To get a bookmaker’s welcome offer you nearly always have to place a qualifying bet first, and that bet has to follow the rules exactly. Get the odds, stake, timing or payment method wrong and the free bets never arrive. Here’s how qualifying bets and minimum odds work, and how to make sure yours counts.
Check these five things before you place it
- Odds: at or above the minimum, e.g. evens (2.0) or 1/2 (1.5).
- Stake: the full amount in one bet, from your cash balance.
- Payment method: usually a debit card, since e-wallets are often excluded.
- Timing: placed within the window after you register, often 7–30 days.
- Don’t cash out: the bet must settle normally.
What is a qualifying bet?
A qualifying bet is the real-money bet you place to unlock a promotion. For a “bet £10, get £30 in free bets” offer, the £10 bet is the qualifying bet. It can win or lose: on most welcome offers the free bets are credited once it has settled, whatever the result. Some offers only need the bet to be placed; a few only pay out if it loses. The terms tell you which.
Minimum odds: what they mean
Almost every offer sets minimum odds so you can’t qualify by backing a near-certainty. Bookmakers write them in decimal or fractional form, and often both. The rule is simple: your bet’s odds must be equal to or bigger than the minimum.
| Minimum odds | Fractional | Decimal | Implied chance | Example that qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | 1/5 | 1.20 | 83% | A heavy favourite |
| Short | 1/2 | 1.50 | 67% | A clear favourite |
| Just odds-on | 4/5 | 1.80 | 56% | A narrow favourite |
| Evens | 1/1 | 2.00 | 50% | A coin-flip, or longer |
| Odds against | 6/4 | 2.50 | 40% | An outsider |
To convert fractional odds to decimal, divide the first number by the second and add 1. So 4/5 = 0.8 + 1 = 1.80, and 11/10 = 1.1 + 1 = 2.10. Or use the checker below.
Does my bet qualify?
Type the odds from your bet slip, in fractional (4/5), decimal (1.8) or “evens”.
Does a bet at exactly the minimum count?
Yes. “Minimum odds of 2.0” means 2.0 or bigger, so a bet at exactly evens qualifies. Watch out when prices move, though: if you add a selection at 2.0 and it drifts in to 1.95 before you confirm, the bet won’t qualify. Check the odds on the bet slip, not the ones you clicked.
What about accumulators and bet builders?
For multiples, the combined odds usually have to meet the minimum. Four selections at 1.3 each make an acca of about 2.86, which would qualify at evens. Some offers also set a minimum for each leg (for example “each selection at 1/5 or bigger”) or a minimum number of selections. A bet builder is normally treated as one bet at its combined price.
Each-way bets
Each-way bets are handled differently from one bookmaker to another. Some exclude them completely, and some count only the win part. An each-way bet is also two bets, so a £10 each-way bet is really £5 win and £5 place. Unless the terms clearly say each-way bets count, use a win single.
What stops a qualifying bet counting
| Mistake | Why it fails | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Odds below the minimum | 1.95 doesn’t meet evens (2.0) | Check the bet slip price before confirming |
| Stake split across bets | Two £5 bets ≠ one £10 bet | Place the full stake as one bet |
| Depositing by e-wallet | PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or prepaid cards are often excluded | Use a debit card unless the terms say otherwise |
| Cashing out | Cashed-out bets are often treated as not settled | Let the bet run to the end |
| Void or cancelled bets | A non-runner or postponed match doesn’t settle as a qualifying bet | Place another eligible bet (check the time window) |
| Wrong product | Casino, virtual sports or betting exchange bets rarely count toward a sportsbook offer | Bet on a real sporting event in the sportsbook |
| Missing promo code | Some offers need the code during sign-up | Copy the code from the offer page before you register |
| Too late | Most offers need the bet within a few days of joining | Place it soon after registering |
Real examples of qualifying bet rules
Here’s how the minimum odds vary between UK bookmakers. These are examples from offers on Sports Compare, and offers change often, so always check the live offer page before you bet:
- bet365: the qualifying bet can be as short as 1.2 (1/5).
- William Hill and Virgin Bet: minimum odds of 1.5 (1/2).
- BetUK: minimum odds of 1.8 (4/5).
- Sky Bet and Paddy Power: minimum odds of 2.0 (evens).
The lower the minimum odds, the easier the offer is to complete, which is one reason those offers tend to be rated easy on Sports Compare.
To see which matches you could use for a qualifying bet, check our live odds page. It shows the latest match-result prices from UK bookmakers for the Premier League, the Championship and the Champions League, updated throughout the day, so you can quickly spot a selection that meets an offer’s minimum odds before you place your bet.
How to lower the risk on your qualifying bet
A qualifying bet is a real bet, so it can lose. You can lower that risk in three ways:
- Bet at the shortest odds allowed if you just want to qualify. A favourite at 1.5 wins more often than an outsider at 5.0.
- Pick markets with a low bookmaker margin, like big football matches and major tennis, where prices are sharpest.
- Cover the bet by laying the same selection at a betting exchange. This is the idea behind “matched betting” and why some offers carry our very low risk rating. It takes more effort and you need an exchange account, but it means you lose little or nothing on the qualifying bet whatever happens.
Only stake what you can afford to lose. A welcome offer is never a reason to bet more than you planned.
Offers with the easiest qualifying bets
Free bet offers
Paddy Power Sports Easy Low risk
£30 in free bets
18+ · Code YSKAST · £5 bet at evens+ · £30 free bets · 30 days · Debit/Apple Pay/bank
Full T&Cs
18+ · New Customer offer - Use promo code YSKAST. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Pay by Bank, Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly
Kwiff Sports Easy Very low risk
£40 in free bets
18+ · £10 bet at 2.0+ in 5 days · 4 x £10 free bets (3+ legs each) · 7-day expiry
Full T&Cs
New UK customers. £10 cash bet, min. odds 2.0, in 5 days of deposit. Get 4x £10 Free Bets: Single, 2 Accas & Bet Builder (3+ legs each). Excl. cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ | GambleAware
Unibet Sports Easy Very low risk
£40 in free bets
18+ · Opt in · Dep & bet £20 at 2.0+ in 7 days · £40 free bets · 7 days · Debit/bank only
Full T&Cs
18+ | GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in, deposit and Bet £20+ on sports at min odds of 2.0+ (1/1) for £40 in Free Bets within 7 days of registration. Debit cards or instant bank transfers only. Free bets expire within 7 days of issue. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply.
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See all free bet offers → · New to this? Start with how free bets work.
Qualifying bets FAQ
On most UK welcome offers, no: the free bets are credited once your qualifying bet settles, win or lose. A few offers only pay out if the qualifying bet loses (a “money back as a free bet” offer). The terms say which. Evens is 1/1 in fractional odds or 2.0 in decimal. Your qualifying bet must be at 2.0 or bigger, so 21/20 (2.05) counts but 10/11 (1.91) doesn’t. Usually yes, as long as the combined odds meet the minimum. Some offers also set minimum odds per selection or a minimum number of selections, and a few only accept singles. Often not. Many bookmakers exclude bets that are fully or partially cashed out, so let your qualifying bet run to the end. It depends on the bookmaker. Many exclude PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and other e-wallets from their welcome offer, so a debit card is the safest choice unless the terms say otherwise.Do I have to win my qualifying bet to get the free bets?
What does minimum odds of evens mean?
Can I use an accumulator as my qualifying bet?
Does a cashed-out bet count as a qualifying bet?
Can I deposit with PayPal for a welcome offer?
18+ only. New customers only, T&Cs apply to every offer. Please gamble responsibly. Visit our responsible gambling page or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
