Are you after the best free bets in the UK? At Sportslens, we’ve searched far and wide to bring you best free bet offers right here to this very page.
In this guide, we reveal the best UK free bets with the top bonuses, explain how free bets work, and walk you through how to claim a free bet for yourself today.
Other Free Bet Offers
Apart from the listed free bet offers above you can also take advantage of additional offers:
The Best Free Bet Offers – Comparison Table
If you would rather avoid churning through bookie after bookie, trying to locate the best free bets offers, that’s understandable! To save you time, this table shows you how the best free bets compare to one another:
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What are Free Bets?
Free bets are promotional betting tokens that bookies offer as a way of attracting new punters and keeping existing ones happy. Such offers can be awarded simply for signing up to a site.
A free bet is essentially a token that can be used on sports, so that bettors don’t risk losing their hard-earned cash. At SpreadEx, for example, you will be rewarded with a £25 free bet, and you won’t have to deposit a single penny.
Free bets will come in many forms and guises, and they can be used when you first deposit money into your account. For example, you can place £10 into your account, and the money may be matched by the bookmaker.
Free bet no deposit offers provide a reward if you just register an account, and there are no catches. However, they are quite rare at bookmakers. Instead, you are more likely to find them at casino operators.
Nevertheless, the best free bets will outline all terms and conditions concerning qualifying bets and minimum odds, as well as what markets the free bets are valid for.
How We Select Free Bet Offers
When it comes to free bets, there are a barrage of them added by bookmakers each week, and deciding which ones to go for isn’t always easy. However, at Sportlens, we use strict criteria for how to find the best free bet offers. Below are a few factors that should be taken into consideration.
- Fair terms and conditions – Bookmakers should always endeavour to make sure that the terms and conditions are competitive, but also fair, so that it convinces players to sign up for the offer. Terms and conditions should be clearly laid out, but they should always be read through carefully, so that customers aren’t left flat-footed.
- Suitability for different players – These should appeal to both new and existing customers, and give them a decent chance of winning. Kwiff’s guaranteed supercharged offer is one of the most exciting free bets we have encountered.
- Payment Method Exclusions – Certain deposit methods may be restricted for particular free bets. Ideally, you should be able to deposit in the method of your choice, whether it be Visa, Mastercard or Skrill. However, with some sites, it is important to note that PayPal isn’t accepted as a deposit method.
- Time Period – There is usually a minimum time frame for which to claim a free bet. Some sites, such as Kwiff and BetUK have no time limits, while Grosvenor Sports allows new customers up to 60 days to claim free bets.
- Wagering requirements – Here, wagering requirements should be realistic, but they should also be fair. Bets will need to be placed before withdrawals can be processed. Parimatch, for example, has wagering requirements of 20x, so if you bet £20, then you will have to win £400 (£20×20) before you can claim winnings.
- Risk-free bet – Some free bets allow you to place your own money, but if that bet loses, your original stake will be returned to you. If you win, you get your stake and winnings as normal. FansBet is a classic example of this.
- Markets – Qualifying or free bets may be restricted to specific markets or sports events. Betfred, for example, will run various free bets for tennis tournaments, such as the US Open, and they will be available for a limited amount of time i.e. 7 days.
Are Free Bets Really Free?
While it would seem natural to think free bets are free, in fact with the majority of most offers, some form of investment is compulsory. For example, with QuinnBet’s £25 free bet offer, you will be required to deposit at least £10 into your account. Very rarely will you find UK bookmakers offering free bets for nothing.
Free Bets UK Pros & Cons
Inevitably, free bets have some advantages and disadvantages associated with them, which we have listed below.
Pros:
- Risk-free form of betting as punter doesn’t lose their own cash
- More opportunities to explore and bet on different markets
- Ability to test out new and existing betting sites
- Free bets are always increasing and they are run regularly
Cons:
- Stake not returned as winnings
- Not valid for all sports markets
- Certain payment methods are ineligible
- Terms and conditions can be rigorous
How to Find the Best Free Bet Offers
The best free bets will be run on a regular basis by bookies, so your job is to keep your eyes peeled, so you don’t miss out on the latest free bet offers. We have scoured the best free bets served up by bookmakers, as well as reveal the key terms you need to look out for. We also show you how to capitalise on the best free bets that may come your way.
Types of Free Bets
Free bets help entice new customers to the site. They come in various forms and guises when betting on darts, horse racing, and other sports. They can be a nice way to have a punt on a sport of your fancy.
Free Bet Welcome Offers
Here’s a closer look at the different types of free bet welcome offers you can find at UK bookies:
Deposit Match Free Bets
Match free bets are also worth paying attention to. A bookmaker, for example, may give you free bets which equate to the same value as your first deposit. So, by depositing £20, you will receive £20 in free bets.
You might also expect to find additional wagering requirements. VBet, for example, will match your £10 deposit with a £10 free bet, but the wagering requirements may start off from 1x, so bear this in mind, so the wagering amount would be £300 (£10×30).
Popular Bet & Get Offers In The UK
We’ve picked out some of the ‘Bet & Get Free Bet’ type of welcome bonuses available to UK punters today:
- Bet £10 Get £30 Free Bet
- Bet £5 Get £30 Free Bet
- Bet £10 Get £40 Free Bet
- Bet £20, Get £10 Free Bet and 50 free spins
- Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets
Parimatch, for example, has a very competitive bet & get offer which entails betting £5 to earn £30 in free bets in return.
Money Back Free Bets
Money back bets are among the best free bets we like to seek out at Sportslens. As this suggests, you will get your stake refunded if your bet is a losing one.
Money back free bets are in essence insurance bets, and at Grosvenor Sport, this can be applied to their accumulator offers. These types of bets will appeal to both new and existing customers.
No Deposit Free Bets
These kinds of bets are more common at online casinos, but they are hard to come by at sportsbooks. However, bookies may offer a small free bet, which in the case of Sport Nation, is worth £20, which is awarded to those who create an account.
You may even come across bets with no deposit on mobile, although these are rather scarce too.
Price boosts
Also known as as enhanced odds offers, bookmakers will artificially inflate the odds for a particular sporting event to convince punters to sign up to the site. Winnings here will be credited to new customers as free bets. At LeoVegas, for example, new bettors can take advantage of the 100% profit boost, which could net them an extra £100 in winnings.
Free Bets for Existing Customers
The types of free bets mentioned above aren’t just limited to new customers. Existing customers can also claim these types of offers if they are registered with a bookmaker. These are some of the bet offers you can expect as an existing customer at the best betting sites.
Reload Bonuses
When you top up your account by processing a deposit, the bookmaker may add something as a gesture of goodwill.
- Grosvenor Sport: Treble The Odds On Your 1st Bet
- Quinnbet: £25 Free Bet + 100 Free Spins
- Tonybet: Welcome Bonus Up To £50
Free Bet Clubs
Free bet clubs have become increasingly common as bookmakers seek to reward customers for their loyalty. Some bookies will offer free bets for every week you wager with them, and you’ll usually have to spend around a minimum of £25 one week before punters can activate the offer.
With free bet clubs, you can add a little extra to bet with each week, which in turn, will boost your chances of claiming a payout. With some brands, such as LeoVegas, you can boost your profits with accumulator bets, which is a nice bonus.
Generally, only one free bet is offered per week, and only net winnings are returned. There are only a few bookmakers that offer free bet clubs, but you won’t find them at our recommended bookies.
- William Hill: Acca Club – £5 Free Bet Every Week
- Paddy Power: Paddy’s Reward Club – Get A Weekly £10 Free Bet Plus A Power Up
- Unibet: In Play Free Bet Club – Earn A £10 In Play Every Week
- Betfred: Fred’s Free Bets – Earn Free Bet Rewards
Loyalty reward free bets
Bookmakers will reach out to those customers who regularly deposit funds and place bets on the same site, and these could be ongoing weekly promotions. This could be in the form of weekly accas, which is a staple of VirginBet, where you can tuck into a £10 free bet if you place two £10+ accas during the week.
- BetVictor: BetVictor Loyalty Club – Bet 5 X £5 On Sports & Get A £5 Free Bet
- BoyleSports: Acca Loyalty – Get A £5 Free Acca Bet For Every Five £5+ Accas Placed
Insurance Free Bets
Rather than leave you stranded, some free bets UK sites may insert an insurance free bet offer, whereby if you miss out by a single pick, such as if the golfer you backed finishes outside of the top five, or if your team concedes a late equaliser, then a free bet up to a certain amount could be won.
Free Bets Enhanced Odds Specials for This Week
Many UK bookmakers will enhance their odds on a daily or a weekly basis across a wide selection of sports. These tend to be increasingly valuable to those who want to make the most of the free bets that come your way. Odds can be boosted to 100/1 for some of the biggest football matches or boxing bouts. To make things easier for you, we have published some of the best enhanced odds specials that have been vetted and are supplied by renowned UKGC bookies.
Bookmaker | Event | Enhanced Odds offer | Claim |
US Open tennis | #PickYourPunt Over 3.5 sets for Nishikori v McDonald. | Claim Offer | |
Rugby League | Top price on all 1st try scorers for televised Super League games. | Claim Offer | |
Premier League football | Place an acca on the Premier League with at least three selections and a minimum ticket of odds of 3.0. You must make a minimum stake of £1 and your odds will be supercharged. | Claim Offer | |
Greyhound | Thu/Fri: Place a bet on 3 Greyhound races across Thursday or Friday (at odds of 1/2 or greater), and we’ll give you a free bet to your average stake up to £10 to use on Saturday (Credited by 12pm Sat). | Claim Offer | |
Premier League football | 8 games, 8 results, £8,000 top prize. £1 free bet for each correct pick, and promotion will run throughout the 2021/22 Premier League campaign. Free bet tokens must be claimed or they will expire after 7 days. Minimum odds stand at 1.50. | Claim Offer | |
Greyhound racing | Place 5 bets on greyhounds between Monday and Sunday. Get a £5 free bet on any sport and any market with minimum odds 1.5 | Claim Offer |
New Free Bets
While some free bets have been a constant, and don’t look like changing anytime soon, there are always new options being added by bookmakers. This can be weekly or monthly, and SkyBet, for example, offers some of the latest new free bets offers that can be activated across an extensive range of sports.
New offers are always being added by the likes of VirginBet, and they are usually well signposted. We particularly liked Sport Nation and their stunning free bets offer which allows customers to get £50 in free bets, and it is one of the most appealing on the market.
It’s also always worth looking out for the best new betting sites, as they often offer particularly attractive deals to entice new customers.
Best Free Bet No Deposit Offers
While free bet no deposit offers are rather rare nowadays, there are still a few that can be unearthed at the best free bets bookies. LeoVegas, for example, has a proven track for free casino bets, where punters can tap into a deal worth £100 cash and 20 free spins.
Currently, Spreadex offers a £25 free bet no deposit bonus.
To claim a deposit free bet offer can be achieved in a few simple steps:
- Start by opening a new account with a bookmaker
- A free bet token will then be credited to the account
- The free bet cannot be withdrawn and it has to be staked
- Have a look at the terms and conditions to see how many times the free bet must be turned over before it can be withdrawn
How to Claim a Free Bet
Inevitably, you will need to have registered an account with a bookmaker to activate free bets. There are a plethora of incredible offers at this top of the page, so head over there and find the deal that interests you the most. For the purpose of this guide, we will walk you through the free bet offer at BoyleSports.
Mobile Free Bets & Betting Offers
It’s not just on the desktop version of bookmakers where bettors can claim free bets. Free bets will be available to all whether it is via desktop or mobile. You’ll be hard pushed to find a mobile betting app that doesn’t offer free bets, but these will usually be customised and personalised to individual bettors.
While the free bet betting offers may vary between desktop and mobile, the rewards aren’t too dissimilar. BoyleSports and Betfred are among the most superior betting apps with free bets, and they are usually replete with excellent mobile free bets promotions.
Best Football Free Bets
Football is one of the most popular sports betting markets in the UK today. You will therefore be able to land free bets across the Premier League and other top European Leagues. Boyle Sports, for example, allows you to gain £30 in free bets, whereby you will need to place a bet of £10 at odds of evens or greater.
We were also left impressed by the free football bet laid on by 10Bet. Here, you just need to deposit at least £50 using the code PLAY10, and you will get a 50% matched bonus up to £50, however if you wish to gain the full bonus amount, you must deposit at least £100.
Best Horse Racing Free Bets
Free Grand National bets and free Cheltenham bets are real crowd-pleasers as they are two of the biggest meets in the horse racing calendar. Punters will flock to sportsbooks trying to land some great horse racing free bets. QuinnBet comes up trumps, as racing enthusiasts will be able to redeem a £10 free bet for every UK/Irish race day, and there is also money back as a free bet if your horse finishes second.
Similarly, Betfred’s horse racing free bet consists of a free bet worth up to £10 if your horse racing pick finishes second. Single and each-way bets will qualify for this particular promotion.
Free Bets Terms & Conditions
As we have already explained, free bets will come with a swathe of terms and conditions, and you will need to go over them with a fine tooth comb before proceeding. So, with that in mind, here are the main T&Cs that you should pay attention to for free bets:
Minimum Odds – The bulk of free bets will have minimum odds T&Cs, and they will relate to the qualifying bets as well as bets that rely on using bonus funds. Bookmakers will determine the price which can vary from evens to 4/1. If the minimum odds are too short, then it will make it eminently easier for bettors to win their free bet.
Minimum Deposit – This will be clearly outlined for all of the best free bets. A first deposit will need to be made in order to qualify for the free bet, and the minimum stake may start off from around £10.
Payment Method – T&Cs are usually quite strict when it comes to payment methods. While you will be able to claim free bets using a debit card, some e-wallets such as Skrill or Neteller will be ineligible, and this will be clearly stipulated by the bookie.
Specific Events – Some free bets may only be available for specific sporting events. So, whether it is the Ashes or Wimbledon, make sure it is an event that you are interested in betting on or possess a strong sporting knowledge of.
Promo Code – While it’s not the case for all of the recommended bookies in this guide, these will be advertised on the site, and they will need to be entered when prompted, otherwise punters will be ineligible and they will be discounted from the offer.
Expiry Date – Qualifying bets will normally have to be used within 7 days of signing up to a betting site. Punters will also have a set number of days to make use of their free bets, and this can be anywhere between 7 to 30 days. More importantly, the time periods set should be realistic.
Excluded markets – Not all free bets will be available for all markets. Bookmakers will always say which markets you can use for free bets, but make sure you are aware of this when you sign up. Ultimately, you will want to use your free bets for markets you are confident of winning on.
Win limits – Make sure you check to see if there are any rules relating to winnings. Some bookmakers will cap or impose limits on the amount of money won from free bets.
How to Withdraw Free Bet Winnings
Normally, free bets are more often than not, awarded as free bets and you won’t be able to withdraw cash as winnings straight away. In essence, the notion of free bets are to use them at a bookmakers platform and in the long-term become a regular customer.
You can withdraw cash once wagering requirements have been fulfilled, which usually start off at 1x the amount. These requirements encompass the free bets with minimum odds that have to be wagered to meet the playthrough requirements.
Can I Cash Out a Free Bet?
At most bookmakers, you will be unable to cash out a bet. At Betfred, there could be a multitude of reasons, such as the markets you wish to play don’t allow for Cash Out or more simply free bets aren’t conducive for Cash Out.
The Cash Out feature has become an integral part of the betting experience, especially when it comes to in-play betting, however free bet funds that have been cashed out will not count towards the wagering requirements.
As such, Cash Out is generally considered a no go when it comes to free bets, but if in doubt, you can always check with the bookmaker in question you wish to play at.
Matched Betting with Free Bets
You can maximise your profits when you use these kinds of free bets offered by bookmakers. In much the same way as qualifying bets, matched betting is mostly risk-free and you can place them on a suitable selection at a bookmaker before laying against the same selection at a betting exchange.
You will therefore either win at the bookie and lose at the exchange or alternatively lose your free bet with the bookie and win at the exchange. Matched betting is usually quite straightforward, and the amount you receive will ultimately depend on how much you deposit.
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Free Bet Tips
With free bets, it can sometimes feel like a bit of a minefield and knowing where to start can be problematic if you are deluged with offers. Nevertheless, if you bear in mind the following tips for using free bets, this will stand you in good stead:
Tip 1: Use a bet calculator
Most reputable bookmakers will have a bet calculator that will figure out any profits or winnings you may possibly make. BoyleSports’ bet calculator is very sophisticated, and it encompasses all bet types from singles and doubles through to Doubles, Trebles and Fourfolds.
Tip 2: Do your homework
You should be rigorous in your research, looking for football and horse racing tips today to back, and also compare different sites offering free bets before jumping in feet first. Some bookmakers will suit your needs better than others, and after all, you are going to play there in the long-term.
Tip 3: Quality over quantity
Like with most things in life, don’t try and bet too widely. Perhaps a safer option is to use part of the free bet on one day, and then use it another. Over time, you might benefit from that approach and feel more comfortable. We have a NAP of the Day here on SportsLens every single day, containing our experts’ best bet for your reference.
Tip 4: Stick to markets you feel comfortable betting on
While it is tempting to try new and exciting markets, this could contribute to your downfall. We suggest playing the markets that you have some sporting knowledge of or feel confident that you will do well on. If you’ve had success following free Lucky 15 tips for today in the past, then stick with them.
Tip 5: Do your own research
Never take anything at face value, even if it is from reputable betting sites. You should always make note of upcoming events, and when the time comes, use information collected from your research, so you can bet with your head and not your heart. Be careful which tips you glean information from.
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Conclusion
Free bets and bonus offers should never be underestimated. However, punters should also cash in on promotions that are worthwhile, in terms of what they will make from it at the end of the process.
As you will see free bets aren’t limited to just new customers, they can be accessed by existing punters too. The best free bets will be competitive, but fair, and you will find good free bets at the top of this page.
Of course, the sites we have mentioned in this guide are fully licensed and regulated, so go check out the free bets they run.