Written by
James WilkersonSports betting has changed dramatically in recent years. Previously an offline endeavour, the rise of the internet and smartphones has made it easier to place wagers wherever you are. But with so many bookmakers to choose from, how do you decide which one to use?
The main way bookies try to attract new customers is via betting offers. These are promotional offers designed to increase sign-ups or reward existing punters. Common examples include a matched free bet, odds boosts and welcome bonuses.
Bookies hope that by offering you something at the start of your sports betting journey, you will stick with them thereafter. Betting bonuses are completely legal in the UK, provided the bookmaker is fully regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
In this article we have taken a deep dive into betting bonuses UK, picking out the best offers available today and providing advice on what you should look out for in your search for the latest bookmaker promotions.
Best betting bonuses
Best Betting Offers 2026 [Verified]
Below you will find what we consider to be the best betting bonus today. To find out more about how to differentiate between UK betting offers, keep reading the rest of the article.
Spreadex: Bet £10, get £60 in free bets
Spreadex is a leading UK bookmaker and it has one of the most generous free bets UK offers available right now. If you place a £10 bet at odds of 1/2 or greater, you will receive a total of £60 in a variety of free bets. This betting offer is available to new customers only.
247Bet: 100% bonus up to £50
Another attractive offer currently out there comes from 247Bet. Again, this one is only for new customers, but if you do not have an account it is worth signing up for one. They are giving out a 100% match bonus up to £50 on your first deposit, as long as the bet meets the minimum odds requirement of 3/4.
Grosvenor Sports: £20 free bets and double the odds
Grosvenor Sports has an interesting betting offer which is in effect two for the price of one. With your first £10 bet at odds of evens or greater, you will receive £20 of free bets. On top of that, you will get a 100% odds boost token to be used on a bet of your choice.
Types of Betting Offers in the UK
Before we go any further, it is time to define the types of betting offers available in the UK, considering the pros and cons of each of them.
Free Bets
This is the most common of all sportsbook bonuses UK in 2026. After depositing and making your first bet, you will receive a certain amount of free bet vouchers. For instance, “bet £10 and get four £10 free bet tokens”.
This gives you the chance to win extra money without risking your own stake. However, you do not get the stake back and there is often a short expiry date on the token.
Welcome Bonuses
A welcome bonus is the broad term for any sort of offer available to new customers. It is an excellent way to start off your journey with a particular bookmaker, but make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully. Some welcome bonuses are not as good as they appear to be at first glance.
Bet & Get Offers
Bet and get offers UK are similar to free bets, but they do not always function in the same way. They require the new customer to wager a certain amount, often at minimum odds, after which they will receive a reward such as a free bet voucher or another promotional offer. An example would be “bet £20, get £50 in bonus credit”.
Again, though, it is always worth checking the small print to see if the offer is all it is cracked up to be.
Enhanced Odds
Enhanced odds temporarily boost prices on certain markets. Bookmakers regularly use enhanced odds for particular events, but they sometimes give out additional odds boosts to new customers. This could be something like “10/1 on Manchester City to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers”.
The potential return is increased, so you stand to win more, although this is only a benefit if your bet is actually successful and there are usually maximum wager restrictions.
Money Back Specials
A money back special works well by reducing the risk. An example of this is “get your stake back if the team you backed loses by one goal”. Money back specials do not enhance your chances of winning, but they do protect your stake.
However, stakes are often returned as a free bet which can have restrictions. And you might only be able to use it on certain markets, so it is not the same as having the cash in your account.
Loyalty & Reload Bonuses
Whereas most betting offers are designed to bring in new customers, loyalty and reload bonuses are open to those who already have an account with a bookmaker.
You might receive bonus prizes such as a free bet or enhanced odds after meeting certain requirements. These are sometimes personalised based on the markets and events you are most interested in, but they are often lower value than new customer offers.
How betting offers work
Bookmakers provide betting offers for two main reasons: customer acquisition and customer retention. With so much competition out there, bookies are incentivised to offer the best deals.
However, in order to make the most of these promotions, it is important to understand how betting offers work. That is what we will do in this section, focusing on five important rules.
Minimum odds
To qualify for a betting offer, you will often have to meet the minimum odds requirement. Bookmakers do not want to give out free bets after your 1/50 wager has come through. Minimum odds are often set at 1/2 or above.
Stake requirements
There are also important stake requirements to be aware of. These are usually explicit, such as “bet £10, get £30 in bonuses”, and it is always worth double checking if you cannot see one. Before bookmakers release the bonus, they require a qualifying stake.
Time limits
This one regularly catches sports bettors out. Prizes such as free bets or enhanced odds almost invariably have an expiry date. If you do not make use of your offer before then, it becomes invalid.
Bonus vs cash bets
When you bet with your own cash, your stake is returned as well as the winnings. So £10 on a 2/1 bet earns you £30 back in your account. With a bonus, you do not get the stake - so that bet would pocket you only £20.
Withdrawal rules
You will have to meet various requirements before you are able to withdraw bonus funds. Some bookmakers make you wait a certain amount of time, while others have wagering requirements. Again, make sure you are aware of the rules before you sign up.
How to claim a sports betting offer
1. Check your eligibility
Before you get started with any form of welcome bonus betting, it is important to clarify whether you are eligible. First off, you probably cannot have held an account with the bookie before. You must be over the age of 18 and are usually required to be a UK resident.
2. Read the terms and conditions
No one enjoys reading small print, but it is really important when it comes to welcome bonus betting. Look beyond the headline and ensure you know exactly what deal you are taking.
3. Create an account
Once you have done all that, you will need to create your account. You will need to verify your identity before you can withdraw, so it makes sense to do that now. If the betting offer came in the form of a promo code, enter it when prompted.
4. Meet offer requirements
Before you make use of your bonus, check that you have met all the offer requirements. There might be a minimum stake needed, or perhaps you have to place an ordinary bet first. This is an important step, so take your time with it.
What are wagering requirements?
We mentioned wagering requirements above, but we should briefly explain exactly what that means. A wagering requirement states how many times you must place bets with bonus funds (and sometimes your deposit) before any winnings from that bonus can be withdrawn.
Top 3 Tips for using a betting offer
1. Read the qualifying terms
Go beyond the headline, which is designed to attract people to a bookmaker’s website. “Bet £10, get £100 in free bets if your bet wins” is not so appealing if the minimum odds are set at 10/1.
2. Lower wagering trap
Do not assume that a lower wagering requirement is always the optimum choice. At first glance a wagering requirement of two looks better than five since it requires fewer uses of the bonus, but there could be other factors at play - total required bet value, odds restrictions, time limits and more.
3. Stick to a plan
It is easy to treat a betting offer such as a free bet like easy money. A much better approach is to act like it is your own cash. Do not use it impulsively, but rather add it to your overall betting plan. That will allow you to make the most of the offer.
UK betting offers compared
| Brand | Offer | Wagering |
| 247Bet | 100% bonus up to £50 | New players only. Opt-in required. Min deposit £20. Offer is 100% match bonus up to £50 on your first deposit. Bonus funds can be used on a real money sports bet with minimal odds of 3/4 |
| Betfair4FaqTitle is empty Clone Add Preview FaqGeneralFaq display front endFaq render schemaFaq list Add item # 1 | Bet £10, get £50 in free bets | Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get 5x £10 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days |
| William Hill | Bet £10, get £40 in free bets | For new UK registered customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals) |
| Spreadex | Bet £10, get £60 in free bets | Place a £10 fixed odds single or £10 each-way bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet |
| BoyleSports | £50 in free bets with a £10 bet | ew UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify |
| Grosvenor Sports | £20 free bets and double the odds | New customers. First Bet of £10+. Odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. 2 x £10 Free Bets credited within 72 hours of settlement. Plus 100% Odds Boost token |
Spreadex: Bet £10, get £60 in free bets
Spreadex is a leading UK bookmaker and it has one of the most generous free bets UK offers available right now. If you place a £10 bet at odds of 1/2 or greater, you will receive a total of £60 in a variety of free bets. This betting offer is available to new customers only.
247Bet: 100% bonus up to £50
Another attractive offer currently out there comes from 247Bet. Again, this one is only for new customers, but if you do not have an account it is worth signing up for one. They are giving out a 100% match bonus up to £50 on your first deposit, as long as the bet meets the minimum odds requirement of 3/4.
Grosvenor Sports: £20 free bets and double the odds
Grosvenor Sports has an interesting betting offer which is in effect two for the price of one. With your first £10 bet at odds of evens or greater, you will receive £20 of free bets. On top of that, you will get a 100% odds boost token to be used on a bet of your choice.
What do the Livegoals team look for in a betting offer?
Payment methods available: Is my preferred deposit method accepted, and how do I eventually withdraw my money?
Wagering requirements: How many times must I place bets before my winnings are available to withdraw?
Competitive odds: Is the bookmaker offering good prices, or is there better value to be found elsewhere?
Accepted bet types: Is the offer only valid on singles, or on doubles, triples or accas too?
Maximum payouts: Is there an upper limit of how much you can earn from bonuses or betting offers?
Sports coverage: Am I restricted to a certain sport or market, or can I use my offer freely?
What’s the difference between betting offers for new accounts vs existing customers?
Betting offers for new accounts are focused on bringing in customers from outside. They usually have bigger bonuses that are available just once.
Betting offers for existing customers are designed to reward loyalty. They are typically smaller but can be more regular, and sometimes they are tailored to your betting preferences.
Are Betting Offers Worth It?
Betting offers are usually worth it, as long as you understand the terms. With no wagering requirement, low minimum odds and reasonable expiry dates, a betting offer has excellent value.
But if the bonus must be used in 24 hours and cannot be withdrawn until you have reached a high threshold, it is advisable to proceed with caution.
Casual bettors may prefer to stick with simple betting offers with minimal restrictions, whereas frequent bettors who know what they are doing are better placed to ensure all terms are met.
Whatever type of bettor you are, remember that you can take advantage of betting offers with different bookmakers - you are not just restricted to one.
Responsible Gambling Reminder
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Can I withdraw a free bet?
No. Free bets are not withdrawable and you only keep the profit (not the stake) if your selection wins.
Do betting bonuses expire?
Yes. There are sometimes strict time limits on betting bonuses, so be sure to check the small print.
Are betting bonuses taxable in the UK?
No. Betting bonuses and all gambling winnings are not taxable in the UK.
Can I use more than one bonus?
You can usually only use one sign-up offer per bookmaker, but this will be laid out in the terms and conditions.
Sportsbook Expert
Betting online since 2007, James Wilkerson has a keen eye for detail when it comes sportsbooks. Primarily a football bettor, he is a huge fan of watching the matches live, and is here to give you insight from his experience.
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