I don't bet much, but when I do, I make sure that I get the most from my money. That means the bookmakers don't like me much, and I end up with more money than I started - how? I'll show you...

Whenever I sign up for a new account with a bookmaker, I make sure that I get myself a free bet with it - now, there are a number of free bet promotions on offer that don't represent any value, and there are a number of different types. However it works, you will get yourself some extra betting money. Here are the different free bets you can find online:

1. Double-your-money free bets

Not many bookies offer double-your-money free bets, but those that do will, for example, give you a £20 free bet when you bet £10. Of course, you don't keep the stake money if you win on that free bet, and sometimes, there is a minimum odds requirement - so check the terms and conditions.

2. Matched free bet offers

This is quite simple - you bet for example £25 and you'll get a free £25 bet to play with. Again, check terms and conditions, as some bookmakers have minimum odds requirements.

3. Bonuses

These differ from free bets in that you get a bonus amount added to your account according to how much you deposit. So if you deposit £100 and have a 50% bonus, you'll receive £50 to bet with at your leisure. To withdraw this money, though, you have to wager a certain amount - sometimes up to 5 times the amount you deposited - before you can withdraw money. So do be careful.

4. Free cash offers

These offers don't differ much from bonuses, but watch the terms and conditions again. One bookmaker allows this for spread betting, and you can keep as much as you win from the money - however, there is still the risk that you'll lose more than that money using spread betting, so you need to be careful.

5. Free bet baskets

These are loyalty offers that only long-term gamblers should be using - that is, those who intend to stick with a bookmaker for more than, say, 20 bets. They also use the average bet, so if you want valuable free bets, then you will have to bet at least £10 per bet, and they'll give you a free bet every, say, 5 or 10 bets, worth the average of your previous 10 bets.

6. No-lose bets

These are the best - they really are. You join, you bet £20 or whatever you have to bet, and if it loses, they'll refund the money - you cannot lose your first bet at all. That's what I call a great offer - it's not technically a free bet offer, but it gives you a great start.

There are other ways of looking for offers, including promotional offers such as Victor Chandler's "Beat Victor" offer which gives you a free £5 bet if you can beat his predictions each week (you much spend £1 per Premier League match minimum to enter).

Essentially, bookmakers want two things - they want

a) new business, and

b) punters who stick around

So the best bookmakers will be looking at getting you through the door, and keeping you there. Paddy Power, for example, is one of many bookmakers that gives cash-back offers every day, as well as a host of live betting offers.

There are a host of smaller bookmakers these days who are offering bonuses for joining, and this free bet money can be kept, so long as you bet a multiple of your deposit - this is definitely for those punters who stick around, because the bookmaker is looking to reward you for your loyalty.

So - if you are a novice, a free bet hunter, or a loyal punter, there's a bookmaker out there for everyone with ways for you of making some more money, without risking too much of your own.