Best Betting Welcome Bonuses

By Daniel Bennett on
Searching for the biggest welcome bonuses but don’t know where to start? Look no further. We’ve selected the top sports betting sites with the best welcome bonuses, to help you give your betting budget an extra boost.
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1. Bzeebet
78%
Bet £10 Get £10

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"A sleek design and array of sports, including horse racing, make this brand new UK bookmaker the place to be"
Get Bonus
38
No
No
No
New Customer Offer 18+. New Customers Only. Max one £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1(2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5(180) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs Apply 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
2. 10bet
87%
50% up to £50

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The 10Bet experience was extremely smooth, verification was instant and my withdrawal was processed within 48 hours"
Get Bonus
32
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer New bettors; Code PLAY10; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
3. Luckster Sport
78%
Bet £10 Get £10

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Try this brand new sportsbook which has a particularly strong section on football & e-sports"
Get Bonus
41
No
No
No
New Customer Offer New customers only. Max one free £10 bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds required. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+ 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
4. Parimatch
92%
Bet £10 Get £40

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"You can withdraw your funds from Parimatch within 30 minutes using the Visa FastFunds service available at selected banks."
Get Bonus
32
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 10 days. Offer valid from 14:00 UK time on 11/01/2024. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
5. 32Red
80%
100% Profit Boost

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The Know Your Customer check is easy to complete and free bet welcome bonuses are easy to claim right after you sign up."
Get Bonus
33
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Opt in. Min. Odds Evs, Max. £10 stake, Max. additional profit £100. Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
6. Vegas Mobile Sports
Bet £10 Get £20

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"As you would expect, Vegas Mobile Sports has an excellent mobile platform and great welcome offers for sports"
Get Bonus
30
No
No
No
New Customer Offer New players only. Min £ 10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £ 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
7. Grosvenor
82%
Double the odds

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"Know Your Customer check easy to complete - simply scanned in my documents and the confirmation was received instantly"
Get Bonus
38
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer NEW CUSTOMERS. MAX £10(EXC PAYPAL). 100% ODDS BOOST TOKEN. T&CS APPLY. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
8. Bet Storm
71%
Bet £10, Get £10

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Enjoy fun competitions such as 'Wage Wars' and collect cash prizes while climbing up competition leaderboards"
Get Bonus
39
No
No
Yes
New Customer Offer New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
9. Unibet
85%
Money Back As a Bonus Up To £40 + £10 Casino Bonus

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The easy to access odds boost option on racing bets makes this a solid option for those wagering on the horse."
Get Bonus
38
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
10. Quinnbet
Free Bet Up To £35 + 10 Spins

Reviewed & verified by our team

"If you have recorded an overall loss over the course of a week at Quinnbet, you can claim 25% of them back as a free bet up to £50."
Get Bonus
32
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free online casino spins at QuinnCasino. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
11. Bwin
82%
Sign up to get your £20 Backup Bet

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Use Bwin's multi-generator to create interesting accumulators from around the globe at a fast pace"
Get Bonus
38
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer 18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
12. Tebwin
71%
Bet £10 Get £30 with Code 'SB30'

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Offering in-depth markets and cashback on a multitude of sports, Tebwin is a perfect new sportsbook for the sports-mad fan"
Get Bonus
39
No
No
Yes
New Customer Offer New players only. Min $/€/£ 10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of $/€/£ 200, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: $/€/£ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
13. Boyle Sports
84%
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"Really strong website, easy to navigate between sports, competitions, accumulators. Withdrawals also processed within 48 hours."
Get Bonus
35
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
14. Bet365
92%
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Bet365 are one of the biggest online bookies and offer players a Bet Builder, Acca Boost and Early Payout on multiple markets"
Get Bonus
37
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
15. Coral
91%
Bet £5, get £20 in free bets

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"Verification was instant with quick & easy deposit. Wide range of markets & good odds. Paid out within 24h."
Get Bonus
53
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
16. Ladbrokes
88%
Bet £5, get £20 in free bets

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"This is a great bookie for cashing out, offering the feature immediately after I placed my bet. Withdrawals were processed within two days as well."
Get Bonus
38
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply, 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
🏆 Best Overall Score:
92%
🎁 Largest Free Bet:
£50
🤝 Highest Deposit Match:
100%
💷 Minimum Deposit:
£5

With so many sports betting sites out there, the industry is super competitive. Sites offer attractive welcome bonuses to attract new customers, rewarding them for choosing their new bookie. This is good news for bettors, as it means there are loads of great deals for you to choose from. Whether you want to bet on the latest Premier League action, or the upcoming excitement of the Cheltenham Festival there’s a sign-up bonus out there for you. But with such a vast choice, knowing which welcome bonus suits you best can be a little confusing. To help you out, we’ve got the rundown on everything you need to know about welcome bonuses at sports betting sites.

Bonuses

Types of Welcome Bonuses

There are several different types of welcome bonuses on offer across the sports betting world, each offering you a different way to bet and win big on the house. Want to know which new customer deal is best for you? We’ve covered the most popular sign-up bonuses for online sportsbooks.

Money Back Bonus

At some online sportsbooks, you can get your money back if your first bet is a bust. To claim these bonus offers, you’ll place your first bet, remembering to use a bonus code if required, and adhering to any T&Cs like minimum odds. If your bet wins, you’ll cash in as normal. If it doesn’t, you’ll get your stake back. Bookies usually return your money in the form of a free bet, up to a max bonus amount, though there is some variation here. For example, Unibet returns up to £40 as bonus money, which you’ll need to wager 3x. It’s also possible to find money-back offers that return your stake as cash.

Free Bets

Free bets are one of the most well-known sign-up bonuses around as new customers are rewarded with a boost to their bankroll. Sometimes, you’ll get a free bet simply for signing up, but in other instances, you’ll need to make a deposit first. Free bets sometimes come attached to other larger bonuses, like matched deposits, but you can also claim one on its own. 

First Bet Bonus

First bet bonuses are one of the most common welcome offers and can be a great deal for new gamblers. To claim yours, you’ll usually need to make a minimum deposit or make a bet of a specified value. The value of bonus bets will depend on your choice of betting site, but they usually range from £10 to £50. While some sites will give you a single bet worth the stated value, others split the bonus across separate, smaller bets. For example, Coral offers a £20 free bet bonus, paid out as a single free bet when you deposit and bet £5 on any sport. Meanwhile, the William Hill welcome bonus pays out the £30 of free bets on offer as 3 x £10 free bets.

New customers may also be eligible to bonuses which will reward them with a free bet if their first settled bet loses. 

Matched Bonuses

Matched deposit bonuses see sports betting sites reward new players for making their first deposit. This reward comes in the form of a bonus equal to a percentage of the initial deposit, which can be used to bet on your favourite sports and can range from 25% to as much as 200%. Matched deposit bonuses usually have a limit, such as ‘up to £50’, so be sure to keep an eye out if you’re a big spender. For example, 10bet offers a 50% deposit match up to £50. This means that if you deposit £50, you will receive a £50 bonus, boosting your total bankroll to £100. 

Some sports betting sites will also offer similar rewards in the form of a matched bet. This means you’ll receive bonus cash equal to a percentage of your first bet.]

Best Welcome Bonuses

  • Quinnbet
    Quinnbet

    - Best Welcome Bonus

  • Novibet
    Novibet

    - Best Free Bet Bonus

  • Luckster Sport
    Luckster Sport

    - Best Matched Deposit Bonus

  • Netbet
    Netbet

    - Best Bonus for Sports & Casino

  • Paddy Power Sport
    Paddy Power Sport

    - Best Bonus Bet

  • Betiton
    Betiton

    - Best New Betting Bonus

  • Bet365
    Bet365

    - Best Mobile App Bonus

  • Grosvenor
    Grosvenor

    - Best Enhanced Odds Bonus

Existing Player Promotions 

What Bonuses are on Offer for Existing Players?

Sportsbook bonus offers aren’t just exclusive to new customers. Let’s take a look at some of the most common promotions for existing customers. 

Accumulator Bonus

Accumulators can provide players with some potentially huge payouts from a small first bet.  Those potential winnings can be boosted by claiming an accumulator bonus. Here, bookies give you extra winnings if all your selections win, with the size of the extra winnings dependent on the number of selections in your bet.  

Request a Bet 

The best sportsbooks put customers right in the centre of the action by allowing them to create their own bets. If you can’t find the odds you’re looking for at a sportsbook, or if you’ve got a hunch of your own, then you can ask the bookie via social media for the odds on a particular market. The betting site will then get back in touch with you when the odds for your bet have been calculated. 

Free Bet Promotions

Sports betting promotions may be offered by bookies to coincide with high-profile sporting events. 10bet, for example, regularly give out free bet offers and enhanced odds promotions on the latest football action. These promotions can also apply to other noteworthy sports events, such as the Six Nations, Wimbledon and The Masters. You may also be 

Enhanced Odds

This bonus is great for all kinds of bettors — bookies often select certain markets to receive an odds boost. You’ll usually see these enhanced odds offers for marquee events on the sporting calendar, such as the Champions League. Some bookies even offer enhanced odds on accumulators, with the selections usually chosen by the bookie.  Grosvenor Sports’ welcome bonus gives you a bit more flexibility, offering doubled odds on any sport as a welcome bonus for new bettors.

Bet Builder

Most top sportsbooks now offer a great feature called a Bet Builder. This is not quite the same as Request a Bet, but it does allow you to create custom odds for your wager in the same way as you can when building an acca. The key difference here is that where a standard acca is made up of bets on different sporting matchups, a Bet Builder allows you to choose selections from a single event. The Bet365 Soccer Bet Builder is a popular pick for footie fans and allows punters to add up to 12 picks from the same game.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses work in much the same way as deposit match bonuses for new customers, in that they’ll match a percentage of your deposit amount as bonus cash. However, you can only claim these deals as an existing customer, and they tend to be a bit less generous than first deposit bonuses. For example, you might see reload bonuses offering a 10% to 20% match for your real money deposit, as opposed to the bigger deposit match deals available to new sign ups. Not all bookies offer permanently available reload bonuses and run short-term promos instead. This makes it wise to stay up to date with the offers page to ensure you don’t miss out.

Cashback

The cashback deals available at online sports betting sites vary in the specifics, but these offers will all return a portion of your net losses in some way or another. This might be the betting losses you incur on a specific day, on a specific sporting event or perhaps over a portion of a particular tournament, such as the World Cup Group Stages. Some online sports betting sites will give you cashback once a week, based on your net losses during the previous week. In any case, a maximum bonus amount in the small print might put a cap on the cashback you receive.

Acca Insurance

Losing out on a big win because one pick on your acca has let you down can be frustrating. However, the best bookies soften the blow with Acca Insurance, which refunds your stake if one selection is a dud. To qualify for acca insurance, each leg of your bet will need to be at the minimum odds stated by the bookie. Refunds will usually be for a maximum amount and often take the shape of a free bet credit. However, it’s also possible to find acca insurance promotions that refund bettors in cash.

Guaranteed Best Odds

At top online bookies, horse racing fans can usually take advantage of a promotion called Best Odds Guaranteed. These deals guarantee racing punters that all winning bets placed after a certain time on race day — usually between 8am and 10am — will be paid out at the best possible odds. In other words, if the SP price is bigger than when you placed your bet, you’ll be paid out at the better odds. Best Odds Guaranteed doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re looking at the best possible odds across all online bookies, so it’s still a good idea to compare odds.

Terms and Conditions

What to Consider when Choosing your Welcome Bonus

Welcome bonuses are a great way to boost your bankroll, but it’s important that you understand exactly what you’re signing up for before you claim. You should always check the terms and conditions to make sure you’re getting the best deal on the market. Here are the key factors to consider before you spend your own money on a sports betting sign-up bonus.

Wagering Requirements

Some welcome bonuses will have wagering requirements, which determine how much you’ll need to wager before you can withdraw any bonus winnings. Wagering requirements on sports betting bonuses tend to be lower than casino bonuses, and many betting bonuses have no wagering requirements. For example, MansionBet’s welcome bonus stipulates that you must wager both your deposit and bonus funds 10 times before making a withdrawal.

Qualifying Requirements

Most welcome bonuses come with conditions you’ll need to meet to qualify for the reward. This usually involves making a minimum deposit or placing a bet of a certain value. These values will vary for each welcome bonus, so be sure to check in the terms and conditions.

Minimum Odds

Many sports betting welcome bonuses are subject to minimum odds, and the qualifying bet you make to claim the bonus may also be affected by these. These odds requirements could mean you won’t necessarily be able to bet on your preferred market with your bonus funds, so it’s best to read the full terms and conditions before you sign up.

Time Limits

These welcome bonuses aren’t available forever, so be sure to strike while the iron is hot. Not only will you need to meet the wagering requirements, but you’ll also usually have to do so within a specified time period. Once the specified day expiry is over, any winnings you may have made will be lost. 

Market Restrictions

Some bonus bets are only available to use on certain markets, such as outright win or in-play. You may also find that you’ll be restricted in terms of the sports you can bet on with your bonus funds. Your welcome bonus may only apply to football markets and not other options such as horse racing and boxing. 

Payment Exclusions

Unless you’re claiming a no deposit offer, you’ll need to make a qualifying deposit to claim a welcome package — and there’s a good chance you’ll be excluded from using certain payment methods when doing so. The most common payment options to be ruled out of welcome bonus offers are the Neteller and Skrill e-wallets, along with deposit-only banking options like Payforit. You will be able to qualify for most bonus offers by depositing with trusted banking options like debit card or Trustly, though there’s nothing to stop you from switching to another payment method for subsequent deposits if you feel more comfortable.

Win Limits

Win limits can be a bit of a bugbear when it comes to sportsbook bonus offers, and online casino bonuses too. Often referred to as winnings caps, win limits do exactly as the name describes and put a limit on how much you can cash out from a sportsbook welcome bonus. The best welcome bonuses won’t put any limits on how much you can win, but where winnings caps do apply, they’re often on the generous side — perhaps sitting at around the £500 mark. However, some bookies do come in a bit lower, so, as ever, it pays to be vigilant when checking the T&Cs for individual bonus offers.

How To Choose the Best Welcome Bonus

Follow the steps below and you’ll be on your way to claiming a juicy sign-up bonus.

Red Man Magnifying Glass STEP 1
Browse & Compare Offers
Our experts have found the best welcome offers around, making it easy for you to find your perfect fit.
Blue Man Checklist STEP 2
Review Terms
Check the terms and conditions of the bonus like wagering requirements, minimum deposits, and excluded payment methods.
Blue Sign Up Download Phone STEP 3
Sign Up
Once you’re happy, enter your details to sign up and complete any KYC requirements. Don’t forget the bonus promo code if it’s required!
Blue Present Money Card STEP 4
Deposit & Claim
Log into your new account and head to the cashier page. Pick your favourite method, make your deposit, and claim your welcome bonus.
Signing Up

How to Claim your Sports Betting Welcome Bonus

  1. Browse and compare
    First things first, you need to check out what bonuses are on offer at each sports betting site. With so many sites to choose from, narrowing down the list can be tricky. Our hand-picked list of the top betting sites with the best welcome bonuses makes it easier to compare each bookmaker and select the best welcome bonus for you. 
  2. Understand the terms and conditions
    It’s important to read the small print before you claim your welcome bonus so that you understand exactly what you’re signing up to — the biggest numbers aren’t always the best deals. Make sure you understand everything from qualifying requirements, to wagering requirements and withdrawal limits before you sign up.
  3. Sign up
    You’ll need to create an account before you can claim your sports betting welcome bonus. This should only take a few minutes, and you’ll only need to provide a few personal details. Don’t forget to enter your welcome bonus promo code if your bookie has shared one, in order to opt-in for the welcome bonus.
  4. Deposit and claim your bonus
    Finally, all you need to do is activate your betting bonus. Whether this is simply making a minimum deposit, or placing your first bet. Your bonus will usually be activated automatically once you’ve fulfilled these requirements, which means you’re ready to start betting!
Sports Betting Welcome Offer

Using Your Sports Betting Welcome Offer

Once you’ve registered with a site and claimed the best welcome bonus, it’s time to put it into action. You should never feel like you have to rush into placing your bets right away, but there is usually a time limit to keep an eye on for using rewards such as free bets. Alternatively, many sports betting welcome offers require you to place a real money bet first, and you’ll get your stake back as a free bet if it loses. There’s lots of detail below on how this all works so read on to find out more about the process of using sports betting welcome offers.

Choose Your Sports Market

The best welcome bonus will give you lots of flexibility when choosing a sports betting market, so you can throw down your free bets, spend bonus credit, or place a qualifying bet on any sport that takes your fancy. There’ll be rules on the odds you can place these bets at, so be sure to check the T&Cs before you get started.

Football

From the Premier League to more obscure divisions all over the world, there’s a huge number of football teams and games you can bet on using the best welcome bonus. Punters can place outright football bets, such as the team to win this season’s Champions League, or the player to win the World Cup Golden Boot. Alternatively, you can home in on the minutiae of individual games and wager on the number of goal kicks in the final ten minutes of a match, or how many shots on target a particular player will have while they’re on the pitch.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is another popular option when making use of sports betting welcome offers. There are races happening all year round, but the biggest events in the UK include the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival. As well as a single bet on which horse will win the race, there are lots of other types of racing bets you can go for. An each-way bet is a popular option — here half your stake will go on the horse to win, and half is on the horse to place. 

Tennis

Grand Slam tournaments, also known as majors, are the most-watched tennis events throughout the year. These include four two-week tournaments: the Australian Open in January, The French Open from May to June, Wimbledon from June to July, and the US Open from August to September. However, there are plenty of other competitions going on throughout the year, so you won’t be short on opportunities. Punters can bet on the players to win matches and tournaments, or take advantage of in-play betting and predict the scores of individual games and sets.

Golf

Golf betting is available throughout the year but excitement swells when a major competition rolls around. Held in Augusta National Golf Club in April, The Masters is perhaps the most famous golf tournament, bringing with it the chance to bet on who will win the famous green jacket. The PGA Championship is another event with plenty of betting options, as is the Ryder Cup — the biennial battle between Europe and the USA. Throw in the British, US and South African Open, and so on, and there’s no shortage of golf bets to wager your bonus on. 

Rugby

Rugby comes in two forms. There’s Rugby Union, in which England competes against France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship, and in the Rugby World Cup. There’s also Rugby League, in which the England team participates in events like Rugby League Ashes against Australia and the Rugby League World Cup. You can spend your bonus bets on both Rugby Union and Rugby League at top bookies, as well as on international rugby tournaments such as the Balkans Cup and the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

American Football

The NFL is big business across the pond, and the best bookies invite UK punters to get right in the heart of the action with betting markets on every game, and a medley of futures markets too. So, if you’ve got an inkling on the team that will reign supreme in the next Super Bowl, you could just find yourself enjoying a free bet on the outright winner. Bet Storm is a great operator for American Football fans – they currently offer a Bet £10, Get £10 free which includes American football bets.

Place Your Bet

Once you’ve chosen your sports market, and found the best odds you fancy, you can go ahead and place a single bet or combine it with others in a double or a treble. This’ll increase the potential payout, but you’ll need each selection to land for it to come in. Another more adventurous option is a trixie bet — here you’ll be placing four bets across three selections, consisting of three doubles and a treble where at least two selections need to win.

In-Play Betting

When you’re checking out the available sports markets, you may find that there are lots of intriguing matches currently underway. Rather than placing a bet ahead of time, you can bet in play and respond to events as they unfold. In-play betting is usually accepted as part of sports betting welcome offers, just be sure to check the T&Cs.

Accumulators

An accumulator is generally considered to be a bet consisting of four selections or more. It’s a fun way to increase your potential payout, as each selection needs to be successful for the bet to win. Some punters go for the astronomical wins, while others piece together bets with shorter odds and more likely outcomes.

You can normally place an accumulator when making a qualifying bet or using a free bet, just be sure to check the T&Cs for what the minimum odds are, as these will likely apply to each individual pick. What’s more, any wagering requirements applied to your bonus may be lower if you’ve made an accumulator bet, as these are harder to land in the first place. Be sure to check the T&Cs of the bookmaker’s offer before you get started.

Cash Out

Some online bookmakers will allow you to cash out a bet before the outcome of an event is known. This feature can help you out in one of two ways. Ideally, you’ll be cashing out to secure a profit on a bet that’s going your way, but you can also quit a bad bet to cut your losses. Some bookies offer a partial cash out feature, which allows you to settle part of your bet while allowing the rest to run to its natural conclusion — the best of both worlds you might say.

How We Review

How We Review Sites with Sports Betting Welcome Offers

Sports betting welcome offers are often the first thing that stands out when checking out new betting sites, but there are numerous other factors our team has to consider when reviewing different bookmakers.

UKGC Licence

Here at Compare.bet, we only recommend betting sites that are licensed by reputable regulators, such as the UK Gambling Commission. This ensures players receive protection from malpractice on the part of the operator, as sites that break their licensing terms will be sanctioned or could be shut down completely. 

Welcome Bonus

We’ll still give the welcome bonus another mention here, as there are many different aspects of sport betting welcome offers that determine their true value. Naturally, we’ll be looking at what’s on offer in terms of the size of the free bets up for grabs or the maximum amount that’ll be refunded in a bet rebate offer or even through cash back. Whether the terms and conditions are player-friendly is also a key consideration — we’ll always point out whether an offer has high wagering requirements or restrictive max win caps.

Choice of Markets

The best welcome bonus allows players to bet on the full range of sports markets available on the site. This gives punters the option to either use their matched free bet on something new or stick to what they know. As for the overall choice of markets, we’ll be looking for a wide range of sports, leagues, and betting options, so punters can go for straight up bets on a team to win a match, or opt for something more niche in a particular area of interest.

Payment Methods

It’s important for betting customers to have access to a variety of payment methods for their deposits and withdrawals. Every punter has their own needs and preferences in this area, whether it’s fast withdrawals or the option to deposit without sharing their bank details. As such, we’ll be looking for a mixture of debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, pay by phone options, and more.

Withdrawal Speeds

We touched on withdrawal speeds above, and it’s true that e-wallets, like PayPal and Skrill, tend to be faster than debit cards when it comes to payouts. However, the betting site’s own processing speeds are a significant factor as well – some sites process withdrawals instantly, some within 24 hours, and some longer still.

Site Design

Site design is a key consideration both aesthetically and in terms of how easy it is to navigate around the different sports markets and promotions up for grabs. Not every colour scheme or theme will be your cup of tea, but we’ll be looking out for sites that are clean and easy on the eye. The best sites also make it simple to browse different areas and add multiple selections into the one betslip.

Mobile Compatibility

Many bettors prefer to browse sports markets and place their wagers on their phones, so a site’s mobile functionality is a key part of our review. Established sites like William Hill, Betfred, and Unibet offer native apps available for download, but bookmakers can also offer a solid user experience through a mobile browser.

Competitive Odds

Enjoying the best value for your bets is paramount, so we always keep a watchful eye out for those bookies that not only treat their customers like VIPs, but also consistently offer some of the most competitive odds in the market. If a bookie serves up regular odds boosts and enhanced price offers on top of already competitive betting odds, then it’s all the better by us.

Mobile

Claim a Bonus on Your Mobile

Betting via your mobile is one of the most popular and convenient ways to gamble and you’ll be relieved to hear that you can claim a quality welcome bonus right from the palm of your hand. All the bookmakers we’ve included on this page will provide a mobile-optimised site but we would always recommend signing up to those that offer a native app. The best mobile betting apps provide you with a sleek and seamless experience while also giving you the option to customise the app to give you a tailored experience.

32Red
100% Profit Boost
Our score: 80%
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £60
Unibet
Money Back As a Bonus Up To £40 + £10 Casino Bonus
Our score: 85%
Bzeebet
Bet £10 Get £10
Our score: 78%
Parimatch
Bet £10 Get £40
Our score: 92%
Grosvenor
Double the odds
Our score: 82%
10bet
50% up to £50
Our score: 87%
Quinnbet
Free Bet Up To £35 + 10 Spins
New Sites

Claim a Welcome Bonus from a New Betting Site

If you’re looking for a fresh and exciting betting experience, then a new betting site could well be the option for you. Many new bookies will offer punters a well-designed website full of unique features. Some of these sportsbooks are also known to offer new customers some of the most player-friendly sign-up offers around.

pros-icon

Pros

  • Player-friendly welcome offers
  • unique promotions for existing players
  • Intuitively designed websites
const-icon

Cons

  • Lack of mobile app
  • Reduced number of exciting features like live streaming and bet builders
Bzeebet
Bet £10 Get £10
Our score: 78%
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £60
Copy Bet
Bet £10 Get £40
Vegas Mobile Sports
Bet £10 Get £20
Hyper Sports
Acca Boost on All Football Bets Up to 50%
Parimatch
Bet £10 Get £40
Our score: 92%
Banking

Choose Your Perfect Banking Method

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.

payment card icon
Debit Cards

Debit cards are the most popular payment option for online gamblers, largely due to convenience. If you have a bank account, you likely have a debit card or easy access to one. Industry-standard data encryption software also keeps all your personal information safe when you’re betting online. Unfortunately, the withdrawal process can slower than other payment methods at some casinos, taking a maximum of five working days. This won’t always be the case, however, as some betting sites can process debit card withdrawals in 24 hours while those offering the Visa Fast Funds service will give you your cash in as little as four hours.

Paypal casino logo
E-wallets

E-wallets are one of the most widely used banking options for sportsbook customers and it’s easy to see why. Deposits are usually processed instantly while withdrawals can be in your e-wallet account in as little as 24 hours. You may run into some difficulty when claiming a welcome bonus with e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller and PayPal. Some of these e-wallets will be excluded from certain bonuses so it is advisable to read the full terms and conditions of a bonus before you claim.

Paysafecard Logo
Prepaid Cards

If you’re looking for one of the safest deposit methods when claiming your welcome bonus, then look no further than a prepaid card like a Paysafecard. Customers can buy a Paysafecard in one of several values either online or over the counter using cash. As such, there is no need to share any of your personal banking information with the sportsbook when you deposit your funds. Paysafecards come with some pretty stringent withdrawal restrictions, however, as you won’t be able to access your cash using the banking option. As such, you will have to use a different payment method to withdraw your bonus funds. AstroPay provides a similar option, though you can only generate and pay for AstroPay vouchers inside the AstroPay wallet app.

Trustly Logo
Trustly

Offering instant deposits and excellent bonus eligibility, Trustly is an increasingly popular pick for bettors and online gamblers in general. This service uses open banking technology to allow you to make betting site deposits direct from your bank. There’s no need to open a Trustly account, nor will you need to share any sensitive financial data. You’ll simply log into your bank via Trustly’s secure portal, confirm your deposit and that’s it. Trustly works for withdrawals too, with payouts usually taking no more than three days to land in your bank account.

Some betting sites like Betfair operate a ‘closed-loop policy’ which means that you can only use one payment method when both depositing and withdrawing your funds.

Gamble Responsibly

How to Keep Your Gambling Safe

Gambling at an online bookmaker should first and foremost always be a form of entertainment. So if you feel that your habit has gotten out of control, then there are a number of different tips you can follow to stay on top of it. 

Time & Deposit Limits 

All betting sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) must provide players with a collection of tools to help them stay in control. Deposit and time limits are some of the key tools available to punters. Customers can set up their own limits on how much they want to deposit or how long they want to spend at a particular betting site. Once your deposit limit has been reached, you won’t be able to spend any more cash at that site until your limit runs out — this can be over 24 hours or longer. Once your time limit has been reached, however, you won’t be able to access the site at all until that time limit has run out. 

Self Exclusion 

If you feel that deposit and time limits won’t be enough to help your gambling problem, then you can opt into a self-exclusion scheme. Organisations like GAMBAN run such schemes which punters can sign up to in order to exclude themselves from all UK betting sites for a period of up to five years. 

Gambling Charities

If you feel like your gambling problem has become an addiction, then there are a number of excellent charities you can get in touch with. Organisations such as BeGambleAware.org offer problem gamblers a wealth of helpful information on how to tackle their addiction as well as the National Gambling Helpline which is run 24/7. Gamblers Anonymous is a good option for those seeking advice from other problem gamblers with group therapy sessions run right across the country. You can also seek advice and treatment on the NHS as gambling addiction is now a recognised medical condition.

Casino Welcome Bonus

Looking for a Casino Welcome Bonus?

The sports betting welcome offers listed on this page differ from casino welcome bonuses that are primarily aimed at slot games, like Starburst, and other casino games, like blackjack and roulette. If you’ve found yourself on this page but are actually looking for a games-based bonus, check out our page on the best casino welcome bonuses up for grabs in the UK.

A casino’s best welcome bonus for new UK customers can come in a few different forms. Some centre on free spins for slot games, giving you the chance to spin the reels and potentially win. Others involve matched deposits where there’s greater flexibility on the games you can play using your bonus credit.

Many top sportsbooks also offer casino games and may let customers claim a welcome bonus for both areas. If not, you’ll at least have an option between the two — William Hill goes one further and offers a live casino welcome bonus alongside its sports betting and casino bonus offers.

There are loads of different games on offer at the best online casinos, including the following:

  • Slot games – with hundreds of different themes, bonus rounds, and game mechanics available in the best online slots, there’s plenty to make your time on the reels entertaining;
  • Table games – classic titles like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are available alongside modern variations that add multipliers and other bonuses into the mix;
  • Live dealer – if you fancy playing table games with a live croupier alongside other players in true Vegas style, there are lots of options available at the top casino sites;
  • Bingo – a simple game with lots of different prizes up for grabs, as well as different variations including 90-ball, 75-ball, and 80-ball.
Ready to Play?

Claim Your Welcome Bonus

Now you’ve had a taste of the sports betting bonuses on offer, you’re probably keen to find your perfect bonus deal and start betting. Whether you’re in search of free bets or matched deposits, there are plenty of opportunities to boost your betting bankroll. Not sure where to start? Check out our list of the top online bookies with the best welcome bonuses to find a favourite. All you need to do is compare, pick a top site and sign up to start betting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim a welcome bonus as an exisiting customer?

No, sports betting welcome bonuses are exclusive to new players– but this doesn’t mean existing players need to miss out. Sports betting sites are always releasing promotions to reward existing customers and to keep them coming back for more.

How many times can I claim a welcome bonus?

You’ll only be able to claim a welcome bonus once at each betting site. Bookies determine your identity based on email address, name and IP address, so you can’t claim a bonus more than once. Of course, you can sign up to multiple betting sites and claim a welcome bonus at each.

Are all deposits eligible for a welcome bonus?

Unfortunately not. While many welcome bonuses are valid with a range of payment options, some sports betting sites restrict Neteller and Skrill deposits from activating bonuses. You may also find that certain welcome bonuses are exclusive to a particular payment method, such as PayPal.

Can I use my bonus on an accumulator bet?

While some bonus bets will be restricted to certain markets, there are plenty of bonuses out there that can be used on accumulators. MansionBet and Karamba both allow players to use welcome bonus funds on accumulator bets, providing that each bet meets the minimum odds requirements. You can’t always cash out accumulators wagered with bonus funds, so be sure to check the terms and conditions.

Must I make a deposit to claim a welcome bonus?

Not always! No deposit bonuses for sports betting are few and far between, but they’re well worth taking advantage of if you stumble across one. These are great betting bonuses if you fancy taking a punt on an underdog without putting your own cash on the line.

Can I claim welcome bonuses using any platform?

While many online sportsbooks allow punters to claim a welcome bonus regardless of whether they’re using a mobile or desktop, others offer platform-specific rewards. For example, you may find sports betting welcome bonuses that are exclusive to bettors using the mobile app or mobile web page- such as BetBright’s ‘25% back in-play special’. Check the bonus terms and conditions to understand exactly how you can use your welcome bonus.

Can I cash out on a free bet?

Sometimes. Most of the top online bookies offer a cash out feature, which will allow you to secure a profit or cut your losses before an event has ended. However, some bookies only offer a cash out option on selected bets and often not for freebies

Do online sportsbooks offer any other gambling opportunities?

Absolutely. Some of the top sportsbook providers offer an all-in-one online gambling platform, featuring online slots, table games, live casino games and jackpot games — not to mention some of the best casino bonuses around. You can enjoy new casino games as they launch, and probably regular free spins bonus offers too. Let’s just hope the free spins winnings come round as frequently! Some sites also add the likes of bingo, poker and online lotteries.

References

See our references & visit related external links

Please note that Compare.bet is not responsible for the content of third-party websites.

  1. skrill.com – ‘Bet Online – Pay with your Skrill Account’
  2. neteller.com – ‘Pay online’
  3. begambleaware.org – ‘Advice for safer gambling’ 

The people behind this page

Compare.bet's online gambling content experts helped write, edit and check this page:

Daniel is Head of Operations at Compare.bet. He has half a decade of experience writing on topics including sports betting, online casino and the NBA. Daniel also covers Premier League football for Compare.bet news and has interviewed Louis Saha, Richard Dunne and Gary Pallister. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys film photography and making Spotify playlists.