Horse Racing Free Bets

Recommended Free Bet Offers for Horse Racing

The following bookies all offer horse racing free bets to new customers – all that’s required is to sign up, fill out any necessary KYC checks and make the minimum required bet or deposit. Keep in mind that you may also need to enter a promo code to claim some free bets, but we’ll be sure to let you know if this is the case. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best free bet offers currently on the market.

BetMGM - Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets

At BetMGM you can qualify for 4x £10 free bets when you place a £10 qualifying bet at Evens (2.0) or greater. The Free Bets will be awarded as follows: 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Football Free Bet, 1 x £10 Horse Racing Free Bet, 1 x Free £10 Acca. 

SBK - Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets 

The mobile-only operator SBK offers new customers £30 in free bets after registering with the SBK30 bonus code and placing an initial £10 stake. Punters receive £10 in free bets for three weeks running, and the initial stake must be placed at minimum 1.5 odds. Bear in mind any deposits made via Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and prepaid cards are ineligible. 

SkyBet - Get £30 in Free Bets when you place any bet

New SkyBet customers can qualify for £30 in free bets after registering and placing a bet with a 5p minimum stake at odds of evens or greater. The £30 is credited as three £10 bet tokens which will expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 

BetUK - Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 

BetUK has one of the industry’s better sign up offers, with £30 in free bets available in return for your first £10 stake. The operator splits the bonus wagers into one £10 horse racing wager, one £10 bet builder, and one £10 football bet, granting its customers impressive versatility. Nevertheless, if you’re a staunch horse racing betting enthusiast who doesn’t care much for football, it could be slightly frustrating.  

bet365 - Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets

The bet365 free bet offer for new customers is one of the best on the market, offering players £30 worth of free bets on any sport and market when they sign up and place their first £10 bet. We especially like that lower stakes players can choose to bet £5 for £15 worth of free bets instead. Either way, the conditions of the qualifying bet are fairly relaxed, asking only that at least one of your selections meets the minimum odds requirement of 1/5 or greater. Cash out bets and void bets will not count as qualifying bets, and only debit card deposits are eligible, but once you’ve claimed your free bets you will have 30 days to use them. 

Midnite - Bet £10 Get £20

Place a pre-match accumulator bet that settles with a total stake of £10 and a minimum of 4 legs, at minimum total odds of 3/1 (4.0), you will recieve a total of £20 in free bets as follows:

• 1 x £5 Single Free Bet voucher - minimum odds 1/1 (2.0)
• 1 x £5 Pre-match Accumulator Free Bet voucher - minimum odds 4/1 (5.0) and 4+ selections
• 1 x £5 In-Play Free Bet voucher - no requirements
• 1 x £5 Bet Builder Free Bet voucher - minimum odds 3/1 (4.0)

Copybet - Bet £10 Get £40

Download the app, verify your account and place a qualifying £10 stake at odds of 1.5 or more recieve 4 free bets worth £10 each, subject to terms and conditions.

AK Bets

A new player in the industry, AK Bets have a range of offers for their customers combined with great odds and a willingness to lay bets.

BetGoodwin - 50% Back as a Free Bet Up To £25

Place a minimum of 3 bets of £10 or more on separate events at odds of evens (2.0) or bigger to qualify and get 50% of first day losses (max £25) refunded as a free bet, credited within 24 hours.

BetVictor - Bet £20, Get £40 in Free Bets

BetVictor has specific deposit bonuses for football and horse racing fans. The latter grants £40 in free bets after an initial £20 stake placed on 1/1 odds or greater. You’ll receive an immediate £10 bet on any horse racing market, followed by a £10 Lengthen The Odds bet and a £10 Daily Racing Specials wager and another £10 free bet on any horse racing market two days after settlement of qualifying bet. Free bets expire after seven days and don’t have any wagering requirements. BetVictor currently leads the pack regarding free horse racing bets on sign-up, as most bookies limit their free bets to £20 or £30. 

Rhinobet - Bet £30 get £5

Sign Up using the promo code ‘b30g5' and make a minimum deposit of £30. Place a minimum £30 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2.0) and receive a £5 free bet upon bet settlement. 

Star Sports

Renowned as one of the biggest layers in the industry, Star Sports offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & Irish racing.

Matchbook - Money back as a free bet up to £20 if your first bet loses

One of the top betting exchanges, Matchbook offers new customers a free bet up to £20 if their first bet loses. To qualify sign up using the promo code: MB20 and place a bet at . minimum odds of 1.8 to qualify. Losses will be refunded on first bet only, as a free bet up to £20. Users cannot back and lay the same selection on the first bet and the promotion is only open to users who deposit via debit card. 

Betfred - Bet £10 Get £40

New Betfred customers can grab up to £40 by signing up. Simply register with promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place your first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. Upon bet settlement players will be credited with £30 in Free Bets and a £10 casino bonus. Full ts and cs apply.

Planetsportbet - Bet £10 Get £10

New customers to Planetsportbet can get their first bet (at odds of evens or above) matched with a free bet up to £10! Simply sign up, deposit, place your bet and get credited.

Unibet - Up to £40 Money Back as Bonus if Your First Bet Loses

Unibet’s welcome offer is a money back bonus that will return up to £40 back to you if your first bet is unsuccessful. Unfortunately, however, bets placed on horse racing, greyhound racing, trotting and/or virtual sports will not qualify for this bonus. The minimum bet here is just £1.

Boylesports - £25 Free Bet Bundle 

At Boylesports, you can earn up to £25 in free bets after a series of qualifying stakes. After placing the first minimum bet of £10, with minimum odds of EVS (2.0) or greater, you’ll be rewarded with a single £5 free bet. Here’s where it gets a little confusing, so bear with us. After that, you will receive a matched free bet worth 50% of your average stake over the next three qualifying bets. You can do this up to four times, which means that you will need to place a total of 13 small bets in order to claim the total £25 worth of free bets. This isn’t the greatest offer going, but depending on how frequently you bet, you may find yourself qualifying for it quite naturally. 

Parimatch - Bet £10, Get £30

New PariMatch customers must opt in to receive free bets upon creation of their account. Once this is done, simply bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days and you will get 4 x £5 sports free bets for set markets 

Kwiff - Bet £10 Get A £30 Free Bet

Place a £10 bet (min odds 1.5 and not each way) and recieve a £30 sports bet. 

Fafabet - Up to £50 Free Bet + £20 Casino Bonus

Fafabet have an innovative approach to their new customer offer. If your Sportsbook account shows a net loss by the end of the first day (day ends at 23:59), you'll be awarded a Free Bet equivalent to 50% of the losses, up to £50. Not only this, but all new players receive a £20 Casino Bonus. Terms and conditions apply

Grosvenor - 100% Odds Boost On A Maximum £10 Bet 

The Grosvenor deposit bonus is a unique twist on conventional welcome offers, offering new customers a 100% “Double the Odds” token. You can place a maximum £10 wager (£5 for each-way bets) on any sport or betting market and double the potential profit if your prediction is successful. Punters have 60 days after registration to use this offer – one of the longest time periods we’ve seen. The extra winnings are also paid in cash, so you don’t have to worry about wagering requirements or bonus funds. 

10Bet - 50% Of First Deposit Back As A Free Bet Up To £50

New 10Bet customers can get half of their first deposit (minimum £15) back as a free bet when signing up for an account here. There are wagering requirements for the bonus so remember that terms and conditions, as always, apply.

VirginBet - Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets 

VirginBet offers £20 in horse racing free bets after an initial £10 wager at minimum 1/2 odds. New customers must place the qualifying bet within 14 days of registration to claim the offer. Once this has settled, VirginBet awards two £10 free bet tokens that expire after seven days. The minimum odds of 1/100 odds are the most lenient of all free bet offers.  

LiveScoreBet - Bet £10 and get £20 in free bets 

LiveScoreBet offers £20 in free bets after an initial £10 stake. Qualifying bets must be made within 14 days of registration and at odds of 1/2 or higher. You’ll receive two £10 free bet tokens after the initial bet has been settled. The operator gives seven days from acceptance for you to use the bonus funds before they disappear, so be quick. Additionally, bear in mind that they must be used on odds 1/100 or greater. 

Betway - £30 matched free bet if your acca loses plus 50 bonus spins 

Betway has an intriguing free horse racing bets welcome bonus, essentially providing first-time customers with a risk-free £30 acca bet. Place a three-fold acca up to £30 on horse racing or football with overall odds of over 2/1 and receive your stake back if you lose. This doesn’t include multiples like Lucky 31s or Yankees, but still delivers far more flexibility than traditional free bet offers that are only limited to singles. 

William Hill - Bet £10, Get £30 Using Promo Code R30

Like bet365, William Hill will give you £30 in free bets for the reasonable price of a £10 bet, but you must enter the promo code R30 when you sign up. Thankfully, these free bets can be used on any sport and market, providing it satisfies the minimum odds requirements of 1/2. The £30 will need to be spread across three separate £10 bets, and once again you’ll have 30 days in which to use them. 

Betzone - 50% Back Up to £60

Using the promocode NEWWELCOME60, new customers can get 50% back on net LOSSES over your first 3 calendar days. Requires a minimum of 3 x £10 qualifying bets in same 3 days. Terms and conditions apply.

Jeffbet - Bet £10 Get £30

Place a £10 qualifying bet and get a free £30 bet (one-time stake of £30), min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from your real balance first. Wager is calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 days from issue, T&Cs apply.

32Red - 100% Profit Boost Up To £100 

Finding dedicated 32Red free horse racing bets is slightly more difficult than elsewhere due to the operator’s status as an online casino first and foremost. New customers can opt-in for a 100% profit boost up to £100 on in-play bets. One of our favourite things about this deposit

Tote

The Tote is synonomous with horse racing given it's the solve provider of pool betting on UK racing. Most will know Tote via it's presence on racecourses but they also have a fine online and mobile offering allowing you to place bets such as the Placepot and Scoop6 from wherever you are.

The existing Tote welcome offer allows you to qualify for £30 in Tote credit when you place a £10 qualifying bet. The free credit can be used on any pool or fantasy bets.  

Best Horse Racing Betting Offers

Horse racing free bets aren’t the only incentives available at industry-leading bookmakers. Punters can access several horse racing offer types, ranging from Best Odds Guaranteed to odds boosts and insurance bets. Check below for more details. 

Best Odds Guaranteed

Best Odds Guaranteed is one of the most common horse racing promotions, safeguarding punters from odds fluctuations in the build-up to a race. Winning bets are guaranteed to be paid at the best odds, so if you place a stake on a horse at 4/1, but this changes to a 2/1 SP, you’ll still receive a 4/1 profit. Horse odds can change considerably before a race, so this is a great way to avoid any disappointment. BOG is typically available from 9am on race day, although bet365 offers the promotions from 8am.    

Enhanced Odds

Besides offering regular free horse racing bets, top-spec bookmakers also routinely provide odds enhancements on select races and betting markets. These increase the odds by a certain percentage, maximising the potential profit. William Hill is widely regarded as the best horse racing betting site for enhanced odds. The operator has powerful “EPIC Boosts” that can improve profits by over 200%. 

Horse Racing Boosts

Horse racing boosts are similar to enhanced odds, but can typically be used on a wider array of potential bets or markets. For example, bookies might offer horse racing bet boosts during popular meets like Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot. Although there are usually restrictions on the minimum odds and bet type (mainly only available on a single bet), you can choose which race you want to apply the bet boost on over the festival. 

Non Runner No Bet

Non runner no bet promotions protect punters from unlucky scenarios where their horse pulls out before a race due to injury or other reasons. In these cases, your stake will be returned as cash. Many bookmakers don’t mention NRNB in their promo sections since it’s applied to all bets automatically, so it’s worth reading through the horse racing betting terms and conditions to guarantee it’s available. 

Fallers Insurance

Fallers insurance is specific to National Hunt races, where horses are more likely to fall. This promotion safeguards punters if their selection falls, loses its jockey, or collides with another horse. You’ll typically receive your wager back as a free bet, although select bookies also offer this back as cash. Fallers insurance is generally only available on select races during big events like the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival. 

Horse Racing Free Bet Offers Explained

Free bet offers – which are, without doubt, the most common type of betting site bonus – provide bettors with a certain amount of free bets when they deposit or bet a specified amount. Most of the time, free bets are offered as a welcome bonus, but you’ll find that plenty of sites offer them to existing players as well. For example, bet365 currently offers new players £30 in free bets when they place their first £10 bet, but will also offer free bets on big events like the Cheltenham Festival or Grand National. 

These free bets cannot be withdrawn immediately, but any potential winnings you make from them will be yours to keep. Something else to bear in mind is that free bets can usually be used on multiple sports and markets, but depending on the bookie, some free bets may only be available for horse racing. 

Free Bets Terms And Conditions

All free horse racing bets have certain terms and conditions punters must satisfy before claiming the bonus. Here are the main clauses to consider.

Eligibility

Bettors must be 18+ to qualify for free horse racing bets, but this isn’t the only factor to remember regarding eligibility. Most bookmaker offers also require a qualifying bet, generally at 1/2 or 1/1 odds and over. In other cases, you’ll need to make a qualifying deposit in the region of £10. Additionally, you must read the terms and conditions to verify whether your preferred deposit method is eligible. Debit card payments are usually the only permitted option for these promos, so be careful. 

Time limits

All horse racing free bets come with a time limit. Checking for this in the T&Cs is extremely important or you could miss out on the free bet tokens. Expiration dates vary, but it’s usually somewhere between 7 and 14 days after your qualifying wager has been settled. Bookmaker offers clearly state this in the terms, so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting to grips with it. 

Free Bet Stake Not Included 

Bear in mind that the free bet stake won’t be included in any potential winnings. This is important to note when calculating your prospective profit from a free bet. You won’t find any bookmaker offers where the free bet stake is included in the payout, as it would put the operator out of pocket. 

Bet Restrictions 

Horse racing free bets often come with certain restrictions. For example, you may need to use the free bet tokens on specific odds or betting markets. Additionally, punters are often blocked from using cash out on free bets. Bookmakers provide ample information so their customers know exactly where and how they can use their free bets. 

Maximum Winnings 

Some free horse racing bets also come with a winnings cap. As a result, you can only win up to a certain amount from the promotion. This is also common with odds enhancements and bet boosts, where the bookie will limit the overall profit increase to a certain amount. Reading through the terms and conditions to spot this clause is essential. Otherwise, you might be left with less profit than expected. 

Reviews for Free Bets Betting Sites

There are many sites to choose from for free horse racing bets. Let’s take a look at some of our favourites and see what’s to like and what to look out for.

bet365

One of the most well known bookmakers around, bet365 is highly rated for its broad range of markets and promotional offers. They are the current sponsors of Stoke City FC who compete in the EFL Championship, so I wasn’t surprised to see some great football related offers, such as a 70% acca bonus and the chance for a two goal ahead early payout. In terms of horse racing, one of the best opportunities for punters is their price promise, which is attached to all horse racing that’s shown live on ITV Racing. For new customers, I was impressed with the bet £10, get £30 in free bets offer. This is a great way to test out a few markets and get used to the site. It qualifies against horse racing, and one thing I was particularly pleased to see is the generous 30 day time limit in the terms and conditions.

The site is clearly laid out, with each of the races available listed down the page. The in-play display can be customised to your odds preference, and there’s a live streaming box on the right so you can watch your horse come in as you make your bet. One thing that really stood out against some of bet365’s competitors is the orderly way everything is displayed under the subheading of ‘horse racing’. This includes things such as offers, your own favourite horses and race coupons. It made it really easy to see what I’d already done and the potential offers I could use against horse racing. 

Boylesports

At initial glance, the Boylesports site is very busy and has the added confusion of a selection of casino games in the top right corner. But once you get your bearings, you start to see just what’s available.

After logging in, I headed straight to the promotions page and was pleased to see a decent range available, covering multiple sports including horse racing. For example, new customers are offered a £25 horse racing free bets bundle which is provided as an initial £5 bet and subsequently up to £5 a piece. Another one for horse racing fans is a £20 money back offer available as a free bet on specific race days. 

The dropdown bet slip and ‘My Bets’ section is a useful tool, plus there’s a calendar of events on the right hand side. Horse racing fans will be pleased to hear that live streaming is available on the races which, when combined with the hugely detailed live horse racing betting section of the site, will certainly be attractive to potential customers.

Overall, I felt that while this is a busy site, it is one that offers a great range of sports including the likes of handball and water polo, and has plenty for horse racing fans to enjoy. 

Betfred

Don’t let Betfred’s slightly unfashionable aesthetic distract from the genuine treasure trove of ongoing promotions. I was astonished by the number of possibilities available, mainly spanning football and horse racing offers. The long-established UK bookmaker is the industry’s most generous in this regard, with other sites unable to match the level of free horse racing bets. 

My experience started with a decent bet £10 and get £30 in free bets welcome bonus. The Betfred sign-up process is nice and straightforward, so it didn’t take me long to claim the offer after depositing and placing an initial £10 wager at minimum 1/1 odds. This immediately unlocked £30 in horse racing free bets – an added advantage over other operators that pay their free bets in instalments. 

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. While a select few bookmakers can outmatch Betfred on the welcome bonus (BetVictor notably offers £50 in free horse racing bets after an initial £10), nobody can compete with the regular bonuses. Hitting the ‘Promotions’ button towards the bottom of the menu on the left-hand side uncovers an astonishing selection.

I counted almost 20 individual promotions, considerably more than elsewhere. Many of these options include free horse racing bets, like money back as a free bet if your horse finishes second or third (to any horse, not just the SP favourite). Meanwhile, Betfred also gave me an opportunity to enjoy a weekly free bet club, 25% cash bonus on winning Lucky 15s, odds boosts, super extra places, and more. 

William Hill

William Hill has a long and illustrious history, ensuring its position as one of the best horse racing betting platforms. The bookmaker has several key selling points elevating its reputation, with its range of regular free horse racing bets during major competitions and fantastic horse racing coverage being two of my most significant. 

I got off to a pleasant start at William Hill with a bet £10 and get £30 in free bets welcome bonus, aligning the bookies with other leading platforms. Registering to claim the offer is straightforward, and I particularly liked the 1/2 minimum odds on the £10 qualifying bet. Most other platforms require 1/1 minimum odds, which are slightly less likely to be successful. 

These free horse racing bets gave me a brilliant opportunity to get to grips with the William Hill platform and try some of the key features like live streaming. The bookmaker consistently offers more horse racing free bets on larger events like Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot, but be aware that the majority of ongoing promos focus on odds boosts and price guarantees. 

Not that this put me off. William Hill has by far the most powerful odds boosts offers I’ve seen, with the ‘EPIC Boosts’ sometimes offering a more than 300% increase. The bookies also offers a top price guarantee on select races, enabling their customers to get the best price compared to Sky Bet, bet365, Ladbrokes, and Coral. 

Unibet

Unibet offers one of the best horse racing experiences, with the dedicated section on the website and app providing detailed naps, featured races, and numerous daily specials. The operator also has one of my favourite approaches to its ongoing promotions, with the rewards scheme offering personalised offers in line with my overall betting habits. 

But let me run you through the initial horse racing free bets welcome bonus first. After registering and depositing a £10 minimum, I was treated to a £40 money back offer if my first wager lost. Lo and behold, it did – unlocking £40 of free bets I could use across the powerful Unibet horse racing section. 

Unfortunately, this did come with a 3x wagering requirement, which I must say is quite disappointing – almost all other bookies completely do away with wagering requirements. Nevertheless, £40 in free horse racing bets after an initial £10 stake is fairly impressive. Just remember your selection has to lose to claim the full £40. Otherwise, you’ll just get £10. 

The welcome bonus is so-so, but Unibet excels with its ongoing free horse racing bets. The excitement of pressing the ‘Rewards’ page on my account after logging in to see what new promos were available was a key selling point. You never quite know what you’ll get, but you can rest assured that Unibet will ensure it aligns with your betting preferences. A nice concept you don’t really see at many other bookmakers. 

Betway

Betway is one of my best horse racing betting sites for several reasons. The weekly £10 free horse racing bets club is one key reason, but it’s far from the only selling point. I particularly enjoyed the Betway Clips section, allowing people to share their race tips and predictions. It creates a real sense of community – something I value increasingly as we move away from land-based bookmakers. 

I also enjoyed the interesting £30 in free horse racing bets if your first £10 acca loses. It’s a great way to get to grips with placing horse racing accas without worrying about losing. On the other hand, Betway doesn’t actually guarantee you’ll receive any welcome free bets if your first acca wins, so weigh this up with other guaranteed welcome free bet bonuses first. 

The real horse racing free bets at Betway come later, anyway. After signing up, I clicked the opt-in button to its free bet club, gifting £10 in free bets every week as long as I settled £25 worth of real money wagers between Saturday and the following Friday. 

Betway also has numerous ‘Betway Boost’ odds boosts on horse racing alongside extensive live streaming, Best Odds Guaranteed, and extra place races. I also got my own ongoing promotions package, granting personalised offers similar to Unibet.

BetVictor

Right off the bat, BetVictor has one of the best horse racing welcome offers, with £50 in free bets available after an initial £10 deposit. It really doesn’t get much better than this – a considerable selling point for racing enthusiasts. I clicked the green ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right-hand corner to start the process, quickly getting my account up and running before depositing the minimum £10. 

Not only is the BetVictor welcome bonus generous, but it’s also easy to understand. All I had to do was place a minimum £10 bet at 1/1 odds within seven days of registration to qualify. I subsequently received an instant £10 free bet on any horse racing market before getting a £20 lengthen the odds free bet, and £20 daily racing specials free bet on the next two days. 

This free horse racing bets breakdown is also exceptional. Many bookies don’t allow you to use their free bets on special or bonus markets. BetVictor bucks the trend, offering a larger and more versatile welcome bonus than pretty much all other competitors. 

The operator cannot match the likes of Betfred or BoyleSports for regular horse racing free bets, but I still enjoyed things like a free bet loyalty club, Best Odds Guaranteed, and a cash refund if my horse lost all chance at the start of a race.

VirginBet

VirginBet has built a solid reputation over the past few years, working its way into my list of the best horse racing betting sites. The instantly familiar white and red aesthetic is a key selling point alongside the operator’s busy yet practical display. I enjoyed the obviously signposted ‘Promotions’ shortcut on the top left-hand menu and easy distinction between sport and casino bonuses. 

My horse racing free bets experience at VirginBet began with the bet £10 and get £20 in free bets welcome bonus. It’s slightly smaller than the current industry frontrunners, but I liked the 1/2 minimum qualifying bet odds. Unfortunately, the bookies slaps a pretty restrictive 1/100 minimum odds amount on the free bet tokens, so you’re unlikely to see any returns. 

The welcome bonus only scratches the surface of the entire range of VirginBet free horse racing bets. I enjoyed things like money back as a free bet if my horse lost on a selected ITV race every Saturday. The operator also offers a £10 free acca bet when you place two £10 accas – a nice way to score some free accumulators. 

VirginBet also excels with other types of horse racing offers. For example, you can regularly enjoy Best Odds Guaranteed and extra place races.

LiveScoreBet

My LiveScoreBet journey began with a bet £10 and get £20 in free bets welcome bonus, around the industry average. The operator makes the entire process exceptionally easy, with the ‘Join Here’ button taking me to a streamlined account registration screen. 

I was done within minutes, and all I had to do afterwards was place a £10 bet at minimum 1/2 odds to claim £20 in free horse racing bets or other sports bets. Like VirginBet, these tokens can only be used on odds of 1/100 or greater, so bear this in mind. 

The ‘Promotions’ shortcut on the left-hand menu delivers a few more options, with the £10 weekly acca free bet being my favourite. LiveScoreBet also has standard horse racing promotions like Best Odds Guaranteed and extra places.

How We Choose The Best Free Bets

It’s easy to enjoy free horse racing bets nowadays, but not all bonuses are the same. Our experts delve deep into the terms and conditions to find sign up offers and ongoing free bet promotions with the most favourable T&Cs. Check below for examples:

Qualifying Details

Examining qualifying details associated with free horse racing bets is vital. For example, some bookies may require qualifying bets to be placed at certain minimum odds, which can have a considerable impact on how much you stand to gain from a specific promotion. 

Deposit Time Limits

Most sign up offers come with a deposit time limit. Check this out first to avoid getting pressured into making a payment simply to unlock a free bet. Generally speaking, seven days is the average amount of time, although a number of bookies will be more generous with their time.

Initial Stake Needed

Most free horse racing bets require an initial triggering wager. This must be over a certain amount, which is usually £10. When comparing horse racing bonuses, we try to avoid promoting offers that require a huge initial stake. 

Money Back Details

Some bookies run promotions where you can gain money back from a losing bet. Betway’s £30 matched free bet on losing accas is a great example. Ensure you read the terms and conditions closely to gain full advantage.

How We Select Free Bet Recommendations

HorseRacing.net is determined to only recommend the best horse racing free bets. Our experts consider several important factors to separate the cream from the crop: 

• Terms & Conditions – Free horse racing bet T&Cs are arguably the most important details to look at. Some bookies can catch you out with restrictive minimum odds on the qualifying wager or free bet tokens, while others can put wagering requirements on the winnings. We closely scrutinise the terms and conditions to avoid any surprises. 
• Value – A free bet is a free bet, so they’ll all have the same value, right? Wrong. Our experts pay attention to the type of free bets available. For example, you could argue that an acca free bet has more value than a single, as the potential payout will be much higher. 
• Entry Requirements – Free bet offers are commonly ineligible with any deposit method other than debit cards. Some bookies buck this trend, notably bet365 (if you successfully verify your identity), so it’s worth looking out for. 

Other Ranking Criteria

Our experts also examine other important ranking criteria to provide a holistic view of the overall betting experience: 

• Licensing – An easy one to tick off the list, as we only ever review a site that holds a UKGC licence. This means you can feel confident that all of the horse racing betting sites we recommend follow a strict code of conduct in order to hold a UKGC licence. No licence, no review — it’s as simple as that;
• Bonus offers – We like to see a variety of bonuses and promotions available for new customers and existing bettors alike. This includes horse racing free bets, money back, matched deposits and specific big events promotions that add a little more interest for punters betting on a race;
• Sports and Markets – Of course, we like to see all of the most popular horse racing events included, like Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National, but it’s nice to see some variation, including popular sports like football and rugby as well as a few more niche sports;
• Features – Many of the best betting sites recognise that their customers like to feel engaged in a sport, so including extras like live streaming and exchange betting is always going to bode well for a positive review;
• Payment Options – Many betting sites only allow welcome bet offer deposits to be made with a debit card or Apple Pay, but once you are betting outside of bonuses, we like to see a range of banking methods supported. This includes some of the more up and coming names like AstroPay alongside a selection of e-wallets outside of PayPal, including Skrill and Neteller. Prepaid vouchers are still a popular deposit method so we like to see this option available for bettors too. Brownie points for those offering a selection of all of the above;
• Site Design – As you may have read in our betting site reviews above, we like a clear design, with easy navigation and obvious signposting of the main elements on the site. It’s not easy to find what you’re looking for when a page is too cluttered and it’s easy to become frustrated when you can’t find a specific market or even a page that you’re looking for;
• Mobile – With a large proportion of people betting via mobile these days, it’s important that a site is designed for this function and that pages read easily on the smaller screen. The best sites are mobile optimised, so you may find the layout is slightly different to what you see on desktop;
• Customer Support – If something goes wrong or you need some help, you need to be able to contact customer support easily and receive a speedy response. We like to see a few different communication channels open, including live chat, email, social media and telephone assistance, with a special pat on the back for any site that operates at least one of these 24/7.

Pros and Cons of Free Bets

The notion of free bets sounds like a great opportunity, but what are the pros and cons of this type of promotional offer? 

Major Horse Racing Meetings Free Bet Deals

All the best betting sites offer free bets on all of the major horse racing meetings throughout the year, and though these are frequently offered to new customers, those who are already signed up are also likely to receive special free bet bonuses in the lead up to the big events. 

Typically, these free bets can only be used on the specified racing meeting, but it’s always a good idea to double check the T&Cs. Here’s a breakdown of the major events on the horse racing calendar, and some of the free bets offers that usually accompany them. 

Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival always attracts a number of new online bettors, and as a result you’ll always find a number of event-specific free bet offers in the weeks and months leading up to the event. For the 2023 festival, for example, Betfred offered new customers £40 in Cheltenham free bets when they made their first £10 bet, and you can expect to see similar kinds of offers when March 2024 rolls around. 

Grand National

The Grand National is perhaps the biggest event in the horse racing calendar, and as a result the top bookies are always offering exclusive free bets.

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is renowned for its flamboyant pageantry, with thousands of spectators and bettors flocking to this historic racecourse every summer. It is no surprise, then, that all the best betting sites offer plenty of free bets to both new and existing customers. Keep an eye out for exclusive bonuses from our top-ranked bookies this June, and make sure to keep checking back in everyday of Ascot week so that you don’t miss out on any free bet promotions.

The Derby

The Epsom Derby, a flat race that always takes place on the first Saturday of June, is a great way to kick start the summer of betting bonuses. First run in 1780, the Derby is one of the sport’s most historic and prestigious events, and all the best betting sites will be offering a range of different event-specific bonuses before and during the big day. Last year the favourite, Desert Crown, won the race, but was closely followed by Hoo Ya Mal at 150/1. Big upsets are fairly rare at Epsom, but maybe this will be the year, so keep an eye out for upcoming promotions and expert tips on HorseRacing.net.

Glorious Goodwood

The five-day Glorious Goodwood festival is a brilliant opportunity to score horse racing free bets. Punters have 35 individual races to choose from, with notable examples including the Goodwood Cup, Sussex Stakes, and Nassau Stakes. Keep an eye out for Goodwood promotions at leading bookies like Betfred in early August to enjoy free bets alongside enhanced odds and other promotions.   

York Ebor Festival

York Ebor Festival takes place annually in late August and stages several high-profile races, including the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks. The four-day event also stages the Ebor Handicap, the most valuable handicap race in 2019 with a one million pound prize kitty. One of the oldest and most significant UK racing meets, York Ebor Festival is another great opportunity for free horse racing bets, with 28 races over the weekend. 

Guineas Festival at Newmarket

Hosted by the legendary Newmarket Racecourse, the Guineas Festival is notable for staging two of the British Classics over the three-day event. Punters are treated to the 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday, two highly anticipated flat races featuring the world’s best three-year-olds. There are 24 races overall, but the two British Classics at Newmarket are most punters’ main focus when taking advantage of free horse racing bets during the festival.

King George VI Chase

Kempton Park’s King George VI Chase is a distinguished Grade I National Hunt steeplechase with eighteen fences to navigate during the three-mile course. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is arguably the only other steeplechase that comes close during the season, and many industry-leading bookies treat it with the same frequent horse racing free bets.

Responsible Gambling

Gambling is a popular source of entertainment but one which comes with financial risk. As such, it is always important to be mindful of your habits, keeping aware of your income and outgoings and general feelings when gambling. Here are a few other things you can do to ensure you remain safe when betting.

Set Budgets

It’s not enough to have a rough figure in mind and a vague awareness of how much you’ve already spent. Setting a budget and sticking to it is one of the most important ways in which you can stay in control of your gambling — even when it comes to a free bet, since there may be financial aspects of the offer to consider such as wagering requirements.  

Self-Exclusion

If you feel you’re losing control, then it’s important to know how to self-exclude from gambling altogether. GAMSTOP is available on all licensed gambling sites in the UK and is the best way in which you can remove yourself from gambling when you need to. By registering with GAMSTOP you will not be able to make deposits or register with a new site for a set amount of time. This timeframe is decided by you and can be between six months and five years. Even if you feel perfectly in control of your gambling, we recommend you locate the link to GAMSTOP on your preferred betting site and understand the process of self-exclusion. 

Set Account Limits

Another safer gambling tool that’s available at all licensed gambling sites is the ability to set personalised account limits. This includes session reminders that pop up to remind you of how long you’ve been active on the site, as well as deposit limits. The deposit limits can be decided on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and for a chosen amount. Similarly, session reminders can usually be set for 30 minutes or an hour. The best sites also offer a cooling off period in which you can remove yourself from the site for a period of as little as 24 hours or up to several weeks.

Don’t use gambling as way to make money

One of the most important things to remember is that gambling should not be considered as a way of supplementing your income. The chances of winning any cash are small, and by putting pressure on yourself to win, you are more likely to fall into the trap of chasing losses. Gambling is a way of enhancing your sporting enjoyment, and it can add an extra thrill to a race. However, it’s certainly not a reliable way of bringing in a financial boost to your regular salary.

Responsible Gambling Organisations

There are many well respected responsible gambling organisations out there who are ready to support you if things become tough. Their sites are often a font of information, with free support lines and email support available. Here’s a few you may want to consider.

Gamcare – Providing live chat, a freephone support line plus lots of research and recovery toolkits, GamCare is a leading provider in responsible gambling help and advice. 

Begambleaware – Similar in content to GamCare, this site provides information and advice to gamblers. There’s also ideas on how to budget for gambling as well as a national gambling support network. 

Gamblers Anonymous – The website is full of useful information plus GA provides local support groups for those struggling from gambling harms. 

Compare Horse Racing Free Bet Offers

Now that you’ve learned about how free bet offers work, and which betting sites offer them, all that’s left to do is compare different free bet bonuses, click through and sign up to the site that suits you best, and claim your first free bet offer. 

Frequently Asked Questions