The Best Free Bets In The UK February, 2025

What is a Free Bet offer? 

Free bets are often seen as one of the most sought-after promos in the world of online sports betting, but why is that? A free bet offer is simply a bonus of a specific value offered by online bookmakers, usually as a welcome promotion to attract new sign-ups by offering free bets. Free bets are commonly seen as promotions for new customers where you are required to deposit a certain amount, and in return, can be credited with X amount in free bets as a complimentary bonus for signing up. 

How do Free Bets work?

As mentioned previously, customers are usually required to create a new account with the sportsbook and opt-in to the welcome promotion, which offers free bets upon sign-up. The most common Free Bet offer will require customers to deposit a minimum value first, and this is how it could work. For example, you may come across an offer you like that is “Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets.” So straight away you understand that in order to claim the £30 free bet bonus, you must wager at least £10. It is vital that when claiming an offer like this, you read the offer's Terms and Conditions, to completely understand what is required for you to claim this.

You will see a lot of the time stated in the T&Cs, that there is information regarding the minimum deposit amount, minimum odds you must wager your qualifying bet at, and sometimes timescales in which you must utilise your free bets by. 

If you have a £10 Free Bet token you wish to use on a sports market at odds of 5/1 and your wager wins, you will only receive £50, instead of £60, as the value of your free bet token will not be included in any winnings. 

How to Obtain Free Bets

Acquiring free bets from bookmakers is really straightforward and are frequent promotions bettors can expect to come across.

This is especially simple if you are a new customer to a betting site or betting app. Free bets are often part of a welcome offer that customers can claim when they sign up with a site for the first time and make a qualifying deposit or bet.  

Free bet offers can also be obtained from claiming exclusive one-off bonuses from betting sites as well as from ongoing promotions. For example, a site could offer ‘Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets’ on a certain event for a limited time. Special events can also see increased free bet opportunities for users throughout the duration. Free bets can also be obtained through a site's loyalty program or free bet clubs, if applicable. 

If you want to find out more about the best betting apps in the UK that offer free bets, click here.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Bets?

Free bets offer great opportunities for new and existing bettors at sites to explore and try out some markets without the worry and risk of losing any money. The feature is more likely to attract users to a site, as without the risk, it's a more favourable way of betting. Free bets also allow experienced bettors to try out strategies or new markets they may not otherwise try.

However, there are potential disadvantages to using free bets, and the biggest one is the wagering requirements that can be attached. This dictates the winnings from the free bets that users are actually able to withdraw and keep should the bet be successful. Free bet offers also tend to have short expiration dates, where they have to be used within a certain time frame.

While free bets minimise players' risk and offer the opportunity to explore a site's features and different ways to bet, it is worth evaluating all of the potential opportunities and drawbacks first before using free bet offers.

Different types of Free Bet offers available

Often to claim free bet offers, you usually will have to sign up for an online betting site as a new customer, and one you have not signed up for beforehand. However, free bets can also be be claimed in different ways, not just from signing up. Let’s look at some of the more common options you can expect to find. 

Each different free bet offer that you encounter is likely to have it’s own T&Cs so be sure to read them. 

Enhanced Odds Promotions

Customers can claim certain promotions like Enhance Odds, which is often a different form of sign-up bonus that you can find. This offer will look to have significantly increased odds compared to what you may usually expect. An example of this offer could be “Player to have 1+ shot on target 50/1.” Often the minimum and maximum total you can wager on this offer is £1, however, this could help you to receive a decent amount of free bet tokens to wager in the future. 

Matched Free Bet Promos

Matched deposit offers will provide you with free bets up to a certain amount, that matches the initial qualifying deposit you make to your account. For example, you may find a match free bet offer up to £50, and you make an initial deposit of £20. Providing that you’ve made the minimum qualifying deposit, the bookmaker would then credit you with £20 in Free Bets, matching your deposit total. If you deposited more that £50 in this situation, you would only receive a maximum of £50 in free bets back, or to whichever value the offer is. 

No Deposit Free Bets

One of the favorite types of bonuses, the no deposit free bets offer is one that everyone can enjoy. This is not usually one that you will find at a welcome offer, but one you can find as an existing customer to an online betting site. These can sometimes be offered to customers ahead of big sporting fixtures or certain games. The value of the free bets on offer here are much lower than that of a welcome offer, and tend to be between £1–5.00 on many occasions. Be sure to keep an eye out for no deposit free bets, they usually require customers to opt-in to claim them, as well as carrying some fairly strict T&Cs.  

What to keep in mind when claiming a Free Bets offer

Free bets are great for both new and experienced punters out there, however, there are a few things that you should try to keep in mind when claiming free bet promotions, and using them. 

1. Find out if there is a minimum deposit amount.

2. Understand what the minimum wagering requirement is. 

3. Are there specific odds requirements for qualify for the offer?

4. Check if the offer is valid across all sports markets, or just certain events.

5. What type of bet is the offer available for? Acca, single bet, enhanced odds bonus. 

6. Do you have to wait for your initial qualifying wager to settle before receiving free bets?

7. Check how long your free bets are valid for. Sometimes this could be 7 days, or even 30 days. 

8. Make sure you know how you can use your free bets. Some free bets are tailored for use on certain sports. 

Keeping some of these points in mind could help prevent any mistakes occuring when trying to claim an offer, or when trying to use free bet tokens at your chosen online bookmaker. It is very important that you read the terms and conditions of offers you wish to claim, so that you can understand the requirements, and helping to clear up any confusion.

Understanding the T&Cs of Free Bets

It is important to anyone looking to claim free bet offers, or any other sports betting promotion, that they read and understand the terms and conditions of what they are claiming, or opting in to. 

Minimum Deposit Amount

Most free bets welcome offers will require you to make a minimum deposit in order to qualify for the promotion available. This could be any amount so it is best practice to check this value before signing up. The minimum deposit amount could be £5, £10, or £20. 

Minimum Qualifying Wager

The minimum qualifying wager is very important. If you do not wager the minimum amount required, you will not qualify to receive any free bet tokens. To be clear, the minimum deposit amount, and minimum wager will not be the same on every offer available, so you should always check. 

Expiry Date of Free Bet Tokens

Many online free bets that at credited to sports bettors often carry a time limit in which they should be used. This means that if any free bets that you have credited to your account are not used before a certain period in time, you will then find that they expire. Often you will see free bet tokens are valid for 7 days, or even around 30 days, offering plenty of time to utilise them.  

Total Winnings Available

You need to keep in mind that when wagering using free bets, the value of your free bet token will not be included in any potential winnings that you could receive. For example, if you place a £10 free bet wager at odds of 4/1, you will only receive £40 back in you win. However, if you placed this same wager using your own funds, you would receive your winnings and your initial wager amount back. 

Minimum Odds Requirements

One of the most important elements of using free bets, it that usually you must place your qualifying bet at odds of Evens (2.00) or greater. Any wager that is below the stated total in the terms and conditions will not qualify for the offer, and this will then void any chance of you being able to claim it again.  

Payment Methods Accepted 

Although online sports betting sites in the UK accept most payment and withdrawal banking options, you may experience that certain bank cards being used have a minimum deposit amount asides from the actual terms and conditions. Some banking options may allow you to deposit at little as £5, some may require a minimum deposit of £10. You can check this before signing up as well. 

How LiveScore determines the best Free Bet offers

In-depth Review from our Experienced Content Writers

How can we provide you with the best free bet offers if we haven’t reviewed the brands and offers ourselves? Our knowledgeable team of sports betting and casino specialists are able to provide valuable insight into all of the brands we offer here, understanding what makes a great betting site, and a top welcome offer for customers. 

It is important that our team follows a process when carrying out research, making sure offers are easy to claim, and a betting site is safe for the user. 

Some of the key elements we assess are highlighted below: 

• Banking and payment options available 

• Are offers easy to claim for the user?

• Competitive odds available

• Wagering requirements (if applicable)

• Ease of account registration

• What betting markets are available for customers?

• Terms and conditions are clearly presented

• Are there unique features? 

• Is there a mobile betting app, or mobile opitmised site?

• Does the site offer live betting options?

Keeping an eye on Updates and New Promotions

It is important that online betting sites keep things fresh and worth while for their customers. Providing regular updates and introducing new or regular promotions for existing customers is a great way to retain players and also ensure that you are gaining some form of value for your time. 

At LiveScore, any changes in sports betting offers aim to be updated in a timely manner, ensuring that all information is correct and clear for all users as soon as possible. 

Is the Free Bets offer good value?

There are many different free bets offers and promotions available for new customers, however, they all carry different requirements and criteria depending on which online sportsbook you choose. 

We feel that free bet offers ought to uphold a sense of good value to the customer, ensuring that they do not have to part ways will silly amounts of money to claim free bets in return. Offers that do not include wagering requirements, or offers where the amount of free bets credited back outweighs the sum initially wagered usually tend to be better value most of the time.  

The Offers Available for New and Existing Customers

Similar to what we previously touched on, it is important that offers, or bonuses are available for both new and existing customers. For existing customers at an online sports betting site, you may find small promotions available, such as odds boosts, ACCA bonuses, or even small free bet offers to opt-in to on sporting events.

A popular offer that many punters enjoy from a handful of sports betting sites, is an early pay out offer. This offer is often attached to football betting, and if the team you have selected to win goes ahead by two goals, you earn an early pay out, no matter the outcome. You may also find that online sportsbooks offer competitions for customers, enabling them the chance to win prizes

We make sure that the terms and conditions of a bookmakers offer are easy to understand and do not incur silly requirements, such a high wagering or asking customers to deposit larger funds.

Rating Free Bet Offers at LiveScore

One of the most important things we strive to do here at LiveScore is be completely transparent with our readers about reasons we may or may not like certain elements of a sportsbook, or free bets offer available. Let’s have a look at some of the reseasons for our decisions below.

Reasons why we might rate an offer highly at LiveScore

• No wagering requirements (this doesn’t often appear on many free bet offers)

• Available to use across all betting markets

• Fantastic odds available at the online sportsbook

• Offers both and online site and mobile app experience 

• Easy terms to satisfy

Reasons why we might rate an offer poorly at LiveScore

• Short validity on free bets

• Difficult to claim or sign-up

• High wagering requirements 

• Limited to certain betting markets

• Unclear terms and conditions

Are “Free Bets” really free?

The term free bets, is generally referred to as such due to the fact that customers do not typically part ways with their own funds when using free bet tokens, hence why they are called free bets in this sense.

However, although the are called “free bets” most of the time, they incur some sort of cost. Usually as part of a welcome promotion where you are required to deposit and wager funds initially before you are actually awarded any from of free bet bonus. Free bets cannot be withdrawn either, so you should make sure you find out the cost before you sign-up. 

Responsible Gambling

It is important to keep in mind that during your time at a betting site and using free bets, you remain vigilant and practice responsible gambling with what ever activity you are taking part in. While not requiring any funds to place your free bets, playing through to get your winnings can encourage further betting. If you feel that you would benefit from restrictions and limits on your account to monitor your betting activity, betting sites will offer several responsible gambling tools. This includes setting deposit limits to reduce your spending, as well as time limits to prevent you from spending too long at a site. There is also the ability to apply timeouts to your account so you can not access it. If you feel despite the self-help tools provided by a site, you could benefit from further support, there will be details of the relevant support to reach out to, such as GambleAware.

For more information on responsible gambling in the UK, follow this link.

FAQs

Can I withdraw Free Bets?

No, you cannot withdraw free bet tokens from your sports betting account. However, you are able to claim winnings that you may get from using your free bets, once a winning wager settles. 

Do free bets expire?

Most of the time, free bets do expire. A lot of the time you may find that free bet tokens are valid from 7 days, up to sometimes 30 days. 

Can you cash out a free bet?

Unlike when you place a bet using cash in your account, free bets placed cannot be cashout once they are placed, even if it before the event starts.  

What is the best free bet offer?

There are many free ber offers available here at LiveScore and it is hard to only choose one bookmaker in particular. Often, a free bet offer will come down to customer preference and what matches their needs. 

Are existing customers able to claim free bets?

Yes, existing customers can indeed claim free bets. Not to the same value that you may gain from a sign-up offer, but occasionally small free bet offers may be available that you can opt-in to.

What sports can I use free bets on?

A lot of the time, free bets are available to be utilised on most online sports betting markets available, allowing you to wager on the events you desire. However, this is not always the case and you should read the terms and conditions to make sure before claiming any offers. 

Can I get free bets with no deposit?

Yes, some online betting sites offer welcome offers that grant you free bets without having to deposit any funds. Although free bet no deposit offers sometimes incur wagering requirements. 

As mentioned before, existing customers can often opt-in to claim small free bet offers on specific sporting events, that no not require any form of deposit.