Matthew Glazier is a seasoned veteran of the online betting industry, having cut his teeth at Sporting Index before a spell at Betfair. He now writes content across several titles and is delighted to include Gambling.com as one of them.
Responsible Gambling, Football Betting, Boxing Beting, GAA Betting
Experience
Jamie is a sports writer and editor with extensive experience in the sports betting industry. His work has previously appeared in publications such as FourFourTwo, Boxing News, RTÉ, Sky Sports, The Irish Post, The Unibet Blog, Bleacher Report and a string of Irish national newspapers.
Punters can secure free football bets with the best betting sites in the UK. Football free bets are generally available once you sign up for a betting account, make a deposit and place a first bet, while you can usually keep any winnings you make.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the top five football betting sites who are currently offering football free bets in the UK.
Affiliate Disclosure:At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you. All product reviews and recommendations are still impartial as our editorial standards are designed to be commercially independent and follow a professional methodology.MoreLess
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Register with BETFRED50 First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Opt in, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Plus Best Odds On All Premier League Matches(fixed odds Match Odds, pre-match v top 5 bookies on Oddschecker). See full details.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 10 days of registration. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New members only. £10+ bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. 2x£5 Free Bets for Bet Builder only. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org 18+.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK+IRE Customers. 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 bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions
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Full Terms Apply
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Bet £10 on any Bet Builder Min Odds 3/1 (4.00). Min 3 Selections. Free Bets will be split into 2 x £10 Free Bets to be used on any Bet Builder.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 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 5x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions.
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Full Terms Apply
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. GambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply.
Our top five suggestions should act as a strong starting point and we’ve outlined how to claim football free bets with each bookmaker. Make sure you read the key terms and conditions for each offer before signing up for an account.
Betfred have arguably the pick of the free football bets considering that you can land £50 in free bets when you sign up and bet £10.
Join with the Betfred promo code BETFRED50 and place a first bet at evens (2.0) to receive 3 x £10 free football bets and 2 x £10 in acca free bets.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Register with BETFRED50 First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
Another of the best football free bets offers can be found at BetVictor. Sign up for an account, bet £10 and receive £40 in football free bets with this popular bookmaker.
You need to opt into this promotion and bet £10 on any football market to receive a free £10 acca bet, a free £10 bet builder, a free £10 in-play bet and a £10 free bet on any sports market.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 10 days of registration. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction
Free football bets can also be secured at Ladbrokes where you can generate £25 in free bets when you register and bet £5 on sports.
Simply place your qualifying bet on a selection at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or bigger and you will be granted 5 x £5 free bets. It’s one of the best free football bets offers, with lots of opportunities to gain a return.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 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 5x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions.
Coral also have a football free bets offer worth checking out. Sign up and land yourself a £20 free bet when you bet £5 on sports.
Bet at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) and wait for your qualifying bet to be settled before receiving a free £20 football bet.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK+IRE Customers. 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 bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions
Last but not least, you can kick off your football betting venture at LiveScore Bet by betting £10 and getting £30 in free bets.
Once you have signed up and placed a first bet at odds of 1/2 or greater, you will receive two £10 free bets along with two free £5 bet builders, so there’s lots of chances to win with these free football bets.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New members only. £10+ bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. 2x£5 Free Bets for Bet Builder only. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org 18+.
It should also be noted that these football free bet sites also provide customers with the chance to earn no deposit free bets and cash prizes.
That’s because you can enter free-to-play football prediction games where you will get rewarded for successfully predicting the outcome of specific matches.
Here’s a list of the free-to-play football prediction games available at our recommended sites for a chance to claim some football free bets with no deposit:
Betfred: Beat Fred
BetVictor: BetVictor Predictor
Ladbrokes: 1-2-FREE
Coral: Football Super Series
LiveScore Bet: SQUADS
Jamie Casey
Editor's Choice
"I find Ladbrokes' 1-2-Free promotion to be one of the best ways of obtaining free football bets without having to deposit. The concept is simple - predict the final score on a trio of high-profile football games every weekend and get rewarded for correct calls with free bets. If you fancy yourself as a correct score expert, then Ladbrokes could supply you with a steady flow of no deposit free bets."
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 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 5x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions.
What Are Football Free Bets?
Football free bets provide customers with a chance to wager on a selection without risking their own money. They can take different forms and are usually granted once you have placed a qualifying bet.
When this bet is settled, then a bookmaker will sometimes give you a matched bet or alternatively a selection of free bets on football.
The best football free bets sometimes involve no deposit bets where you don’t have to deposit any money in order to get a free bet. These are quite rare as a welcome bonus although they can sometimes be given as prizes when you enter a prediction competition.
Free bet offers for football might also consist of reduced-risk free bets. This is usually along the lines of placing a first bet knowing that you’ll either be paid out as a winner or alternatively have your stake refunded should the bet be settled as a loser.
Bookmakers will explain how to claim football free bets and these promotions are offered as they attract new customers to the site. They can also be used to retain existing customers who are able to secure free football bets on a regular basis, especially if they bet regularly with a bookie.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1x £10 Free Bet on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet on Horse Racing, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org
How Do Football Free Bets Work?
It’s really easy to claim football free bets when choosing a new betting site, with customers recommended to follow the below steps:
Sign up with a bookmaker offering free football bets
Opt into the free bet offer (if required)
Make a first deposit and enter any bookmaker promo code required
Place a qualifying bet
Wait for this bet to be settled
Use your free bet(s) on the various football markets
What typically happens with any winnings made from a free bet is that you get to keep the returns minus the free bet stake.
There might be certain payment methods that you need to use in order to claim the football betting offers and they are stated in the terms and conditions.
There are differences between using free bets when it comes to singles compared to accumulators. With the former, you are likely to achieve a more modest return, although there’s more chance of landing a winner.
With the latter, you can potentially win big but it’s a riskier sort of bet.
Established 2007
Acca Insurance - Y/N
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won't apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs Apply
Established 2007
Acca Insurance - Y/N
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+. New customers. Max £10 (exc. PayPal). 100% Odds Boost Token. Keep it fun - set your deposit limit. Full T&Cs apply.
Established 2015
Acca Insurance - Y/N
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Qualifying bet of £10 at min. odds 2.0 within 5 days of registration, E/W excluded. Get 3x Free Bets at min odds 2.0 each. 1x£10 Football, 1x£10 Racing, 1x£10 Acca (Min 4 selections). 7-day expiry. New selected customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Full T&Cs apply.
Promotion available on desktop and web only and is not offered via the kwiff apps.
Types of Football Free Bet Offers
These are common free football bets which involve signing up and placing a qualifying bet at specific odds. When this wager has been settled, you will then be given free bets on football. It might be along the lines of bet 10, get 30 in free bets and it can be a good way of getting started.
Some might argue that the best football free bets involve making no deposit at all. However, no deposit free bets are something of a rarity, especially when it comes to a new customer free bet. You might find that these are granted to existing customers who enter prediction competitions or simply bet regularly with a bookmaker. Free bet clubs are also available to regular customers.
Sometimes there’s the chance to benefit from enhanced odds as a new customer. This involves betting on a football selection at an inflated price, with bettors able to stake a small amount at these odds. It can be an attractive type of betting site welcome bonus, with customers generally getting their winnings either in cash or free football bets.
Champions League betting offers which allow bettors to get the best of both worlds. This often applies to the opening bet you make with a betting site. It’s either settled as a winner or you get your stake back as a free bet, giving you a second bite of the cherry after opening an account.
How to Claim Football Free Bets
Free football bets can be claimed by following a broadly similar process each time. It starts with selecting a bookmaker and registering an account. You might then need to opt into a specific offer before making a qualifying deposit.
There is then the requirement to place a qualifying bet and this usually needs to be done at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) or similar. When this bet is settled as a winner or loser, then the bookmaker in question will credit your account with free bets.
It's important to read and understand the terms and conditions of any offer before claiming it. Be aware of what steps are required, how much your budget is and how any free bet winnings are paid into your account.
Key Free Bet Terms and Conditions to Consider
Wagering Requirements
When you get free football bets, there are often wagering requirements. This means having to bet through any winnings a certain number of times before a withdrawal can be made. Sometimes you can simply keep any cash that you make from football free bets.
Minimum Odds
It’s fairly common to have minimum odds at football free bet sites. This means a qualifying bet needs to be placed at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) for example. It’s generally the case that a qualifying bet can be placed on most selections.
Expiry Dates
If you’re wondering how to claim football free bets, watch out for expiry dates which sometimes involve a customer needing to use the free football bets within a specific time period. This might be something like seven days.
Eligible Markets
There might also be eligible markets for the best football free bets. You might find that markets such as Asian Handicap and Draw No Bet are excluded from any offer, with bookmakers requiring you to bet on Full-Time Result or Both Teams to Score instead.
How to Make the Most of Football Free Bets
There are ways to maximise the value of free football bets rather than frivolously betting them on big-priced selections in the hope of a sizeable win. It’s worth researching teams and markets before placing a bet, something which might give you an edge over the bookie.
It's worth considering a betting strategy on football free bet sites. Do you go for the single bet option or risk a multiple wager in the hope of securing a bigger return? Considering the free bet stake isn’t returned, it’s certainly worth bearing in mind.
Shopping around is always advisable. That means visiting the various football free bet sites to find out what Premier League betting offers can be claimed and which are the most valuable.
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Register with BETFRED50 First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Free Football Bets
Before you claim your free football bets, make sure that you avoid making any basic mistakes. Most betting apps have inviting offers and you don’t want to jeopardise them by failing to understand how a free bet offer works. Here's five common errors to be mindful of:
Ignoring Terms and Conditions: Always read the fine print to understand minimum odds, expiry dates and possible wagering requirements.
Using Ineligible Payment Methods: Some free bets exclude e-wallets like Skrill or Neteller, so check payment restrictions.
Betting on Short Odds: Many free bets have minimum odds requirements, so ensure your selections meet the criteria.
Not Meeting Time Limits: Free bets usually have a short validity period, so use them before they expire.
Overlooking Withdrawal Conditions: Winnings from free bets may require additional wagering before they can be withdrawn.
Matthew Glazier
Author's Advice
"Some customers place their football free bets on markets that have poor odds. It means only a modest potential return and you have to weigh up the fact that the free bet stake isn’t included in any returns. Don’t get caught out by the expiry date of a free bet either. All free football bets only have a limited shelf life, so don’t forget to use the free bet in good time. You can generally see when a free bet expires on your account."
Football Free Bets: In Summary
You should now be fully informed when it comes to football free bets. That includes understanding what they are, where they can be found and how they can be used to best effect. You should also be able to differentiate between the different types of free bet.
Make sure you choose a football free bet offer that suits your betting style, whether that be a matched free bet bundle, an accumulator offer or bet builder tokens. It’s always important to gamble responsiblyand only bet what you can afford to lose.
You can rest assured that all of the gambling sites recommended on this page are governed by the UKGC. That means they are fully licensed and regulated, offering fair terms when it comes to free football bets for new and existing customers.
Football betting expert Matthew Glazier shares an insight into his 2024 football betting system.
Free Football Bet FAQs
Can I withdraw winnings from a free bet?
It’s generally the case that you can withdraw winnings from a free bet. Check the terms and conditions beforehand, with any returns usually subtracting the free bet stake. Sometimes there might be wagering requirements before a withdrawal can be made.
Are football free bets risk-free?
You usually have to deposit and bet your own money before you are given free bets, so it is arguable that they are not risk-free. However, the free bets themselves come at no risk to the customer, so you can go ahead and wager without using your own money. You may also be able to claim no deposit free bets on our recommended betting sites.
How often can I claim a football free bet?
Football free bets generally form part of a new customer welcome package, although there might also be opportunities to claim free bets as an existing customer. Once you have claimed a welcome bonus, look at the promotions and offers section for more information.
What happens if I lose a free bet?
If you lose a free bet, then you won’t have any returned winnings. It’s worth considering what sort of odds you want your selection to be. The shorter the odds means the likelier a pick will win, although it’s naturally a smaller potential return.
How can I keep up to date with the latest free bet offers?
The team at Gambling.com will keep you regularly up to date with the best free football bets, with our site including some exclusive free bet offers. Come back to this page on a regular basis and find out the most exciting offers that you can take advantage of when you sign up for an account.