What are betting promo codes? How do you use them? Why are they important? These are just some of the questions new bettors looking to sign up with sports betting sites may have. Online wagering is a fast-growing niche attracting millions of gamblers in the UK. Apart from offering some form of temporary escape from everyday life pressures, bettors occasionally pick up decent winnings along the way. Now that you’ve made up your mind to jump onto the online betting bandwagon, your first step is to familiarise yourself with the ins and outs of the activity—then you can commit your hard-earned cash. This process entails cutting through all sorts of betting lingo, so you know what’s what. We guess that’s why you’re here.
Promo codes will most definitely be part of the various online betting jargon you’ll encounter. Truth be told, almost one in every five UK betting sites you see online will display the term. It’s apparent how promo codes are a widespread phenomenon on the UK betting scene. As such, all aspiring bettors must acquaint themselves with the concept. And that’s the purpose of this guide; to explain all you need to know about the UK betting promo codes, how to spot them, how to use them, and how to make them work for you.
Rank
Bookmaker
Bonus
Highlights
Rating
Deposit £10 Get £40 Bonus
New Customers Only. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Minimum deposit £10. 50x wagering requirement apply. Bonus will expire 30 days after opt-in. T&C Apply
Bet £10 and Get Two £15 Free Bets
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply.T&C Apply
Deposit $10 and get 100% Bonus to 400$
UK new players only • Bonus will be granted in Tournament Tickets gradually over 7 days after the claim date • Each Tournament Ticket will expire 24 hours after it was granted • T&C Apply
£20 free bet to new account holders
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.T&C Apply
Before we delve any deeper into our guide, let’s start by explaining what exactly a betting promo code is. Hence, we’re on the same page. Put simply, betting promo codes are unique alphanumeric sequences used to activate specific betting bonuses. They can also be used to access exclusive betting promotions and enhanced odds. The purpose a particular promo code serves depends on the bookie in question. In some gambling circles, promo codes may also be referred to as vouchers, bonuses, or referral codes. It’s the same thing.
As you may have gathered, betting promo codes are offered by online sportsbooks to their respective customers. Most UK betting sites use these vouchers to entice new users into joining their platforms. In this case, users who decide to register with the sportsbook can use the provided code to unlock a welcome bonus. But as we hinted before, some trusted bookmaker craft bonus codes for their existing customers. Loyalty to a particular betting site isn’t guaranteed in the betting world. Bettors are incredibly fickle. Promo codes, in this case, keep existing players hooked on the current platform. Other operators aim the bonus voucher at a specific group of bettors on the platform, such as members of VIP or loyalty programmes. Promo codes can also work to separate bonuses into different geographic locations. For example, suppose a sportsbook intends to only offer a particular promotion to customers based in Manchester. In that case, the operator may send the code via email to bettors who registered their accounts with related addresses.
The beauty of online betting is the activity has many layers. As such, betting promo codes aren’t one-size-fits-all. As much as there are different sports and games to wager on, other types of promo codes are available to bettors. As you’ll find out soon enough, each bettor has a different wagering style and betting preference. It makes sense that different betting sites also avail various kinds of promo codes to accommodate different bettors.
The sport betting offers are based on a combination of factors. They include market research, checking out what their rivals offer, financial pool, and overall objectives. But, at the end of the day, the promo codes you find displayed by UK betting sites are either designed to attract or retain bettors. Also, some sportsbooks offer promo codes as part of their marketing strategy. But more on that later.
Regardless of the bookmaker’s intentions or goals, the bottom line is these codes benefit bettors in different ways. Ultimately, they give you more wagering chances on the platform. Below we list the most common promo codes best UK betting sites swear by.
If we were to start with some of the most coveted promo vouchers across the betting scene, no deposit bonus codes would certainly crown that list. Here’s why; when a betting site offers you a no deposit bonus code, it’s basically allowing you to wager on the platform with absolutely no risk on your part. In other words, users who claim such a code get to wager on some of their favourite sporting events on the house.
A no deposit bonus voucher means precisely what it says on the box. When you find and claim such codes, you don’t have to deposit your own funds to place real money wagers. Few bettors can resist such an offer—we know we wouldn’t.
To receive an operator’s no deposit bonus code, all you have to do is open your account with the platform. The moment your account is up and running, the sportsbook automatically credits the bonus. No questions asked! No deposit bonus codes are available in different types, including the following:
Following closely behind no deposit bonus codes are deposit promo vouchers — these link to match bonuses. However, unlike no deposit codes where you don’t need to use your own funds to wager on the site, you must part with some funds to unlock the deposit bonus voucher. Nevertheless, it’s still a very popular type of promo code used by numerous top UK betting sites, and with good reason.
A betting site that offers a deposit bonus code requires you to deposit a specific amount to unlock the reward. After you deposit, the operator matches your initial stake by a certain percentage. The percentage in which the operator matches your deposit will vary with each UK betting site. Generally, you’re looking at anything between 10% to 200%. For the sake of clarity, how about a quick math lesson to put things in perspective:
In a nutshell, deposit bonus codes beef up your initial deposit by a specific percentage stipulated by the operator. But there’s a catch. The operator usually offers to match your deposit up to a certain amount. That means if you decide to deposit more than the amount stipulated by the bookie, you’ll only receive a match deposit pegged at the maximum amount.
Anything above the capped amount isn’t covered by the promotion. For example, if the operator offers a 100% deposit of up to £300. If you deposit £200, the operator won’t double your deposit to £400. They can only match your deposit up to £300. The remaining £100 isn’t covered by the promo code. So, keep that in mind.
We mentioned free bets under no deposit codes, where you’ll receive free bets without making a deposit. Some operators ask you to first deposit funds to activate the promo code with free bets. It’s pretty much like how deposit bonus codes work. The free bets you receive will usually boost your bankroll as soon as you make the qualifying deposit or wager. Bookies typically impose a minimum deposit that unlocks your rewards. For example, if you deposit £10 or more, you’ll receive a £20 free bet. Free bets are sometimes spread over customers’ first few deposits of days at a new sportsbook. For example, you can receive a £10 free bet for every £100 you deposit on your first month at a betting site.
You’ll receive the free bets regardless of whether your wager wins or loses. But note that if you win, the winnings you get don’t include your initial stake. With most UK betting sites, free bet codes link to the following promos:
While several operators link promo codes to free bets to attract new customers, some use them to engage existing punters and prompt them to deposit more. For example, you’ll find a good number of betting sites that associate free bet promo codes with major sporting events, like the Champions League final. In this case, UK betting sites will use free bet codes to promote specific games or events on the platform. From what we’ve gathered, free bets bonus codes are also popular in horse racing betting events.
As previously hinted, another popular type of promo code used by UK betting sites activates risk-free bets. When you claim a risk-free bet code, the betting site will give you something in return if you lose your wager. And these codes are synonymous with sign-up offers aimed at enticing new bettors.
You’ll need to make a deposit specified by the operator before you can activate this type of promo code. Following your deposit, you must go ahead and wager using your funds. The risk-free bet promo code almost always only covers your first qualifying wager. That means you have one shot at going big or going home. If your qualifying bet wins, then kudos to you. You get to walk away with a beefed-up bankroll, and the risk-free bonus code falls away. The risk-free bet code only comes into play when your qualifying wager loses. When this happens, the betting site will refund your stake in the following forms:
Risk-free bet codes will remain popular for one reason. If your qualifying wager loses, the operator will refund you, making for an absolutely risk-free gambling experience!
A series of alphanumeric characters make up promo codes or bonus vouchers. While some promo codes comprise a combination of numbers or letters, some are only available in letters. With the latter, some UK betting sites may prefer to use a specific word for the code, such as WINNER or AMAZING.
The first step to using a betting promo code is obviously to register with a bookmaker. That means you must first identify the betting site offering the code. Once you identify the operator’s promo code, you need to familiarise yourself with its terms, which we’ll explain a little later. Only after you’re satisfied with the terms can you go ahead and claim the promo code.
To do this, you must open an account with the betting site. In most cases, registering with a UK betting site won’t take much time. You have to click on the Join Now or Sign-Up tab displayed on the website. After you do this, a registration form usually pops up. Complete the registration form by providing the information required. In most cases, operators will require you to provide them with your full name, a unique user name, password, email, and address.
Depending on the platform, you’re prompted to insert the promo code during the registration process. After entering the promo code, you need to accept the operator’s terms and conditions. Of course, we’re assuming this happens after you carefully go through them. The operator verifies your account. If everything checks out, it’ll be up and running.
You can proceed to claim the offer by linking to the bonus code. If it’s a no deposit offer code, the operator will automatically credit your bonus into your account. Other betting sites will require you to enter the promo code on the operator’s dedicated bonus page or while making your first deposit. Whichever the case, be sure to enter the code in the designated space provided by the operator.
We’ll take this opportunity to stress that most betting promo codes are case-sensitive. That means you should always insert the code as it appears on the platform. Where possible, you should copy and paste the code onto the provided space to avoid any issues. If that’s not possible, you can always go the old-school route and type it out. Just be sure to pay attention to the case-sensitive nature of the voucher.
Quite frankly, it’s hard to miss a promo code once you land on the site offering it. That’s especially true if the promo voucher looks to tantalise new prospective customers to sign up. English betting sites usually display the promo code on the home page in bold for all to see. After all, the whole point is to woo new bettors into joining the platform, so it should be in plain sight.
Some online betting sites offer promo codes to their existing customers as we mentioned before. In that case, you’ll need to dig a little deeper because they may be masked under the promotions section linking to various promos. In addition, it’s not unusual for sportsbooks to directly email certain bettors promo codes. Such a move may serve to entice bettors who appear to be on a wagering sabbatical. Other betting sites avail promo codes through their various mailing lists. It may be a good idea to sign up for an operator’s mailing list to avoid missing out on any new promo codes.
We’re assuming you’ll only see the bonus voucher or hear of it after you identify the betting site offering it. So, if you’re a new bettor, how will you know which site offers promo codes and which one doesn’t? A little digging and research are necessary on your part. You can take advantage of websites that specialise in comparing betting platforms. Our website, for example, has listed the promo codes offered by different sportsbooks and relevant links. Clicking on these links will lead you straight to the respective betting platform. Go through the list and pick the one that appeals to you the most.
Betting promo codes are undoubtedly effective at capturing punters’ attention. But at the end of the day, betting sites are there to make money. As such, operators are quick to penalise you if you’re not careful when using the offer. We’d like to bring your attention to a few expert pointers you should keep in mind to get the most value out of betting promo codes.
All betting promo codes come with a few terms and conditions attached. These Ts & Cs are certainly not for display. Failure to observe these conditions and you risk short-changing your wagering experience. In worst cases, you risk losing out on the offer altogether!
So, it’s in your best interests to take the time to carefully go through all the terms and conditions attached to the promo code. Why? This fine print often provides you with crucial information on several aspects of the promo voucher, including:
The bottom line? If you choose to claim a bonus without reading these terms and conditions, do so at your own peril! On the other hand, we summarise key areas of each promo code’s fine print. So, if you claim any of the bonuses listed here, you’ll know what to expect.
When going through a promo code’s terms and conditions, a critical aspect to watch out for is the wagering requirements. We deliberately omitted this requirement in the section above because we feel it deserves a detailed discussion on its own.
So, what are wagering requirements? Also referred to as play-through or rollover conditions, these determine the number of times or the amount you have to wager before you can withdraw the bonus and sometimes your deposit amount. While wagering requirements are more prevalent with casinos, several sportsbooks impose them too. Probably the biggest consolation is they aren’t as high as online casino wagering requirements. In some cases, betting sites don’t impose them at all. In addition, some promo codes, such as free bets, often come with very small or no wagering requirements at all.
Wagering requirements appear on UK betting sites as a number with a multiplier sign in front of it. While the number of times you can wager before you can withdraw differs among bookies, you’re typically looking at between 1x and 5x for most promo codes.
Here’s a little secret; the lower the wagering number, the better. Why? The lower the number is, the quicker you can withdraw your bonus or winnings. Case in point; if the operator imposes a 2x wagering requirement to the promo, it means you can only withdraw after wagering the bonus amount twice. It follows that if a 1x wagering requirement is applicable, you only have to wager the bonus once before you can withdraw.
After all, is said and done, bettors will have to meet these wagering requirements before they can withdraw. Even so, you rarely have the luxury of time regarding how soon you should complete the wagering period. Most operators impose expiry dates that you must complete the wagering by. These time limits can be anything from seven days to sixty days. It all depends on the type of bonus and betting site. In addition, some wagering requirements stipulate the minimum odds you must wager on while using the promo code.
The norm with sports betting is bettors can withdraw winnings after the event is over. Some UK betting sites allow bettors to settle their bets before the event ends. That means you can opt to cash out your winnings while a game is still underway. Bettors that notice their predictions aren’t going according to plan, and the outcome is likely to change before the game end usually opt for this feature. If you go this route, you can receive the money you wagered and a portion of the full-time potential winnings at any point in the game. Of course, how much you receive will depend on the moment when you decide to cash out during the game. But after weighing the pros and cons, you may have realised that if you don’t act now, you’ll lose out on your entire wager.
So, do cash out winnings apply to betting promo codes? Sadly, no. Most, if not all, from the best betting sites in UK prohibit bettors from exercising this option after activating a particular promo code. If you place a qualifying wager after unlocking a promo code, you have to see it through. That’s not to say you’re not allowed to cash out your winnings from a bet you make using a promo code. Some bettors will enable you to cash out qualifying wagers linking to specific promo codes. However, if you decide to go this route, you’re automatically disqualified from the promotion. For example, if you activate a deposit bonus code, the operator won’t match your qualifying deposit if you decide to cash out your winnings prematurely before the event ends. In the case of a risk-free bet promotion, the betting site won’t refund you the remaining portion of the losing wager. You’re, however, free to continue wagering on the platform under the operator’s standard terms and conditions.
It’s no secret that betting promo codes play a pivotal role in hauling new players to join betting sites. Apart from drawing in new players, some operators use them for their marketing efforts to promote specific events or games. But what’s in it for you? Why should you use a betting promo code? The real question is, why not? Betting promo codes benefit bettors just as much as they benefit sportsbooks. Call it a win-win, if you may.
UK betting promo codes give you a fantastic opportunity to build up your bankroll. If you noticed, all the different types of promo codes give you additional wagering opportunities, one way or the other. In the case of the no deposit bonus, you literally receive a free bonus without paying a dime. Plus, you can use the bonus code to wager on the platform and win real cash while you’re at it! Even if you were to deposit something to activate the promo code, like in the case of a deposit bonus voucher, the operator beefs up your deposit. That leaves you with more money to wager.
Sports betting bonuses are a lifesaver to newbies still learning the ropes of betting. Using the no deposit bonus code as an example, you can use the voucher as an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the wagering activity. And this happens at no risk to you. Seasoned bettors can also use no deposit bonus codes to scout unfamiliar betting platforms. You can establish if it’s easy to navigate or pays out wins as promised. Betting promo codes are also excellent for bettors not ready to take huge betting risks. They are a great way to build your confidence while cautiously wagering on different games before you commit to betting huge amounts.
Furthermore, UK betting codes allow you to uncover hidden special betting promotions that give you a neat way to make good returns. Either way, regardless of the promo code you unlock, you don’t have to lose your money. And for that reason, their popularity will remain unmatched.
Of the various gambling jargon that newbies need to master, betting promo codes should top that list. Trusted bookmakers in UK battle it out to attract customers by offering enticing promo codes. No doubt, operators benefit from promo codes. But so do you. These codes are the key to unlocking special welcome bonuses, offers, and enhanced odds. They are available in various types. And different betting sites offer different betting promo codes. While most aim at new customers, others are targeted at existing punters.
Claiming betting promo codes is as simple as opening an account with operators availing them by following the prompts. They, however, do come with specific terms and conditions, so we encourage you to go through these carefully before you claim. Betting promo codes are packed with numerous perks, from building your bankroll to uncovering exciting promotions. Our advice to you? Embrace them. Essentially, they provide the safest way for you to take a betting risk.
A betting promo code is an alphanumeric sequence used to access wagering bonuses, special offers, and enhanced odds. Offering betting promo codes is a popular tactic typically used by online betting sites to prompt new customers into joining their platforms. However, some operators use betting promo codes to engage existing customers and keep them from jumping ship. A betting code is almost always unique to the bookmaker and often links to a specific bonus. Bettors who claim the promo code can enjoy additional wagering opportunities or access to exclusive offers.
Yes, they do. Betting promo codes are common among licensed operators in the UK. A licensed betting site certainly has the edge over unlicensed operators regarding gaining bettors’ trust. However, having a UKGC license doesn’t mean bettors will automatically register with the platform with no concerted marketing efforts to lure bettors on its part. Licensed betting sites need to devise strategies to attract new customers, given the competitive nature of the online wagering market. For this reason, you’ll find a sizeable number of licensed UK betting sites availing promo codes to clinch new players and also retain their existing customer base.
Promo codes link to different kinds of bonuses. Bettors are at liberty to activate the promo code relating to the bonus that best peeks their wagering interests and matches their betting style. For example, using a promo code, you can claim a no deposit bonus and get to wager on the platform without making a deposit but still win real cash. A promo code can also link to a deposit bonus. You must deposit a specific amount to receive an additional bonus percentage from the operator. Some codes can also link to free bets and risk-free bets. Essentially, the betting site refunds your losing wager or a portion of it if your qualifying bet goes sideways.
The exact process of claiming a promo code will differ based on the site you join. But we can assure you the process is pretty straightforward for the most part. First, you need to register with the platform before claiming the bonus using a promo code. Depending on the betting platform, you can claim the promo during the registration process. Alternatively, you can claim it when you make your deposit. You need to insert the promo voucher in the provided space on the website, paying careful attention to its case-sensitive nature.
Yes and no. Some bonuses do, and some don’t. Wagering requirements, also known as play-through or rollover conditions, depict the number of times you must wager the bonus and possibly your deposit before the operator allows you to withdraw. Most betting sites don’t attach wagering requirements to rewards, such as free bets. However, this will vary based on the platform. Regardless, the wagering requirements attached to the bonuses with promo codes are rarely high. On average, you’re looking at multipliers between 1x and 5x, based on the platform. Only after you meet the wagering requirements stipulated by the betting site can you proceed to withdraw.
Author
Nick Griffin
Last Updated:
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