Last Updated on 21/02/2026 by Andy Clark
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks on the sporting calendar, and his expertise in betting promotions and marketing means you always get the best offers.
There are over £1000 in free bets available to UK customers right now across the bookmakers on this page.
Whether you are new to online betting or looking to open a fresh account ahead of a big fixture, this page gives you a complete breakdown of every current sign-up offer — what you get, what the qualifying conditions are, and which bookmakers offer the best value for your specific betting style.
All offers on this page have been verified by our team and are accurate as of February 2026. We update this page whenever an offer changes, so you are never looking at an old or expired deal.
Free Bets UK 2026 – New Customer Welcome Offers from the Best Bookmakers
What Are Free Bets?
A free bet is a bonus token given to new customers by a bookmaker when they sign up and place a qualifying bet. The idea is simple: the bookmaker matches some or all of your initial stake with bonus funds you can use to place further bets, at no additional risk to you.
Free bets come in several forms, and it is worth understanding the differences before you claim one:
Bet and Get free bets are the most common format. You deposit, place a qualifying bet of a set amount (usually £5, £10 or £20), and once that bet settles — win or lose — the bookmaker credits your account with free bet tokens. For example, Boylesports currently give you a £40 free bet when you bet £10. The £40 is yours regardless of whether your qualifying bet wins.
Stake not returned free bets are the standard free bet format used by almost all UK bookmakers. This means that when you win using a free bet, your winnings are paid out, but the free bet stake itself is not returned. So if you place a £10 free bet on a 3/1 selection and it wins, you receive £30 in winnings, not £40. This is important to factor in when deciding how to use your free bets — longer odds selections give you more bang for your free bet token.
Bet credits are slightly different and are the format used by bet365. Rather than receiving a free bet token, your bonus is held as bet credits that are released when you place qualifying bets to the value of your deposit. Bet credits work similarly to free bets in practice — you use them to place bets, and winnings are yours to withdraw — but the mechanism for releasing them is slightly different.
Multiple free bet tokens are increasingly common. Betfred gives you five free bet tokens (three sports free bets and two acca free bets) rather than one lump sum. BetVictor gives you six tokens over 48 hours. This approach is designed to encourage you to explore different betting markets and is generally good value for active bettors.
How Much Are UK Free Bets Worth in 2026?
The headline figures from our current bookmaker list add up to well over £1000 in total free bets if you were to claim every offer on this page. The realistic value for a new bettor opening two or three accounts is between £80 and £150, depending on which bookmakers you choose.
However, headline value is not the only measure of a good free bet offer. The actual value you extract depends on a few key factors that we cover in detail below.
How to Compare Free Bet Offers — What to Look For
Not all free bet offers are created equal. Before you sign up to any bookmaker on this page, here are the key things to consider:
The qualifying bet amount. Most bookmakers require a minimum qualifying bet of £10, but some require £20 (BestOdds, CopyBet, Spinzwin). A higher qualifying bet requirement means you have more money at risk before you receive your bonus. Ladbrokes and Coral stand out here — Ladbrokes only requires a £5 qualifying bet to unlock £30 in free bets, making them one of the best value offers on a return-per-pound-risked basis.
The qualifying odds. Almost all bookmakers require your qualifying bet to be placed at minimum odds of Evens (1/1, 2.00). This is a reasonable requirement — you can find Evens or better on almost any football match or horse racing selection. A small number of bookmakers accept qualifying bets at lower odds; Ladbrokes, for example, accept qualifying bets at minimum 1/2 (1.50). This gives you more flexibility over which bet you use to trigger the offer.
Free bet expiry. Once your free bets land in your account, you typically have 7 days to use them. Some bookmakers are more generous — FanTeam gives you 14 days. BestOdds is unusually strict, giving you just 24 hours per token. If you are likely to be busy or away during the week your free bets land, a bookmaker with a longer expiry window is a better choice.
Number of tokens versus lump sum. Receiving £50 in one lump sum (like the old William Hill model) sounds better, but multiple tokens of £10-£10-£10 can actually give you more flexibility — particularly if you want to spread bets across different sports or use accumulators. Betfred’s model of three sports free bets and two acca free bets covers multiple betting styles in one offer.
Promo codes. Some bookmakers require you to enter a promo code during registration to activate the offer. Where one is required, it is listed on the offer widget above. If no code is listed, the offer is activated automatically when you click through our link and register.
Payment method restrictions. Several bookmakers exclude certain payment methods from qualifying for the sign-up offer. William Hill excludes PayPal, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill and several prepaid cards. Always check before you deposit, as using an excluded payment method means your deposit will not count towards the bonus.
Our Picks: Best Free Bet Offers in February 2026
With so many offers on this page, here is our breakdown of which are best for different types of bettor.
Best for maximum free bet value: Betfred — Bet £10 Get £50
Betfred’s current offer gives you the highest free bet total available from any major UK bookmaker right now. You get £50 in free bets split across five tokens — three sports free bets and two acca free bets — when you register with code BETFRED50, deposit and bet £10 at odds of Evens or greater. The tokens land within 10 hours of your qualifying bet settling, and you have 7 days to use each one. For a new bettor who wants the most free bets to play with, this is the best place to start.
Full details: Betfred Sign-Up Offer
Best for a single, simple free bet: Boylesports — Bet £10 Get £40
If you want one straightforward free bet without the complexity of multiple tokens and staged payments, Boylesports is the top pick. You get a single £40 free bet credited after your qualifying bet settles. No promo code required, no casino bonus bundled in, no staged token release. Just one clean, high-value free bet. Boylesports are also particularly strong on football and horse racing odds, making them an excellent long-term account to have open. Our rating of 9.8/10 makes them the highest-rated bookmaker on this page. Once you have an account, you can use all the Boylesports existing customer offers, including best odds guaranteed, bet builder boosts and Smart accas.
Full details: Boylesports Sign-Up Offer
Best for value on a small qualifying bet: Ladbrokes — Bet £5 Get £30
Ladbrokes require only a £5 qualifying bet to release £30 in free bets — that is a 6:1 return on your risk, which no other bookmaker on this page matches. You receive six tokens of £5 each, valid for 7 days on selected sportsbook markets. The minimum qualifying odds are also lower than most at 1/2 (1.50), giving you more choice over which bet to use. If you want to minimise the amount of your own money at stake before claiming your free bets, Ladbrokes is the clear winner.
Full details: Ladbrokes Sign-Up Offer
Best for football accumulators: William Hill — Bet £10 Get £40
William Hill give you £40 in free bets as four tokens of £10 each, and they are one of the best bookmakers in the UK for accumulator betting. Their odds across Premier League, Championship and European football are consistently competitive, and their app is among the slickest available. Use promo code G40 to activate the offer. Note that Apple Pay and PayPal deposits do not qualify.
Full details: William Hill Sign-Up Offer
Best for bet builders: SBK — Bet £10 Get £40
SBK is built around bet builder betting and their product is genuinely one of the best in the market. You get £40 in free bets with code TAG30 when you bet £10, and their odds for same-game multiples are extremely competitive. If bet builder tips are your preferred betting style, SBK is a must-have account. Their bet builder covers football, horse racing, tennis and more with deep market coverage.
Full details: SBK Sign-Up Offer
Best for horse racing: bet365 — Bet £10 Get £30
bet365 are the gold standard for horse racing betting in the UK. They offer Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish racing, a wide range of place terms, daily Super Boosts on selected races, and their 6 Horse Challenge free-to-play game. The sign-up offer gives new customers £30 in bet credits when they register and bet £10. While £30 is not the largest offer on this page, the quality of the bet365 racing product makes this a must-have account for any horse racing bettor.
Full details: bet365 Sign-Up Offer
How to Claim a Free Bet — Step by Step
Claiming a free bet offer is straightforward, but there are a few steps where people commonly go wrong. Here is the process for a typical Bet and Get offer:
Step 1: Click through from this page. Always use the link on this page to reach the bookmaker’s registration page. This ensures the offer is correctly tracked to your account. If you navigate to the bookmaker directly, the offer may not activate.
Step 2: Register your account. Fill in your personal details — full name, date of birth, address, email and phone number. You will also need to create a username and password. All UK-licensed bookmakers are required to verify your identity, so use accurate details. Some bookmakers will verify you automatically using the information you provide; others may ask you to upload a form of ID.
Step 3: Enter your promo code if required. If the offer requires a promo code, enter it during registration in the bonus code or promo code field. The code for each offer is listed in the widget above. If no code is shown, the offer activates automatically.
Step 4: Deposit the required minimum amount. Most offers require a minimum deposit of £10. Use a qualifying payment method — check the terms for any excluded methods before you deposit. For most bookmakers, a standard Visa or Mastercard debit card will always qualify.
Step 5: Place your qualifying bet. Place a single bet of the required minimum amount at the required minimum odds. Do not cash out your qualifying bet — cashed out bets are excluded from virtually all sign-up offers. Place the bet and leave it to settle in full.
Step 6: Receive your free bets. Once your qualifying bet settles, your free bet tokens will be credited to your account, either immediately or within a specified timeframe. Where tokens are paid in instalments (such as BetVictor’s three tranches over 48 hours), the first tokens arrive on settlement and the remainder follow on schedule.
Step 7: Use your free bets before they expire. Navigate to the relevant market, add your selection to the betslip, and select the free bet token you want to use before confirming the bet. The free bet stake will not be included in any returns if the bet wins, so choose your odds carefully.
How to Get the Most Value from Free Bets
Once your free bets land in your account, the way you use them significantly affects the value you extract. Here is what experienced bettors do differently.
Go for bigger odds. Because free bet stakes are not returned when you win, you get more value from free bets on longer-odds selections. A £10 free bet on a 1/2 shot only returns £5 in profit if it wins. A £10 free bet on a 4/1 shot returns £40 in profit. The expected value of the bet is similar, but the upside from longer odds is much higher. Most experienced bettors use their free bets on selections at 3/1 or above.
Use acca free bets on accumulators, obviously — but pick sensibly. If you receive an acca-specific free bet (as with Betfred’s two acca tokens), use it on a double or treble at reasonable odds rather than cramming in seven or eight legs. A four-team accumulator at combined odds of 8/1 returns £80 from a £10 free bet — you only need one of these to win to get excellent value from the offer.
Spread your qualifying bets across different bookmakers strategically. Nothing is stopping you from opening three or four bookmaker accounts in the same week. Many bettors open all their accounts over a fortnight, using football or horse racing tips to guide their qualifying bets. If you visit our accumulator tips page or bet builder tips page, you will find daily selections you can use as qualifying bets — just ensure they meet the minimum odds requirement of the offer you are triggering.
Check for free bet clubs and existing customer offers before you decide which bookmaker to open first. Some bookmakers have strong existing customer offers that reward you week after week, long after the sign-up bonus is gone. bet365’s ongoing Bet Boosts, Betfred’s Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven, and Boylesports’ Sub Swap offer are all worth factoring into your decision.
Free Bets vs Other Types of Welcome Bonus
Free bets are not the only type of welcome offer available from UK bookmakers. Here is how they compare to the alternatives you might encounter:
Matched deposits are less common in the UK sports betting market, but you will see them from casino-focused operators. They match your deposit up to a maximum amount — for example, “100% matched deposit up to £100”. These bonuses typically come with wagering requirements, meaning you must bet the bonus funds a set number of times before withdrawing. Free bet sports offers rarely have wagering requirements on the free bets themselves — when you win with a free bet, your winnings are immediately withdrawable.
Enhanced odds are a different type of new customer offer where you get boosted odds on a specific market. For example, a bookmaker might offer 100/1 on a team to win rather than the standard 5/1, up to a maximum stake of £1. These offers can be very lucrative for a small outlay, but the maximum stake limit means the absolute return is capped.
Money back specials refund your stake as a free bet in specific circumstances — for example, if a match ends goalless or your first acca has one leg let you down. These are more commonly offered to existing customers but some bookmakers include them in their new customer package.
No deposit free bets require no deposit at all — you simply register and receive a free bet. These are rare in the UK sports betting market but do exist. If you are looking for no deposit casino offers rather than sports free bets, see our casino sign-up offers page.
Bookmaker-by-Bookmaker Guide
Boylesports — Bet £10 Get £40 Free Bet
Boylesports are a major bookmaker with roots in Ireland and a very strong UK presence. Their sign-up offer is one of the cleanest available — a single £40 free bet with no promo code required, no casino bonus bundled in and a straightforward Bet £10 to trigger it. Their football odds are consistently competitive, particularly on Premier League and Irish football markets. They offer a solid bet builder product and their existing customer offer, Sub Swap, is a popular feature for football bettors. Rated 9.8/10 by our team — the highest on this page.
Qualifying: Bet £10 at Evens (1/1) or greater. 30 days to place qualifying bet. Free bet expires in 7 days. One per customer, household and IP address. No cash-out. Excluding Northern Ireland.
Midnite — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Midnite is one of the most exciting newer bookmakers in the UK market. Their platform is built for modern bettors — clean design, fast loading, excellent in-play interface and a strong bet builder product. Their sign-up offer gives you £30 in free bets when you use the code BETGET30 and bet £10 at odds of 2.0 or greater within 14 days. The 14-day window to place your qualifying bet is notably generous. Midnite are particularly good for live betting, and their acca markets on European football are competitive.
Qualifying: Use code BETGET30. Bet £10 at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in free bets, valid 7 days. Free bet stake not returned.
bet365 — Bet £10 Get £30 in Bet Credits
bet365 are rated 10/10 by our team and for good reason. They are the biggest online bookmaker in the UK and arguably the best all-round product available. Their live streaming service covers thousands of events per year. Their in-play betting interface is the best in the industry. Their horse racing product, with Best Odds Guaranteed and Position Payout, is excellent. Their bet builder covers a vast range of markets across football, tennis, basketball and more. As a new customer, you receive bet credits of up to £30 when you deposit and bet £10. Bet credits are released upon settlement of qualifying bets to the value of your deposit.
Qualifying: Min deposit £10. Place a qualifying bet at minimum odds. Free Bets paid as Bet Credits. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Betfred — Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
Betfred are one of the UK’s most established bookmakers, founded in Salford in 1967. Their current sign-up offer is the most generous on this page by headline value — £50 in free bets across five tokens when you register with code BETFRED50 and bet £10. You receive three sports free bets of £10 each and two acca free bets of £10 each, credited within 10 hours of your qualifying bet settling. Betfred are particularly strong for football, with their Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven feature paying out bonuses for first goalscorers who go on to score twice or more. Their extra places horse racing offers are also consistently among the best in the market.
Qualifying: Register with code BETFRED50. Deposit with debit card. Place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on sports within 7 days. Get 3x£10 sports free bets and 2x£10 acca free bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry.
SBK — Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
SBK is the sportsbook product from Smarkets, one of the UK’s leading betting exchanges. Their standalone sportsbook product is particularly strong for bet builder betting, with deep market coverage and highly competitive odds on same-game multiples. Use code TAG30 to get £40 in free bets when you deposit and bet £10 at odds of 2.0 or greater. The free bets arrive within 48 hours of your qualifying bet settling. SBK are a great choice if you primarily use our bet builder tips.
Qualifying: Use code TAG30. Min deposit £10. Place a £10 bet at min odds 2.0. Get £40 in free bets within 48 hours. Full T&Cs apply.
Spinzwin — Bet £20 Get £35 Free Bet
Spinzwin are a bookmaker particularly popular with horse racing bettors, offering a range of horse racing-specific promotions, including Best Odds Guaranteed and enhanced place terms on selected races. Their sign-up offer gives you a £35 free bet when you deposit and bet £20 at minimum odds of 1.5. Note that the free bet winnings are capped at £200, and Skrill and Neteller deposits do not qualify. No promo code required.
Qualifying: Bet £20 min, min odds 1.5. Free bet stake not returned. 1x wager on winnings. Max conversion £200. Valid 7 days.
BestOdds — Bet £20 Get £25 in Free Bets
BestOdds are a newer UK bookmaker who have made a strong start in the market. Their daily Best Boosts offer genuine value on football and horse racing, and their website and app are easy to navigate. Use code bop20xfb5 to get five tokens of £5 each when you bet £20. The tokens are credited one per day for five consecutive days after your qualifying bet settles — a clever structure that keeps you engaged across a full week. Note that each token expires 24 hours after being awarded, so you must use each one on the day it arrives.
Qualifying: Use code bop20xfb5. Bet £20 at min odds Evens (2.0). Get 5x£5 free bets, one per day. Each expires 24 hours after issue.
CopyBet — Bet £20 Get £20 Free Bet + 15% Profit Boost
CopyBet is a unique proposition in the UK market — a social betting platform where you can follow and copy the bets of successful tipsters. Their sign-up offer gives you a £20 free bet plus a 15% profit boost on a single bet when you deposit via their open banking feature and place a £20 qualifying bet at odds of 1.9 or greater. The 15% profit boost is valid for 24 hours and applies to single bets only up to a £30 stake. Note that the deposit must be completed via Truelayer open banking — card deposits do not qualify.
Qualifying: Deposit via Truelayer open banking. Place £20 qualifying bet (single or acca, 2+ selections) at odds 1.9+. Get 1x£20 free bet. Profit boost credited separately. Max payout £500. 7-day expiry.
Ladbrokes — Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets
Ladbrokes are one of the oldest and most trusted names in UK betting, established in 1886. Their current sign-up offer is outstanding value on a risk-per-pound basis — you only need to bet £5 to unlock six tokens of £5 each, totalling £30 in free bets. The minimum qualifying odds are just 1/2 (1.50), lower than most bookmakers. Ladbrokes are an excellent all-round bookmaker with strong football, horse racing and in-play markets, a reliable app and a range of existing customer offers, including their 1-2-Free free-to-play game.
Qualifying: Min first bet £5 within 14 days at min odds 1/2. Get 6x£5 free bets on selected sportsbook markets, valid 7 days. Stake not returned. New UK and ROI customers, excluding Northern Ireland.
Swifty Sports — Bet £10 Get £20 Free Bet
Swifty Sports are a newer bookmaker building a strong reputation in the UK market. Their sign-up offer is straightforward — bet £10 as a single selection at minimum odds of 1/1 and receive a £20 matched free bet on settlement. The £20 free bet expires after 7 days. Swifty Sports focuses on delivering a fast, clean betting experience and is worth considering as an additional account alongside the larger bookmakers.
Qualifying: Min deposit £10. Min stake £10 as a single selection at min odds 1/1. Free bet of £20 added on first settlement. Expires 7 days.
William Hill — Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
William Hill are one of the most recognisable names in UK betting, with a heritage stretching back to 1934. Their current offer gives new customers £40 in free bets as four tokens of £10 each when they register with code G40 and place a £10 cash single bet at minimum odds of 1/2. William Hill are strong across all major sports — their football coverage is comprehensive, their horse racing product includes Best Odds Guaranteed, and their app is consistently rated among the best available. Note that several payment methods do not qualify, including PayPal, Apple Pay and Skrill.
Qualifying: Use code G40. Place £10 cash single at min odds 1/2 on the sportsbook. Get 4x£10 free bets valid 7 days. Not valid with PayPal, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill or prepaid cards.
NetBet — Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
NetBet offer a neatly structured welcome package — when you bet £10 at odds of 1/1 or greater, you receive four targeted free bet tokens of £5 each: a bet builder free bet, an acca free bet, a horse racing free bet and a UFC free bet. The sport-specific free bet tokens make this a good option if you want to explore different betting markets beyond football.
Qualifying: Bet £10 at min odds 1/1. Get 4x£5 free bets (one each for bet builder, acca, horse racing and UFC).
BetVictor — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
BetVictor are one of the most established bookmakers in UK history, founded in 1946 as Victor Chandler. They have been rewarding new customers with competitive welcome offers for decades and their current deal gives you £30 in free bets across six tokens over 48 hours when you opt in, deposit and bet £10 at odds of 2.0 or greater. BetVictor are particularly strong for correct score betting — they are regularly the best or joint-best price on correct score markets in the Premier League. Their #PriceItUp feature allows you to request custom bets directly from the trading team, which is unique in the industry.
Qualifying: Opt in. Deposit and bet £10 at odds 2.0+ within 7 days. Get £30 in free bets (six tokens across 48 hours). 7-day expiry on each token.
FanTeam — Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets and Fantasy Tickets
FanTeam are a bookmaker with a unique proposition — they combine traditional sports betting with daily fantasy sports. Their sign-up offer gives you £40 in free bets and fantasy tickets across multiple token types when you bet £10 at odds of 2.0 or greater: a £5 single, a £5 live bet, a £10 multi, a £10 bet builder and five £2 fantasy tickets. If you enjoy fantasy football or fantasy horse racing alongside your sports betting, FanTeam is an excellent account to have.
Qualifying: Bet £10 at min odds 2.0. Get £5 single, £5 live, £10 multi, £10 bet builder, 5x£2 fantasy tickets. All expire in 14 days.
JeffBet — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
JeffBet is a UK bookmaker backed by Jeff Stelling, the well-known football presenter and broadcaster. Their sign-up offer gives new customers £30 in free bets when they register and bet £10. JeffBet are a solid option for football bettors with good odds across the Premier League, Championship and European competitions.
How to Use Free Bets on Football
Football is the sport most free bets are used on in the UK, and for good reason — there are matches every day of the week across the Premier League, Championship, Champions League, Europa League and dozens of other competitions.
If you are using a single free bet on football, the three best markets to target are correct scores, first goalscorers and team to win at bigger odds. All three can deliver odds of 3/1 or higher, which gives your free bet genuine value. Our correct score tips page is updated weekly with backed selections — a good starting point for your single free bets.
For acca free bets, the weekend Premier League fixtures are the natural hunting ground. A three or four-team accumulator on Saturday’s matches at combined odds of 6/1 to 10/1 can turn a £10 acca free bet into a £60-£100 return. Our accumulator tips page publishes weekly selections across the top European leagues to help you build your acca.
For bet builder free bets, our bet builder tips page provides daily stats-backed selections for the main Premier League and European fixtures, with odds available via the best bookmakers for same-game multiples.
How to Use Free Bets on Horse Racing
Horse racing is the second most popular sport for UK free bet usage, particularly around the major festivals — Cheltenham in March, Grand National in April and Royal Ascot in June.
The key advantage of using free bets on horse racing is that Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG), offered by several bookmakers on this page, including bet365, Betfred and William Hill, protects you if the starting price is bigger than the price you took. This makes ante-post free bets on festival races particularly valuable — you can back a horse at the current price knowing that if it drifts to a bigger price by race day, you will be paid at the higher odds.
For Cheltenham 2026 free bet offers specifically, see our dedicated Cheltenham free bets page, which covers all current bookmaker offers for the Festival.
Free Bets FAQs
- Do I have to pay tax on free bet winnings?
- Can I withdraw a free bet?
- Do free bets count towards meeting wagering requirements?
- Can I use a free bet on any sport?
- What happens if my qualifying bet is void?
- Can I claim more than one free bet offer?
- What is the difference between free bets and bet credits?
- Do free bets expire?
- Is there a minimum odds requirement for free bets?
- Can I use free bets in-play?
Responsible Gambling
Free bets and sign-up offers are a bonus, not a reason to bet beyond your means. All bookmakers on this page are fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which sets strict standards for responsible gambling tools. Every account you open will give you access to deposit limits, session time limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion.
If you ever feel your gambling is getting out of control, you can self-exclude from all UK-licensed bookmakers simultaneously via GamStop at gamstop.co.uk — a free, confidential national self-exclusion scheme. For independent advice and support, visit BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org or GamCare at gamcare.org.uk.
Please gamble responsibly. 18+ only. Free bets subject to individual bookmaker terms and conditions.