How a free bet works
A typical sports welcome offer asks you to place a qualifying bet with your own money. Once it settles, the operator credits free bets, often split into several tokens. The qualifying bet is a real bet: you can lose it.
Stake not returned
When a free bet wins, you usually receive the winnings but not the free bet stake itself. A £10 free bet at evens (1/1, or 2.0 in decimal odds) returns £10, not the £20 a cash bet would return. That single line is why a free bet is worth less than its face value.
Conditions to look for
Minimum odds for the qualifying bet and sometimes for the free bets, for example 1/1 or evens.
Expiry, often seven or thirty days from the credit.
Markets excluded, such as virtual sports.
Payment methods excluded from qualifying, often certain e-wallets.
Promo codes that must be entered at sign-up or the offer does not apply.
Since January 2026
A sports offer can no longer hand out casino spins, or require casino play, as part of the same promotion. If you see a mixed offer advertised to people in Great Britain after 19 January 2026, treat it as a warning sign.
Before you bet
Set a deposit limit first, decide how much the qualifying bet can be without hurting, and do not chase a losing qualifying bet with more deposits. A free bet is a small extra, never a reason to bet more.