Published: April 14, 2025
Many sportsbooks offer new users a choice between a “Free Bet” (or Freeplay) and a traditional cash bonus. But which one gives you more actual value?
A freeplay is a risk-free wager where you keep only the winnings. For example, if you use a $100 freeplay on a +200 bet, you win $200 — but you don’t keep the $100 stake. If the bet loses, no big deal — it was free. But you only get one shot.
A cash bonus is added directly to your account and treated like real funds. It’s often subject to something called a “rollover requirement” — usually something like 5x or 10x. That means you need to wager the bonus (or sometimes bonus + deposit) a certain number of times before it becomes withdrawable.
Rollover is how sportsbooks prevent bonus abuse. A 5x rollover on a $100 bonus means you need to place $500 in total bets before withdrawing any of the bonus. Some books apply rollover only to the bonus, others apply it to your total account balance. Always read the fine print.
Freeplays are great for bettors taking a big swing — especially on longer odds (+200, +300, etc.). If you hit, the profit is large and immediate. But if you’re placing short-odds bets like -110 or -150, the return on a freeplay is minimal. A $100 freeplay at -110 only returns about $91 in profit — not very exciting.
Professionals often use a simple rule of thumb: a freeplay is worth about 50% to 70% of an equivalent cash bonus. So a $100 freeplay is roughly worth $50–$70 in actual value depending on the odds you choose. That makes a $100 cash bonus more appealing — as long as the rollover is reasonable.
Say a sportsbook gives you a $100 freeplay or a $100 cash bonus with 5x rollover. If you bet smart and beat the book by just 5% over time, the cash bonus could yield $25–30 in value — more than the expected return from most freeplays. But you’d have to grind it out over multiple bets.
If the sportsbook allows it, many sharp bettors use freeplays on parlays with long odds. Why? Because you don’t lose your stake anyway, so you might as well shoot for a bigger return. If you’re going to roll the dice, you might as well aim for a home run.
Some books attach sneaky terms to freeplays, like limiting you to odds of +100 or lower. Others give you only 3 days to use it. And some make rollover on cash bonuses nearly impossible with requirements like “10x within 7 days.” Always read the fine print.
Freeplays are better for one-time thrill seekers. Cash bonuses reward volume bettors who can make smart picks consistently. If you’re only betting once or twice, the freeplay probably gives more instant value. But if you’re serious about long-term profit, take the cash — especially at books with fair rollover rules.
We’ve seen sportsbooks promote “cash bonuses” that aren’t truly withdrawable. You bet, you win… and still can’t get your money. Why? Because the site considers your balance “bonus-linked.” Always make sure your bonus terms don’t prevent you from withdrawing actual winnings.