Free bets and betting sign-up offers | April 2025

Here’s our complete list of new customer offers – scroll down to see the top 10 reviewed free bet offers:

Our expert has a wealth of experience of using all these brands, so you can open accounts with these bookmakers in the confidence that your betting experience and their service will be exemplary, even after your bonuses have been used.

• Check out the UK’s best betting sites

What can I use my free bets on this week?

In football, a number of British clubs are attempting to progress to the semi-finals of European competition this week.

Aston Villa are first up as they look to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park on Tuesday. On the same evening, Borussia Dortmund face what is surely an impossible task of coming back from 4-0 down in their second-leg tie with Barcelona in Germany. 

On Wednesday, Arsenal take a 3-0 lead to the Bernabeu for the second leg of their quarter-final while Inter Milan entertain Bayern Munich in the night’s other last-eight match, with matters finely poised at 2-1 to the Italians. 

There is also a Premier League game on Wednesday evening when in-form Newcastle United host Crystal Palace.  

Three British sides go into their Europa League quarter-final second-leg matches on Thursday having drawn in the first leg. Rangers travel to Athletic Bilbao locked at 0-0, Tottenham Hotspur go to Eintracht Frankfurt with the score at 1-1 and Manchester United welcome Lyon to Old Trafford with the tie on a knife edge at 2-2. 

In the Europa Conference League, Chelsea host Legia Warsaw having established a comfortable 3-0 lead in the first leg of their quarter-final. 

On Good Friday, there is a full programme of games across the EFL and National League with various promotion and relegation issues still to be resolved.

In cricket, there are IPL and PSL matches throughout the week and a full fixture list across County Championship divisions one and two on Friday.

After the Masters drama at Augusta National, there are golf events on the DP Tour and USPGA Tour, notably the China Open in Shanghai and the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, South Carolina. In tennis, the ATP Tour takes in the Barcelona Open.    

And there is a busy week of horse racing with Flat and jumps meetings in the UK and Ireland. 

Meanwhile, snooker fans will be counting down the days to Saturday when the World Championship gets under way at the Crucible in Sheffield.

Top 10 free bet offers for our readers in the UK

1. Sky Bet – Small stake, big reward

Our extensive research of free bets and betting sign-up offers across the UK market reveals that no other brand can compete with Sky Bet’s minimum wagering requirements. A 5p wager after a £5 deposit is all that is needed to unlock £30 in free bets.

The £30 in free bets is credited as five £10 free bets that have no limits in terms of minimum odds or which real-life sport you can use them on. This is a huge plus when compared to other free bet offers on our top 10 list, with which operators may dictate the type of bet your bonus can be used on.

The only significant downside to the offer is that the free bets are all £10 stakes, so you would not be able to split these into two £5 bets. 

Sky Bet free bets breakdown

• 3 x £10 free bet on any sport
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry: 30 days
• Free bets value: £30
• Minimum first stake: 5p
• Payment methods: Apple Pay and debit card

Author's view: “You don’t find offers this good very often – betting just 5p to unlock such a good bonus value is top-tier. Following the use of your £30 in free bets, it also has a wide range of existing customer offers to utilise such as its Sky Bet Club and regular price boosts.”

2. bet365 – A global giant

Based in Stoke-on-Trent, bet365 is a global betting giant and takes second place in the list of recommended free bet offers for our readers with its generous offer and low minimum odds. There are a few free bet offers in our list of the top 10 that can match or better bet365’s promotion of up to £30 in free bets for new customers, but most still rank lower.

bet365 ranks above the brands that equal or greater than its bonus amount because its free bets can be used in any combination you like and on any sport (excluding virtual sports). For example, you could place three £5 horse racing bets and a £15 football bet, or place all of it on one £30 football wager.

One advantage of the offer that is not totally clear without reading the small print is that you can actually qualify with a smaller deposit, as low as £5, and your bet credits will equal 300 per cent of your deposit. For example, £5 will result in £15 in bet credits and £8 will result in £24 in bet credits.

The major drawback that we have identified with this offer is that you must use your bet credits within seven days of them hitting your account, while others are more generous – giving you 30 days.

bet365 free bets breakdown

• £30 free bets can be used in any combination, on any sport
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/5 (1.2)
• Free bets expiry: seven days
• Free bets value: up to £30
• Minimum first deposit: £5
• Payment methods: Apple Pay and debit card (others available with additional T&Cs)

Author's view: “Apart from the £30 in free bets, the flexibility of bet365’s welcome offer makes it very appealing. Whether you want to spread the bet credits over a whole week or spend them all on one bet on any sport, you can. bet365 also has a host of existing customer offers and free-to-play games once you have signed up.”

3. Betfred – Joint-top bonus value

The Betfred welcome offer surpasses that of bet365 in value but ranks lower because of the specified denominations of the free bets.

Of the £50, £30 of them can be used on any sport you like but must be wagered in three separate bets of £10. The rest is credited as two separate £10 accumulator free bets, which are typically harder to predict correctly.

The total value of these free bets is impressive but there are offers we would recommend ahead of Betfred and therefore it places third in our top 10 list.

Betfred free bets breakdown

• 3 x £10 free sports bets
• 2 x £10 accumulator free bets (minimum 4+ selections)
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry: seven days
• Free bets value: £50
• Minimum first deposit: £10
• Payment methods: debit card

Author's view: “£50 in free bets is a top offering in the UK betting market and even with £20 of that required to be placed on accumulators, you have every chance to make a return on your deposit. Betfred is well known for having quite competitive prices and sponsoring a host of sporting events in the UK.”

4. Paddy Power – Simple and effective

The Paddy Power free bets offer is great for any sports lover. You only need to deposit and wager £5 on any sport to unlock £30 in free bets.

The £30 in free bets can also be used on any sports market, but be careful as they might not qualify for certain offers such as best odds guaranteed.

Paddy Power free bets breakdown

• £30 in free bets
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry: 30 days
• Free bets value: £30
• Minimum first deposit: £5
• Payment methods: Apple Pay and debit cards

Author’s view: “Paddy Power has improved its usual £20 in free bets offer to give readers £30 when they stake just £5. There is plenty of flexibility with the offer without many restrictions and 30 days to spend them.”

5. BetMGM – Newcomers making a splash

BetMGM is the newest betting site in the top 10 list. It is operated in the UK by the recognisable LeoVegas and is a brand derived from MGM Resorts, which runs casinos and hotels around the world. It’s highly likely you have seen its lavish marketing campaigns featuring the comedian and actor Chris Rock.

You need to make a deposit of £10 to unlock four times that amount in free bets but these come with restrictions. The £40 includes two £10 free bet builders alongside a £10 free football bet and a free £10 horse racing free bet.

BetMGM free bets breakdown

• 1 x £10 free football bet
• 1 x £10 free horse racing bet
• 2 x £10 free bet builders
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry: seven days
• Free bets value: £40
• Minimum first deposit: £10
• Payment methods: No restrictions

Author's view: “A new name in the UK market, headed by a well-established brand worldwide – keep a keen eye on BetMGM, especially around big events, as it continues to make a big name for itself with competitive new and existing customer offers.”

6. Betfair – If you like bet builders, accumulators or multiples

Betfair is big on accumulators and that is evident in its welcome offer where you get £50 to spend on multiples and bet builders when you place any sportsbook bet of £10 at odds of evens or greater.

Whilst the bonus amount is high, typically these bet types are much harder to return a profit on so you will need to be shrewd to show some returns. Equally it could also be very rewarding if you land a big multiple.

Betfair free bets breakdown

• £50 in free bets to use on multiples or bet builders
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (1.5)
• Free bets expiry: 30 days
• Free bets value: £50
• Minimum first deposit: £10
• Payment methods: Apple Pay or debit cards

Author’s view: “This is a great offer if you are skilled at picking bet builders and accumulators, however, if like me you find these notoriously difficult then it might be hard to turn a profit. If betting markets interest you be sure to check out the Betfair Exchange, but be careful what reward plan you are on as it can affect the offers you receive on the bookmaker’s main sportsbook site.”

7. BetVictor – A stalwart of UK gambling

Although £30 in free bets may look average compared to other brands in the top 10, our extensive market research shows that BetVictor’s offer is still competitive in the wider betting industry.

The main downside is that the qualifying bet and free bets can only be used on specific football markets and, while they are divided into smaller amounts – four £5 free bets and a £10 free bet – it is worth noting that you can use these values in any combination you wish. 

For example, you get a £5 football acca free bet with this offer that could be used on five £1 selections, two £2.50 accumulators or a simple £5 accumulator. This is a key edge BetVictor has over other competitors.

BetVictor free bets breakdown

• £5 football acca free bet (minimum 2+ selections)
• £5 football bet builder
• 2 x £5 free football bets (one of which is credited 24 hours after settlement of your qualifying bet)
• £10 football accumulator free bet (credited 24 hours after settlement of your qualifying bet)
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry: seven days
• Free bets value: £30
• Minimum first deposit: £10
• Payment methods: No restrictions

Author's view: “Another stalwart brand of the UK gambling industry, BetVictor has continuously offered customers great offers and a stellar service since the 1940s. You may notice its expertise is also used to operate other brands such as Parimatch and talkSPORT BET.”

8. BoyleSports – Offering sports and casino free bets

The BoyleSports free bet offer is the first on our list that has both a sportsbook free bet and casino free bet.

The £30 in sportsbook free bets can be used on any sport you like and in any combination, which is a significant edge BoyleSports has over some big-name competitors.

The £10 casino bonus is another positive but the 5x wagering requirements and win cap of £100 must be noted and could catch players out. In practice, this means you have to wager £50 on casino games before you can withdraw any of your winnings from your casino bonus, which itself is capped at £100, by which point it is unlikely you will have any returns left.

There are larger sums of sportsbook free bets available further down this list but there is value in the freedom of BoyleSports’ offering, which is why it takes a place in our top 10.

BoyleSports free bets breakdown

• Sportsbook: £30 in any combination on any sport
• Casino: £10 (5x wagering requirements, £100 win cap)
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry (sportsboon): seven days to accept and remains active for three days
• Free bets expiry (Casino): 14 days to accept and remains active for three days
• Free bets value: £40
• Minimum first deposit: £10
• Payment methods: Debit card 

Author's view: “The BoyleSports welcome offer is a competitive one with freedom to spend your free bets as you like and, while the casino bonus feels like a bit of a novelty with the wagering restrictions, it is something different to other bookmakers and is worth utilising. You never know, you might get lucky.”

9. Unibet – Come for the bonus, stay for the racing insights

Unibet sneaks into our top 10 for the best free bet offers and again gives new customers an equal amount in both sportsbook free bets and casino free bets.

Naturally, there are caveats. The £20 in sportsbook free bets is credited as two £10 free bets, one of which can only be used on a bet builder and the other as an accumulator. 

The casino free bets also have prohibitive wagering requirements of 50x that have to be completed in seven days. The wagering requirements mean you have to play through £1,000 on casino games within a week of registration before you are able to withdraw any winnings from your bonus funds, so it is very unlikely you will be able to make a profit on your £20 bonus. 

Unibet free bets breakdown

• Sportsbook: £10 bet builder (minimum odds 1/1) and £10 accumulator (4+ selections)
• Casino: £20 (50x wagering requirements within seven days)
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0) for each leg of an accumulator
• Free bets expiry (sportsbook): 7 days
• Free bets value: £40
• Minimum first deposit: £10
• Payment methods: Debit card 

Author's view: “Unibet’s sign-up offer is a crowd-pleaser with a significant sportsbook and casino offering, but you will do well to get a return from the casino bonus after wagering it the required 50 times. In my experience, Unibet has very competitive prices and its partnership with Nicky Henderson offers some great insights in the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival.”

10. talkSPORT BET – One for football buffs

talkSPORT BET offers another simple bet-and-get offer where punters receive £40 in free bets after they place a bet of £40 at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0) on any football market.

Once that initial bet has settled, users will receive a £10 bet-builder bet and a £10 correct-score bet. They will then be credited with the same value of free bets again after 24 hours, but in the form of a £10 win and both-teams-to-score bet plus a £10 four-fold+ accumulator.

Users can also opt to wager £20 instead of £40 and receive half the designated bonus amounts.

talkSPORT BET free bets breakdown:

• £10 on a bet builder
• £10 on a correct score
• £10 on a win and both teams to score (24 hours after the first bonus funds)
• £10 acca with minimum four selections (24 hours after the first bonus funds)
• First bet minimum odds requirement: 1/1 (2.0)
• Free bets expiry: seven days
• Free bets value: up to £40
• Minimum first deposit: £20
• Payment methods: Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard and Google Pay

Author’s view: “This is not the most generous offer with just a 100 per cent bonus amount, but if you back yourself with your football betting, then it is tailor-made for you.”

_{1. Applies to new UK/Ireland customers who sign up with promo code AKACCA100. Place your first bet as a multiple (minimum three selections) and AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25 per cent in the form of a free bet up to a value of £100. 18+ | gambleaware.org.}

_{2. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a single or acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have odds of 1.9 (9/10) or greater and must be settled within seven days of opt-in. Three free bets include: 1 x £20 free bet racing (horse racing or greyhound racing); 1 x £20 free bet live football; 1 x £20 free bet live. Maximum payout – £500. Seven-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (open banking). 18+. gambleaware.com}

_{3. 18+. New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via debit card and place first bet of £10+ at evens+ (2.0+) on sports within seven days to get 3 x £10 in sports free bets and 2 x £10 in acca free bets within 10 hours of settlement. Seven-day expiry. Eligibility and payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.}

_{4. New players only. Free bet – one-time stake of £50, minimum odds 1.5 (1/2), stake not returned. 1x wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Maximum conversion: £200. Valid for seven days from receipt. Limited to one sport and five casino brands within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excludes Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full terms apply. 18+ | gambleaware | #Ad}

_{5. New bettors; Code SPORT; wager deposit and bonus 8x; maximum qualifying bet stake equals initial bonus; valid 60 days; minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&Cs apply; 18+}

_{6. New customers only. New customers must place and settle £50 in bets on matchbook markets only. The user must bet on at least four different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and bet builders. The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. T&Cs apply. gambleaware. 18+.}

_{7. New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.}

_{8. 18+. gambleaware.org . New GB customers only. Minimum £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet on sportsbook at minimum odds 1/1 (2.0) each leg. Receive 2 x £10 free bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, and further 2 x £10 casino bonus the next day. T&Cs apply.}

_{9. New customers only. First single and each-way bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 18+. gambleaware.org}

_{10. New customer offer – Use promo code YSKAST. Place a minimum £5 bet on the sportsbook at minimum odds of evens (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via debit cards and Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.}

Key things to look out for when opening a new betting account

If you have got this far into the article you may have noticed the wide range of terms and conditions that apply to new customer welcome offers.

Here are the main things to look out for when going through an offer’s T&Cs.

• Gamble responsibly – First things first, make sure you are gambling safely and responsibly. Be sure to remain self-aware and visit gambleaware.org if you want to learn more.
  
  
• UK-licensed – You won't find any unlicensed bookmakers on this site but, if you are looking at a brand not featured here, always ensure it is licensed to operate in the UK.
  
  
• Free bets expiry – Check when your free bets expire so you don’t miss any opportunity to use them. You might not want a £10 football free bet if the season starts after the bet expires.
  
  
• Payment methods – Different brands will have different payment methods available, and just because the method is available does not mean you can use it to qualify for a welcome offer.
  
  
• Operating brand restrictions – Not a very common one but occasionally brands will be operated by another bookmaker and there may be bonus restrictions in place if you already have an account with the operating bookmaker.
  
  
• One offer per household restrictions – Designed to stop people abusing welcome offers, some brands restrict their offers to one per household. Sometimes they may also restrict this to one per phone number or IP address.
  
  
• When free bets are released – Sometimes bets can be credited to accounts instantly after a qualifying bet settles, but at other times they are delayed up to 24 hours.
  
  
• Bet type restrictions – Be sure the bet type you are planning to wager on qualifies for the bonus. Occasionally each-way bets, Lucky 15s, virtual sports or esports are not eligible.
  
  
• Free bet restrictions – Make sure you read the small print for what the free bets can be used on. Often this can be predetermined for you.
  
  
• Wagering restrictions – When there is a casino element to an offer, there is usually a wagering requirement making it very hard to turn a profit on your bonus amount before you can withdraw funds.
  
  
• Additional documentation – You will not be able to open a betting account without filling in certain information, but sometimes betting companies don’t get the full picture and may ask you for further information before crediting a bonus.