Best Horse Racing Free Bets and Betting Offers in 2024

This is The Independent’s guide to the best horse racing free bets from the top betting sites in the UK.

The UK Gambling Commission governs all recommended betting sites on this page.

Best Horse Racing Betting Offers

All of our recommended online betting sites below offer free horse racing bets for new customers. In many cases, existing customers can also take advantage of horse racing free bets too.

When taking advantage of horse racing free bets with online betting sites, always read the terms and conditions to ensure an understanding of the requirements necessary to qualify for free horse racing bets and bonus offers.

Best Horse Racing Free Bet Sign-Up Offers

1. Bet365 Racing Free Bet

As one of the leading sports betting brands, bet365 often leads the way regarding horse racing free bets and innovative promotions.

When using the Promo Code: INDY2024, the bet365 sign-up bonus for new customers is to bet £10 and receive £30 in free bets. The process to claim the bonus is simple:

• Deposit £10 and place a bet to the same value
• Once the bet has been settled, win or lose, customers will be credited £30 in free bets

To use the free bet credits, select ‘Use Bet Credits’ on your betting slip when placing further wagers on the wide range of sports available at bet365.

If you're working off a smaller budget, you can still qualify for horse racing free bets if you deposit £5 on this offer. This would qualify new customers for £15 in free bets.

There are time limits and payment method restrictions, so checking the conditions for all free bet promotions is essential.

Along with horse racing free bets for new customers, bet365 also offer a range of promotions for existing customers.

These include Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse races and extra place races, which provide an additional place or places on selected races. Bet Boost is another popular feature.

Horse racing followers are also catered for with bet365’s Price Promise. This offer means that bet365 will not be beaten on an early price on all UK and Irish races broadcast on ITV. This can also be used when taking advantage of their horse racing free bets.

2. BetUK Racing Free Bet

The BetUK bet 10 get 30 welcome offer allows new customers to unlock £30 in free bets once they deposit and wager £10 at odds of 4/5 or greater. 

However, free bets are distributed in three individual £10 credits and only one of them is valid for horse racing, with the other two reserved for football and BetUK’s bet builder tool. 

Once the qualifying bet for this new customer offer is settled, users will receive the three individual £10 free bets. 

One of the good things about this BetUK sign-up offer for 2024 is that BetUK will allow each-way bets to qualify for the promo – so long as the win part of the stake is a minimum of £10.

For example, a £5 each-way bet will not qualify for the promotion, but a £10 each-way stake will.

3. Betway Racing Free Bet

Betway offers a £30 matched horse racing free bet for new customers. To qualify for this promotion, the initial bet must be a treble or accumulator on horse racing. The minimum free horse racing bet is £5 with a maximum of £30.

The offer also entitles new customers to 100 spins on the slot game Gold Blitz in the online casino section of their website.

Betway also have a 'Free Bet Club' available for their customers, where, upon opting in, you earn £10 in free bets every week.

4. BetGoodwin Racing Free Bet

Although a relative newcomer to sports betting, BetGoodwin has quickly established itself as one of the best new betting sites.

New customers are entitled to 50 per cent of first-day sportsbook losses up to a maximum of £25. The money returned can be used as a free horse racing bet.

For new and existing customers, BetGoodwin provides several strong promotions. Best Odds Guaranteed comes as standard, and they also offer a range of free horse racing bets.

These include free bets if your horse is beaten by a nose, is second to a 50/1 or bigger winner, falls at the last when leading, or is beaten by under half a length in a chase.

5. BoyleSports Racing Free Bet

When considering opening a new betting account, BoyleSports should be on your list of options.

The new customer offer is a simple bet £10 on mobile and get £20 in free bets on horse racing.

Boylesports also offer money back as a free bet if your horse racing selection is second to the SP favourite, and the leading horse racing betting site are one of the first to go non-runner no bet on the Grand National in 2024.

6. BetMGM Racing Free Bet

This gambling brand is known worldwide, and BetMGM's horse racing free bets are available for all new customers.

New customers can receive four free bets after opting in and placing a qualifying bet of £10 or more at odds of evens or greater.

Specifically, these are a £10 horse racing free bet, a £10 Bet Builder, a £10 free horse racing accumulator bet, and a £10 football bet. These offers have a seven-day expiry attached to them.

Furthermore, existing BetMGM sportsbook customers can then get daily horse racing price boosts via their 'Golden Silks' promotion. 

This feature allows bettors to opt in every Monday and stake up to £20 on a horse racing single bet every day of the week thereafter to receive up to 20% more on any winnings. 

7. Tote Racing Free Bet

New customers to this horse racing-focused gambling site can take advantage of the Tote bet sign-up offer. After placing a first bet of £10 or more, £30 in horse racing free bets will be credited to the account.

The Tote is a pool-based betting website, and details of how pool betting works can be found on their website and betting app.

All customers are included in the Tote Guarantee. Like Best Odds Guaranteed, Tote will always pay their customers at least the starting price. If the Tote dividend is greater, they will settle winning bets at that price.

New customers will receive 50 free spins on one of the most popular slot games, Big Bass Bonanza, on the website’s new casino gaming area as an additional bonus.

8. BetVictor Racing Free Bet

The long-established BetVictor sportsbook is one of the most trusted in online betting.

After depositing and placing a £10 qualifying bet, new customers will receive four £5 free horse racing bets – if you opt into the BetVictor horse racing welcome offer.

The free bets are a £5 horse racing free bet on any horse racing market, a £5 free bet on any lengthen the odds market, a free £5 bet on any virtual horse race and an in-play £5 free horse racing bet.

9. William Hill Racing Free Bet

The name William Hill is synonymous with horse racing betting. Their sign-up process is quick and simple, and their new customer offer is straightforward.

After opening a new betting account with William Hill and placing a £10 bet, new customers will be credited with three £10 free bets which can be used on horse racing.

William Hill also offers a range of bonuses, including Epic Boost, for new and existing customers.

These can change daily, so it is worth checking back regularly to see the latest offers after opening an account using the William Hill sign-up offer.

10. Betfred Racing Free Bet: Bet £10, Get £50 in Bonus Funds

Betfred have rolled out one of the best new customer offers for horse racing fans.

They are one of the most popular gambling sites when it comes to betting on horse racing and with this welcome offer, new customers can secure £50 in bonus funds when they register an account and place a £10 bet on the racing.

To opt in, use the promo code WELCOME50. The £50 in bonus funds is broken down as follows:

• A free £20 In-Play bet
• A free £20 Acca
• 50 x 20p free spins on Fishin' Frenzy

It’s an ideal way to get started with a bookmaker known as the ‘Bonus King’ due to the bonuses that you can land with your horse racing bets in particular.

New customers only need to stake £10 to qualify for this promotion and this only needs to be placed on a selection at even-money (2.0) or bigger to trigger £50 worth of bonuses.

As one of the first betting operators to make full use of online technology, Betfred has built a vast online customer base over the years.

New and Existing Customer Free Bets

Matched Bet Offers

Gambling sites occasionally offer a matched bet promotion. These offers are generally straightforward to understand. For example, new and existing customers can make a £10 bet on a specified event and will be credited with the same amount back as a free bet.

Enhanced Odds Sign-Up Offers

Online betting sites occasionally promote enhanced odds for a particular race or meeting. For instance, the bookmaker may offer an enhanced starting price return on all races shown live on ITV. For more information on what does SP mean in horse racing, check out our useful explainer page.

Acca Insurance

A common feature that the best accumulator betting sites offer is acca insurance. It is usually available to new and existing customers and is typically used in football accumulators. However, the feature can also apply to horse racing accumulators.

When placing an accumulator with four or more selections, customers can place the bet at slightly reduced odds. If one selection does not win, a proportion of the stake will be credited back to the account. In some cases, this may be returned as a free bet.

Money-Back Specials

Money-back specials, a promotion many betting sites use, come in many forms. When using free horse racing bets, both existing and new customers may be able to take advantage of various money-back specials such as money-back as a free bet if your selection finishes second to the SP favourite. Check individual betting sites for terms and conditions.

Best Odds Guaranteed

Betting websites that offer Best Odds Guaranteed may be of interest to customers opening a new account for horse racing free bets. Existing customers usually qualify for this valuable asset as well. To learn more, visit The Independent’s guide to the top Best Odds Guaranteed betting sites.

No Deposit Free Bets

No deposit free bets are fairly uncommon and are mainly limited to the gaming sections on betting sites. However, some horse racing betting sites will reward regular customers with occasional free bets with no deposit required based on their activity.

Free Bets For Horse Racing Festivals

Grand National Free Bets

The Grand National is the most famous jump race in the world. It is a huge betting event and attracts interest from around the globe from those who may not be regular horse racing viewers.

The race carries a prize fund of £1million and online betting sites know that there are many potential new customers.

As the big race approaches, most of The Independent’s recommended horse betting apps will offer ways of obtaining Grand National free bets.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

The 2024 Royal Ascot meeting occurs at the Berkshire track near Windsor Great Park. The event begins on 18 June and runs for five consecutive days.

With over £10million in prize money and top races worth over £650,000 apiece, the meeting attracts the cream of European racehorses and runners from Japan and the USA.

As well as a racing festival, it is also a celebration of fashion and creates colossal media attention, with many of the Royal Family attending the meeting throughout the week. Indeed, King Charles had his first winner at the meeting in 2023 with Desert Hero.

Like the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National meetings, most betting sites will offer a means of claiming free bets on horse racing for Royal Ascot.

Understanding The Terms & Conditions

Free horse racing bets invariably have terms and conditions attached to them. The onus is on the customer to understand the stipulations when opening a new account.

New and existing customers should always read the terms and conditions when searching for free horse racing bets offered by licensed bookmakers. 

The most common conditions will be time restrictions on when horse racing free bets can be taken advantage of and the minimum odds required when placing a single or multiple bet.

In many cases, customers need to ‘opt-in’ or ‘claim’ free horse racing bet promotions immediately after opening an account or before placing a qualifying wager.

Responsible Gambling

Horse racing betting can be addictive so it's important to stay in control of your gambling.

Most horse racing betting sites have safer gambling hubs that allow customers to view their profit and loss margins and set time management restrictions. 

Licensed bookies will also have standard responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion, which allow users to cut off access and marketing communications.  

Should you wish to seek independent help for gambling-related harm, there are several UK charities and institutions you can turn to for support, advice, and information:

• GamCare
• GambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous
• NHS

Horse Racing Free Bet: The Independent View

All of the recommended gambling sites for free horse racing bets on this page are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

They have each passed our vigorous review criteria to earn our recommendations.

Which bookmaker you choose for horse racing free bets should come down to your personal intentions, betting preferences, and of course your budget.