Most people who are new to online sports betting are not familiar with the concept of betting bonuses. A betting bonus is simply a free bet or extra credit that bookmakers offer to new and existing customers. The main purpose of these bonuses is to attract new customers and retain them. There are many different types of bonuses, so it is important to know what you are looking for before you sign up with a bookmaker. The most common type of bonus is the sign-up bonus, which is offered to new customers as an incentive to open an account with a particular bookmaker. The size of these bonuses can vary considerably, so it's worth shopping around to see who is offering the best terms.