Free Bets | Best New Betting Offers [February 2025]

Our best free bets list is updated daily, featuring 50 new free bets for February 2025 from trusted, licensed UK betting sites. Many deals are exclusive to OLBG. Click "see offer" to access the chosen betting offers page.

Countdown to Cheltenham - Over £120 in Free Bets

Betway Sign Up Offer Guide
Min stake £10, additional stakes required for further free bets. Eligible sports. Odds 2.0+. Debit Card Deposit only (exclusions apply). Eligibility restrictions apply. £100+ in Free Bets made up of Welcome Offer, Free Bet Club and weekly Bet and Get promotions. Opt ins required. See full terms for details. 18+ GambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full Terms apply
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Bet £10, get £30 in Free Bets + 100 Free Spins

Bet Victor Bonus Code Guide
18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet £10 within 7 days of registration. Get £30 in Free Bets and 100 Free Spins on selected games. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
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Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets

SBK Sports Sign Up Offer Guide
New UK customers. Min £10 first deposit. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get £40 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Full T&C's apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
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Bet £10 Get £30 in Footy Free Bets

talkSPORT BET Sign Up Offer Guide
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
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Get £30 in Free Bets when you bet £10

Betano Promo Code Guide
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 3 days of sign up. No cash-out. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set markets (odds 2.0+) which expire in 5 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
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Current Free Bets and Betting Offers for New and Existing Customers

Explore our expert-reviewed top recommendations for the best free bets in the UK. Click on a betting site name to view the complete offer guide and qualification details.

#Free Bets OfferBookmaker
1Bet £10 get £40 in Free BetsSBK Sign Up Offer
2Bet £10, get £30 in Free Bets + 100 Free Spins
BetVictor Bonus Code
3£30 Matched Free Bet If Your 1st Acca Loses + 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects
Betway Sign Up Offer
4Bet £10 Get £30 in Footy Free Bets
talkSPORTBET Sign Up Offer
5Get £40 in Free Bets when you bet £10
Betano Promo Code
6Bet £10 get £40 in Bonuses
Tote Welcome Offer
7Bet £5 Get £30PariMatch Welcome Offer
6Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets
BetMGM Welcome Offer
9Bet £20, Get £20 + 20 bonus spins
Neptune Welcome Offer
10Bet £10 and Get £30 in Free Bets
Kwiff Sign Up Offer

Explore the current Top 10 UK free bets, offering a combined £330 from an initial £10 deposit and bet—the highest in months. Read user comments for detailed insights.

1. SBK

SBK, a leading UK betting site from Smarkets, offers unmatched odds and expert advice through its award-winning app. Featuring live odds comparison and a simple welcome offer, it ranks high in OLBG’s top categories.

Lots of new and intriguing offers to get new customers on board. Decent layout and decent withdrawl times as well.

OLBG Member - PhilDray

Pros

  • Attractive Welcome Bonus

  • User-Friendly Mobile App

  • Extensive Betting Markets

Cons

  • Limited Cash-Out Options

  • Website Limitations

2. BetVictor

BetVictor offers a compelling welcome deal: The site is renowned for excellent football and horse racing odds and boasts a highly-rated app and low minimum deposits. No bonus code is needed for OLBG users.

Great website, plenty of offers. But go careful, if you only take the offers, you'll be quickly gubbed.

OLBG Member - scrasey

Pros

  • Top rated site for Tennis betting

  • Consistently offers good horse racing odds

  •  Rated best mobile experience in our deep analysis

Cons

  • Not one of the top bet builder products, according to our research

  • Not one of the best cash-out offerings

  • No weekly free bet club

3. betway

Founded in 2006, Betway stands out as a top betting site, renowned for its sportsbook, Price Boosts, and Free Bet Club. Enjoy superb eSports betting, free jackpot predictor games, and a bonus for new accounts. Join the best FREE BET CLUB today!

My experience with betway is excellent. Easy deposit and withdrawal.

OLBG Member - faizi789

Pros

  • Best bookmaker for cricket

  • Ranks in OLBG’s Top 10s for eight different categories

  • Impressive esports coverage

Cons

  • Mainly automated customer service

4. talkSPORTBET

TalkSPORT BET offers excellent incentives for new mobile sign-ups with opt-in. No promo code is needed, and you will receive free bets for selected markets across various sports, including notable football and Best Odds Guaranteed offers.

Always like trying out new bookmakers and these guys offer some nice bonuses here and there, I’d recommend trying them out

OLBG Member - Headers10

Pros

  • One of the newer betting brands

  • Football focussed and as such a good option

  • Good promotions

Cons

  • Not as established as bigger brands

  • Differing views regarding branding the radio station with a bookmaker

  • The only difference to BV is the promotions

5. Betano

Betano offers a very good welcome promotion. Competing strongly in the market, Betano excels with comprehensive event coverage, exceptional in-play betting, and numerous price boosts. It's a multi-award-winning, UKGC-regulated operator, newly available to the UK.

Great bookie, lot of sports and lines to bet.

OLBG Member - vhtiips

Pros

  • Extensive Bonus Options

  • Rich Selection of Betting Markets

  • Mobile App Availability

Cons

  • Limited Payment Processing Times

  • Navigation Learning Curve

6. Tote

Tote offers an enticing welcome bonus. As the UK's leading pool betting site since 1928, it features innovative options like Tote Ten to Follow and the Placepot app.

So easy to sign up and create an account and that helps and they allow for easy deposit and withdrawal without much hassle along with good cusotmer care

OLBG Member - SharpShooter

Pros

  • Seamless Website and App

  • Unique Betting Options

  • Extensive Live Streaming

Cons

  • Limited Promotions

  • Withdrawal Processing Time

7. PariMatch

Parimatch offers a bet and get and free spins combo welcome incentive. Specializing in in-play betting, it features extensive coverage of over 20 sports and 600+ daily events.

Perfect online bookies and very easy to use, lots to bet on, easy to place a bet, good gaming selection and easy to make withdrawals, good live chat options. Overall great

OLBG Member - rawchris

Pros

  • Excellent esports coverage

  • Great boxing offering

  • Good in play offering

Cons

  • Withdrawal process could be faster

  • Not one of the best racing products

  • Could be better for bet builders

8. BetMGM

BetMGM is always thereabouts with free bet offers and remains a standout right now, as well as a huge number of promotions for existing customers.

Layout is simple and easy to work with

OLBG User Fjezze

Pros

  • Excellent Customer Service

  • Ranks in our Top 10 for Politics, Basketball, Cash Out and Aussie Rules

  • Great Welcome offer and Promotions

  • Weekly Free Bets

Cons

  • Some sports could have better market depth

  • Maybe too much US Sports coverage?

  • Adequate but limited banking options

9. Neptune

Established in 1967, Betfred is a leading online bookmaker famed for its rich bonuses on multi-bets like Goals Galore and Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven. With diverse football betting markets and standout sponsorships, Betfred truly reigns as the Bonus King!

Virtually instant withdrawals is always a good thing when I'm diving in and out

OLBG Member - manobong

Pros

  • No-fee deposits and withdrawals.

  • Offers all sports and great odds

  • Backed by the trusted Aspire Global brand.

Cons

  • Maximum bonus is limited to £200.

  • Offer available only to new accounts

10. Kwiff

Beyond the welcome offer, get supercharged, Kwiffed odds on random events for a totally unique online betting experience from this perennial top ten bookmaker offer sportsbook.

If you get a chance I would give this site a go

OLBG Member - neighbother

Pros

  • Surprise bets with cash payouts

  • Odds supercharged to anything up to 2000x the odds you take

  • Great promotions and loyalty club

Cons

  • Limited range in sports covered

The best bookie offer for you is subjective depending on the type of offer which you are looking for. We rate the bookmaker sign up offers on this page out of five ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - You can see the star ratings below each logo in the free bets list.

The offer rating is not the overall rating for the bookmaker, if you want to see bookie ratings by user reviews then head to our betting sites page. On this page the ratings are given by our in house editorial team


🆕 New Free Bets Weekly Update

By Steve Madgwick - Editor-In-Chief 

Get weekly updates from the OLBG team on new free bet offers and upcoming sporting events. Combine these offers with your favourite events.

New Free Bets & Betting Offers this Week.

Our commercial manager, Sam Darkens, collaborates daily with partners to secure top free bets and event-specific offers, providing you with exciting deals and events each week.

Sam Darkens

Sam's Highlights This Week

SBK leads the free bets list with a 400% deposit match offer. BetVictor follow with a free spins bonus on top of £30 in free bets, while talkSPORTbet provides football-specific bets, and Betano offers £40 for a £10 deposit.

- Sam Darkens, Commercial manager

Weekend Bookie Offers - February 8th-9th: Super Bowl Weekend sees BIG offers for the main event plus an early look at the Cheltenham Festival!
ALSO READ

Weekend Bookie Offers - February 8th-9th: Super Bowl Weekend sees BIG offers for the main event plus an early look at the Cheltenham Festival!

The Welsh Open snooker happens all week, and we have Darts Cricket and Golf togo with a plethora of football actions, Rugby League matches and Racing from ascot this week on TV

Check out our revamped Cheltenham Free Bets page for top offers leading up to the festival, offering daily guides and updates on new free bets. First offers are expected this weekend.

Check the table for the best bookmakers for each sport and tips in the final column links - Have a great week, everyone

DaySports & Best Betting SiteEvent & Tips
All Week🎱 Snooker
Welsh Open
Tuesday 20:00⚽ EFL Championship
Norwich v Preston
Tuesday 20:00⚽ FA Cup 4th Round
Exeter v Nottingham Forest
Tuesday 20:00⚽ Champions League
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Wednesday 08:00🏏 Cricket
India v England ODI
Wednesday 19:30⚽ Premier League
Everton v Liverpool
Wednesday 20:00⚽ EFL Championship
Sheffield Utd v Middlesbrough
Thursday🏌️ Golf
Genesis International
Thursday 19:00🎯 Darts
Premier League
Thursday 20:00🏉 Rugby League
Wigan Warriors v Leigh Leopards
Friday 20:00⚽ Premier LeagueBrighton v Chelsea
Friday 20:00🏉 Rugby League
Hull Kr v Castleford & Catalan Dragons v Hull FC
Saturday 12:30⚽ EFL Championship
Preston v Burnley
Saturday 12:30⚽ Premier League
Leicester v Arsenal
Saturday 13:00🏇 Horse Racing on ITVAscot
Saturday 15:00🏉 Rugby League
Leeds v Wakefield
Saturday 17:30🏉 Rugby League
St Helens v Salford
Saturday 17:30⚽ Premier League
Crystal Palace v Everton
Sunday 14:00⚽ Premier League
Liverpool v Wolves
Sunday 16:30⚽ Premier League
Spurs v Man Utd

Where Can I Get Casino Free Bets

Casino free bets, more commonly referred to as casino offers or free spinswork similarly to bookmaker free bets. 

The critical difference is that you will see very different restrictions and terms. So rather than placing a bet at specific odds to qualify for a free bet with a bookmaker, with a casino offer, you may have to turn over a certain amount with your bonus before withdrawing any winnings. 

For your convenience, we have listed the top 5 here. 

100% Welcome Bonus Up To £200 + 25 Wager-Free Spins

  • Wagering req. 40x
  • Value/free spin £0.10
  • Offer amount £200
New depositing players only. Min. deposit: £10. Max. bonus: £200 + 25 Bonus Spins on Book of Dead. Offer valid on the first deposit. No wagering is required on Bonus Spins. Wagering Required on Bonus Cash: 40x. The match-up bonus that requires a deposit must be wagered 40x.
#ad. 18+, gambleaware.org, T&Cs Apply

Win up to 500 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash

  • Wagering req. 65x
  • Value/free spin £0.10
  • Offer amount 500
New players only, £10 min fund, free spins won via mega reel or wheel, 65x wagering requirements, max bonus conversion to real funds equal to lifetime deposits (up to £250), full T&Cs apply
#ad. 18+, gambleaware.org, T&Cs Apply

Get 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash

  • Wagering req. 35x
  • Value/free spin £0.10
  • Offer amount 100
New cust only. Opt in & deposit £10 in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any casino game for 100 Free Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Free Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. T&Cs apply.
#ad. 18+, gambleaware.org, T&Cs Apply

100% Welcome Bonus up to £300 + 15 Bonus Spins

  • Wagering req. 35x
  • Value/free spin £0.10
  • Offer amount £300
18+. New Players Only. Min. Deposit: £10. Wagering Requirement: 35x. Spins are given as follows: 15 Spins upon a first deposit of minimum £10. Spins may only be used in specific games. The game allowed: Fire Joker. Full Terms Apply
#ad. 18+, gambleaware.org, T&Cs Apply

Get 200 Free spins on 9 Masks of Fire when you Deposit £20

  • Wagering req. 40x
  • Value/free spin 0.10
  • Offer amount £20
New customers Only. Players must first opt-in to the promotion to be eligible for the offer. You must make a qualifying deposit of £20 before receiving your free spins. You can cancel this promotion at any time via the Casino Promotions page or by contacting our Customer Service team. You can cancel this promotion at any time via the Casino Promotions page or by contacting our Customer Service team. T's and C's Apply. Be Gamble Aware. 18+
#ad. 18+, gambleaware.org, T&Cs Apply

Best Free Bets by Type of Offer

 Let's take a closer look at the types of bookmaker offers and free bets you can expect to find when looking to open a new account online

  • Free Bets Matched Deposit 
  • Cashback Welcome Offers
  • First Bet Matched Offers
  • Risk-Free Welcome Offers
  • Free Betting Credits 
  • Enhanced Odds Sign-Up Offers & Price Boosts
  • Profit Boosts
  • Money Back Special Free Bets

With many different terms being used, understanding bookmaker sign-up offers can be difficult. Here is a guide to some of those terms and what they mean.

🎁 Matched Deposit Bonus

These offers typically use your initial deposit as the qualifying amount for a deposit bonus, providing extra funds in your account rather than a free bet token.

For a 100% deposit bonus, for example, if you deposit £50, you may receive £50 in bonus funds. The percentage can vary, but it will typically be 50% or 100% of your first deposit. 

Deposit Bonuses💰🎁

They're often based on your first deposit amount, not just free bets. Deposit £50, get £50 more!✨ Percentages can vary, typically 50% or 100%. But remember, turnover requirements can be high, so bet wisely!🎲🔍

These offers often come with significant turnover requirements, sometimes up to 15x the deposit and bonus amounts. For a £50 deposit, this could mean wagering £1,500 before withdrawal.

Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Content editor

Matched Deposit bonuses used to be the favoured welcome offer, but the demand for these along with the ease of turning the bonus into cash has seen them become less prevalent in recent times making them less viable for bookmakers to offer. Along with the addition of larger wagering requirements taking away much of the value, they have lower appeal now - Oh for the good old days!

Thoroughly read the terms and conditions of bookmakers' offers. Avoid altering your betting habits just for offers, as claiming the full bonus might require more wagering than you're comfortable with.

Altering betting habits for bonuses isn't responsible. However, if you usually bet larger amounts, deposit matches can boost your betting bank. Examples of matched deposit free bets include:

  • 100% Deposit Match Up to £100
  • Deposit £20 Get £20
  • 100% Deposit Match up to £50
  • 50% Deposit Match up to £50
  • 25% Deposit Match up to £100

🎁 Cashback Welcome Offers 

Cash Back Offers in Betting 💸🔄

Cash Back offers, another name for deposit bonuses, can seem enticing but be sure to read the fine print! While they may not provide immediate cash withdrawals, they can be advantageous when offered by betting exchanges or spread betting companies. Always know your T&Cs!🔍💡

Deposit bonus offers are sometimes called cashback, but this term can be misleading as the funds typically can't be withdrawn immediately.

These can be great offers, especially from betting exchanges or spread betting firms, but understanding the full terms and conditions is crucial. Examples of cash-back welcome offers include:

  • 10% Cashback on net losses for four weeks 
  • £300 Cashback on your first 28 days
  • 50% Cashback on your first day
  • 25% Cashback on your first week 
  • 10% Cashback on losses forever

🎁 First Bet Matched Offers

Matched Free Bets🎁🎯

Make the most of Matched Free Bets! Often the first bet placed, ensure you're up to speed with the welcome offer T&Cs.🔍 If the offer is bet £25 get £25, a £5 won't cut it! But an 'up to £25' deal could match your £5 bet with a £5 free bet. Keep an eye on the odds & sports prerequisites. 🎲💡

Matched free bets, or free bet matched stake offers, are usually on your first bet. When opening a new account, ensure you understand the welcome offer's terms and conditions.

Your first bet is often the qualifying bet for the offer, so if for example the welcome offer is bet £25 get £25 free bet and you make your first bet £5, you would not qualify. Sometimes, though, the headline amount is the maximum, so the offer may be bet up to £25 and get your first bet matched up to £25. 

Matched free bets also explain multiples of free bets higher than the initial stake. Examples of matched free bets include

  • Bet £10 get £10 Free Bets
  • Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
  • Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
  • Bet £20 Get £10 in Free Bets 
  • Bet £25 Get £25 in Free Bets

🎁 Free Betting Credits

Another variation of deposit match offers. This is really just different terminology with different terms and conditions attached to the offer. 

So rather than receive an amount of your deposit as a deposit bonus, you would be allocated betting credits or free bets. 

  • Up to £100 In Free Credits for New Customers 
  • £50 in Bet Credits
  • Up to £100 in Bet Credits on Sign Up
  • £25 in free bet credits
  • £60 in bet credits welcome offer

🎁 Enhanced Odds Sign Up Offers & Price Boosts

Sign-up offers with boosted odds have gained popularity, especially during major sporting events. These can be beneficial if the winnings are in cash and withdrawable.

Enhanced Odds & Price Boosts 📈🎯

Enhanced Odds & Price Boosts are rising in popularity among bookies, especially during big sporting events!🏆 Rather than a free bet, they offer inflated odds on popular bets, often with winnings paid as free bets. Ideal for low-stakes wagers, but always review the T&Cs.🔍

It's common for boosted odds winnings to be paid in free bets. For example, if a horse's odds increase from 4/1 to 24/1 for a £1 bet, extra winnings come as £20 in free bet credits. These offers are appealing for small stake bettors.

  • Double The Odds Any Sport
  • 11/1 Arsenal or 15/1 Man Utd to Win 
  • 50/1 Tiger Roll
  • Odds Boost 10/1 Man City 
  • 50/1 Tiger Woods to make the cut

🎁 Profit Boosts

Profit Boosts 📈💰

Profit Boosts, akin to enhanced odds, boost your winning's profit!🎉 This can be double the profit of your first bet or more. Not as common due to their complexity and non-specific nature, but they could prove a gamechanger, so keep an eye out! #BettingTips🔍💡

Profit-based offers, like doubling the profit of your first bet, are less common due to their complexity and lack of event specificity, unlike enhanced odds or price boosts.

  • 100% In Play Profit Boost
  • 100% Profit boost on your first bet
  • 200% profit boost any bet 
  • Get 100% boost on any in play bet today
  • 300% profit boost if you bet on Man City to win today

🎁 Money Back Special Free Bets

Money Back Special Free Bets: A Closer Look🔍💰

Money Back Special Bets offer a free bet if a specific event occurs—bettor bets on a football match, certain player scores, get a free bet! However, it's just a free bet, not your cash back. So, win on that free bet to retrieve your initial stake. 🎲👍

These offers refund your bet as a free bet if a specific event occurs, like a player scoring or a horse falling. They often apply to both new and existing customers. Remember, a free bet isn't a cash refund, and you'll need to win with it to recover your original stake.

  • Money Back as a Free bet if Your Horse Falls
  • Money Back as a Free bet if Kane Scores
  • Money Back on all bets if it is a bore draw
  • Money Back if the favourite wins the 2.30 at Cheltenham
  • Money Back as a free bet if Man Utd win

No Deposit Free bets

No-deposit free bets are popular as they allow you to try a bookmaker risk-free. They're rare due to high costs for bookmakers. No-deposit casino offers are more common; visit our casino offers page for current options.

How OLBG Rates Betting Sign Up Offers and Free Bets

Our free bet reviews undergo a detailed editorial process, ensuring offers are suitable for our readers. While quicker than bookmaker or casino reviews, they maintain thoroughness and accuracy.

Full Review By An Experienced Content Writer 

Our process includes an in-house writer and commercial manager, Sam Darkens, evaluating the ease of qualifying for and claiming each offer. They create a detailed guide with straightforward instructions and key terms, ensuring clarity for our readers.

  1. Banking & Payment Options
  2. Ease of registration & account verification
  3. Mobile site & mobile app usability 
  4. The breadth of the betting offer across sports or features
  5. Range of markets covered and minimum odds requirements
  6. Types of bets accepted 
  7. Odds offered 
  8. Wagering requirements, if present
  9. Maximum pay-out caps for free bets

OLBG Members & Regular Sports Bettors Carry Out Their Reviews

Once we have a full written review and a base rating from the panel, the OLBG members are encouraged to try out a new betting side and provide ratings and feedback.

At OLBG, we compile user reviews and ratings for UK bookies' free bets, helping you compare offers. With hundreds of reviews, you can see real user feedback. Popular betting sites have over 1,000 ratings, with an average score of 4.4/5.

Visit specific bookmaker pages, like the Bet365 Bookmaker Review, to read individual user reviews that contribute to the overall rating. We publish reviews unedited unless they contain swearing, libel, or personal disputes, which should be resolved directly with the bookmaker. OLBG offers help and advice for such disputes, however, as a player, your first call should be to communicate wth the bookmaker first.

Regular Updates and Improvements

Free bets and sign-up offers change frequently, so we review and update them daily, often within hours. However, discrepancies may occur, and we strive to update within 24 hours of any changes.

You can be confident that his rigorous process is carried out with all free bet reviews. 

Detailed Comparison 

Our extensive database of bookmaker free bets lets us compare offers daily, highlighting the best ones in this page's new betting offers section.

We invest countless hours in research and analysis to provide the most up-to-date information, saving you the effort of sifting through hundreds of betting offers yourself.

Why betting offers achieve a high rating at OLBG

We have reviewed all the reviews submitted to OLBG to understand why our members may rate a free bet offer highly. Here are some key reasons. 

  • Great odds
  • Easy to use site/app/mobile site
  • Easy qualification
  • No wagering requirements
  • Great coverage of events and markets.
  • Don't restrict winning accounts.


Why betting offers are rated poorly at OLBG

These are some of the critical reasons OLBG members give low ratings.

  • Confusing opening account offers
  • Limited free bet use
  • High wagering requirements
  • Restrictive odds for free bet use
  • Low max win cap on free bet profits


OLBG has an industry-leading Trustpilot rating of 4.6 from over 800 reviews. You can read our OLBG reviews on Trustpilot here.

Who Created, Edited & Fact Checked The Content On This Page?

At OLBG, our team of dedicated experts with years of industry experience ensures we deliver top-notch, informative, and user-friendly content in the sports betting section. Discover each team member's invaluable contributions to the free bets section.

The Experts Behind OLBG Free Bets and Betting Offers Content:

Our team's expertise ensures OLBG is a trusted sports betting resource. Their meticulous work upholds the quality and reliability our users value. Explore our sports betting section for insights from industry experts.

Content Strategists: 

These professionals craft our content strategy, ensuring it meets audience needs and interests. They keep abreast of industry trends to maintain fresh and relevant content.

Richard Moffat

Richard Moffat

Ceo & gambling industry expert

Richard Moffat has been contributing to OLBG since 2004 with a passion for seeking out value betting opportunities on any market the bookies price up.
Sam Darkens

Sam Darkens

Commercial manager

Sam is OLBG's Commercial manager but also a keen sports betting and eSports fan.

Writers: 

Our skilled writers simplify complex free bet sign-up procedures into clear, informative guides, providing detailed analysis and insights that are accessible to both novice and experienced bettors.

Jake Ashton

Jake Ashton

Senior news editor

With over 8 years of experience in Journalism, Jake is an expert on all things Football, Entertainment and Reality TV
James Banting

James Banting

Tipster competition assistant

James is a knowledgeable sports betting specialist with over 20 years experience in the sports betting and horse racing industry. Today James focuses on producing informative betting content on the major sporting events throughout the year.
Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Content editor

Contributing to OLBG since 2005 and have been covering racing trends for several years looking to find betting angles in the big races both in the UK and abroad, interested in numerous sports for which I do previews and look for betting strategies.

Analysts: 

Our analysts thoroughly explore our free bets comparison database, offering research and data-driven insights that enable writers and strategists to create accurate, actionable content, helping users find the best free bets for their needs.

Dan Tracey

Dan Tracey

Data scientist and football editor

Dan is our data scientist, collating millions of data points monthly and finding the angles and stats that matter to our users when choosing where to bet. Our writers benefit greatly from this information, which they can then share with our readers to decide which betting site they should choose based on their needs.

Editors: 

Editors are vital in ensuring our content's quality, reviewing articles for clarity, accuracy, and coherence. Their attention to detail guarantees reliable and engaging information for our readers.

Luke Bradshaw Lee

Luke Bradshaw Lee

Senior sports betting editor

Luke is our Sports Content manager and heads up the sports betting brand reviews, free bets pages and betting guide articles. If it is sports betting, you need to find out about it. Luke is our go-to expert with years of professional experience in the industry
Steve Madgwick

Steve Madgwick

Editor-in-chief

Steve is our Editor-In-Chief with more than 17 years of experience creating and managing high-quality sports betting content for OLBG & multiple other industry publications. Today, Steve uses his extensive expertise to manage the content teams and ensure every published word on OLBG is helpful, honest and valuable for our visitor

In addition to their long experience working within the sports betting industry, all our contributors are keen sports bettors, so they each have many years of experience signing up with multiple online betting sites.

Free Bet and Welcome Offer Deposit Methods

There are various ways to fund your online betting account, but some may not qualify for free bet offers. This list covers the most popular and reliable bookmaker payment methods, highlighting those to approach cautiously when considering betting site offers.

Minimum deposits often start at £5, but can vary. Check the terms for optimal deposit amounts, as a 100% match offer up to £100 means depositing only £5 would likely yield just £5 in free bets.

Bookmakers usually return winnings to the deposit method, excluding the free bet stake. Understanding this helps prevent unexpected discrepancies in your returns.

At times, you'll need to provide details for money laundering compliance. This isn't the bookmaker being complicated; it's a legal requirement, especially if withdrawing through a different method than your deposit.

Visa Debit Card

Debit cards are the most common and secure deposit method for online betting, offering direct transfers from UK bank accounts and rarely being excluded from offer terms. Credit cards are no longer accepted by bookmakers for deposits

Pay by Phone

Paying by phone is a secure and fast method to deposit funds on betting sites, allowing you to keep personal banking details separate for added security.

Best Pay by Phone Betting Sites
ALSO READ

Best Pay by Phone Betting Sites

PaySafeCard

Many UK betting sites accept PaysafeCard, offering a fast, secure way to deposit and withdraw funds. Maximum limits vary, which can impact welcome offers and free bets. Check below for the best PaysafeCard betting sites.

Best PaysafeCard Betting Sites
ALSO READ

Best PaysafeCard Betting Sites

Trustly

Trustly is a secure and user-friendly option for deposits and withdrawals on UK betting sites. Although limits vary, and it may affect welcome offers and free bets, more bookies are adopting Trustly. Check below for the best Trustly betting sites.

Best Trustly Betting Sites
ALSO READ

Best Trustly Betting Sites

Google Pay

Google Pay offers a simple and secure method for electronic money transfers. Many UK sportsbooks accept it for deposits and withdrawals, though not all. Variations in limits and processing times can affect welcome offers and free bets. Check below for the best Google Pay betting sites.

Best Google Pay Betting Sites
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Apple Pay

Many of the larger online betting sites support Apple Pay, which is expected to be available on more sites soon. Deposit and withdrawal times will be the same as those for bank cards used through Apple Pay and are often acceptable for offers.

Best Apple Pay Betting Sites
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PayPal

PayPal, the most popular e-wallet among sports bettors, is accepted by most UK bookies. It offers faster transactions and keeps them off bank statements. However, using PayPal may exclude you from some welcome offers.

Best PayPal Betting Sites
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Skrill 

Skrill is an alternative to PayPal. Formerly known as Moneybookers, it has always been a popular payment method for online gamblers and is accepted at most sites. However, it may be excluded from welcome promotions.

👍 Responsible Gambling, Identification & Affordability Checks

Regulations set by Gambling Commission have tightened to enhance user protection, requiring rigorous ID verification. This is beneficial overall, but expect some inconveniences like submitting documents for identity and address proof

For large bets or deposits, betting sites may conduct affordability checks, like requesting pay slips and proof of funds for anti-money laundering. These requests are standard regulatory requirements for licensed bookies.

Here are some common tips for gambling responsibly online. For more information, please look at our detailed responsible gambling guide. 

✋ When The Fun Stops Stop 🛑

You will have seen this slogan used by online bookmakers frequently over recent years. It is trying to get across the serious point that if you aren't enjoying gambling, you should stop immediately. You can use a process of self-evaluation to help you to understand if you have a gambling problem. There is a great tool at Gamcare. 

If you believe you have a problem then there is always someone to talk to at begambleaware. They can offer great advice, including helping you to self-exclude. There is a valuable service called Gamstop, which allows you to self-exclude from all betting companies signed up to the program for a period of your choice. All UK-licensed bookmakers listed on this site will be part of the GamStop programme. For this reason (and many others) you should never join betting sites not on GamStop.

 🔚Set Limits and Use Bookmaker Tools

We strongly recommend that you record your gambling and set your limits. Only bet what you can afford to lose. Online betting sites have started to offer several tools to help you with this, including 

  • Deposit Limits 
  • Session Limits
  • Account History 
  • Time Outs


Using playing time notifications to remind you how long you have been gambling and when to stop is a useful tool and so is setting a specific loss amount you are happy with in advance.

Free Bets Explained

Free bets are promotional tools used by bookmakers to attract new users, offering a fixed amount or a percentage of your first deposit as a bonus.

Sub section cover image with no text, showing two people with mobile phones in front fo screens showing sporting action in the background

To make the most of these free bet offers, it's crucial to understand their terms and conditions, as they differ among bookmakers. Some might require a minimum deposit to activate the free bet or sign-up offer. 

How Do Free Bets Work?

Perfect for new users, a free bet is either a fixed bonus or a % of your first deposit. They are often not quite as free as you might think and more of a bonus credit which is not cash, so remember to check T&Cs 📝 as they vary per bookmaker. 🎁

We provide explanations of free bets and sign-up bonuses, but always click through to the bookmaker links and read their full terms and conditions. Offers often require an initial deposit and a qualifying bet placed at specific odds.

“the qualifying bet must have minimum odds of 4/5”

Often, the first bet you place is the qualifying bet, and the amount of that bet will be matched (up to a certain amount) with a free bet of the same amount. 

There are many variations, though, from the more simple bet £10 get £10 free bet to Bet £10 get £20, Bet £10 get £30 in free bets or even bet £20 get £10. 

Usually, the bookmaker's main sign-up offer is available on all sports. But be careful to check as sometimes offers are only for horse racing or football.

Kickstart Your Betting Journey🚀💸

Often your first bet💰 acts as a qualifier, met with an equivalent free bet credit! From bet £10 get £10 or bet £10 get £20, to a deposit match up to 100%, the choices are many. Just remember, offers might be limited to certain values and sports 🏇⚽️ so check carefully!

Bonus Codes and Promo Codes Explained

Promotional, promo, bonus, or offer codes are needed for registering with a bookmaker to receive a bonus. Clicking through a site like OLBG often auto-fills these codes in your registration form if required.

If an offer requires a code, ensure it's entered during registration to qualify for the offer. Note that promo codes for free bets are less common nowadays.

What is the Difference Between Free Bet Offers and Sign up Deposit Bonuses?

Sign-up deposit bonuses, which match your deposit up to a certain amount with bonus funds, are growing more popular than free bets. Unlike free bets, deposit bonuses increase your betting funds instead of providing a separate wager.

Sub section header image including text stating free bet offer v sign up bonus - the image precedes discussion on the comparison

In betting promotions, free bets encourage both new and existing customers. Unlike deposit bonuses, the stake from free bets isn't returned. For example, a £10 free bet at 2.0 odds would yield £10 winnings, excluding the original stake.

Betting Bonuses Explained💰

Can't tell a Free Bet from a Deposit Bonus? 🤔 Free bets offer returns without the stake, meaning if you win a £10 bet on evens, you get £10, not £20. 😮 But with deposit bonuses, you keep the bonus as cash, once wagering requirements are met. 🏆

Deposit bonuses let you keep the bonus value as cash, but they often come with wagering requirements. For example, a £20 bonus with 3x wagering means you must bet £60 before withdrawing the bonus and any winnings. Understanding these differences is key.

Steve Madgwick

Steve Madgwick

Editor-in-chief

I always look for a Bet & Get Bonus these days - They are often easier to understand and give you a range of free bets [-minus stake back] to use across different sports and are more flexible for the way I bet.

As ever, please really carefully check the terms and conditions of all free bet offers and make sure you are able and willing to comply with all of them before signing up to a bookmaker.

Summary and Conclusion

When looking for the best betting offers for you, the key areas to consider are 

  • ✅ OLBG experts analysis of best free bets overall and best by type which you are most interested in
  • 💬 OLBG user reviews to see what regular bettors say about their experiences with welcome offers 
  • 💳 The payment methods you prefer and any attached free bet restrictions.
  • 🔒 How Trustworthy, Reliable and Reputable the site you are interested in is.


The quick summary and conclusion from all our analysis is that these are the best free bets in each category.

CategoryBetting Site
Matched Deposit Bonus10Bet100% up to £50 welcome bonus
Cashback Welcome OffersBetfairUp to £20 back AS CASH if your first Exchange bet Loses
First Bet Matched Offerbet365Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free bets
Free Betting CreditsBetMGMBet £10 get £40 in Free bets
Enhanced sign-up offers and Price BoostsParimatchEnhanced odds on EPL games
Profit BoostsAK BetsWinnings Boost on First Bet up to £100
Money-Back SpecialsBetGoodwin50% Back as a Free bet up to £25 on First Day Losses
No Deposit Free betsNone currently available
No Commission Exchange OffersBetDaq0% Commission for ALL SPORT for 100 days

Further FAQs Around Free Bets


  • What is a Free Bet?

    A free bet is a bet which is provided by a betting site for a customer to place and then benefit from the winnings. Free bets are commonly used as welcome offers to encourage new customers to register with a new betting site. 

  • How Many Free Bets Can I Claim?

    As many as you like, however you will be restricted to one account per bookmaker and therefore one free bet sign up offer per site, but there is no limit to how many different bookmakers you can have accounts with. 

  • When is my free bet available?

    Your free bet will normally be available straight away after making your initial deposit or qualifying bet if required. 

  • How do I claim my Free Bet?

    Where your free bet token appears will vary by bookmaker. Sometimes you will be issued with a bonus code to use but often you will be able to apply your free bet in the bet slip when you place your next bet.

  • What Can I Use My Free bet on?

    The sport and event which you can use your free bet on will be detailed in the terms and conditions attached to your free bet offer. Check those terms carefully as there may be other conditions such as the odds and type of bet which you may place using your free bet.

  • Can I withdraw my free bet winnings?

    Winnings from your free bet can normally be withdrawn but not the free bet stake itself which is not normally returned with any winnings. However terms vary and sometimes your winnings from your free bet will need to be turned over (known as roll over requirements) several times before you can withdraw. 

  • How can I get free bets without deposit?

    No deposit free bets for sports betting are rare. If we find any we will add the offers here. No deposit casino offers are more common, head to our casino offers page for a list of these. 

  • How do bonus bets make money

    You will make money from your bonus bet by choosing a winning selection. Most free bets will require a qualifying bet to release your free bet. So really you need to make a profit from that initial qualifying stake and your free bet combined. For example, if you place a qualifying bet of £10 to receive a free bet of £10, you have risked £10 of your own money. You now need to return more than £10 from your two bets to make money. Remember the free bet stake is not normally returned.

  • What is a risk free bet?

    A welcome offer or loyalty incentive where you cannot lose money on a bet. These are a very popular but rare welcome offer. More likely you will find offers that give you a risk free bet after your qualifying bet. So for example you need to make a bet to then release a risk free bet (otherwise known as a free bet).

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