Since April 1, 2025, issuing and advertising no-deposit bonuses as an incentive to gamble has been banned in Ukraine under Law No. 4116-IX. This means that legal operators no longer offer a free bet on sign-up in its pure form, where money is credited simply for creating an account.
But the query is still popular, and there is an answer to it. The JoyFactory team checked which bookmakers with a free bet operate in Ukraine, on what terms they give it and how a free bet differs from the deposit bonus that is often passed off as one.
The short conclusion: the free sign-up bet has disappeared from the legal segment, and operators have shifted the focus to deposit packages with softer wagering. One genuine free bet for signing up and making a first deposit is still left in our selection, and we explain who offers it and on what terms.
Bookmakers with a free bet: ranked by terms
A position is determined by how transparently the operator describes the terms and how realistic it is to meet the wagering requirements. A bookmaker with a free bet that honestly says “after a deposit” is better than one that promises a gift and hides the condition in the rules.
Note: there is only one genuine free bet here, at VBET. The other operators give a deposit package, that is, a percentage of the amount deposited. It is neither worse nor better, just a different product, and the two should not be confused.
That is why the best bookmakers with a free bet and the best bookmakers for bonuses are different lists. If you specifically want a free bet, the choice narrows to one operator; if you are after the biggest deposit reward, look at the wagering, not at the words “free bet” in the ad.
Why the no-deposit free bet was banned
Before April 2025, no-deposit bonuses were common practice: the operator credited ₴200–500 just for verification, and the player placed a bet without their own money. Law No. 4116-IX shut this scheme down.
The ban covers two things at once:
issuing no-deposit bonuses as an incentive to gamble;
advertising such offers.
The practical consequence for readers is simple. If you see a fresh headline on an aggregator site saying “no-deposit free bet from a legal bookmaker”, it is either outdated information or an offshore operator that Ukrainian law does not cover. Legal bookmakers have removed such offers.
What to do with information in older reviews. For example, our GGBet review mentions a ₴400 no-deposit bonus after full verification. This condition applied before the legislative changes, and it now needs to be checked directly in the operator’s account; we have noted this in the changelog of the relevant page.
Free bet or deposit bonus
These two products are constantly mixed up, even though they work in completely different ways.
Two mechanics
Free bet
A fixed stake amount; the stake is not returned with the winnings
Deposit bonus
A percentage of the amount deposited; requires turnover with wagering
Free bet: what the player gets
Only the net winnings above the stake
Bonus: what the player gets
The full amount once the turnover is met
Free bet: risk
Zero; no own money is spent
Bonus: risk
The deposit is already made and can be lost
The key difference is in the payout. If you place a ₴1000 free bet at odds of 2.00 and win, ₴1000 will land in your account, not ₴2000: the free bet stake goes back to the bookmaker. With a deposit bonus, you take the full amount once wagering is complete.
That is why a no-deposit free bet was valued above a percentage bonus: it required no money of your own at all. After the ban, this format survived only as a reward for already active players: for a series of bets, on a birthday or as part of a tournament promotion.
Another common substitution is the “risk-free bet”. The mechanics are different: the player makes a deposit and places a bet with their own money, and if it loses, the operator refunds the amount as a free bet. Formally this is also a free bet, but you can only get it after a real loss.
Offshore bookmakers with a free bet
The situation here is different, but not in the way the ads promise. No offshore operator in our database gives a free bet for sign-up alone. Everywhere it is a deposit package that aggregators rename a “free bet” to match the search query.
The only genuine Free Bet in this group is at Megapari, up to $100. But it is an alternative to the deposit package rather than an add-on, and the terms are stricter: an accumulator of at least four selections at odds of 1.60 or higher each.
Reviews of these operators are in the unlicensed bookmakers section. A reminder: none of them holds a PlayCity permit, so in a dispute over a bonus you cannot turn to the Ukrainian regulator.
Types of free sign-up bets
Even after the ban on no-deposit offers, the format has not gone anywhere; it has simply shifted to players who are already registered. Here is what you will find on the Ukrainian market.
Free bet for a first deposit. The most common legal option: the money is credited after you top up your account. This is how the VBET offer of up to ₴2500 works.
First bet insurance. The player stakes their own money, and if the bet loses, the operator refunds the amount as a free bet. The risk is formally zero, but the deposit has already been made.
Event free bet. Timed to a major tournament: the Champions League final, a CS2 Major, the World Cup. The condition is to place several bets on matches of that competition.
App install free bet. Operators promote their mobile clients and reward you for installing them, sometimes together with your first bet in the app.
Loyalty tier reward. In multi-tier programmes, a free bet is credited when you move up to a new status.
Referral free bet. For an invited friend who signed up, passed KYC and made a deposit. VBET, among others, uses this mechanic.
The general rule: the less effort it takes to get, the stricter the wagering terms. The smallest amounts come with the highest odds requirements and the shortest deadlines.
How to wager a free bet on sign-up
The terms are similar across all operators, and they hide the reasons why a bonus most often expires.
Check the slip type. At Beton, singles do not count on the first deposit; you need an accumulator of at least three selections. At GGBet it is the other way round: only singles at 1.75 or higher, and accumulators do not count.
Stick to the minimum odds. A bet below the threshold simply will not count towards wagering, and the money will still be deducted from your real balance.
Watch the deadline. The market standard is 14 days; at 22Bet it is only 7. Turnover not met by the deadline is written off together with the winnings.
Do not request a withdrawal early. At Betking and VBET this voids the unwagered reward, a typical mistake among those who withdraw in parts.
Calculate the turnover in advance. With x12 wagering and a ₴5000 bonus, you need to play through ₴60,000. Judge whether that is realistic with your stakes and within the time allowed.
A separate note on refunded and voided bets: at most operators they do not count towards wagering, and neither do slips cashed out early via Cash Out.
And one more thing people forget most often. A welcome offer is available once per user, address, device and set of payment details. Trying to create a second account for another free bet is treated as multi-accounting, which is grounds for blocking both profiles and voiding the winnings.
FAQ
Can I get a free bet on sign-up with no deposit?
Not at legal Ukrainian bookmakers. Since April 1, 2025, Law No. 4116-IX has banned issuing and advertising no-deposit bonuses as an incentive to gamble. Offers you come across online are either outdated or belong to offshore operators.
Which bookmaker with a free bet gives a genuine free bet?
Among licensed operators, VBET: a free bet of up to ₴2500 is credited within 24 hours of signing up and making a first deposit. The other operators offer deposit packages, that is, a percentage of the amount deposited.
How is a free bet different from a bonus?
A free bet is a fixed amount for a single bet, and its stake is not returned with the winnings: at odds of 2.00 and a ₴1000 free bet you get ₴1000, not ₴2000. A deposit bonus is a percentage of your top-up that is credited in full once wagering is complete.
What wagering is considered normal?
For sports offers, the market standard is x17–x40. The softest terms in our selection are x2 at Beton, x12 at Betking and x17 at GGBet. Offshore platforms usually have x5, but wagering is done with accumulators only.
Why does a bonus expire?
The most common reasons are the wrong slip type, odds below the minimum, a missed deadline and a withdrawal request before the turnover is complete. Refunded, voided and cashed-out bets do not count towards wagering.
If betting has stopped being entertainment, read our page on responsible gambling.
Changelog
09.10.2026: scheduled update, content refreshed and data fact-checked.
13.08.2026: page compiled. Bonus terms were taken from the full JoyFactory reviews, and the status of no-deposit offers was checked against Law No. 4116-IX. Next check in a month.
x2 wagering, the lowest on the market
2.6% margin on top football
Accumulators only on the first deposit
14-day wagering period
