Pros And Cons Of Free Bets With No Deposits
Free Bets: Pros & Cons
- Risk-free way to try sports betting
- Great way to sample new sportsbooks
- Potential to win real cash
- Strict T&Cs apply – including wagering requirements
Understanding No-Deposit Free Bets - The Key Details You Need To Know
You don’t have to look far to find an online betting site offering
free bets
with no deposit. These attractive
betting offers
are ten a penny at the
top UK online bookmakers, which tells you all you need to know about how competitive the country’s online betting landscape has become.
Of course, from our perspective, a little healthy competition within the UK gambling industry is no bad thing. After all, if one reputable sportsbook starts offering free no-deposit sports bets, the rest will surely follow, providing more opportunities to grab an eye-catching deal.
Let’s not jump the gun, though, as there are a few things to get to grips with before we get to our list of recommended
bookmaker deals. Here, we’ll explain how free bets with no deposit work and some potential benefits and pitfalls.
What Are No-Deposit Free Bets?
Placing a real sports bet without depositing funds first is an attractive proposition. Bookmakers understand this, which is why so many offer free, no-deposit bets as an incentive for new customers.
Typically,
free bets with no deposit
are offered exclusively to new members; those who’ve never registered with a bookmaker before. You might think of them as a free trial, giving you the chance to test drive a new betting site before you part with your cash. That’s the main reason why they’re so popular, anyway.
Are There Different Types Of Free Online Bets With No Deposit?
Certainly. Bookies reward no-deposit free bets in all sorts of ways, mainly to differentiate themselves from competitor brands.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the different types of free bets you might find on UK betting sites.
| Free no-deposit bet type | Key details |
| Standard free bet | Lots of web bookies offer cut-and-dry free bets with no deposit as an incentive for new members. Here, you’re offered a sum of free bet credit – say, £10 – that you can use on your choice of sports fixtures when you register with a new bookie. Naturally, some T&Cs will apply, but we’ll discuss those later. |
| Sports-specific free bet | In some cases, betting sites hone in on popular sports to make their no-deposit free bet promotions more appealing to particular bettors. For example, free football bets with no deposit are very popular in the UK. |
| Free bets for downloading a sportsbook app | If a bookmaker is trying to push a new service, say, a mobile app, it might offer new and existing customers the chance to score a free bet with no deposit required. We’ve seen lots of betting brands offering free no-deposit bets for downloading their mobile apps, so these offers are worth looking out for. |
| Refer-a-friend free bets | Some UK betting sites offer referral promotions to new and returning members. Here, you can score a free bet with no deposit when you invite your friends to sign up with your favourite bookmaker. They’ll need to register and deposit a set sum first, but you may both feel the benefit of a risk-free no-deposit wager. |
| Event-specific free bets | If there’s a big sports fixture on the horizon – say, the Wimbledon final or the closing day of the Premier League season – it’s often possible to pick up free sportsbook bets with no deposit required. Event-specific free bets are very popular among British bookies, and the great thing about them is that they’re available to both new and returning members.
|
That’s not an exhaustive list of the types of free online sports bets with no deposit you can claim in the UK, but it should at least give you an idea of what’s available.
Visit Provider
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
Bet now
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
Bet now
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
What T&Cs Apply To Free No-Deposit Sports Bets In The UK?
It’s not hard to imagine that no-deposit free bets come with their fair share of T&Cs attached. After all, betting brands aren’t likely to give away something for nothing, so they put measures in place to ensure that offering free bonus bets won’t blunt their profit margins.
So, what are the typical T&Cs to look out for when using free sportsbook bets? Let’s take a look:
Bookmakers often impose wagering requirements on free bet bonuses, effectively setting a minimum amount that you’ll need to wager to withdraw cash won off the back of a free bet promo. You’ll often see wagering requirements written as a multiplier, be it 10x, 25x, or 30x. This indicates the number of times you’ll need to wager your total bonus winnings before you can make a withdrawal.
Many betting sites seek to level the playing field by imposing minimum odds on free sportsbook bets. This ensures that members can’t simply opt for a nailed-on wager simply to turn a profit from a free bet.
⚽ Specific Sports Markets and Fixtures
In some cases, you may be limited to the sports markets you can use free bet credit on, so this is something to look for in the bonus wording before you start. If a bookmaker imposes restrictions on the types of sports you can bet on, along with applying minimum odds, this can make it tricky to find the right place to lay your free bet.
It’s not uncommon for betting sites to time-limit how long you have to use free bonus bets and satisfy the attached wagering requirements. For example, you may need to place a wager within 7 days of signing up, with an additional 30 days given to satisfy the wagering requirements and any other T&Cs that may apply.
💰 Conditions of Withdrawal
It’s worth checking what and how you can withdraw when using a free no-deposit sports bet, as bookmakers often stipulate certain conditions. For instance, you may only be able to withdraw winnings accrued from the free bet, not the free bet sum itself. So, that could mean deducting a certain amount from your bankroll – be it £10 or £40 (whatever the initial free bet sum was).
5 Dos And Don’ts For Using No-Deposit Free Bets
Given the potentially tricky T&Cs attached to free no-deposit sports bets, there’s an art to using these
sportsbook promotions
successfully. So, with our experience in testing and using the latest no-deposit bonuses, here are some of our top dos and don’ts for putting these betting deals to good use.
- Do find a reliable and reputable bookmaker. While the UK Gambling Commission has made online gambling very safe on the whole, some sites may have slipped through the cracks. If in doubt, opt for brands recommended by our experts here at Betting.co.uk.
- Don’t wager beyond your comfort zone in pursuit of a particular free bet promotion. Given the high wagering requirements attached to many free no-deposit bet offers, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, so try to stick to your usual wagering habits wherever possible.
- Do read the bonus-specific T&Cs before you register with a particular bookmaker. You’ll want to note down all the important small-print items we listed earlier, so you know exactly what’s required and how to redeem a bonus successfully.
- Don’t attempt to sign up with the same bookmaker to claim a free no-deposit bet welcome bonus for a second time. Betting sites use some clever tech to identify fraudulent bonus claimants, with the ability to track your IP address and geolocation. You could be banned and have outstanding bonuses stripped if you attempt to claim free bets again.
- Do check upcoming sports fixtures
before
you claim a free bet deal. With time limits in place, having an idea of where you might use your free bet allowance is a sound strategy.
Our Recommended Bookmakers For Free Bets With No Deposit In The UK
OK, so by now, you should know pretty much everything there is to know about free bets with no deposit in the UK. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the
best online betting sites
we recommend for grabbing perks and rewards that might help give your sports betting strategy a little lift.
BetMGM – One Of The World’s Biggest Betting Brands Wants Your Custom
BetMGM UK: Pros & Cons
- Wide range of casino games
- Great collection of live casino games
- Great selection of sporting events
- Comprehensive sports betting markets
- Mobile app available
- Small selection of payment methods
It’s safe to say that
BetMGM
needs little introduction. This US sportsbook and casino brand first set up shop in the UK in August 2023 and has gone down a storm with British punters since. That could be down to the brand’s competitive sportsbook odds, specifically on popular US sports franchises like the NBA and NFL. Or, it could have something to do with A-list endorsements from the likes of Jamie Foxx and Chris Rock.
Irrespective of how you found yourself on the BetMGM site, the brand has some excellent promotions available for new sign-ups. First up, sports bettors can grab up to £40 in free bets when they spend £10.
For those that don’t want to make any sort of deposit, you can also get 10 free spins to enjoy on the
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen
slot in the awesome BetMGM Casino.
Bwin – An Excellent Betting Brand For Passionate Sports Fans
Bwin: Pros & Cons
- Huge variety of sports
- Multiple bonuses to choose from
- Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
- Extensive live casino options
- Lack of customer service options
We’re big fans of
Bwin
here at Betting.co.uk, mainly because it’s clear that the brand takes sports betting as seriously as us. With its streamlined sportsbook, best-odds guarantee, and extensive in-play betting markets, this is a bookmaker for true sports enthusiasts – those not afraid to put a little legwork into researching the best wagering opportunities on upcoming fixtures lists.
As for bonuses, Bwin doesn’t currently have a no-deposit welcome bonus available, but it does often offer free bets with no deposit on headline sports events. If you’re new to the site, you can pick up a free £20 Backup Bet when you make an initial qualifying wager. Bwin will refund any initial losing bet up to £20, so it’s a low-risk way to get started with the site.
Betano: Pros and Cons
- iOS and Android app
- Good range of payment methods
- Frequent promos and odds boosts
- 24/7 customer support
- Innovative ‘Watch and Bet’ feature
Having only launched in the UK in 2024,
Betano
has sought to carve out a niche for itself as the go-to betting brand for football fans. It’s a strategy that’s proven quite successful, too, with Betano welcoming millions of soccer-mad customers through its virtual doors over the past twelve months.
That’s all thanks to football-focused promotions and bonuses, including up to £30 in free football bets for all new sign-ups.
Betano takes its commitment to football betting seriously, guaranteeing the best odds on Premier League, Championship, FA Cup, and European Championship matches.
It also plays host to the ongoing “Premier Predictions” event, wherein football fans can win up to £250 when they correctly predict the final score from four Premier League matches.
Kwiff UK: Pros and Cons
- Excellent mobile betting app
- Generous welcome bonus options
- Great live betting features
- Limited payment method choices
The
Kwiff “Promotions”
page is a veritable who's-who of top sportsbook bonuses. It seems the brand has covered all bases to ensure that new and returning members alike can pick up a deal on the sports fixtures they’re interested in – from the excellent Football Acca Shield event to 2nd to the Favourite horse racing bonus, which grants a no-deposit free bet on qualifying race line-ups.
Of course, for those that don’t know, one of the best ways to experience Kwiff is via the brand’s pioneering sportsbook and casino mobile app. Kwiff started life as an app-only platform, only launching a desktop browser version of its service in recent months.
That should give you an idea of just how good its app-based service is, so we’d certainly recommend checking out the Kwiff app in your iOS or Android app store.
Betfred – Grab Free Casino Spins Without A Deposit At Betfred
Betfred: Pros & Cons
- Very generous welcome offers
- Multiple product-specific bonuses
- Trusted, long-standing UK brand
Although
Betfred
doesn’t hand out free bets with no deposit, if you enjoy spinning the reels as much as you do filling out a wager slip, you can score a bunch of free spins without first adding funds on the site. That’s all thanks to the brand’s Mystery Free Spins event, which randomly rewards free casino spins to
all
registered users whenever they log in and access their Betfred account.
If you’re not that interested in claiming free casino spins, rest assured that Betfred offers an exciting range of promotions for sportsbook members; simply tap into the Betfred “Promotions” screen to see which deals are currently available. The brand has been known to offer free bets ahead of big sporting fixtures, so make sure you’re following the site on its socials to be the first to know about any new sportsbook deals that are coming down the pipe.
No Deposit Free Bets Are Out There – So Long As You Know Where To Look
It’s easy to see why free bets with no deposit continue to prove such a popular type of sportsbook bonus. Having the opportunity to place a no-risk bet with a new bookmaker is an enticing proposition, as it ultimately gives you the chance to “try before you buy” and find out if a certain betting brand is right for you.
Of course, there are plenty of terms and conditions to get to grips with when utilising free no-deposit bet deals. Wagering requirements, minimum odds, excluded sports markets, and strict bonus expiry time limits can all impact your experience of claiming free sports bets online, so you must remember to check the small print carefully before claiming any of these offers.
If you’re determined to make use of the latest sportsbook promotions from the UK’s best-loved bookies, let Betting.co.uk help you. We’ve earmarked some of the most competitive sports betting offers of the moment and added them to the banners around this page, so be sure to check them out if you need a little inspiration.
Try These Top Betting Bonuses
1.
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
2.
Bet £10 Get £30
Requirements (WR): £10 Slots bonus on selected slots
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
3.
Bet £10 Get £50
Min. Deposit: 10
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
4.
Bet £10 Get £30 Surprise Bet
Min. Deposit: £10
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
5.
Bet £10 Get £30
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: £10
New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs Apply.
Free Bets No Deposit FAQs
🎲 Can You Get Free Bets With No Deposit In The UK?
Yes, you can. Some sports betting sites offer free bets with no deposit required. Although these promotions do come with strict T&Cs attached, they’re a great way to try out a new bookmaker before you part with your cash.
💰 Are Sportsbook No-Deposit Welcome Bonuses Legal In The UK?
Sure they are. So long as a brand is regulated by the Gambling Commission and offers its bonuses fairly and transparently, it can offer free bets with no deposit to new and returning customers.
📈 What Are Wagering Requirements At Online Sportsbooks?
Wagering requirements are essentially a safeguard used by online betting sites to ensure they receive some cash when a customer is attempting to claim a bonus. They work by imposing a minimum amount of required wagering, which a customer must satisfy to withdraw bonus winnings.
