Free Bets

A free bet is a bonus credited by a bookmaker, typically issued when specific qualifying criteria have been met. 
 
A familiar example is a bookmaker welcome bonus - new customers make a qualifying deposit, bet on sports and then receive a free bet bonus. 
 
But free bet bonuses can be collected by other means too. 

Free bets are a reward for either signing-up to a betting site or as a reward for a promotion they site is running. 
 
When you are credited with a free bet bonus, it will typically have to be used on one wager. So if, for example, you receive a £10 free bet, the stake can’t be split into smaller chunks for different bets - if you were to apply a £10 free bet to a bet with a stake of £5, you would forfeit the remaining £5. 
 
Free bets UK usually expire quickly after being credited. That’s something important to watch out for - it’s common to see a free bet expire after seven days of hitting your account. 

⤿ How To Claim A Free Bet

The method of claiming a free bet will depend on the betting offer that you are looking at.  
 
But let’s break things down into two main areas found at betting sites with free bets offers - the welcome bonus and existing customer offers.

⤿ New Customer Free Bet Bonus

• Register at betting sites with free bets. 
• If a bonus code is needed, ensure you enter it. 
• Make a deposit, checking for the minimum deposit amount and valid payment method. 
• Check the key T&Cs for minimum stake and odds requirement 
• Browse the sportsbook and place a bet. 
• Receive a free bet when the bet is placed or when it is settled. 

⤿ Existing Customer Free Bets

• Browse the Promotions page. 
• Check the key T&Cs of that bonus. 
• Make a qualifying bet with real money on the specified market. 
• Wait for conditions to play out (such as a lost stake refund if a football match ends 0-0). 
• Any free bets will be automatically credited to your account.

⤿ Types Of Free Bets

Betting sites offer various types of free bets, and having variety is good because it provides a broad spectrum of coverage.  

Here are some examples:

⤿ New Customer Offers 

Bet £X and Get £X in Free Bets - As a new customer, make a qualifying deposit, place your first bet, and then receive a free bet. 
Match Deposit Bonus - As a new customer, receive a free bet matched to, or sometimes more than, the value of your initial account deposit. 

⤿ Existing Customer Offers

• Risk-Free Bet - This free bet bonus will refund a losing stake as a free bet credit. 
• Price Boosts - It’s common to find enhanced odds on specific markets - most bookmakers issue daily price boosts for punters to use at their preference. 
• Loyalty Club - Make a certain amount of qualifying bets during a promotional week to receive a free bet bonus. 
• Acca Insurance - Should a qualifying accumulator lose by a single leg, then acca insurance would refund a lost stake as a free bet or, in some instances, cash.

With so many choices of betting sites with free bets, how do you choose between them?  

➳ Identify Bonuses 

Identifying bonuses at betting sites in the UK that match your betting strategies is essential. That means looking within your preferred sports for offers that fit.  
 
If you bet only on the horses, then look for racing promotions like best odds guaranteed and free bet bonuses for certain losing conditions. 
 
Should football be your thing, look for enhanced odds or match-specific money-back specials. Acca’s are your preference? Search for accumulator win bonuses or insurance. 

➳ Check Bonus Pages 

Always check out the promotions page at new betting sites with free bets. It’s easy to miss a current promotion that a bookie is running, but you can easily keep up to date by making the promotions page on a site your first click.  

➳ Long-Standing vs One Time Offers 

Existing offers reward punters better over the long term than one-time offers do. If you know that a promotion always covers your First Goalscorer bets, or all of your accas will come with insurance, that allows you to play with coverage consistently. 

➳ Free Bet Terms 

It’s important not to overreach your betting to get a free bet. Don’t push your bankroll above its limit if there is a bonus on a market you are unfamiliar with. The terms of first achieving the free bet, and any restrictions on how that free bet can be used, should be checked out first.  

➳ Compare Free Bets UK 

If you are registered with more than one online bookmaker, then compare offers between them. Just as you would do with comparing odds, you should spend a bit of time trying to pick the best offers for your bet. For example, one site may be running a Money-Back Special promo to take advantage of, while another may have a big odds boost on a specific betting market - always weigh up your options. 

Some sports are more popular at betting sites with free bets than others. Because of that, you will see free bet offers geared towards significant sports more often - think football and horse racing as prime examples. 

Football Free Bets

From the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, it’s common to find an abundance of bet bonuses for football betting. That’s from enhanced odds boosts to 0-0 Bore Draw Insurance, free Bet Builder credits and match-specific money-back specials.  

Horse Racing Free Bets 

As another of the UK’s leading sports for betting, you can easily find things like Best Odds Guaranteed and Extra Places. But you can also pick up free bet offers if your horse is beaten by less than a certain number of lengths or if your selection loses all chance at the start. 

Tennis Free Bets 

Tennis is probably one of the most understated markets for free bets. There are plenty of offers on the sport, including cashback on losses. You’ll find more free tennis bets when Wimbledon and the other Slams are active. 

Boxing and MMA Free Bets 

Big highlight bouts in MMA and boxing betting are great for free bets on the sport. Look out for offers such as money-back specials or bet boosts on round-by-round betting. 

Golf Free Bets 

One area of bonuses for golf betting is extra places for each-way punts on the outright market of a tournament. But the top events like the Ryder Cup and The Open are when Money Back Specials on your selection being defeated by a certain margin of shots, for example, could be featured.  

How free bets are used will be down to the punter. The simplest way is to apply one as a stake on a single market selection.  

But it is possible to put bigger things together with them. 

Hedging Bets 

Free bets can be used to hedge or match a bet. For example, you could back one winner of a boxing bout with a real money bet. Then with a free bet at another bookmaker, you could back the other fighter to win, so both outcomes are covered. 

Risk-Free Bets 

Risk-free bets only give you credit if your initial stake loses. That’s a different ball game from potentially doubling your return from a matched bet bonus. Placing a stake on a selection you heavily fancy to win and getting a free bet back on top of your winnings gives more value than a risk-free bet. 

Terms and conditions for any free bet bonus will be listed alongside the offer. While terms and conditions can look tedious and overwhelming, they set out how a free bet bonus works.  
 
Here is a short guide to some key T&Cs you can expect to find with a free bet offer. 

➪ Qualifying Deposit Method 

Not all deposit methods count towards a promotion. For example, you may be excluded from a promo if you have used an E-Wallet to deposit - this is particularly common with welcome bonuses. 

➪ Qualifying Deposit Amount 

For welcome bonuses, you may be required to deposit a specific minimum amount into your account to qualify for the offer. 

➪ Qualifying Odds 

Most free bet offers will have minimum qualifying odds. These generally come at a low threshold, giving punters plenty of scope. They exist to avoid players simply backing a massive odds-on favourite to claim a free bet bonus. 

➪ Market Restrictions 

A free bet may come with market restrictions. For example, it may be only valid on a specific horse race or football match, or it may also be limited by sport. 

➪ Expiration Time 

Free Bets are not likely to last forever - it’s usual to see a seven-day expiration on a free bet bonus. The expiration time will mean having your free bet wagered and settled within the allotted period. 

➪ Bonus Code and Opt In 

Double-check whether you need to enter a bonus code or opt-in to activate a bonus. 
Are free bets free?  
 
Free bets are free in the sense that you get to place a wager without using real cash. But you will probably have risked some real stake to collect one. 

➪ How To Withdraw Free Bet Winnings 

How you withdraw free bet winnings from betting sites may vary slightly. Although more commonly found on casino bonuses, some sports free bets may require you to play through their value before the value can be withdrawn as cash. Most offers, however, pay the winnings from a free bet stake as cash, ready for withdrawal but will not include the free bet stake in any winnings. 

Mobile betting apps are fantastic for quick and convenient betting. In addition, you have a sportsbook to hand with a full suite of features, including free bet bonuses. 
 
Bookmakers do make their bonuses available on their apps. So if you see a promo that you fancy on a website, then you will likely find it available in the app.

Any free bets you have already collected can be used in a mobile betting app. Note that it is also possible to find mobile-only free bet welcome bonuses.