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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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.
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.
During a local tournament, I walked onto a green and spotted a pitching wedge obviously left by a group ahead. After we all putted out, I picked up the wedge and put it in the basket of my cart, thinking I would drop it off at the clubhouse at the turn or give it to its owner if we caught up with him. After I teed off on the next hole, a fellow competitor said I had violated Rule 4, having more than 14 clubs in my possession which called for a 4-stroke penalty. I argued that I never intended to use the club and did not even put it in my bag, so it couldn’t be a violation. What say you? – Rick Itami, Liberty Lake, WA
We say kudos to you for not telling this dunderhead to go pound sand or taking even more drastic action.
Clearly, there can be quite a difference between referencing a Rule and knowing what in fact it says. Rule 4 — 4.1, to be exact — specifically covers this courteous act, noting it does not add to one’s club count, so long as the club isn’t used. Your competitor was at best wrong and at worst trying to get one (or four) over on you.
For more club-count related guidance from our guru, read on …
Can you carry clubs outside of your bag and not have them count toward the legal limit of 14? —Joseph Mills, Pinehurst, N.C.
Yes… but only if you balance them on your nose.
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Come now, Joseph — 14 clubs maximum means 14 clubs maximum (per Rule 4.1b[1]), not 14 clubs and however many more you can stash under your armpit, in your opponent’s bag and behind bushes.
Breaching this rule is a two-stroke penalty per hole in stroke play, maximum two holes, and once you realize you’re in breach you must declare the extra clubs out of play immediately or be disqualified. Golf is a game of honor, not hoarding.
Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
The Los Angeles Lakers, after an upset win on their home court, will host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA playoff first-round series. The West’s No. 4 seed, Lakers (53-29), defeated the fifth-seeded Rockets (52-30) 107-98 in Sunday’s Game 1. Los Angeles has now won four straight, while Houston has dropped two of their last three games. The Lakers are 24-16 all-time versus the Rockets in the NBA postseason. Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) remain out for the Lakers. Kevin Durant (knee), who missed Game 1, is listed as questionable for Game 2.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the first full week of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 24-9 roll (73%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Rockets vs. Lakers, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (206.5). Six of the Rockets’ last eight games have gone Over the total. The total has gone Over in seven of Houston’s last eight games against an opponent in the Western Conference and eight of the last 10 games the Rockets have played in April.
The SportsLine model is projecting the Rockets to have six players scoring 10.7 or more points, led by Durant with 27 points if he’s able to go. LeBron James is projected to lead the Lakers with 24.6 points scored, as five Lakers players will score 10 or more points. The teams are projected to combine for 217 total points as the Over hits 62% of the time, making it a great selection for anybody targeting NBA parlay betting. See the Rockets vs. Lakers spread pick at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Rockets vs. Lakers at FanDuel here:
A pair of American League teams will meet for the second of a three-game set on Tuesday’s MLB schedule as the Houston Astros visit the Cleveland Guardians. Houston (9-15) is last in the AL West but ended a four-game losing streak by taking Monday’s contest 9-2. Cleveland (13-11) is atop the AL Central and was 5-1 in series openers before losing yesterday. Ryan Weiss (0-2, 6.75 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros, while the Guardians will counter with Parker Messick (3-0, 1.05 ERA).
First pitch is at 6:10 p.m. ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland. The Guardians won four of six matchups with Houston last season. The latest Guardians vs. Astros odds list Cleveland as the -144 favorite on the money line (risk $144 to win $100). The over/under for total runs is 8. Before making any Astros vs. Guardians picks or MLB predictions, be sure to see the Guardians vs. Astros predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It was a profitable 35-29 on top-rated MLB money-line picks last season. It also excelled making home run prop picks in 2025, returning nearly 30 units of profit. Anybody following its MLB betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.
New to sports trading? Visit our Kalshi promo code review to see their latest offers and get started.
Top Astros vs. Guardians predictions
After 10,000 simulations of Guardians vs. Astros, the model is going Over 8 combined runs. For over/under betting, no team has hit the Over more than Houston this year, with Monday’s contest being the latest instance. The Over is 17-7 for the Astros and has hit in each of its last four games. The Over also sports a 6-3 record for Cleveland over its last nine.
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Houston leads the AL in OPS while ranking dead last in ERA, so both teams often light up the scoreboard when the Astros are in action. Having Weiss on the mound won’t help with the latter as he’s given up 10 ER over his last 8.2 IP, but Houston is also projected to have the top two batters in terms of total bases accumulated. Both teams are forecasted to score over 4 runs, on average, as the Over has all of the value. Get the Astros vs. Guardians money-line pick at SportsLine.
How to make Guardians vs. Astros picks
After simulating every pitch of Astros vs. Guardians 10,000 times, the model also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can get that pick at SportsLine.
A bizarre incident took place in the city of Jalgaon in Maharashtra, as a tractor drove onto a cricket field and stopped play in the final of the Jalgaon Rural MLA Cup tournament. In a video that has gone viral on social media, the shocking incident unfolds as a youth drove a tractor into the field and straight over the pitch. Players and umpires helplessly watched as the event took place, after which chaos ensued as a number of people entered the field.
From the video, the game appeared to be underway before it had to be abruptly halted as the tractor drove onto the field. Following the ruckus, the youth appeared to drive off.
WATCH: Tractor drives onto cricket field, halts play
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Tractor Driver plows the cricket pitch mid-final in Jalgaon after the driver wasn’t invited to the tournament pic.twitter.com/LLS61mkRWJ
According to reports, the incident took place after a prominent local person was not invited for the final. The match was eventually cancelled after the incident, but no police complaint was reportedly filed.
The video went viral across social media, with several users reacting strongly to the incident. Some speculated the reason behind such an issue, while others lamented it.
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This world you think you have experienced petty then the world shows you some other level of petty https://t.co/vMHGFxrSBr
Coming back to cricket on the highest level, the race for the playoffs is heating up in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been the early pace-setters and lead the points table, having garnered 8 points or more from their opening matches.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC) have endured topsy-turvy campaigns so far but are not far away from the leading pack.
Meanwhile, concerns engulf the dugouts of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who are towards the bottom of the table. Although they are the three most successful franchises in IPL history, their playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy already.
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Planet Waves was one of the seven Stands added with Bizarre Lineage Update 1 as a primarily ranged combat option. This Stand can be obtained using a Meteorite Arrow, a craftable item that requires resources from the Update 1 Raid battles. Being a ranged Stand, Planet Waves is an excellent PvE tool, allowing you to make short work of regular enemies and bosses alike through powerful meteor showers.
Here’s everything you need to know about Planet Waves in Bizarre Lineage.
How to get Planet Waves in Bizarre Lineage
Use a Meteorite Arrow to get Planet Waves (Image via Roblox)
Planet Waves, like Death 13, can be obtained through a specific item without relying on the Stand Arrow or Lucky Arrow RNG. The chief component required to get this Stand is the Meteorite Arrow, a craftable item. In order to craft it, you need a Meteor Fragment and a Mysterious Arrow.
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Meteor Fragments are rare drops from Legendary Chests, while Mysterious Arrows are random boss drops from the three Update 1 Raids in Bizarre Lineage. You can farm Legendary Chests from the aforementioned Raids as well, so you don’t have to go out of your way to pursue them. As for Mysterious Arrows, the odds of receiving one through the three Raids are decent, though it may take a few tries to get it to drop.
Once you have these items, head to Gupta, the Crafting NPC, and craft the Meteorite Arrow. Then, use it from your inventory to instantly gain access to Planet Waves.
Planet Waves moveset and game plan in Bizarre Lineage
Meteor Rain in action (Image via Roblox || YouTube/@builderboytvofficial)
As mentioned previously, Planet Waves is primarily a ranged Stand, making it well-suited for sniping enemies from afar. Because of this, its combo potential is fairly low, but that does not make it any less effective than the likes of Death 13 or Diver Down. Its heavy ranged focus makes it one of the best Stands in the game to take on bosses like Heaven Ascended DIO or Death 13. Securing a high rank with this Stand is a cinch.
While in melee range, Planet Waves automatically summons meteors as part of its passive ability. This can create some space between you and the opponent, so that you may retreat and continue your barrage of ranged skills to pressure or defeat them.
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Here is a complete list of its moves, along with their respective properties:
Barrage: Standard melee barrage move.
Breaker: Powerful melee burst attack. Can be used to knock the opponent back.
Meteor Rain: Summons a long meteor shower. The most powerful ability in Planet Waves’ skills.
Lucky Meteor: Randomly summons meteors to strike nearby enemies.
The Meteor: Summons a massive meteor for a lot of damage.
Meteor Waves: Summons a straight line of meteors. Meteor line position shifts based on your movement.
The best skill in Planet Waves’ arsenal is Meteor Rain, which has the Stand conjure a meteor shower that continues for a long time. It can easily shred through the health pools of boss enemies, including the mighty The World Overheaven Raid.
Optimizing its damage is also simple through perks like Justice, Death Valley, and Repose that come with the Stand. Stack Perks like Play with Your Food, Resourceful, and The Godfather to make Planet Waves a dominating force on the battlefield.
Apr 20, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) scores the game winner in the second overtime against the Ottawa Senators in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Jordan Martinook made amends after an earlier overtime opportunity went awry by scoring with 6:07 remaining in the second OT, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Monday at Raleigh, N.C.
Martinook scored coming down the slot to end the game and send the Hurricanes to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Logan Stankoven and Sebastian Aho scored the first two goals for Carolina. Frederik Andersen made 37 saves for the win.
Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens had Ottawa’s goals, with Jake Sanderson assisting on both tallies. Goalie Linus Ullmark seemed dialed in to steal a victory for Ottawa, making 43 saves.
Flyers 3, Penguins 0
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Dan Vladar made 27 saves and Garnet Hathaway had a goal and an assist as Philadelphia topped host Pittsburgh to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
After squeaking out a 3-2 victory in Game 1, the Flyers once again outplayed the favored Penguins. Rookie Porter Martone scored for the second straight game, and Luke Glendening added an empty-net goal.
Vladar logged his first shutout since joining the Flyers last summer — and his first career blanking in the playoffs.
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Oilers 4, Ducks 3
Kasperi Kapanen netted his second goal of the game with 1:54 left in the third period and Edmonton recovered for a win against visiting Anaheim in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round series.
Kapanen scored with a one-timer from the slot off a feed from behind the Anaheim net by Vasily Podkolzin. Jason Dickinson also scored two goals and Connor Ingram made 25 saves for the Oilers, who gave up three goals in the second period to surrender a 2-0 lead. Podkolzin, Jake Walman and Leon Draisaitl notched two assists apiece.
Troy Terry had two goals and an assist, Leo Carlsson added a goal and an assist and Lukas Dostal made 30 saves for the Ducks in their first playoff game in eight years.
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Stars 4, Wild 2
Wyatt Johnston scored two goals as Dallas bounced back with a win over visiting Minnesota in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Matt Duchene finished with a goal and an assist for Dallas, which evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1. The set will shift to Saint Paul, Minn., for the next two games, starting with Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Jason Robertson added a goal for the Stars.
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Brock Faber scored both goals for Minnesota, on assists from Quinn Hughes. Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt allowed three goals on 31 shots.
Aston Villa have announced an accelerated timeline for the North Stand redevelopment at Villa Park which will involve the closure of the stand next season.
Original plans were to redevelop across two seasons, but now the stand will just be closed for the entirety of the 2026-27 season while the work takes place – a move which will see capacity fall to around 37,000.
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The redevelopment will increase the overall capacity of Villa Park to over 50,000, and create around 500 square metres of new first-team changing, medical and physiotherapy facilities, alongside the upgrade of all player competition areas.
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Season ticket holders forced to relocate for the 2026-27 season will be given the opportunity to renew their ticket in an alternative area of Villa Park at the same price level and get priority access to return to the redeveloped North Stand for the 2027-28 season.
A statement from the club answered key questions for fans and read: “This decision has been taken following extensive planning and assessment, and reflects the club’s commitment to minimising disruption for supporters while delivering meaningful improvements to both the fan and footballing experience at Villa Park.
“The new, accelerated plan for the works also incorporates operational efficiencies, which will lead to significant cost savings and a shorter timeline.
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“By completing the works within a single season, the club will limit disruption to one campaign rather than extending it across two seasons. This will allow us to open the new North Stand standard seating and concourse facilities for the full 2027-28 season, meaning supporters can enjoy the new stand sooner.”
Villa fans, what do you make of the news? Will your season ticket be affected? And are you happy the redevelopment will be accelerated?
Shafali Verma continued her steady rise in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings, climbing closer to the top five, while India captain Harmanpreet Kaur edged nearer to a return to the top 10 following the latest rankings update on Tuesday. The rankings reshuffle comes amid the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and South Africa, with several players from both sides rewarded for their recent performances ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, which starts on June 12.
Shafali jumped two places to sixth in the T20I batting charts after her brisk 57 against South Africa, closing in on the top five, while Smriti Mandhana remains India’s highest-ranked batter at fourth.
Harmanpreet, meanwhile, moved up two spots to be placed just outside the top 10 at joint 11th, courtesy of her unbeaten 47 in the series opener, signalling a return to form at a crucial juncture.
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Among South African players, captain Laura Wolvaardt retained her fifth position after a composed half-century in the second T20I, while teammates Annerie Dercksen (up 18 places to 33rd) and Sune Luus (up eight places to 35th) made notable gains.
In the bowling rankings, Sadia Iqbal held on to the No. 1 spot, though South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba surged five places to joint sixth after an impressive start to the series against India.
Further gains for South Africa came from Ayabonga Khaka (up eight places to 25th), Chloe Tryon (up three to 38th) and Tumi Sekhukhune (up 23 to 55th). India also saw progress through left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who climbed four spots to 23rd.
In the all-rounders’ list, Melie Kerr continued to occupy the top position, while Tryon (up four places to joint 11th) and Dercksen (up 11 to 29th) registered significant improvements.
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Meanwhile, the ODI rankings also witnessed movement following the opening match of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka series. Sharmin Akhter made the biggest impact, climbing seven places to 22nd after an 86-run knock in Rajshahi.
Her teammate Sobhana Mostary rose eight spots to 50th after contributing 41 runs, while bowlers Nahida Akter (13th), Rabeya Khan (20th) and Marufa Akter (up nine places to joint 43rd) also moved up the rankings.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds are officially set after the league broke two ties on Monday. The Utah Jazz earned the tiebreaker over the Sacramento Kings for the No. 4 draft lottery position, while the New Orleans Pelicans earned the No. 7 spot after winning the tiebreaker over the Dallas Mavericks.
Notably, the Atlanta Hawks will have the better of the picks that belong to the Pelicans and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks will enter the draft lottery on May 10th in the No. 10 draft slot. Milwaukee’s pick has a 13.9% chance of landing in the top four and a 3% chance of being the No. 1 overall pick.
Sacramento was firmly in the mix to finish with one of the four worst records in the NBA before closing the season by winning three of its last 10 games. During the same stretch, Utah lost nine of its last 10 games. In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Kings had a chance to clinch the No. 4 draft slot outright but beat the Golden State Warriors at home.
So, how far could the Kings fall on lottery night? It’s possible that Sacramento’s pick could be as late as No. 9. Sacramento has a 0.6% chance of picking No. 9 and an 8.5% chance of picking No. 8.
Still, when ties occur in the final NBA standings, the odds for that draft slot are split evenly between the teams. The Kings and Jazz both have a 45.2% chance of landing inside the top four and an 11.5% chance of being the No. 1 overall pick. Here’s the breakdown:
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Kings and Jazz lottery odds
Pick number
Team
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 7
No. 8
No. 9
4
Jazz
11.5%
11.4%
11.2%
11%
7.5%
27.1%
17.9%
2.4%
0%
5
Kings
11.5%
11.4%
11.2%
11%
2%
18.2%
25.5%
8.5%
0.6%
Last year, Dallas won the tiebreaker over the Bulls to enter the draft lottery in the No. 11 slot. It might’ve seemed minuscule at the time, but that slight boost helped Dallas secure the No. 1 overall pick and the right to select Cooper Flagg. This time around, Dallas wasn’t so lucky.
The Mavericks will have a 29% chance at a top-four pick and a 6.7% chance of earning the No. 1 overall pick for the second consecutive year after losing the tiebreaker to the Pelicans. Dallas doesn’t control its own first-round pick until 2031 after this summer.
Other notable tiebreakers that were broken outside the lottery
The Suns won the tiebreaker with the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers. That pick (No. 16) will go to Memphis. Second (No. 17) and third place (No. 18) in the tiebreaker drawings went to Philadelphia and Orlando, respectively. The Thunder will get the 17th pick and the Hornets will get No. 18.
The Raptors won a tiebreaker with the Hawks for pick No. 19
The Rockets won a tiebreaker with the Cavaliers for pick No. 22.
Apr 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Jason Dickinson (16) shoots the puck to Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Kasperi Kapanen netted his second goal of the game with 1:54 left in the third period and the Edmonton Oilers recovered for a 4-3 win against the visiting Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round series on Monday.
Kapanen scored with a one-timer from the slot off a feed from behind the Anaheim net by Vasily Podkolzin.
Jason Dickinson also scored two goals and Connor Ingram made 24 saves for the Oilers, who gave up three goals in the second period to surrender a 2-0 lead. Podkolzin, Jake Walman and Leon Draisaitl had two assists apiece.
Draisaitl, who had 97 points in 65 games this season, had missed the final 14 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury.
Troy Terry had two goals and an assist, Leo Carlsson added a goal and an assist and Lukas Dostal made 30 saves for the Ducks in their first playoff game in eight years.
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Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in Edmonton.
Walman made a blue line-to-blue line stretch pass to Dickinson as he slipped behind rookie defenseman Tyson Hinds, and Dickinson got Dostal to bite on a fake before shooting the puck into the open side of the net for a 1-0 lead at 17:21 of the first.
The Oilers doubled the lead to 2-0 after Ducks forward Chris Kreider turned the puck over coming through the neutral zone. Leon Draisaitl centered the puck to Kapanen, whose initial shot from the high slot was saved by Dostal, but Kapanen knocked down the rebound and shot it in from the side of the crease at 18:21 of the first.
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Edmonton outshot Anaheim 5-0 through the first 6 1/2 minutes before finishing with a 14-4 edge in the first period.
The Ducks scored 19 seconds into the second period when a rebound came out diagonally to Terry and he fired it back into the net from the right circle.
The Ducks were unable to capitalize on the first power play of the game, but they scored 19 seconds after it expired. Another rebound came out diagonally, this time to Carlsson, who put it into the net to tie it 2-2 at 4:38 of the middle period.
Anaheim was on its second power play when Terry scored with a wrist shot from above the left circle with help from a screen by Kreider to grab a 3-2 lead at 14:29 of the second period.
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Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas lost his footing while defending a rush, allowing Dickinson to score on a rebound and tie it 3-3 at 11:30 of the third.
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