Last Updated on 05/03/2026 by Andy Clark
7Bet is one of the newer names in UK sports betting — launched specifically for the British market and fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. For the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, they’re running a welcome offer exclusively tied to horse racing: deposit £20, use code CHEL2026, place a £20 qualifying bet on any horse racing market at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater, and you’ll receive up to £21 in free bets once your qualifying bet settles.
The free bets are delivered in stages — a £6 token first, then three £5 tokens released one at a time once each previous token is used and settled. All must be used on horse racing only.
How to Claim the 7Bet Cheltenham Offer
- Click the link on this page to go to the 7Bet registration page
- Create your new 7Bet account with your name, address, date of birth and email
- When making your first deposit, enter the code CHEL2026 and deposit a minimum of £20
- Place a qualifying bet of £20 or more on Horse Racing at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0)
- Do not cash out your qualifying bet — cash-out is not permitted for this promotion
- Once your qualifying bet settles, your first £6 free bet will be credited to your account
- Use and settle the £6 free bet to unlock the first of three £5 free bets, and so on until all four tokens are used
The offer runs until 13th March 2026 — the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
What Is the 7Bet Cheltenham Offer?
This is a horse racing-specific welcome offer tied exclusively to the Cheltenham Festival period. Unlike most bookmaker welcome offers, the free bets here can only be used on horse racing — which makes it a clean fit for punters who are signing up purely for the Festival.
Key terms before you sign up:
- Promo code: CHEL2026 — must be entered at deposit stage
- Min deposit / qualifying bet: £20
- Qualifying market: Horse Racing only, win bets — each-way, forecast, tricast and SP bets do not qualify
- Min qualifying odds: 1/1 (2.0)
- Cash-out: Not permitted on qualifying bets or free bets
- Free bet breakdown: 1×£6, then 3×£5 (released sequentially — each token must be used and settled before the next is released)
- Free bet markets: Horse Racing only, min odds 1/1 (2.0)
- Stake returned? No
- Max winnings per free bet: £200
- Free bet expiry: 7 days from issue
- Offer valid until: 13th March 2026
Why the Sequential Free Bet Structure Matters
Most bookmaker offers credit all your free bets in one go. 7Bet’s Cheltenham offer works differently — the £6 arrives first, and each of the three £5 tokens is only released once the previous one has been used and settled. This means you need to keep the process moving to unlock the full £21.
The practical implication for Cheltenham: don’t leave the £6 sitting unused overnight. Use it on a race the same day it arrives, let it settle, and the first £5 token will follow. With four days of Festival racing available, there’s no shortage of opportunities — but if you deposit and qualify on the final day of the Festival (13th March) you’ll need to move quickly to work through all four tokens before any expire.
Each token has a 7-day expiry from the date it is individually credited, so as long as you’re using and settling each one within a week you won’t lose them.
How to Use Your 7Bet Free Bets at Cheltenham
All four tokens must be used on horse racing at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0). The free bet stake is not returned with winnings and the maximum return per token is capped at £200.
£6 first token — use it on a handicap. The £6 opening token is the smallest of the four but the logic for deploying it is the same as any free bet: aim for a bigger-priced selection where the lack of stake return matters less. A £6 free bet at 10/1 returns £60. At 2/1 it returns £12. The competitive Festival handicaps — the Coral Cup, the Pertemps Final, the County Hurdle — are well suited to finding something at a double-figure price with a genuine winning chance.
Three £5 tokens — spread them across the remaining days. Once the first token is used and the £5s start flowing, you have three tokens to deploy across whichever Festival days remain. Use one per day if you can — that keeps you engaged across the card and gives you three separate chances rather than loading everything into one race.
Stick to win bets at good odds. The 7Bet offer specifically excludes each-way bets from qualifying for the free bets, so these must be placed as win singles. That makes it even more important to find selections at a price where a win-only return is meaningful.
For race tips and selections across all four Festival days, see our Cheltenham Festival tips pages.
7Bet Cheltenham Offer — Key Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Offer | Deposit £20 Get up to £21 in Free Bets |
| Promo Code | CHEL2026 |
| Min Deposit | £20 |
| Qualifying Market | Horse Racing (win bets only) |
| Min Qualifying Odds | 1/1 (2.0) |
| Free Bet Breakdown | 1×£6, then 3×£5 (sequential) |
| Free Bet Markets | Horse Racing only |
| Min Free Bet Odds | 1/1 (2.0) |
| Stake Returned? | No |
| Max Winnings Per Token | £200 |
| Free Bet Expiry | 7 days from issue |
| Cash-Out | Not permitted |
| Offer Valid Until | 13th March 2026 |
| Regulator | UK Gambling Commission |
Claim Your 7Bet Cheltenham Free Bets →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7Bet a legitimate bookmaker?
Yes. 7Bet is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and operates in full compliance with UK gambling regulations. It is a newer brand built specifically for the British market.
What is the promo code for the 7Bet Cheltenham offer?
The promo code is CHEL2026. You must enter this when making your first deposit. Without the code the promotion will not be activated.
Can I place my qualifying bet each-way?
No. Each-way bets do not qualify for this promotion. Your qualifying £20 bet must be a win single on a horse racing market at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater. Forecast, tricast and SP bets also do not qualify.
Why do I only get the £6 free bet first?
7Bet’s offer releases the tokens sequentially — the £6 arrives after your qualifying bet settles, and each of the three £5 tokens is only released once the previous one has been placed and settled. You need to work through them in order to unlock the full £21.
Can I use the free bets on any sport?
No. All four free bet tokens are restricted to horse racing markets only and must be placed at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0). They cannot be used on football, racing from outside the UK and Ireland, or any other sport.
What if I cash out my qualifying bet?
Cash-out is not permitted on qualifying bets as part of this promotion. If you cash out your qualifying bet it will be disqualified and you will not receive the free bets.
How long do I have to use the free bets?
Each token is valid for 7 days from the date it is individually credited to your account. Given the sequential release structure, make sure you use each token promptly to keep the next one unlocking in time.
What is the maximum I can win from the free bets?
Winnings from each individual free bet token are capped at £200. The free bet stake is not included in any return.
More Cheltenham Free Bet Offers
7Bet’s offer is horse-racing-specific and clear on terms, making it a good addition to your Cheltenham free bet stack. For comparison and other sign-up offers available this Festival, see our full Cheltenham Free Bets hub.
Other offers worth stacking alongside 7Bet:
Betfred – Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets — Use code FRED40. Cheltenham-specific offer live until 23:59 on 13th March. NRNB on all 28 races.
William Hill – Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets — NRNB on all 28 races. BOG available.
Ladbrokes – Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets — NRNB on all 28 races.
Coral – Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets — NRNB on all 28 races.
bet365 – Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets — NRNB on all 28 races. BOG from 9am.