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Sports

Betting sign up offers and free bets for March 2026

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Betting sign up offers and free bets are available from betting sites for signing up and betting online.

At The Independent, our experts have used their impartial and detailed analysis to find new and existing customers the best betting sign up offers and free bets on the market.

We have stringent criteria when it comes to picking our top betting offers available. Our experts focus on accessibility, flexibility, fairness, key terms and conditions and regularity when selecting the best options out there.

Every betting site that we recommend is licensed and regulated by United Kingdom Gambling Commission, ensuring that new and existing customers are using a reputable betting operator.

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Free bets can be claimed from betting sites by new and existing customers, allowing bettors to bet without risking their own money.

Terms and conditions are attached to free bets and betting offers. Usually, bettors must deposit or stake a qualifying amount to claim a free bet, which can be used on selected sports and events.

Wagering requirements can be attached to free bet offers, which means winnings must be played through a set number of times before you can withdraw funds as cash, but this is more common on casino sites.

Types of free bets

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  • Bet & Get: The most common betting sign-up offer, bet a minimum amount, meet the T&Cs and receive a free bet bonus.
  • Moneyback specials: Typically an ongoing free bet promo, whereby punters get their money back as a free bet if there’s an underwhelming outcome such as a 0-0 draw.
  • Free bet clubs: Loyalty reward schemes aimed at those who bet regularly with one bookmaker in particular.
  • Enhanced odds with free bet winnings: A bookmaker offers a wildly inflated price on a popular market, such as 40/1 on Man City to win, with winnings paid out as free bets.
  • No deposit free bets: These are rare, but can be obtained via free-to-play prediction games on several online bookmakers.

Free bets are straightforward to use for customers, although the way they can be deployed may differ depending on your chosen bookmaker.

Usually, betting sites will have a box or toggle on your bet slip that users can tick or move to confirm free bets on their bet.

An important note. If your bet wins, you only keep the profit, the free bet stake itself isn’t returned.

Bookmakers may require you to use free bets in precise portions, such as £5 or £10, while others will allow you to bet with amounts of your choosing until you’ve used up your balance.

Here are the latest betting sign up offers and free bets available for this week’s major sporting events.

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William Hill: Wales World Cup Epic Boost

William Hill are offering an Epic Boost price for Wales to qualify for the World Cup play-off final on Thursday.

Customers can claim the Epic Boost price of evens boosted from 2/5 for Wales to advance from their World Cup play-off semi-final clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Qualifying bets must be placed before kick-off and customers are limited to a maximum £10 stake.

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Paddy Power: Free Bet Builder Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland

Paddy Power are offering customers a free bet builder for users that place a qualifying bet builder on Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

To qualify, customers must opt-in on the free bet offer before placing a £2 bet builder on the World Cup play-off clash with three selections or more and odds of evens or greater.

Once the qualifying bet has settled, customers will receive a free bet builder worth £2 to use on football. Free bet builder expires within seven days.

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Bet365: Bet Builder Boost 25% World Cup Playoffs

Bet365 are offering 25 per cent bet builder boosts on select games for tonight’s round of World Cup play-off matches.

Customers can claim the betting offer for matches including Italy vs Northern Ireland, Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina and Czech Republic vs Northern Ireland.

Qualifying bet builders must include three selections or more and odds of evens or greater, with users selecting the bet builder boost option in their bet slip.

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Winning bet builders will be paid out with the 25 per cent boost.

Betting Site

Offer Type

Min. Bet

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Free Bet Value

Best For

Coral

Welcome bonus

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£5

£30

Low-stake sign up value

Betano

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Welcome bonus

£10

£50

Football free bets

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Tote

Welcome bonus

£10

£30

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Horse racing free bets

Bet365

Moneyback special

£10

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£10

Ongoing money-back as free bet offers

Virgin Bet

Free Bet Club

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£20

£5 weekly

Ongoing rewards for regular bettors

Free bets value for money
Free bets value for money (Independent)

Here are the standout betting offers on the market for users broken down into strength of category.

Coral – Best low-stake betting sign up offer

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Coral offer the best low stake betting sign up offer allowing new customers to secure £30 in free bets after signing up and betting just £5 on any sports bet of their choice.

There’s plenty of flexibility over where users can place their qualifying bet. Customers can choose any sport with odds of 1/2 odds or greater, only Bet365 has a lower threshold among welcome offers, but their value is not as high as Coral’s.

Time is also on your side using Coral. Customers can take up to 14 days after sign up to make their first bet and still qualify for the betting sign up offer.

Coral rewards customers with £30 in free bets for betting just £5 online
Coral rewards customers with £30 in free bets for betting just £5 online (The Independent)

Payout is also prompt as soon as your qualifying bet settles. Coral will credit your account with £30 in free bets within 24 hours. These free bets are paid out in 6 x £5 free bets, giving customers plenty of scope to use their funds.

These free bets are fairly flexible as 4 x £5 free bets available to use on any sport on Coral, while the remaining £10 free bet balance is reserved for 1 x £5 football bet builder and a 1x £5 horse racing bet builder.

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It’s arguaaly the best £5 deposit betting site around as customers secure a 600% return from their first deposit and bet. For first-time bettors it’s a perfect betting sign up offer for value.

Betano – Best football betting sign up offer

Betano is the best option for punters looking for free bets at leading football betting sites, with the Betano sign up offer providing £50 in free bets with an initial wager of just £10 (an excellent return for a low entry stake).

The offer includes a straightforward qualifying bet with minimum odds of evens and no accumulator required, while the 30-day expiry on free bets gives users flexibility, with plenty of time to use bonuses.

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Newcomers can get £50 in free bets after an initial £10 bet
Newcomers can get £50 in free bets after an initial £10 bet (iStock/The Independent)

This new betting site provides great variety on its football markets – from match odds and BTTS to goalscorers, correct scores and much more – and users will also find regular offers and promotions once signed up to the site.

Tote – Best for horse racing free bets

The Tote betting sign up offer is an excellent choice for horse racing fans, with a £10 bet returning £30 in racing value – a strong 3x reward for such a low qualifying stake.

The offer provides £20 in Tote Credit for horse racing – which is ideal for pools, exotics, and Tote-only markets – as well as £10 in free bets to use on the sportsbook, offering plenty of flexibility for new customers.

The Tote website performs equally well on mobile and desktop
The Tote website performs equally well on mobile and desktop (iStock/The Independent)

The qualifying bet simply need to be a £10 wager on any sport (with some exclusions, though win, place, or pool bets all count) at odds of evens or greater, and winnings are fully withdrawable, with Tote Credit profits available to be cashed out, keeping risk low.

Tote also guarantee boosts payouts paid at SP or better, adding an extra upside for horse racing bettors and making Tote the best choice among horse racing betting sites.

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Bet365 – Best for moneyback as a free bet

Bet365 have recently launched its moneyback specials across a number of sports, including football and horse racing, as well as a range of major events.

Customers can wager up to £10 and will receive their stake back in free bets if their bet fails. The system is simple for claiming the betting offer, with users ticking the ‘Money Back As Free Bets’ box on their bet slip to qualify.

Free bets are usually credited within a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours. Free bet credits can be used anywhere on one of the best betting sites in the business with no limit on where and how your credits can be spent.

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Bet365 customers can get up to £10 back as a free bet on losing racing and football bets
Bet365 customers can get up to £10 back as a free bet on losing racing and football bets (iStock/The Independent)

Bet365 moneyback specials are most common on football, and notably the Premier League where the highlight games of the week are covered with a moneyback special notably on Saturday and Sunday evenings, although Champions League and Europa League midweek games have also featured this betting offer.

The nuts and bolts of the requirements are as follows. Customers must place a qualifying bet builder on the eligible game or event, with bet builders needing only evens (2.0) or higher odds.

Bet365 also attaches its Sub Play On feature on football bet builders in conjunction with the moneyback special, which keeps bets alive even if a player is subbed.

Virgin Bet – Best free bet club

Existing customers can use the weekly Virgin Bet rewards club to claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas.

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Users only need to opt-in on the promotion before placing four £5 accas with odds of 2/1 or greater between Monday to Sunday, making these qualifying stakes smaller than most rival free bet clubs.

Virgin Bet have an extremely low minimum odds requirement to use your free bet at 1/100.

Claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas on Virgin Bet
Claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas on Virgin Bet (iStock/The Independent)

You’re spoiled for choice, and better yet, there are no restrictions where you can use your bonus.

In addition, the seven-day expiry gives plenty of time to use the bonus, meaning the free bet club offers huge flexibility.

After the qualifying bets have settled, Virgin Bet pays out the £5 free acca bet into your account and to activate the free bet offer, simply use the toggle on your bet slip to use up the credits.

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Below, we’ve provided some detail on common traps that users can fall into when claiming free bets:

Stake not returned on free bets

Not all free bet offers return the original stake if your bet wins. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30 profit, not £40; always factor this in when comparing headline free bet amounts.

Short expiry windows

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Free bets usually expire within 5-7 days of being credited, and occasionally less. Unused free bets are removed automatically once they expire, so casual or infrequent bettors can lose value this way.

Remember to always check the expiry date as soon as the free bet is added.

Bet builder or market restrictions

Some free bets are limited to certain types of use. For example, some are football bet builders only, accumulator bets or bets fixed to specific sports, leagues or events. These restrictions reduce flexibility and can increase risk.

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Bet builder-only free bets often require multiple selections to win, meaning long odds, and it is the same with accas. Remember to check eligible markets before placing your qualifying bet.

Minimum odds requirements

Betting offers may require minimum odds on either the qualifying bet or the free bet itself, and sometimes both. Higher odds thresholds can push bettors toward riskier selections, while a smaller free bet with low odds requirements can offer better value.

Cash-Out and In-Play exclusions

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Remember that cashing out a qualifying bet often voids eligibility for the offer. Some free bets also cannot be used on in-play markets.

These exclusions are commonly hidden in the T&Cs, so avoid cashing out unless you’re sure it won’t affect the promotion.

Wagering requirements and bonus conditions

Wagering is uncommon on free bets, but it is not unheard of. Some promotions attach extra conditions to winnings or follow-on bonuses instead.

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Offers requiring winnings to be wagered multiple times reduce real value, while simpler “bet and get” free bets are usually the safest option.

Before a bookmaker makes our list of free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.

1. Licensing

Only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered on our list of recommended operators.

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The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register.

2. Security

Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.

3. Reputation

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Reputation also plays a role – established brands like Betfred, William Hill and Bet365 consistently rank highly with us, but we also highlight new, reputable operators such as BetMGM when their free bet offers meet our expectations.

4. Mobile

With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential.

Bookmakers with dedicated betting apps that mirror the desktop experience are given preference, and we also consider user app reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.

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5. Experience

The customer experience is equally crucial – we rigorously test bookmaker support channels, favouring those that provide fast, effective resolutions.

Ultimately, our rankings focus on the quality of the free bet offers, but we also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and available payment methods.

6. Value

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Operators that provide valuable betting sign up offers, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings.

Why trust us?

Chris Wilson is a betting content producer and sports reporter who has been working at The Independent since 2023.

He writes betting tips across a range of sporting events as well as reviewing dozens of betting sites and casino sites across the UK.

Chris has extensively tested and reviewed offers from established operators and new betting sites to find the best free bet offers for readers of The Independent.

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Responsible gambling is always at the forefront of his research, ensuring customers have a fair and secure experience claiming and using betting offers online.

If you decide to engage with any of the online betting sites highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets and betting sign up offers.

When betting, always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose. Even free bets still involve a level of risk.

The same applies if you’re using new online casinosslot sitespoker sites or any other form of gambling.

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Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.

If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:

Are free bets withdrawable?

No, it is not possible to withdraw a free bet. It must be used according to the terms and conditions of the free bet offer or it will be forfeited.

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Can you cash out free bets?

In most cases, bookmakers will not allow punters to cash out a free bet before the bet has run its course, so you will likely have to wait for your bet to settle before receiving any winnings.

What does money back in free bets mean?

This means you can get a refund on your stake, but not as withdrawable cash – only as a free bet, meaning you have to stake the same cash again on a different bet.

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What is the best betting sign up offer available now?

In the Independent’s view, Coral provides the best betting sign up offer on the market at present. New customers need only sign up and deposit £5 before betting £5 on any sports market with odds of 1/2 or greater to unlock £30 in free bets.

What betting sites give free bets without a deposit?

Few bookmakers hand out free bets for nothing, but you can earn free bets by entering free-to-play prediction games on Bet365, BetVictor, NetBet, Betway, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM.

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We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Jim Colbert, 35-time professional winner, dies at 85

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Champions Tour: Boeing Championships at Sandestin Round 2May 13, 2006; Sandestin, FL, USA; Jim Colbert tees off on the 14th hole of the Raven course during the second round of the Boeing Championships at Sandestin. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst Copyright © 2006 Jason Parkhurst

Jim Colbert, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and a 35-time professional winner overall, died on Sunday at the age of 85.

From 1969 to 1983, Colbert won eight tournaments on the tour, earning two playoff victories (2-0) in the process. One of those came in 1983 — a high mark calendar year for Colbert, the only year he won two tournaments — against Fuzzy Zoeller in the Colonial National Invitation.

Constantly adorned in his signature bucket hat, Colbert made an even bigger splash on the senior circuit, earning 20 senior PGA tour wins over a 10-year span from 1991 to 2001.

On that hat, Colbert came to embrace his signature look, after finding that people wouldn’t recognize him without it.

“Lee Trevino has the sombrero. Jack Nicklaus has the bear,” Colbert said. “I have my hat.”

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Born in New Jersey, Colbert played golf and football before earning a football scholarship to attend Kansas State University. Following an injury, Colbert re-dedicated himself to golf, finishing runner-up at the 1964 NCAA Championship. He turned professional shortly thereafter.

After his turn on the PGA Tour, Colbert served as a golf analyst on ESPN before re-entering the game on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. He was an instant success there, winning three times in 1991 to earn Rookie of the Year honors.

Colbert had a public battle with prostate cancer in the late 1990s, but he rebounded to win another tournament in 1998, which resulted in his being named Comeback Player of the Year.

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His continued involvement with his alma mater led to a friendship with longtime Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder and the construction of a golf course named in his honor, Colbert Hills, located in Manhattan, Kan.

“Jim had a positive influence on many, many lives,” Snyder said. “He never failed to step up to help when he was in a position to help his community and people in need.”

Colbert has been enshrined in the Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, among other honors.

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–Field Level Media

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Donovan Mitchell’s historic second half leads Cavaliers to even series with Pistons

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Donovan Mitchell has long established himself as one of the most electric postseason scorers in NBA history, and he was at it again on Monday with 43 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 112-103 win over the Detroit Pistons to even their second-round series at two games apiece. 

This was Mitchell’s fourth playoff game with at least 40 points with the Cavs, which pushes him ahead of Kyrie Irving for the second-most in franchise history and trails only LeBron James‘ 24.  

By the way, he had four points at halftime. Do the math, and that’s 39 second-half points for Mitchell, which makes him co-owner of the record for the most points ever scored in a single playoff half. 


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You talk about coming up huge. The Cavs were close to being on the ropes, down four at halftime and in real danger of going down 3-1 in the series. I know we had three successful 3-1 comebacks in the first round, but it doesn’t happen often. This was essentially a must-win game for the Cavs, and with Mitchell in the captain’s seat, they took off to the tune of a 23-0 run to begin the second half. 

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That is the most unanswered points a team has scored to open a playoff half in the last 30 years. Add in the final two points of the first half, and the Cavs’ run of 25 unanswered points is the second-biggest run of its kind in the play-by-play era. 

Mitchell personally rattled off eight points inside the first 96 seconds of the third quarter, and from there the “Cavalanche” was on. Mitchell wound up with 21 points in the third, marking the fifth time he has put up at least 20 points in a single playoff quarter. 

Only Stephen Curry and Jamal Murray have matched that number during the play-by-play era, which dates back to 1997. Again, Mitchell is no stranger to playoff eruptions. While with the Utah Jazz, his 57 points against the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 playoffs are the third-highest single-game output in playoff history. 

Later in that series, Mitchell went for 51, making him one of just four players in history to go for 50-plus twice in the same playoff series (joining Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Jamal Murray). Additionally, in 2024, he went for 50 against the Orlando Magic in the first round. 

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Mitchell wasn’t at his best for the bulk of the first round, from which Cleveland barely escaped in seven games vs. the Toronto Raptors, and he’s only 12 for 39 from 3 in this series. But you knew it was only a matter of time before he put on a performance like this. The dude is pure box office. Always has been. He has 109 points over the last three games of this series, which is now down to a best-of-three beginning with Game 5 on Wednesday in Detroit.  

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Still swinging it: Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoys second wind at RCB | Cricket News

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Still swinging it: Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoys second wind at RCB
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (ANI Photo)

RAIPUR: On a Dec evening at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2012, a young Uttar Pradesh pacer announced himself to international cricket with a dream T20I debut against Pakistan. Swinging the new ball with remarkable control, Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned figures of 3/9. More than 13 years later, in a format that has tilted further towards batters, Bhuvneshwar remains not just relevant but among the most effective, as he has shown in the IPL this season. Once a young swing-bowling prospect, he now stands as a study in craft, discipline and constant reinvention.At 36, he has 21 wickets from 11 matches and leads the IPL wicket charts this season, a significant marker in a competition where 200-plus totals no longer feel safe and bowlers are challenged every over. For Bhuvneshwar, survival in modern T20 cricket has come down to one thing: constant evolution.

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“My skills and the mental aspect of my game have changed a lot. What also changed is accepting situations quickly. The way batters are coming at you now is very different from what it used to be 10 years ago. Accepting things quickly probably helped me,” said the 36-year-old.That adaptability has become essential in a tournament that now barely resembles the IPL’s early years. Batters now attack from ball one, unconventional strokes have become mainstream and even good deliveries regularly disappear into the stands.“Five years ago, if you gave 40 runs, I used to think it was a bad day,” admitted Bhuvneshwar, who returned match-winning figures of 4/23 against MI on Sunday and struck a crucial six in the final over. “Now, if you give 40 runs, I consider it good bowling! Earlier, 200 felt like a winning score. Now, when teams chase 200, it feels like it’s ‘just 200’,” he said.Despite the changing demands, Bhuvneshwar has remained one of the league’s most trusted fast bowlers, operating in both the Powerplay and at the death. Having not played internationally since Nov 2022, the former India pacer insists there is no magic formula behind his longevity. Instead, he credits discipline and consistency for helping him stay ahead.“Motivation is overrated,” he said. “It’s discipline. You are tired, you don’t want to go, but still you have to go. That consistency — doing things day in and day out — makes you consistent on the field as well.” Age, though, has brought physical challenges. “When you are young, recovery takes less time compared to this age,” he said. “Physically, it is tougher but mentally it becomes easier because you are mature and experienced. You understand your game much better.”Even as a younger generation of fearless batters continues to redefine T20 cricket, Bhuvneshwar remains convinced that bowlers will keep finding ways to respond. “Batters do something, then bowlers evolve. That is how cricket has always worked,” he said.Bhuvneshwar’s RCB journey has also come full circle. He was around the franchise’s setup in 2009 and 2010 as a young domestic cricketer before returning in 2025 as one of the country’s most experienced pacer. “Everything changed for me,” he said. “At that time, I was a domestic player. First time into the setup, I was just looking at the glamorous side of it. I was nervous looking at other players, overseas players. But now it’s changed a lot because now a big part of being in the team is being a senior player.

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Broncos Ring of Famer and former quarterback Craig Morton dead at 83

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton, who was inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame, died on Saturday. He was 83.

Morton was critical in helping the Broncos reach their first-ever playoff appearance, ultimately getting them to Super Bowl XII during the 1977 campaign.

After going 12-2 during the season, and getting wins in the playoffs over the Pittsburgh Steelers and then-Oakland Raiders, Morton was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year.

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Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton standing on sidelines with hands on hips

Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton stands on the sidelines with both hands on his hips. (GETTY)

“Craig Morton is unbelievable,” fellow Ring of Famer Haven Moses said after the Broncos won the AFC Championship in 1978, per the New York Times. “To me, he’s the most valuable player in the National Football League.”

Morton also won Sporting News Player of the Year, the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and the NFL UPI MVP in 1977.

AARON RODGERS NEVER MET WITH STEELERS DESPITE RUMOR-FILLED WEEKEND AS QB’S DECISION REMAINS UP IN AIR

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“We are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF quarterback Craig Morton, who died on Saturday at the age of 83,” the Broncos posted on social media.

Morton also led the Broncos to two different division titles and three playoff berths during his six seasons with the franchise. He finished his career in Denver with 11,895 passing yards, which marked the most in franchise history at the time.

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Quarterback Craig Morton dropping back to pass during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium

Quarterback Craig Morton #7 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., circa 1978. Morton played for the Broncos from 1977 to 1982. (Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

Morton also led the Broncos with pass attempts (1,594) and completions (907). But Morton’s time with the Broncos was the latter half of his NFL career.

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He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965, the fifth overall pick out of Cal. Morton spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Cowboys, where he threw for 10,279 yards with 80 touchdowns and 73 interceptions. He went 32-14-1 in his time with Dallas.

Then, during the 1974 season, Morton was moved to the New York Giants, a division rival of the Cowboys. He went 1-6 in his first seven starts that year and wouldn’t find much success in New York across three seasons.

Quarterback Craig Morton dropping back to pass during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium

Quarterback Craig Morton #7 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., circa 1978. Morton played for the Broncos from 1977 to 1982. (Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

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For his career, Morton threw for 27,908 yards with 183 touchdowns. He owned an 81-62-1 record across 207 games.

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Thunder vs Lakers Game 4: live score updates, highlights, 2026 NBA playoffs 2nd round series

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Thunder vs Lakers Game 4: live score updates, highlights, 2026 NBA playoffs 2nd round series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Lakers find themselves in ‘no-man’s land’ heading into Game 4. The Thunder‘s average margin of victory in the first three games has been +19.

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The bitter truth is that this Lakers team is not built for nor are they as successful when the game goes through Lebron James first. Without Luka Doncic in the mix, the distribution of offense is off balance.

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Luka Doncic has been ruled out for Game 4 due to his hamstring injury. That injury has kept him out of the lineup since April 8.

The larger concern for Game 4 comes from the OKC side of this tale of the tape. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not needed to be in MVP form to beat the Lakes by almost 20 points per game. SGA is only averaging 21/5/3 in this series and none of the three games played thus far have been necessarily ‘close’.

The Lakers can win a game in this series, provided Lebron and Reaves provide volume production. However, unless something significant changes, it doesn’t seem likely Los Angeles will push this to a six or seven game series.

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Thunder vs. Lakers live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 4

3rd Quarter- 6:14 Rui Hachimura hits a 3-pointer to cut OKC’s lead 66-58.

3rd Quarter- 7:35: Thunder up 12 after Cason Wallace triple. Lakers timeout.

3rd Quarter- 8:09: Teams trading buckets. OKC up nine, 63-54.

Halftime: Thunder 49, Lakers 45

2nd Quarter- 1:36: Lakers cut the lead to four. 44-40.

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2nd Quarter- 4:00: Teams trading buckets with OKC still up by ten. 42-32.

2nd Quarter- 5:29: Lakers first points of the quarter cuts six and a half scoreless drought. 38-28 lead.

2nd Quarter- 6:01: OKC 17-0 run. Lakers scoreless in the quarter. 38-26 lead.

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2nd Quarter- 6:12: OKC up by 10. 36-26. A 15-0 run for the Thunder.

2nd Quarter- 7:19: Jared McCain 3-pointer has OKC on 13-0 run. Lakers scoreless in first five minutes of the quarter.

2nd Quarter- 9:50: OKC up by 5 with 10-0 run. 31-26 with timeout on the floor.

2nd Quarter- 10:54: Thunder up 29-26 after 8-0 run to open the quarter. Two 3-pointer from Alex Caruso.

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End of 1st Quarter: Lakers 26, Thunder 21

1st Quarter- 18.3: Lakers up by 5 over Thunder, 26-21.

1st Quarter- 1:50: Lakers increase lead 22-19

1st Quarter- 3:25: TV timeout. 17-16 Lakers up.

1st Quarter- 4:53: Lakers on 9-0 run, take 17-14 lead over Thunder.

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1st Quarter- 6:29: Austin Reaves nails 3-pointer, cuts lead to 14-11.

1st Quarter- 6:42: TV timeout. OKC up 14-8.

1st Quarter- 7:34: Lakers trading buckets with the Thunder. OKC up 12-8.

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1st Quarter- 9:01: Thunder increase the lead to 7-4.

1st Quarter- 10:32: OKC jumps out to a 5-2 lead.

Tip-off from Los Angeles

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CSC wins arbitration denying Nebraska NIL deals, but bigger fight looms in court

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The College Sports Commission won its first binding arbitration test Monday, but perhaps the harder fight begins later this month in a California courtroom.

A neutral arbitrator affirmed the CSC’s rejection of NIL deals between Nebraska football players and Playfly Sports, validating the commission’s authority to designate the school’s multimedia rights partner an “associated entity” under the House v. NCAA settlement. Such deals are barred under CSC rules. Those deals under scrutiny are worth more than $1 million combined.

Jeffrey Kessler, lead counsel for the House plaintiffs, made clear the ruling doesn’t settle what he believes is a broader fight over the CSC’s enforcement reach. In a separate case tied to the House settlement scheduled for later this month, Kessler will argue that multimedia rights companies are not associated entities.

Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the CSC, framed Monday’s ruling as proof that the new enforcement system can do what the House settlement intended.

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“This case was never about whether these student-athletes can get paid,” Seeley said outside the ACC’s spring meetings Monday. “It was about whether they can get paid in this way, and our determination was they could not get paid in this way, and the arbitrator agreed with us on that.”

The next legal challenge to CSC enforcement

The House settlement administrator is scheduled to review the NCAA and the CSC’s interpretations of the House settlement’s language regarding “associated entities” in the Northern District of California on May 27. That motion could unravel a key element of the House settlement, opening the floodgates to more loose interpretations of the settlement’s guidelines, which were put in place by the CSC, the enforcement arm created last July as part of the settlement’s terms.

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“This is just one deal decided by one arbitrator,” Kessler told CBS Sports. “That is how the arbitration system works. Broader issues will be decided by the court, where we just filed our reply brief in support of our motion against defendants and the CSC for overreaching in their enforcement in violation of the settlement.”

On Monday, at least, the CSC picked up a much-needed win after months of creative interpretations of the new rules by players and schools.

The decision affirmed three of the CSC’s most consequential interpretations of the settlement rules. The arbitrator ruled that Playfly qualified as an associated entity, found the deals failed the valid business purpose test because they did not involve goods or services offered to the general public for profit, and concluded that the structure amounted to warehousing rather than the direct activation of NIL rights.

The arbitrator declined to rule on whether the compensation was commensurate with that paid to similarly situated individuals, which is yet another debate as to what and how much a player should be paid in a free market.

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The decision on Monday is the first of its kind in the post-House era. Of the 1,153 deals the CSC has declined since the NIL Go platform launched in June 2025, only 21 have ended up in arbitration. Those 21 were consolidated into three cases, with Nebraska’s case comprising the majority (18). The Playfly-Nebraska matter is the first to produce a binding ruling.

The CSC cleared 26,556 deals worth $242.35 million in its first 10 months of operation. Those deals represent only about 4% of submissions, but they account for nearly 19% of total dollar value under review. 

Seeley repeatedly said Monday that arbitration decisions are not precedential. The system, which he admitted has pushed through growing pains as many schools have so far refused to sign the CSC’s participation agreement, would have survived a loss.

“Even if we were to have lost today’s decision, it would not bring down the whole system,” Seeley said. “Even if it’s not precedential, the fact is it’s influential, and it’s influential in people’s minds about how they think about enforcement. So to me, it was a good day.”

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Seeley also sharpened the contrast with the Kessler motion when asked where these fights belong: in the courtroom or before a neutral arbitrator.

“Looking at whether an entity is an associated entity is a fact-based inquiry, and it cannot be divorced from the facts,” Seeley said. “What plaintiff’s counsel is trying to do in the California litigation is divorce this decision from the facts, and that is not how the settlement is supposed to work.”

Nebraska athletics director Troy Dannen said in a statement Monday he was “proud” of the players and “how they represented themselves during this process,” and added that the school continues “to operate within the parameters of the House settlement and the CSC process, while monitoring changes in the collegiate landscape.”

Nebraska’s players are expected to submit new deals to the CSC for review. Seeley said he told the school that the commission will expedite those reviews.

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“I believe there are deals in the pipeline for these student-athletes with actual sponsors attached to them that we can approve,” Seeley said.

But the bigger battle looms in the courtroom, as the reach of the CSC’s power will be questioned later this month. 

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Axar Patel’s Priceless Reaction As DC Keep Playoffs Hopes Alive With Win PBKS

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Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel expressed satisfaction after the team registered a three-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamsala. Chasing 211, DC recovered from 74/4 thanks to captain Axar Patel’s 56 off 33 balls and David Miller’s explosive 51 off 28, with the duo adding 64 runs in quick time. Despite late wickets, DC’s lower order stayed calm. Ashutosh Sharma smashed a crucial 24 off 10 balls, while Madhav Tiwari remained unbeaten on 18 off 8 and Auqib Nabi struck 10* off just 2 balls to seal the chase as DC made 216/7 in 19 overs, keeping DC’s playoff hopes alive.

Earlier, PBKS posted 210/5 after a blazing start from Priyansh Arya (56 off 33) and Prabhsimran Singh. Captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with an unbeaten 59 off 36, while Suryansh Shedge added a quickfire 21*. In the bowling department, Mukesh Kumar (1/31 in 4 overs) and Madhav (2/40 in 4 overs) shone for DC.

For PBKS, dropped catches, poor bowling, and costly fielding errors hurt them as they suffered their fourth straight defeat.

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After the match, DC captain Axar Patel expressed happiness with Delhi Capitals’ all-round performance and hoped the team could carry the momentum into their remaining matches. He praised the bowlers for recovering well after conceding 60 runs in the first few overs and restricting Punjab Kings to 72 in the powerplay, calling it a key turning point.

Axar also highlighted the contributions of Mukesh and Madhav in the middle overs, his crucial partnership with Miller, and the composure shown by the young players in finishing the chase. He particularly praised youngster Sahil Parakh (13 runs off 6 balls), saying he has the potential to become a very good player in the future, and added that having such talented youngsters gives him confidence as captain.

“Very happy with how the team played, and hopefully we can do the same in the next two games. In the bowling, first 3-4 overs, they had 60 runs but to finish with only 72 in the powerplay, that was a winning moment. Then, Mukesh and Madhav bowling in the middle, and after that, my partnership with Miller, with the youngsters then finishing off the game. The cricket we are playing and the players we have, the future is strong. The runs Sahil also made, I had said before as well, he could be a good player in the future. A captain is very happy when he has youngsters like this, and as you said, the Delhi Capitals can do anything,” Axar said at the post-match presentations.

Madhav Tiwari, who won the Player of the Match (POTM) award for his contribution with both bat and ball, thanked the team management for backing him and said he was delighted to contribute to Delhi Capitals’ victory. He revealed that he has worked hard on improving his bowling and range-hitting with his batting coach, and jokingly described himself as both “100 percent bowler and 100 percent batter” when asked about his all-round abilities.

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“I would like to thank the management for giving this opportunity. Lucky enough to be on the winning side. I worked on my bowling a lot and my range hitting with my batting coach. It was fun and happy I was able to contribute for the team. (On if he is a batting or bowling all-rounder) I would like to say I am a 100 percent bowler and a 100 percent batter,” Madhav said after the match.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)


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Punjab Kings Coach Ends Silence After Shreyas Iyer Refuses To Use Yuzvendra Chahal

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Placed No. 1 for most of the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign, Punjab Kings are now fighting to keep hold of the No. 4 spot in the standings. The defeat against the Delhi Capitals on Monday was their fourth consecutive loss of the season, prompting discussions about the team’s strategy, especially after Yuzvendra Chahal remained an unused bowler against DC. PBKS later pulled off another bizarre move as they sent the franchise’s spin bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule, to the press conference, where he had to justify the no-spinner decision.

After going unbeaten in the first seven games, PBKS have lost four on the trot, with the disastrous run putting their playoff qualification hopes in jeopardy. Chahal, who was named in the team’s XI, didn’t bowl a single over against Delhi, leaving fans and pundits scratching their heads.

When Bahutule was asked about the all-pace strategy in the match, he said: “Definitely there was a thought (about bowling spinners) during the time-out, but I think the ball was seaming and the conditions were suitable for the fast bowlers. So I think the decision was very spontaneous to continue with the fast bowlers and see how we can get those wickets, which we did early on. But I think one partnership just took it away from us.”

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When asked if any major changes could be made to the team to revive the remainder of the campaign and finish the league stage on a strong note, Bahutule ruled it out.

“I think the team that has been doing so well, yes, we have lost a few games. We will again reflect on certain areas only. There won’t be any major changes, in the sense that everybody has been performing. But we will definitely look into it and see how we can just turn it around for ourselves,” he asserted.

READ | Shreyas Iyer Torn Apart For “Foolhardy” Yuzvendra Chahal Snub, Explains Baffling Decision

Bowling And Fielding To Blame

When asked about the reason behind the defeat, the PBKS spin bowling coach echoed captain Shreyas Iyer‘s words and threw his fielders and bowlers under the bus.

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“Definitely we will look into certain phases of our bowling and also the fielding part. Again, today unfortunately we dropped a few catches again at a crucial time, so that was very important. And I think we will reflect, but again, there is no time for us to really brood about it; we must move ahead. At a crucial time, we are dropping catches, which unfortunately is breaking the momentum that we were getting. Because if we had taken two catches, I don’t think they would have reached the target; it would have been very difficult for them and we may have won the game by 20 runs,” he asserted.


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Is Farever down right now? Server status and known maintenance

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Farever servers could currently be down, as players from all regions have reported a patchy experience. As of the writing of this article, no planned server downtimes have been announced from Shiro Games for today (May 11 PDT). However, with a sudden playerbase growth two days into the game’s launch, server issues are rampant. So is it really down, and when could it be back online? The answer is almost always “well, that depends on whether the devs put out a post on it”.

However, there are ways to check the nature of the outage, and whether it’s a problem in your end.

Update: After a sudden outage of ~10 minutes, servers are now back online as of 5:00 pm PDT at May 11, 2026.


How to check Farever server status and downtimes

At the moment, Farever does not have an official downtime webpage. However, you can head over to the game’s official Discord through this link to check an official server status tab on Farever.

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In case you cannot join the Discord, that means the invite link has hit its current maximum amount. You should be able to join after server admins look into culling the outstanding invite list, so it will take a few hours at most depending on time of day.

After you’ve joined the Discord, check the server-status channel, which you can also follow to automatically send any announcements to your own Discord server(s).

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Alternately, this Metaforge API can also be used to double-check server status on Farever. Simply look for the “online” parameter under realms:

  • “online”:true means server is online
  • “online”:false means server is either down or facing instabilities

How long does Farever server downtime last usually?

This dreaded screen might not always mean it's a full-on outage (Image via Shiro Games)This dreaded screen might not always mean it's a full-on outage (Image via Shiro Games)
This dreaded screen might not always mean it’s a full-on outage (Image via Shiro Games)

If there are server downtime announcements, it will likely last for 2-3 hours based on precedence. Farever is ultimately an MMO from an indie studio, so some turbulence in its Early Access days is to be expected. The developers upgraded their server capacities within a week from release, and their blog post says it’s an ongoing process:

“Since launch, we’ve been continuously working on improving stability, fixing bugs, and expanding our server infrastructure across all world regions. (…) We have not yet reached the level of stability that Farever deserves, and we will continue working on improving the servers so we can achieve the best possible performance, alongside fixes and improvements to the game itself.”

However, any major outage should regardless be an announcement on Farever’s discord. If a planned downtime is big enough, you might even see it posted on the game’s X page.

If it’s none of the above, check if there’s talk of a sudden outage on the Discord. Minor fluctuations and issues have been somewhat common in the game’s first week, so if you got kicked out of the game all of a sudden, it might be on the server end, and should be fixed within 30 minutes or so.


Finally, try to change the server region from the top-right corner if you’re consitently facing “Couldn’t connect to server” error screen. It’s possible for it to be a problem on your connectivity, although in such cases you’d have other telltale signs. A good way to spot-check is trying to log in from another server region, and if you still can’t do it from anywhere, it’s likely an outage.

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Check out our other guides on the game: