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Everything You Should Know About Sports Betting Bonuses

Types of Sports Betting Bonuses

There are a plethora of sports betting bonuses that provide a thrilling experience to bettors, but each in its own kind of way. Bonuses are great when it comes to increasing your bankroll, and each type of bonus can give you a nice cash boost.

In this lengthy list of types of bonuses, we’ll explain them to you in detail so you can use them with ease once you start gambling on your favorite sport. We’ll throw in some examples so you’ll understand them even better.

Welcome Bonus

welcome bonus

The welcome bonus is the first one that you’ll get when you start sports betting. You can claim this bonus by making an account at a sportsbook and transferring some funds to it. Some sportsbooks will demand that you enter a promo code as well to redeem the bonus.

The welcome bonus also goes by the term “match-up bonus” because the sportsbook will reward you with an extra 100% of the money you invested when you’ve made your account.

To make this clearer, we will give you an example. If the sportsbook offers a 100% welcome bonus and you put $100 on your account, you will receive another $100 as your welcome bonus. This is an excellent offer for both novices and more experienced bettors because it is an efficient incentive that will entice you to place more bets.

Eventually, you can make some big wins just because you made that initial deposit and got the sign-up or welcome bonus. The welcome bonus percentage can typically go from 50% up to 400%.

Bear in mind that there’s a wagering requirement. That means that you have to wager the money you got from your bonus a particular number of times before you can withdraw the money made from the bonus. The wager requirement often ranges from 5x to 20x.

No Deposit Bonus

The type of bonus that is one of the most universal ones offered by sports betting sites is the no-deposit bonus. In order to get this bonus, you only have to make an account at a sportsbook. So, you don’t have to deposit any kind of money.

This bonus is on the house as long as you create an account. The no-deposit bonus will generally be smaller, and fund you from $5 up to $100. We always recommend betting enthusiasts to read the terms of the bonus.

For example, the welcome bonus commonly has a promo period of 7 to 30 days. Which means you have to use it in that timeline. Also, you have to use the full amount of the bonus and divide it into more than one bet.

Free Bets

A universal promotional offer at a sportsbook is “free bets.”This bonus will award you with a certain amount of “free money” that you have the freedom to use for bets. The money from free bets will, of course, be lost if you lose a bet.

On the other hand, if you can pull off a win, you will get the amount of money from the bet.

We’ll explain this through a simple example. If you place a $50 bet with free bet money and profit $50 from the bet, you can keep the profits. Also, you can later withdraw that money from your account.

Keep in mind that sportsbooks set a limited amount for payouts, so you can’t make some big bets. Also, a wager requirement is set for free bets, which we explained earlier.

Risk-free bets

The risk-free bet, or as they call it, the second chance bet, is like the free bet but quite different. It is a promo bonus used to encourage players to keep betting even if they lose. With the risk-free bet, you use your funds, and with the free bet, the sportsbook gives you funds.

Getting a risk-free bet means that you’ve made a deposit on a bet, and if you lose, you get your money back. Let’s say that you’ve made a bet of $100 on a sports game, and you lose the bet. The sportsbook will get you a refund of $100. But betting fans can’t withdraw that money. They have to make a couple of bets and start to make some wins before being eligible to cash out.

Enhanced odds or price boosts

Enhanced odds or price boosts are a sports betting bonus that is pretty self-explanatory. The sportsbook will increase the odds of a particular match or a tournament for a limited amount of time. Enhance odds are often capped to a lower increase in odds because the sports betting sites want to minimize the risk of having to make a big payout.

For example, regular odds for a potential winner of a specific match are 2.00. But, for some time, the sportsbook will offer enhanced odds 2.50 for the same match.

The majority of enhanced odds bonuses are meant to retain betting fans who already have a betting account or to reward the ones who are members of the VIP programs. Rarely this bonus is offered to newcomers. When it is, they must make their initial wager to get the bonus.

Cash Back

cash back

This type of bonus isn’t the most common offer that can be found in sportsbooks. Another name for the cashback bonus is the loss bonus. The basic premise of the cash bonus is that you’ll be reimbursed with a small percentage of what you’ve lost on a certain bet. In most cases, it will be around 5%.

Also, the cashback bonus can be rewarded to you only if you wager on some sports, such as horse racing. Remember that even a small token of appreciation, like a reimbursement of a few percentages of the total amount of your lost wagered money, is a positive thing. In addition, it is an excellent incentive to entice you to place more bets at your favorite sportsbook.

Reload bonus

Bookmakers will frequently reward you with a nice bonus when you place your initial wager. Some of them will be more rewarding and get a bonus to encourage you to place your second wager.

The betting site will give you the exact amount of money for your second bet that you set when you made your first bet. That bonus is called the reload bonus.

To explain this type of promo offer more clearly, we’ll provide you with an example. When you make an account at your preferred bookmaker and place a bet of $100, you’ll be rewarded with another $100 to make your next bet.

Like in most bonuses, wagering requirements should be read so you can see how much you have to play through in order to withdraw your winnings.

Referral bonus

One of the most straightforward bonuses savvy or novice bettors can get is the referral bonus. Sportsbooks always look to attract more players to join them, and one way to do that is through the referral bonus.

If you have a friend or someone in your family who is keen to start betting, suggest they open an account. Once you refer them to the betting site and they make their initial deposit, you will get your bonus.

How big of a bonus you’ll get solely depends on how much funds your referred person deposits at a sportsbook. Like with every bonus, there’s a limit on how much you can get. Nevertheless, getting a bonus is always something positive, no matter the size of it.

Loyalty or VIP Programs

Sportsbook rewards its most loyal customers by offering them a chance to become a member of their VIP or loyalty program. The condition of getting a membership is to bet and spend a certain amount of money regularly.

To clarify how it works, you collect points after every wager you make. When enough points are gathered, you can become a VIP Program member.

There are a couple of levels of the Loyalty program, and the bookmaker will rank your loyalty to them via collected points. After that, you can reach a specific VIP Program level. Each level of the program will give you different perks. For example, you can get special bonuses on holidays and your birthday, private 24/7 customer support, and many other exclusive offers.

Most Common Terms and Conditions Of Bonuses

terms and conditions

Now, we’ll explain to you the most common restrictions when it comes to rollovers.

Minimum deposit — you can get a lot of bonuses if you make your first deposit. Usually, the minimum goes from $10 to $20.
Minimum odds — you can get bonuses only if you meet the minimum odds terms you have to place on a particular match (usually 2.00).
Specific sports and matches — bettors can bet on a wide range of matches and tournaments. But there are promo offers that can only be won if you bet on specific ones.
Limited time — the terms and conditions contain the info on how long a bonus lasts once you’ve got it.
Withdrawal limit — some bookmakers will have a withdrawal limit on their bonuses, so please check out the terms and conditions of each bonus when it comes to this.

What Is A Rollover?

Getting familiar with the bonus is as crucial as getting to know the basic terms of sports betting. One of them is the rollover or the play-through.

A rollover requires you to place a bet and spend a particular sum of money before you’re eligible to make a withdrawal of your bonus winnings. The goal of bookmakers is to encourage you to place a lot of bets, not to make fast withdrawals.

Let us walk you through how this works. For instance, your bookmaker offers you a 100% welcome bonus that has a 5x play-through, and you make a $100 deposit. Then, you’ll have $200 to use for placing bets. The catch is that you can withdraw your winnings until you place bets that sum up to $1000 in total.

This is how you calculate your rollover. You make your initial $100 deposit, and the welcome bonus gets you an extra $100. So, you take those $200 and multiply them with the 5x rollover. That will add up to $1000. As we’ve previously mentioned, check your terms and conditions for the bonuses.

Conclusion

In summary, bonuses guarantee making your sports betting experience more fun and enjoyable. We gave you some clear definitions of those bonuses and examples that can be of help when you start betting. Choose a sportsbook of your liking, limit how much money you’ll place on bets, and bet responsibly.

Make a wager with your first deposit, and redeem those bonuses!

Read Next: Best Sports Betting Systems

Flag Football Rules – How To Play Flag Football

Flag Football 101

Flag football is played between two teams of 5-8 players. Players carry the ball throughout the field, scoring the point when passing the goal line. You will win the match if you score more points than your opponent.

The flag football field is a rectangle, 70 yards long and 30 yards wide. The end zone, which comes after the goal line, is 10 yards wide.

There’s no need for fancy equipment since players only need flags and a football. One match lasts 40 minutes and starts with a coin toss. After half-time, both teams switch sides.

Basic Flag Football Rules

The player cannot guard their flag.
The carrier may pass the ball backward and use legal pitches behind the line of scrimmage.
Beyond the line of scrimmage, players must pass the ball forward. Pitches from this point are not permitted, only direct handoffs.
The “seven-second passing clock” – The quarterback must pass the ball in seven seconds.
Offense players must steer clear and cannot get in the rusher’s way.
The defense player off the line of scrimmage by seven yards may rush.
The ball is dead and not in the play when:
- The point is scored,
- The ball touches the ground,
- The carrier’s body (besides their hands or feet)touches the ground,
- The carrier’s flag is pulled from their belt or
- The carrier steps out of bounds.

For more clarity on the rules, keep reading.

Safety Above All Else

Safety is a priority in flag football. There is no physical contact between the players of both teams, and they’re not allowed to do the following maneuvers like in American football:

Tackling
Diving
Fumbling
Screening
Blocking

All players wear two flag football flags attached to the sides of their belts. Since there is no physical contact between the players, you “tackle” the ball carriers by pulling one or two flags from their belts.

Scoring

The team starts the match on their 5-yard line, and both teams have four downs to get across the midfield. When they successfully do that, they will have three downs to get a touchdown. To clarify, a “down” is a play in NFL flag football.

By getting a touchdown, you’ll get six points on the scoreboard. Flag football players also have the chance to gain an extra point or two by way of conversion. A team can get one point from the five-yard line, and from the 10-yard line, they will get two points. Safety earns you two points.

Passing

According to flag football rules, every pass has to go ahead, and players must receive those passes behind the scrimmage line. This rule also applies to shovels or short passes.

The quarterback must throw the ball in 7 seconds. Otherwise, the play will be dead. Other players can’t rush him, and the QB is forbidden from running the football.

Receiving

All players can receive the football. This unique rule allows the coaches to implement a wide range of flag football strategies and teach players to improve their offense.

Remember that one foot must be in bounds when you make a catch while playing flag football.

Defense

As a no-contact sport, players must learn to pull the flag or flags from the attacking player’s belt. The basic idea is to be in front of the attacking player all the time and quickly pull the flag from the top part of their belt.

Most teams use a defense strategy where you guard one player, but some teams will use a zone defense, where a player puts their focus on defending one part of the playing field.

Penalties

Even though there is no contact in flag football, players can make fouls, for which they will receive penalties. There is an extensive list of more than 20 penalties, and we will explain the most common ones players get.

One of them is flag guarding. To clarify, this happens when you either defend the flags on your belt or if you smack your opponent’s hand. You’ll get penalties for losing yards and getting an automatic first down if you hold your opponent or interfere with a pass.

Useful Tips and Tricks

In flag football, a good offense is crucial to winning games. Try implementing a well-balanced offense where some players can run the ball, and others can make good passes. Working on communication is also vital because it can help make moves faster and pull off impressive flag football plays.

Defense is just as important as offense. You should hone your flag-pulling skills and create a strategy for executing efficient flag football defensive plays.

Conclusion

Flag football is an equally entertaining and fun-packed alternative to American football. It relies on inclusivity, safety, and fair play.

We’ve provided you with all the essential flag football information so you can start playing it immediately.

Ready your flags and start playing!

Malice at the Palace – The Most Infamous Brawl in NBA History

The Brawl Itself

the brawl - malice at the palace — *Image taken from YouTube.*

Even though many basketball fans like yourself could’ve expected a tough and physical game between the Indian Pacers and the Detroit Pistons, given the fact that they’ve faced each other in the previous season in the Eastern Conference finals, no one thought that a fight of this scale, Malice at the Palace could’ve happened.

The game was coming to an end, with almost 46 seconds left on the clock and Indiana leading 97-82, when Artest made a foul on Ben Wallace, the Pistons player. Immediately after the foul, Wallace pushed Artest with tremendous force, resulting in players and coaches from the Pistons and Pacers stepping on the court to engage in conflict.

Ron Artest didn’t want to fight. On the contrary, he went to the scorer’s board and sat on it to keep his cool. Unfortunately, the spark igniting the chaos happened immediately after that. A fan, John Green, hit Artest with a cup of beer, who then rushed to the stands. Another Pacers player, Stephen Jackson, went into the crowd.

The Malice at the Palace started to unfold. Cups were flying, hands were thrown, and everything seemed like a big street fight. Teammates Artest and Jermaine O’Neal started throwing fists at a couple of fans who were on the basketball court. The remainder of the game wasn’t played, and the consequences of this gruesome event were significant.

Here is the Malice at the Palace video:

The Aftermath of the Malice at the Palace

The Malice at the Palace suspensions were issued by the NBA Commissioner at the time, Mr. Stern. The players who had the most extensive suspensions following the aftermath of Malice at the Palace were:

Artest – 73 games
Stephen Jackson – 30
Jermaine O’Neal – 25
Ben Wallace – 6
Anthony Johnson – 5

Other players who stepped on the court after leaving their bench were suspended for one game. The estimated salary loss for both teams combined was $11.5m.

Before Malice at the Palace, the Pacers were considered an Eastern Conference contender. However, they lost all that potential because of the players who got suspended and missed many games. Nevertheless, they eventually made the playoffs by finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference.

They faced Detroit Pistons again, only this time in the playoffs, and got beaten in the second round.

Undoubtedly, the Malace at the Palace was one of the most disgraceful moments in the NBA, being remembered as a brutal brawl between the fans and the players.

Untold: Malice at the Palace

Back in 2021, a Netflix documentary, Untold: Malice at the Palace, came out that gave a whole new perspective on the infamous brawl between the players of both Indiana and the Pistons players, as well as the fans. The Netflix doc crew interviewed many players from both teams, mainly those in the spotlight of the Malice at the Palace: Wallace, O’Neal, Jackson, and Artest.

Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal said in the documentary that the brawl affected people’s perceptions of him as a player, although he was a significant contributor to the team.

I’ve mentioned that Artest initially didn’t want to be a part of the mess. The news narrative did not go in Artest’s favor, considering he wanted a rap album promotion by taking some time off from playing basketball. Also, everyone saw Ron as someone who would instigate an on-court fight, as he was hot-headed. In the Untold: Malice at the Palace, he says that the reason why he went to sit on the scorers’ board was because of the recommendation of his therapist, which was to just top and calm himself by counting to five, which would prevent Artest for doing something regrettable.

Untold: Malice at the Palace is a Netflix documentary that aims not to change the story behind one of the most brutal fights in basketball history but to give a fresh view of the brawl by showing the broader context.