Let’s start at the very beginning in our review of free bets and similar special offers. Free bets are most commonly given as welcome bonuses by online bookmakers. Below you’ll find a table with the best free bet sign up offers for a quick reference. We’ll also take a closer look at TOP 5 of them in this article.
Free bets are the weapon of choice for major bookmakers in the war to win your business. It’s a great time to be a sports bettor with firms vying to catch your eye. Free bets come in several different forms. This review looks at the best, how you can earn them and the small print you should be aware of.
Our team of content writers and sports betting experts have carried out extensive research, aimed at separating the best free bets from those that promise much, but struggle to deliver the goods. Read on as we arm you with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision.
Free bets are most commonly given as welcome bonuses by online bookmakers. Why do they bother? It’s not like a bookie to hand over cash unless it’s completely necessary. The reason firms are offering customers and potential customers free bets is an attempt to stand out from the crowd. The sports betting industry is a packed market with new, online only firms joining all the time, eager to get a slice of the pie. The best way to leap off the page and beat the competition is to offer users free bets. It’s a way of saying ‘come and try our service’.
When researching the free bets market, we discovered there are many different styles and types of free bets, much more than we ever expected. That’s for sure. Bookies are constantly looking for new ways to catch your eye and earn your business and for that reason they are always tweaking their offers, looking for new ways to do things.
One popular method of offering customers free bets is the best £5 get £20 free bet. How this works is you must sign up for an account with an online betting firm, making a deposit and place a qualifying bet on a sportsbook market with odds of 1/2 or better. When that bet is over and resulted, the marketing team will drop a £20 free bet into your account. This usually comes in £5 free bet tokens and is one of the best free bet sign up offers.
This works for both parties as it gives customers a chance to check out the site without posing too much risk to their own funds while bookies know you are serious about betting with them and not just there to claim the bonus.
☑️ App rating: 4.7/5
☑️ Read full bet365 review here >>
Sound like something worth trying? The good news is, there has never been a better time to get involved. Join bet365 now and you’ll land up to £100 in bet credits when registering for an account as a new customer. This is a matched bet, so the amount of free bet credits given depends on how much you deposit and gamble in your first visit, capped at £100. Terms and conditions including a minimum of £5 deposit, £100 max with odds on your qualifying bet set at 1/5 or better.
Bet365 is a giant of the online sports betting industry and a real favourite with punters. Boasting a modern website and superfast mobile betting app that can be downloaded to mobile and tablet devices, the thrill of a gamble will always just be a click away. You can bet on your favourite sports at bet365. The most popular are covered, such as horse racing, football, tennis, greyhounds, boxing and rugby.
There’s also a healthy presence of niche markets, such as politics, reality TV and even awards, including BBC Sports Personality of the Year. You will never be left looking for something to gamble on, that’s for sure. The site even has a well-stocked in-play section, allowing members to get involved at any stage of the contest.
☑️ App rating: 5/5
☑️ Read full 888Sport review here >>
Join today, deposit and receive 100% deposit bonus. Deposits have a £10 minimum and must be used to bet on a sportsbook selection with odds of 1/2 or better. When your first bet has been settled, any bonus due will be added to your account balance and be ready to use.
888 are another online only sports betting firm and another boasting a fantastic website and mobile app, so good, in fact, that we’ve ranked 888Sport #1 among football betting apps. If you enjoy betting on the go you will love their app which is available to download to iOS and Android devices and that can be done in less than a minute. From there you will have all the benefits of the 888Sport site on your handheld device, ready to go when you are.
Bet on the big football match live or the next horse race due to post. Simply log in, deposit funds and click to bet. It really is that simple. The 888 betting service puts the emphasis on speed and convenience, making things as easy as possible. There’s also a helpful and friendly customer service team in place, should you ever need to call upon them. Joining 888 is easy too, simply register your details and deposit to release a welcome bonus.
☑️ App rating: 4.8/5
☑️ Read full Betway review here >>
Join the Betway movement today and you will receive up to £30 in free bets as a new customer. Join now, deposit £10 or more into sports and place a bet on a selection with odds of 1.75 or more. When your first wager has been resulted, your welcome bonus will be added to your account. Your first deposit of between £10 and £30 will be matched as a free bet sign up deal.
Betway may not enjoy the same history and reputation as some of the best betting apps on this list but they do carry a real ambition to close the gap between themselves and the big boys, fighting for a share of the market. They aim to achieve this by offering customers value, a modern website and mobile app, great customer service and standout promotions on their chosen sport.
Visit the promotions page of the Betway site and you’ll be impressed by what you find. There are several welcome offers, free bets, money back and enhanced odds offers in place, meaning there is something to suit every type of punter and all pockets. All major sports are covered, and cash out is offered on most bets, allowing you to finish your bet early and secure a profit.
☑️ App rating: 5/5
☑️ Read full Ladbrokes review here >>
Join Ladbrokes today and benefit from a £30 free bet when you register and deposit just £10 of your own cash. Use the promo free bet code G30 and make a £10 bet within 14 days of activating the account. Minimum odds on your qualifying bet are set at 1/2 and the bonus will be broken down into three £10 free bets, valid for four days on sports.
Ladbrokes are a big name in the sports betting industry with a rich history. They recently underwent a merger with former London rivals Coral, creating a sports betting superpower with offices and betting shops around Europe. The website benefited from investment and the mobile app is as modern, stylish and fast and you’d hope to find. If you haven’t visited the Ladbrokes brand in a while, it’s well worth dropping by to check out the changes.
Ladbrokes love giving their customers more – better odds, bigger promotions and a higher level of customer service than they would find at the competition. The homepage has quick links to every sport as well as enhanced odds offers such as doubles and trebles. You are always just a click away from a sports betting experience, either at home on your desktop computer or on the move, using your mobile app downloaded to a phone or tablet.
When picking out your next free bet and welcome bonus you may find the offers of some firms look too good to be true. The reason for that is, in most cases, that’s close to the mark. Bookies can’t lie in their promotions, that wouldn’t be allowed or passed, but they can be relaxed with the truth so to speak. So, a big and attractive offer may not be as it seems.
The way some bookmakers get around this is by hiding behind and protecting themselves through difficult and stubborn terms and conditions. Before accepting a free bet from an online bookmaker, you should always read the terms and conditions attached before depositing your cash. This will ensure you have a full understanding of the small print before getting involved. When looking for the perfect free bet you should aim to find one with easy terms and conditions. Below is a list of popular terms and conditions attached to free bets and what they mean:
The pressure is on major bookmakers to serve up the kind of welcome bonus that helps them stand out from the crowd and beat the competition, but customers don’t want to join and then simply be tossed aside after registering. That’s why most firms run several recurring promotions, available to both new and existing customers.
Check the promotions page of your favourite sports betting site for evidence of just how much they value your custom and continued support. There you will find bonus clubs that give the best free bets on weekends when you deposit and bet over a certain amount during the week. There’s also enhanced odds, acca insurance and money back if your horse falls or finishes second to the SP favourite. The more the merrier when it comes to recurring promotions. Extra places each way on horse racing is another favourite of the sports bettor. Here are some examples of the free bet clubs offered…
Paddy Power run their Paddy’s Rewards Club which is billed as a programme aimed at giving rewards rather than loyalty. Paddy Power understand the loyalty points scheme isn’t particularly popular with sports punters, so have shaken things up.
One of the best free bets in the UK. This promo isn’t limited to one per customer, so the more you bet the more you get.
The #Makeabet Club is a fine example of the work being done at Mansionbet to help them close the gap between themselves and the major players of the industry. They want to reward customers for their support as well as sending out a message to those thinking about joining the service. This rewards club gives members a £10 free bet every week when they opt-in and place three or more bets a week with stakes of at least £5. When all three bets have been settled, you will receive your free bet pop-up. Simply click to activate your free bet and get started.
Mansionbet’s free to play Predict Six game challenges you to predict the outcome of six Premier League matches and you will receive a free bet, depending on how many you get right. There’s also the chance to earn monthly cash prizes for the best performers. Get all six correct and bag a £50 free bet or get a £10 free bet for four of five correct predictions. Two or three right gets you a £1 free bet which can be used on the sports market of your choice.
Grosvenor love giving customers the kind of service and promotions they just won’t find elsewhere, and they have delivered the goods again with this free to enter football game, named Grosvenor Goals. There’s a chance to win a stunning £1m if you are shrewd enough to get all your selections correct in any weekend. Pick a player in each of the 10 games and if your man scores the first goal in each, you’ll bank the jackpot. There’s £10,000 up for grabs if all 10 named get a goal anytime and a £10 free bet if three or more players score the first goal in their games. This may not be easy but, as it’s free, it’s well worth a shot.
Here is a selection of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Free Bets:
There are a few firms still offering free bet with no deposit, but these kinds of deals appear to be dying out.
Free bets and bets used to qualify for free bet tokens can’t be cashed out or partially cashed out.
Yes, there are free bets for existing customers. Check the promotions tab of your favourite betting site or app for a full list of free bet offers made available to both new and existing customers.
Check out the table placed near the head of this review or the welcome bonus section for an updated list of the best free bet offers currently in place. Check for free bet codes.