With so much sporting action this summer, there's a wealth of free bet offers to take advantage of if you fancy having a punt.
Here at The Sporting News we've rounded up the best sign-up offers and welcome bonuses from all of our selected partners to take advantage of.
Our team of betting experts have sourced and verified all of these offers, and worked with the partners listed to make sure you get the best possible choice.
Click the offers below to start claiming your free bets today!
Best free bet and betting sign-ups offers in the U.K. for August 2025
Below are some of the best welcome bonuses and free bet offers available in the U.K. for August 2025.
This list is not exhaustive — and it's always worth scouring the market and doing your own additional research to see what value can be had before kick-off.
Remember also to carefully check the Terms and Conditions for each of the offers listed below, so that you can fully activate your free bet or bonus.
Taking advantage of some of the free bet offers listed above is easy.
First, you'll need to sign up to your bookmaker of choice, so give yourself plenty of time before kick-off to do so. From there, use any promotional code as instructed, deposit an initial amount, place a stake — depending on the amount required in the offer — and then your free bet/offer will be activated.
Each offer has specific T&Cs, so be sure to read them carefully before proceeding to make sure you can actually claim the offer.
How do free bet offers work?
Free bets are a way for betting firms to attract new customers, and so they are widely available with all the major platforms — from some of the big guns like Paddy Power and Bet365 to smaller firms like AK Bets and Betrino.
There are a few things to remember:
- Free bets will often have an expiry date.
- You should always check what the minimum deposit or minimum stake is that's required to qualify.
- Sometimes promotions may apply to the first bet, or they could kick in for future bets.
- To qualify, you might need to bet a certain amount, you should check with the bookie you have chosen.
- Offers are usually only available once per customer.
- Free bets generally can't be withdrawn, unless the offer terms specifically state that the winnings will be paid in cash.
- Each offer will be subject to specific terms and conditions.
How to choose a free bet offer
Before you sign-up for a free bet offer you should think about the following points:
- What is the minimum deposit, if applicable?
- Is there a minimum or maximum amount you must bet?
- How does the offer specifically work and which bet does it apply to?
- Do all the odds qualify for the free bet?
- What sports, events or markets are included in the offer?
- What outcomes must happen for the offer to apply?
- Is there an expiry date on the free bet?
- Can you withdraw the bonus credit, and if so do you need to bet a minimum number of times before doing so?
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Can you withdraw free bets?
Free bets generally are not able to be withdrawn as cash directly, and you'll need to wager them on the sport of your choice.
If the wager using your free bet wins, you may then be able to withdraw the winnings, but that will come down to the terms and conditions of the specific offer and your chosen bookmaker, so check those T&Cs.
What is a betting welcome bonus?
A welcome bonus is a fixed amount that a bookmaker may add to your first deposit to incentivize you to sign up with them.
For example, if you receive a £50 bonus, you may be able to use it on top of your own deposit to bet on specific stakes, bets or wagers. Sometimes that might be one stake, or sometimes it can be spread across multiple bets.
Bookmakers more often than not will credit a free token or number of tokens that are equivalent to the total bonus amount on settlement of your qualifying bet, but there are often limitations, so you should check the terms and conditions of each offer.
You need to be aware that your betting choices may be limited when you are using free bet tokens, including if, when and how you can withdraw any winnings, so always read those T&Cs carefully.
Free bets calculator
There are lots of online tools to help you make the most of your free bets and welcome bonuses, including Oddschecker's free bet calculator.
Just remember, though, successful betting is a skill and requires knowledge and strategy, so determining whether you prefer making regular bets on favourites or fancy something a bit more in-depth to extract the best value possible will be key to working out what type of betting is for you.
Whatever you choose, make sure to stay within your limits and gamble responsibly. Good luck!
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Best sports and events to bet on this summer
With so many offers available, the choice of what to bet on, and with whom, is vast. Once you've sorted your free bet here's the best events still to wager on this summer with U.K. bookies:
- US Open tennis (August 25-September 7)
- Women's Rugby World Cup (August 22 - September 27)
- NFL season begins (September 4)
- Ryder Cup (September 25-September 28)