Free Bets & Bookies Offers | December 2024

Free bets are a great tool to aid your betting. The most common type of free bet is one you receive as a new customer when you sign up with a bookmaker. However, there are also many free bets for existing customers out there with the top bookmakers.

A free bet is exactly what it says, a free wager that you can place, to potentially win some profit and have further funds you can bet with. Here we take a look at the best free bet offers and give you all the information you need to understand and find both new customer free bets and existing customer free bets.

What is a Free Bet?

A free bet is exactly what it says, a free bet that you can place with your bookmaker. These have always been around, though over the past decade their size and the frequency of them has rapidly grown due to the competitive nature of the betting industry.

Bookmakers will give free bets to new customers who sign up for an account, they will also give them to existing customers from time to time. In most scenarios, free bets can be placed on any sport and any market with no limitations. Usually the qualifying bet which you place to claim the free bet is where you will find limitations, this is often to do with the odds that you bet on.

Free Bets will pay you out in real cash, in exactly the same way as a regular bet with just one exception. When you place a bet with a free bet, you will not receive your stake back, you will only receive the profit back from the bet.

In some cases, free bets have a fixed value, for example, a £10 free bet, though this is not always the case. If free bets are given to you as bonus funds, you will receive a fixed amount as your bonus but can use that to place smaller bet bets for free, rather than spending it all on one wager.

How do Free Bet Offers Work?

Few things in life set the pulse racing quite like a bet on the latest sporting event. However, if there is one downside, it is the decrease in your betting balance following a losing punt - sad but not always avoidable. Free Bets take this scenario out of the equation.

Free Bets provide an opportunity to boost your betting balance without risking your hard-earned cash. With that in mind, it is no surprise that this offer is immensely popular with online betting fans.

If you receive a Free Bet and wish to use it, select the Free Bet option when placing your bet - usually as simple as clicking a tab in the Betting Slip area of the site.

When you place a successful Free Bet, the winnings are added to your betting account. However, the total usually won't include the value of the Free Bet stake. For example, a £10 Free Bet on a 2/1 winner will return £20, rather than £30 had the stake been included.

Where can I get Free Bets

Put simply – at almost all online betting sites. Free Bets most commonly appear as part of a Welcome Bonus designed to attract new players to a site, e.g. New Players: Bet £10 to get a £10 Free Bet. However, the Free Bet fun doesn’t always end with the Sign-Up Deal.

An increasing number of online betting firms (including many listed on NewBettingOffers.co.uk) offer regular Free Bets to existing customers. Examples include:

• Acca Insurance - Get your stake back as a Free Bet if only one leg of your Acca lets you down – and we all know how often that happens!
• Free Bet Clubs - A popular feature of many sites, these deals require you to place a stated number of bets at a minimum stake to receive a Free Bet. A great deal for regular punters
• Bet and Get Deals - Usually work in a similar way to Sign Up Offers but are available to regular customers. These deals may be exclusive to a specific sport or bet type, e.g., Place a £5 Bet Builder to receive a Free £5 Bet Builder

Different Types of Free Bets

Always keen to meet the needs of as many customers as possible, online bookmakers provide Free Bets in many shapes and sizes. The following are among the most common:

Matched Free Bets

Also known as “Bet and Get” offers. These deals require you to stake a stated amount and usually have a minimum odds requirement, e.g., “Bet £20 at Evs (2.0) or higher to get…”. The Free Bet awarded can be equal to the stake, a negative amount, a positive amount, or a bundle. For example:

• Equal - Bet £10 to get a £10 Free Bet
• Negative - Bet £20 to get a £10 Free Bet
• Positive - Bet £20 to get a £40 Free Bet
• Bundle - Bet £10 to get 1x £10 Free Horse Racing Bet, 1 x Free In-Play Bet, and 1 x Free Acca Bet

Matched Deposit Bonuses

With these offers, the betting site will match your deposit amount with free betting funds, e.g., deposit £50 to receive £50 in Bonus Cash. You can use this Bonus Cash to bet with, but any winnings may only become withdrawable once wagering requirements (see below) are satisfied.

In common with the Free Bet Offer, Matched Deposit Bonuses may have an equal (Deposit £20 to receive £20 in Bonus Funds), Negative (Deposit £40 to receive £20 in Bonus Funds), or Positive (Deposit £10 to receive £20 in Bonus Funds) value.

Money Back as Free Bets

These deals award your money back under certain conditions. The Acca insurance offer (money back as a free bet if only one leg lets you down) is the most commonly found online. Other examples may include:

• Money Back as a Free Bet if your Horse is Second by a Nose
• Money Back as a Free Bet if your horse is Second to a runner priced at 33/1 or bigger
• Money back as a Free Bet if your bet is winning after 90 minutes but becomes a loser in injury time

Enhanced Odds Bonuses

The bookmakers are excellent at coming up with eye-catching Enhanced Offers, such as get odds of 33/1 for a goal to be scored in the Manchester United vs Chelsea match or 50/1 for Cole Palmer to score a goal in the game. Such deals always grab your attention but usually come with a very small maximum stake (often £1) and pay out winnings as Free Bets. They offer the chance to earn a satisfying chunk of Free Bets for a small outlay, but it is possible you will receive nothing if the Enhanced Odds Bet fails to win.

Always Read the Terms & Conditions of Free Bets

Free Bets almost always look excellent at first glance, and they often are – particularly those on offer with the top bookmakers listed on NewBettingOffers.co.uk. However, we recommend reading the terms and conditions before signing up for any offer. Particular points to be aware of include:

• Qualifying Requirements - Many offers are restricted to new customers. Others ask you to enter a promotion code or “opt-in” to the promotion. Most deals will also have a minimum stake requirement and/or be restricted to a specific sport or event. Always ensure you understand the requirements in advance to avoid disappointment later
• Minimum Odds Requirements - In our experience, the vast majority of Free Bet deals come with a Minimum Odds Requirement, e.g., you must place your qualifying bet at odds of Evs (2.0) or greater. This stipulation is in place to prevent punters from seeking the next 1/100 chance to use as their “qualifying” bet
• When are the Free Bets Credited - This can vary from firm to firm. Some betting sites award the free bet as soon as you place your qualifying bet, whilst others add the Free Bet to your account once your qualifying bet settles or after a stated period, e.g., 24 hours, 48 hours, etc. The exact timeframe will be included in the terms and conditions of the deal
• Expiry Dates on Free Bets and Bonuses - Nothing good lasts forever, and most Free Bets come with an expiry date. If you don't use the bet before this date, it will disappear. Dates can vary widely from days to weeks to months, so always be sure to check
• Acceptable Payment Methods - This may be the most common condition which leads to disappointment. At some betting sites, all deposit methods qualify for Free Bet promotions. However, others state that only certain methods are acceptable. Debit cards almost always qualify, but some betting sites stipulate against e-wallets such as PayPal or Skrill, prepaid cards like PaySafeCard, or other non-debit card solutions

The Pros and Cons of Free Bets

Pros

• A chance to win something for nothing - Stating the obvious, but a Free Bet gives you a chance to earn real cash – risk-free. Whether you place your Free Bet on a short price for a little boost or go for broke on an outsider, losing won’t cost you a penny
• Try out a new bet or sport - Perhaps you are interested in trying out betting on a new sport or a new bet but feel too inexperienced to risk your own money. A Free Bet lets you sample something different for free

Cons

• Qualifying Bets may be Event Specific - Not a problem if you were going to bet on the event anyway. However, if you place an ill-informed bet just to get a Free Bet, you diminish the value of the offer
• Wagering Requirements can be Very High - Some Free Bet Offers require you to wager any winnings before they are added to your withdrawable balance. A 1x wagering requirement means that if you win £20 from your Free Bet, you must place £20 in further bets before you can withdraw your winnings. Not too bad, but wagering requirements can be as high as 10x (even higher for casino bonuses), meaning, if you win £20 from your Free Bet, you must place £200 of bets before withdrawing your winnings. Clearly, you have a better chance of receiving an actual return from your Free Bet in the 1x scenario
• Minimum Odds Requirement May Steer You Away from a Winning Bet - Say, for example, you fancy Liverpool to beat Brighton at 4/9. However, the minimum odds requirement is Evs. To take advantage of the offer, you back Liverpool -1 on the handicap at 21/20. Liverpool win 2-1, and you gain your Free Bet but lose the £10 stake – which would have won had you stuck to backing Liverpool to win the game
• Maximum Winnings May be Capped - Something to be aware of if you plan to use your Free Bet on an outsider. For example, if the Maximum Winnings from a Free Bet is £100, there is little sense placing a £10 Free Bet on anything bigger than 10/1
• Free Bet may be Restricted to a Sport or Market - Again, no problem if you are interested in the sport or market. However, if horse racing is your only betting sport, a £10 Free Football Bet Builder may not be particularly appealing
• Expiry Dates - When taking advantage of a Free Bet, always check that there is an event you would like to use the bet on before the expiry date. For example, if you bet solely on the Premier League and a Free Bet has a 7-day expiry date, placing your qualifying bet the weekend before an International break is possibly not the best idea

Use Secure & Trusted Sites

It should go without saying, but a Free Bet loses its risk-free status when offered by a website which does not adhere to strict security standards. Sure, the bet may be free, but your data, financial details, and funds may be at risk. We strongly recommend that you only bet with betting sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Here at NewBettingOffers.co.uk, we only list bookies fully licenced and regulated to operate in the UK market.

How to Find the UK’s Best Free Bet Offers

This part is easy, as we have done all the hard work for you. Combining decades of industry experience with comprehensive, up-to-date research, we endeavour to highlight all the best offers available to UK punters today. Check out our table and read our reviews to discover the Free Bets and Bonuses that are right for you.

Top 10 Sports Free Bets for New Customers * – December 2024

*Please see the relevant website for the full T&C's of all offers.

Betfred – Bet £10 to get £50 in Free Bets

You don’t earn the nickname “The Bonus King” without excelling in New Customer Offers. As such, it is no surprise that Betfred offers one of the best Free Bet deals around. To take advantage, simply:

• Register using Code: BETFRED50
• Deposit £10+ via Debit Card
• Place a bet of £10+ at Evens (2.0) or greater
• Receive 3 x £10 Sports Free Bets & 2 x Acca Free Bets

William Hill – Bet £10 to Get £60 in Free Bets

A staple of the British betting scene, William Hill retains its position as one of the most trusted and widely respected operators in the world. Their New Play Offer is ideal for players who enjoy sports and casino-style gaming:

• Register using Code: T60
• Deposit £10 to receive 1 x £20 Vegas Free Bet
• Place a bet of £10+ at 1/2 (1.50)
• Once qualifying bet settles, receive 4 x £10 Free Sports Bets

Ladbrokes - Bet £5 to Get £20 in Free Bets

A staple of the British high street and a huge success online, Ladbrokes are one of the biggest and best bookmakers in the business and boasts a sign-up offer to match.

• Place a first bet of £5 or more at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) within 14 of opening your account
• Receive 4 x £5 Free Bets to use on selected sports markets

Coral – Bet £5 to get a £20 Free Bet

Alongside William Hill and Ladbrokes, Coral makes up the traditional “Big Three” of the British high street. Boasting a slick site and a peerless reputation, they provide an excellent incentive to try out their online offering.

• Place a first bet of £5 or more at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) within 14 of opening your account
• Receive 1 x £20 Free Sports Bet

bet365 – Bet £10 to get £30 in Free Bets

From humble beginnings in Stoke-on-Trent, bet365 has grown to become one of the biggest sports betting sites in the world. Millions of customers can’t be wrong, and those joining the bet365 party are rewarded with a great Welcome Offer.

• Deposit between £5 and £10
• Claim the offer to receive three times the value of your deposit in Free Bets
• Stake the value of your deposit on qualifying bets within 30 days of opening your account to release your Free Bet Credits. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/5 (1.20) or bigger

Betano - Bet £10 to get a £30 Free Bet Bundle

One of the most impressive new bookmakers on the scene, Betano is well worth checking out and offers a New Player Offer for NewBettingOffers.co.uk readers:

• Create your Betano account
• Opt-in to the promotion via the Offers tab or Sign Up page
• Deposit £10 or more
• Place a bet of £10 or more on any English Premier League (EPL) Market at odds of Evs (2.0) or higher. Bet must be placed within three days of registration
• Receive 2 x £5 Free Bets on any EPL Market, 1 x £5 Free Bet to use on any Correct Score EPL Market, 1 x £5 Free Bet to use on any Total Goals Over/Under EPL Market, 1 x £5 Free Bet to use on any double, treble or higher EPL market, and a £5 Slots Bonus

Unibet – Bet £10 to get £40 in Bonuses

Born in 1997, Unibet was one of the first bookmakers to hit the online scene in 1999. Fast forward to 2024, and the Malta-based firm has racked up industry awards and satisfied customers at an impressive rate. Renowned for their quality customer service and excellent value, Unibet starts as they mean to go on with an eye-catching New Player Offer:

• Open a new account and deposit £10+ via debit card
• Place a Bet of £10+ at odds of Evs (2.00) or greater
• Receive 2 x £10 Free Bets + 2 x £10 Casino Bonuses

Spreadex - Bet £10 to Get £40 in Free Bets

If variety and choice float your betting boat, Spreadex may be the site for you. A leading light on the British betting scene since 1999, this all-encompassing website offers traditional fixed odds betting and an exciting spread betting section. New customers are well rewarded with the following great-value bundle:

• Place a Bet of £10+ at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or greater
• Receive 2 x £10 Fixed Odds Free Bets + 2 x £5 Total Goals Spread Bets + 2 x £5 Racing Winning Favourites Spread Bets

Midnite – Bet £10 to Get £20 in Free Bets + 50 Free Spins

New in 2022, Midnite made a big splash on the scene and is now one of the go-to sites for esports betting fans. Don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with Valorant, Dota 2, Starcraft, etc, as the site also offers a comprehensive suite of more traditional sports, including UK and Irish Horse Racing. Midnite’s New Player offer is as eye-catching as their bright green logo:

• Register using Code: BETGETSPORTS
• Bet £10+ on an Acca with 4+ legs and total odds of 3/1 (4.0) or greater
• Receive 4 x £5 Free Bets + 50 Free Spins on a leading slots title

10bet – 100% Welcome Bonus up to £50

Launched in 2003, Malta-based 10Bet has a well-earned reputation as one of the slickest operators in the business. Offering a smooth online site, an equally impressive app, and a huge range of markets, new players are likely to be delighted with what they find – starting with this rewarding Matched Deposit Bonus:

• Register using Code: SPORT
• Receive a 100% Matched Bonus on your first deposit, up to a maximum bonus of £50. Note that this bonus comes with an 8 x wagering requirement on the combined deposit and bonus amount

Top 5 Casino Bonuses – December 2024

If you prefer the spinning reels to the Premier League or enjoy a mix of sports betting and casino gaming, the following offers may strike the right note.

• 32Red – 150% Deposit Bonus up to £150 + 25 Super Spins - Example: Deposit £100, 32Red will match amount up to 150% = Bonus of £150. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. New accounts only. Location UK. Min. £10 deposit and stake, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, and max stake applies. Free spins value per spin £0.10. 7-day expiry. See full terms. T&Cs apply
• Betway – 100% Match Bonus up to £50 - Example: Deposit £50, Betway will match amount up to 100% = Bonus of £50. New customers only. Opt-in required. 100% Match Bonus up to £50 on 1st deposit of £10+. 50x bonus wagering applies, as do weighting requirements. Debit Card deposits only. Irregular gameplay may invalidate your bonus. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Terms apply
• LeoVegas – Stake £10 to get 50 Free Spins - New customers only. Opt-in & deposit £10+ in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any eligible casino game (excluding live casino and table games) for 50 Free Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Free Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. 18+. T&Cs apply.
• Betfred – Stake £10 on Slots to get up to 200 Free Spins - Stake £10 on slots and select one of the following bonuses - 50 Free Spins (at £/€0.20) on Age Of The Gods™, 100 Free Spins (at £/€0.10) on Better Wilds or 200 Free Spins (at £/€0.05) on Age Of The Gods™ God of Storms 2. New customers only. Opt-In required. £/€10 min stake on Casino slots within 30 days of registration. Max bonus of 200 Free Spins on selected games credited within 48 hours. Free Spins expire after 7 days. iOS app restrictions may apply. Email/SMS validation may apply. Not available in NI.
• Casumo – 100% Bonus up to £100 + 50 Bonus Spins - Example: Deposit £100, Casumo will match amount up to 100% = Bonus of £100. 18+ New customers. Opt-in required. 50 Bonus Spins on “Big Bass Bonanza” at 10p per spin and a 100% Deposit Bonus up to £100 on the first deposit (payment method and play restrictions apply). Min. deposit £20. 30x wagering for Bonus Spins and Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max. £5/spin or £0.50/line. 30 days expiry. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org T&Cs apply

What Free Bets are Available to Existing Customers?

Any online betting site worth a second look will provide a Free Bet Welcome Offer, but top marks go to those who continue to offer Free Bets to their existing customers. If you like the Free Bets to keep rolling long after the sign-up process ends, we recommend checking out the following:

Betfred

• Football – Bet Builder Offer - Available on selected games for Bet Builders containing 4+ legs at combined odds of 3/1 (4.0) or greater. 50% of stake back in Free Bets up to £5 if you lose. Free Bets are to be used on Football Bet Builders only. Paid within 24hrs
• Horse Racing – Free Bet if Second - Selection must finish 2nd in the selected race(s). Win singles & win part of e/w bets only. Free bets are paid within 24 hours, max £10, removed after 7 days. 5+ runners must start the race. Free Bets are available on Horse Racing only. T&Cs Apply.
• Horse Racing – Free Bet if Second or Third - Selection must finish 2nd or 3rd in the selected race(s). Win singles & win part of e/w bets only. Free bets are paid within 24 hours, max £10, removed after 7 days. 7+ runners must start the race. Free Bets are available on Horse Racing only. T&Cs Apply.

Unibet

• Horse Racing – Money Back specials if second or third - Selected races only. Opt-in via bet slip, max free bet refund £20, min stake £1, offer can’t be used with Uniboost, available on singles only. T&C’s Apply.
• Multiple Sports – Bet Builder Rebound – Available on selected sports leagues. Place a Bet Builder containing 3+ legs and odds of 4/1 (5.0) or greater. Opt-in via bet slip. 100% of your stake back as a Free Bet Builder Bet up to £10 if you lose. T&C’s Apply

10Bet

• Horse Racing – Stake £40 to get a £5 Free Bet - Opt in. Bet a total of £40+ on horse racing within the stated period. Get a £5 Free Bet. T&C’s Apply
• Tennis – Stake £40 to get a £5 Free Live Bet - Opt in. Bet a total of £40+ on Tennis within the stated period. Get a £5 Free Live Bet. T&C’s Apply
• eSports – Stake £40 to get a £5 Free Bet - Opt in. Bet a total of £40+ on eSports within the stated period. Get a £5 Free Bet. T&C’s Apply
• American Sports – Stake £40 to get a £5 Free Bet - Opt in. Bet a total of £50+ on the NFL, MLB, NCAA, NBA, or NHL within the stated period. Get a £5 Free Bet. T&C’s Apply
• All Sports – Stake £50 to get a £10 Free Bet - Opt in. Bet a total of £50+ on any sport via the 10bet App. Get a £10 Free Bet. T&C’s Apply

Can you cash out free bets?

This varies from firm to firm, so always check the terms and conditions. Cash Out on Free Bets is usually only available when the Cash Out offer exceeds the value of the Free Bet Stake, and returns will not include the Free Bet Stake. Note that in almost all cases, Cashed-Out bets do not count as qualifying bets

Do free bets have expiry dates?

This depends upon the bookmaker. However, most Free Bets do have an expiry date, which may range from a few days to a few months or, occasionally, even longer

What does “wagering requirements” mean in free bets?

Wagering requirements are conditions tied to free bets or bonuses which dictate how many times you must bet your bonus winnings before withdrawing them. For example, if you win £10 from a Free Bet with a 5x wagering requirement, you must stake £50 in total before withdrawing any winnings.

Do you get your stake back on free bets?

No, with free bets, only the winnings are returned, not the stake. For example, if you place a £10 free bet on a 3/1 winner, you will receive the £30 in winnings but not the £10 stake.

Can You withdraw winnings from a free bet?

Yes, you can. How easy it is to do so varies between bookmakers. Some firms immediately add Free Bet winnings to your withdrawable balance. With others, you will first need to meet the wagering requirements linked to the offer