Free bets have been a popular deal among Irish punters for as long as they've existed. These offers let you place bets on your favourite events for free, with the chance to win real money. If you're on the hunt for some great free betting bonuses, we've got a great lineup just for you.
Last updated: 7 April 2025, 10:46AM
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There are many sportsbooks offering free bet deals in Ireland, so we've gone through and found the very best! Just use our exclusive links to claim the bonuses today!
Boylesports is one of Ireland's favourite sportsbooks. Homegrown and high quality, it offers everything an enthusiastic punter could ask for and more! There are many different sports to bet on and deep markets to keep them interesting, plus you'll find plenty of betting promos to help save a few euro here and there. There's even a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android, so you can keep tabs on your bets no matter where you go.
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Midnite is one of the youngest sportsbooks on the block, and it's already making waves with its modern web design, deep markets and an in-play betting tools. It only launched in 2022, so it's still getting off the ground, but Irish punters will already be pleased with the ease of use, variety of sports betting options and the great deals for multiple bets. Not to mention, the site had the forethought to launch with a mobile site, so you can take it on the go and enjoy the extreme convenience of keeping your bets in your pocket.
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talkSPORT BET is a simple betting platform but a very effective one, with a familiar layout and easy-to-browse site that makes betting simple. There are many different sports to bet on here, too, with deep betting markets and even live streaming across some of the most popular sports, namely horse and greyhound racing. We did feel the absence of bonuses for existing players, but there was enough variety between the sportsbook, casino, raffles and lotto features to keep us occupied regardless.
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Quinnbet is a comparatively small sportsbook compared to some of the heavy hitters we're used to recommending, but this site has something those sites sometimes lack: the personal touch. Thanks to being a smaller site, you feel less like a single customer among millions and more like a valued patron. From the competitive odds, regularly updating bonuses and excellent customer service, Quinnbet is a fantastic choice for any Irish punter.
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NetBet is an up-and-comer that manages to stand out on the value of its features and the sheer size of its betting options. NetBet offers bets across a staggering 50 event types, including traditional sports, e-sports, virtuals and entertainment categories. It falters a little when it comes to the bonuses, without a lot that stands out, but NetBet has other features that make sticking around worth it all the same. Most notably, NetBet is proud of its extensive bet builder, available across many different sports, that will help you make complicated multiples with ease!
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Free bets are a type of bonus offered by online sportsbooks that let you place real-money bets on events without spending any of your balance. Usually, you claim a betting token that you can use in place of balance to make a bet. Then, if that bet makes a profit, you keep the winnings with the initial free stake subtracted.
These deals are popular welcome bonuses, granting you a pot of free money to use as you get used to your new account. Even better, most of these bonuses don't come with wagering requirements! They aren't always given as welcome bonuses, though, and frequently pop up during important sporting events or throughout the holiday season.
However, as wonderful as free bets are, they do come with limitations. Most free bets are limited to a specific sport, like football, or a type of bet, like accas. You also need to use them at full value most of the time since any leftovers will be instantly forfeited. As such, just be careful to read the terms and conditions before claiming anything.
Claiming free bets from Irish sportsbooks couldn't be easier. You don't even need promo codes anymore; just click a link, sign up, and make your first bet to claim the deal. However, for first-timers, it can be a little daunting, especially since failing to meet the terms and conditions could lead to forfeiting your bonus altogether. To help you out, we've put together a simple step-by-step to make sure you have a great time with your first sportsbook:
Find a good free bets bonus at a responsible sportsbook. Ensure your choice has a good balance between value and ease of use, and that the site is licensed by the GRAI. All of our recommended sites are trustworthy and worth your time.
Use our link to reach the signup page and register your new account. Using the link will ensure that you apply the deal to your new account. Bear in mind that this will require sensitive personal details like your name, date of birth and home address.
Make your first deposit and qualifying bet. If you're claiming a free bets bonus, chances are you'll claim it by making and settling a bet at minimum stakes. You'll need to make this bet as a single wager for it to count and make sure you use a valid payment method to make the deposit. You can find these guidelines in the T&Cs.
Claim your free bets and use them to make bets. Most free bets have use limitations, so check the T&Cs before claiming so you know if you can use them on an event you're interested in.
If you win, claim your winnings. You'll be granted any winnings you make over the stake, which is subtracted from the amount you receive. Some free bets might come with wagering requirements instead, so meet those first to withdraw any winnings.
Free bets are an exciting prospect, but no one wants to waste such an opportunity. So we've put together a few tips to ensure you use your free bets bonus to the fullest:
All online gambling bonuses come with a lot of fine print, and you need to understand at least the most important parts of it before you claim anything. If you fail to comply with the terms and conditions, you could risk forfeiting your bonus or even getting your new account suspended entirely. Some of the most important points to consider are the wagering requirements, accepted payment methods, minimum odds and restricted sports.
If you want to secure a bonus with your free bet, you can try a tactic called 'matched betting.' This is where you place a bet and then also place a lay bet on the opposite outcome through a betting exchange site like Betfair. It requires some fancy mathematics to work properly, and you can find in-depth guides on YouTube and the like, but it will guarantee you a small profit every time you use it — usually the value of your bonus. Best of all, bookmakers don't have an issue with the practice, so you won't get suspended for this kind of betting (as of writing).
Especially when you're first starting out, it's wise to choose events and specific markets that are more reliable. Of course, betting on the favourite is an option, but take a closer look at what you're betting on to see how volatile the various outcomes and betting culture are. For example, horse racing can be very highly variable with so many participants in a single race. Football, on the other hand, can be quite steady, with smaller goal totals and sometimes just two options for betting. Also, go looking for competitive odds to ensure you're receiving the best rate available — sites like Oddschecker can help you with this.
Once you've claimed your free bets, make sure to keep an eye on them. You might choose to use them immediately like many people, but if you choose to let them hang around, you shouldn't leave them alone. Free bets eventually expire or may only be useable on specific markets. You need to ensure you claim a deal at the right time and then use them before it's too late. Additionally, you can track how your bets are doing through your sportsbook throughout the event.
Above all else, it's important to stay in control of your gambling habits and avoid chasing losses. Learning when to accept a loss and move on is an invaluable skill that will help you gamble responsibly and avoid losing more than you can afford to. There are plenty of tools at online sportsbooks to help you manage your bankroll, such as deposit limits and timeouts.
The benefits of free bets are relatively obvious. You can place bets and win real money from bets that you don't have to spend a cent on. Most free bets don't even have wagering requirements, so you can enjoy your winnings immediately. As welcome bonuses, free bets also serve as a risk-free way to introduce you to a new sportsbook while you're still figuring out how to read and use it.
However, there are a couple of downsides to free bets. For one, they're rarely 100% free. To claim free bets, you need to deposit a minimum amount and then wager it. Only once that qualifying wager is settled can you actually claim your bonus, so most of the time, you need to spend at least €10 to get your free bets. Many free bets also have limitations to how and where you can use them, with minimum odds and market restrictions. If you don't claim the right kind of bonus, you won't be able to use them on your favourite sports or events.
There are many sports that you can claim free bets for, but some stand out a little more than the rest. Here's a look at some of the most popular sports for free bets in Ireland.
Football is one of the world's most beloved sports so you know you'll find free bets to use on all kinds of football markets. Free bets are released with high frequency around major football events, often to be used exclusively on football. Whether it's the Premier League final, the World Cup or even a local game, you'll find something good to use your free bets on.
Horse racing often goes hand in hand with betting, and it's no wonder why. With so many unpredictable moving parts, horse racing is one of the most exciting options to use your free bets on. And horse racing-specific free bets are released all the time! However, bear in mind that most free bets only allow you to make win/place and each-way bets, not the huge multiples horse racing is famous for.
Of course, we know our Irish punters are going to want some markets on such important cultural sports, and luckily, most sportsbooks have plenty of markets available for Gaelic football and hurling! Irish bookies will happily give out free bets for use on Gaelic sports, but you might have a little more trouble at UK or international sites. Just look for all-purpose bets which are popular as general welcome bonuses.
Rugby's been a popular sport to bet on for as long as it's existed, but sportsbooks don't cover it quite as extensively as more popular events like football or tennis. But that doesn't mean you can't find excellent free betting bonuses cropping up, especially at home-grown bookies. And when major events like the World and European Cups turn up, you might find a few exclusive deals. But for the more regular matches, you'll need to rely on all-purpose free bets from sign-up and VIP offers.
Free betting bonuses can be claimed just as easily on mobile as they can through desktop sportsbooks. In some ways, it's a little easier. However, mobile betting comes with both major advantages and disadvantages.
Mobile sports betting makes it much more convenient to place and track your sports bets. You no longer have to sit in front of a computer to walk down to a bookkeeper to make bets. You'll find every market you can think of at all kinds of odds right in your pocket. You can also better track your bets on mobile betting apps since you can just open them up to see when the match is set to happen or what your results are at the end of the day. You can even withdraw any winnings with a few taps on your phone.
Some mobile sportsbooks even have unique deals to reward mobile users for checking out the site, so you can claim more free bets or boosted odds than you might otherwise. Aside from that, apps are just a more streamlined betting experience. Desktop sportsbooks have a lot of busy information on them, whereas mobile apps concentrate it down to what's the most relevant.
However, this isn't always a good thing. Desktops show so much information to help you make informed decisions and always display your bet slip for easy access. Also, just because you can easily claim deals on mobile doesn't mean you're doing so optimally. It's easier to read through T&Cs on desktop (and to find them in the first place), and managing transactions is often easier through PC.
Most importantly, mobile gambling is dangerous for some people. Having your betting service in your pocket at all times makes it easier than ever to fall into unhealthy habits. So, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of mobile gambling and consider whether it's a good idea for you.
While betting is a great way to enhance your favourite sporting events, it's always easy to go too far. This is why it's important to always stick to responsible gambling habits and keep your activity in check. Online sportsbooks like our recommended ones have tools to help you stay safe, including deposit limits, reality checks, time outs and self-exclusion.
The importance of responsible gambling is a large part of why you should always opt for trustworthy, licensed bookies. Licenses ensure that sportsbooks maintain practices to protect players, like extensive KYC checks, responsible gambling tools, safe payment options and available helplines.
FAQs - Best Free Bets in Ireland