UK free bets in 2025 – how to maximise your sports bonus

Free bets are increasingly prevalent in the online sports betting world, with the best UK bookmakers dishing out different variations of this bet type to new and existing users.

Some bookies credit free bets when you sign up, while others purvey no-risk rewards to long-time players. Often, you’ll attain free bets as a new registrant and as a seasoned punter.

Free bets represent a gateway to success at no risk to your budget – a rare commodity in the modern sports betting scene. This guide details vital tips applicable to all UK bookmakers on how to make the most of free bet tokens, no matter which sport you’re interested in.

What is a free bet?

Put simply: a free bet is a bet that does not cost money. The bookmaker covers the cost of your wager – so you don’t lose anything if the punt lets you down.

Although £1, £5 and £10 free bets are particularly common, every bookmaker houses different tolerance levels for free bet sizing. For example, Sky Bet free bets tend to range from £0.50 to £2.

Do not confuse free bets with other promotions available on bookmaker websites, such as matched deposit offers or odds boosts. The former requires a payment and the latter is only accessible via paid bets.

With all this information now under your belt, the question beckons: how do players claim free bets? A handful of critical factors determine the answer…

How to get free bets?

To land free bets, opt-in to the relevant promotion and follow all necessary conditions prescribed by the offer’s terms and conditions. This applies to new customer bonuses as well as existing player offers.

For example, you may need to enrol in the free bet offer through a pop-up notification to unlock the boost immediately. Or, the bookmaker might stipulate that you must bet £5 in exchange for £5 in free bets.

In short, how you earn free bets comes down to the bookmaker at hand.

On that point, see below for steps outlining how to clinch a free bet boost as a brand-new or existing player.

Claiming free bets as a new player

Choose a bookmaker via FIRST's sports betting hub: Compare free bet deals and select a bookie that best fits your preferences.
Analyse T&Cs: Run through the offer’s terms and conditions to avoid unexpected hiccups down the line.
Register an account: Create a new profile on the bookmaker’s platform to become eligible for free bets.
Claim free bets: Earn free bet(s) once your account is set up.
Use free bets: Visit your favourite sports market and wager using free bets.

Claiming free bets as an existing player

Log in: Sign in to your bookmaker account.
Compare deals: Weigh up which free bet boost suits you.
Opt-in: Join a free bet promotion by opting into the deal.
Get free bets: Receive free bets as soon as you enter the offer.
Wager free bets: Visit any eligible sports market to spend your free bets.

Note for existing players: certain bookmakers hand out free bets to customers enrolled in loyalty programmes and VIP clubs. Refer to the operator’s rewards page for eligibility information specific to you.

Why bookmakers offer free bets

Free bets stand as a promotional reward derived from the bookie’s in-house action plan. If an operator wants to make a mark on the industry and fend off competitors, you might see more or better-value free bets published on the platform.

The core premise is simple; bookmakers believe that free bets will open the door to players placing further wagers in the future. As most bettors engage in sports betting casually and without the advice of experts, bookies frequently collect profitable results over a long-term period – with revenue accrued directly from individuals who partook in free bet promotions.

You can mitigate potential losses and ‘beat the bookie’ by studying data-driven guidance on how to bet on sports.

What to look for in free bets

First and foremost, evaluate the value of your proposed free bet bonus by comparing how much time and money you must invest to secure the boost.

For more on free bet value, view these examples of high and low value free bets.

Offer A: Bet £20 for £5 in free bets.
Offer B: Bet £5 for £10 in free bets.

The first package necessitates a chunk of real money investment on your behalf, with limited rewards to show for it. On the other side of the coin, ‘offer B’ provides a reward worth more than your initial buy-in.

It’s also worth looking for free bet offers that do not demand payment or qualifying bets to get in on the action. No-cost-of-entry deals ordinarily come into the fold in the lead-up to major events — such as the World Cup or Grand National — and usually comprise £1 or £2 no-risk tokens.

A comprehensive summary covering other crucial free bet components can be found below.

Wagering Requirements

Essentially, wagering requirements serve as your key to withdrawing potential returns. Also known as ‘playthrough requirements’ – this prerequisite outlines how much you must bet before transferring cash to your bank account. Depending on the bookmaker, you may be obliged to meet wagering requirements by playing through cash earned straight from the bonus.

For example, wagering requirements worth five times the value of one £5 free bet can be calculated as follows:

£5 free bet multiplied by 5x wagering requirement = £25 in additional bets to unlock withdrawals

Examine the free bet offer’s terms and conditions to ascertain whether its wagering requirements are achievable or too steep.

Market Availability

Central to sports betting is your odds and market satisfaction. Hence, you should choose free bet bonuses catered to your individual taste – and with a wealth of bookmakers available today, you’re certainly not short of options.

Football, tennis, golf, boxing, horse racing and motor racing exist as some of the industry’s most popular sports to bet on. Despite this fact, certain beloved sports are often left out of a bookie’s free bet promotion.

Pertinent to this are potential restrictions against select events. For instance, a bookmaker might exclude international football matches from its current free bet deals – which could prove profoundly frustrating.

Similarly, certain bet types may be barred from free bet bonuses. Seek out information on your favourite wagering options – such as singles, football accumulators, trixies and more – to discover whether your go-to picks are supported.

No matter what market-related information you’re after, sift through the free bet terms and conditions to avoid disappointment. Haphazardly entering an incompatible bonus is the last thing any bettor needs.

Stake return rules

When placing a traditional bet with your own cash, online sports betting operators include your stake as part of the ‘potential returns’. Effectively, the bookmaker adds your bet amount to the total value of a successful outcome.

Free bets do not operate in the same way. As the free bet token was never part of your bankroll, the vast majority of bookmakers opt to omit the value of your free bet from returns.

Compare traditional bet payouts to free bet gains, below.

Traditional bet (stake returned):

£5 bet at 5/1 odds

This bet pays out £25 in profit and £30 in total (includes £5 stake).

Free bet (stake not returned):

£5 free bet at 5/1 odds

This bet pays out £25 in total (excludes £5 free bet stake).

Expiry date

Virtually all sports betting promotions expire after a fixed period. Free bets are no exception – and failure to spend your reward will see unused token(s) removed from your profile.

The good news is this: UK bookmakers are quite candid when delineating expiry dates, as it’s in everyone’s best interest to take advantage of costless packages while they are still valid.

Expect free bet windows to scale from 24 hours to 30 days. It’s worth noting that not all bonuses carry end dates – but the only way to find out is through the offer’s terms and conditions.

Splitting free bets

Some free bets are divisible – giving players a license to cut a portion of the wager and spend the rest elsewhere.

Let’s say you earn a £10 free bet to use on any football market. If the bookmaker allows, you can slice the bonus into smaller values. This produces multiple wagers worth £0.50, £1.50, £2 and any other permitted amount.

In turn, you can make your free bet last longer – maximising the value of the promotion.

Free bet examples

A deep selection of free bets populate the modern sports betting scene – and you are allowed to spend these rewards on a plethora of markets and odds. This applies to all players, whether you prefer high-odds picks or endeavour to uncover the most valuable low-odds outcomes.

Let’s go over some realistic sample free bets available on UK sports betting sites.

Low odds free bet

Although no bet is certain to bear fruit, ‘low’ odds selections typically present the likeliest outcome. Hauls accrued from this bet type are reduced compared to other punts – but you are better placed to secure a return on the wager.

As such, low odds free bets deliver a risk-free route towards incremental profit and thus, a near-impervious road to an improved bankroll.

Take the following low odds free bet as an example:

£5 free bet on Team A to beat Team B at 1/5.

A £5 free bet on this selection would return £1 in profit. While not in the same echelon as doubtful outcomes, the probability of a positive result is significantly better.

Those on the hunt for a more daring venture should continue reading…

High odds free bet

As free bets do not impact your bankroll, it’s worth taking a chance on high odds markets. These selections are significantly less likely to come good – but prospective benefits are mouth-watering.

Using the same scenario as above, let’s imagine you wanted to back Team B with your free bet:

£5 free bet on Team B to beat Team A at 10/1.

Team B are enormous underdogs – but your free bet means that no risk to your money is tied to wagers on the lesser side. In fact, you stand to gain £50 in direct profit if Team B clinch victory.

Consider using free bets to back high-value markets you’d usually ignore for no-risk access to potentially stellar returns.

Free bet round-up

Betting is all about making money on your favourite sports action. By using free bets, you are best placed to take home impressive gains – bolstered by the fact there is no risk to your money.

With such a broad variety of free bets up for grabs at Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill and other top-rated bookmakers, you can explore new ground and reap unique rewards without stressing about your betting budget.

So, bookmark this page to strengthen your command of free bet value and online betting, no matter which market you fancy.