Very low risk betting offers are welcome offers where you can cover the qualifying bet. That means little of your own money is at stake. Most welcome offers need a real-money bet first. However, you can often cut that risk to a few pence by laying the bet at an exchange.
What very low risk betting offers mean
We want to be honest about the label. No bet is completely without risk, because odds move and small losses happen. Instead, we use this rating for offers where you can lock in the outcome of the qualifying bet. For example, you back a team with the bookmaker, then lay the same team at similar odds on an exchange. Whatever the result, you then lose only a small amount.
How matched betting fits in
People call this approach matched betting. Once the free bets arrive, you can use the same method to turn them into a more predictable return. Our matched betting guide walks you through each step, including how to work out your lay stake.
How we rate very low risk betting offers
Every offer on Sports Compare gets three scores. Difficulty shows how hard the offer is to complete. Meanwhile, risk shows how much of your own cash you put on the line, on a four-step scale from very low to high. Offers here sit at the lowest level. Finally, estimated value shows what the free bets are realistically worth, because the bookmaker keeps the free bet stake. Read how we rate offers for the full method.
Points to watch
Exchange commission, odds changes and stake limits can all eat into your result. So check the odds on both sides before you place anything. Also remember that bookmakers can restrict accounts that only take offers. If you prefer not to use an exchange, our low risk offers are a simple alternative.
Even with very low risk betting offers, only use money you can afford to lose.
Remember to gamble responsibly. If betting ever feels like a problem, our responsible gambling page explains where to get free, confidential help.