Best Free Bets and Welcome Offers for Football Bettors - December 2024
Betfred
£50 IN FREE BETS, WHEN YOU BET £10
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place 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. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs
bet365
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Sky Bet
£40 In Free Bets When You Place Any Bet
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 4 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. GAMBLEAWARE.ORG
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew 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. GambleAware.org
Unibet
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. GambleAware.org . New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet on sportsbook at min odds 1/1 (2.0) each leg. Receive 2 x £10 free bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, and further 2 x £10 casino bonus the next day. T&C’s apply.
BoyleSports
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + £10 Casino Bonus Get paid out early if your team goes 2 goal ahead
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew 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. 18+. Get Paid out as a winner if your team is winning by 2 goals, even if they draw or lose. 90 mins only. T&C's apply.
easyBet
Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. Sign up to easyBet with bonus code: EB20. Place your bets. The user must place 2 separate bets on at least 2 different events to qualify at odds of 2.0 or more. An event is classed as two different sporting events (Two separate races/two separate matches). Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders. Free bets will expire in 7 days. The promotional period begins on 23/09/2024 and runs until Midnight of 31/01/2025. Full TC's Apply. GambleAware.org
Betano
Get Your Stake Back Up to £40 In Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet min £5 (max £40) on Sports (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of registration. No cash out. Get your initial stake in Sports Free Bets, which expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org . Please gamble responsibly
talkSPORT BET
Get up to £40 in Football Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile device, 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
Paddy Power
GET £20 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU PLACE A £5 BET
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New Customer offer YSKARZ. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £20 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply.
10bet
100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
BetVictor
Get £30 in Free Bets for Premier League Join us & bet £10
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 or more on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get £30 in Free Football Bets, selected markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Mr. Play
Bet £10 Get £15
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.
Luckster
Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew customers only. Only residents of UK and IE. Max. FreeBet amount: £10. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. The “Welcome Free Bet” must be used at luckster.com within 14 days of being credited to your account. Customers who deposit using Neteller, Paysafe, PayPal, Skrill or Skril 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer. Free Bet Specific Terms and Conditions: One Free bet token will be awarded once you have made your first deposit and have bet £10 with min odds of 1/1 (2.00) or higher. This bet must be settled within 14 days of bet placement to qualify for the welcome free bet offer. Full TC's Apply. 18+. GambleAware.org
SpreadEx
Bet £10 Get £40
New Customers Only
Claim OfferJoin and place a £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Once the bet is settled, get a £10 free fixed odds bet plus a £5 free Total Goals football spread bet and a £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet. The second £10 free fixed odds bet, £5 free Total Goals football spread bet, and £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet will be credited 24 hours later. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. Promotions available to 18+ aged individuals. New customers only. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Coral
Get A £40 Free Bet - When you bet £10 on Sports
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet £10 at min odds 1/2 to qualify for 4 x £10 free bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Ladbrokes
£20 In Free Bets Ker-ching When You Bet £5 On Football
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ 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. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Parimatch
Bet £10 Get £50
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get 4x£10 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 10 days. Full T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
BetUK
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. 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. T&C’s Apply. Opt-in required. GambleAware.org
Betfair
Get £50 in free bets When you place £10 bet on Sportsbook
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
LiveScore Bet
BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS*
New Customers Only
Claim Offer*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+.
Virgin Bet
BET £10, GET £20 IN FREE BETS
New Customers Only
Claim Offer*New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals), placed & settled at 1.5 min odds in 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days, use on sportsbook only (ex. virtuals), stakes not returned. T&Cs and deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org . 18+
Tote
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
Planet Sport Bet
50% Back As a Free Bet If Your First Bet Loses
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New Sportsbook customers only. UK & Ireland only. 50% Money back, if your first bet loses, as a free bet. Max free bet £25. Min free bet £5. Sign up using the promo code ‘psb50’. Minimum stake £10 required. 1st bet settlement must be within 7 days of account registration. Minimum odd requirement of Evens (2.0) for first cash bet. The promotional period starts on 16:01 12/11/2024 and runs until further notice. Full TC's Apply. GambleAware.org
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £40 (Mobile Only)
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. 4x £10 free bets. Free bets expire after 7 days. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £30 (Desktop Only)
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad
Betway
£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 100 Free Spins
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org . Bet the Responsible Way. Full Terms apply
CopyBet
Bet £10 Get £50
New Customers Only
Claim OfferFull T&Cs apply. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £10, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of sign-up. 5 Free bets which must be placed with a min odds of 2 include: 1 x £10 Free bet on any Pre-match Football game (single); 1 x £10 Free Bet for Horse Racing (single); 1 x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 2 selections) Bet on any sport; 1 x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 3 selections) Bet on any sport; 1 x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 4 selections) Bet on any sport. Max payout – £500. 7 day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (Open banking). 18+. GambleAware.com
SBK
Get £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew UK customers only. Min £10 first deposit using Debit Card or Bank Transfer. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get a £10 Football Bet Builder token upon settlement. A £10 Multiple token, a £5 Horse Racing Multiple token and a £5 Football Bet Builder token will be credited after 24 hours. A further £10 Free Bet token will be credited 48 hours after the qualifying bet has been settled. Please Gamble Responsibly. Full T&Cs apply, 18+. GambleAware.org . #ad
Rhinobet
Bet £25 Get a £10 Free Bet
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew customers only. Must be 18+ and residents of the UK/IE. Sign up using the promo code ‘b25g10fb’ and make a minimum deposit of £25. Place a £25 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2.0) to receive a £10 free bet upon settlement. Bet and deposit must be made within 24 hours of Sign Up. Qualifying bets must be placed within the promotional period. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Zetbet
Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.
Bzeebet
Bet £10 Get £10 Free bet
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New Customers Only. Max one £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1(2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5(180) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. GambleAware.org. T&Cs Apply.
Matchbook
Enjoy £50 in free bets for the football season
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew customers Only. New customer must place and settle £50 in bets on Matchbook markets only. The user must bet on at least 4 different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders. The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. . T's and C's Apply. GambleAware. 18+.
QuinnBet
Get 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £35 Plus 10 Free Spins!
New Customers Only
Claim OfferIf your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free online casino spins at QuinnCasino. 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 the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | GambleAware.org | Gamble Responsibly
kwiff
Bet £10 and Get £30 in Free Bets
New Customers Only
Claim OfferQualifying 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. GambleAware.org
NetBet
BET £10 AND GET £20 FREE BETS
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. 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. T&C Apply. GambleAware.org
Fafabet
50% Losses Back up to £70 Free Bet + £20 Casino Bonus
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New customers only. A "Qualifying Bet" is a first settled real money single or multiple bet of £10.00 or more placed at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater. If you place a £10 bet you'll receive a £5 free bet + £5 Casino Bonus up to 24 hours after your qualifying bet has been settled. If you place a £100 or More bet you'll receive your £20 free bet +£10 Casino Bonus up to 24 hours after your qualifying bet has been settled. If your Sportsbook account losses at the end of the first day (the day ends at 23:59), you'll get back 50% of the losses as a Free Bet up to £70 + £20 Casino Bonus. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
DragonBet
Bet £15 Get £5
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New customers UK/IE only. Place a minimum £15 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2.0) and receive a £5 free bet within 24 hours of bet settlement. To qualify you must make a minimum deposit of £15 and bet a minimum £15 in the promotional period and within 24 hours of Sign Up. Terms & Conditions apply to this promotion. GambleAware.org
AK Bets
Up to £100 Winnings Boost on your first Acca
New Customers Only
Claim OfferApplies to new UK/IRE customers who sign up with promo code AKACCA100. Place your first bet as a multiple (minimum 3 selections) and AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. 18+ | GambleAware.org
Star Sports
Get 50% Back as a Free Bet - Up to £25 Free Bet + 25 Free Spins
New Customers Only
Claim Offer*New UK/IE customers only. Sign up and place your first sports bet at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater and if it loses, get a free bet equivalent to 50% of your first bet stake (min £10), to a maximum value of £25, plus 25 free spins on Gold Horsey Winner. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ | GambleAware.org
bwin
£20 Backup bet if your first bet loses
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply
Midnite
BET £10 GET £20 + 50 FREE SPINS
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+ New UK customers. Bet £10 on accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0). Get 4x £5 Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Jeffbet
Bet £10 And Get £30 Free Bet
New Customers Only
Claim OfferNew Players Only. 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 receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network.. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply 18+ #ad gambleaware Full T&Cs
NRG.bet
Bet £20+ Get a £10 Free Bet
New Customers Only
Claim Offer18+. New customers only. UK only. Sign Up using the Promo Code b20g10 and make a minimum deposit of £20.Then place a minimum £20 bet with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. The free bet will be subject to an expiry period of 7 days from date and time of issue. Full TC's Apply. GambleAware.org
More on the Best Free Bets Offers
- Best Free Bet Offer of the Week
- What Can I use my Free Bets on this Week?
- Top 10 Free Bet Offers for New Customers
- Best Free Bet Offers for Existing Customers
- About the Author - Tom Fuller
- What is a Free Bet?
- How Free Bets Work
- Best Ways to Get Free Bets
- Different Free Bet Offers Explained
- How to Choose your Free Bet Offer
- UK Bookmaker Awards Explained
- How we Tested Each Free Bet Offer
- Free Bets and Betting Offers FAQs
Best Free Bet Offer of the Week for Football - Sky Bet
Sky Bet’s latest sign-up offer is a straightforward yet enticing deal, providing new customers with £40 in free bets for a minimal £0.05 stake. To qualify, all you need to do is place a bet of just 5p on any market with odds of 1/1 or higher. Once your qualifying bet is settled, you’ll receive £40 in free bet tokens.
This offer is particularly appealing for new users looking to dip their toes into online betting without committing a large amount of money upfront.
The low stake requirement of just 5p makes it accessible, even for those who may be hesitant about placing larger bets or are new to the world of sports betting.
The £40 in free bets comes in the form of four £10 tokens, which can be used on a variety of markets, whether it’s football, horse racing, or any other sport Sky Bet covers.
However, it’s worth noting that these free bets must be used within a set period, typically seven days from activation, so it’s essential to plan your wagers accordingly.
Overall, Sky Bet’s £40 free bet offer is an excellent way for newcomers to explore the site’s offerings with minimal risk. Its simplicity and low barrier to entry make it a great choice for those just starting their betting journey.
What can I use my free bets on this week?
The weekend’s football action kicks off tonight with a crucial Championship relegation battle as Derby County host Portsmouth at Pride Park.
Saturday brings the return of the Premier League, with five matches scheduled, four of which are at 3PM.
Among these, two involve teams from the ‘big six’. Arsenal will be hoping to bounce back as they welcome struggling Everton to the Emirates, while Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield.
The late Saturday game sees Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa go head-to-head at the City Ground, with both sides eyeing a push for European spots.
On Sunday, four more Premier League fixtures are on the agenda. The first two come in the afternoon, both derby matches.
Crystal Palace make the short trip to Brighton for the south-coast clash, while the first Manchester derby of the season sees City take on United at the Etihad.
The day wraps up with two 7PM kick-offs. Chelsea will look to get back on track as they host Brentford at Stamford Bridge, while Spurs travel to St Mary’s to face Southampton in another exciting encounter.
Top 10 Free Bet Offers for New Customers
1. Betfred
Betfred Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £50 |
Bonus to Stake % | 500% |
UKBA Welcome Offer Rank | #13 |
Betfred boast what we consider to be the best free bet offer in the UK right now, with our expert ranking them so highly due to the immense value of their sign-up offer.
The bonus amount on offer is extremely generous, with players able to claim £50 in free bets at sign-up from just a £10 stake, with the stake-to-bonus ratio of 500% easily being one of the best amongst UK bookmakers.
These free bets do come with some wagering requirements, with users needing to use these on select markets, but this is more of a benefit than anything else as this allows bettors to get to grips with betting on multiple different markets.
On the whole, Betfred stands alone atop our list thanks to the phenomenal set of free bets they offer their new players.
Pros | Cons |
Generous amount of free bets | Free bet limitations |
Standard wagering requirements | 7 day expiry window |
2. bet365
bet365 Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £50 |
Bonus to Stake % | 500% |
UKBA Welcome Offer Rank | #1 |
bet365 are one of the beloved bookmakers currently active in the UK, with their sign up offer playing a big part in the reason as to why they're favoured by many.
£50 in free bets are on offer with bet365, with this only matched by one or two UK bookies around, whilst users only need to stake £10 on any market with odds of 1.2 or more to claim this.
Unlike most other sites, which require their users to spend their free bets in £5 or £10 increments on select markets, bet365 players are able to use their free bets however they please.
Players are able to use their £50 bonus balance in the form of one £50 bet or 50 £1 bets, with this decision completely up to them.
Users can use their free bets how and where they want, which is one of the main reasons why bet365’s welcome offer ranks so highly on our list.
Pros | Cons |
Complete freedom over free bets | 7 day expiry window |
Favourable wagering requirements |
3. Sky Bet
SkyBet Welcome Offer | Bet 5p Get £30 |
Bonus to Stake % | 66000% |
UKBA Welcome Offer Rank | #15 |
Sky Bet offers what proves to be an extremely favourable welcome bonus, offering their players a great set of free bets, with the offer itself shining in one particular area.
The £30 in free bets on offer is one of the best bonus amounts around, topping most other betting sites in the UK, with this amount only topped by a small number of bookies.
The expiry window users have to use their free bets with Sky Bet is what sets themselves apart, with players having a 30 day window to use their free bets in.
Most other bookmakers only give their players seven days, which can result in rushed bets and players being forced to use them on markets and bets they wouldn’t have chosen had they had longer.
However, Sky Bet’s 30 day expiry window gives customers ample time to pick and choose how and when they want to use their free bets.
This is something that so few bookmakers provide these days and helps Sky Bet rise through the ranks.
Pros | Cons |
Large set of bonus funds | £10 bet tokens |
Excellent qualifying stake amount |
4. BetMGM
BetMGM Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £40 |
Bonus to Stake % | 400% |
BetMGM may have only launched in the UK last year, however despite only being live for a matter of months, they still boast one of the best sign up offers around amongst UK bookies.
£40 in free bets are available via their welcome offer, a factor that puts BetMGM on par with many of the biggest bookmakers in the UK right now.
These can be claimed from the standard £10 initial wager at odds of 1/1, factors that prove to be par for the course with almost all competing UK bookmakers.
The £40 in free bets do have to be placed on specific markets, however this doesn’t prove to be a negative given that this allows users to explore all of the wide range of markets BetMGM have to offer.
Pros | Cons |
Value for money | £10 bet tokens |
Standard wagering requirements | Free bet requirements |
5. Unibet
Unibet Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £40 Bonus |
Bonus to Stake % | 400% |
UKBA Welcome Offer Rank | #2 |
Unibet’s welcome offer is strong in a number of key areas, with the biggest of these being the £40 in bonus funds that’s on offer, with this spread across both sportsbook and casino.
Players are given £20 in free bets and £20 in casino bonuses from just a £10 stake. This means that players get free funds to play on all areas of Unibet’s online betting site, and in turn get to explore all they have to offer from just a £10 bet.
Very few betting sites give their new customer the chance to try their hand at both parts of their betting site with free bets, something that stands Unibet in truly excellent stead.
Pros | Cons |
Varied bonus funds | Lower true free bets |
Boilerplate qualifying wager |
6. Luckster
Luckster Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £10 Bonus |
Bonus to Stake % | 100% |
The Luckster sign-up offer boasts a few standout features that make it one of the best offers in the UK despite the offer itself only allowing players to claim £10 in bonuses.
Players are given freedom over how they may wish to place their free bets in terms of selections, with users not being pigeonholed into using it on any one sport or single offering that Luckster may have.
The £10 free bet also comes with a 14-day expiry window, something that tops most other bookmakers by seven days. Players are therefore afforded a wider set of opportunities instead of being forced to use before they may wish.
Pros | Cons |
Free bets spending freedom | Low set of free bets |
14 day expiry window |
7. BoyleSports
BoyleSports Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £35 Bonus |
Bonus to Stake % | 350% |
UKBA Welcome Offer Rank | #19 |
BoyleSports serves up a great set of bonuses to their players, with a total of £35 on offer, with these free bets coming in the form of both sportsbook and casino bonuses.
Players are therefore able to try out both their sportsbook and casino section by staking just £10 on any market that has odds of 2.0 or higher.
The £35 bonus amount that bettors can claim isn’t better by many competitors outside of our top 10.
The varied set of bonus funds on offer proves to be the standout feature of this welcome bonus, with these providing players with free funds to use in order to experience all of BoyleSports betting options.
Pros | Cons |
Varied set of free bets | Lower true free bets |
Decent set of bonus funds |
8. BetVictor
BetVictor Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £30 |
Bonus to Stake % | 300% |
UKBA Welcome Offer Rank | #11 |
BetVictor are another bookmaker worthy of a place on our list given they offer one of the best welcome bonuses in the UK right now, with £30 in free bets on offer for new players to claim at sign-up.
This amount tops most other bookmakers when it comes to free bets, as it still offers players a wealth of bonus funds to bet with.
BetVictor also specify these for use on the Premier League, and whilst this may appear a tad limiting, they have a fantastic spread of offerings for these markets, this punters won’t be shortchanged.
£30 in free bets is a great sign up offer and should not be underestimated, as BetVictor comes in at the higher end of value for money.
Pros | Cons |
Decent set of bonus funds | Free bet spending requirements |
Standard qualifying rules |
9. SpreadEx
SpreadEx Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £40 |
Bonus to Stake % | 400% |
SpreadEx stands alone on our list as one of the only spread betting sites in the UK, making them a unique option, one that boasts a very competitive sign up offer.
New customers are able to claim £40 in free bets from just a £10 stake, an offer that puts them up there as having one of the best welcome bonuses in the UK.
Their offer is made even more impressive by the fact that your qualifying bet only needs to be placed on a market with odds of 1/2 (1.50) or higher, giving bettors more of a chance to for their qualifying bet to win.
SpreadEx players already have so much going for them, with spread betting offering a totally new way to play, with the valuable welcome bonus that’s on offer only increasing the overall quality of their sportsbook.
Pros | Cons |
Great value for money | Seven day expiry window |
Favourable qualifying rules |
10. talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET Welcome Offer | Bet £10 Get £30 |
Bonus to Stake % | 300% |
talkSPORT BET boasts a strong welcome offer that gives players £30 in free bets from just a £10 stake, with this being one of the better welcome offers out there.
They also specialise their free bets for use on football, with these are broken down into six £5 free bet tokens.
Most bookies offer £10 tokens, however talkSPORT BET allows players to place six separate bets instead of the three that is considered standard practice with most others.
As such, new talkSPORT BET customers will get a lot more longevity and chances to turn a profit, than they would with some other betting sites, which in itself is a very handy feature.
Pros | Cons |
Decent set of free bets | Short expiry window (7 days) |
Broken down into favourable terms |
Top 5 Free Bet Offers for Existing Customers
bet365 - Goals Giveaway
bet365’s ‘Goals Giveaway’ offer gives players the chance to win up to £20 worth of free bets by simply logging in every weekday after 14:00 and revealing a random football game each time.
Players will then have five matches come the end of the week, with free bets then awarded depending on the number of goals scored in these games.
Free bets are earned if one of the games sees 4+ goals or 5+ goals, or if all the matches combine to have more than 20+ goals in.
The amount of free bets awarded varies each week also, with players able to win up to £20 in free bets without having to spend a penny.
Betfred - In-Play Rewards
Betfred comes in with one of the better loyalty schemes in the UK, with these offering great value to both current and new users.
Most reward schemes often require players to stake between £20 and £50 a week to be eligible, often offering a small slither of this back to them as free bets.
Betfred change the game with their loyalty club, allowing players that place a £10 in-play bet at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or higher the ability to claim a £5 free bet automatically.
This is only available for certain games throughout the week this users need to be sure to check beforehand, but free bet returns of 50% betters most other loyalty schemes out there by some margin,
Sky Bet - Match 5
Sky Bet allow players to claim up to £20 in free bets by simply logging every day and revealing a different football team,
Free bets are awarded corresponding to how many of the revealed sides win their games, with the rewards coming as such:
- 2 Wins - 50p free bets
- 3 Wins - £1 free bets
- 4 Wins - £5 free bets
- 5 Wins - £20 free bets
Paddy Power - No Deposit Free Bets
Paddy Power are one of the best bookmakers in the UK for offering completely free bonus funds.
They will often have promotions that allow players to claim completely free bets on the weekend’s biggest sporting matches, with these usually being offered for huge Premier League or Champions League games.
Paddy Power comfortably offers the largest set of these through the regular sporting calendar, which over a year can tot up to a lot of free bets for any and all of their customers.
talkSPORT BET - Acca Box
talkSPORT BET’s Acca Box promotions gives players a reward worth 50% of their stake for use on an accumulator bet.
Customers simply have to place a £10 bet on any football market, and once done they the get access to the ‘Acca Box’ that can give them up to a £5 free bet for football.
Most loyalty schemes offer far worse returns, so even the opportunity to get 50% of the wagering requirements back is impressive, especially for accumulator betting, which always proves extremely popular with football fans.
About the Author - Tom Fuller
I have been an avid sports bettor for five years now, and during this time, have managed to build up a wealth of experience with all different types of bookmakers.
I’ve used a whole plethora of different betting sites, ranging from the more popular options to the more niche sportsbooks, thus I’m comfortable in stating that I know my stuff.
I have spent my time researching many different aspects of each bookmaker, always making sure to keep an eye out for the best betting sites around.
Football betting has always been close to my heart, and when evaluating each sign up offer, one eye is kept out for how suitable it may be for the next set of matches.
How big the bonus amount is, and how long the free bets stick around for all prove crucial to this, so to enable me to plan how and ion which matches these free bets will be of best use.
I used all the most important information and knowledge I have gathered over the years when creating this article, making sure you have all the information you need when deciding on your bookmaker of choice.
What is a Free Bet
Free bets allow users to try out a bookmaker’s site without the risk of losing their own funds if the bet doesn’t win.
They’re a very common type of bonus offered by bookmakers, with these being used to convince new customers to sign-up with their sportsbook.
Additionally, a free bet offer can also be acquired via existing customer offers, such as ‘Bet and Get’ promos, or via a bookmaker’s loyalty scheme, such as SkyBet’s ‘Bet Club’.
The vast majority of free bet offers will need you to make a qualifying deposit/stake in order to redeem them, with you unable to cash out a free bet offer as real cash or use them with any other bookmaker.
Free bets sign-up offers will always come with minimum odds requirements, meaning that you must place your qualifying stake on a bet that has odds equal to or higher the price laid out in the terms and conditions.
How Free Bets work
Free bets are excellent as they allow users to try out a bookmaker’s sportsbook without the risk of losing any of their own funds in the process.
Players will always need to stake or deposit real money to be able to claim them, with this usually being between £1 to £10, with a few bookmakers requiring more than this to be able to claim their free bet offers.
These are also generally only available to new customers, but some bookmakers do offer these periodically throughout the year.
Your stake will never be returned as a part of your winnings when using free bets, whereas with normal bets, your stake is returned as part of these.
Players do need to be aware that most free bets come with an expiry date. This means that after a certain point, generally between seven to 14 days, they will be removed from your account by the bookmaker.
Players need to know this so that they can use them before this time runs out, the expiry date for these free bets always being stated in the offer’s terms and conditions.
Best Ways to Get Free Bets
Free bets are getting easier and easier to come by these days, with bookmakers seeing the value they offer to players and the opportunities they open up for customers.
There are a few main ways by which customers can claim free bets, with it being important to know the distinctions between them and how to go about getting involved.
Welcome Offers
The most common method by which customers can earn free bets is via welcome offers, also known as sign up offers or bonuses.
This is where a new customer creates an account with a bookmaker, places their qualifying bet at certain odds, and in return gets free bets.
These offers will almost always come in the form of ‘Bet £x Get £x’, with the full terms and conditions always giving users a clear explanation on how to claim their free bets.
Sign up offers are one of the only ways to earn a large set of free bets, which for new customers can act to set them up remarkably well when signing up with a new bookie.
Equally, almost every bookmaker has some version of a welcome bonus, meaning players will always be able to get free bets to kickstart their playing with a new betting site.
Loyalty Schemes
Loyalty schemes are another common way that bettors can earn free bets with these on offer with a large set of bookmakers, with these often referred to as ‘Bet Clubs’.
These schemes allow players to claim free bets by wagering a certain amount over a period of time, usually a week.
Some have set limits, whereas others are more open-ended, where the more a punter places the more they can earn come the end of the week.
These are great as they not only reward players with a handy set of extra funds but they too can be found with tons of bookmakers.
Sky Bet and BetVictor currently run some of the best and most reliable loyalty schemes out there and are definitely worth checking out.
Free-to-Play Games
Free-to-play games are becoming more and more popular, with these being one of the only ways to get free bets at no cost to yourself.
They can vary from a spin the wheel and scratch-off cards to other games such as score or results predictor games.
These will not always return free bets, and when they do they are often in small amounts of between £1 and £5.
bet365 are the best for these free-to-play games, with a number of both daily and weekly offers available.
Promotions and Bonuses
Betting sites will sometimes offer special bonuses, boosts or promotions from which players can earn free bets.
These come as no-deposit free bets and special event offers to matched free bets, all of which offer great value.
These are truly the best offers out there in terms of value for money and wagering opportunities provided to players, however in turn they are quite rate, with not every bookmaker offering them.
Sky Bet and Paddy Power are the best in the UK for offering these bonuses regularly, and they often centre around the biggest sporting events such as Premier League games or major competition finals.
Different Types of Free Bet Offers
Free bet offers differ sometimes from bookmaker to bookmaker but most follow similar sorts of lines.
The most commonly found types are:
- Stake Not Returned Free Bets
- No Deposit Free Bets
- Cash Back
- Matched Free bets
- Deposit-Match Free Bets
- Boosted Odds Free Bets
Given the amount of free bet offers around, it can get a touch confusing at times when trying to differentiate between the two, especially if you’ve never come across them before.
We’ve gone through and compiled a list of all the most popular free bet bonuses, offering in-depth explanations regarding how each offer type works.
Stake Not Returned Free Bets
These are comfortably the most common types of free bets around, with you most commonly able to claim these via sign up offers.
A stake not returned free bets means that, for any bets placed using free bets, the winnings you can get from these bets will not include the free bet stake in the total returns.
This is different when compared to betting with regular funds, as your stake is always included in the overall returns for any winning bets, however this isn’t the case when using free bets.
For example, if you use a £5 free bet on a Man Utd to win, with 5/1 odds, your payout would be £25 instead of £30 as your £5 stake will not be returned in the total winnings for your bet.
No Deposit Free Bets
No deposit free bets are some of the best promotions around and well worth keeping your eye out for when signing up with bookmakers.
Bookmakers allow players to claim free bet without having to stake any of your funds.
These usually come in the form of £1, £2 or £5 free bets, however more is offered depending on the bookmaker and the sporting events it’s centred around.
No deposit free bets will always be centred around some sort of big sporting event, normally coming out as something like ‘Get a free £5 bet to us on Man City vs Arsenal’.
bet365 and Sky Bet are generally the best for offering these kinds of promotions, however most bookmakers provide them occasionally.
Cash Back
These are generally referred to as risk-free bets but are also known as cash back bets, and work as the name suggests.
Players are able to claim either their full stake or a percentage of their stake back as a free bet if the bet loses..
The amount of your stake that can be claimed back as free bets will always be stated by the bookmaker, so you know exactly how much you’re to receive if your bet doesn’t win.
For instance, ‘Get your money back if England finishes second in the Euros up to £20’.
Matched Free Bets
Matched free bets are also relatively easy to understand, with you being able to claim free bets depending on how much you stake on certain markets.
Your bookmaker will also state how much you need to bet in order to claim your matched free bet, with you also being informed as to what markets you need to bet on, as well as what the minimum odds of this bet need to be, in order to be eligible.
For example, an offer may be titled ‘Bet £5 on the Liverpool vs Manchester United game & Get a £5 free bet’.
Deposit-Match Free Bets
Deposit-match free bets are very similar to the free bet promotion offered above, but instead of having to wager funds to receive your free bets, you simply just have to deposit funds into your account.
The offer will usually be presented as a ‘Deposit £x Get £x’, with the amount required and then rewarded always being outlined by the bookmaker beforehand.
This will usually be up to a certain limit that can be found either in the name of the offer or in the T&Cs, with some rewarding free bets as a percentage of the deposit instead of matching it to the full amount.
These are great offers and you do not have to wager and potentially lose any funds to be able to claim them, with you just needing to make a deposit.
Boosted Odds Free Bets
Boosted odds free bets see the bookmaker provide users with a massive odds boost on a certain selection, with you able to bet a certain amount on this.
Any winnings earned from this bet will normally be returned as free bets, with this providing players with some great value.
They also generally come with a stake limit, so to ensure you can only win a certain amount.
These types of offers will usually come in the form of ‘Get 40/1 odds on Man City to Win’, with this coming with a max stake of £1.
Should you bet on this offer and Man City win, you’ll be able to claim £40 in free bets from your £1 stake.
These types of offers are great as the limited stake means it’s low-risk in nature, with the free bets returned often surpassing many other sign up offers around.
How to Choose Your Free Bet Offer
When claiming free bets, there are a number of factors to take into consideration, with our expert going through and breaking down exactly what players should look out for and how to best evaluate these when attempting to choose the right free bet offer for them.
Value
The amount of free bets that players can earn is the most important factor given players want to get the best value for money when signing up with a bookmaker.
The amount of free bets on offer will often relate to the amount you need to stake in order to claim them, with the higher the bonus amount the higher the qualifying bet.
An initial stake of anywhere between £5 and £10 is considered standard in the UK, with the best offers then offering returns of between £40 and £50 in free bets.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements are another important factor to consider when claiming your free bets.
These often refer to the odds that the initial bet must be placed at or the specific betting market this first wager must be placed on.
If players get this wrong, they risk not being able to claim the free bets, as well as then needing to place another qualifying wager to claim the free bets.
The best offers will have low odds requirements and offer players the chance to place the first bet on any market.
This freedom will allow players a better chance of seeing their qualifying bet returned to them, as well as earning the free bets at the same time.
Expiry Date
The expiration date of the free bets may seem relatively self-explanatory, but it is nevertheless a crucial part of sign up offers.
Once claimed, all free bets have an expiry date on them, creating a window that players must use them within if they want to avoid losing them for good.
The longer this period is, the better for the player, as they can spend their free bets as and when they wish to Instead of being rushed into spending them before they expire.
Spending Restrictions
Limits can be placed on free bets by bookmakers in a few ways, with the main restrictions being the markets they can be used on, as well as the amount they use per free bet.
Most bookmakers will have it so bettors must place their free bets in £5 or £10 increments, and cannot break them down into smaller bets.
In addition, bookmakers only allow bettors to place their free bets on select markets or sports, with the most common of these being football, horse racing, bet builders, accas, or in-play bets.
Bookmakers will sometimes enforce an odds requirement on their free bets, requiring players to place their free bets on markets that are above or equal to the minimum odds stated in the T&C’s of the offer.
The best sign up offers will have absolutely none of these attached to them, and many don’t, however some do.
Therefore players need to be aware to keep an eye out for these in the T&Cs beforehand, so there are no shocks once the offer has been claimed.
UK Bookmaker Awards Explained
The UK Bookmaker Awards (UKBA) is an industry-focused event that take a data-driven and user-tested look at the major bookmakers in the UK and ranks them in a number of different category.
This is one of the landmark methods we use to evaluate all of our bookmakers and acts as a cornerstone of much of our analysis and here is why:
An entirely data-driven approach as a team of over 15 people breaks down over 1.2 million data points from 12 months, culminating in our final ranking for each bookmaker.
Across the 12 months all areas of betting sites are regularly tested, ensuring data is collected as accurately and recently as possible, with updates being released throughout the year.
Rankings across multiple core categories including football markets, welcome offers, customer service, betting experience and much much more.
All bookmakers ranked out of 26, depending on how well they rank in each category, all broken down, so customers can see exactly how and why each performs well and where.
A final overall ranking is then provided, allowing players to see the best from the rest and everything in between.
Welcome Bonus
Bookmaker | UKBA Ranking - Welcome Bonus |
bet365 | #1 |
Unibet | #2 |
SBK | #3 |
Coral | #4 |
Ladbrokes | #5 |
Overall Ranking
Bookmaker | UKBA Ranking - Overall |
bet365 | #1 |
Unibet | #2 |
SKy Bet | #3 |
Coral | #4 |
William Hill | #5 |
How we Tested Each Free Bet Offer
We utilise our extensive experience and expert knowledge of the betting industry in combination with industry leading metrics such as the UK Bookmaker Awards (UKBA) when reviewing each free bet offer.
This is one of the landmark methods we use to evaluate all of our bookmakers and acts as a cornerstone of much of our analysis.
An entirely data-driven approach is taken as a team of over 15 people breaks down over 1.2 million data points from 12 months, culminating in our final ranking for each bookmaker.
Across theses 12 months, all areas of betting sites are regularly tested, ensuring data is collected as accurately and recently as possible, with updates being released throughout the year.
Rankings across multiple core categories including football markets, welcome offers, customer service and betting experience are compiled and published.
All bookmakers ranked are then ranked out of 26, depending on how well they rank in each category, so customers can see exactly how and why each performs well and where.
A final overall ranking is then provided, allowing players to see the best from the rest and everything in between.
Free Bets
The free bets amount is central to each and every sign up offer, and are arguably the most important.
This is down to the fact it determines how much you’re able to claim in terms of free bets, with the bigger the bonus, the better the offer.
We test each offer by regularly comparing and checking all the different offers around to see which offer allows you to claim the biggest bonus.
Qualifying Stakes
Qualifying stakes simply means how much you are required to wager in order to claim your free bets.
The lower the qualifying stake the better, as this means you’ll be required to stake less in order to be eligible to receive your free bets.
This is what we weigh up when considering which free bet offers are the best, then assess each offer by comparing these in tandem with the amount of free bets you receive in return, as well as how much you’re able to claim in relation to competitor bookmakers.
Qualifying Odds
Qualifying odds are another important factor, with these being the minimum odds of the qualifying bet you need to place to receive your free bets.
Most bookmakers will offer minimum odds of 1/1 (2.00), whilst the best bookmakers will offer odds lower than this.
In theory, the lower the minimum odds, the more likely you are to win your qualifying bet and then, in turn, make a profit.
We stay on top of this by consistently examining these and then comparing them with other bookmakers’ minimum odds for their welcome offers.
Expiry Dates
Expiry dates are another important aspect that needs to be evaluated, as the longer players have to use their free bets, the better.
This is because it allows users to use their free bets as and how they wish to, instead of being forced to use them within a certain time window.
Most bookmakers offer a seven to 14-day window, while the best free bet offers see expiry dates of 60 days or more.
Sign Up Process
The easier the process of signing up to a bookmaker the better as it allows all players to be able to claim and make use of their welcome offers easily.
If the sign-up process is too difficult or has numerous complicated steps, that could cause players to accidentally miss out on claiming their sign-up offer altogether.
We regularly test this via our own experiences when signing up and by thoroughly evaluating the process at regular intervals throughout the year to ensure you know which bookmakers sign-up processes that are easiest to understand.
Using Free Bets
How and where you can use your free bets is also of crucial importance to all players.
The more markets you are able to use these on the better as it gives you more freedom in how you use these, but also provides greater variation and the ability to spread these across multiple markets.
Most bookmakers allow you to use these across any of their sports betting markets, with very few limiting you to select selections.
We evaluate this with our own experience, as well as what each bookmaker states you can use your free bets on in conjunction with their ‘Market Selection’ ranking from the UKBA.
Free Bets and Betting Offers FAQs
Can I withdraw Free Bets for real cash?
No. No bookmaker in the UK will allow you to withdraw your free bets for real cash at any point, no matter the amount of free bets you have.
You will need to wager these free bets on the markets they offer within a certain time frame, with you then able to withdraw the winnings from this bet should it be successful.
As always, it’s important to check when your free bets expire, as should you fail to do so, you may see them taken out of your account before you’re able to use them.
Which bookmaker offers the best free bets offers?
The likes of bet365, Betfred and William Hill allow you to claim a generous sum of free bets with their sign-up offers.
Additionally, bookmakers such as LiveScore Bet, Betway and 888 always have a number of existing customer offers that allow you to claim a number of free bets every week.
What markets can I use my free bets on?
Most bookmakers will allow you to use your free bets on any market you please when it comes to sign-up offers, with you just needing to make sure the bet you use them on meets the minimum odds requirements.
Some sportsbooks will only let you use your free bets from their sign-up offer on specific sports/leagues.
Therefore, it’s always important to read the terms and conditions to ensure you know exactly how to use them.
Does my free bet amount get included in my winnings?
No. Your free bet amount will never be included as part of the total payout for any successful bets you use them on.
For example, if you place a £50 free bet on a market priced at 1/1 and it wins, your winnings will be £50 instead of £100, with your free bet stake total not included in the total payout.
What’s the best way to use my free bets?
This all depends on the ways in which you bet yourself and how you like to bet in terms of the odds of the markets you're betting on.
Given you won’t lose any of your own money placing free bets, it’s always worth using them on bets that have high odds.
Alternatively, if you’d rather have a better chance of winning, you can place your free bets on markets with lower odds, with these bets more likely to win, however the payouts will be smaller.