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Is it possible to claim a free sports betting bonus in Canada? Well, yes. Theyāre known as āno deposit bonusesā ā and itās important to understand how they work before you claim one.
A no deposit bonus does exactly what it says on the tin. With no up-front deposit requirement, youāll receive a bonus, which will usually be delivered to you in the form of bonus bets, or bet insurance offer. Both kinds of promotions have huge potential if you play them correctly. Hereās how, and why.
Requirements (WR): | – |
Min. Deposit: | – |
Cashable: | Yes |
Requirements (WR): | – |
Min. Deposit: | – |
Cashable: | Yes |
So, in the Great White North, then, āno depositā bonuses are the closest thing youāll find to āfreeā bonuses. The best part? You wonāt need to part with any of your own cash when claiming and activating these offers. But – and itās a big but – 99% of the time, no deposit sports betting bonuses come with stricter terms and conditions than regular, deposit-based bonuses.
Naturally, every betting site and app sets their own bonus rules, so this might not always be the case. But generally speaking, you can expect most no deposit bonuses to be a little less flexible when it comes to things like:
Iāll explore all this in a bit more detail later. First, allow me to quickly run through the pros and cons of claiming a free bonus for sports betting in Canada. After that, Iāll explore what kinds of offers are commonly available and then, finally, Iāll dig into the nitty gritty.
Canadaās iGaming market is chock-full of bookmakers of different shapes and sizes. So, it may come as a surprise to hear that most Canadian gambling sites actually tend to run the same kinds of no deposit bonuses.
So, whether youāre claiming from Manitoba or Quebec, youāll usually be looking at either a ābonus betā bonus or a bet insurance promotion ā which Iāll explore more in a sec.
Why? Well, before you can claim either, we need to talk about licensing. You see, the Canadian government grants each province the right to manage and regulate online gambling in their area in whatever manner they see fit ā and this means that the online betting options available to you guys can vary pretty drastically from one platform to another.
Now, the long and short of it is, you can only legally play at sports betting sites in Canada that are locally licensed in your province. But donāt worry ā because it wonāt take you long to find them. On this very page, youāll find location-targeted banners displaying all the must-know details of my favorite betting brands in your region.
Right, I promised Iād pit these two against one another, and Iām going to deliver. Hereās how the two most common kinds of free sports betting bonuses in Canada differ from one another. Take note before you claim:
What is it? | Is a deposit required? | What T&Cs should you watch out for? | Which markets can you play it on? | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bonus bet credits | A bonus that grants you one or more bonus bet credits. | Sometimes yes, sometimes no. | Wagering requirements ā i.e., youāll need to play through your bonus bets a set number of times before you withdraw. | This is down to the operator. If youāre able to claim your bonus bets with no deposit, chances are theyāll be limited to a certain market and odds (e.g. ābonus bets can only be wagered on soccer odds of 2.0 or greaterā. |
Bet insurance | A bet insurance offer where, if your first cash bet at the site loses, youāll qualify for a free bet token. | Yes ā because your first bet needs to be a cash one. | Time limits and rules regarding āoff-limitsā sports or bet types might also apply. Your initial cash bet must usually exceed a qualifying amount (e.g., $20). | Again, this all boils down to the betting brandā¦ |
As legal sports betting sites in Ontario differ from those in BC, and again in every province in between, the best no deposit bonus offers available arenāt really consistent either.
But now you know what kinds of bonuses to expect, and what tricky T&Cs tend to be common, guess what? Youāre in a great position to compare the best betting sites in your province.
My advice? Have a look at the banners on this page, which feature legal betting brands Iām 100% confident youāll love, then see how their latest sports betting bonuses for Canadians compare. Remember, youāll need to pay special attention to:
Now, Iām fully aware that my readers differ when it comes to things like betting pedigree and iGaming experience levels. But I try to ensure all my betting guides cater to everybody.
In this section, Iām going to unveil a few expert tips thatāll help you get the absolute most out of the next no deposit bonus you come to claim. It doesnāt matter whether youāre looking for SA betting sites with free registration bonuses, or betting brands in British Columbia, these tips are still relevant. But of course, I am focusing a little more on the Canadian market here, due to the topic of this guide.
Anyhowā¦ tips incoming:
It makes no difference whether youāre claiming a no deposit bonus with brand new betting sites in Canada, or via providers that have been running online sportsbooks for yonks, every bonus you encounter is probably going to come with wagering requirements. And, as weāve seen, bonuses that are available effectively āfor freeā will probably be stricter in this regard than offers that demand up-front deposits.
Wagering requirements simply refer to the number of times youāll be expected to play through your bonus bets before you can cash-out. They can range from just 1x or 2x on generous sportsbook offers, to anywhere up to 60x or more on some of Canadaās less kind casino free spins promotions.
My advice when claiming any free sports betting bonus in Canada would be to note down the wagering requirements early on and come up with a plan for how youāre going to meet them. Keeping a wagering diary is a good strategy ā just donāt forget to record what youāre wagering, where, and when, as you go.
Another thing Iāve already touched on in this guide is time limits. How do these work? Well, a betting brand might give you, say, four days to fulfil your no deposit bonus wagering requirements before cashing-out. Itās a case of miss the limit, and youāll miss out on your bonus, Iām afraid ā so itās important to keep things in-check.
I always advise bettors claiming free bonuses for sports betting in Canada to be very cautious here for this reason. So, have a good read through the T&Cs before claiming any promotion, know exactly
For example, perhaps you manage to bag a baseball bet with one of the hottest betting apps in Canada, but you can only play it on games that feature the Winnipeg Goldeyes during one specific season. The T&Cs might add that your bet needs to be placed at odds of 2.0 or more.
Basically, itās essential you know this before you bet, and use your bonus bets accordingly. A failure to do so is going to cost you your bonus ā so be very, very careful.
Despite the obvious things youāre going to have to pay extra-special attention to when claiming a no deposit bonus, getting your hands on some bonus bets always feels ace. And so long as you prepare yourselves for the potential pitfalls ahead of time, and know how to swerve them, you guys will have a great time, Iām sure of it.
So, remember that the bonuses and betting brands on offer differ from province to province ā which is where my banners come in. Use these to select a bookmaker with a no deposit bonus that catches your eye, but pay careful attention to the offerās wagering requirements, time limits and game restrictions before you claim. Get all this right, and youāre good to go.
Put simply, itās a bonus that doesnāt require an up-front deposit. Read-up on how these promotions work hereā¦
Pretty much all bookmakers offer bonuses, but āfreeā no deposit offers are a little rarer. Use the banners on my site to find the best promos in your area.
These are effectively ābet insuranceā promos where a bookmaker will reimburse you with bet credits if your first cash bet comes up short. Discover more hereā¦
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.