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.

BetVictor

Rating
4 / 5
  • Wide range of payment methods available
  • Many daily and weekly promotions available across various sports
  • Quality mobile betting options allow punters to bet on the move
Casino Welcome Offer £20 + 50 Free Spins
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

18+ Opt in, deposit & wager £10+ on selected games within 7 days of registration. Get £20 in Casino Bonus Funds (10x wagering. Max withdrawal £250) + 50 Free Spins for Age of the Gods: God of Storms 3. 30 days expiry. Click for T&Cs. gambleaware.org

Highbet

Rating
4.4 / 5
  • Mobile friendly games
  • Holds a UKGC License
  • Approved by iTech Labs
Bonus Get 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

Terms and conditions apply. New players must be aged 18+. Please play responsibly.

 

Fortune Jack

Rating
4.7 / 5
  • Perfect integration on all devices
  • Trusted Reviews
  • Sleek Site Design
Welcome Bonus 500% Casino Bonus
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

The minimum permitted deposit is 0.002 BTC. The rollover requirement for the bonus will be 40x. Bonus funds can’t be withdrawn until this rollover requirement has been met. T&C 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
NEW CUSTOMER OFFER £60 IN FREE BETS
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

Place a £10 fixed odds single or £10 each-way bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and, once your qualifying bet has been settled, get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet. 18+ www.gambleaware.org.

bet365

Rating
4.8 / 5
  • Mobile Optimized
  • Cool offers
  • Friendly 24/7 support
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Claim
18+. T&C’s Apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. 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.