The Best Betting Bonuses for UK Players in 2025

Types of Sports Betting Bonuses

There’s more than one way to grab a great deal when betting online. From matched deposits to no-strings-attached free bets, UK betting sites serve up a range of offers to suit every kind of punter. Here’s a quick look at the most common bonus types — and how to make the most of each.

Matched Deposit Bonuses – Boost Your First Deposit

Matched deposit bonuses are a go-to for new customers. They’re simple: make a deposit, and the bookie matches a percentage of it in bonus funds. For example, 10bet offers 50% up to £50 — deposit £20, and you’ll get an extra £10 to play with.

Why choose this bonus?

• Great for building your bankroll early on
• Works well for punters planning to place multiple bets
• Often valid across a wide range of sports

Watch out for wagering requirements with these offers. At 10bet, you’ll need to bet your deposit and bonus 8x before withdrawing.

Matched Bets – Bonus Funds on Your First Wager

Matched bets are largely the same as matched deposits. The key difference? The bookmaker credits your bonus funds once you’ve placed your first bet, rather than after your first deposit.

One example of a current matched bet comes from Luckster, where players making their first bet of £10 will receive another £10 to wager on the site — no wagering requirements attached. 

Free Bets – Enjoy a Low-Risk Punt

Free bet offers are some of the most accessible out there. Usually triggered by placing a qualifying bet, they give you a token to use without dipping into your own wallet.

For example, Bet Storm offers Bet £10, Get £10 in free bets. There are no wagering requirements, and your bonus kicks in once your first bet is settled.

Why choose free bets:

• Low commitment
• Usually comes with low or no wagering
• Perfect for testing a new site or sport

Keep in mind, free bet stakes aren’t usually returned in your winnings — it’s the profit only.

Money Back Bets – Bet with a Safety Net

This promo refunds your first bet if it loses — usually as a free bet token. These deals are perfect for cautious punters trying out a new site or market. Unibet’s version offers up to £40 back, plus a £10 casino bonus if your first sports bet doesn’t come in.

There are several terms to check with these offers:

• Refund caps (e.g. £40)
• Eligible sports (e.g. no greyhound or hose racing with Unibet)
• Expiry window (often around 7 days after claiming)

No Deposit Bonuses – Bet Without Spending a Penny

No deposit bonuses are rare, but gold dust when you find them. They let you claim a small betting token without needing to deposit first, and are a great way to explore a site risk-free.

While you’ll usually find this kind of offer at online casino sites, there are a few bookmakers that are now giving punters the chance to get in on the fun too.

Of course, they’re usually much smaller in size and may come with strict conditions or withdrawal caps. But with no upfront payment needed, you’re free to try before you buy.

Ongoing Sports Betting Promotions

Great betting sites don’t stop at welcome offers — they keep the perks coming with regular promotions designed for loyal players. Here are some of the top recurring promos you’ll find at UK sportsbooks and how they can add value to your bets.

• Price Boosts
  These promos enhance the odds on specific outcomes, especially during major events like the Champions League or Premier League. Some even apply to custom-built bets or accumulators, giving you more bang for your buck. For example, Bet365 currently offer a 25% bet boost on bet builders for selected matches such as Premier League and Champions League games.
• Acca Insurance
  Place a multi-leg accumulator, and acca insurance returns your stake as a free bet if just one leg lets you down. It’s a smart safety net for punters backing multiple outcomes — usually available on 5+ leg accas. Unibet is one of the best betting sites running this promotion.
  
• Accumulator Bonuses
  Boost your acca winnings just by adding more selections. Our top pick? Bet365 gives bettors a 5% bonus on a treble acca that can be boosted to a whopping 90% bonus for a 13-fold.
• Request a Bet
  Can’t find the market you want? Some bookies let you request custom odds via Twitter or their app. Just look out for hashtags like #oddsonthat at Betfair.
• Bet Builders
  Craft personalised multi-leg bets on a single game. Whether it’s shots on target, corners, or goalscorers, Bet Builders let you combine markets your way — especially handy for football and major tournaments.
• Rewards Clubs
  Stay loyal and get rewarded. Some sites, like Paddy Power, offer weekly free bets if you meet minimum wagering requirements over a set time — a nice little bonus for regular punters.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

Working out which sports betting bonus is worth your time isn’t necessarily as simple as picking the biggest on offer. If you want to understand an offer’s true value, you need to consider the bonus terms and conditions as well. Essentially, this is a set of rules that dictates what you need to do to unlock your bonus and also how you can use it. And while an offer might seem fantastic at first, its true worth can quickly be hampered by overly strict T&Cs. 

Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Minimum deposit – This is how much you need to add to your betting wallet before you can claim the bonus.
• Minimum odds – If you have to make a qualifying bet to claim your bonus, it needs to meet the minimum odds requirement.
• Market restrictions – There’s no point claiming a bonus if it can’t be used on your desired sport or market. Be sure the offer suits your needs before you claim.
• Time limits – Nothing lasts forever, and your bonus will expire after a certain window of time, usually between 3 and 30 days. 
• Payment exclusions – If you use an excluded payment method to make a deposit at the site, you’ll be disqualified from receiving the betting bonus. Debit cards are your safest bet here.
• Wagering requirements – Some offers require the user to stake a certain amount of their own money before the betting bonus winnings can be withdrawn. The lower the better here. 

If you want the full lowdown on T&Cs, head over to our expert bonus terms and conditions guide. We highly recommend giving it a read before claiming a sports betting bonus.

Mobile App Betting Bonuses

One of the great things about betting bonuses is that you can claim them on your mobile as easily as you can on a desktop computer. Mobile betting has improved enormously in recent years with many of the best online bookies moving beyond offering fully optimised mobile sites to provide industry-leading mobile apps for Android and iOS. These apps offer plenty of perks. Some of our top picks have app-exclusive welcome bonuses, and as a regular punter, you can often sign up for push notifications to stay informed about the bookie’s latest betting offers and promotions. Whether you’re on the go or relaxing at home, mobile betting apps are super convenient, putting the power to place bets and claim betting bonuses right at your fingertips.

Payment Options When Claiming Sign Up Offers

When you’ve found the right betting offer for you, you’ll usually have to make a deposit to get started. If you get lucky and land any winnings, you may want to withdraw your winnings. It’s important that you choose a casino that allows you to do both with a payment method that suits you. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular banking options available at online casinos.

Event-Based Bonuses and Promotions

Betting sites will offer a range of different bonuses depending on each sport. From faller insurance for horse racing, to price boosts during football matches, to specific tennis tournament bonuses, there is a lot on offer. Click through on your preferred sport to see which bonuses are available to you.

How to Claim a Sign Up Bonus

Once you’ve checked through our toplist and chosen your preferred betting bonus, it’s a very simple process to register and start playing. Follow these steps and away you go!

1. It’s worth taking some time to compare the best sites for sports betting before making your decision. We’ve done the hard work for you, so all you have to do is browse our comparison lists and read our expert reviews. Checking for your preferred games or betting markets is an important decider, as is the betting format, bonuses available and ease of use; 
2. Click through from our toplist or the site’s full review and follow the registration process — it’s a simple process, adding in details and confirming your identity via KYC checks;
3. Once registered with your new account, you can make a deposit and claim your first bonus. Be sure to check that the bets you’re looking to make, and the payment methods you’d like to use, are eligible for the bonus;
4. Now you’re all set to place that first bet. Remember to always stay within your budget, never chase your losses, and always do a bit of research before betting. 

Betting Options and Markets for Bonuses

When using a betting bonus, it’s essential to understand the qualifying markets — as defined in the terms and conditions. These markets outline where you can apply your bonus, often including specific sports leagues or  bet types that are eligible. Here’s an overview of the primary markets you’ll encounter.

• Straight Bets
  A straightforward choice, straight bets are single wagers on a specific outcome, such as predicting a team to win a match. This type of bet is popular across team sports and may include point spreads in sports like American football and basketball. For example, if a bonus allows straight bets on Premier League matches, you can select a team to win, ensuring it aligns with the promotion’s qualifying criteria.
• Over/Under Bets
  Over/under bets allow you to wager on whether the total score, goals, or points will be higher or lower than a set number. Common in sports like football and basketball, over/under markets add versatility to how you use your bonus, often allowing bets on total game points, goals, or even stats like fouls or yellow cards in football. Always check if your bonus covers these markets.
• Accumulators
  Accumulator bets, also known as accas, are popular in football and other team sports, allowing you to combine multiple bets into one. Accas offer a higher potential return but require each ‘leg’ — an individual bet within the acca — to win. Some bonuses apply to accumulator bets, making them a popular way to maximise your winnings from a single bonus by betting on multiple matches or events in one wager.
• In-Play Betting
  Bonuses used on in-play markets allow you to place bets as the action unfolds. This is a dynamic option available in many sports, from tennis and cricket to football, where you can bet on outcomes that shift with the flow of the game. Ensure the bonus terms allow live bets, as some promotions are restricted to pre-match wagers.

Cash Out Explained 

An extra perk available at top online bookies like Coral and William Hill, and the perfect companion for in-play betting, a cashout feature gives you the option to collect some winnings or cut your losses before the event in question has concluded. So, if your bet is going well — perhaps five out of your six acca picks have already come in — and you want to secure a profit, cashout is the way to do it. 

On the flip side, if an event is not going how you envisaged, and your bet is looking like a bust, you can claw some of your stake back by cashing out your bet early. If you can’t decide whether to take your money or take your chances, some bookies offer a partial cashout feature that’s the perfect solution. Here, you can cashout part of your bet and leave the remainder to run its natural conclusion. 

Locking in profits on your wagers, no matter the outcome of the event? If it sounds like a great deal, you’d be right. However, it pays to keep in mind that not all bets are eligible for cashout. For example, you can’t usually cash out bets if you’ve used a price boost or a free bet token.

Get Started with a Betting Bonus

There are many different betting offers available to punters, from welcome offers to existing player promotions. Now that you’ve got to grips with the basic features of each major type, how to claim them and the various terms and conditions that affect them, you should be ready to get started. So run through our list of the best betting offers in the UK, find your favourite and sign up.

Bet Responsibly with Your Betting Bonuses 

Bonuses like free bets and money back offers can be a good way to bet on your favourite sports teams without spending too much of your own cash. However, here at Compare.bet, we recommend treating even the best betting bonuses exactly as you would your own money. Click through the link below for top tips on staying safe when gambling and details of organisations that can help you when you need a little advice.

See our references & visit related external links

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1. ncsc.gov.uk – ‘Setting up two-factor authentication (2FA)’