Free Bets - Best UK Free Bet Offers for January 2026
Compare the best free bets and betting offers from UK online bookmakers as we bring you the best promotions currently available, giving you incredible value when signing up as a new customer.
For the past 15 years, FreeBets.com has been trusted to constantly deliver free bet offers, value and insight to our readers. We have selected the very latest offers from betting sites in our list below for you to explore.
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What is a Free Bet?
To give a simple answer for what is a free bet, it is a bonus that you receive from your betting site, which you are able to then use to place bets with them.
Free bets, betting offers, matched deposits, you will see different names used, but they all have that same element to them, a bonus you can use to place bets without spending your own money.
Claiming a free bet offer is simple and easy, but there are requirements you need to follow, which may slightly vary from brand to brand. Signing up, depositing using a specific payment method, placing a bet with minimum odds or selections and more, can all be a part of this.
Once you’ve met the requirements of your chosen betting promotion, the free bet is either credited straight away or shortly after your qualifying bet settles.
If your free bet wins, keep in mind that you’ll only get the profit, not the original stake. So, for example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 returns £30 profit, but you won’t receive the £10 stake back.
Finally, it's important to note that most UK free bets have a time limit on them, and will expire. Be sure to check this, and use any free bet offers you have before they expire.
Types of Free Bet Offers in the UK
Free bets come in many different ways, either named differently by brands, and with various elements attached to them.
For a new gambler, this may be a little confusing, so here's our look at the different types of free bet offers and what they all mean for you.
Bet & Get Free Bets
The most common type of betting offer for new customers is the bet and get free bets. Here you will place a specific bet amount, and receive a set amount of free bets. The amount of free bets is almost always either equal to the bet you place, or great than it, for example, bet £10 get £30, or bet £20 get £20 would both fall under this category.
Simple for users, easy to claim, easy to understand, this free bet offer has become the cornerstone of the market.
Enhanced Odds Free Bets
Quickly becoming an important part of the betting promotions market, mainly due to their eye-catching nature, enhanced odds free bets are given to you based on the enhanced odds of a particular selection. Of course, that selection does need to win, but the odds are big, and the picks are almost always favourites. For example, you may get 50/1 on England winning a football game against a lower nation.
These add excitement to the free bet claim, give you something to cheer on, and if you win, the free bet amount is often great, and usually all from placing a £1 bet.
Bet Builder Free Bets
Placing bet builder bets is something that more and more people are turning to, giving greater flexibility across your wagers. Now, perfect for this style of betting, we are seeing some free bet offers specifically designed to give free bet builder bets, rather than general free bets. By being more specific and focused, this often results in more free bets being given.
If you're part of the popular bet builder trend, then taking an offer like this, which has more focus around it, can often lead to a better deal.
Matched Deposit Offers
Quite an old style offer, and something I think that will eventually fade out of the market, especially with those above being linked to quite progressive parts of betting. This offer matches the deposit you make with free bets to play with, for example, deposit £20 and get £20 worth of free bets to go alongside your own £20, giving you a total of £40 to play with.
Still around in some places, but more popular as a casino bonus, these have always been good for those willing to make a slightly bigger deposit in order to get more, but for most punters, these are probably the least valuable free bets now.
Horse Racing & Football Free Bets
We've already spoke about getting more value by being specific with bet builders, and being specific with sports is another way to do that. Almost always giving horse racing or football free bets, but you'll see other sports involved from time to time. These are general bet and get offers, but usually bigger, as your free bets are to be specifically used across the one named sport only.
If you only bet on one sport, or mainly bet on one, these offer you the opportunity to get a little bit more from brands when you sign up.
No Deposit Free Bets
A rare sighting, but still worth talking about, free bets with no deposit needed are occasionally found on the sports betting market, and are a great way to experience a site without using your own funds. Free spins no deposit are far more popular in the current age, but there are times when brands will offer these to their players.
Usually small, but something for nothing can definitely help punters along the way.
How to Claim Free Bets as a New Customer
Here is a simple step by step guide to explain how you can claim free bets as a new customer, from navigating this site, to receiving the free bets in your account.
Best Free Bet Offers - Editors' Picks
You've seen our list of free bets available at the top of this page, and we've explained how they work and the different types on offer.
But now it's time for more context. What are the best free bet offers currently available? And more importantly, why? Our editors picks below will showcase who is best, the pros and cons of each offer, and why they stand out.
1. Tote - Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Tote are offering £30 in free bets to new customers who open an account and place a £10 bet with them. This stands out from the crowd as being one of the best offers by the fact that £30 is on offer here, for a £10 qualifying bet.
The qualifying bet has to be at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater, while the free bets are given as £20 Tote credit and a £10 free sports bet.
Not that your qualifying bet has to be placed within seven days of opening the account, and free bets have a seven day expiry.
- Get £30 in free bets for spending just £10
- Qualifying bet can be placed across horse racing or any sport
- Simple offer with few limitations
- £20 of the £30 you receive is given as Tote credit, so can only be used on horse racing
2. Funky Jackpot - Bet £20 Get £30 Free Bet
Funky Jackpot offer £30 in free bets to their new customers who open an account and place a £20 bet as a new player.
Firstly, the great news and what makes this offer stand out as being one of the best is that your £20 qualifying bet has no odds limits attached. You can also place it on anything inside their sportsbook, which makes this a very flexible offer to claim.
But there is one key thing to note here, the £30 free bet you receive is a one-time stake, so the full £30 has to be placed on one bet, and the odds of that bet have to be 1/2 (1.50) or greater.
- Get a £30 free bet for spending £20
- No odds limit on the qualifying bet
- Place qualifying bet on anything across the Funky Jackpot sportsbook
- Free bet is a one-time stake, not split into multiple smaller free bets
3. Bet442 Sport - Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets
With Bet442 you can get yourself £20 in free bets to get started, when you open a new account and place a £20 qualifying bet. A combination of traditional free bets, plus bet builder free bets, allows this offer to really stand out and be one of the best on the market.
The free bets in this offer are given to you as a £10 free bet for anything, plus 2 x £5 free bets for bet builders, so that does mean this leans more towards those who use bet builders, and those who bet on sports where bet builders can be placed.
One to note with this is the minimum odds requirements, these are in place for your qualifying bet, and then for all three free bets you receive.
- Get £20 in free bets when you spend £20
- Free bets spread across regular bets and bet builders
- Place your qualifying bet on any sport and market
- Minimum odds in place for all free bets and qualifying bet
How to Choose the Best Free Bet For You
Many of the free bet offers available have slight differences between them, and this is why we always encourage you to take a personal approach when it comes to claiming one.
Find the best free bet for you and your needs, and that may not always mean taking the best.
There are many areas to think about. We suggest asking yourself the following questions before claiming a free bet offer.
- Are you happy hitting the qualifying bet stake, does this fit with your normal staking?
- Can you reach the minimum odds requirement without over stretching yourself?
- Will you be able to bet on the sports you currently bet on?
- What are the wagering rules when it comes to the free bets your receive?
- If you win, what are withdrawal times like to get your funds?
By doing all of this, not only are you going to be more informed, but you are far more likely to choose the right free bet for you, and that's something we strive to get right here at Freebets.com.
Free Bet Terms & Conditions Explained
Understanding the terms and conditions of claiming free bets is vital to the smooth process we hope you will see. This should mean no unexpected errors or problems during the whole process, and a stress free environment for you to enjoy your betting.
Here's a look at four of the most common terms and conditions you will see, and what it means for you.
Minimum Odds
Any minimum odds requirements attached mean that you must hit this, as a minimum, in order for the bets to qualify.
These can be seen on qualifying bets you have to place in order to unlock free bets, and also on the free bets themselves.
- Usually given as single, for example, minimum odds 1/1 (2.00), but they can also be seen in multiples, for example, minimum overall odds 2/1 (3.00) with minimum selection odds at 1/4 (1.25).
Expiry Dates
I couldn't think of anything worse than claiming some free bets, fulfilling everything, and then not using them before they expire, meaning I end up with nothing.
These expiry dates can be as long as 30 days, but as short as seven days, and they are so important to look out for.
- You will be given this as a day amount after receiving, not a set date on the calendar, for example, free bets expire seven days after issue.
Stake Not Returned on Free Bets
When you place a wager with your free bets, if you are lucky enough to win, you will not receive the stake amount back for this, as these are not real funds.
This is standard across free bets and offers, but has been the subject of confusion for players in the past. Generally, stakes are only returned, if it's a real cash stake.
- A £10 free bet placed at odds of 2/1 would return you £20, not £30, as the stake is not given back when it is a free bet token.
Restricted Markets & Sports
Finding specific free bet offers, for example, free bet builder bets, or free horse racing bets, is a great way to seek out additional value, but it's also something to be wary of.
Check how and where you can spend free bets for any offers you claim, so you're not stuck with them for something you wouldn't normall bet on.
- Bet £10 get £30 may not seem as good as bet £10 get £50 in bet builder bets, but for those who don't use bet builders, or bet on sports where they are available, the bigger offer may not actually be the best.
Are Free Bets Safe and Legal in the UK?
Getting free bets from an operator is a perfectly legal part of UK gambling and the laws around it.
As for whether they are safe or not, the same principle stands for everything we do here at Freebets.com. We only ever recommend operators with a UK Gambling Commission license, so you know that if we recommend them, they offer a safe place to bet.
It is vitally important to us that you are safe, we promote responsible gambling to all our players, and we want people to feel secure while they are placing bets.
To legally bet in the UK, you must be aged 18+ and when you are on Freebets, you can be assured that every brand here is compliant, holds a UK license, and comes with our recommendation.
About Freebets - Helping Users Since 2011
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From bringing you the best free bets to showcasing new brands and betting offers as they hit the market, if there's a promotion out there, we know about it!
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