Free Bets and Betting Offers 

Find the best betting offers of 2024 from leading UK and Ireland betting sites. Explore free bets, including exclusive sign-up deals with industry-leading bookmakers.

Free bets and betting offers 2024

If you’re on the hunt for a sports betting account, look no further. We have compiled the best free bets and betting offers from the biggest bookmakers in the UK and Ireland, so you can take advantage of the best welcome bonuses when you sign up. With our help and expertise, compare multiple offers from trusted operators and select the one that’s right for you.

What is a free bet?

A free bet is a wager of a specified value for which the bookmaker offers to pay the stake. Bookmakers online promote free bet offers to new customers who choose to sign up with them. It’s mainly seen as a welcome offer that bookmakers provide as an incentive to try betting with them.

In the online betting space, there are a variety of different offers and promotions to consider. Most of the best betting offers come in the form of welcome bonuses, which provide free bets to new customers who sign up for an account. However, there are loyalty schemes and other retention offers for existing customers.

Free bets are often given out in advance of the big events in the sporting calendar, especially those that are popular with bettors such as the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot.

How does a free bet work?

With a free bet, you are betting without any of your real cash involved. When placing a free bet, the winnings you receive in return will not include the free bet amount. Instead, you’ll only receive the amount of the winnings due from the bet placed. Your free bets credit is added either upon your first qualifying deposit, usually £10, but some free bets are awarded as a deposit match and these usually have minimum and maximum qualifying amounts.

When searching for the best free bet offers, it is important to consider factors such as the wager amount (of the free bet), the terms and conditions and the range of sports and markets available. It is also important to choose a reputable and trustworthy bookmaker that is licensed and regulated in your jurisdiction. Here, we only have welcome offers from verified bookmakers in the UK and Ireland, so if you sign up through us you know you’re safe and joining a trusted online betting operator.

Sign-up offers and new customer offers

Sign-up offers, also known as sign-up bonuses and new customer betting offers, are exclusively for users who do not have an existing account with that bookmaker. You can sign up for a new betting account using the links above and claim your welcome bonus in the process. These are a great way to get started with a bookmaker and can give you a helpful head start.

To take advantage of a sign-up offer, you will usually have to put down a small deposit (often £10) before you can access the sum of free bets.

If you already have a bookmaker account, you may still be eligible for existing customer offers. Remember, you can sign up for a betting account with multiple bookmakers, so be sure to check out the latest offers for bookmakers with whom you don’t already have an account.

Almost every bookmaker in the UK and Ireland will offer new customers some sort of welcome bonus or free bet offer. These offers act as an incentive to drive new users to their website and begin their betting journey. This gives new customers a great opportunity to get a head start so it’s always worth checking what offers are available for each leading bookmaker. Betting offers may be available for a limited time, with some being exclusive to certain sporting events such as major horse racing festivals or big football matches.

For the full range of bookmaker offers, you can view our individual bookmaker reviews to find the right offers for you.

Betting bonuses

A betting bonus is a fixed amount that is added to your first deposit. Typically, your bookmaker will allow you to stake your first bet without risking all, or any, of your own money. It is advised that you use the credit balance in accordance with the terms of the bookmaker.

Multiple betting accounts

You can sign up with multiple bookmakers and place your bets with each of them. Signing up with multiple betting sites means you can get the best odds and you’ll be able to benefit from various existing customer bonuses. Beforehand, you can take advantage of all the new customer offers available. You can also read our bookmaker reviews for more information about each betting site and help you find the one that’s right for you.

How to claim your free bets as a new customer

Follow these simple steps to sign up for a new betting account and claim your free bets:

1️⃣ Select one of the exclusive free betting offers from the above list and click ‘claim here’
2️⃣ Sign up for an account with your selected bookmaker and verify your identity
3️⃣ Deposit funds into your account
4️⃣ Place a bet to the amount stipulated in the sign-up offer terms and conditions
5️⃣ Once your first bet has been settled, you’ll be credited with your free bets or betting bonuses

Once you have signed up with a bookmaker, you’ll still be able to benefit from any existing customer offers.

Different types of free bets

💰 Fixed amount is added to your free bet

💰 No deposit needed

💰 Betting amount matched

💰 Free betting credits

💰 Fixed amount is added to your first deposit

What can you use your free bets on?

Free bets can usually be used on any sport or market that you choose. You’ll need to check the terms and conditions, however, as some offers have specific requirements. Bet-to-get promotions and bonuses are often the best free bets, while enhanced prices and money-back specials are better associated with football free bets. Either way, your free betting balance can usually be applied to any sport, and any type of wager you prefer.

Can you withdraw free bets?

You cannot withdraw free bets directly as cash as free bets are usually offered as promotional incentives. If your free bet wins you may be able to withdraw winnings associated with the bet, but the initial free bet stake will not be included in your withdrawal amount. However, there are specific terms and conditions linked with the best betting offers in the UK.

How to use your free bets

The process of using a free bet may vary depending on the bookmaker that provided the free bet. Here are some general step by step instructions you can follow:

Steps	Instructions
✔️ Login to your account	Log in to your account with the bookmaker that provided the free bet
✔️ Find the event you want to bet on	Navigate to the sports or event that you want to bet on, making sure that the event is eligible for the free bet offer
✔️ Select the outcome	Select the outcome that you want to bet on and add it to your bet slip
✔️ Use free bet	Look for the option to use a free bet on the bet slip, this may be indicated by a checkbox or a button
✔️ Applied free bet	If the free bet is not automatically applied enter the stake amount for your free bet in the appropriate field
✔️ Confirmation	Confirm your bet and wait for the outcome

If you win the bet, the winnings usually get credited to your account balance. You may need to meet the wagering requirements before you withdraw the winnings.

What should you look for when choosing your free bet?

When choosing a free bet, there are a few things to look for to ensure that you are getting the best value:

• Make sure the free bet applies to the type of bet you want to place
• Check the minimum odds required for the free bet
• Availability of the free bet in your region 
• Reputation of the bookmaker

By considering these factors, you can choose a free bet that best fits your needs and preferences.

Is there an expiration date for your free bet?

The expiry date for free bets can vary depending on the terms of the bookmaker and website in question. With the majority of free bet offers having a week long expiration date (seven days), it’s always advised to carefully read the terms and conditions of any promotional offer to understand the expiry date of your free bet. If you’re unsure about the expiration date of your free bets, you can contact the bookmaker or support team for clarification.

Which bookmakers are right for you?

Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or a novice looking for help on which account to get, choosing the right bookmaker through our bookmaker quiz could help you gain the knowledge to make quick informed decisions.

Free bets terms and conditions

Free bets are promotional offers provided by betting companies to attract new customers or reward existing customers. Here are some common terms and conditions that may apply to free bets:

1. Eligibility: free bets may only be available to new customers who have registered for an account with the betting company or to existing customers who have met a certain criteria, such as placing a certain number of bets within a specified period.
2. Time limits: free bets may only be valid for a certain period of time, for example seven days or even 30 days. If you do not use the free bet within this time frame, it may expire and any bonus will be lost.
3. Bet restrictions: free bets may be restricted to certain types of bets, such as single bets or accumulator bets, and may be limited to certain sports or events.
4. Maximum winnings: there may be a maximum amount you can win from a free bet. This amount will usually be specified in the terms and conditions
5. Free bet stake: some free bets will not include the stake amount in the winnings.
6. Additional terms: always read the terms and conditions carefully to understand any additional requirements or restrictions that may apply to the free bet offer.

Free bets wagering requirements

Wagering requirement is a condition attached to many bonuses including free bets that requires the recipient of the bonus to wager a certain amount of money before they can withdraw any winnings earned from the bonus. The wagering requirement is usually expressed as a multiple of the bonus amount. Some free bets may have wagering requirements attached to them, they’re used by a bookmaker site as a way to protect themselves and help create loyal customers.