Free Bets & The Best Betting Sign Up Bonuses

There is always a great selection of free bets and betting sign up offers available, so we pulled them all together in one place and save you time searching the internet looking for bookmaker offers.

The free bet offer is designed as a promotion so that you open an account with the bookmaker for the very first time. In some cases, bookies continue offering free bets and betting offers to existing customers as a loyalty bonus, but these bookmakers free bets are not guaranteed. Sometimes, having several online betting accounts makes sense, so you take advantage of different welcome offers and bonuses to maximise your betting bank.

Best Free Bet Offers

Are you interested in placing bets online, but don’t want to deposit your own money as you get started? Then you’ll be happy to know there are several excellent betting sites that offer free bets for new customers. These promotional free bets are a great way to get a feel for the betting platform and try your hand at sports betting.

If you are looking for a recommended free bets offer, based on our years of industry experience of reviewing bookmakers, then check out these betting sites with free bets:

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BetMGM Sports – Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets

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MIN DEPOSIT £10

The famous BetMGM from across the pond has arrived in the UK! You will find all the usual betting markets available here, plus inplay, amongst other features. The welcome offer is one of the best available at the moment with a bet £10 get £40 in free bets for all new players

New cust only. 3 days to claim & 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+, begambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply

bet365 – BET £10 & GET £30 IN FREE BETS

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £5

Bet365 is the world’s most popular bookmaker, where you will find lots of betting options, plus live streaming on various sports. You can claim a whopping £50 in free bets here when you bet £10!

Bet365 Sportsbook is an online sports betting site that offers players various sports to bet on. Whether you want to wager on football, basketball, tennis, soccer or baseball, Bet365 has it all. Bet365 also provides live match betting, which allows you to bet on a game while it is in progress. In addition, there are multiple markets for each sport and league. For instance, you can wager on a game in the NFL Super Bowl.

Bet365 is easy to navigate. The navigation bar at the top of the website allows you to jump to different areas of the site. The site also has links to a “Form & Stats” section, an FAQ and a “Live Chat” function. In addition, the site offers a “Responsible Gaming” tab, which includes information about how to avoid gambling and participate in a responsible gambling program.

As with most online sportsbooks, you can deposit and withdraw funds through the site using various options. Although the site offers instant deposits, withdrawals can take up to 24 hours. Once you are signed up, you can browse the site. There are tabs at the top of the screen, including A-Z sports, which allow you to find a specific sport or league. Additionally, a menu on the left side of the page is useful for jumping between various sections.

18+ New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration requiredT&Cs Apply

William Hill – Bet £10 Get £40 – Mobile Only

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William Hill Bet £10 Get £40
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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10

William Hill is one of the UK’s most well-known bookies with shops all around the country. This brand never disappoints with sign up offers; grab £40 in free bets when you bet £10!

William Hill is a site that offers a wide range of betting options. In addition to traditional sports betting, it also has games such as poker and slots. Although the company began as a sportsbook, it has since expanded to include online gambling. It offers a range of options, including poker, slots, live dealer games, and eSports.

18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10+ at odds 2.00+, in 7 days. No cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected events. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. 7 day bonuses expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply

Sky Bet – Bet £5 Get £20

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5

Sky Bet is one of the UK’s best-known bookmakers. Originating from the popular TV & News provider Sky, this bookmaker has gone from strength to strength over the years. Ths bookie offers some of the best ongoing promotions for new and existing punters plus odds boosts on big events which are always popular. You can grab £20 in free bets here when you bet only £5!

NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. 5P MINIMUM STAKE. ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS EXCLUDE VIRTUALS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. BEGAMBLEAWARE.ORGT&Cs Apply

Virgin Bet – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN DEPOSIT £5

VirginBet is one of the UK’s newest bookmakers, gaining a ton of popularity. You can find a cracking sign up offer here plus a ton of markets to bet on

*New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

Betfred – Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10

Betfred has been around for many years on the UK high streets. Another trusted brand with plenty of great offers available for new and existing players. Grab a huge £40 in free bets when you bet £10 here!

New UK 18+ only. Register (excl. 13/04/2024) with promo code WELCOME40, Bet £10+ on Sports in one transaction within 7 days of registering. Get £30 Free Bets & £10 free spins within 10hrs of bet settlement. Bonuses expire 7 days after issue. Min odds, eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.T&Cs Apply

Livescore Bet – Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets

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LiveScore is a well-known brand amongst football punters but now offers its own bookmaker with lots available in terms of betting markets

*New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.18+ T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

BetVictor – BET £5 GET £30

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Betvictor has been around for many years in the UK and is always popular amongst a variety of sports punters. You can grab £20 in free bets when you bet £5 here!

*New Customers only. Deposit and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only (1 at odds 2.00 or greater), expires in 7 days, plus a £10 Casino Bonus, expires in 7 days. Wager the Casino Bonus 40x to withdraw winnings. Credit or Debit card only. Geographical Restrictions. T&Cs Apply, See Below.T&Cs Apply

Grosvenor Sports – Bet £10 Get Double The Odds

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MIN DEPOSIT £5

Grosvenor Sports is a popular destination for all types of punters. Grab double the odds at Cheltenham this year!

New customers only. T&Cs apply, 18+, Offer applies to Sport bets only. Maximum total stake is £10. Winnings are paid in cash upon bet settlement.T&Cs Apply

BetUK – BET £10 GET £30 FREE BET

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MIN DEPOSIT £5

BetUK is a newer bookmaker to the UK market but has been a real hit with punters. You will find a great range of betting markets at this site plus a great sign up offer with a Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets offer available currently

New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.T&Cs Apply

Highbet – Bet £10 Get £15 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 2.00
MIN DEPOSIT £10

Highbet is a new bookmaker to hit the UK scene. You can grab £15 in free bets here when you deposit £10!

New customers only. Max one free £15 bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+T&Cs Apply

Ladbrokes – Bet £5 Get £20 In Free Bets

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MIN DEPOSIT £10

Ladbrokes is another big high street brand which punters love. You will find betting shops all over the UK for this trusted brand. Grab £20 in free bets when you bet only £5!

18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned.T&Cs Apply

Coral – Bet £5 Get £20 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £5

Coral much like it’s sister brand Ladbrokes has a huge presence in the UK. You will find all the popular markets here including football, horse racing and many more. Grab £20 in free bets when you bet £5 here!

18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bet. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions +T&Cs Apply

NetBet – £10 Free Bet Refund Weekly

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MIN ODDS 1.25
MIN DEPOSIT £10

Netbet has been around since the early 2000’s offering both sports betting and casino to players in the UK. You can get a £10 free bet weekly refund on your accas at Netbet!

18+ Minimum odds per selection 1/5 or more. Free Bets will match the customers stake. Customers can receive a maximum of one Free Bet of up to £10 per week during the promotional period. Bets only on Football will count. Only 5 Folds or more will apply. Only selected league qualify. Please note system bets will not be considered as a qualifying bet.T&Cs Apply

kwiff – Bet £10 Get £20

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £10

Kwiff was another app only bookie but now has a desktop and mobile site available they have also added a cracking casino. You will get a £20 surprise bet when you bet £10 at Kwiff!

18+ only. New customers only. Min. deposit of £/€10. Qualifying real money bet of £/€10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer credited within 48 hours. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.T&Cs Apply

888Sport – £30 Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus

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888 Sport is part of the big 888 family which includes the world-famous casino and poker sites. You will find lots of great promotions here, especially around big sporting events. Grab £30 in free bets plus a £10 casino bonus when you bet £10 here!

#ad 18+ Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game. www.begambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply

BoyleSports – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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Boylesports is one of Ireland’s biggest bookmakers with shops all over the country. They also accept UK players and is a great spot for football and horse racing punters. Claim £20 in free bets here when you bet £10!

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 applyT&Cs Apply

Unibet – £40 MONEY BACK BONUS

+ £10 CASINO BONUS
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MIN DEPOSIT £10

Unibet is an international bookmaker that’s been around the UK for many years. You can grab some great offers here including up to £40 money back on sports which also includes a £10 casino bonus!

New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. Further T&C’s apply.T&Cs Apply

10bet Sports – 50% up to £50

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MIN ODDS 8x
MIN DEPOSIT £15
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms.T&Cs Apply

Betway – £30 FREE BET BONUS

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New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Terms Apply-T&Cs Apply

Spreadex – 100% Cashback Up To £300

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Please Gamble Responsibly.Place a £10 World Cup winner outright bet before your chosen team has played a match and get a free £10 fixed odds bet, free £10 spread bet and 30 free spins as well as an extra free £10 fixed odds bet and 10 free spins each time your selection wins! (includes ET & Penalties) T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers onlyT&Cs Apply

Tote – BET £5 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN DEPOSIT £5
New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £/€5 and win or lose you will receive £/€20 Tote Credit. £/€20 Tote Credit rewarded as £/€10 redeemable against racing bets only and £/€10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply

smarkets – £20 REFUNDED IN CASH

No Bet Limit
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New customers only. Deposit £20 using Debit Card or Trustly. Up to your first £20 of losses will be refunded as CASH within 24 hours of qualifying bet having been settled. T&Cs apply.T&Cs Apply

Jeffbet – Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £10
New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet – one-time stake of £30, 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. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.T&Cs Apply

Quinnbet – GET 50% BACK AS A FREE BET UP TO £35

+10 FREE SPINS
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If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day’s betting (23:59), we’ll refund 50% of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (normally £25) plus, you get 10 Free Spins on Reel Diamonds (minimum 3 bets required). 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 minimum odds evens (2.00) or greater. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.orgT&Cs Apply

The Pools – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

All of the bookmakers that are featured on bigfreebet.com hold a valid license from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission as far as safety and regulation issues are concerned. The Gambling Commission is an organisation that was established as a result of the Gambling Act of 2005. This Act was designed to regulate the commercial gambling industry in the United Kingdom.

Free Bet Sign Up Offers – Why Do They Do It?

Free bets are a betting offer that creates a win-win situation for you and the bookmaker; if you are new to online betting, then our betting guide is an excellent place to start. It’s win win because the bookmaker gets a new customer and you get a free bet as an introduction to signing up for a betting account with the bookmaker. The main advantage is that you can have a larger pool of money (known as a betting bank) to place some bets with for a small initial deposit.

When looking at free bookie bets, the temptation is to focus on the amount of money in the form of free bets you are being given. Free bets have some associated terms and conditions, so it’s essential to read these not to disqualify yourself from the free bet bonus the bookmaker offers.

A lot of free bet promotions are available on betting apps mobile versions, as well as full desktop versions of the websites.

Once you open an account with a bookmaker, you don’t have to keep betting with them if you don’t like their service. You can take advantage of the betting offer and open an account with another online bookmaker once you have used the welcome bonus.

You can have multiple betting accounts, and there are plenty to choose from. Our list of the best betting sites is an excellent place to start and claim a great betting offer. The purpose of our site is to provide a simple list of the offers and review them to help you choose which of the free betting sites is the best.

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What Types of Free Betting Offers Are Available?

There are many different types of free bets on offer, so we’ve put together a quick overview to help clear up some of the confusion. Some free bet offers are shared across different bookmakers, so it’s much easier to understand once you become familiar with them. Another thing with regards free bets is that the bookmaker can change the offer at any time or even change from one type of free bet promotion to another kind.

The bookmakers’ primary types of free bet promotions are 1st Deposit Bonuses, a Money Back Free Bet, Matched Free Bets and other promotional bonuses such as Best Price Guarantee and Money Back Specials. Each year, there are some significant sporting events to watch. Football bets are very popular with bettors, as are horse racing bets, so look out for this kind of freebet promotion when these sporting events are coming up. You can find out more about football betting and what’s involved, plus our recommended list of bookmakers.

It is no surprise that the bookmakers offer some great promotions in the build-up and during these events. Event-related free bets for things like the World Cup, the start of the Football Season, Champions League, NFL Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, Tour de France, Olympics or Grand Slam Tennis are widespread, and the great thing is that event betting promotions are usually open to existing customers as well as new customers.

One of the main reasons you will like to take advantage of the bookmakers’ free bets is that it allows you to bet on a sports market with someone else’s money. You can also place a safer qualifying bet using your cash with lower odds and then use the bookmaker’s free bet to place a riskier bet at higher odds.

Quick Facts

  1. A free bet is a type of bonus offered by online bookmakers as an incentive to sign up for an account with them.
  2. Free bets are usually in the form of a matched bet, where the bookmaker matches the amount you deposit up to a certain amount.
  3. Free bets can be used on any type of bet, including single, multiple, and system bets.
  4. With a free bet, you are not using any of your own money, so you can afford to be more adventurous with your bets.
  5. Free bets are a great way to try out a new bookmaker or betting system without any risk.
  6. Most bookmakers will require you to place a qualifying bet before they give you a free bet.
  7. Free bets usually have wagering requirements attached, so you will need to place a certain amount of bets before you can withdraw any winnings.

Listed below is an overview of bookmakers’ different types of free bet offers and the advantages of each type.

A Deposit Bonus Bet Offer

Online casino sites typically use this betting bonus offer; once you make a deposit, they match your deposit with a free bet bonus, and you don’t have to do anything else. These are very rare in sports betting, and the best way to use this bet is to spread the bets over multiple markets instead of placing one qualifying bet on one particular market.

Matched Bonus Bets

A matched bet, not to be confused with matched betting, is the simplest and most common new customer offer. When you place your 1st bet, your bet is “matched” with a free bets bonus from the bookmaker. Matched free bets are usually 100% up to £X amount. You will sometimes hear this referred to as a matched deposit bonus which means the same thing.

Matched bets are the most common form of free bet promotion and probably the easiest to understand. When you open an account and place the first bet, the bookie will match your bet amount. Usually, with a matched free bet, the value is 100% of your first bet.

To give you an example of how this works, if you opened an account with a bookmaker and placed a £20 bet, the bookmaker would match your bet by 100%. So in this instance, they would give you a £20 free bet to use once your first bet has settled.

Matched free bets, sometimes called bet credits, typically have minimum odds limits attached to them. If your bet doesn’t meet the minimum odds, you don’t qualify for the free bet. The odds are at 1.5 – 2.0 (½ – evens) or higher.

There is also a limit to the amount in free bets a bookmaker is willing to give you with a matched free bet. If the offer is a £20 matched free bet promotion and you place a bet of £30, then the bookmaker will only give you £20 in free bets and not the £30 you placed.

It’s common these days for the free bet stake not to be returned should you win real money using your welcome offer.

Money Back Promotions

We like this type of free bet offer as it is an excellent simple offer that makes betting more fun, especially for new UK customers who aren’t used to using free bets promotions.

With a money back bet bonus offer, the bookmaker will return your stake if the bet loses. So with a £20 money back bet, the bookmaker will return the £20 losses if you fail to win.

Like all betting promotions, this type of free bet will come with minimum odds requirements, so check this before placing the bet.

Bookmakers usually reserve their best promotional offers for new clients, and the money back bet is precisely that type of bonus. With it, new clients can be sure that even if they lose their initial wager with the bookmaker, they will still be able to try their luck again with precisely the same deposit, but this time the bet will be on the bookmaker, as they will cover the full deposit.

This type of bet isn’t as popular as the matched bet promotion and is used as a new customer promotion. The great thing about money back free bets is that they are available even if you are an existing customer; typically, these are used around an event like a UFC fight, boxing match or the start of a new Premier League or Spanish La Liga football season.

No Deposit Bets

This type of free bet bonus offer used to be very popular but is less recently as a new or existing customer. With a no deposit free bet, you get a free bet just for opening an account with a bookmaker. It’s a great way to try out a bookmaker without risking any of your own money, as no deposits are needed.

The free bet amount the bookmaker gives you tends to be relatively small and typically comes with wagering requirements, so you need to place a certain amount of bets before it can be withdrawn.

Structured Offers

This type of bonus betting offer rewards for subsequent bets and your first bet. So you get an initial bonus, then when that has been used, the bookmaker will award you additional bonuses, usually when you have wagered some more of your own money.

Staged Matched Bets

This type of bonus rewards you for subsequent bets and your first bet. So once you trigger the first bonus, you will need to place additional bets to activate the second bonus and so on until the promotion has been fully used. The bonus can work in two ways. One can be an average of your first five bets, or the other way is five individual matched bets. So, for example, you could place x5 £25 bets, and on the rule of averages, you would be rewarded with a £25 bonus once the five bets have been made.

With the matched bets example, you would place a £5 bet and then be rewarded with a £5 free bet from the bookie; you would then be able to use the free bet once it’s credited to your account. If you then place another qualifying free £5 bet, you would be rewarded with a second £5 bet; you would repeat the process until all five qualifying bets have been placed.

Bet X. Get X Offers

Sometimes you will see an offer with something like bet £ 10, get £ 20 in free bets. These are matched free bets but offer a bigger bonus, usually the bonus amount is 200%. The rules will be the same as a traditional matched bet. This offer can sometimes be referred to as a bonus, for example, a 200% bonus.

However, these are not no deposit bonuses; you must first bet an amount to claim the offer.

Enhanced Odds

Hidden free bets are usually in the form of enhanced odds or price boosts and offer a greater return if used correctly than other types of free bets. So, for example, you could get 100/1 odds for Conor McGregor to beat Floyd Mayweather in their 2017 fight.

Be careful with this kind of offer as it can come with max winnings. For example, if the maximum amount £35, even if you win an additional £100 you will still only receive a £35 free bet

Money Back Specials

Money back special free bets are when a bookie refunds your bet if specific criteria are met. For example, money back as a free bet if Manchester United fail to score in their game against Manchester City. Your bet would have to lose to activate this offer.

So if you backed Manchester City to win and beat Manchester United 1-0, you wouldn’t get your money back as a free bet. However, if the game ended 0-0, you would get your money back as a free bet, as Manchester City didn’t win and Manchester United failed to score.

Event Specials

You can expect many free bet offers whenever a big or popular event arises. Significant events like the Grand National or Champions League final tend to bring out people that only like to bet occasionally on an event rather than someone who wants to place a regular weekend football or horse racing free bet. This influx of potential new customers means bookmakers tend to offer more free bet promotions in the build-up to the event than at other times of the year. Grand National Free Bets, Wimbledon Free Bets or World Cup Free Bets are extremely popular promotions.

The great thing about event promotions is that the bookmakers make some of them available to existing and new customers. So it’s always worth signing up for offers so you can hear about them when they go live and make the most of the opportunity they present.

How To Get A Free Bet

In March 2024, there are some excellent free bets on offer for customers at most online bookies. To claim the bonus, you simply have to click the relevant link on our site, and you will be sent to the bookies’ website, where you can sign up as a new customer. If you already have an account, the promotion will not be valid.

Getting a free bet when joining a site for the first time is straightforward; in many instances, you don’t need to enter a promo code or anything. You will see on our site lots of offers that the betting sites offer for new customers who sign up for a betting account and deposit some of their own money into the account.

How To Claim When Signing Up

To claim any one of the offers, just click the Claim Bonus button above next to the offer you like the most, and you will be sent to the relevant betting site; then, when you fill in the registration form with all the required information, there is usually a further step to carry out before you will receive your free bets and bonuses.

Usually, once you have made a deposit and placed your qualifying bet, the bookmaker will deposit your free bet bonus into your account shortly afterwards. It’s worth noting that sometimes it can take several days for any free bets you have qualified for to appear in your account.

With some betting sites, you must deposit with one of the supported payment type cards or Paypal when opening your account.

Some betting sites will require you to enter a promo code to activate your free bets, but if they need this it will be displayed on their website; make sure you read the terms so you can claim the offer.

Benefits

Free bet offers are beneficial to both you and the bookmakers. You get the chance to play with someone else’s money, while bookmakers use this fact to lure clients who would typically opt for another or a more convenient bookmaker.

You may often be torn between one of the most significant decisions you will have to make – to go with the safe betting propositions at lower odds and with eventually smaller but safer winnings or to go with higher odds and higher potential winnings but riskier bet.

Free bets promotions alleviate this dilemma instantly. You can compile a safe selection of bets and back it with your own money, but use the free bet offer given by the bookmaker to make that riskier betting proposition. Of course, free bets are not endless. Still, considering many betting operators online, you can easily switch between bookmakers and use the perks of having multiple accounts almost weekly.

Existing Customer Promotions

In addition to getting the best odds, you want to be rewarded for your loyalty. Many of the best bookmakers will offer ongoing promotions in addition to the initial welcome offer.

Another popular promotion is freebets clubs. A Free Bet Club is often given to existing customers and can be used as a loyalty scheme. If you place a certain amount of bets within a week, you will earn a free bet as a reward. 

Free Bet Credit, this type of free bet, is sent out as an email or text promotion to existing customers and can be used if the online bookmaker selects you. Qualifying bets usually need to be placed between a Mon-Sun to get them the following week.

Reasons You Won’t Get The Welcome Bonus

Usually, some terms and conditions accompany customer free bets, so it’s always worth reading the small print to ensure you get your qualifying free bet.

You decide to Cash Out before the bet settlement. Cashing a bet out is a great way to quit whilst your betting is winning in play. Cashed out bets will mean that you not only get lesser odds from the bookmaker but also cash-outs disqualify you from the free bonus. Live betting is an excellent feature for gamblers; just make sure you are excited about being offered a great price on the betting website that you disqualify yourself from a promotional deal.

Users not satisfying the wagering requirements. This is common with a casino bonus, and the wagering requirement of one gambling site can vary vastly from another. Sometimes, you may need to wager your free bet up to x50 before it can be withdrawn.

Not betting at minimum odds. Some free bet terms dictate that there a min odds that you must bet to activate any betting bonuses.

You need to place a min deposit to activate some online sportsbook bonuses. The terms and conditions displayed alongside the welcome offer will explain the qualifying deposit amount.

Allowing the offer to expire. A new customer offer may have an expiration date, usually 7 days after opening your account. So make sure you use the bonus funds before they expire or you may fall could of the bet expiry rule listed in the ts&cs. Bonuses expiry is one of the number 1 reasons why members of sportsbooks miss out on their offer.

Using an invalid payment method. Many welcome bonus offers and casino bonus promotions come with deposit method restrictions. Things like ewallets, like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill, are excluded, and credit cards for gambling have been banned in the UK for some time. We recommend debit card deposits; we’ve yet to see debit card payment methods restricted as part of a new customer offer.

Not entering the promo code or bonus code is another reason a bettor won’t be eligible for the offer. Some betting sites require promo codes to activate the offer. This will be specified in the terms and conditions if a gambler needs to enter it when registering.

Country restrictions apply to some sign-up offers, so make sure you are a resident of the country where the offer is being promoted, or you may find withdrawal restrictions when you try and cash out your balance.

Final Verdict

Online betting is a competitive marketplace, and free bet promotions benefit the bookmaker and the customer. For the bookmaker, it removes some doubts a potential customer may have about signing up for an account with them. After all, most sports bets promotions require a relatively small deposit to activate them; in many cases, you are doubling your deposit with a boost from the bookmaker.

About Joe Kizlauskas

Joe is a seasoned iGaming copywriter and speaker who has been in the business since 2015. He's written more words on all elements of Casinos, Slots, Bingo & Sports Betting than he likes to remember, and he's contributed material to a number of well-known brands. Joe may be seen playing 5 a side, at the gym or playing games on his Playstation when he is not writing.