Can I Cash Out a Free Bet?

We all know what free bets are, or should do if you've had time to look around this website, but have you ever wondered "Can i cash out a free bet?". If the answer's "yes", you’re not alone.

Some bookies do let you cash out a free bet, but a lot don’t. The ability to cash out depends on the bookie, the type of free bet they offer, and the terms and conditions attached to it.

Our cash out guide and FAQ's explain how the cash out feature works at most bookies, run through what it's like to cash out a free bet, and which bookies seem to allow it's use.

What is Cash Out?

Cash out is a feature offered by most major online bookies which essentially gives you the option of settling a bet early, before the event you're betting on has actually finished.

It’s typically available for pre-match bets, and some in-play bets, across a wide range of popular sports betting markets like football, horse racing, tennis and basketball etc.

When cash out is available on a bet, a bookie will calculate a cash out value and give you the option of locking in a guaranteed profit, or minimising a loss, based on the current state of play.

Cash out values fluctuate in real time, reflecting the probability of the original selection winning at that moment, but generally offer lower odds than those of your original bet.

Example of How to Cash Out a Bet Early:

Let's say you've placed a £10 bet on Man United to beat Arsenal at odds of 2/1.

Man United score early, and during the game, their live odds to win shorten. The bookie offers you a cash out value of £15 to be claimed before the match ends. You can choose to:

• Take the cash out and lock in a £15 profit before the game finishes.
• Let your bet run and hope that Man United do win so that you get the full £20 profit.

As you can see, using a bookies cash out feature allows you to manage the risk of a bet, or secure a slightly smaller profit before the final outcome of your bet has materialised.

It's also worth pointing out that using a bookies cash out feature is voluntary. You decide whether to accept the cash out price on offer; alternatively you can wait until the event finishes.

Some bookies also let you cash out a portion of your bets original stake, leaving some funds on the original bet, while others require you to use your entire stake when settling a bet early.

Can Free Bets be Cashed Out?

The short answer is yes, but it depends on the bookie. While most offer a cash out feature on regular bets, their treatment of free bets varies across betting platforms and promotions.

One bookie that does allow you to use cash out when betting with a free bet is bet365.com, but only when the feature is available with the cash out figure.

Their free bets are actually called "Bet Credits", but they're essentially the same thing.

It's worth noting that under the terms of their offer, a cashed out bet won't count towards the release of your bet365 Bet Credits when you join and place the required £10 qualifying bet.

When you use a Bet Credit and request to cash out, the value displayed will already have the Bet Credits stake removed, and will be the actual return received if cashed out.

Unfortunately in a lot of cases, you won't be able to cash out a free bet as a fair number of bookies tend to exclude free bet stakes from being able to be cashed out.

It could also be because a time delay in accepting a cash out request is in place. If a price changes or a market suspends then the cash out request may not be successful.

Generally if you place a bet using a bookies free bet and then try using their cash out option, you’ll likely find the feature is unavailable as it's been greyed out, or disabled.

That said, exceptions like bet355 do exist and it's possible to cash out a free bet on selected events, fixtures and markets both pre-match and in-play, on single and multiple bets.

Rules vary between bookies so it's worth checking a free bet offers T&C's to know for sure.

Why Bookies Won’t Let You Cash Out Free Bets

Free bets are promotional tools, not real money. Since you’re not risking your own funds, the bookie sets restrictions on how they can be used to prevent abuse or manipulation.

Here are the common reasons why a free bet can't be cashed out:

• No real stake involved: The money isn’t yours, so there's no "investment" to cash out.
• Limited value to cash out: Since you wouldn’t get your stake back anyway (just the profit if it wins), there's often little to no cash out value until late in the event.
• T&C's explicitly exclude it: Most bookies clearly state in the terms of their free bet offers that “Cash out is not available on free bets”.

Example 1: Cash Out Unavailable on Free Bet

Let’s say you want to use a £10 free bet that you got when you joined a new bookie.

• You use the £10 free bet on Liverpool to win against Chelsea at odds of 3/1.
• During the match, Liverpool take an early lead.
• You open your betslip to see if you can cash out.
• The cash out button is greyed out or simply not there.
• Your bet's locked in until the final whistle.

This is the typical experience with free bets when cash out is not possible.

Example 2: Cash Out Available with Winnings from Free Bets

Here’s where things get more interesting.

Suppose your £10 free bet wins, and you receive £20 in profit (remember: free bet stakes are not returned). That £20 is now real money in your betting account.

• You then use £20 of your own balance to place a new bet.
• This bet is eligible for cash out.

In this case, yes you can cash out, because the funds used are no longer part of a free bet; they are actually withdraw-able money, that you received after winning a free bet.

Every free bet offer comes with terms and conditions on it's use. Look for sections titled “Cash Out,” “Early Settlement,” or “Live Betting.” If the document is vague, contact customer support for clarification before you place the bet.

bookies Allowing Cash Out on Free Bets

As previously mentioned, the hugely popular bet365.com allow you to cash out when using a free bet (when the feature is available with the cash out figure), and there are a few other bookies and situations where cash out may be possible.

It's often under specific circumstances such as those listed below:

1. Enhanced Free Bet Promotions:

Some high-value free bet offers may come with some added flexibility, including limited cash out options if certain conditions or rules are met. For example:

• A bookie offers a "Bet £10, Get £10 Free Bet + Early Cash Out" promotion.
• The free bet includes a partial cash out clause, meaning you may be able to cash out after a certain point in the event (e.g., after halftime in a football match).

Always check the free bet offers terms carefully, as these types of promotions are less common and usually heavily marketed because they offer greater user control.

2. Exchange Betting Platforms:

In some rare cases on betting exchanges, you might place a free bet on a back position and then manually "cash out" by laying the same outcome at a different price.

This isn't an automatic cash out, but rather a manual hedge. For example:

• You place a £10 free bet on a horse at 4/1 odds.
• The horse’s odds drop to 3/1 before the race.
• You can now lay the same horse at 3/1 to secure a profit regardless of the outcome.

However, this involves understanding hedging, trading, and liability, so it’s not recommended for those new to online betting, or who need the concept of free bets explained to them.

If cash out flexibility is a priority for you, check out the likes of bet365, William Hill or Betfred, which seem more likely to let you cash out free bets, under certain circumstances.

Cashing out on live in-play bets is more likely to be restricted. Placing a free bet on a pre‑match market (e.g., “Team A to win”) is more likely to give you the option to cash out a free bet.

Cash Out FAQ's

The cash out feature that most bookies now offer has quickly become a great tool for bettors looking to lock in a bets' profit, or limit its losses, before events reach their natural conclusion.

Yet, despite its growing popularity, many are still unfamiliar with the basic features of cash out.

In our FAQ section below, we’ve attempted to answer some of the most common questions that are often asked when discussing the mechanics of cashing out free bets.

When Should I Cash Out a Free Bet?

When you decide to cash out a free bet is totally up to you. It's usually once you’ve secured a profit e.g. if you want to eliminate the chance of a comeback in a football match.

It's worth comparing the cash out amount to the fair value derived from the current odds. If the cash out figure is within 5% to 10% of that value, it’s more than likely a reasonable deal.

When Can't I Cash Out a Free Bet?

If you try to cash out a bet that was placed using a free bet token you’ll likely find that cash out is disabled, or you'll receive a message like “Cash out is not available on free bets.”

You’ll then need to let the bet run its course. No harm is done, but you won't be able to close the bet early or mitigate risk. This will vary between bookies as some allow it, others don't.

How Are Cash Out Figures Calculated?

The bookie usually takes the original stake, adjusts it for the live odds (or the implied probability) of your bet at the moment you request to cash out a free bet, and comes back with a figure.

As the game progresses, the implied probability of your selection changes, causing the cash out value to rise or fall depending on what's going on in the event that you're betting on.

Can I Partially Cash Out a Free Bet?

There are some bookies that let you cash out a portion of a free bet, where you use some of your stake to cash out, while leaving the remainder active until the end of the event.

This is useful if you want to lock in a profit while still keeping exposure to a potentially bigger win. Partial cash out options are usually presented as sliders or preset percentages.

Can I Cancel a Cash Out Request?

Once you've requested a cash out value and accepted it, the action usually can't be changed. However it would be unusual to want to, as you've already made a profit from the bet.

Once you've received confirmation that you've cashed out a bet, the transaction is considered settled at that point, so there’s no way to reverse your decision to cash out.

Which Bookies Let You Use Cash Out on Free Bets?

The list of bookies that let you use cash out when betting with free bets tends to change quite frequently, as they regularly update the T&C's of their free bet offers for new customers.

At the time of putting together this guide, the bet365 free bet does let you use cash out on selected events, fixtures and markets both pre-match and in-play, on single and multiple bets.

The William Hill free bet offer also allows you to use cash out when placing free bets, but it's worth double checking the finer details of their signup offer so as not to get caught out.

As bookies regularly change their free bet offers to stay competitive, it's often easier to just visit their website and search for the term "cash out" in their offers T&C's to see if it's possible.

When You Can't Cash Out a Free Bet

If your chosen bookie blocks the use of cash out on free bets, there are still ways to get value. Check out the alternative cash out strategies below to see if they're applicable to your bet:

1. Hedge with a Separate Bet

Place a conventional bet on the opposite outcome using your own funds. By balancing the two positions, you could potentially lock in a profit regardless of the result. This method requires careful calculation to avoid over‑exposure, and can often fail.

2. Target High Odds Selections

Since the stake isn’t returned, the profit you'd make scales up as the odds increase. Selecting a betting market with higher odds (e.g., 10/1), while riskier, could yield a bigger payout if you win, compensating for the inability to cash out early.

3. Utilise Free Bet Multipliers

Although extremely rare, some bookies give you the option of multiplying the free bet amount (e.g., “Bet £10 free, get a 2x multiplier”). While this isn't actually comparable to cashing out, it can boost the potential payout from a free bet, making it much more attractive.

Conclusion: Cashing Out Free Bets

Fee bets are a popular promotional tool used by most bookies to attract new customers to their betting platform/App, or reward loyal members that continue to bet with them.

While free bet offers sound a lot like "free money", they come with strings attached - most notably, the question of whether cash out can be used when betting with them.

In reality, being able to cash out a free bet varies between bookies as bet365.com and WilliamHill.com have been know to allow members to do so under certain circumstances, while others restrict the use of their cash out feature when free bets are in play.

This is generally because the stake wasn’t funded by you, and the promotional nature of free bets means that bookies want to limit their flexibility in order to prevent exploitation.

When a bookie does allow a free bet to be cashed out, unlike a normal bet where your original stake would be added to the cash out amount, the free bet stake isn't returned to you.

Here’s a quick summary:

Free bets are still a great way to try out a new online bookie, but if they don't let you use cash out when using their free bet, you'll need to let it play out until the event ends.

If you win your free bet, any profit is yours to do with as you please. You could then can use that profit however you like, including placing a bet where cash out is enabled.

Being aware of the terms and conditions surrounding a bookies free bet offer and their stance on using cash out is key, as it saves being caught out when trying to activate it in your betslip.

The safest approach is to verify a bookies cash out policy before you place the free bet. If cash out is essential to your betting strategy, prioritise bookies like bet365 and William Hill.

So to summarise, yes, some online bookies do allow you to cash out free bets, but it's quite rare. You'll need to check the offer's terms and conditions before betting with the free bet.