Convert sportsbook free bets (bonus bets) into modeled cash value using the PromoGrind Free Bet Calculator.
Use the Free Bet Calculator →The terms "free bet" and "bonus bet" are used interchangeably by most sportsbooks. Both refer to a promotional credit where the stake is not returned if the bet wins — only the profit is paid out. This is the key difference from a cash bet, where you receive stake + profit on a win.
The strategy is called free bet conversion or bonus bet hedging: model a bonus leg and an opposing cash leg before either order. The calculator compares listed settlement paths, but realized value can change with prices, limits, rejected stakes, voids, grading differences, eligibility, and execution timing.
The underdog odds determine your conversion rate. Too short (+130) and you barely extract value. Too long (+800) and the required hedge stake is too small to maximize profit. The +250 to +400 range consistently yields 65–73% conversion — meaning a $200 free bet returns $130–146 in modeled cash value.
Modeled returns are not promises. Execution, voids, limits, eligibility, and changing odds can alter results.