meanwhile, offer the chance to earn much more than this amount.

Of course, the amount you collect is largely based on the specific offer. Generally speaking, though, you can expect the opportunity to earn at least $100 or $200.

Deposit bonuses also offer flexibility in case you’re looking for lower rollover. You can instead deposit $50 and face lower playthrough as a result.

You also don’t need to lose just to benefit from a deposit offer. Win or lose, you’ll get free money after satisfying all of the terms.

In this way, you’re not being punished just for correctly predicting outcomes. Assuming you go on a hot streak and win lots of bets, you’ll supplement these winnings with bonus funds.

Cons

Deposit deals are eye-catching due to the amount of money they offer. However, they’re far from perfect when considering how much rollover they require.

Betting sites vary based on how much playthrough they attach to deposit bonuses. Generally, however, you need to satisfy between 25x and 40x wagering requirements.

You may be perfectly fine with having to bet this much. On the other hand, you might be a casual gambler who’s just looking to make a few bets.

In the latter case, you won’t be thrilled with satisfying rollover that’s around 3x what free bets feature. Instead, you’ll find it a nuisance to wager so much money just to capitalize on your deal.

Here’s a comparison to show how much you must wager with both a deposit bonus and free bet:

Deposit Bonus

• You qualify for a $100 deposit bonus.
• Rollover is 25x.
• 100 x 25 = $2,500 must be wagered
• 100 / 2,500 = $0.04 per $1 in playthrough

Free Bet

• You qualify for a $25 free bet.
• You lose a $25 wager.
• Rollover is 6x.
• 25 x 6 = $150 must be wagered
• 25 / 150 = $0.17 per $1 in playthrough

Due to the higher playthrough, you must wait longer to realize the benefits of a deposit offer. Assuming you’re somebody who makes a $50 deposit, you may not feel like waiting around for the spoils of your bonus.

Which Offer Should You Choose?

It’s time to answer the ultimate question of this post: are you better off going after a free wager or deposit bonus?

The answer lies specifically in what type of gambler you are. If you’re a high-volume bettor, or at least plan to be, then you definitely want to focus on esports deposit bonuses.

The average deposit offer gives you a chance to make more money. You can even seek out the largest available bonuses to truly maximize your efforts.

In contrast, a free bet is good for low rollers who are just testing out the waters at a new betting site, or even with esports betting in general.

You may not feel like committing yourself to earning a deposit bonus that’s worth hundreds of dollars. In such case, you should look for smaller free bets that offer immediate rewards.

Assuming you lose a $20 free wager with 6x rollover, you can get your funds back rather quickly. You’ll only need to risk $120 in this case to capitalize.

Everything comes down to personal preference. I actually prefer deposit deals myself because I’m a higher-volume bettor. But I certainly won’t fault you for going after a free bet if you’re just looking to have some fun with esports gambling.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer free bets or deposit bonuses is all relative. Everything comes down to what you as an individual look for from these deals.

Here’s a recap of the pros and cons behind each offer:

Free Bet

• Pros – Lighter playthrough, more bonus funds per dollar wagered, and less time dealing with terms and conditions
• Cons – Less available bonus money, bad for high rollers, and you must lose to benefit

Deposit Bonus

• Pros – More available money, more flexibility, you can win and still earn bonus funds.
• Cons – Higher rollover, less bonus money per dollar wagered, and more time being subjected to specific terms and conditions

You can weigh the advantages and disadvantages to see which offer suits you best. Assuming you like the prospects of both deals, you can even seek out sites that offer a free wager and deposit bonus.