What does stake-not-returned (SNR) mean?
Why SNR free bets change the maths — and how calculators treat them.
Information only. Not financial, legal, or gambling advice. Rules and offers change; always read the operator's terms.
The idea
With many bookmaker free bets, if the bet wins, your account is credited with winnings only — the stake attached to the free bet is not returned as withdrawable cash. Think of it like a voucher that evaporates after use.
If the bet loses, you are typically not down your own cash on the back (you used promo credit), but your lay on the exchange may win or lose depending on how you constructed the match.
Why your lay stake is different from a cash bet
For a normal cash bet, a winning back returns stake × odds (in decimal odds convention). For an SNR free bet, the effective upside excludes the return of that free stake in the same way. Lay-stake formulas shrink accordingly so you do not accidentally over-hedge.
That is why this site’s calculator exposes bet types explicitly: Qualifying, FSR, and SNR are not cosmetic labels; they change the denominator in the algebra.
Common confusion
- Mixing up “free bet token” with “bonus cash with wagering” — playthrough rules are a different beast.
- Assuming SNR because a site said “free bet”. Always confirm settlement rules in the operator’s help centre.