The Best Betting Bonuses for UK Players in 2024

How We Review Betting Bonuses

When reviewing sites for the best betting bonuses, we take a variety of factors into consideration. You’ll find some of our top criteria below.

Types of Sports Betting Bonuses

Let’s explore the various bonuses you’ll encounter at UK betting sites.

Best Matched Deposit Betting Bonus

A matched deposit bonus is a popular welcome offer for sportsbooks and online casinos. It’s a straightforward deal where a punter makes a deposit and it’s matched up to a certain percentage by the bookmaker. 

Take a look at 10bet’s current deal:

• 50% up to £50 welcome bonus
• Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus

In this scenario, a £10 deposit would return a £5 bonus. You’ll also notice the inclusion of wagering requirements in this offer — this stipulation applies to virtually every matched deposit bonus, but the terms tend to be more player-friendly for betting bonuses than casino deals.

Matched Bets

Matched bets are largely the same as matched deposits. The only difference here is that the bookmaker will credit new customers with their bonus funds once they’ve placed your first bet, rather than making your first deposit.

One example of a current matched bet comes from Luckster, where players making their first bet of £10 will receive another £10 to wager on the site – no wagering requirements attached. 

Best Free Bets Betting Bonus

Free bets are the most common betting bonuses on the market. Regularly available as part of a sign up bonus or as an offer for existing customers, free bets allow you to have a punt at no cost to yourself.

Take a look at Bet Storm’s current deal:

• Bet £10 Get £10 in Free Bets
• Odds of 1.5+

With this deal, the £10 free bet is credited once your initial bet is settled, the £10 free bet has no wagering requirements.

Money Back Bets

As the name suggests, place a bet with this bonus — and if you don’t land a winner, you get your stake back! There is a small catch with this type of free bet offer in that the maximum amount refunded is usually capped. Plus, the returned stake is usually in token form, so it’s non-withdrawable. That aside, this is still a decent offer that allows new customers to bet with a little more confidence knowing that at the very least, they’ll have their stake returned as a free bet.

Take a look at Unibet’s deal:

• Minimum deposit of £10
• Money back up to £40 plus £10 casino bonus if your first sports bet loses

Be mindful that this bonus expires after 7 days and there are quite steep wagering requirements of 50x attached to the casino side of the offer. In addition, there’s a minimum odds requirement of 2/5 (1.4) plus restrictions on which sports are eligible as your initial wager. Racing fans take note any wager on the dogs or horses are ineligible.

No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses do exactly what it says on the tin — new customers can claim a betting bonus without making a deposit. While you’ll usually find this kind of offer at online casino sites, there are a few bookmakers that are now giving punters the chance to get in on the fun too. All in all, this is a great option for punters who essentially want to try before they buy.

Other Sports Betting Promotions

The best online bookmakers offer a great selection of frequent promotions for new and existing UK customers. Whereas bonus offers are designed to attract new customers, promotions reward returning customers. Let’s take a look at some of the more common promotions available at UK bookies.

Frequent Price Boosts

Price boosts see bookies offer improved odds on particular markets. These promotions are  often applied to high-profile sporting events, such as a marquee Champions League fixture. Some bookies also offer price boosts on certain outcomes as part of an accumulator bet. These are often referred to as ‘enhanced accas’.  

Example: For example, Bet365 currently offer a bet boost for selected runners on all UK and Ireland horse races, plus with certain markets in other sports. 

Acca Insurance

Acca insurance is when you receive your stake back when your accumulator loses by one leg. These promotions are a great option if you’re uncertain about one of your selections, or just want a safety net. This bonus will often only be applied to selections above a certain threshold, such as 5 legs or more, and your stake will most likely be returned as a free bet. 

Example: If you were to bet on five Premier League results this weekend, and four out of five came through, with Unibet’s acca insurance you would get your stake back as a free bet. 

Accumulator Bonus 

This fairly simple bookmaker offer can drastically improve the value of your accumulator. With an accumulator bonus, bookmakers reward you for adding more bets to your football accumulator.

Example: Bet365 gives bettors a 5% bonus on a treble acca that can be boosted to a whopping 90% bonus for a 13-fold.

Request a Bet

Request a bet promotions allow you to request odds for a market that isn’t on offer at your chosen sportsbook.  Many bookies allow you to get in touch on Twitter, or even create your bet request on the site or app.  

Example: At Betfair, you simply need to tweet your requested bet with the hashtag #oddsonthat and a member of the team will quickly get back to you.

Bet Builder

Like Request a Bet, Bet Builders allow you to create bespoke bets with unique betting odds. However, they aren’t made up of markets otherwise unavailable from a bookie. Instead, Bet Builder bets are multiples — the key difference from regular accas being that they’re put together with bets on the same match or game, rather than with bets on different events. 

Example: Using the HeySpin Bet Builder, you can create custom wagers and hopefully winning match multiples on many sports including football, cricket, ice hockey, rugby and baseball.

Free Bet Clubs 

Free bet clubs reward frequent bettors with a free bet on a weekly basis, providing they have placed a certain number of qualifying wagers in the week. Just like any free bet, these will come with other terms and conditions, so make sure you read the fine print before you sign up.

Example: PaddyPower’s Rewards club offers players a free bet of £10 if they place a minimum bet of £5 or more.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

Working out which sports betting bonus is worth your time isn’t necessarily as simple as picking the biggest on offer. If you want to understand an offer’s true value, you need to consider the bonus terms and conditions as well. Essentially, this is a set of rules that dictates what you need to do to unlock your bonus and also how you can use it. And while an offer might seem fantastic at first, its true worth can quickly be hampered by overly strict T&Cs. 

Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Minimum deposit – This is how much you need to add to your betting wallet before you can claim the bonus.
• Minimum odds – If you have to make a qualifying bet to claim your bonus, it needs to meet the minimum odds requirement.
• Market restrictions – There’s no point claiming a bonus if it can’t be used on your desired sport or market. Be sure the offer suits your needs before you claim.
• Time limits – Nothing lasts forever, and your bonus will expire after a certain window of time, usually between 3 and 30 days. 
• Payment exclusions – If you use an excluded payment method to make a deposit at the site, you’ll be disqualified from receiving the betting bonus. Debit cards are your safest bet here.
• Wagering requirements – Some offers require the user to stake a certain amount of their own money before the betting bonus winnings can be withdrawn. The lower the better here. 

If you want the full lowdown on T&Cs, head over to our expert bonus terms and conditions guide. We highly recommend giving it a read before claiming a sports betting bonus.

Mobile App Betting Bonuses

One of the great things about betting bonuses is that you can claim them on your mobile as easily as you can on a desktop computer. Mobile betting has improved enormously in recent years with many of the best online bookies moving beyond offering fully optimised mobile sites to provide industry-leading mobile apps for Android and iOS. These apps offer plenty of perks. Some of our top picks have app-exclusive welcome bonuses, and as a regular punter, you can often sign up for push notifications to stay informed about the bookie’s latest betting offers and promotions. Whether you’re on the go or relaxing at home, mobile betting apps are super convenient, putting the power to place bets and claim betting bonuses right at your fingertips.

Betting Bonus Payment Options

There are a lot of different banking methods you can use to claim a betting promotion these days. Each option provides something different to players so click through to your favourite payment method and see just what betting bonuses are available.

Event-Based Bonuses and Promotions

Betting sites will offer a range of different bonuses depending on each sport. From faller insurance for horse racing, to price boosts during football matches, to specific tennis tournament bonuses, there is a lot on offer. Click through on your preferred sport to see which bonuses are available to you.

How to Claim a Sign Up Bonus

Once you’ve checked through our toplist and chosen your preferred betting bonus, it’s a very simple process to register and start playing. Follow these steps and away you go!

1. It’s worth taking some time to compare the best sites for sports betting before making your decision. We’ve done the hard work for you, so all you have to do is browse our comparison lists and read our expert reviews. Checking for your preferred games or betting markets is an important decider, as is the betting format, bonuses available and ease of use; 
2. Click through from our toplist or the site’s full review and follow the registration process — it’s a simple process, adding in details and confirming your identity via KYC checks;
3. Once registered with your new account, you can make a deposit and claim your first bonus. Be sure to check that the bets you’re looking to make, and the payment methods you’d like to use, are eligible for the bonus;
4. Now you’re all set to place that first bet. Remember to always stay within your budget, never chase your losses, and always do a bit of research before betting. 

Betting Options and Markets for Bonuses

When using a betting bonus, it’s essential to understand the qualifying markets — as defined in the terms and conditions. These markets outline where you can apply your bonus, often including specific sports leagues or  bet types that are eligible. Here’s an overview of the primary markets you’ll encounter.

• Straight Bets
  A straightforward choice, straight bets are single wagers on a specific outcome, such as predicting a team to win a match. This type of bet is popular across team sports and may include point spreads in sports like American football and basketball. For example, if a bonus allows straight bets on Premier League matches, you can select a team to win, ensuring it aligns with the promotion’s qualifying criteria.
• Over/Under Bets
  Over/under bets allow you to wager on whether the total score, goals, or points will be higher or lower than a set number. Common in sports like football and basketball, over/under markets add versatility to how you use your bonus, often allowing bets on total game points, goals, or even stats like fouls or yellow cards in football. Always check if your bonus covers these markets.
• Accumulators
  Accumulator bets, also known as accas, are popular in football and other team sports, allowing you to combine multiple bets into one. Accas offer a higher potential return but require each ‘leg’ — an individual bet within the acca — to win. Some bonuses apply to accumulator bets, making them a popular way to maximise your winnings from a single bonus by betting on multiple matches or events in one wager.
• In-Play Betting
  Bonuses used on in-play markets allow you to place bets as the action unfolds. This is a dynamic option available in many sports, from tennis and cricket to football, where you can bet on outcomes that shift with the flow of the game. Ensure the bonus terms allow live bets, as some promotions are restricted to pre-match wagers.

Cash Out Explained 

An extra perk available at top online bookies like Coral and William Hill, and the perfect companion for in-play betting, a cashout feature gives you the option to collect some winnings or cut your losses before the event in question has concluded. So, if your bet is going well — perhaps five out of your six acca picks have already come in — and you want to secure a profit, cashout is the way to do it. 

On the flip side, if an event is not going how you envisaged, and your bet is looking like a bust, you can claw some of your stake back by cashing out your bet early. If you can’t decide whether to take your money or take your chances, some bookies offer a partial cashout feature that’s the perfect solution. Here, you can cashout part of your bet and leave the remainder to run its natural conclusion. 

Locking in profits on your wagers, no matter the outcome of the event? If it sounds like a great deal, you’d be right. However, it pays to keep in mind that not all bets are eligible for cashout. For example, you can’t usually cash out bets if you’ve used a price boost or a free bet token.

Get Started with a Betting Bonus

There are many different betting offers available to punters, from welcome offers to existing player promotions. Now that you’ve got to grips with the basic features of each major type, how to claim them and the various terms and conditions that affect them, you should be ready to get started. So run through our list of the best betting offers in the UK, find your favourite and sign up.

Bet Responsibly with Your Betting Bonuses 

Bonuses like free bets and money back offers can be a good way to bet on your favourite sports teams without spending too much of your own cash. However, here at Compare.bet, we recommend treating even the best betting bonuses exactly as you would your own money. Click through the link below for top tips on staying safe when gambling and details of organisations that can help you when you need a little advice.

See our references & visit related external links

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1. ncsc.gov.uk – ‘Setting up two-factor authentication (2FA)’