#1. talkSPORT Bet – £40 in free bets if you bet £20
UK punters are eligible for up to £40 in bonus bets if they create a new account and bet a minimum of £20 on any football markets at odds of 1/1 or higher via the mobile app or web browser. If you meet these requirements, talkSPORT Bet will give you bet credits to use on selected markets. You must use this offer within 7 days of opening your account, or it will expire. talkSPORT Bet is one of the leading football betting bookmakers in the industry, offering a wide range of markets and bet types for football fans.
#2. Betfred – £50 in Free Bets if You Bet £10
Betfred offers a generous £50 in free bets when you sign up and bet at least £10. The event you bet on must have odds of 1/1 or longer, and be used within 7 days. Betfred will add bet credit to your account after settling your qualifying bet, which consists of three £10 free sports bets and two £10 free acca bets. Betfred is one of the best minimum deposit betting sites available. You can open an account by depositing just £5.
#3. Unibet – Bet £10 get £40 in free bets
Unibet offers one of the strongest in-play options on the market, from horse racing meetings to football and esports, along with live streaming options. The welcome bonus is also one of the strongest free bet offers in the UK. If new users place a minimum £10 bet at odds of 1/1 or longer they will receive 2x £10 bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, with a further 2x £10 casino bonus the following day.
#4 Betfair – Bet £10 get £50 in free bets
Betfair’s free bet offer is very generous when you consider the low stake required to activate it. By betting £10 and getting £50 back in free bet builders, you are getting 500% of your original stake back, which is not too shabby at all. It takes minutes to get all set up with Betfair, when creating an account, opt in for Betfair’s new customer offer, then place your first bet of at least £10 with odds of evens or greater. You will be given a total of £50 of free bet builders in return.
#5. 10bet – 100% matched deposit up to £50
10bet continues to make a name for itself in the UK betting market, and a big part of that is due to the excellent welcome bonus and ongoing offers for existing customers. Anybody who signs up for a new 10bet account can get up to £50 matched at 100%, so if you place a deposit and a bet of £50, you will get £50 in free bets. There is also no pressure on the bet winning as you will get your free bet regardless of the outcome. The minimum bet for this welcome offer is £10, with a cap at £50.
You have 60 days to activate this offer, but there are also 8x wagering requirements before any money is eligible for withdrawal.
How We Choose the Best Free Bets
We have a certain set of criteria that a bookmaker and a free bet bonus must meet to be considered among the best available. There are aspects we feel everyone should consider before determining which free bet bonus is the most suitable for them, before signing up for an account. We rank and rate bonuses based on the following factors:
Operator Security & Reputation
We simply won’t recommend any type of bonus from an unlicensed bookmaker. We pay very close attention when judging a bookie’s legitimacy. Our team digs deep and delves further into the buts and bolts of a bookmaker. We don’t just take a few negative reviews from users and run with it; we want to determine the quality and legitimacy of everything a bookie does from firsthand experience. There are some minimum requirements a bookmaker must meet, for example, having UKGC approval, and then we judge aspects such as market depth and bonuses for ourselves.
Eligible Sports & Leagues
Every free bet offer will set out in the terms and conditions which sports you can use your free bet credits to bet on. In addition to the sport, the bookie will also state the minimum odds for the free bets. Punters have all sorts of different tastes, and many go beyond the typical popular options such as football and horse racing. Having as many sports to choose from is beneficial.
Wagering Requirements
Sports usually have very manageable play-through conditions, typically ranging from 1x to 10x. These could go higher, but then it becomes more difficult to clear the bonus. That is why we look for bonuses that have realistic wagering requirements that will suit lower stake bettors.
Bonus Expiration Date
These bonuses aren’t going to be there forever, and we hear so many stories of people who forget they have free bets, check their account, and it’s gone. Welcome bonuses tend to have expiration dates ranging from 7 to 14 days, although some will be longer. We prefer bookmakers who give punters a little longer to use their free bets, so they are not rushing.
What are Free Betting Bonuses?
Free betting bonuses allow you to place a bet without risking your own money. It is one of the most common promotions used by bookies to attract new customers or reward existing punters for their loyalty. You can only use free bets with the bookmaker that has issued the offer; you can’t withdraw free bet credits or free bets.
To claim a free bet, you must meet the bonus requirements. These could include signing up as a new customer, making a first deposit, or placing a qualifying bet on a specific sporting event.
You should always read the terms and conditions carefully before placing your bet, so you understand how your free bet works and there are no hidden surprises.
How do Free Bets Work?
As you can see from the list above, many of the best UK free bets are part of a welcome bonus for new customers. To unlock the bonus, you will need to sign up for a new account, make a deposit, and place a qualifying bet that meets the minimum odds requirement.
When you have met all of the criteria, the free bet credits will drop into your account instantly or not long after your qualifying bet has been settled. As we said above, check the terms and conditions, as if you get something wrong, such as betting on an ineligible market, you may miss out on claiming your free bet.
If your free bet wins, you will get the profit and not the original stake. For example, a £10 free bet at 20/1 returns £20 profit, but you won’t get the £10 stake back.
Most free bet offers come with an expiry date, so make sure you use it before it runs out.
Types of Free Bets at UK Bookmakers
There are multiple types of bonuses that can be classed as free bets. After looking at the list of free bet bonuses available at UK bookmakers today, we have created a list of the most prominent types of free bets. Always bear in mind, though, that a free bet is just one tool you have at your disposal, and should be used in addition to other tools to ensure you have a robust and successful betting strategy.
Bet X gets Y in Free Bets
These are the most common types of free bet bonuses new customers receive. All of the top UK bookmakers offer a free bet bonus after you have placed a qualifying bet. This is a simple bet that consists of making a qualifying bet, then once it is settled, the operator will award the bonus.
Some of these are more lucrative than others; you could receive £20 or £50 in bet credits depending on the bookie, but the same rules apply. These bonus bets are typically tied to specific terms of use.
Money Back as a Free Bet
You may hear a lot of adverts stating you ‘get your money back as a free bet’ and it refers to a type of bonus where if your qualifying bet loses, the operator will refund your stake in the form of betting credits. The refunded amount is seen as the ‘bonus funds’, meaning you aren’t allowed to cash it in.
The terms of this bonus can differ. For example, the bookie may offer you your money back for a specific event in a losing bet, such as a player getting injured after a few minutes or one selection costing you your whole acca.
Second-Chance Free Bets
Second-chance bonuses are given out when a qualifying bet loses. If your bet wins, you won’t get the bonus. These types of bonuses provide a level of insurance, as you get another shot at winning if your bet loses, and they remove the pressure for new customers who want to get off to a good start. The bookie will clearly set out the terms around how you should stake your initial bet, such as minimum odds, minimum bet amount, etc.
Sport-Specific Free Bets
This is exactly how it sounds. Sport-specific free bets are awarded on specific sporting events only. Most commonly in the UK, these are used for football, horse racing, cricket, or other prominent sports. Some money back as free bet bonuses or stake not returned offers can be attached to a single sport.
Combined Free Bet Offers
Lots of bookies offer a combination of free sports bets and a casino bonus, which is typically a number of free spins. The biggest issue with these types of offers is that you must adhere to two sets of terms for the sports bonus and the casino bonus.
Can you Withdraw Free Bets?
In addition to accessing your free bet winnings, you may also want to just withdraw your free bets; however, this is not possible. Think of free bets as separate from your regular bankroll. When you have met the requirements to qualify for your free bets, you can’t withdraw them as cash; you must use them to bet on an event of your choice. For example, if you receive a £40 free bet offer as a new player in 4x £10 tokens, you must spend these on four bets that are £10 each; you can’t just withdraw the whole £40 as cash or any of the tokens as cash.
If the bet wins, then you can withdraw your funds as usual. Just be sure to check the terms and conditions. It may seem straightforward to claim and use a free bet, but even pros make mistakes or misread part of the terms and conditions. Make sure to pay close attention to the minimum bet, minimum deposit, type of bet, and anything else mentioned in the terms and conditions.
Are Free Bets Worth It?
This essentially comes down to the terms and conditions of the free bet, which is the case for most bonus offers. Whenever you see the word ‘free’ in the betting world, you may naturally assume it will be beneficial, as you are getting something for nothing. However, if this free bet comes with a 40x wagering requirement, which means you must bet the bonus 40 times before withdrawing any winnings, it may not be worth your while.
If you receive a new player free bet offer that has suitable wagering requirements, then it is definitely worth it as you are staking house money, and even if you lose, there won’t be any damage to your own bankroll.
Understanding Wagering Requirements of Free Bets
A lot of these bets may seem very similar on the surface, but dig a little deeper into the details and the terms of each offer can vary. There are, however, terms and requirements that are common in most free bet offers, such as:
Wagering Requirements
For typical sports betting bonuses, these range from 1x to 10x
Type of Bet
Bookies will state the type of bet you must place to qualify for the offer, such as a single bet, horse racing bet, acca, etc.
Minimum Odds
You must bet the minimum odds that are specified (typically 1/1)
Minimum Bet
The minimum bet usually ranges between £5 and £10
Expiration Date
Bonus bets will have an expiration date from when you join the site. Make sure you read the terms so you don’t lose your free bet.
