If you’re looking for the best free bets in the UK, you have come to exactly the right place. We cater to both new and seasoned punters, covering all the best free bet offers currently available in the UK marketplace.
Compare the Best Free Bet Offers in the UK
Please check out our list of the best free bet offers in the UK. All the bookmakers listed on this page are fully licensed and compliant with the UK gambling industry.
What is a Free Bet?
A free bet is an offer from a bookmaker that allows you to place a bet without using any of your cash. There are various types of free bets that we will cover in more detail in this article, but essentially, free bets are used to attract new customers or reward existing players.
If you are a new customer opening an account, you will have to place a qualifying bet to claim a new customer free bet. If you are an existing customer, you will usually have earned the free bet by using that bookmaker regularly.
How Does a Free Bet Work?
It depends on the type of free bet you have been awarded. Free bets usually come in the form of a non-withdrawable credit. They can also be referred to as bet credits, betting tokens, or bonus credits.
If you are a new customer, you will have to meet certain qualifying criteria to claim your free bet. This is usually a minimum deposit amount and a minimum first (qualifying) bet. Once you satisfy the qualifying criteria, you get your free bet.
Your free bet amount could be £10. If you place it on a 2/1 wager and the bet wins, you will get back £20. The normal amount of money returned on a £10 wager at 2/1 would be £30. The breakdown of the £30 would be £20 in winnings, plus your £10 stake.
But, as free bet stakes are normally not returned, you would only get the £20 winnings, rather than the £30 you would normally see returned from a winning £10 wager at 2/1.
How to Get a Free Bet from a Betting Site?
As we’ve already alluded to, there are many different types of free bets.
The most popular and the first free bet you will ever receive is the one you claim when you open your new account. Below, we have put together a step-by-step guide to claiming a new customer free bet:
- Choose a betting site from one of our recommended operators.
- Read through the free bet terms and conditions.
- When you are happy, complete the registration process.
- Make your minimum qualifying deposit.
- Place your qualifying bet at the minimum odds.
- Receive your free bet.
- Use your free bet before it expires.
The second type of free bet is for existing customers. These free bets can be part of an existing weekly promotion, like a free bet club. For example, Betway has a free bet club that rewards existing customers with a £10 free bet if they have placed £25 in bets across the qualifying period.
This offer is currently open to all qualifying customers every week.
Types of Free Bet Promotions in the UK
Following on from the examples above, there are plenty of different types of free bet promotions available in the UK. Some of the most common betting offers are below:
New Customer Free Bets
New customer free bets are often gimmicky, but they are usually the best offers on the UK marketplace. Common welcome bonuses would be “Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets”. To receive this, you would need to open a new account, place £10 on an outcome at minimum odds (usually 2.0), and when your qualifying bet settles, you start to receive your free bets.
The free bets are usually split up and typically awarded over a specified period, and can also be sport-specific. For example, you may get one £10 free bet immediately to be used on horse racing, a second £10 free bet to use on football 24 hours later, and a third free bet to use on any sport when your second one has settled.
No Deposit Free Bets
In our experience, no deposit-free bets for new customers are infrequent. In fact, they are almost unheard of.
No-deposit free bets are usually reserved for existing customers. They can be awarded for various reasons. Some examples of receiving No Deposit Bonuses are taking part in free-to-play games. William Hill has a daily prize drop that is free to play. On occasion, the reward you receive will be a free bet.
Matched Deposit Free Bet
The matched deposit free bet is when the sportsbook matches your deposit with the same amount.
The most common matched deposit amount is a 100% deposit match. Here, the bookmaker will reward you with the same amount as your deposit – meaning if you deposit £50, you will have £100 in your account.
There will be rollover requirements for this. The reason is to stop unscrupulous players from signing up, getting the bonus amount, and then withdrawing it.
The rollover requirements vary, but you will usually have to play through the deposit bonus a number of times. It could be anything from three to ten times.
Free Football Bets
Free football bets are usually reload offers, such as money-back specials. An example could be if you make a deposit and place a £10 bet on a specified football match, you receive a £5 free Bet Builder for another match.
Other examples are money-back free football bets. A popular one would be if you place a five-team accumulator bet and one leg lets you down. If the acca bet hits certain qualifying criteria – such as placing the bet at minimum odds, minimum legs and minimum amount – and loses, you can get your money back as a free bet to use on football. The same offer may apply also to Esports, basketball or other sports, depending on the T&Cs of the bookmaker.
Free Casino Bets
Free casino bets are promotional offers from online casinos that let you play games like blackjack or roulette without using your own money. New players will typically get these offers when they sign up, while existing customers can also occasionally receive them.
Do not confuse free casino bets with free spins, as these are specifically for slot games. However, bookmakers can sometimes include free spins in their sign-up offer, especially when the bookmaker operates both a sportsbook and a casino platform.
Money Back Free Bets
New customers don’t tend to get money-back free bets, but existing customers do. The ACCA insurance offers we previously mentioned are a prime example. Here you get your money back as a free bet if one leg of your acca lets you down.
Money-back free bets are also common for horse races, where a bookmaker might offer you your money back if your horse comes second. There are plenty of different money-back free bets available. They tend to vary from bookie to bookie, and these offers can change as bookmakers tinker with their respective promotions.
They are a promotion well worth keeping your eye out for, especially if it’s available for an event you are planning to bet on.
Free Bet Credits
Free bet credits are essentially the same as a free bet. It’s just a different marketing term some bookmaking brands use to make their offer stand out from the crowd.
Like with free bets, they will require you to make a deposit and place a qualifying bet. You will also have to follow the terms and conditions in the same way you do for a free bet.
Finally, free bet credits will also have an expiry date, and you won’t get your stake returned.
Bet Builder Free Bets
Bet Builder free bets are promotional offers that let you place a multi-selection bet on a single event, such as a football match, without using your own money. With a Bet Builder, you combine multiple markets (ie, player to score, number of corners, match result) into one custom bet.
When offered as a free bet, it allows you to try this feature risk-free, usually up to a set value (ie, £10 max bet). Terms often include minimum odds, specific markets, and expiry dates.
What are the Main Terms & Conditions of Free Bets?
Before you claim any free bet, it is vitally important to read the terms and conditions.
Why? Because a lot of the current free bets in the UK have strict deposit rules, and if you break them, you can disqualify yourself. More details follow:
- Always check deposit methods. A lot of e-wallet deposits are ineligible to qualify for free bets. The safest option is to use your bank card.
- Apart from being careful about how you make your first deposit, it must also be of a certain minimum amount. A minimum deposit of £10 is the general industry standard.
- Free Bets have an expiry period, so only open your account when you know what you are going to bet on. This is because some bookies require you to place your qualifying bet within several days of registering your account. So, always remember to check how many days your free bets are valid for.
- Stake not returned – bookmakers will not return your stake with a free bet.
- Minimum odds – Bookmakers usually always specify the minimum odds for your qualifying bet. Always check this first. They will also impose minimum odds on your free bets.
- Always check for rollover requirements. Some offers require you to bet your winnings several times before withdrawing.
- Market restrictions – free bets are often only available to use on specific sports or events.
- Free bets are sometimes part of a welcome bonus. Bookies also limit free bets to one IP address or household. This is to prevent an individual from opening multiple accounts for different people at the same address.
How to Choose the Right Free Bet?
There are so many free bets to choose from that it can be overwhelming. However, in general, there is no right or wrong method for choosing; it depends on the individual.
If you are an inexperienced bettor looking to get into claiming free bets, then start with the smaller ones and take it one free bet at a time. That way, if you make a mistake, you haven’t blown one of the higher-value offers before you know what you are doing.
This is also a good method to use if you plan to hoover up all the free bet offers. Starting with the smaller free bets allows you to accumulate funds, building your betting bank with money you’ve won, rather than cashing out of your own pocket.
For the more experienced gamblers, you will already have worked your way through the new customer offers. So now you can focus on claiming the free bets available to existing customers, such as through free bet clubs and reload offers.
How to Use a Free Bet?
Once you have your free bet, you will have to make a wager with it within a specific period. To use your free bet, follow the simple steps below:
- Choose your sport and market, ensuring it meets the terms of the offer (ie, minimum odds).
- Click on the chosen market to add it to your betslip.
- As is the case with any wager, double-check that you have selected the right outcome.
- Select the free bet option in your bet slip.
- Submit your free bet.
Free bets are typically valid for single or accumulator bets, but always read the fine print.
Free Bets vs Bonuses – What’s the Difference?
There are subtle differences between free bets and bonuses. Free bets are usually for fixed amounts, and you don’t get your stake back with your winnings. Any winnings from free bets should be instantly withdrawable without wagering requirements.
Bonuses tend to be based on the amount of your deposit, and they often have wagering requirements that you have to meet. In some cases, especially with casinos, these wagering requirements can be high and can include rolling over both your deposit and bonus numerous times.
To sum up, a punter might prefer a free bet as they are simpler, lower-risk and great for single bets. Bonuses are usually worth more, but you will find that they come with more conditions.
Pros and Cons of Free Bets
In general, there aren’t many cons when it comes to free bets. After all, who wouldn’t want to claim free money? Below, we look at the pros and cons of free bets in more detail:
- Pros:
- A great low-risk way for a beginner to start betting
- Can build a substantial betting bank without a huge financial outlay
- Existing customers get rewards for placing their regular bets
- Chance to get money back as a free bet if your selection loses
- Cons:
- New customer offers are only available once
- A qualifying deposit and bet are usually required
- A free bet can often only be available on a specific sport or event
Best Free Bet Offers from UK Bookmakers
Check out our top five free bet offers for this month. Don’t forget that all our recommended UK betting sites are UKGC-licensed and regulated:
Best Strategies for Using Free Bets
There are plenty of good reasons for claiming free bets, but some of the best strategies to use will depend on the type of gambler you are.
For example, some people are risk-averse and hedge their free bets for guaranteed returns. This could include using two free bets to wager on both players in a tennis match in a way that guarantees a profit on one side of the bet.
Other strategies include steadily using your free bets to build your betting bank and betting smart to try to activate free bets through existing customer offers.
Finally, probably not the wisest strategy, but you could simply use them as a free hit to try and land that significant win. This isn’t the smartest strategy for long-term profits, but it is risk-free, as you are not using your own money.
Are Free Bets Worth It?
Absolutely yes, free bets are 100 per cent worth it. Apart from having to place your qualifying bet in some cases, you have nothing to lose and plenty to gain. If you place your qualifying bets wisely, free bets are a low-risk way of accumulating free money.
Alternatively, if you are new to betting, free bets are a low-risk way of learning how to bet without taking too much risk beyond your qualifying bet.
There is no real downside to claiming a free bet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you withdraw a free bet amount?
No, you cannot withdraw a free bet amount. It is not cash until you gamble it, and then only if it wins.
Can you cash out a free bet?
The terms and conditions of nearly every free bet state that you can’t cash it out. If you do, you will almost certainly lose your winnings.
Are there wagering requirements on free bets?
There are normally no wagering requirements on free bets. Wagering requirements tend to apply to deposit bonuses.
Can I bet on casino games with a free bet?
You cannot bet on casino games with free bets. Casino and bookmaker platforms are separate, so you can’t transfer your free bet.
Do free bets have expiry dates?
All free bets come with expiry dates. It is important to check this to make sure you don’t let them run out.
Can I withdraw my winnings from a free bet?
You are usually free to withdraw any winnings immediately after your free bet has settled.