Bonus is a sweet word or music to punters’ ears. Fortunately, it’s a common thing in the sports betting world. But how generous are Kenyan bookmakers? What kind of bonuses do they offer, and for what? Discover all this and more in our in-depth piece.
Brief Explanation of Sports Betting
Nothing complicated. There are three parties to sports betting:
- athletes or teams competing against each other in a sports event;
- a player who predicts the event’s result, backing it up with money;
- a bookmaker who accepts the bet and pays if the player is right.
Which sports can you bet on? Absolutely any. From popular ones like football, basketball, and tennis to the much less popular keirin, hurling, and bandy. What’s more, you can also bet on cybersports and computer-simulated sporting games.
Actually, you wager not just on the outcome of a match but on the probability of that outcome or the odds. Bookmakers set the odds with an eye on the market and their own advantage. They also determine the lower and upper limit of the amount you can stake.
You can predict the result of one or several dozen events by selecting the winner, the score of the game, and other betting markets. You can wager on games scheduled for a specific day or currently underway matches.
The size of the odds and your stake sum decide your winnings. But you don’t need to do the math; most betting operators will calculate your profit.
Importance of Bonuses in Sports Betting
Let’s keep it real: your bet may or may not come through. And there are plenty of reasons why. To keep punters engaged and motivated, bookies invent incentive systems, launch promotional campaigns, think out special offers, and give awards.
Bonuses are a crucial link in the sports betting ecosystem. They stimulate competition, grow the business and community, retain customers, and make gaming experiences more rewarding and exciting.
But how do sports betting perks work? Are they available to everyone, and what do they require in return? The hackneyed but honest answer is: It depends. Every company sets the terms and conditions for each particular promo.
Let’s say the well-known bookie 1xBet announces a new special offer, and you — a real godsend — got it! But this is just the beginning. You need to find out how to use the 1xBet bonus to bet, what the wagering requirements are, and how to manage the winnings.
And what about perks on the Kenyan gambling scene? We’ve got good news and not-so-good news for you. The good news is that local bookies do incentivize. However, not every operator has regular bonus offers, so you need to know the places.
In an instant, you’ll learn where and what perks are obtainable in the domestic market.
Types of Sports Betting Bonuses in Kenya
You might have come across information on the Internet about unprecedented bonuses in vast numbers at this or that betting site. Be mindful that it may be a clickbait to attract traffic. So before you sign up, double-check that the promos exist and are still active.
It’s up to each bookmaking company to decide how to reward players, but some incentives are generally accepted. We’ll outline the main bonus types and platforms that unquestionably offer them.
Welcome Bonuses
The essence of this award is clear: you get it for becoming the bookie’s customer, and this is how the company shows hospitality. It’s a one-time bonus for creating a brand-new player account.
But what precisely this bonus looks like is not so clear. The gift comes from the bookmaker’s marketing strategy and imagination. For example, a welcome offer can be a free bet or a deposit prize. With that, both options are separate bonus types in themselves.
Let’s now look at some real examples of registration bonuses from reputable Kenyan betting operators.
1xBet Kenya Welcome Bonus
1xBet welcomes Kenyan punters with a prize for the first deposit they make into their account. The requirements for getting the perk are straightforward:
- Sign up for the platform;
- Fill out your account’s profile;
- Activate the bonus function;
- Top up at least 112 KES;
- Get 200% of your deposit.
You can use it within 30 days of signing up, and the maximum possible award amount is 20,000 KES. The terms and conditions detail how to use the 1xBet bonus to bet, and here are some of the nuances:
- You must wager half of the award amount in accumulators.
- Each bet must include at least 3 games with odds of 1.40 or more.
- You must wager the other half 30 times in 1xGames with exceptions.
Melbet Kenya Welcome Bonus
MelBet Kenya greets newcomers with a similar first deposit prize. All you need to do is open an account, complete your profile, deposit a minimum of 130 KES, and receive 200% of your payment.
The bonus is wagered 12 times in accas of at least 3 selections with odds of 2.10 or greater. All details are in the terms and conditions. Want another award? The bookie has an alternative for sports bettors: a welcome free bet. Some of the rules are listed below.
- Register for the website, fill out your profile, and put 4,000 KES into the account.
- Get a free bet of the same sum and place it on a game with odds of 1.50 or more.
- Place your free bet via the site or mobile app within 30 days of making a deposit.
- Wager the bonus amount 3 times in accas of 4 games with odds of at least 1.40.
22bet Kenya Welcome Bonus
How does another famous Kenyan bookmaker welcome newbies to its platform? It offers them a tried-and-true first deposit bonus. The award is 100% and can be up as high as 19,000 KES. Here’s how you can claim it:
- Create a 22bet account;
- Fill in your profile details;
- Top up 150 KES or more;
- Receive the perk at once.
As usual, with such incentives, each new player is entitled to one bonus only. You can redeem it in the following way:
- Bet on accumulators of at least 3 sports matches each;
- Pick odds of 1.40 or greater for at least 3 games per bet;
- Wager the awarded amount 5 times by placing acca bets;
- Wager the reward through the bonus balance within 7 days.
Deposit Bonuses
The above gifts for the initial payment can be referred to as both welcome and deposit bonus types. Generally, any award requiring a balance refill as one of the prerequisites can be classified as a deposit bonus.
Let’s get back to 1xBet for examples of such rewards and see what the company offers.
- X2 Wednesday Promotion. One of the mandatory conditions of this promo is to make a payment to your account on Wednesday. 100% of the deposited amount will be credited in return.
- Lucky Friday. By topping up your balance on Friday with at least 112 KES, you’ll automatically receive a 100% deposit award, up to a maximum of 23,500 KES. As always, consent to participate in the bonus program is a must.
Free Bet Bonuses
Bookies set their own conditions for giving a free bet, but the perk’s principle remains the same: it allows you to play without risking real cash. If you win, you take your earnings, excluding the bet size. If you lose, you lose absolutely nothing.
The bonus is in-game money you can qualify for as part of a promotional campaign. A betting operator may reward you for paying a certain amount or placing a specific number of bets. Or it may just select you randomly.
1xBet gives out free bets on a weekly basis for predictions that match the parameters set out in the promo. Your stake amount defines the size of the free bet bonus, which is credited as a promo code.
Free bets are an excellent opportunity to test out a new betting site without taking any risks. That’s why some gambling companies offer them to new entrants as a lure.
Loyalty Bonuses
This incentive type is a thank-you from a betting business. More often than not, this award doesn’t require you to do anything special; just stick around. A loyalty program applies to existing customers who have been wagering with the operator for some time already.
How can your loyalty be rewarded? In many ways. For instance, you may be eligible for:
- Money prizes;
- Free bets;
- Cashback;
- Exclusive deals;
- Personalized support.
Loyalty bonuses can also comprise other small perks and draws that require simple steps or nothing at all to obtain. Such a prize is never huge, but it’s a nice extra that engages players and keeps them active on the site. Thus, you can grab a gift for:
- Loading a mobile app;
- Betting at happy hour;
- Early-bird wagering;
- Being a birthday user.
Generalized Steps to Claim a Bonus
Even though the steps leading to a sports betting bonus are promo-specific, there are still actions without which you’re unlikely to get any award on any Kenyan gambling platform. Here they are:
- Signup. Only registered players can have access to promotional campaigns.
- Login. You won’t be able to take part in bonus offers unless you’re signed in.
- Deposit. In most cases, it’s essential to top up a certain amount of money.
- Play. You can hardly get any reward without placing a wager on the website.
First things first, so be sure to study the offering’s terms and conditions, paying special attention to the wagering requirements.
Wagering Requirements
With few exceptions, each bonus must be redeemed or wagered. This is a prerequisite before withdrawing the money coming with the bonus.
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule here. The reward amount can be wagered a specific number of times at the bookie’s discretion, for example, a 3x or 30x play-through. Within the wagering requirements, the company may also decide on:
- Sports;
- Bet types;
- Number of events;
- Odds size;
- Event start dates;
- Stake sum;
- Wagering period.
You need to be especially scrupulous with the play-through requirements as it determines whether or not the bonus ends up in your wallet.
One of the biggest issues with perks in Kenya is that the wagering requirements set by local bookmaking firms may be hard or simply impossible to meet.
Tips for Maximizing Sports Betting Bonuses
Nevertheless, there are betting operators in the domestic market that provide recurrent incentives with feasible conditions. Here are some simple yet actionable tips to help you take full advantage of these offerings.
Tip #1: Look Up and Compare
Not all bonuses are equal. Some are more gainful and easier to grab. Check and compare offerings not only within the same platform but also across various sites. You can also sign up for bookies’ newsletters to be in the know about the latest promos.
Tip #2: Look Before You Claim
Even if the promo looks tempting and seems a sure thing, inspect every detail of its terms and conditions carefully. Size up the situation before claiming the award; perhaps you’ll earn much more from regular betting in the same period.
Tip #3: Make the Most of It
Maximize your benefit depending on the bonus type. For example, if you’re awarded free bets, place them on the markets with the best odds to optimize your profit. In case of a first deposit bonus, top up the amount that guarantees you the maximum possible return.
Conclusion
There’s a promo tab on almost every Kenyan betting website. But before claiming bonuses, examine their terms and conditions closely to make sure they are valid and provide a real bargain with achievable wagering conditions. If everything is all right, get involved!