What is an each-way bet and why is it popular for the Grand National?

An each-way bet is two bets in one: a win bet and a place bet, at equal stakes. If your horse wins, both parts pay out. If it finishes in a specified place position without winning, only the place part pays — at a fraction of the full odds, typically 1/4 or 1/5. For the Grand National, each-way betting is popular because the large field of 34 runners means bookmakers offer extended place terms, often paying out on five or six places. With 82% of Grand National bets being £5 or less, each-way gives casual punters a realistic possibility of a return even when their horse does not win. The nation's punt has always been an each-way affair.

How many places are bookmakers paying on the Grand National 2026?

Place terms vary by bookmaker and can change in the run-up to the race, so checking closer to the event is essential. Standard terms for the Grand National are four places at 1/4 odds, but most major operators enhance them for this race to attract once-a-year customers. Enhanced offers typically range from five places at 1/4 odds to six places at 1/5 odds, with the most generous operators occasionally offering six places at 1/4 odds. Compare at least three bookmakers before placing your each-way bet for 2026. The difference between four and six places can mean the difference between losing your stake and collecting a return.

How do I place a bet on the Grand National online — step by step?

Choose a bookmaker licensed by the UK Gambling Commission — look for the licence number in the site's footer. Register with your name, date of birth and address, and verify your identity (most operators run automated checks). Deposit funds using a debit card, bank transfer or e-wallet — credit cards cannot be used for UK gambling. Navigate to the Grand National market under the horse racing section, click the odds next to your chosen horse, select win only or each-way in the bet slip, enter your stake, review the details, and confirm. The process takes under ten minutes. If you prefer betting in person, visit any high-street betting shop, fill in a paper slip and hand it to the cashier with your money.

Grand National Free Bets and Betting Offers: How to Claim in 2026

In the weeks before the Grand National, bookmakers compete as fiercely as the horses themselves — not for a finishing position, but for new customers. Free bets, enhanced odds, money-back specials and sign-up bonuses flood the market, all designed to persuade you to open an account and place your annual flutter with one operator rather than another. The promotions can be generous, but they come with strings attached. Understanding what is on offer, how to claim it and — crucially — what the terms and conditions actually mean is the difference between getting genuine value and being lured in by a headline that sounds better than it is. Read the fine print, and read it before you click.

Types of Grand National Free Bets: Matched, Risk-Free and Bonus Cash

Not all free bets are created equal, and the terminology can be confusing. Here are the main types you will encounter in the run-up to the 2026 Grand National.

Matched free bets are the most common format. The typical offer is something like “Bet £10 Get £10 Free Bet.” You deposit funds, place a qualifying bet at the required minimum odds, and the bookmaker credits your account with a free bet of equal value. The free bet must then be used on a separate wager — it cannot be withdrawn as cash. If your free bet wins, you receive the profit but not the free bet stake itself. So a £10 free bet at 5/1 returns £50, not £60.

Risk-free bets work slightly differently. You place a bet with your own money, and if it loses, the bookmaker refunds your stake — usually as a free bet rather than cash. If it wins, you keep the profit and the original stake as normal. The “risk-free” label is somewhat misleading, because the refund is typically a free bet token with its own conditions, not actual money back in your account.

Bonus cash offers credit your account with a bonus balance that must be wagered a certain number of times before it can be withdrawn. These are less common for horse racing promotions than for casino offers, but they do appear. The wagering requirements can be steep — sometimes requiring you to bet the bonus amount five or ten times over — so the effective value of the bonus is often much lower than the headline figure.

The Betting and Gaming Council estimated that £250 million was staked on the 2026 Grand National — a quarter of a billion pounds on a single race. That volume is partly driven by the promotional firepower bookmakers deploy to capture their share of the market. Free bets are the primary weapon in that fight, and the Grand National period generates more promotional spend than almost any other event in the UK betting calendar.

How to Claim Your Grand National Free Bet: Step by Step

Claiming a free bet is generally straightforward, but each bookmaker has its own process and its own quirks. Here is the general pattern.

First, you need to open a new account with the bookmaker offering the promotion. Most Grand National free bet offers are aimed at new customers only — existing account holders rarely qualify, though some operators run loyalty promotions for their existing base. The sign-up process involves providing personal details, verifying your identity (a legal requirement for all UK-licensed bookmakers) and agreeing to the terms and conditions.

Second, you make a qualifying deposit. The minimum deposit is usually £5 or £10, depending on the operator. Some promotions require a specific payment method — certain e-wallets like Skrill or Neteller are often excluded from qualifying deposits. Check the terms before you deposit, because using an excluded method can disqualify you from the offer entirely.

Third, you place a qualifying bet. This is the bet that triggers the free bet credit. Most offers require a minimum bet at minimum odds — for example, “Place a £10 bet at odds of 1/2 or greater.” The qualifying bet can be on any market, not necessarily the Grand National itself, though some promotions specifically require a Grand National bet. If your qualifying bet wins, you keep the profit and still receive the free bet. If it loses, you lose your qualifying stake but the free bet is credited to your account regardless.

The qualifying stage is where a lot of casual punters trip up. Around 30% of Grand National bettors are either first-time depositors or returning after a long absence, according to Entain data. For these newcomers, the process of depositing, placing a qualifying bet and then using a separate free bet can feel unfamiliar. The key is patience: follow the steps, check that the free bet has appeared in your account before placing it, and do not assume the qualifying bet and the free bet are the same thing.

Wagering Requirements and Terms: What to Watch For

The headline of a free bet offer is designed to attract you. The terms and conditions are where the offer’s real value is determined. Here are the most common conditions that reduce the value of a promotion — and the ones you need to read before committing.

Minimum odds on the qualifying bet. Most offers require your qualifying bet to be placed at minimum odds — typically 1/2 (1.50 decimal) or higher. If you place your qualifying bet at shorter odds, the free bet will not be triggered. This stops punters from using a near-certain outcome to unlock the promotion.

Free bet stake not returned. This is the most significant condition and the one most often overlooked. When you use a free bet and it wins, you receive the profit but not the stake amount. A £10 free bet at 4/1 returns £40, not £50. This effectively reduces the expected value of the free bet by the probability-weighted stake amount. In practice, a £10 free bet is worth roughly £6 to £8 in expected value, depending on the odds at which you use it.

Expiry dates. Free bets typically expire within seven days of being credited to your account. If the Grand National is still a week away when your free bet lands, you may need to use it on another race or risk losing it. Some promotions are specifically timed so that the free bet can only be used on the Grand National itself, which removes this issue.

Market restrictions. Certain free bet offers exclude specific bet types or markets. Some do not allow each-way bets. Others exclude forecast and tricast markets. A handful restrict the free bet to specific races or events. If you have a particular bet in mind, check that the free bet can be used on it.

One per customer, one per household. Bookmakers enforce strict rules against multiple accounts. If you live with someone who has already claimed the same offer, you may be ineligible. Account duplication is taken seriously and can result in voided bets and account closure.

The golden rule of Grand National free bets is simple: the offer is only as good as the terms allow it to be. A “Bet £20 Get £40 Free” headline looks fantastic until you discover the free bet is split into four £10 tokens that must each be used at minimum odds of evens within three days, on win-only bets, excluding specific races. Read the fine print, compare the real value across operators, and you will find the promotions that genuinely put extra money in your pocket — rather than the ones that just put a smile on the bookmaker’s face.