Betfair Free Bet Club: Weekly Free Bet
What you'll learn:
- How the Betfair Free Bet Club works
- Why you should use Smarkets instead of Betfair Exchange
- Expected net weekly profit of ~£1
Offer Summary
- Offer: Opt in each week, place qualifying bets across the week, receive a weekend free bet
- Qualifying bets: Minimum number of bets at minimum odds (check current terms)
- Free bet: £5 free bet for the weekend
- Free bet type: Stake not returned (SNR)
- Important: Qualifying criteria can vary week to week — always check before placing bets
What You'll Need
- ☑An existing Betfair Sportsbook account (not Betfair Exchange)
- ☑A separate betting exchange account (e.g. Smarkets)
- ☑£25 for qualifying bets across the week
- ☑£30–£50 in your exchange account for lay bets
- ☑A matched betting calculator
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Opt in to the Free Bet Club
Log in to your Betfair Sportsbook account (this is the bookmaker side, not the exchange). Go to the promotions section and opt in to the Free Bet Club for the current week. You must opt in every week before placing qualifying bets.
Check the current qualifying criteria
The specific qualifying requirements can vary from week to week. Check how many bets you need to place, what the minimum stake per bet is, and what the minimum odds requirement is. Note any sport or market restrictions that may apply.
Place your qualifying bets
Spread your qualifying bets across the week. For each bet, find an event available on both Betfair Sportsbook and your exchange. Place a back bet at the Betfair Sportsbook and lay the same outcome at your exchange. A typical approach is £5 bets at odds around 3.0 with lay odds of 3.10, resulting in a small qualifying loss of approximately £0.50 per bet.
Meet the qualifying threshold
Continue placing qualifying bets until you've met the required number and total stake. With qualifying bets totalling £25 at typical odds, expect a total qualifying loss of approximately £2.50 across all bets.
Receive your weekend free bet
Once you've met the criteria, Betfair will credit a £5 free bet to your account for the weekend. Check your account on Friday or Saturday to confirm it's been credited.
Convert the free bet into cash
Use the £5 free bet on a weekend event. Place it at odds of around 5.0 at Betfair Sportsbook and lay the same outcome at your exchange. With an SNR free bet at these odds, you'll lock in approximately £3.50 profit.
Worked Example
| Bet | Details | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying bets (total) | £25 across multiple bets at min odds (Betfair Sportsbook), each laid at exchange | -£2.50 loss |
| Free bet | £5 free bet at 5.0 (Betfair Sportsbook), lay at 5.10 (exchange) | +£3.50 profit |
| Weekly total | ~£1.00 profit |
Like the Sky Bet Club, the profit per week is modest but consistent. The value of reload offers comes from stacking multiple bookmaker offers together. Running both Sky Bet Club and Betfair Free Bet Club gives you ~£2 per week from just these two offers alone.
Use Smarkets as your exchange
When matching Betfair Sportsbook offers, use Smarkets (or another exchange) for your lay bets instead of Betfair Exchange. Using Betfair Exchange to lay bets on Betfair Sportsbook offers can draw attention to your account and may increase the risk of restrictions. Keeping your bookmaker and exchange activity with separate companies is a good habit. Also, check the specific qualifying criteria each week as they can vary.
Betfair Sportsbook vs Betfair Exchange
Betfair operates both a traditional bookmaker (Betfair Sportsbook) and a betting exchange (Betfair Exchange). These are separate products. The Free Bet Club applies to the Sportsbook only. Make sure you're placing your qualifying bets on the Sportsbook, not the Exchange. Using the wrong product means your bets won't count towards the promotion.
Key takeaways
- Betfair Free Bet Club yields ~£1 net profit per week
- Use Smarkets (not Betfair Exchange) for your lay bets
- Check qualifying criteria each week as they can change
- Stack this with other reload offers for meaningful weekly income