Free Bets

If you’re searching for the best free bet offers, then you’ve come to the right place. It might sound too good to be true, but this betting bonus really does give you the chance to make wagers without using your own bankroll. Household names and new betting sites alike offer this bonus deal, and we’ve highlighted the very best in our top-rated list of online sportsbooks, where you can easily compare the key terms of each deal. We’ve also written expert sportsbook reviews, covering everything from betting markets to payment methods, to help you find the best betting site for you. Simply check out our list of the best betting sites with free bet offers to get started.

Want to learn more about free bets, including how they work and how exactly you can get your hands on one? Whether you want to use free bets to wager on football, horse racing or any other sport, we’ve got you covered. Read on for all you need to know about free bet bonuses.

Best Free Bets UK

Free Bets Explained

Free bets is a bonus offered to players, usually in the form of a token of some sort that allows you to place a wager without using any of your real money balance.

Free bets can be claimed by both new and old players. When you set up a new account, you can get your hands on a free bet bonus as part of a sign-up offer, such as a ‘bet £10, get £10’ deal, which would reward players with a £10 free bet following their first £10 deposit. Existing players, on the other hand, are often offered free bets as an incentive to remain with the same bookie.

How we Choose the Best Free Bets in the UK

We’ve recommended a variety of free bet offers and ranked them. Want to know how we chose our favourites? Let’s take a look at the ranking criteria.

Qualifying Wager

We tend to favour bookies that offer a good bonus amount without requiring a large qualifying wager. Coral, for example, rewards a relatively low first deposit of £5 with £20 in free bets. Parimatch offers £20 in free bets and a £10 slots bonus for a £5 deposit.

Time Limits

When you claim a free bet bonus, you will have to use it within a specified time. These limits can often be pretty generous, lasting up to seven days from claiming the promotion. Other sites, however, may have shorter time limits of just 24 hours.

Available Markets

The number of markets you can use a free bet on may sometimes be limited by the betting site. In the cases of event-specific free bets, you may even be restricted to placing the wager on just one market from one particular game.

Stake Contribution

Stake contribution is effectively how much you’ll need to wager in total at the sportsbook to unlock any free bet winnings. It’s much like wagering requirements at online casinos, where bonus cash can only be withdrawn once you meet these requirements. Stake contributions or wagering requirements are rare when it comes to free bet T&Cs, but it’s worth being aware of them just in case — they’ll usually be much lower than wagering requirements attached to casino offers, just one or two times the value of the free bet. 

Money Back Bet

Some of our top UK free bets take the form of a ‘money back bet’ — sometimes called a bet refund — which is much like a regular free bet. The main difference? You place your qualifying bet with real money as usual, but you’ll be given a refund in the form of a free bet credit if you lose. That means winning punters will take home their stake and profit with no free bet given, so it’s essentially just a risk-free bet. As such, some players might like to take a punt at a wager with longer odds, safe in the knowledge they’ll get their stake back if it fails to come good.

Payment Method Exclusions

In an ideal world, your deposit method wouldn’t matter when it comes to claiming a free bet, but at some sites, it does. The most commonly excluded payment methods are e-wallets like Skrill, PayPal, and Neteller — betting sites with free bets do this to protect themselves from bonus fraud and abuse. 

Before making your qualifying deposit, always check to see if there are any payment method restrictions as you won’t receive your free bet if you use one. Debit cards are generally your best option if you’re in any doubt, as it’s very rare for them to be excluded when claiming a free bet offer.

Choose from a Range of Different Free Bet Bonuses

Every free bet offer does more or less the same thing – award you bonus betting funds to use on a range of markets – but how you claim and use them varies depending on the bonus type. From matched bet deals and promotional free bet tokens to loyalty rewards, there’s plenty of opportunities to get your hand of a free punt. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular free bets bonuses to help you pick out the best offer for you.

Free Bet Welcome Bonus

Many of the UK’s best betting sites offer free bet welcome bonuses to new punters when they sign up. These promotions are a great way to get settled in at a new bookie and learn the ropes of the site. Free bet welcome bonuses come in different forms so here’s a rundown of the types of deals on offer.

First Bet Bonus

Most free bet welcome deals reward free bets when you make your first real money wager, provided it meets the qualifying requirements. Some top online bookies offer matched bet offers, such as ‘bet £10 get a £10 free bet’, while other gambling sites offer deals like ‘bet £5 get £20 in free bets’. The way in which you can use your free bet bonus varies depending on the offer – some sites may award a set £20 bet, while others will award four £5 free bets.

Money-Back Free Bet

This free bet welcome bonus sees betting sites offer players a free bet if their first bet doesn’t come in. Think of this offer as a consolation prize should your first bet lose. The free bet may be equal to your stake, but only up to a certain amount. As such, a money-back free bet bonus would often look like, “free bet up to £40 on your first losing bet”, for example. This is a great way to have a punt on longer odds as you know there will be some insurance should your bet not come it.

Free Bets with Enhanced Odds

Plenty of betting sites offer free bets, so it’s worth looking out for free bets with enhanced odds. These are usually available in the build-up to a marquee sporting event, like the next round of Champions League fixtures. Enhanced odds free bets are bonuses offered to players that payout higher rewards should your bet win. They are almost always tied to specific events, such as upcoming football matches, and will look something like, ‘Boosted Odds of 10/1 if Harry Kane scores against Arsenal.’ The size of the free bet is usually pretty small, rarely above £10, but with higher odds on offer, there is always a chance that you can take home some sizable winnings.

Free Bet Bonus Promo Codes

You can access free bet bonuses by using a promo code set by the bookie. When you choose a promo code, it’s important that you read the full terms and conditions in order to analyse factors such as bonus size, wagering requirements and the minimum qualifying bet. The bonus amount won’t often be any different than other free bets offered on the site, but it is nonetheless an alternative way for new players to claim a welcome offer.

No Deposit Free Bet

A no deposit free bet does what it says on the tin by giving you bonus funds to spend without needing to pay anything. While this is a great opportunity to try out a betting site before investing any money in it, don’t expect the bookies to break the bank here. No deposit free bets are rarely worth more than £10, and they may come with stricter terms and conditions. What’s more, they are quite rare, popping up at online bookies pretty infrequently. 

Most Common ‘Bet and Get’ Offers in the UK

There are plenty of sportsbooks offering free bets in the UK. Below, we’ve compared a few of the most common ‘bet and get’ free bet offers found at some of our favourite sites. 

Bet £5 Get £20 Free Bet

Kicking things off on the lower end, we have two offers where you’ll net a £20 free bet when you bet just £5, courtesy of Coral and Ladbrokes. Each offer is pretty similar, with just seven days to use your free bet. Your qualifying bet must be placed at odds of at least 1/2.

How you receive your bet is slightly different:

• Coral – one free bet worth £20
• Ladbrokes – four free bets worth £5 each

As for any other terms, the offers are more or less the same — the stake isn’t returned and you can’t cash out your free bet early. 

Bet £5 Get £30 Free Bet

At BetVictor and Parimatch, new customers can get £30 in free bets when they bet just £5 at either site. As BetVictor owns Parimatch, these offers are identical — at both sites, you’ll get:

• £10 free bet on any single sports bet
• £10 free bet on any sports accumulator of 5+ selections
• £10 slots bonus 

The free bets need to be used within seven days. They can be used to place one free bet to the full value or multiple smaller free bets, so it’s nice to have a bit of flexibility. There are no wagering requirements on the free bets, but the slots bonus comes with 20x requirements — that’s not too bad as far as casino bonuses go.

Bet £10 Get £30 Free Bet

There’s lots of choice when it comes to bet £10 get £30 promotions, with four sites offering such a welcome bonus to new players:

• STS Bet
• Unibet
• Tebwin
• Bet Storm

Minimum odds are 1/2 for each offer with the exception of Unibet, which is 1/1 or evens. STS gives players plenty of time to use their free bet — a whole 30 days — with just seven days for the other three offers. 

Bet £10 Get £50 Free Bet

Bet365 offers a generous £50 in free bets when punters bet just £10. You can also get involved for just £5, which will net you half the amount — a £25 free bet. This is one of the most player-friendly bonuses as you get 90 days to use your free bets, and the minimum odds are only 1/5 (1.2).

Best Free Bets for Existing Customers

Of course, once you’ve been with a site long enough to get through any sign-up offers, you might be wondering what’s next. Fortunately, many of our top sportsbooks offer ongoing free bets for existing customers. These can take several forms — let’s look at a few of the different types below. 

Free Bet Club

If you’re a regular sports bettor, it’s worth getting involved at a site with a free bet club — that’s where you’ll get regular access to free bets when you opt in and meet any requirements. Many free bet clubs reward members with a weekly free bet, typically £5–£10 in size. In order to qualify, you’ll usually need to have bet a certain amount at the site that week.

For example, players can join the ACCA Club at 888sport to receive a weekly £5 free bet when they bet at least £20 on accas/multiples or Bet Builder. Meanwhile at the Sky Bet Club, you’ll get to pick from one of four weekly rewards including a £5 free bet or a £6 in-play football bet when you wager at least £25. 

While free bet clubs offer great value if you regularly stake the required amounts, it’s important not to feel compelled to gamble just for the sake of unlocking a free bet. As always, keep responsible gambling in mind when you play and never bet more than you can afford to. 

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is a term that can apply to any offer designed to ‘reload’ a player’s balance at a site — so you could probably consider most offers to existing customers as reload bonuses. Sportsbooks often hand them out to players when there’s a big event coming up, sometimes requiring qualifying bets or free bets to be placed on said event. 

Reload bonuses come in many different shapes and sizes, with examples including:

• 100% deposit match up to £50 when you deposit at least £20.
• £30 free bet when you deposit £30.
• Two £10 free bets when you bet at least £5 on the Premier League.

As with any bonus, it’s essential you check the full terms and conditions before accepting the offer so you understand the value you’re getting, along with any rules and requirements. 

Loyalty Bonus

Just like reload bonuses, loyalty bonuses cover a wide spectrum of offers. They’re given to punters who regularly bet or deposit at a site in recognition of their patronage, sometimes requiring you to meet staking minimums in order to trigger the bonus. While free bet clubs themselves are a type of loyalty bonus, there are plenty of other offer types too, including:

• Deposit matches
• VIP points which can be exchanged for free bets and other perks
• Cashback 
• Odds boosts
• Additional casino bonuses and free spins

Check if the betting site offers a specific loyalty scheme and opt in if it’s required. Sometimes it’s worth signing up for email updates or push notifications via a mobile sportsbook app — that way, any loyalty offers you qualify for won’t slip through the net. 

Insurance Free Bets

We’ve all been there — just as your acca is about to come good, the final leg lets you down and you walk away with nothing. One way to avoid this disappointment is with acca insurance. While you won’t take home any profit, you’ll get your stake refunded with a free bet credit instead, should just one leg of your accumulator fail. 

Make sure you know the maximum insurance free bet offered by the sportsbook — the limit is usually set somewhere between £10 and £25. That should suit most players: the appeal of placing an acca is often a high pay-off in comparison to a relatively low stake. Check if there are any rules around how you use your insurance free bet too, as some must be used to place another acca or are restricted to certain markets. 

Enjoy Regular Free Bets Thanks to Sportsbook Promotions

Free bets are a great way of attracting new customers, but many of our handpicked top bookies offer the best free bets promotions to keep existing players coming back too. While some sportsbooks reward players with free bets when they put money on certain markets, others offer event-based promotions. These are some of the types of free bet promotions you can expect from sports betting sites.

Weekly Free Bet Clubs

Several of our recommended online bookmakers run a weekly free bet club, where you’ll be able to snag a free bet every seven days if you meet the requirements. Here’s how you can get involved:

How to Use Your Free Bet

Once you’ve picked up a free bet as part of a sign up bonus or existing customer promotion, putting it into action is usually a quick and easy process. There’ll be differences between free bets sites on the exact steps of how to use them, but generally it’ll play out as follows:

1. Check out the T&Cs – a good place to start is a quick check of the main terms and conditions. These will be listed as part of the info for the sign up bonus, or if you’re an existing customer, any maximum win caps or market restrictions should be listed in your messages where you first received the free bet.
2. Browse and choose a market – now you’re aware of any restrictions, you’ll need to go ahead and choose where to place your free bet. Some free bets are targeted at specific markets, such as the weekend’s upcoming Premier League games, so you can head straight there to get started. Other free bets are more flexible — if you’re not aware of any market restrictions, have a browse and pick out something that takes your fancy.
3. Set up your bet –  next, choose a selection and add it to the betslip. It’s here you can select your stake and check out the potential returns. However, if your selection is eligible, you’ll instead be able to select the option to use your free bet instead of a real money stake. Free bets act like a token and are fixed to a particular value, so all you’ll need to do is click the button to activate it. The potential payout will also update — remember that you won’t receive any stake back with a free bet.
4. Confirm your free bet – now, there’s nothing left to do other than click confirm and wait for the result of your bet — good luck!

How Free Bet Bonuses Differ to Matched Deposit Deals

At first glance free bets and matched deposit deals can seem fairly similar, but there are some important differences to keep in mind. The first difference is how you claim them; free bets offers require you to make a qualifying bet, whereas matched deposits are awarded when you make your first deposit. Some bookies award free bets based on the size of your initial deposit, but still require you to make a qualifying bet to activate the bonus, whereas matched deposits don’t require a qualifying bet at all.

The two bonuses also differ in how you use them. Whereas free bets bonuses usually award set bet amounts, matched deposits generally award larger sums which you can use with more freedom. For example, a bookie may award a £100 matched deposit funds, which you could use to make ten £10 bets or five £20 bets. This may sound more attractive, but keep in mind that matched deposit deals often come with wagering requirements which makes it harder to turn your bonus into withdrawable winnings.

Top Sports for Free Bets

Free bets are available for use on a range of different sports. As such, a broad selection of sports fans can make use of them to wager on their favourite events. Let’s have a look at some of the key sports punters can use their free bets on. 

Football

Free football bets are a common promotion available at online bookies. With so many football matches played around the world, there are plenty of betting opportunities. Some free bet offers will be tied to high-profile sporting events, such as the Manchester derby or the World Cup final. Others, however, can be used on a far greater range of games. 

Horse Racing 

Horse racing fans are another group who can make the most of the best free bet offers available at online bookies. There is a myriad of horse racing events held each year, with some of the most high-profile held in the UK. From the Grand National, to Cheltenham, to Epsom, there are sure to be a range of free bet offers available to players. What’s more, there are also plenty of races from across the world to bet on, including the Kentucky Derby, the Melbourne Cup and the Dubai World Cup. Just as with football, free bets can be used on a range of different events, or they may be tied to specific events. 

Boxing

Big boxing clashes are often the highlight of the sporting calendar, so it’s no surprise that bookies will often offer free bets for these big fight nights. Some betting sites may even offer free bets on specific methods of victory, such as ‘£5 Free Bet on Anthony Joshua to Win by Knockout before the 6th Round,’ for example.

Tennis

There are numerous big tennis tournaments that take place throughout the year, namely the Grand Slams — the Australian Open, French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon. Thanks to the relatively short games that make up each set and match, tennis is a fast-paced sport that’s ideal for an in-play free bet. Nonetheless, if you’d prefer to stick on your free tennis bet ahead of time, you can choose from a range of markets like who’ll win the tournament, who’ll win a particular game, and what the score will be.

Golf

Golf is another great choice for when you’ve got a free bet in the bag. You can take your pick on who’ll win the top competitions, like the 2023 US Masters. At most betting sites with free bets you can also opt for an each way selection, where you’ll be putting a bet on the golfer to win the tournament, and another bet for them to place. Which positions constitute ‘placing’ depends on the size of the tournament, but for the 2023 US Masters, Paddy Power have this down as the top six.

Basketball

The NBA springs to mind for most people when they think of basketball — North America’s elite league features famous teams like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. You can place straight up bets on which team will win a particular match, or make your predictions on the performances of particular players, such as how many rebounds LeBron James will get in one game. If you’re less familiar with basketball but are interested in watching more of it and potentially having a punt, a free bet is a great place to start rather than risking any of your own cash.

Claim Free Bets on Your Smartphone

If, like many punters, you prefer to do your betting on your mobile, you’ll be glad to know that you’ll have access to the same free bet offers as desktop players. This means you can sign up, claim your bonus and wager free bets using your smartphone.

All the top UK betting sites on our list have mobile-friendly websites, and some have even developed mobile sports betting apps for iPhone and Android. If you download a mobile betting app, you’ll have the added benefit of push notifications. These alert you every time a new free bet bonus is available, meaning you’ll never have to worry about missing out on a great deal!

Get to Know the All-Important Free Bet Terms and Conditions

Free bets are great, but there are a few factors to bear in mind before you sign up to claim. The biggest free bet offer isn’t always the best deal, as it’s the terms and conditions that determine how you use your bet and how much you can potentially win. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for when you’re looking for free bets bonuses:

Win Limits

Pretty much all free bets offers have win limits that prevent betting sites from making huge losses, which is understandable. The win limits vary from bookie to bookie – some have fairly low limits, while others allow big wins. Make sure to check this beforehand, as it will help you decide which markets to use your free bets on.

Minimum Odds

Pretty much all free bets offers have minimum odds requirements that generally apply to the qualifying bet. The minimum odds vary depending on the bonus, but they generally range from 1/2 to 3/4. So if the minimum odds for the qualifying bet are 3/4, you’ll have to wager on a market with those odds in order to qualify for the free bet promotion.

Wagering Requirements

Whereas wagering requirements are a staple of online casino bonuses, they don’t apply to the majority of free bets bonuses. Still, it’s important to keep an eye out just in case – some free bet deals have low wagering requirements, such as 2x or 3x the bonus amount. Let’s take a look at an example of how wagering requirements work:

Time Limits

As with all betting bonuses, free bet offers usually come with time limits. This means you’ll need to use your bonus bets in a specified amount of time before it expires. While some online betting sites will give players just a couple of days to use this bonus, others allow you 30 days to use your free bet offer. If your free bet bonus comes with a wagering requirement attached, you’ll also need to complete the wagering within the allotted time frame.

Excluded Payment Methods

To bag yourself a free bet, you’ll often need to place a qualifying bet with your own cash first. UK customers have access to a whole host of payment methods when depositing at free bets sites, but some of them may be excluded when claiming a sign up bonus. e-Wallets, such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill are often excluded, but you’ll always be able to use a debit card, such as Visa or Mastercard. Check the T&Cs for the free bet offer before you get started to avoid any hassle.

Market Restrictions

Some free bets can be used on any sports markets across a site — in this case, you can simply browse what’s on offer and take your pick. In other cases, the free bet may only be available for a particular sport, or one specific match. If you’re having to place a qualifying bet in order to claim the free bets, ensure you check the market restrictions beforehand to avoid any disappointment further down the line.

Other Promotions at Betting Sites with Free Bets

The best free bets sites offer a whole host of promotions for new and existing customers which have the power to enhance your betting experience and get more value out of each of your selections. Check out some of the other promotions up for grabs at betting sites with free bets below.

Matched Deposits

Matched deposits are a popular type of sign up bonus at free bets sites. The bookmaker will ‘match’ your first deposit up to a certain amount with bonus credit. So, if the promotion offers a 100% bonus up to £200, the maximum bonus you can obtain is £200, and you’d need to deposit £200 to do so. This effectively doubles your money and leaves you with £400 in total. 

Matched deposit bonuses can work to other percentages too — for example, a 50% bonus on a £10 deposit would give you an extra fiver to play with. Be sure to check any associated wagering requirements before you deposit – they are always part of the deal, with a typical bonus play through requirement standing at 35x before you’re able to withdraw any remaining cash. 

Acca Insurance

Accumulators are one of the most popular and exciting ways to bet. Punters pick multiple selections they think will come up trumps and combine them to increase the potential payout. The bet only wins if every selection is successful, so the win can be tantalisingly out of reach if just one leg of the acca lets you down. 

With acca insurance, you’ll get your stake back if this happens and just one of your selections loses. This’ll either be in the form of a free bet, or as cash that you can withdraw right away. That said, there’ll usually be a maximum refund you can obtain, so be sure to check the T&Cs before placing the bet.

Best Odds Guaranteed

Best odds guaranteed is a popular promotion aimed at horse racing punters, but you’ll see it offered for other sports markets too. It addresses the fact that odds often fluctuate in the run up to an event, leading bettors to analyse when the best time is to place the bet.

With this promotion, if you place your bet ahead of time and the race’s starting odds offer a higher payout, you’ll be given the new and improved odds. If the potential payout doesn’t increase from when you placed your bet, you’ll stick with the original odds. Either way, you won’t miss out.

Loyalty and VIP Schemes

Most betting sites with free bets offer some form of loyalty scheme to provide an extra incentive to returning customers. These come in various forms — many loyalty programs see you collect points as you bet, which can then be exchanged for prizes, such as free spins for slot games and free bets. 

Some VIP programs are more exclusive and work on an invite-only basis. They’ll often be tiered, with punters gaining access to perks, like faster withdrawals, as they rank up. Many betting sites even offer personal account managers and tickets to exclusive events and holidays. It’s worth noting, however, that loyalty schemes are completely optional to take part in, and it’s important to only bet what you feel comfortable with.

Cashback

Cashback is a great way to make some money back when you bet with no strings attached. In most cases, you’ll receive a percentage of your net losses back as withdrawable cash on a daily or weekly basis. 

The cash will be credited to your betting account and can usually be withdrawn straight away with no wagering requirements attached. Some punters prefer promotions that don’t centre around them losing money, but for others cashback is a welcomed bonus when a few bets haven’t gone their way.

Free Bet Payment Options

There are a variety of payment options available to players looking to claim a free bet bonus. Each one has a different set of benefits, but there may be some restrictions when it comes to claiming an offer. Here are some of the key banking methods you can use. 

Debit Cards

Debit cards are one of the most popular payment options used by online sportsbook members. Deposits from Visa or Mastercard cards are almost always instant and it is very rare to come across any restrictions when claiming a free bet. Withdrawal times can be quite long, however, typically taking between one to five working days. 

E-wallets 

If you’re looking for consistently quick withdrawal times, then an e-wallet may be the payment method for you. E-wallet options such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller offer players withdrawals in as little as 24 hours in some cases, alongside instant withdrawals. You may find, however, that some restrictions apply when it comes to claiming a free bet at particular sites. This means you will have to use a different method to claim the promotion. We recommend reading the terms and conditions before signing up to make sure you’re eligible for a free bet if you use an e-wallet. 

Prepaid Cards 

Prepaid card options, such as Paysafecard, are fast becoming one of the more popular deposit methods used by online players. These options provide players with a lot of security as none of your bank details need to be shared with the betting site when you make a deposit. You won’t be able to make withdrawals using Paysafecard, so you will have to use a different method in order to claim your cash. 

Payment Restrictions 

The UK’s top betting sites offer a range of secure payment methods, but not all deposits are eligible for free bets bonus deals. It’s common for some of the best betting sites to exclude deposits made with Neteller and Skrill from free bet offers, so you may need to use alternative banking options. Similarly, if you’re looking for sites that accept PayPal deposits, keep in mind that some bookies state that you need to use a different banking method to PayPal to claim free bet promotions.

UK’s Best Free Bets Bonuses:

Claim your Free Bet!

Whether you’re a new customer looking for a top free bet offer, or a returning punter after a freebie, our top list of bookies is sure to give you what you’re looking for. We’ve scoured the internet for the best free bet offers at the most reputable licensed bookies, each with competitive odds, amazing promotions and outstanding market depth on major sports. All that’s left for you to do is compare free bet deals, sign up and claim your free bet today!

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1. gamblingcommission.gov.uk – ‘Understanding the cashout option’