The best betting sites in Canada offer free bets and betting offers to attract new bettors and reward returning customers. Read our thoughts on the best free bet offers below.
We've been providing betting advice at Gambling.com since 2006 and our experts have decades of experience working in the sports betting industry.
Like you, we're bettors, so we know exactly what you want in a free bet deal.
We don't just guess which sportsbook promos are best by reading what's available in the terms and conditions. We personally claim and test the free bets offered by the sportsbooks and new betting sites we recommend.
As the name suggests, free bets allow you to place a bet at sportsbooks and betting apps for free.
Your sportsbook will usually give you free bet credits, which you can use on your slip instead of cash to place a bet.
You will usually need to make a minimum deposit or place a minimum wager to unlock the free bets. The offer's terms and conditions will clarify what you need to do to claim your bonus.
The most common way to get free bets is to take advantage of a sportsbook's welcome bonus - a reward given to new bettors for signing up. But the best sportsbooks will also provide free bets and other betting offers to returning customers.
Free bets come in all shapes and sizes, from 'Bet & Get' offers to Matched Deposit Bonuses. We'll look at the most popular free bet offers and how to choose them below.
Not all free bet bonuses are the same. How sportsbooks award them and what kind of perks you can collect vary significantly.
We've listed the most popular types of free bet sign-up offers below, which you can claim by following the links on this page.
With a deposit match bonus, a sportsbook will agree to meet a percentage of how much you deposit with free bets. You must use an eligible payment method and meet minimum deposit requirements to claim a matched deposit bonus.
Many sportsbooks offer deposit matches of 100% or greater but a betting site will always limit the amount that can be matched.
For example, a matched deposit bonus could look like this: 100% deposit match up to $100 (this means your first deposit is matched with free bets, but the offer is capped at $100).
When you claim a Bet X Get Y promo, you unlock a set free bet total by placing a wager that meets a specific value.
For example, Bet $10 & Get $20 in free bets. The value of free bets and the risks needed to unlock them vary from one sportsbook to another, so look out for the most generous sportsbook promos requiring the least investment.
Money-back specials reward you with your cash back if your qualifying bet loses. Your sportsbook will only agree to return your money up to a specific amount.
You can either withdraw this money or use it to place more bets.
Risk-free bets are a type of betting promotion where bettors can place a wager with the assurance that if it loses, the stake will be refunded.
Instead of receiving money up-front for a free bet, bettors can place their wager knowing that if it doesn’t win, the staked amount will be returned. These offers typically come with a maximum limit.
These sportsbook promos are offered by the best live betting sites in Canada.
These are free bets that can only be used to bet on games or events that are already underway.
There are dozens of online sportsbooks available in Canada, each offering a variety of free bet deals.
To help you make the correct selection, we've listed some factors you should consider before claiming a Canadian free bet offer.
The type of bonus you want to claim will depend on your bankroll and what kind of rewards you enjoy.
If you are unwilling to risk a lot of money for rewards, matched deposit bonuses might not be for you, as they require a larger initial outlay to extract full value from the offer.
Therefore, budget bettors tend to prefer 'Bet & Get' promos, which offer a larger return for a smaller outlay, sometimes tripling or quadrupling your initial deposit and bet.
Consider how much you are willing to risk and how this impacts the free bet promos you're considering.
Another factor in choosing the best free bet offer is determining how much you are willing to deposit.
Some sportsbook promos may provide huge bonuses but require significant investment to unlock the full amount.
Many Matched Deposit Bonuses fall into this category. While getting more free bets is desirable, it's not worth it if you have to spend more than you are comfortable with.
This is something we'd never encourage, as sticking to a budget is key to gambling responsibly.
With this in mind, always choose a bonus that fits your betting budget.
There's much more to a bonus than just the advertised numbers. Every bonus will have terms and conditions you need to consider, which can severely impact the value of an offer.
For example, a bonus may offer high-value free bets with high wagering requirements, making it less likely you'll walk away with a profit.
Ensure you understand all the terms and conditions to know exactly how to make the most of an offer.
Now that you know what a free bet is and how to select the best offers, let's look at some of the best sportsbook promos you can claim now in Canada.
Follow the links on this page to unlock any of these offers.
BetVictor was founded in 1946 and uses experience to deliver a generous free bet welcome bonus that new Canadian bettors will appreciate.
You'll get money back on your first bet up to $1000 in free bet credits, known as a Bet Shield, by following the link above and registering as a new BetVictor customer.
Just be aware that your first bet must be placed at odds of at least 2.0 (+100) in order to be eligible for the free bet refund.
This is one of the most valuable sign-up offers we've claimed, as there are no wagering requirements. This means you can withdraw any profits you make from the free bets as cash.
When you register with Stake.com, you can claim a welcome bonus worth up to $1,000 in free bets.
The sportsbook offers a 200% deposit match up to $500.
We like that you don't need a Stake.com promo code to activate this promotion. You just need to register with the betting site and deposit a minimum of $100 to claim it.
It's important to be aware that in order to withdraw the value of your free bets, you will need to complete a wagering requirement as stated in this sportsbook's T&Cs.
New Bwin customers can claim a 100% deposit match bonus of up to $200.
You can claim the bonus by signing up and making your desired deposit - minimum $10 - through Interac, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, or one of several other popular payment options.
There's no wagering requirement to play through, making it a great deal.
You can withdraw any profits from your free bets in cash on wagers placed at odds of 1.70 or greater.
If you want to bet with an official partner of Canadian Premier League soccer, TonyBet will reward you with a generous welcome bonus upon sign-up.
The sportsbook offers new customers a 100% deposit match up to $350.
To claim the free bets, you must make a qualifying deposit of between $15 and $350 and complete the wagering requirements attached to the promo as stated in the T&Cs.
TonyBet covers betting on more than 1,500 markets and you can use most of these to complete your wagering requirements.
One of the largest welcome bonuses you can claim in Canada comes from 888sport.
The sportsbook will match 100% of your first deposit up to $2,000 if you have a fully verified account. It will also give you $10 in casino bonus funds.
The minimum deposit needed to claim this promo is $10.
As with other offers highlighted on this page, there is a wagering requirement to play through, but with $2,000 up for grabs, we reckon the rewards are worth it.
You should know that only bets at minimum odds of 1.5 will count towards the wagering requirement.
While many sportsbooks offer free bets to new customers, the best sites also allow existing customers the chance to earn free bets through various regular betting offers.
Many of these betting offers don't require a deposit. Free bet clubs, for example, reward loyal customers and frequent bettors with regular free bets that can be used for betting on your favourite sports.
You can also take advantage of perks like odds boosts without making a qualifying deposit - these deals increase your betting profits.
Here are the sportsbooks that are currently providing the best free bet promotions for their returning customers:
As an existing customer, you can claim plenty of promos at William Hill - many of these betting offers do not require a deposit.
The sportsbook offers daily odds boosts and profit boosts on popular sports, such as hockey, football, basketball, soccer and horse racing.
These odds boosts are some of the most generous we've claimed at any of the best Canadian sportsbooks.
The site also runs competitions where you can win free bets by answering questions about major events or participating in fantasy leaderboards.
One of our favourite free bet promos at Betway is the 'Double Winnings' promo for first touchdown wagers placed on NFL games.
Under the terms of this deal, Betway will double your profits on winning first touchdown bets, up to a maximum value of $100.
Betway also offers regular free bet deals around Toronto Blue Jays games and other MLB games. Parlay bettors, meanwhile, will appreciate the sportsbook's parlay bet insurance offer.
If you place a parlay with at least four selections, Betway will return your stake as a free bet if one result lets you down.