This year’s Grand National Festival runs at Aintree from Thursday, 9th April 2026, until Saturday, 11th April 2026. The big race gets underway at 16:00 on Saturday.
During this time, many bookmakers temporarily withdraw their welcome offers. The Grand National is a huge event attracting many people who wouldn’t usually have a flutter. Offering free bets to these people would be a massive waste from a bookmaker’s perspective, as it’s unlikely many would become long-term gamblers from whom they could profit.
Does this apply to every bookmaker?
Not all bookmakers will withdraw their offers, but a significant portion will. It’s essential to check whether the welcome offer is still available and its terms and conditions if you choose to sign up for a bookmaker during this time. If you sign up when the welcome offer isn’t running, you’ll miss the chance to take advantage of it.
When will the welcome offers return?
The reinstatement of welcome offers varies among bookmakers. Some will restore their offer immediately after the final race on Saturday, while others may wait until Sunday. Always check if the offer is active before signing up with a particular bookmaker to ensure you don’t miss out.
Does this affect reload offers?
Withdrawal of offers generally only applies to welcome offers. You can still find numerous reload offers for existing customers during this time. You can find a complete list on my reload offers page.
