Guides · 2026-11-05 · 18+
SNR vs SR free bets: what the stake return actually means
Most UK welcome offers hand you a free bet after a qualifying stake. The bit that decides whether that free bet is worth £30 of real value or closer to £20 is a three-letter acronym in the T&Cs: SNR or SR.
Almost every current UK sign-up free bet is SNR — Stake Not Returned. A few older or niche promos are SR. Knowing the difference stops you over-valuing an offer.
The short version
SNR (Stake Not Returned): if the free bet wins, you keep the profit only. The free-bet stake itself disappears.
SR (Stake Returned): if it wins, you get stake plus profit back as cash (or withdrawable balance), same as a normal winning bet.
Worked example at 5/1
You place a £10 free bet at 5/1 (decimal 6.0).
- SNR: return = £10 × 5 = £50 profit. The £10 stake is not paid back. Net from the free bet: £50.
- SR: return = £10 × 6.0 = £60 (stake + profit). Net from the free bet: £60.
Same odds, same stake, £10 less from the SNR version. That gap grows with longer prices and shrinks near evens.
At shorter odds the gap shrinks
£10 free bet at evens (2.0):
- SNR: £10 profit
- SR: £20 return (£10 stake + £10 profit)
So SNR free bets are relatively better value when you use them at bigger prices — you're not "losing" a large stake relative to the odds. At odds-on they feel thin, because the stake you don't get back is a big chunk of what a normal bet would have returned.
How bookmakers word it
UK operators rarely print "SNR" on the headline. Look for lines like:
- "Free bet stakes are not returned with winnings"
- "Returns exclude Bet Credits stake"
- "Stake not returned"
If the T&Cs are silent and it's a modern welcome offer, assume SNR. True SR free bets are uncommon on 2026 UK sign-ups.
What this means for offer shopping
A "Bet £10, get £30" SNR offer is not £30 of cash-equivalent value. Rough rule of thumb used by matched bettors: an SNR free bet is worth about 70–80% of its face value once you price in typical odds and the chance of losing it. Use our free bets tracker for the real terms (min odds, expiry, token restrictions), then treat the headline amount as a ceiling, not a banked figure.
Quick checklist before you claim
- Is the free bet SNR or SR? (Assume SNR unless it says otherwise.)
- Min odds on the qualifying bet and on the free bet itself.
- Expiry — many tokens die in 7 days.
- Token locks (acca-only, BuildABet-only, football-only).
- Payment method exclusions on the deposit.
18+ only. Free bets are promotional — always read the operator's full T&Cs. Please gamble responsibly: BeGambleAware.org.
FAQs
Are most UK free bets SNR or SR?
Almost all current UK welcome free bets are SNR (stake not returned). SR is rare on modern sign-up offers.
Can I withdraw free bet winnings?
Winnings from a settled free bet are usually paid as real money you can withdraw, subject to any KYC and the operator's rules. The free bet stake itself is not withdrawable, and on SNR bets that stake is never paid out with the return.
Does SNR change each-way free bets?
Yes. On an SNR each-way free bet, neither the win nor place stake is returned — you only keep profit on the parts that win.
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