Betting bonuses

In this article we will go through all of the different types of betting bonuses on the market and the best places to find them.

Which betting sites have the best bonuses?

Just like how a big supermarket chain will have special deals to try and get customers in the door, sports betting sites will do the same to get users to wager with them. 

Sports betting is the second most popular form of gambling in the UK after the Lottery, with 24% of British adults placing a sports bet. With so much competition on the market, sites will often compete with each other to stand out from the crowd. 

Here is a list of the biggest sportsbooks in the United Kingdom and the welcome offers up for grabs at each:

1. bet365 bonus

The sports betting welcome offer at bet365 is advertised as “bet £10 and get £30 in free bets”. Free bets can be used across multiple sports and leagues across the site, but there is some key information to be aware of:

• You must deposit a minimum of £5 and deposit can not exceed £30.

• Any free bet placed must include one pick where the odds are 1/5 (1.20) or higher.

• The largest stake on an individual wager within a market or fixture will count towards settled bets.

• Any bets used for cashed out, instant games, gaming, free bets, void-bets, In-Play bets (which result in push), or fantasy sports entries aren’t eligible with this bonus.

• Betting credits can not be withdrawn and credit stakes can’t be included in returns. Returns from your bet credits will be allocated to your withdrawable balance. These credits can not be used to claim other promotions on the site.

• Once credited with free bets, you have seven days to use them.

• You can use your free bets on all sports markets.

2. Unibet bonus

At Unibet, new users can get a bonus of a free £20 Bet Builder and £20 in casino bonuses when betting just £10. That’s not all as they are given access to Unibet TV, leading industry markets, and opportunities for In-Play bets. Here’s a rundown on the bits you need to know: 

• Your £10 bet must be placed on qualifying markets with odds more than or equal to 1/1 (2.0) within seven days of creating an account.

• After the £10 bet is settled, the £20 free bet on Bet Builder will be credited to your account.

• Your bets placed using the Bet Builder must have minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0) and have at least four Bet Builder picks.

• Your free bets can not be used for wagers on the following markets: racing, greyhound racing, trotting, and virtual sports.

• Bets used with enhanced odds, boosted odds, or profit boosts can not be used with this promotion.

• Any returns won’t be included in the stake.

• Free bets will show up when adding selections to players’ slips.

• Can be used on pre-match and In-Play markets.

• Your free bets are valid for seven days after bet settlement.

3. Betway bonus

There’s a three-part bonus available to new users at Betway, granting them a matched free bet up to £30 if their first accumulator loses, plus 100 free spins on More Unusual Suspects and a £30 Uber Eats voucher. These are all the important details:

• You must stake a minimum of £5 and your bet cannot exceed £30 on accumulator.

• Deposits must be made with a debit card (with a few exceptions).

• Qualifying accumulator bets must have three or more legs and must be placed on football, horse racing, tennis, cricket, or basketball and have odds of 2/1 (3.0) or more.

• Each bet builder bets, multiple bets on other sports, system bets, cash-outs, or voided legs can not be used to claim the bonus.

• Free bet stakes aren’t included in your returns.

• Your free bet is not refundable.

• You have seven days to use your free bets.

4. 1xBet bonus

For bettors in the Republic of Ireland, one of the best betting bonuses available is the one over at 1xBet, where new users can get €30 in free bets after wagering €10 with their first bet. Let’s breakdown all the important stuff that comes along with this bonus:

• Your free bets are credited in the form of 3 x €10 free bets.

• Your qualifying stake must be a minimum of €10.

• You must make a deposit and qualifying bet within 30 days of account registration.

• Bets must be placed on single bets and accumulator bets at odds of 7/10 (1.7) or higher.

• All free bets that you earn are valid for 30 days after being credited.

There are no restrictions for betting on specific markets with this bonus bet, so bettors have free reign with how they want to place their 3 x €10 bets.

5. William Hill bonus

William Hill is one of the UK’s leading sports betting brands, and new players can claim £40 in free bets after betting £10. This is everything you need to know before claiming this promotion:

• Your free bets are credited in the form 4 x £10 free bets.

• You must use promo code ‘G40’ at account registration.

• All deposits made with PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay, or WH PLUS Card are not eligible to claim the bonus.

• You must place £10 in one bet and on a selection with odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater.

• Your free bets cannot be used on virtual sports markets, named bet types (things like Trixies, Lucky 15s, etc.), or cashed out/voided bets.

• All free bets have to be used in their entirety when placed (£10 each time).

Different types of betting bonus

Not all sports betting sites will offer the same bonuses, as they try to stand out as much as possible from the incredibly saturated crowd. There’s much more to giving bettors a slight boost with betting bonuses, and players can use them to their advantage if they know how to do so. If accompanied with betting strategies, bettors can potentially get the most out of their sports betting bonus. Here are some well-known betting strategies that you could pair with your sportsbook bonus to try and maximise profits:

• Value betting: Identify bets where odds offered are higher from the bookmaker than your own assessment.

• Arbing: Place bets on all outcomes possible across different bookmakers.

• Matched betting: Placing multiple bets that cover all potential outcomes.

• Bankroll management: Set a total budget for wagering and then use a fixed staking plan.

• Martingale System: Double bets after each loss for bigger payouts with eventual wins.

• Lay the draw: Bet against the draw in a football match before a game starts.

• The Kelly Criterion: Use a mathematical formula to see optimal size of bets and the probability of wins with odds.

Betting strategies are never concrete and should be taken with a pinch of salt, but in some cases they can work to your advantage. Below are the most popular sports betting bonuses you will see, and how to get the most out of them.

💵 Deposit bonus

Deposit bonuses are quite common, and essentially mean the sportsbook will match the first deposit you make on the site. For example, if you deposit £20, the sportsbook will then match this and grant you £20, usually in the form of free bets or bonus funds.

🆓 Free bets

Some sportsbooks will offer free bets to users after they have placed a bet of their own and sometimes you can even earn them without having to deposit funds. A common example is when a £10 is placed on a market on the site, the sportsbook will then grant you £20 in free bets to use, too.

❌ No deposit bonus

As alluded to above, no deposit bonuses are less common at sportsbooks, but there are some that still offer them. They require bettors to just make an account, which will earn them a free bet to use on the site without spending any money. Usually, no deposit bonuses will come with high wagering requirements, making earning any winnings a lot more difficult.

💰 Cashbacks

Cashback offers are a good way to claw back some of your losses at the end of a certain period, usually weekly or monthly. For example, a sportsbook may offer 30% cashback up to £200, allowing players to earn back some of the money they’ve spent on site.

How to play with a betting bonus?

Bonus betting is one of the simplest ways to get the most out of your sports betting experience and you can maximise your wagers if you know what you are doing. Here are some top tips for you to get the most out of your sports betting bonuses.

1. Compare and pick a bonus to play with

A good idea is to always compare what other sports betting sites are offering with the offer that’s caught your eye before going ahead and placing any bets. If there are great odds at one sportsbook but no bonus worth claiming, it’s worth having a good look at the market to find something that suits you best.

2. Check the wagering requirement

Some sportsbooks will have wagering requirements for bonuses and if present they will always be detailed in the terms and conditions. Wagering requirements are essentially a predetermined amount that you need to wager your bonus by before you can claim any winnings.

The most important thing to take away is that you should always read the terms and conditions before playing, as certain offers can be unclear at first glance.

3. Follow the instructions 

Here is a quick step-by-step guide to claiming a sports betting bonus at the site of your choice: 

1. Take some time to compare the different promotions that are available on the market

2. Once you’ve found a bonus that suits you, navigate to the sportsbook, and register for a new account.

3. Once you’ve signed up, head to the banking section and make your first deposit, which in most cases will trigger the bonus.

4. Your free bets or bonus credits are usually credited immediately, or once your qualifying bet has settled. 

Sometimes sports betting welcome bonuses will need you to opt in or provide a special code when signing up or at checkout, so make sure you are aware of this before trying to claim anything. If you forget to do this, it’s worth reaching out to the customer support team to see if they can assist you.