UK Free Bets

What Is A Free Bet?

You’ve likely stumbled upon a free bet bonus in your wagering, given that they are widespread in the UK gambling space.

Essentially, a sportsbook will reward you with a bonus of a set amount, which you can use to place different types of sports wagers.

Unlike bonuses where you’re rewarded with site credit, with a free bet, you typically won’t be able to break it down into smaller denominations or wagers.

Also, with most bookmakers, the original free bet stake will not be included in your total payout. This means that if you place a wager using a free bet, the site will only credit you with the winnings.

For instance, let’s say you join an online gambling site and are credited with a £20 free bet. You place this free bet on an event priced at odds of 2.0 (also known as evens or 1/1 fractional odds).

If your wager wins, your total payout won’t be £40 like it would be with a typical bet. Instead, you’ll only receive the winnings, which will be £20 in this case.

On the flip side, most free bet offers are known for having minimal to no wagering requirements.

What To Look For When Choosing Online Free Bets?

Here are a few factors that you need to consider when searching for online free bets:

• Wagering Requirements – Bettors adore free bet offers because they usually come with low wagering requirements, with some even having none. This makes it easy for you to convert bonus funds into withdrawable cash. With this in mind, going for bonuses with favourable wagering requirements is something that all bettors should prioritise.
• Validity Period – If you want to make the most of a bonus offer, you have to plan around it appropriately. Because of this, it’s important to consider the date that an offer will expire. It’s wiser to target free bets that give you more playing time since you won’t be in a rush to use the bonus, and this ensures that you can make the most of the offer.
• Minimum Odds – Almost every free bet offer has a minimum odds requirement. Typically, this shows the minimum odds you’ll be able to wager the bonus at. Always chase offers with reasonable minimum odds requirements, e.g., odds of 1.5 or lower. This ensures that you’ll still be in control of the bets you can place.
• Betting Site – Lastly, you should always consider the site that has the free bet offer. To ensure you’re in safe hands, always go for licensed and reputable bookmakers, especially those licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. You’ll be able to bet with a calm peace of mind knowing that such a reputable gambling institution has your back.

Different Types Of Free Bets

As mentioned, free bets come in many different forms. Depending on what you’re into, you can choose your preferred option instead of being forced to settle for one specific type.

Below, we’ve discussed the main types of free bets you’ll find at UK betting sites.

Risk-free Bets

Just from its name, you probably already have a vague idea of what a risk-free bet is. 

This is a type of offer where you’re guaranteed a refund if your initial or qualifying wager ends up being settled as a loss.

The risk-free aspect of the bonus is that you can fall back on a refund should that initial wager go bust. 

For instance, if a UK sportsbook is offering a £100 risk-free bet to new users, it means that any losses up to £100 on your first wager will be refunded. In case you bet more than the stated maximum, you’ll still only receive a £100 refund.

So if you were to risk £100 on Tottenham Hotspur as your first wager and they ended up losing the game, you’d receive your £100 back as one or multiple free bets.

Matched Bet Bonuses

Matched bet bonuses are a bit similar to risk-free bets. 

While risk-free wagers only reward you when you lose, with matched bet bonuses, you’ll receive a free bet regardless of the outcome of your wager.

To get the offer, you’ll need to make a deposit and place your first wager. After that, you’ll receive the free bet when your bet is settled.

As the name suggests, the amount of the free bet you’ll receive will “match” the amount of your first wager.

For instance, if you place a £10 wager, you’ll receive a £10 free bet. Of course, the sportsbook will state the maximum you can receive from the offer.

In other offers, you may get specials where you only wager a small amount but still get rewarded with a more significant free bet amount. For instance, the Tote has a Bet £5 Get £20 free bet bonus.

Money-Back Free Bets

Money-back free bets function like risk-free wagers by minimising a punter’s risk.

Essentially, you’re guaranteed a partial or full refund — typically awarded as free bets — if your wager loses in a certain way.

Here are a few typical examples of money-back offers:

• Get your money back as a free bet if you bet on England to win and the match ends 0-0.
• Get a free bet if you bet on France and they lose in extra time or penalties.

No Deposit Offers

While we’ve touched on several promos, none are as unique and highly valued as no deposit offers.

The main reason? Well, who wouldn’t want to bet using free cash from the bookies?

That’s essentially what no deposit offers are — a betting site will reward you with a free bonus when you simply sign up and create a betting account.

These offers may be superb, but their only downside comes in the form of the amount offered. Most are usually valued on the lower end (between £5 and £25). Also, depending on the gambling site, the offer may have low to steep wagering requirements.

Still, we’d advise you to take advantage of all no deposit offers available to you.

Other Free Bet Offers

Apart from the few things we’ve mentioned, you can also receive free bets in other ways, the most common being by participating in sports-specific promotions.

For example, during notable events like the World Cup or finals in various sports, bookmakers are known for dishing out free bets right, left, and centre.

Some loyalty programs will also let you trade comp points for free bet credits. 

So if you’re enrolled in your betting site’s VIP program, you can check whether free bet bonuses are one of the available perks.

How Free Bet Sign-Up Offers Work

It’s pretty easy to understand how free bet offers function. However, not every offer comes with the same terms and conditions — the exact specifics hinge upon the bookmaker and the type of free bet you’re receiving.

With that in mind, here are a few things bettors need to know about free bet sign-up offers. Firstly, when you place a wager using a free bet, you’ll only receive the winnings, as the stake won’t be included in your total payout.

Free bets are also mainly included in welcome offers, so the easiest way to get one is by signing up at a licensed UK online betting site that’s advertised such an offer.

For sign-up offers, most bookmakers will credit you with the free bet after you’ve registered, deposited a specific amount, and placed your first bet (keep in mind any pre-set conditions that your initial wager needs to meet).

If you’re curious as to why a betting site would choose to reward new bettors with free bets, it’s simply because it’s the easiest way of earning a player’s loyalty.

They know that once you sign up and use their services, you’ll be impressed enough to stick around, so the free bets are tactically used to lure new bettors in.

Advantages Of Free Bets

After covering free bets in-depth, here are some of the main advantages that bettors can look forward to:

• Free bets help minimise your initial investment
• Some free bets are awarded freely
• Free bets typically come with low playthrough requirements
• Help to boost a player’s bankroll

Disadvantages Of Free Bets

Though free bets are mostly beneficial, some of them have a few drawbacks. These are:

• Many free bet offers deal with small amounts
• Most require you to make an initial investment or wager something first
• When placing wagers using free bets, the stake won’t be returned as part of the winnings

Restrictions Around Free Bets

Just as we’ve highlighted, it’s quite common for free bets to have plenty of restrictions. Below, we’ve highlighted the most common ones:

• Bettors can’t split free bets: The free bet amount you get typically can’t be broken down. For instance, if a UK sportsbook rewards you with a £25 free bet, you can’t split this into smaller £5 denominations, so you’ll have to bet the entire £25 all at once.
• Expiry date: With most free bets, you’ll be given seven days to use the bonus. Some bookmakers may give you more or less time, so you should always check the expiry date first.
• Maximum win: There may be a maximum amount that you can win using your free bet. It’s important to check this before you sign up at a site.
• Stake not included: This is common with most bookmakers. Any wager placed using a free bet will only grant you the winnings, as the stake isn’t part of the payout.

How To Get Free Bet Offers

The simplest way to get such a promo is by signing up at betting sites with welcome offers revolving around free bets.

Here, you’ll need to look at different free bet welcome offers and compare them to ensure that you pick the best available promo offer.

A few things to consider include the free bet amount, rollover requirements, and how long the bonus funds will be valid for. 

After spotting a worthy welcome promo, you’ll need to create a betting account to claim the bonus. Also, some sportsbooks may require a valid promo code during the sign-up process.

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have to fund your new account with an appropriate amount. Here, you’ll also need to keep the minimum and maximum limits of the bonus in mind.

If it’s a risk-free bet, ensure your initial wager sticks to any minimum odds requirement.

For existing users, you can check for free bets by heading over to the tab titled “Promotions.” Here, you’ll be able to see the site’s latest free bet offers.

List Of Free Online Bets Sites

Now that you know everything about free bets, we’ll show you where you can get the best offers in the UK.

Tote – Bet £5 Get £20

• New UK & Republic of Ireland customers only
• Bonus can only be redeemed on UK & Irish placepot bets
• £20 Tote credit comes with a 7-day validity period
• Bonus credited within 24 hours of first bet settlement

Fitzdares – Bet £30 Get A £30 Free Bet

• New Customers
• Minimum deposit of £10 is required
• Qualifying wager must have odds of 2.0 or more
• Also includes 20 bonus spins on Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch
• Bonus credited within 24 hours of first bet settlement
• Spins and free bet must be used within 7 days

BetVictor – Bet £10 Get £40 Welcome Offer

• Opt-in required
• Must wager £10+ at odds 2.00+, in 7 days
• Bettors receive 3x £10 free bets valid on select events
• £10 slots bonus
• Only valid for card payments
• Bonus expires after 7 days

bet365 – Bet £10 & Get £50 In Free Bets

• Qualifying bet must settle within 30 days
• Free bet value equal to five times the value of qualifying deposits between £5 and £10
• Prepaid debit and credit cards don’t qualify
• Free bets are non-withdrawable and not included in your payout
• Free bet credits will be forfeited if your bet365 betting account is inactive for 90 consecutive days

SBK – Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets

• Only new UK, IE & Malta users
• Min £10 first deposit
• First wager must be placed at minimum odds of 1.5
• Free bets valid for 90 days

Betfred – Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets Welcome Offer

• Deposit and wager £10
• Qualifying bet must have odds of evens or greater
• First bet must be made within 7 days of signing up
• Free bets within 10 hours of bet settlement
• Bonus must be used within 7 days
• Deposits via prepaid Visa and Mastercard or e-Wallets aren’t valid

Unibet – £40 Money Back + £10 Casino Bonus

• Place a bet of at least £1
• Minimum odds of 2/5 (1.40) apply
• If your first wager loses, get up to £40 in bonus money
• The sports wagering requirement is 3x

What Are The Best Free Bets For Existing Users?

If you’ve already registered at the sites we’ve mentioned, here are some of the best free bet offers for existing users that you can look forward to:

Fitzdares:

• Multiple football money back free bet offers
• Loyalty free bets every week

Betfred: Horse Racing – Free Bet if your horse finishes 2nd in the selected races.

Unibet: Money back horse racing free bet specials