Promo terms glossary: what every word in the fine print actually means

Tokens and balances

Bonus bet. "A token of a dollar value that you are able to use to place bets with", held in "a completely separate balance" (Sportsbet).2 Used once, expires, pays profit only. On $50 at $2.00: credits $50.

Bonus bet stake. The face value of the token. TAB clause 68.1: a bonus bet "entitles an Eligible Participant to make one bet of value equal to the Bonus Bet Stake".3

Stake return / stake not returned. Whether the token's value comes back with a win. It doesn't: Sportsbet 7.1, TAB FAQ 15 ("the stake … will be returned to TAB"), PointsBet's formula (bonus × odds) − bonus.1 TAB's clause 66.4 says all bonus bets "are subject to Stake Return (see clause 70)".

Token. TAB's and PointsBet's word for any bonus bet or boost waiting in the account. TAB moves each one between an Available Token List, a Used Token List and an Expired Token List (clause 67).3

Withdrawable balance. The part of the balance that has been turned over or won; shown at the top of My Account at Sportsbet.

Bonus balance. Sportsbet's separate ledger for tokens; TAB FAQ 7 says the value "is not added to your account balance".4

Split. Dividing a token into smaller tokens with the same expiry: two to five equal parts at TAB (minimum token $2), up to ten at Sportsbet, two to four at PointsBet.

Expiry date. Seven days from credit at Sportsbet (6.2) and TAB (67.1) unless the offer says otherwise; per token at PointsBet; same day for PointsBet daily boosters.

Offer types

Bet match. A bonus bet "equal to or otherwise calculated by reference to the amount of your first bet … capped to a certain amount" (Sportsbet 3.1). With a $50 cap, a $50 first bet earns a $50 token.1

Deposit match / deposit bonus. The same token sized from a deposit (Sportsbet 4.1); Cash Card and BPAY deposits don't trigger it (4.5). TAB: a Promo Deposit made with a promo code (61.1(b)).

Account-opening offer. Sportsbet's phrase for what punters call a sign-up bonus; Victorian residents are excluded from these specifically (2.1). Sportsbet's help centre says it doesn't offer promotions upon signing up.

Odds boost / booster. A higher price on one selection. PointsBet's Event Booster boosts "the profit portion of your odds, not the full price": 50% on $2.00 gives $2.50.5 Daily boosters expire the same day. Sportsbet's Power Play can't be combined with a bonus bet or a bet return.

Jet Boost. Sportsbet's racing promo where the boosted portion of a winning bet is paid in bonus bets; cashing out forfeits it.2

Stake back / race saver / reload. A bonus bet up to your stake if the runner finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th (TAB Race Saver), or doesn't win (TAB Reload), or runs second (PointsBet Run 2nd). Paid as a bonus bet, not cash.4

Pay Back token. PointsBet's stake-back mechanism: a losing bet with the token applied earns a bonus bet, credited in about 15 minutes.

Bet & Get token. PointsBet's tracker promo: qualifying bets fill a meter, for example "$0.00 / $25.00 in Bonus Bets", and you redeem the token by hand.

Multi saver / multi boost. TAB tokens on multis: a bonus bet capped at stake if a nominated leg loses (saver) or if the multi wins (boost); legs at $1.10 minimum, combined $1.50.4

Bet return. Sportsbet's stake-back product; can't be used with a Power Play or a bonus bet on the same bet.2

Protest Payout. PointsBet pays a win bet as a winner if the horse crossed first but was relegated on protest; Australian horse and harness racing only.

Cash out. Selling a bet back before it settles, at a price "based on multiple factors" including the stake, the price at placement and the current price (Sportsbet). Not available on a TAB bet placed with a bonus bet (FAQ 19).

Conditions

Qualifying bet / Promo Bet. The bet that earns the benefit. TAB 62.2: a single, not each-way, unless the promo says otherwise; multi and Super Multi bets aren't valid Promo Bets.3

Cap / maximum. The most the token can be, whatever the percentage says. Sportsbet's 4.3 illustration: 300% capped at $75, so a $25 deposit and a $100 deposit both earn $75.

Rounding. TAB 61.5: benefits are whole dollars, rounded down; 50% of $75 is $37.

Turnover. Betting a deposit once, at any odds, before it can be withdrawn. Not a promo term but it sits under every promo deposit.

Minimum odds / minimum price. The lowest price a promo bet can be placed at; set per promo (TAB multi tokens: $1.10 per leg, $1.50 combined). The general bonus bet terms of Sportsbet and TAB don't set one.

Excluded bet types. Bets a token can't go on: tote multis, combo multis, each-way and tote singles at Sportsbet (9.1); live bets, each-way, parlay formula, mystery, FootyTAB, non-flexi exotics, Trackside, Multiplier and The Lock at TAB (FAQ 10); in-play at PointsBet.

Flexi. Taking a percentage of an exotic dividend for a fixed stake. With a bonus bet the payout is (share × dividend) − token, which can be negative and pays nothing.5

Not in conjunction. One offer per bet: Sportsbet 6.6, TAB 62.7 and 66.8.

Void / cancelled / scratched. A bet that doesn't stand. The token comes back at all three bookmakers; but a promo that required the bet to win or lose isn't satisfied by a cancelled bet (TAB 61.4).

Activated Channel. TAB's term for the website and apps; tokens work there and not by phone, IVR or in a TAB outlet (FAQ 17).

People and places

Eligible Entrant / Eligible Participant. Over 18, an account, Australian resident, not an excluded resident (Sportsbet 2.3); at TAB also a Recreational Gambler and not an Excluded Customer (60.1).

Excluded Residents / excluded jurisdictions. ACT, NSW, WA and SA for all Sportsbet offers, plus VIC for account-opening (2.1); NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA "may be ineligible" at TAB (64). The NSW page explains why.

Recreational Gambler. Who promos are for. TAB can refuse or remove a benefit on "a reasonable belief" you aren't one (63.2), with 14 days to seek a review (63.3). Sportsbet: "professional gamblers or other gamblers considered by Management to be abusing this Offer" (8.2).

Fair play. TAB's clause 63.1: the same promo code across accounts in one name, device, IP address, household, card, email or phone voids the benefit.

Management decision. Sportsbet 8.4: "The decisions of Management are final. No correspondence will be entered into."

Offer Period. The window an offer runs; it ends at the stated time (AEDT at Sportsbet, 2.4) or when the bookmaker ends it, which can be at any time (Sportsbet 8.3, TAB 62.8).