Free Bets

This is the most definitive place on the internet to find the latest Free Bets online across the UK’s leading betting operators and our team of expert reviewers at Gambling.com have ranked them according to a strict set of criteria and categories. Try them out for yourself below using the bonus code and the direct link and if you need more information read on as we explain everything you need to know about claiming an exclusive Free Bet and what it entails.

Recommended Free Bet Offers

How Free Bets Work

Very rarely will a Free Bet Offer come without any requirement to make an initial deposit using a credit or debit card and time limits applied. That said, there are some no deposit free bet offers that clearly stand out in a busy marketplace. If any of our trusted and reviewed partners have these offers available, you will find them by checking through our ranked list of Free Bets above.

It is worth noting exactly what type of payment method will be applicable to a Free Bet offer before making your first deposit, as some sportsbook operators will not accept Skrill Neteller or other e-wallet options when new customers are opening an account to claim a bonus for the first time. It is also worth checking if the Free Bet offer you wish to take applies to mobile only, via apps or across all platforms of the sportsbook site.

Generally, a Free Bet bonus is applied to your online betting account when triggered by making a qualifying cash deposit or by making a qualifying bet on a specific betting market or event tied to a Free Bet promotion.

When you receive a Free Bet, you will notice that it may have restrictions as to what it can be used on or how it may be used when making your next bet.

Specific market Free Bets might stipulate that they can only be used on specific sports bets like Horse Racing or Football, this will mean that when you try to use them on other sports or game types, they won’t be available. Often these will be attached to a specific type of promotion. For example, bet on Match A in the Premier League and get a Free Bet for in-play action live streaming on the same match or a Free Bet to use on Match B.

With Horse Racing a common sportsbook sign up promotion which involves Free Bets will be placed on Race 1 at a certain race meeting and receive a Free Bet on several other races at the same race meeting on the same day.

There are many variations of these types of Free Bet offers and as always it makes sense to fully review and understand the terms and conditions of each Free Bet offer you come across. Here at Gambling.com, we do this and clearly detail the need to know specifics of each offer where you see them ranked and displayed in our drop-down list tables and highlighted partners.

With every Free Bet you use during the course of your day to day use of a betting account online it’s worth noting that stakes will not be returned in winnings like a real money bet would be. So if you have a £10 Free Bet on a team to win a Premier League football match at 2/1 and they win you will be only paid the winnings of £20 – the £10 stake from the Free Bet is not returned in the pay-out. If you had placed the same bet with real money cash or from your withdraw-able funds in your online account you would have received £30 in total which includes your original £10 stake.

The advantage of a Free Bet is exactly that it is free, if it loses, the only thing you lose is the Free Bet and not your own funds.

There are many different ways to earn Free Bets with online sportsbook operators, many have loyalty schemes or rewards club, themed sport promotion bonus codes and daily specials that you can follow, opt in to and get more for your online gambling spend. Our reviews of the best betting operators will give you all the details you need to know to stay up to date and take advantage of these promotions via a Bonus Code as they arise.

How to Take Full Advantage of Free Bets

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Choosing the right sign up bonus offer for you is the perfect way to start with Free Bets from an online bookmaker. Our list of the best Free Bets available is at the top of this page and details exactly what you can expect to receive and how to claim them.

The best ones will apply a multiple of your initial deposit to your account in Free Bets which you can then use during a certain period of time to get used to the various markets and products they offer across the world of online sports betting.

Many people will open several accounts and take advantage of the Free Bets on offer from different sites and only when the promotions are at their most generous and exciting. You will often find that big sporting events on the leading sportsbook sites like the World Cup, the Cheltenham Festival and the Superbowl lend themselves to operators making a big push for new customers and if you are considering having more than one account, then around these events the marketplace for your business is definitely at its most competitive with new customer offers and larger Free Bet inclusions.

Also, once you have established and fully verified an account with your online bookie of choice it’s important to keep an eye on the day to day promotions they run that can increase your Free Bet balance just from being an active account.

Several will run daily, weekly and monthly loyalty schemes for sports bettors in the same way they do for Casino players and Free Spins Slots players. Placing a specific minimum number of bets each week or placing a bet on a specific high-profile game or event can often trigger a Free Bet for your account. By taking advantage of these specials you will definitely get more use of your normal spend with an online betting operator and have a greater chance of securing a return without making more deposits or spending your online bookies’ balance when you don’t need to.

In summary, having several accounts, utilising more than one sign up offer or bonus code, keeping tabs on loyalty and special Free Bet promotions and opting in to marketing and promotional communications will ensure you don’t miss an opportunity to earn a Free Bet.

Please remember you don’t have to take them or make a triggering deposit or bet if you don’t wish to but it’s good to know what is available for when you do want to get involved.

Potential Drawbacks of Free Bets

When using a Free Bet like all betting deals it is important to be aware of the terms and conditions applied to each one you receive. Here are some handy hints to keep in mind:

1. Expiry Date of Free Bets

Many Free Bets come with valid expiry dates, so you must ensure to use them within the timeframe set or they will be removed from your account and unless you are very lucky with a customer service agent they will not be returned. This makes sense for a betting operator as they will wish to manage liability at any one time so knowing exactly how many free bets are in circulation amongst their customer base is crucial. Often a 7-day expiry period is in place, but some may only last 24 hours and very rarely are they open-ended.

To check the valid expiry date on your Free Bets this is normally detailed in the “my account” section of your account with an online bookmaker and often clearly noted on the Free Bet itself in your account wallet.

2. Minimum Odds of Free Bets

Many Free Bets are limited in terms of minimum odds which whilst not prohibitive to the average customer does make placing them a little different to using normal cash in your online betting account. Standard type of restriction would be Even Money ( 2.0 ) meaning that any bet with odds shorter than this would not be allowed when placing your free bet.

Lots of customers would usually like to take a chance with a Free Bet to win big without staking their own cash so this is not usually a drawback but If you are searching for a “sure thing” at tight odds then Free Bets don’t come in too handy with the odds restrictions applied.

3. Multiples or Singles Only Free Bets

It’s worth checking if your Free Bets allow for them to be used in multiples or accumulator bets. Many do but some bookmaker offers are restricted to singles only or each way singles, meaning you can only place them on bets involving one outcome. It can be frustrating if you have picked out a Lucky 15 for the Horses or a 6 fold Football Accumulator only to find the Free Bet you intended to use will only let you stake on one of the possible legs in your bet.

Check these before building your bets to ensure they are valid bet types and save a lot of time in advance.

4. Free Bets cannot be exchanged for real money

Free Bets are to be used as advertised and cannot be replaced by real cash in exchange no matter how hard you might try to convince a customer service agent at your chosen Sportsbook!

Free Bet Offers for New Customers

As you can see from our carefully selected list of best Free Bet offers for new customers at the top of this page there are many different types, differing values and time limits applied to new customers when they sign up with an online betting site.

Traditionally you will make an initial deposit, place a qualifying bet in the normal way and instantly receive Free Bets into your online wallet. These can then be used as you see fit during a welcome period on your account.

Be aware of any expiry dates, minimum odds restrictions or terms and conditions that may apply to their use but generally they are what they say on the tin, Free Bets.

Stakes from Free Bets that win will not be returned – only any profit earned will be returned to your account and Free Bet stakes are kept back from pay-outs. Unlike Online Casino Bonuses there is usually no wagering requirements applied to Free Bet winnings on sports book promotions but do check the terms and conditions to be sure you don’t need to play the funds again before withdrawing them.

Free Bets and the value of your Free Bets applied when signing up to a new betting account can never be withdrawn directly, they must be placed on a sports bet and the profit or loss outcome determined before any funds are released to your account to use for further bets or to withdraw to your chosen payment method.

Free Bet Offers for Existing Customers

As explained above there are many opportunities to earn Free Bets and bonus offers from your online betting account via usual everyday betting activity and by opting-in to Loyalty Schemes or specific sports betting promotions. It is usually helpful to be part of the marketing communications with your betting operator to ensure you receive information about how to get involved. If you wish to turn these communications on or off it’s simple to do in your “my account” preferences on the betting site you have joined or by contacting the Customer Service team.

Sometimes betting operators will look to re-activate customers who haven’t used their site for some time by offering Free Bets or matched deposit bonuses – these are commonplace if you have perhaps moved to a different operator for your betting needs or for any reason have stopped using a particular site.

The most common is the specific event Free Bet and it’s become very popular across special markets like First Goal scorer, Builder Bet or Pre Play and In-Play Football markets. Where placing a bet on one particular market will trigger a free bet for another specific market. These are usually stake matched and have a minimum and maximum limit applied.

These types of daily promotions are usually heavily advertised and promoted on the home pages of betting sites and often only visible when you are logged in or have received a communication via email to get involved.

It is usual practice to have a promotions section on a betting site that updates daily with new and exciting promotions and special offers available across a multitude of markets and sports events as well as a new Casino customer offer and bonuses.

The Different Types of Free Bet

Matched free bets

A matched Free Bet is when you are credited a Free Bet to the same value as a qualifying bet. For example, bet £20 on a specific market and get a £20 Free Bet regardless of whether your original bet wins or loses.

No deposit free bets

These are Free Bets that don’t require any triggering bet or deposit to take place first. Often part of a re-activation campaign for lapsed or dormant accounts or just a plain and simple giveaway by a betting operator.

Reload bonuses

These types of Free Bets or deposit bonuses are triggered when a customer makes a new deposit at the request of the operator as part of a promotion. Deposit £100 and get £50 Free Bet or 50% matched cash bonus. These are generally available via an on-site promotion, email campaign offer or via an account manager with a betting operator.

Risk-free bets

Risk-Free Bets mean that whatever the outcome of your bet your stake is protected and therefore risk-free. You might be offered a Risk-Free £10 bet on the big football match which although you place your own money on the bet it will be credited back as a Free Bet, or in some cases actual cash, should that bet lose.

Qualifying free bets

The option of a qualifying Free Bet is when you must follow certain instructions to receive a valid Free Bet as part of a specific promotion. For example, place a bet on Match 1 to receive a Free Bet on Match 2.

In-play bonuses

Often betting operators will apply Free Bets to in-play betting promotions such as place a bet pre-match and receive a Free Bet In-Play on the same game.

Money Back specials

Money Back specials are often utilised for specific events and an example of this is to place three bets on horse racing and receive a Free Bet to your average stake as a Money Back Free Bet – these are generally not returned as cash but in the form of money back as a Free Bet.

Loyalty Free Bets

A Free Bet that is applied to your account for achieving certain loyalty requirements like logging in 5 days of a week or placing £25 worth of stakes during a week to receive a £5 Free Bet.

As with all Free Bet types and promotions keeping abreast of the Terms and Conditions is crucial to ensure you qualify for what you want to receive and don’t have to spend time with customer service teams.

What do I do if I haven’t received my Free Bet?

Remember too that Free Bet credits are often applied manually especially when tied to the end of a specific event, race or match and so you should allow a short period of time to pass before being concerned that a Free Bet due has not been received. Keeping an eye on a betting operator’s Twitter account or on site communications will usually keep you updated without having to get on to Customer Support and chase a Free Bet that is already on the way to you!

Finding the Right Free Bet for you

At Gambling.com we take the time to monitor, review and check all the Free Bet offers that are available to new and existing customers of betting sites in the UK. Our easy to follow rankings and full scale reviews of each site, their sign up offers and user experience are readily available and can be trusted to deliver whatever type of Free Bet you are looking for across a host of sports and betting markets.

Take the time to review our work, test out the opinions and information given and earn those Free Bets when you open an account as you bet online. Keep checking back for the latest offers and exclusive bonuses as they change periodically with new bookmakers and old favourites across the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a free bet?

A free bet is exactly what it sounds like, a wager or bet placed with a specific amount of free bet funds from your online betting operator. It will not affect your bank roll if the bet should lose but you will receive the winnings, minus the free bet stake, should the bet be successful.

Do free bets work on mobile devices?

All free bets will work on mobile devices, some free bets only work on mobile and that will be detailed in the terms and conditions of any offer you may accept and be entitled to. Some free bets will have minimum odds applied and these are usually set around 5/6 or even-money (1/1) selections or bigger.

Can returning players claim a free bet?

Dependent on who you bet with online, free bets will be made available from time to time and not just for new customers. Do be aware that free bets often have an expiry date and if not used within the set period can lapse – a quick call or interaction with the customer service team can see them re-instated in some instances.

What is a wagering requirement?

Wagering can be applied to some online betting offers you may receive although not often applied to free bets. A wagering requirement is the need to use the funds received from an offer more than once on the betting platform before it can be withdrawn back to your payment method. Standard wagering requirements for sports bets is usually a lot lower than that of casino offers.

Can you win real money with a free bet?

You can win real money from a free bet – should your bet be successful. Do remember that a free bet stake is not returned with the winnings, however, as it was never your money to start with. For example, a free bet of £10 at 2/1 that is successful will return £20 to your online wallet – if this bet was placed with real money it would return the £20 plus the £10 stake and total £30. You only receive the profit with a free bet.

What are VIP and loyalty schemes?

VIP and Loyalty Schemes are set up by certain online operators to encourage and reward consistent custom on their betting platforms. Some will provide regular free bets based on activity, others will allow for weekly cash back or enhanced prices for only club members and the terms and conditions vary from site to site. It can be very rewarding to stick with just one provider to earn such rewards.

Which betting sites give free bets to new players?

At the top of this page we have listed the best betting sites for Free Bets when signing up to a new sportsbook online right here on Gambling.com. The sites and offers change frequently so be sure to bookmark this page or stay in touch via our email subscription so you don’t miss out when the next one comes available.

Can you use multiple free bets?

Once you have free bets they are yours to use and generally are available for multiple bets although some restrictions can apply like singles only or only for bets above a certain price point. Checking the terms and conditions when receiving and using free bets is recommended.

How do free bets work?

Free Bets would the same as normal bets on any only sportsbook, you will have to select “use Free Bet balance” or something similar on the betslip and if you have a free bet it will be applied accordingly. Often they must be used in full so a £10 free bet would have to be used in one go rather than ten separate £1 bets although customer service teams have been known to split free bet balances if asked nicely.

I haven’t received my free bet stake return, what’s wrong?

Nothing is wrong here, if a free bet is a successful bet then the profit will be returned but minus the bet stake as that was free and not from your online betting balance. In the instance of a losing bet the free bet stake is lost of course, but if you have a non-runner or a void bet you should receive the free bet balance back as a free bet so be aware of the difference.

Are all payment methods eligible for free bets?

This will depend on the terms and conditions of the sign-up offer or the specific promotion you are entering with the online betting provider. Usually the answer is yes and your deposit method won’t matter when claiming a free bet, but some operators limit it to just debit cards and standard payment options rather than include all e-wallets so it is worth being sure before you get involved.

What does free bet returned mean?

If your free bet is returned it is likely the bet was voided, a non-runner or was placed incorrectly giving you another chance to use your free bet on something else.

References

1. UK Gambling Commission
2. BeGambleAware
3. Gaming Regulators European Forum
4. IAGR - International Association of Gaming Regulators
5. National Debt Line
6. GMA - Gordon Moody Association
7. Gambling.com – Responsible Gambling
8. GamCare