Betting promo codes, also called bonus or coupon codes, are special codes that betting customers can use upon registration to receive extra betting incentives. These incentives can be in the form of bonus funds, free bets, or free spins. There are even promotion codes that reward customers with cashback and cash rewards beyond the conventional free bet bonus.
Most of the betting sites do not require promo codes anymore but, having said that, some still do and missing out on a bonus because you did not know about the code is far from ideal. In any case, promo codes can be used for different prizes depending on who the offer is intended for and the conditions attached to the offer. Below we discuss two common ones...
Welcome Bonus Code: This is also sometimes known as a registration bonus code. It is usually available for new customers who register first-time betting accounts with UK bookmakers such as Betfred, William Hill, Betzone, and Coral, among others.
With a welcome bonus, customers are treated to a free bet, a bonus on their first deposit or a bonus without having to make a deposit. If you're signing up with a promo code on an online casino, you can enjoy free spins as part of the rewards.
No Deposit Bonus Code: If you come across a no deposit bonus code, you will have a chance to enjoy some bonus without having to deposit money into your casino or sportsbook account. A few new online betting sites are currently offering no deposit promo codes as they try to catch up to the more established brands.
With many UK betting operators offering promo codes to their customers, it is easy to get drawn in by big numbers and headline offers. However, customers need to check the nitty gritty and ensure the requirements of each promo code offer are agreeable.
Before you go down to the promo code details, the first crucial element to check is the reputation and integrity of the operators offering these bonuses. The legality of any such operator should never be in doubt — you can easily check if the operator is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Besides these two critical factors, here are a few more essentials to look out for when checking for bonus codes to redeem.
Keep an eye on the following sign-up restrictions to ensure you do not miss out on a potentially rewarding promo code;
Before settling on a specific bonus code, check that the conditions for the first bet or stake are manageable. Bonuses usually require you to make a deposit and place a wager before receiving the deposit. Some key requirements to look out for here include:
Redeeming a bonus code is not the end of the promo, you will still have to follow certain terms and conditions on how to use the bonus. If done wrongly, you might not get the full benefit of the offer, and in some cases, the bonus might be forfeited.
Check the following conditions before you redeem a bonus code to ensure that you can meet the requirements of using the bonus.
Bonus and promo codes are almost exclusively used during the registration process on a betting site. As such, this is what we will base our guide on, using the well-known bookie Betfred as the example here. When signing up on the site, if you want to claim the £50 in free bets, you will need to enter the code 'BETFRED50' as seen in the image below.
Once the registration has been completed, you will now be eligible for the welcome offer as you entered the code. Now, as stipulated by the terms and conditions, you will need to make a deposit of at least £10 with a debit card. Using any other method will make you ineligible for the offer, regardless of whether you entered the code or not.
Then, as a final act, you will need to place a qualifying bet of at least £10 with a minimum odds of evens (1/1), but it should be noted that any sportsbook market works. Once the bet has been settled, the bonus/free bet will be credited to your account. This is the case at Betfred at least, but most betting sites have a very similar process.
Steven is responsible for all content on BettingGuide UK. He is an experienced iGaming content writer working in the industry since 2018. If you have any questions regarding online gambling in the UK, don't hesitate to contact him.