Betfair Sportsbook: Get Up to £30 in Free Bets
What you'll learn:
- How to complete the Betfair Sportsbook sign-up offer
- Why you must use Smarkets (not Betfair Exchange) for this offer
- A worked example showing ~£20 profit from this offer
Offer Summary
What You'll Need
- A new Betfair Sportsbook account (never signed up before)
- A Smarkets exchange account (do NOT use Betfair Exchange)
- Around £20 in starting funds (to cover qualifying bet + exchange liability)
- A matched betting calculator to work out lay stakes
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Sign up to Betfair Sportsbook
Create a new Betfair Sportsbook account. Make sure you are signing up via the sportsbook section, not the exchange. Use accurate personal details — you'll need to verify your identity before withdrawing.
Deposit funds
Deposit at least £10 into your Betfair Sportsbook account. Use a debit card for your first deposit — some offers exclude e-wallet deposits.
Find a qualifying bet
Find a sporting event where the bookmaker back odds and the Smarkets lay odds are close together. Football matches are usually the best option. Look for odds of around 3.0 where the difference between back and lay is small (e.g., back 3.0, lay 3.10).
Place your back bet at Betfair Sportsbook
Place a £10 back bet at Betfair Sportsbook on your chosen outcome. Make sure the odds are at least 1/2 (1.50) to meet the offer requirements. Use the matched betting calculator to work out the exact lay stake needed.
Place your lay bet at Smarkets
At Smarkets, lay the same outcome at similar odds. Enter the lay stake calculated by your matched betting calculator. This covers your back bet so the overall result is a small qualifying loss regardless of the outcome.
Wait for the result and receive free bets
Once the event settles, your free bets will be credited to your Betfair Sportsbook account. Note that free bets may be credited in batches rather than all at once — check your account for the total available.
Use your free bets
Repeat the back/lay process using your £30 in free bets. This time, choose higher odds (around 5.0–6.0) to maximise your return. Since free bets are SNR (stake not returned), you only receive the profit portion if the bet wins — higher odds give you a bigger payout relative to the liability.
Withdraw your profit
Once all bets have settled, withdraw your funds from both Betfair Sportsbook and Smarkets. Your total profit from this offer should be around £20 after accounting for the qualifying loss and exchange commission.
Worked Example
Here's a realistic example of how this offer plays out with actual numbers.
| Step | What you do | Approx. result |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying bet | Back £10 at 3.0 (Betfair), lay at 3.10 (Smarkets) | -£0.50 small loss |
| Free bet | Back £30 free bet at 5.0 (Betfair), lay at Smarkets | +£20.50 profit |
| Total | ~£20 profit |
Betfair-Specific Tips
- Use Smarkets as your exchange for this offer — NOT Betfair Exchange. Betfair Sportsbook and Betfair Exchange are technically separate products, but they share your account details.
- Free bets may be credited in batches rather than all at once. Check your account regularly to see when they arrive.
- Betfair Sportsbook often has competitive odds, which can make finding close back/lay matches easier.
Important Warning
Do NOT use Betfair Exchange as your exchange for this offer — use Smarkets instead. Betfair may link your sportsbook and exchange accounts. Using both Betfair products simultaneously for matched betting could flag your account and result in your free bets being voided or your account being restricted.
Key takeaways
- Betfair Sportsbook offers up to £30 in free bets for new customers
- Always use Smarkets (not Betfair Exchange) as your lay exchange for this offer
- Expect around £20 profit after qualifying losses and commission
- Free bets are SNR and expire in 7 days — use them promptly
- Free bets may arrive in batches, so check your account regularly