Free Bets and Betting Sign Up Offers UK | May 2025

Betting on sports is immensely popular in the UK and new customers can claim free bets 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 bet offers 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 a host of free bet offers on this page.

Before a bookmaker makes our list of free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.

Only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered on our list of recommended operators.

It is non-negotiable. 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 betting site we recommend must implement high-quality security measures like SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.

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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.

Betting sites 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.

The 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.

We also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and what payment methods are available.

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.

Here are 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 UK promotions available right now, featuring a breakdown of pros and cons.

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.

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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 customers have used the Betfred welcome offer, there’s plenty of ongoing free bet offers for existing customers under their promotions section.

BetMGM have one of the definitive free bet sign up offers available today: bet £10, get £40. Among UK betting sites, only a handful of bookmakers offer more in free bets when joining than BetMGM.

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.

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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.

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 betting sign up offer customers can expect competitive odds, price boosts and diverse betting options, so it’s ideal for both casual and seasoned punters.

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.

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, making it accessible for average punters.

Bettors only need to opt in once to be a member of the club, but there are a few limitations to consider with this offer. 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.

Ladbrokes offers one of the most valuable welcome offers on the market for new customers. Using the Ladbrokes sign up offer, new users can secure a 400 per cent bonus worth £20 in free bets after depositing and betting £5 online.

The bonus is split into four £5 free bets that can be used across the sportsbook, excluding Virtual Sports, Tote and Pool bets, giving users flexibility with their bonus funds.

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We like that the Ladbrokes sign up offer gives customers the chance to deposit and bet as little as £5 to claim the welcome bonus, making it one of the standout £5 deposit betting sites.

It also has a low 1/2 odds threshold for qualifying wagers, while users can also place their bets on any sport. There are also plenty of promotions for existing customers, including daily acca insurance and price boosts.

Overall, this is an impressive betting sign up offer for new users, who are not looking to place £10 deposits online. It only gets a four-star rating from us as you get slightly better bang for your buck elsewhere.

William Hill is one of the UK’s best-known bookmakers. The stakes and value of their current betting sign up offer are the same as Bet365 – 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, it falls short when compared with some promotions above because this offer is only available to mobile customers, so you can’t use 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 a wide range of markets with a greater favourability.

Once that is done, you’ll get £30 in free bets in three £10 tokens. Use the William Hill promo code R30 when signing up on a mobile device to opt in to this promotion.

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 bets on the horses.

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. 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 promotion for users of horse racing betting sites and racing fans generally who want a second chance when backing their fancies.

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.

Free bets must be used within seven days at minimum odds of 1/1 and there are no wagering requirements on any winnings.

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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.

10Bet’s mobile free bet offer is provides reward for bettors using their impressive betting app. This betting offer caters to mobile-focused punters, making it a great incentive to explore 10Bet’s app

To qualify, just download the 10Bet app, opt in via the promotions page and then place a single bet or multiple 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 once your qualifying bets settle. There is no timeframe on how long you have to reach the £50 mark, so there’s no rush to place your bets.

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.

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 LiveScore Bet’s 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.

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This betting offer provides a decent bit of protection, particularly for casual bettors looking for 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 free bet offer for regular bettors, but the variable free bet value is the reason we haven’t ranked this one higher.

Before using free bets, it’s important to define both what they are and how to use them.

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.

Betting sites may 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.

Always check the terms and conditions as some free bets or betting offers and apply only to specific sports, bet types or certain markets.

Free bets are simple to use. Betting sites attach either a box or toggle on the bet slip that users need only to tick or move to enable free bets on their wager.

Free bets come in two main forms: betting sign up offers for new customers and ongoing promotions for existing bettors. There are certain types of free bet offers that are commonly available on betting sites including:

Matched free bets: Otherwise known as ‘bet and get’. Here users are required to bet a certain amount and wager on specified odds by the bookie to unlock the corresponding free bet. This is common for betting sign up offers.

Matched deposits: Not as common on betting sites, but can still be prevalent. With this betting offer, bookmakers will match the value of your deposit in free bet credits. Usually the value of the deposit will be capped at a certain threshold.

Moneyback: With this betting offer, betting sites will provide a refund in either cash or free bets if your selection loses. Free bet offers are usually capped at a certain amount and bettors must meet the terms of the offer to qualify.

No deposit free bets: The holy grail for bettors and almost always reserved for existing customers. Betting sites reward loyalty with no deposit free bets that can be claimed to use on a variety of markets and sports.

Enhanced odds: These are a new type of free bet offers that can be reserved for betting sign up offers. Bookies such as Parimatch and talkSPORT BET are known to boost the price of a market for high-profile football, boxing, UFC and other events for new customers that sign up and bet. Customers receive a portion of funds in cash for the value of their bet, while the rest is made up of free bets to use on the sportsbook.

If you decide to engage with any of the online betting sites highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets and betting sign up offers.

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:

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 sport.

The bar chart below highlights suspicious betting alerts globally by sport last year and offers a revealing insight into where integrity concerns are most concentrated.

Football topped the list with 75 alerts in 2024, 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.

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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.

Chris Wilson is a betting content producer and sports reporter who has been working at The Independent since 2023.

He writes betting tips across a range of sporting events as well as reviewing dozens of betting sites and casino sites across the UK.

Chris has extensively tested and reviewed offers from established and new betting sites to find the best free bet offers for Independent readers.

Responsible gambling was always at the forefront of his research, ensuring customers have a fair and secure experience claiming and using betting offers online.

On this page, we’ve picked some of our favourite free bets and we only recommend betting sites that are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring that users can enjoy a safe betting experience.

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.

What is a free bet?

A free bet is a bonus that is credited to a customer by a bookmaker to wager on a sporting events. The free bet will carry a numerical value that customers can either use in whole or use partial funds depending on the betting site. Customers may be limited to certain sports or events with these bets.

How do you get free bets?

Customers can claim free bet offers by signing for a new betting site and unlocking the sign-up bonus. Existing customers can also get free bets in a variety of ways, including bet and get promotions, loyalty offers and more.

Can you withdraw free bets?

No. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Customers must use the bonus on the sportsbook in their entirety within the timeframe specified by the bookmaker. Bonuses that are not used in the timeframe will expire.

Which bookie offers the best betting sign up offer?

In our research we found that Betfred offer the best betting sign up offer on the market, providing new customers with £50 in free bets after signing up online and betting £10. BetMGM and Bet365 also offer strong sign up offers.