Sports Bonuses

Those new to sports betting are strongly advised to start by taking advantage of free bets and bonuses offered by online bookmakers to first time depositors.  

We made this list to make it easier for you to find betting sites that are secure and licensed in one place effortlessly.

The best betting sites with such offers available are listed below.

SBK

Rating
4.5 / 5
  • Incredibly safe and secure
  • Well-designed mobile website
  • Amazing offers
First £20 Refunded In Cash No Bet Limit
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

New customers only. Deposit £20 using Debit Card or Trustly. Up to your first £20 of losses will be refunded as CASH within 24 hours of qualifying bet having been settled. T&Cs apply.

Mr.play

Rating
4.8 / 5
  • Great in-play and live streaming options
  • Huge collection of markets with competitive odds
Bet £10 Get £15
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.

Spreadex

Rating
4.6 / 5
  • Fully licenced and regulated and partnered with gambling charities
  • Live scoring and stats boosts in-play offering
  • Great odds choice throughout the site
Bet £10 Get £30
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

Place a £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Get a £10 free fixed odds bet plus a £5 free Total Goals football spread bet. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused.

bet365

Rating
4.8 / 5
  • Mobile Optimized
  • Cool offers
  • Friendly 24/7 support
Welcome Bonus Up to £100 in Bet Credits
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Local Bookmakers vs Online Betting Sites

If you’re the type of person who enjoys quaint, slow-paced activities, like buying newspapers you can hold in your hands and building ships in a bottle, corner shops may be for you.

However, if you prefer a faster-paced life with a wider variety of options, online sportsbooks are the way to go. Compared to in-person betting at your local bookmaker, online betting:

  • is faster (no queueing up at a window)
  • is more convenient (you don’t have to leave your house/office)
  • offers a broader selection of sports (corner shops are generally limited to UK offerings)
  • lets you compare odds across multiple sites (without traveling to a new location)
  • allows you to capitalize on generous sign-up bonuses and ongoing special offers.

If you bet on sports for any length of time, you will inevitably find yourself in the following situation one day: you’ll flip on the telly or open the Sky Sports website and learn that Harry Kane, Mo Salah or Kevin De Bruyne is out for his team’s next match. You’ll want to get a bet down on the other side as soon as possible, before all the other punters jump on it and the odds change drastically.

If you do your betting at a corner shop, this means walking down and waiting in line.

Choosing a Bookie: Key Considerations

Deposit and withdrawal options are one of the key factors that new bettors consider when choosing a sportsbook. But they are far from the only one. Our research indicates that the following are the five most-important factors bettors take into account when picking which online site to bet at:

  1. Safe transactions
  2. Trustworthy reputation,
  3. Free, easy, and quick transactions,
  4. Lucrative/generous bonuses
  5. Wide selection of sports to bet on

Much the same as deposit and withdrawal options, the legal environment also affects which sports you will be able to wager on.

Online betting sites tend to offer a broader selection of sports than retail betting shops. Before you pick a sportsbook, take a look at which sports they offer, how deeply they cover each one, whether they have the types of bets you want to make, and how their odds compare to the competition.