Free Bets Guide and Top Betting Sites with Free Bets for Canadians

Free bets are a common promotion at Betting Sites in Canada, but their value can vary significantly depending on the betting site and the terms attached. In this review, we break down what free bets actually mean for Canadian players, the different types you’ll come across, and how they work in real-world use. We focus on practical tips, clarity, and ease of use, and we assess the betting sites available in Canada that offer free bets with fair terms and real value for bettors.

Top 5 Betting Sites with Free Bets

How Do Free Bets Work?

You get free bets when taking advantage of a bonus offer. Typically, you will make a deposit, receive free bets, and then make a bet or bets using them. However, while uncommon, you will sometimes find that betting sites with free bets will offer no-deposit free bets. 

You will usually get the free bets after making a qualifying wager with minimum odds. You may also have to wager the deposit amount up to a certain stake before getting the free bets. For example, if there is a 5x stake on your C$15 deposit, you will have to bet $ 75 (15 x 5) to get the free bets. Free bets always come with dates they expire. So, if there is a 14-day expiry, you must use the free bets within 14 days of them being sent to your account. 

There may also be restrictions on the free bets as well, but not as many as on the qualifying wager. If you lose your free bet, it is a loss, but it was a free bet. On the other side of the coin, if you win the bet, you can keep the money. However, more often than not, you can keep the profits but not the stake. For example, using a $C25 free bet, you win a bet with even odds (2.00). You can keep the $C25 profit, which can be withdrawn, but not the $C25 original stake. 

Types of Free Bets Available in Canada

Here are the types of offers you will find at sports betting sites with free bets: 

• Bet & Get – In this type of offer, you will need to make a bet to get a free bet or free bets. It can be a welcome offer or a standalone one, such as bet $C10 and get $C50 in free bets. With the bet & get offers, there are usually restrictions on the qualifying bet. 
• No-deposit free bets – A no-deposit free bet is not common in Canada, but you can get free bets without having to make an initial deposit. They are given to players to try out the sportsbook, making a wager before depositing any money. With a no-deposit free bet, you can keep the money, but not the stake, if you win, but you will have to make a deposit and fulfill the wagering requirements. 
• Free bets tied to specific sporting events – There are often free bets tied to major sporting events. For example, I saw one at time of writing at a couple of betting sites with free bets that had a bet-and-get type of offer for several matches of the Australian Open.
• Free bets for new users vs existing players – Free bets for new players are associated with a welcome bonus, where you will have to make an initial deposit. All other free bets offered are for existing players, where you may not need to make a deposit. 

Are Free Bets Legal in Canada?

Free bets are 100% legal when offered by sportsbooks that accept Canadian players. This covers both provincially regulated sportsbooks and licensed offshore sportsbooks. 

At provincially regulated sportsbooks, you will find free bet offers. They are especially plentiful in Ontario, which has a commercially open market, where you will find some of the biggest sportsbooks such as BetMGM, DraftKings, and Caesars. If any of the provincially regulated sportsbooks have restrictions on free bet offers, they will show them, as the players are from that province.

At offshore licensed sportsbooks, you will often find free bets available, and this is especially the case for welcome offers. Considering that offshore sportsbooks cater to people around the world, they tend to have more free bet offers. In my many years of writing Canadian sportsbook reviews, I have yet to come across an offshore site that has free bet restrictions for players from Canada. 

No matter if you play at a provincially regulated sportsbook or a licensed offshore one, accepting free bets does not expose players to legal risk. 

Best Sports to Use Free Bets on in Canada

Betting sites with free bets offer many sports to bet on and a wide range of betting markets. The more popular sports will typically offer more betting markets, which you can use your free bets on. For example, for NBA, NHL, and NFL games, you can find over 100 betting markets for a single game. So, when you have free bets, you have many options. They can be straight bets, totals, proposition bets, parlays, and more. 

• Hockey (NHL) – The most popular sport in Canada, which has seven NHL teams.
• Basketball (NBA) -The biggest basketball league in the world with tons of betting markets. 
• American Football (NFL) - The NFL is the most popular betting league in North America. 
• Soccer -Sportsbooks will offer many markets year - round for the Beautiful Game. 
• Baseball (MLB) – Plenty of betting markets for the 162 games each team plays, not counting the playoffs and World Series. 

Practical Tips for Using Free Bets Effectively

Here are some practical tips for using free bets effectively: 

• Target medium to higher odds – There will be minimum odds to use your free bets, but since they are free, you should target medium to higher odds. You will maximize your profit, which is key for free bets, since you typically won't get your stake back.
• Always read the terms and conditions – Ensure that you read all of the terms and conditions of the free bets offer, so that you know the restrictions and what you need to do to receive the money from free bets wins. 
• Avoid cash out if restricted – Usually, cashed out bets will be restricted when using free bets, so when using them, make sure the wager is not one of them. 
• Check eligible markets – Make sure you check which markets are eligible for the free bets so you can keep your profit if you win. 
• Bet on sports you understand – Bet on sports that you understand, as it will lead to a more intelligent wager, which is more likely to be a winner. 

Free Bets vs Other Sports Betting Bonuses

Sportsbooks offer different types of promotions, and understanding how they compare is key to choosing the right one. Below, we compare free bets with other common sportsbook bonuses to highlight the main differences in simplicity, risk, and overall value.

Key Terms and Requirements Canadian Players Should Know

There are the key terms for free bets that you should know: 

• Wagering or playthrough requirements – Wagering requirements, shown as a multiplier, are limits you have to play through before withdrawing free bet winnings. For example, a wagering requirement of 10x means you must bet 10 times the bonus amount before withdrawing the winnings. Many free bets do not have wagering requirements.
• Minimum odds – The minimum odds are the lowest odds that you can take when making bets. For example, if the minimum odds are 2.00, then for the bet you must make a wager with odds of 2.00 or greater. The sportsbook sets them, and while they can be for free bets, they are often for the qualifying bets to get the free bets. 
• Excluded markets – When wagering free bets, there may be betting markets that you cannot use them on. You will find them in the terms and conditions of the offer, and, for example, you may find that you cannot use your free bets on cash-out bets or special parlays. 
• Provincial restrictions – There may be provincial restrictions for free bet offers. You can find the information for them in the terms and conditions of both provincially regulated and offshore sportsbooks in Canada. 
• Expiry dates – The expiry dates deal with the time you have to use the free bets. For example, if an offer has an expiry date of 14 days, then you need to make the free bets within 14 days of them reaching your account, or they will expire.  
• Withdrawal limits – The wagering limits are the minimum and maximum amount you can withdraw from your sportsbook account. You must keep in mind that for free bets, you cannot withdraw those funds. You have to wager them, and then you can withdraw the winnings if they are within the withdrawal limits.