Guide
Why free bets
aren't free.
A free bet sounds like a gift. It's a marketing cost, and it's priced so the operator gets it back, usually many times over. Here's how the common offers work.
If it's pulling hard right now: UK 0808 8020 133 · US 1-800-522-4700 · Australia 1800 858 858 · South Africa 0800 006 008 · other countries. Free, confidential, 24/7.
"Bet £10, get £30 in free bets"
To get it, you place a real bet with your own money first. The free bets that follow often come with conditions: minimum odds, a short expiry, and the stake isn't returned. If a £10 free bet wins at evens, you get £10, not £20. The free part was never yours to keep.
Deposit matches and wagering requirements
"We'll match your deposit" usually means the bonus can't be withdrawn until you've bet a multiple of it, sometimes many times over. Every one of those bets carries the operator's built-in edge. The more you have to bet to unlock it, the more of it the House expects to keep.
"Risk-free" and "money back"
Nothing about betting is risk-free. "Money back if you lose" is usually paid as another bonus with its own conditions, not as cash, which keeps you betting.
Why they do it
Offers are aimed at the moments you'd otherwise stop: signing up, after a loss, when you haven't played for a while. A "we miss you" bonus is a sign their system noticed you'd stepped away.
What you can do
- Opt out of marketing in every account, then close the accounts.
- Turn off gambling ads on the platforms that allow it: Google's My Ad Center, Meta's ad topics, and Reddit's sensitive advertising settings all have a gambling switch.
- Self-exclude: licensed operators have to stop marketing to you.
Seen an ad that's working on you? In our app you can screenshot it, see which tricks it uses, and block the advertiser for everyone. How House Tricks works.
Sources and further help
Updated 19 October 2026. Checked against the sources above. How we write these guides. You vs The House is a support tool, not medical advice. If you're struggling, a helpline or your doctor can help.