There are a few things that punters should consider before getting their hands on some free bets for the Champions League. Of course, most of this is not really specific to the competition in question, but it is still worth knowing. We have collected three pros and three cons of claiming welcome offers in the UK, with a particular focus on football and Champions League betting.
Often Easy to Claim: This will obviously vary from site to site but most of the time, the best football offers around are rather easy for punters to claim. Usually, it is merely a case of placing £10+ (sometimes even £5!) with a minimum odds requirement, then the free bets will be credited.
No Wagering Requirements: Unlike casino offers, which almost always have wagering requirements, Champions League punters will often be able to withdraw the winnings from free bets immediately. The stake will not be returned, but this is still a great deal.
Low Risk: If the qualifying bet is a mere £10, which is usually the case, punters will often be able to at least make their money back. Granted that this depends on the free bet amount, the free bets can still be considered low risk.
Market Restrictions: Although this is not the case with all of the best football bookies, a lot of them tend to restrict either the qualifying bet or the free bets to certain markets. For the Champions League, placing acca bets might not be as lucrative as we get closer to the end of the competition, for example.
Payment Method Exclusions: Most bookmakers in the UK restrict free bets, i.e. the welcome offers, to certain payment methods and these often do not include popular methods such as the e-wallet Skrill. Again, some punters probably will not mind depositing with a debit card but it might not be ideal either.
No Cash Out: Punters will not be able to cash out most of the free bets in the UK, as well as the qualifying bet, as they would then be considered void. Cash out has become popular among football punters in recent years and in a competition like the Champions League, where the games can be very tight, cash out can be essential.
In addition to welcome offers, there are also several promotions that punters can use for the Champions League. Most of these are football-generic, it should be noted, but there are Champions League-specific offers from time to time. Usually, this will be for the big games in the competitions so we recommend checking out your bookie when that time comes.
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Steven is an experienced iGaming content writer who has been working in the industry since 2018. He is passionate about sports betting and enjoys writing about all aspects of the industry, including bookmaker reviews, betting tips and strategies, and news and analysis. If you have any questions about online gambling in the UK, please don't hesitate to contact him.