The questions asked gamblers to recall the types of incentives received, as well as the frequency and volume with which they were received.
Across the 16 sports betting offers covered in this guide, the combined total free bet value is over £580. Genuine no-deposit free bets are rare in the UKGC-regulated market in 2026 because of affordability and source-of-funds requirements. Free-to-play products (Ladbrokes 1-2-Free, Coral Rewards Shaker, bet365 Free Game) are the closest experience available without a deposit. Yes, a lot of bookmakers offer free bets to their existing customers. These can usually be issued through a loyalty club, free games or as consolation prizes.
A debit card remains the most reliable way to qualify for a welcome bonus. Most UK betting sites exclude e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal from their sign-up offers. Apple Pay is now a major exception. Many top operators, such as Sky Bet and Betfair, now allow Apple Pay deposits to qualify for their new customer promotions. Yes, most UK bookmakers provide loyalty rewards and daily promotions to keep current players engaged.
For example, William Hill offers an Acca Freedom feature where you can choose to boost your odds or get your stake back as a free bet if one leg loses. You can also find free-to-play games like Ladbrokes’ 1-2-Free and early payout specials from bet365 that reward you beyond the welcome offer. Bet365 leads the market because of its unique features, like the Early Payout offer, which pays out your bet if your team goes two goals ahead. William Hill is another top choice, specifically for football fans who use Acca Freedom to either boost their odds or insure their stake. Spreadex has the largest total bonus at £60, but the ongoing variety at bet365 and William Hill typically provides more value for regular players. In addition, those who had received incentives were asked about the impact of receiving incentives on their gambling behaviour.
Gamblers in the survey were first asked whether they had received an incentive to gamble from a gambling company in the last 12 months. They were asked which type of incentive they had received, and how it was received. We are interested in finding out whether you have received incentives to gamble from a gambling company in the last 12 months. Which, if any, of the following types of gambling incentive have you been sent from a gambling company, and how was it sent to you? reminders to gamble with a bonus included - 41% Base: n=c.1500 Respondents aged 18+ who have gambled in the past 12 months. targeted advertisement on a search engine (e.g. Base: n=c.1500 Respondents aged 18+ who have gambled in the past 12 months Incentives were mostly received via email (47%), with this being more commonly recalled than any other method. Gamblers were least likely to report receiving an incentive through a non-gambling app notification (8%).
| Term | Typical Condition | Strict Example | Lenient Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Odds | 1.50 - 2.00 | 2.00 (10Bet) | 1.40 (Unibet) |
| Maximum Bet | £10 - £50 with bonus | £10 (MansionBet) | No limit (Bet365 credits) |
| Eligible Countries | UK & Ireland | UK only (BetVictor) | UK & ROI (Paddy Power) |
| Customer Age | 18+ | 18+ (All) | 18+ (All) |
Respondents who had reported receiving an incentive to gamble were also asked which activity they received the incentive for. You mentioned that you have been offered incentives to play on a gambling activity.
The Commission collects in depth data from online gamblers about their online gambling behaviour via a quarterly online tracker, conducted by Yonder Consulting as part of their bet betting app bonus no deposit online omnibus. Data is collected on c.8,000 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain per year1. The online survey sample is sourced through Yonder’s panel, and the sample is subject to quotas in-line with those used for the Commission’s quarterly telephone survey. The variables used for weighting are age, gender, region, social grade, tenure and working status2. In June 2021 we posed questions to gamblers on the survey to learn more about the prevalence and impact of free bets and bonus offers ('incentives'). Which of the following activities have you been sent incentives for in the last 12 months? The National Lottery (including draws, scratchcards or instant win games) - 23% charity lottery of other lottery (including draws, scratchcards, or instant win games) - 15% Respondents who reported receiving an incentive were most likely to report receiving them for online betting activities (73%), with other online activities such as slots (39%), bingo (37%) and casino (30%) being most frequently incentivized after that. On average, across all activities, respondents reported receiving seven incentives to gamble within the last seven days.
Cash out lets you settle a bet early while the event is live, taking a guaranteed return rather than risking the full outcome. Say you backed a team to win with 15 minutes left and the opponents start pressing for an equaliser; you might cash out while you’re ahead. It’s a test of nerve, and the bookie usually has the edge. Social and copy betting apps like Dabble let you see other bettors’ verified track records and follow their lead, a useful source of ideas for a Saturday acca. You can use the Dabble promo code to get started.
Different sports betting sites specialise in various markets. Below is a table of the best betting offers by sport: SpreadEx – £100 mixed package for the World Cup 2026 Bet365 – 90-day £30 bet credit window covers Champions League knockouts, the FA Cup run-in, and a full month of Premier League fixtures from one claim William Hill – £40 in free bets and Strong UK/Irish coverage, and Best Odds Guaranteed plus extra places on ITV races kick in once the welcome tokens clear. SBK has the only welcome package with a ring-fenced £5 Horse Racing Multiple token NetBet – £20 with a dedicated Tennis In-Play token. The only sport-locked tennis offer in the list. For anyone who watches live tennis, a free in-play token removes the sting of a speculative early-set punt.
Bet365’s 90-day expiry can comfortably span Roland Garros and Wimbledon Bet365 – £30 bet credits, 90-day expiry. Ninety days from claim covers two majors in sequence, and £30 in smaller stakes spreads each-way picks across five or six events rather than one weekend. Esports is underserved by most UK operators, and SBK’s sport-specific token structure accepts CS2, LoL, and Dota markets on Bet Builder and Multiple tokens. SpreadEx leads on raw value with £100 in mixed free bets from a £10 stake, the highest total on the market. Bet365 is our overall pick for its 90-day expiry, 1/5 minimum odds, and flexible denominations, the most forgiving terms on the list despite the smaller £30 headline. The activities which consumers received the highest quantity of incentives for were online slots, online casino and the National Lottery. Following this, respondents who had received incentives in certain ways were asked how often they receive incentives through that particular medium. How often have you received incentives or offers to play through the following methods? Across each platform, the frequency of receiving incentives appears to be stable. Most respondents (between 84-88%) report receiving an incentive at least once a month. Base: n=879 Past 12-month gamblers aged 18+ who report receiving incentives via email, text message, a notification through a gambling app or a targeted advertisement on social media. It can be seen in Figure 5 that problem gamblers were by far most likely to report receiving incentives to gamble daily (35%). Lastly, gamblers who had received an incentive to gamble were asked to rate their agreement with a number of statements relating to attitudes and impact of gambling incentives. The following are a series of statements which relate to gambling incentives. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each one. Base: n=958 past 12-month gamblers aged 18+ who have received an incentive to gamble Most respondents felt that their gambling was not influenced by receiving incentives (61%).
| Bonus Stage | Typical Time Limit | Bookmaker Example | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim after sign-up | 30 days | Bet365 | Offer expires |
| Use Free Bet | 7 days | Coral | Free bet expires |
| Meet Wagering Req. | 30 days | Unibet | Bonus & winnings forfeited |
| Use Casino Bonus | 14 days | 888sport | Bonus removed |
However, 31% of respondents agreed that receiving free bets or bonus offers encouraged them to gamble more than they wanted to. Base: n=958 past 12 month gamblers aged 18+ who have received an incentive to gamble. Incentives appeared to be liked and disliked by consumers in equal proportions, with 39% agreeing and 41% disagreeing with the statement ‘I like receiving free bets/bonus offers to gamble’. Almost half of consumers (47%) feel they receive too many incentives to gamble, and 48% agree that they would prefer not to receive them.
This section of analysis outlines NET Agree responses to ‘Attitudes to Incentives’ broken down by age, gender and PGSI status. With regard to problem gamblers, the data suggests that they generally like receiving free bets and bonus offers, with 62% agreeing.
The Entain pair (Coral and Ladbrokes) have both reverted to £30 from £40, each now offering £30 as 6 x £5 tokens from a low £5 qualifying bet. Free bets only return profit, not stake. A £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30, not £40. Use tokens on higher odds to extract the most value. Debit card is the safe choice for qualifying deposits.
Skrill, Neteller and PayPal are excluded from almost every welcome offer. Most tokens last 7 days; smaller operators can be as short as 24 hours. All offers verified as of 01 June 2026 and subject to change. SpreadEx has the highest total value at £100, but Bet365 offers the best terms for most punters thanks to its 90-day expiry and 1/5 minimum odds. Coral and Ladbrokes both pay £30 in free bets from a £5 qualifying bet, and Paddy Power pays £40 in Bet Builder free bets from the same £5 stake, making it the best value at this entry point.
You receive the winnings from the free bet, not the stake. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 returns £30, but you wouldn’t get the £10 stake back as you would with a real money bet. A deposit bonus supplements your initial deposit with free betting credits, which is the most common new-customer promotion. The main difference is that a deposit bonus requires you to put some of your own money in, whereas a true free bet is credited for simply registering or after a qualifying bet. Deposit bonuses tend to carry higher value (£20–£50) but come with conditions tied to the deposit; free bets are smaller but simpler.