New IG share dealing clients can now get their hands on free shares in SpaceX worth up to £1,000 as part of a new promotion from IG, although there are several conditions attached before the bonus is paid.
The promotion, which runs until 31 July 2026, is available to new UK customers opening an IG Share Dealing account using the promotional code SPACEXSHARES. Existing IG customers may also qualify if they have been invited directly by the broker.
Rather than offering cash, IG will randomly award eligible customers SpaceX shares worth between £30 and £1,000, with the majority receiving the minimum amount.
According to the promotion’s terms, there is a 70% chance of receiving £30 worth of shares, a 20% chance of receiving £60, a 7% chance of £100, a 2% chance of £500 and just a 1% chance of landing the maximum £1,000 allocation.
How can you claim free SpaceX shares?
To qualify, investors must:
- Open an IG Share Dealing account between 1 and 31 July 2026 using the promotional code SPACEXSHARES.
- Invest at least £300 during the promotional period.
- Keep an average invested balance of at least £300 until 31 October 2026.
Provided these conditions are met, the bonus shares will be credited to a General Investment Account (GIA) by 30 November 2026, even if the qualifying investment was made through an ISA or SIPP. Investors must also complete a W-8BEN tax form before 31 October or they will lose their entitlement to the bonus.
What’s the catch?
While the promotion effectively offers free exposure to one of the world’s most closely watched private companies, there are several important restrictions.
Firstly, the £300 investment must remain in the account throughout the holding period. Selling investments or withdrawing money before the end of October could make investors ineligible, although market movements that reduce the portfolio below £300 do not count against them.
Secondly, investors cannot simply transfer existing shares into IG to qualify. The promotion requires new money to be invested, with transfers from another broker specifically excluded.
The bonus also isn’t guaranteed to be particularly valuable. Seven out of ten participants will receive just £30 worth of SpaceX shares, while only one in every hundred will receive the maximum £1,000 allocation.
Finally, investors should remember that once the shares are credited, their value can rise or fall with the market and they may also incur foreign exchange charges and any applicable taxes.
Is it worth it?
For anyone already planning to invest at least £300 through IG, the promotion is effectively a free bonus. Even the most common £30 award represents an immediate 10% return on the minimum qualifying investment before market movements.
However, investors shouldn’t open an account purely for the chance of winning £1,000 worth of shares. Statistically, there’s only a 1% chance of receiving the top prize, while most participants will receive the minimum allocation.
The more important consideration should be whether IG’s investment platform suits your long-term investing needs. If it does, then the SpaceX share giveaway provides an attractive extra incentive. If not, a £30 bonus is unlikely to outweigh choosing the wrong investment platform for your portfolio.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
