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Quick answer: A free bet is a betting token a bookmaker gives you, usually for signing up, depositing or placing a qualifying bet. Most are stake not returned (SNR): if the free bet wins you keep the winnings but not the free bet amount, so a £20 free bet at 3/1 (4.0) pays £60. Free bets come with rules on minimum odds, eligible markets and expiry, so always read the terms. Our top picks for sports bonuses are 1win (9.9/10, promo code Ultragambler) and 1xBet (9.0/10).
Best betting sites for free bets and sports bonuses
| Bookmaker | Our score | Sports offer (examples) | Review | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1win | 9.9/10 | 500% welcome package over your first four deposits, usable on sports or casino. Use code Ultragambler. | 1win review | Visit |
| 1xBet | 9.0/10 | 100% first deposit sports bonus (the maximum varies by country), plus a Promo Code Store where bonus points can be swapped for promo codes. | 1xBet review | Visit |
Bonus amounts, rules and availability vary by country, and both sites change their offers often. Check the current terms in the site’s promotions page before you deposit, and check your local laws first.
Claim the 1win welcome package →
What is a free bet?
A free bet is like a voucher: you can place it as a stake, but you can’t withdraw it as cash. If it wins, the winnings are paid to your balance. With an SNR free bet the token itself isn’t included in the return, which is why free bets are worth less than the same amount of cash.
| Stake | Odds | Cash bet returns | SNR free bet returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20 | 3/1 (4.0) | £80 (£60 profit + £20 stake) | £60 |
| £10 | Evens (2.0) | £20 | £10 |
Types of free bets and sports offers
| Offer | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up free bet (“bet and get”) | Place a qualifying bet and receive free bets. | Minimum odds on the qualifying bet; expiry dates. |
| Deposit bonus | Bonus funds matched to your deposit. | Wagering requirements, often on accumulators with minimum odds. |
| No deposit free bet | A small free bet just for registering. | Rare, small and usually with tight conditions. |
| Money-back / refund offers | Stake returned (often as a free bet) if your bet loses. | Refund usually comes as a free bet, not cash. |
| Acca insurance | Refund if one leg of your accumulator lets you down. | Minimum number of selections and odds. |
| Price or profit boosts | Better odds or extra profit on chosen bets. | Maximum stake on the boost. |
| Loyalty free bets | Points earned from betting are swapped for free bets (for example 1xBet’s Promo Code Store). | Points rates and which markets you can use them on. |
Free bet terms to check
- Minimum odds: many free bets need odds of roughly 1/5 to evens (about 1.2–2.0) or more, for both the qualifying bet and the free bet.
- Expiry: free bets often expire within 7 to 30 days.
- Markets: some can only be used on certain sports, events or bet types.
- Stake rules: you may have to use the whole free bet in one go.
- Wagering: deposit bonuses usually need wagering before withdrawal. For example, 1xBet’s 100% sports bonus has required 5x wagering on accumulators of three or more selections, each at odds of 1.40 or more (some versions ask for 1.50).
- Country rules: in Great Britain, since 19 January 2026, bonus wagering is capped at 10x and offers can’t mix products (such as “bet £10, get free spins”). Offshore bookmakers aren’t bound by these rules.
How to use a free bet
- Sign up through the offer link and enter any promo code during registration or deposit.
- Make any qualifying deposit or bet, checking the minimum odds.
- When the free bet lands, add your selection to the bet slip and choose the free bet instead of a cash stake.
- If it wins, the winnings (minus the stake, for SNR free bets) go to your balance.
What is a £10 free bet really worth?
Less than £10, because the stake isn’t returned. A £10 SNR free bet at odds of 3.0 returns £20 if it wins, not £30. To see the average value, multiply the winnings by the chance of winning. At fair odds (no bookmaker margin) the chance is 1 ÷ odds, so the value is £10 × (1 − 1 ÷ odds).
| Odds (decimal) | Pays if it wins | Chance at fair odds | Average value of a £10 SNR free bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | £10 | 50% | £5.00 |
| 3.0 | £20 | 33.3% | £6.67 |
| 4.0 | £30 | 25% | £7.50 |
| 6.0 | £50 | 16.7% | £8.33 |
| 11.0 | £100 | 9.1% | £9.09 |
Real odds include a margin, so the true values are a little lower. The pattern is the point: longer odds keep more of the free bet’s value, but you win less often.
Matched betting example. To lock in a value whatever happens, matched bettors back the selection with the free bet and lay it on an exchange. For an SNR free bet, lay stake = free bet × (back odds − 1) ÷ (lay odds − commission). With a £10 free bet backed at 4.0, laid at 4.2 with 2% commission:
- Lay stake: £10 × 3 ÷ 4.18 = £7.18.
- If the selection wins: +£30 from the free bet, minus the lay liability of £7.18 × 3.2 = £22.97, leaves £7.03.
- If it loses: the lay wins £7.18, minus 2% commission, leaves £7.03.
That is about 70% of the free bet kept as cash either way. The same sum at 2.0 and 2.1 keeps only £4.71 (47%), which is why matched bettors use longer odds for free bets. Exchange prices move, so these are example odds.
How do you get the most from a free bet?
- Use longer odds. Because the stake isn’t returned, an SNR free bet keeps more of its value at higher odds. A £10 free bet returns £10 at evens (2.0) but £30 at 4.0.
- Don’t chase the offer. Never bet more than you planned just to unlock a promotion.
- Use it before it expires. Unused free bets simply disappear.
- Lock in the value. Matched bettors lay the same selection on a betting exchange to keep most of a free bet as cash whatever happens; our matched betting calculator works out the lay stake.
- Compare offers. A smaller offer with simple terms can be worth more than a big one with heavy wagering.
For more on the different ways to bet, see our sports betting tips, esports betting guide and 1win vs 1xBet comparison. If betting stops being fun, our responsible gambling page lists support and limit tools.
How we checked this
- In Great Britain, bonus wagering has been capped at 10x and mixed-product offers banned since 19 January 2026: UK Gambling Commission and OLBG.
- 1xBet’s 100% sports bonus needs 5x wagering on accumulators of three or more selections, each at odds of 1.40 or more (1.50 for the bigger 110% to 120% versions), and it has a Promo Code Store: SportsGambler (updated 16 October 2026) and PokerListings, both read 28 October 2026.
- 1win’s welcome offer is 500% spread over four deposits: SportsBoom and PokerListings.
- The SNR lay stake formula matches Omni Calculator, and guides put typical SNR free bet retention at about 65% to 80%: Topend Sports and SoccerNews.
- Our maths: the free bet value table and the matched betting example are our own calculations, and we checked the lay stake by working out both outcomes.
Free bet cash-out rules (bet365, Paddy Power, 10bet): bet365 Help Centre and TNT Sports, checked 25 October 2026.
Last checked: 28 October 2026, when we re-read the UK wagering cap, the 1xBet and 1win offers, the lay stake formula and the retention range on the sources above (no changes to the figures; SportyTrader and Oddspedia could not be read, so we now cite PokerListings and SportsBoom). We worked out the free bet values and the matched betting example ourselves on 13 October 2026.
Free bets FAQ
Can I withdraw a free bet?
No. A free bet can only be used as a stake. If it wins, the winnings can usually be withdrawn, subject to the offer’s terms.
What does “stake not returned” mean?
If your free bet wins, you receive the winnings only, not the free bet amount. A £10 free bet at 2.0 returns £10, not £20.
Are there free bets with no deposit?
Occasionally, but they’re rare and usually small. Most free bets need a deposit or a qualifying bet first.
Does 1win give free bets?
1win’s main offer is a 500% welcome package spread over your first four deposits, which can be used on sports or casino. Rules differ by country, so check the terms on the site. Use promo code Ultragambler when you sign up.
Does 1xBet have a free bet store?
Yes. 1xBet’s Promo Code Store lets you exchange points earned from betting for promo codes you can use as free stakes.
How long do free bets last?
Usually somewhere between 7 and 30 days. The exact expiry is in the offer’s terms.
Can you cash out a free bet?
Sometimes, but only for the winnings, never the free bet stake itself. bet365 only offers cash out once the cash-out amount is worth more than the bet credits used, and Paddy Power leaves free bet stakes out until the value clears the free bet, while 10bet doesn’t let you cash out free bet stakes at all. Cashing out can also cancel other offers, so check your free bet’s terms before you use it on a bet you might want to cash out.
