What betting sites give free bets without a deposit? Few bookmakers hand out free bets for nothing, but you can earn free bets by entering free-to-play prediction games on Bet365, BetVictor, NetBet, Betway, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM. 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.
We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Independent a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK’s best online gambling companies. Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs.
If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare. Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
Any new account registration or bets settled on 11 April 2026 between 00:00 and 17:00 are not eligible for this Welcome Offer.
The offer provides £20 in Tote Credit for horse racing – which is ideal for pools, exotics, and Tote-only markets – as well as £10 in free bets to use on the sportsbook, offering plenty of flexibility for new customers. The qualifying bet simply need to be a £10 wager on any sport (with some exclusions, though win, place, or pool bets all count) at odds of evens or greater, and winnings are fully withdrawable, with Tote Credit profits available to be cashed out, keeping risk low. Tote also guarantee boosts payouts paid at SP or better, adding an extra upside for horse racing bettors and making Tote the best choice among horse racing betting sites. Bet365 have recently launched its moneyback specials across a number of sports, including football and horse racing, as well as a range of major events. Customers can wager up to £10 and will receive their stake back in free bets if their bet fails.
The system is simple for claiming the betting offer, with users ticking the ‘Money Back As Free Bets’ box on their bet slip to qualify. Free bets are usually credited within a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours. Free bet credits can be used anywhere on one of the best betting sites in the business with no limit on where and how your credits can be spent. Bet365 moneyback specials are most common on football, and notably the Premier League where the highlight games of the week are covered with a moneyback special notably on Saturday and Sunday evenings, although Champions League and Europa League midweek games have also featured this betting offer. The nuts and bolts of the requirements are as follows. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days: £30 use on sportsbook. Place a bet of £5 at min odds of 2/1 (3.0) and get £30 in Free Bets within 48 hours. New customers: Deposit £10+ within 7 days and place a sports bet (place element of E/W bets excluded).
| Feature Type | Description | Common Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus Bets | Free bet credits awarded after deposit. | Non-withdrawable stake, winnings are cash. |
| Deposit Match | Percentage of first deposit matched in bonus funds. | E.g., 100% match up to $1,000. |
| Risk-Free Bet | Refund up to a set amount if first bet loses. | Refunded as bonus bet or site credit. |
| No Deposit Bonus | Small bonus just for registering an account. | Very rare, usually $5-$10 in bonus bets. |
Get 4 x £10 Free Bets (each requires 2+ selections). Excludes eSports and non-UK/IE horse racing.
The same applies if you’re using new online casinos, 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: In most cases, bookmakers will not allow punters to cash out a free bet before the bet has run its course, so you will likely have to wait for your bet to settle before receiving any winnings.
What does money back in free bets mean? This means you can get a refund on your stake, but not as withdrawable cash - only as a free bet, meaning you have to stake the same cash again on a different bet. What is the best betting sign up offer available now? In the Independent’s view, Coral provides the best bet sign up offers betting uk betting sign up offer on the market at present. New customers need only sign up and deposit £5 before betting £5 on any sports market with odds of 1/2 or greater to unlock £30 in free bets. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned).
Customers must place a qualifying bet builder on the eligible game or event, with bet builders needing only evens (2.0) or higher odds. Bet365 also attaches its Sub Play On feature on football bet builders in conjunction with the moneyback special, which keeps bets alive even if a player is subbed. Existing customers can use the weekly Virgin Bet rewards club to claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas. Users only need to opt-in on the promotion before placing four £5 accas with odds of 2/1 or greater between Monday to Sunday, making these qualifying stakes smaller than most rival free bet clubs. Virgin Bet have an extremely low minimum odds requirement to use your free bet at 1/100.
You’re spoiled for choice, and better yet, there are no restrictions where you bet best betting offers for existing customers can use your bonus. In addition, the seven-day expiry gives plenty of time to use the bonus, meaning the free bet club offers huge flexibility. After the qualifying bets have settled, Virgin Bet pays out the £5 free acca bet into your account and to activate the free bet offer, simply use the toggle on your bet slip to use up the credits. Below, we’ve provided some detail on common traps that users can fall into when claiming free bets: Not all free bet offers return the original stake if your bet wins. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30 profit, not £40; always factor this in when comparing headline free bet amounts. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stakes not returned). To qualify for free bets, the new user must place and settle £20 on easyBet markets.
Remember that cashing out a qualifying bet often voids eligibility for the offer. Some free bets also cannot be used on in-play markets. These exclusions are commonly hidden in the T&Cs, so avoid cashing out unless you’re sure it won’t affect the promotion. Wagering is uncommon on free bets, but it is not unheard of. Some promotions attach extra conditions to winnings or follow-on bonuses instead.
Offers requiring winnings to be wagered multiple times reduce real value, while simpler “bet and get” free bets are usually the safest option. 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. The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register. The user must bet on at least 2 different events to qualify.
| Sportsbook App | No-Sweat Bet Offer | Max Refund Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | Get your first bet back up to $1,000 if it loses. | $1,000 |
| Caesars | First bet insurance up to $1,000. | $1,000 |
| BetMGM | First bet insurance up to $1,500. | $1,500 |
| PointsBet | Up to $500 in risk-free bets for first 5 days. | $500 total |
| Unibet | Risk-free bet up to $250. | $250 |
The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. An event is classed as two different sporting events.
Free bets usually expire within 5-7 days of being credited, and occasionally less. Unused free bets are removed automatically once they expire, so casual or infrequent bettors can lose value this way. Remember to always check the expiry date as soon as the free bet is added. Some free bets are limited to certain types of use. For example, some are football bet builders only, accumulator bets or bets fixed to specific sports, leagues or events.
These restrictions reduce flexibility and can increase risk. Bet builder-only free bets often require multiple selections to win, meaning long odds, and it is the same with accas. Remember to check eligible markets before placing your qualifying bet. Betting offers may require minimum odds on either the qualifying bet or the free bet itself, and sometimes both. Higher odds thresholds can push bettors toward riskier selections, while a smaller free bet with low odds requirements can offer better value. 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.
Each Profit Boost is available for bets with no odds restriction.
Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data. 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 offers meet our expectations. With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential. Bookmakers with dedicated betting 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, but we also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and available payment methods. Operators that provide valuable betting sign up offers, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings. 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. When betting, bet football betting app login always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose. Even free bets still involve a level of risk. The maximum stake for a Profit Boost is £30.