Betting on sports is immensely popular in the UK and new customers can claim free bet offers at the top UK bookmakers.
These betting sign up offers allow punters to place wagers using free bet tokens, which are typically awarded after making a qualifying deposit.
At The Independent, we provide impartial, expert analysis to help you find the best free bets available on leading betting sites.
Our in-depth research and first-hand testing assess everything from odds and security to free bet bonus terms, ensuring our recommendations are reliable and up to date.
Whether you're betting on football, horse racing, tennis or golf, you'll find the best free bet offers on this page.
What Are Free Bets and How Do They Work?
Free bets are bookmaker promotions that allow you to place a bet without risking your own money.
Typically, you must deposit or stake a qualifying amount – usually £10 – to receive a free bet, which can be used on selected sports and events.
If your bet wins, you keep the profit, but the free bet stake itself isn’t returned.
Some betting sites apply wagering requirements, meaning winnings must be played through a set number of times before you can withdraw, but this is more common on casino sites.
Free bets come in two main forms: betting sign up offers for new customers and ongoing promotions for existing players.
Always check the terms and conditions, as some free bets apply only to specific sports, bet types or certain markets.
How We Rank and Review Free Bets UK
Before a bookmaker makes our list of the best free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.
Licensing and regulation is non-negotiable, only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered.
The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA, whose rigorous standards all our recommended bookies have met.
If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register.
Security is another priority. Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures like SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.
Reputation also plays a role – established brands like Betfred, William Hill and Bet365 consistently rank highly with us, but we also highlight new, reputable operators such as BetMGM when their free bet promotions meet our expectations.
With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential. Bookmakers with dedicated apps that mirror the desktop experience are given preference, and we also consider user app reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.
Customer Experience is equally crucial – we rigorously test bookmaker support channels, favouring those that provide fast, effective resolutions.
Ultimately, our rankings focus on the quality of the free bet offers – how rewarding, flexible and accessible they are to the average punter.
Operators that provide valuable welcome bonuses, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings and we constantly review our top 10 betting offers.
Now that we’ve explained how free bets work and how we rate them, here’s our top 10 free bet offers this month.
We’ve scoured many betting sites to come up with the best betting sign up offers and the top free bet promotions available right now.
1. Betfred: Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
Free Bet Offer Type: Welcome offer
Offer rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Available to: New customers only
Right now, Betfred’s Bet £10, Get £50 is the standout new customer free bet offer on the market.
To claim it, simply enter the Betfred promo code BETFRED50 when signing up, deposit at least £10 with a debit card, and place a £10 bet on any sports market at minimum odds of 1/1.
In return, you’ll receive a massive £50 in free bets, split into three £10 free bets for any sport and two £10 accumulator bets, all of which are valid for seven days.
Once you exhaust the Betfred welcome offer, there’s plenty of ongoing free bet offers for existing customers under their promotions section.
Betfred Offer Pros
✓ Best value welcome offer on the market
✓ The five £10 tokens can be used on any sport
✓ Free bets credited to account within 10 hours of qualifying bet being settled
Betfred Offer Cons
✗ Two free bet tokens can only be used on accumulators
✗ Bet tokens have to be used within seven days
✗ Bets on Totepool or Virtual Sports will not qualify for betting offer
2. BetMGM: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
Free Bet Offer Type: Welcome offer
Offer rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Available to: New customers only
BetMGM have one of the definitive free bet sign up offers available today: bet £10, get £40. Among UK bookmakers, only Betfred surpasses it with their bet £10, get £50 deal.
New customers need to place a £10 qualifying bet on any market at odds of 1/1 or greater to unlock £40 in free bets, which are valid for seven days.
The sign-up process is fast and seamless, requiring just three simple steps. This is a breath of fresh air compared to some other new betting sites who over-complicate the registration process.
While BetMGM has faced some slow withdrawal complaints since launching in the UK in 2023, their overall offering remains one of the strongest on the market.
The combination of a generous welcome bonus and an easy onboarding process makes it one of the standout choices for betting sign up offers.
BetMGM Offer Pros
✓ Great return on first deposit, with £40 in free bets
✓ Easy, fast sign-up process
✓ Free bets available to use on most popular sports
BetMGM Offer Cons
✗ Qualifying bet excludes e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing
✗ Free bets have to be used within seven days
✗ Qualifying bet must be placed within 7 days or you lose the right to a welcome offer
3. Bet365: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets UK
Free Bet Offer Type: Welcome offer
Offer rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Available to: New customers only
Bet365 is one of the biggest gambling sites in the world, renowned for its trusted reputation and strong welcome offers.
New customers can use the Bet365 bonus code Indy2025 to claim up to £30 in free bets depending on how much they deposit and bet for the first time.
With a low minimum deposit of just £5, bettors on a low budget can secure £15 in free bets, while a £10 deposit unlocks the full £30.
This flexibility makes Bet365’s welcome offer one of the most appealing on the market.
One of the reasons we’ve given this offer a five-star rating is because of the control the bettor has over their free bets, which can be divided up into small amounts to spend as you please.
Bet365 is a powerhouse for sports betting, and beyond the free bet welcome offer customers can expect competitive odds, price boosts and diverse betting options, so it’s ideal for both casual and seasoned punters.
Bet365 Offer Pros
✓ Good return on first deposit, with up to £30 in free bets
✓ Can take advantage of offer with a stake of just £5
✓ Use free bet credit as you please, from 25p accas to a £30 bet builder if you wish
Bet365 Offer Cons
✗ Only debit card deposits can qualify
✗ Certain in-play bets will not qualify
✗ Bigger return on first deposit available elsewhere
4. Betway: Bet £25 get £10 in Free Bets Every Week
Free Bet Offer type: Free Bet Club
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Available to: New and existing customers
Betway’s Free Bet Club is a rewarding weekly promotion for punters who place regular accumulator bets.
By opting in and staking £25 or more on trebles, accumulators or bet builders with at least three selections, customers will receive two £5 free bets each week.
The free bets are credited one at a time – one on Saturday and another on Monday.
The qualifying terms are straightforward, with a reasonable minimum odds requirement of 2/1, so it’s accessible for average punters.
Once you’ve opted in, you remain activated with the promotion, so there’s need to select the opt-in button every week.
There are a few limitations to consider though. Bets that are cashed out, system bets and stakes placed using free bets do not count towards the £25 qualification.
Nonetheless, this is a solid offer for those who regularly bet on multiples with consistent weekly rewards.
Betway offer pros
✓ Available every week with modest qualifying amount
✓ Available to both new and existing customers
✓ Bet builders count towards the qualifying stakes
Betway offer cons
✗ System bets such as Lucky 15s and Yankees are excluded
✗ Staggered release of £5 free bets may not suit everyone
✗ Esports bets are excluded from qualifying bets
5. BetUK: Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets UK
Free Bet Offer Type: Betting sign up offer
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Available to: New customers only
The BetUK £30 in free bets offer is a solid welcome promotion for new customers. With a qualifying bet amount of £10 at odds of 4/5 or greater, it’s within budget for most bettors.
The bonus is split into three £10 free bets, covering horse racing, football and bet builders, which provides a bit of variety.
However, each free bet has specific restrictions, such as minimum odds requirements and limited eligible markets, which slightly reduces the appeal. Also, system bets and general multiples (apart from bet builders) are excluded, which may put off some racing punters.
Overall, this is a very good offer for sports bettors, particularly those interested in both football and horse racing. It only gets a four-star rating from us as there’s better bang for your buck elsewhere.
BetUK offer pros
✓ Reasonable odds of 4/5 for qualifying stake
✓ Each-way stakes can qualify for offer (T&Cs apply)
✓ Bet builders are allowed as a qualifying stake
BetUK offer cons
✗ The bet tokens are only valid on specific sports: racing and football
✗ Tokens have to be used as £10 stakes and can’t be broken up
✗ Systems bets and multiples other than bet builders won’t qualify
6. William Hill: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Free Bet Offer Type: Betting sign up offer
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Available to: New customers only
William Hill is one of the UK’s best-known bookmakers. The stakes and value of their current welcome offer are the same as BetUK above – bet £10 get £30 in free bets.
What makes this one of the best free bet offers is that William Hill have one of the shortest odds requirements for the qualifying £10 bet.
However, where it falls short when compared with some of the offers above is that this offer is only available to mobile customers, so you can’t avail of it on desktop.
On the plus side, your qualifying stake only needs to be 1/2 or greater on any sports market, allowing you to bet on an outcome that you consider more of a sure thing.
Once that is done, you’ll get £30 of free bets as three lots of £10 bets. Use the William Hill promo code R30 when signing up on a mobile device to opt in to this promotion.
William Hill offer pros
✓ 300% return on initial deposit
✓ Free bets have a long expiry date (30 days)
✓ Valid on almost all sportsbook markets
William Hill offer cons
✗ Not available to desktop customers
✗ Tokens have to be used as £10 stakes and can’t be broken up
✗ Bets on virtual sports are excluded from this promotion
7. BoyleSports: Free Bet up to £20 if Second to SP
Free Bet Offer Type: Money Back as Free Bet
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Available to: New and existing customers
The ongoing ‘money back as a free bet if second to the SP favourite’ offer from BoyleSports is a solid promotion for horse racing punters looking for an extra safety net on their bets.
If your selection finishes runner-up to the Starting Price (SP) favourite in a qualifying race, BoyleSports will refund your stake as a free bet up to £20.
This offer is available every day and applies to win and each-way singles, giving you a great chance to recover losses if you narrowly miss out. The free bet refund is credited within 24 hours and is valid for seven days.
There are some restrictions though. Ante-post, in-play and void bets don’t qualify, and there must be at least five runners in the race you bet on.
But, overall, this is a great promo for horse racing fans who want a second chance when backing their fancies.
BoyleSports offer pros
✓ Great maximum refund amount of £20
✓ Available to both new and existing customers
✓ Each-way bets qualify for the promotion
BoyleSports offer cons
✗ No free bet return if the race has fewer than five horses
✗ Ante-post, in-play and combined odds bets don’t qualify
✗ If there’s a dead heat for the win, you won’t get the refund
8. Kwiff: Football Acca Shield Free Bet up to £20
Free Bet Offer Type: Acca Insurance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Available to: New and existing customers
Kwiff’s Football Acca Shield promotion provides punters with a free bet refund of up to £20 if only one leg of their 4+ fold football accumulator lets them down.
To qualify, each selection must have minimum odds of 6/4, with total odds of at least 4/1, and a £5 minimum stake.
The free bets must be used within seven days at minimum odds of 1/1 and there are no wagering requirements on any winnings.
On the downside, the qualifying accumulators must be placed between Monday to Friday, meaning the biggest games at the weekend are excluded from the offer.
That said, for punters who place regular football accumulators during the week, it’s a good concession that can soften the blow of a near miss.
Kwiff offer pros
✓ Available for both new and existing customers
✓ Good maximum free bet return of £20
✓ No wagering requirements on free bet winnings
Kwiff offer cons
✗ Limited to one acca per week
✗ No weekend matches can be included
✗ Bet builders do not qualify, only traditional accas
9. 10Bet: Get a £10 Free Bet for Betting on the App
Free Bet Offer Type: Loyalty reward
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Available to: New and existing customers
10Bet’s mobile free bet offer is a decent reward for bettors who prefer placing their wagers through a betting app.
To qualify, just download the 10Bet app, opt in via the promotions page, then place a stake or multiple stakes to the value of £50 or more on any sport at minimum odds of 1/1.
Once you reach the £50 threshold, you’ll receive a £10 free bet soon after your qualifying bets settle.
There is no time frame on how long you have to reach the £50 mark, so there’s no rush to meet the criteria.
This deal caters to mobile-focused punters, making it a great incentive to explore 10Bet’s app, which just happens to be one of the best betting apps around.
It’s best suited for those who already bet regularly and are comfortable meeting the requirements.
If you're an app bettor looking to get a loyalty reward for bets you’re already planning on placing, this is well worth considering.
10Bet offer pros
✓ Available to new and existing customers
✓ No wagering requirements on winnings from the free bet
✓ Versatile offer is available on all sports
10Bet offer cons
✗ Not ideal for small-stakes punters who don’t plan to bet £50 already
✗ Free bet must be used within three days of being credited
✗ Handicap, Draw No Bet, cashed-out bets don’t count towards the £50 total
10. LiveScore Bet: Money Back as Free Bet up to £20
Offer type: Money back as Free Bet
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Available to: New and existing customers
LiveScore Bet’s ‘Premier League Money Back as a Free Bet’ offer is a great way to soften the blow of a losing football bet.
Simply place a cash bet on a selected Premier League match from 9am on Thursday until full-time, and if your first bet loses, you’ll receive a free bet worth between £1 and £20.
The exact free bet amount is personalised and revealed when you log in and opt in.
Both pre-match and in-play bets qualify, excluding price boosts, and the free bet is credited within 48 hours if your bet loses.
The offer provides a decent bit of protection, particularly for casual bettors looking for a some insurance when betting on a big Premier League game.
However, the free bet amount is not guaranteed to match your stake, meaning you may get less back than you wagered.
That said, it’s a solid offer for regular bettors overall, but the variable free bet value is the reason we haven’t ranked this one higher.
Livescore Bet offer pros
✓ Flexible offer with pre-match and in-play bets qualifying
✓ Available to both new and existing customers
✓ Easy way to limit losses if you were already planning a bet on the selected match
Livescore Bet offer cons
✗ Your free bet return might be less than your original stake
✗ Cashing out your qualifying bet will exclude you from the offer
✗ Could take up to 48 hours for free bet to be credited
| NetBet - Get 20/1 on Sean Brady to beat Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night |
| The UFC takes over London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night for UFC Fight Night and the MMA organisation’s new official betting partner, NetBet, have an enhanced odd offer for the main event. Home favourite Leon Edwards squares off against Sean Brady in a welterweight bout at the top of the card and new customers to NetBet can get 20/1 on Brady to beat the former UFC welterweight champion. Sign up using the link above, enter the NetBet promo code MM20 and then make an initial deposit of £10 or more. Place a maximum £1 bet on Brady to win at the normal odds. If Brady is successful, you’ll get paid out £1 in cash and £20 in free bets, split up into a £5 free sports bet, a £5 free UFC bet and two £5 bet builders. If Brady loses or the fight is a draw, bettors will receive a £10 free sports bet. |
Please Gamble Responsibly
If you decide to engage with any of the online bookmakers highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets.
Data from the UK Gambling Commission suggests that around 0.5 per cent of the UK population could be considered as experiencing problem gambling (though some studies estimate this number could be up to eight times higher).
Betting can add further enjoyment to watching sporting events but there are certainly no guarantees you’ll make money out of it.
When betting, always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose.
The same applies if you’re using casino sites, slot sites, poker sites or any other form of gambling.
Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.
If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:
Sports Betting Integrity
Unusual betting patterns can indicate manipulation so staying informed about which sports are most at risk helps protect not only your betting activity but also the integrity of the games you love to follow.
The bar chart below highlights suspicious betting alerts globally by sport in 2024 and offers a revealing insight into where integrity concerns are most concentrated.
Football topped the list with 75 alerts last year, accounting for over a third of all suspicious activity worldwide.
Tennis followed closely with 58 alerts, continuing its trend as one of the most targeted sports for match-fixing, particularly at lower levels where monitoring is less robust.
Interestingly, table tennis (36 alerts) and eSports (32 alerts) have emerged as increasingly vulnerable sports, possibly due to their recent boosts in popularity and relatively fragmented regulation.
Even less mainstream disciplines like bowls, greyhound racing and padel registered alerts in 2024, suggesting that no sport is entirely immune from betting manipulation.
For sports bettors, this data collected by IBIA is important. It highlights the significance of only placing bets through regulated bookmakers who are part of integrity monitoring networks such as IBIA.
Best Free Bet UK Summary
On this page, we’ve picked some of our favourite free bets and we only recommend bookmakers that are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), so they are safe to engage with.
There are plenty of illegitimate gambling operators and traders out there, so be careful.
For example, in March 2025, the UKGC assisted Staffordshire Police leading to the charge of a 39-year-old man for providing unlicensed gambling.
So the black market threat is still very real, even in a well-regulated market like the UK. If in doubt, check the register of gambling businesses on the UKGC website.
While our recommended free bet offers will be perfect for some people, you should always choose bookmakers who provide free bets that cater to your specific needs.
Make sure you fully read the terms and conditions when signing up so you’re clear on how to qualify for the offers.
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
