Key takeaways
- A free bet calculator sizes your stakes so a free bet turns into the same guaranteed profit whichever outcome wins.
- Most free bets are stake not returned (SNR) — you keep only the winnings, so the tool returns (odds − 1) × stake on a free row.
- You extract more value at higher odds: a free bet is worth roughly (odds − 1) ÷ odds of its face value — ~50% at odds 2.0, ~75% at 4.0, ~83% at 6.0.
- Only your real stakes count as money at risk; the free bet itself cost you nothing.
- 100% free, no sign-up, works for 2 to 15 outcomes.
What is a free bet calculator?
A free bet calculator works exactly like our surebet calculator, with one extra control: a Free bet tick-box on every row. Bookmakers hand out free bets as bonuses, but they are usually stake not returned — if the bet wins, you keep only the winnings, not the token itself. This tool factors that in and tells you exactly how to turn that free bet into locked-in profit.
Cashing out your free bet on a betting exchange instead? Use the back lay calculator to size the lay stake and liability, or the matched betting calculator for qualifying-bet and free-bet (SNR) modes.
How to use the calculator
Pick the outcomes
Choose how many ways the bet has — from 2 up to 15.
Enter the odds
Type the best odds for each outcome across your bookmakers.
Tick your free bet
Mark the Free bet row and enter its fixed amount (the bookmaker sets it).
Get your profit
The other stakes are calculated for an equal, guaranteed profit on every result.
The free bet rule
A normal €15 bet at odds 2.0 returns €30 (your €15 stake back plus €15 winnings). A free bet at the same odds returns only the €15 winnings — the token stake is not returned. In short, a free-bet row returns (odds − 1) × stake instead of odds × stake, and because it cost you nothing, it never counts against your profit.
How much is a free bet actually worth?
A free bet is never worth its full face value — because the token stake is not returned, you only ever bank the winnings. Convert it through an arb or hedge and you keep roughly (odds − 1) ÷ odds of the face value as guaranteed profit. The longer the odds you place the free bet at, the more you keep:
- Free bet at odds 2.0 → you keep about 50% (a €10 free bet ≈ €5 profit)
- odds 3.0 → about 67% (≈ €6.70)
- odds 4.0 → about 75% (≈ €7.50)
- odds 5.0 → about 80% (≈ €8.00)
- odds 6.0 → about 83% (≈ €8.30)
That is the single most important rule of free bets: use them on high odds, not on short-priced favourites. A free bet on a 1.5 shot throws most of its value away. These figures assume a fair hedge — in practice the bookmaker’s margin on the other side trims the retention by a few points, which is exactly why you let the calculator work the stakes out precisely rather than guessing.
Worked example
You have a €15 free bet and place it on an outcome at odds 3.0. You hedge the other outcome at odds 1.5 with real money. The calculator works out a €20 hedge stake, leaving you a guaranteed €10 profit whichever result lands — from a free bet that cost you nothing.
Learn more about arbitrage betting
New to this? Read our full guide on what is arbitrage betting, or see the arbitrage betting formula explained step by step with worked examples. Odds in a different format? Use our odds converter to switch between decimal, fractional, American and implied probability.
Frequently asked questions
- How is this different from the surebet calculator?
- It is the same calculator, with a "Free bet" tick-box on each row. A free bet stake is not returned when it wins, so it returns only the winnings — the tool accounts for that and still finds your guaranteed profit.
- What does "stake not returned" mean?
- With most free bets (SNR) you keep only the winnings, not the token stake. A €15 free bet at odds 2.0 returns €15, not €30. The calculator subtracts the free stake from the return automatically.
- Does the free bet count as money I spent?
- No. A free bet is free money, so it is not counted in your real cost. Only your normal (non-free) stakes count toward what you risk.
- How do I size the other bets?
- Tick the free row and type the free bet amount (the bookmaker sets it). The calculator fixes that stake and works out the remaining stakes so every outcome returns the same profit.
- How much is a £10 free bet actually worth?
- With a stake-not-returned free bet you keep roughly (odds − 1) ÷ odds of its face value as guaranteed profit. A £10 free bet used at odds 2.0 is worth about £5; at odds 4.0 about £7.50; at odds 6.0 about £8.30. So the higher the odds you place it at, the more value you extract — real-world retention is a few points lower once the hedge’s margin is taken out.
- Should I use a free bet on low or high odds?
- High odds. Because the token stake is never returned, a free bet converts more of its face value into profit the longer the odds. Using a free bet on a short-priced favourite wastes most of its value; using it around odds 4–6 (then hedging the other outcome) extracts the most.
- What is the difference between SNR and SR free bets?
- SNR (stake not returned) is the common type — you keep only the winnings, not the token. SR (stake returned) behaves like real money and is rarer and more valuable. Leave the Free-bet box ticked for SNR; untick it for an SR free bet or real cash.