An intro to the best betting bonuses
I define sportsbook bonuses as anything that gives you extra value at an online sportsbook. This could be a welcome bonus, free bets, a VIP program, or a deposit match bonus, for example. Something that gives you extra bang for your buck.
You’ll find that promotions are especially common at no deposit bonus betting sites and online sportsbooks, as the operators use them as a way to draw in new customers, compete with other betting sites, and give bettors a reason to stick with their brand.
To get betting bonuses, you usually have to do create an account, make a bet, or deposit some money. There’s also often terms and conditions, and specific things you have to do to get them. I explain all of these things and more below.
Different types of sportsbook bonuses explained
I think a great starting point is to look at the common types of sportsbook bonuses. They usually fall into a range of categories including welcome bonuses, free bets, and deposit match bonuses.
🤗 Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses or sign up bonuses are usually the first thing you get when signing up to a new sportsbook. They are exclusive promos only for new customers, and can be a combination of any of the below bonus types.
💰 Deposit Match Bonus
The deposit match bonus gives you a percentage of bonus funds based on the deposit you make, such as a 100% deposit match bonus of up to $1,000. In this scenario, if you deposited $200, you would get $200 in bonus funds, or $400 in total to bet with. Deposit match bonuses usually have wagering requirements on the bonus funds before they are withdrawable.
🎁 Free Bets
Who doesn’t love a good free bet? Free bets are exactly as described - you’ll get a set value of cash to use for free bets. So, you might get a $10 free bet if you make a $10 deposit and wager it, for example. With free bets, the initial stake is never returned. I.e., if you used that $10 free bet on the 76ers to beat the Detroit Pistons, with a moneyline of +150 and they won, your total payout would be $25. However, you would only get $15 back, as the original $10 stake is removed.
🔄 Risk-Free Bets
Risk-free bets are where if your initial bet loses, you’ll get your original stake back as bonus bets. For instance, maybe you have a risk-free bet offer of up to $100, and you placed a bet on the Lakers to beat the Mavericks, and your wager was $20 on the moneyline. If the Mavs win, you would lose the bet, but you’d get $20 back in bonus bets, basically giving you a second chance! Pretty neat, right?
📈 Bet Boosts/Odds Boosts
I use bet boosts whenever I find them for the sports I want to bet on. These are incredibly simple - you’ll get a bet boost or odds boost token that you can use on whatever bet you want. It will then boost the odds of that bet by a set percentage, which in turn, means that if your bet wins, you’re essentially getting a profit boost! Sportsbooks can give these out for free, or you might get them as part of a loyalty reward scheme, for example.
🏈 Parlay Insurances
I’m a big fan of parlay insurances and they have helped me out loads of times with my NBA parlays! A parlay insurance basically allows one of your selections to lose, but your bet will still win. For example, let’s say you bet on the Eagles, Packers, Lions, and Browns to win their NFL games on Monday Night Football, and you took parlay insurance. You would get slightly lower odds than the standard parlay bet, but if only the Eagles, Packers, and Lions won, you would still win your bet!
Important terms and conditions of sportsbook bonuses
I know, I’m probably sounding a bit like a broken record by this point, but you must read the terms and conditions for sportsbook bonuses carefully. They are often complex and contain many caveats and requirements that if you don’t follow, you can potentially void the promotion. To help, I’ve summarized the main T&Cs I look for when checking out bet deals below:
| Betting Bonus Terms and Conditions | Explanation |
| Minimum deposit limits | Usually to get a bonus, you might need to make a minimum qualifying deposit. |
| Minimum bet limits | Oftentimes you’ll also need to make a minimum bet to get the offer, such as $5 or $10. |
| Minimum odds | If bets are involved, some sites impose minimum odds such as 1.5 or greater. |
| Expiry periods | Most promos don’t last forever, and you’ll need to claim them, and use them within a set period. |
| Accessibility limitations | Always check if the promotion is available in your state! |
| Wagering requirements | Bonus funds and winnings can have wagering requirements you need to meet before they are withdrawable. |
| Sports limits | Some sportsbook bonuses are for specific sports. For example, there might be a free bet offer, but only for NFL games that week. |
| Bet type limits | There can also be limits on the types of bets you can make with your free bets or bonus money. |
On each promotion, there is usually a terms and conditions link that you can click, or something like “more info” - this is where you will find the full breakdown of the bonus and how it works. I know it’s boring, but please take the time to read the info fully so you avoid potential disappointment.
How to get your betting bonus
Getting the best sportsbook promotions may differ depending on the type of promo you want, and the site. However, for the sportsbook welcome bonus, you will ALWAYS have to register an account as your first step, and this can be done via the following steps:
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Tap one of our sportsbook banners.
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Find and click the sign up or join button.
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Follow the instructions.
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Enter any required personal details.
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Accept terms and conditions if needed.
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Verify your email and/or ID if needed.
The registration process won’t take long - I’m usually up and running in a few minutes. Just make sure you complete any verification as soon as possible, otherwise promos and other features might be locked.
To get your bonus, you might then need to make an initial deposit or a wager - read the terms and conditions carefully so you understand what you need to do, and the rest should be real easy.
With other sportsbook bonuses aside from welcome offers, you’ll usually need to follow a specific link, click a claim button, or make a specific minimum deposit and/or wager.
Four brands offering mouth-watering sportsbook bonuses right now
I want you to be able to get right into the action and pick up some epic sportsbook bonuses straight away. So, with that in mind, let’s get the ball rolling and dive right into four awesome sportsbooks that feature a massive welcome bonus, plus loads of promos for existing customers. You can check out their respective welcome bonus they offer in the below table:
| Sportsbook | Bookmaker sign up bonus |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, if the bet wins, get $300 in bonus bets. |
| Caesars | Bet $1, get 20x 100% profit boost tokens of up to $25 each. |
| BetMGM | Get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses. |
| Fanatics | $2,000 in no-sweat bets. |
⚾ FanDuel - great for MLB betting
FanDuel Sportsbook In A Nutshell
FanDuel has one of the best low-investment/high-reward welcome bonuses as you can sign up, deposit and wager $5, and if your bet wins, you get a whopping $300 in bonus bets! Just make sure you play your cards right and think about your initial bet to give yourself the best chance of winning. This operator also has some superb NFL, MLB, and NBA promos including bet back tokens, no-sweat bet tokens, and profit boost tokens for a range of games and events.
MLB fans in general will enjoy FanDuel as it has some of the best betting options for the Spring Training, regular season, and playoffs games, plus special events like MLB Tokyo. You’ve also got a massive range of supported sports - from soccer and tennis to PGA golf and MMA.
How To Sign Up
- Click the green ‘Join’ button at the top right of the homepage.
- Select your state/location and enter your email address, create a username, and set a password.
- Provide personal details, including full name, date of birth, and home address.
- Enter your phone number and the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) for identity verification.
- Agree to the terms and conditions, confirm you are of legal age, and complete any additional verification steps.
- Click the ‘Create Account’ button to finalize your registration.
BONUS
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🏈 Caesars - official NFL partner
Caesars Sport In A Nutshell
Out of all the online betting sites featured here, I’d recommend Caesars for NFL fans. The brand’s an official NFL partner/sponsor, which means you can expect a range of special bets, and football-specific promotions. There’s also live streaming for some of the matches. I love the in-play betting setup for the NFL games too, as you get play-by-play coverage, plus a ton of stats to help with your betting strategies as the action unfolds.
For promos, you should be able to start with a welcome bonus where you bet $1, and get 20x 100% profit boost tokens of up to $25 each. This is easily one of the best sign up offers I’ve seen, but just be aware that there might be different bonuses depending on the state you are accessing the site from. You also get access to the Caesars Rewards program, a referral scheme, and loads of other bet boosts and parlay bonus features here.
How To Sign Up
- Click 'Register'.
- Enter your personal details, including your social security number, email address, and telephone number.
- Tick the age verification and T&Cs boxes.
- Activate your account via the verification email sent after you completed registration.
🏀 BetMGM - best NBA coverage
BetMGM Sport In A Nutshell
BetMGM is one of my favorite low deposit betting sites and I think they have a cracking welcome bonus too. If you use our banners and sign up, you can get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses. For instance, let’s say you bet $20 from your first deposit for OKC Thunder to beat the Rockets and the Rockets actually won. You’de get back $20 in bonus bets - equal to your original stake.
I like the simplicity of this betting deposit bonus, and this operator is also packed with heaps of other features like the MGM Rewards program, parlay boosts, and odds boost tokens. This is the main site I use when it comes to NBA betting, and I think they have some of the most extensive player and team props bets you can find.
How To Sign Up
- Begin Registration: Click the gold ‘Sign Up’ button on the top right of the homepage.
- Enter your personal details including your email, address, mobile number, and SSN digits.
- Click “Send me a code” to verify your phone number and pre-fill some details automatically.
- Complete Registration: Click the gold ‘Complete registration’ button at the bottom of the form to finish the sign-up process.
BONUS
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📱 Fanatics - high-quality mobile apps
Fanatics In A Nutshell
Fanatics do things a little differently when it comes to betting bonuses, and new customers can get up to $2,000 in no-sweat bets. This is broken into $200 in no-sweat bets for your first 10 days with the sportsbook. So, you can bet up to $200 each day, and if you’re at a net loss at the end of the period, you’ll get your original stake back in no-sweat bets. You could time this welcome bonus to coincide with the start of a new sports season such as the MLB or NBA regular seasons to maximize the betting potential.
I’ve always been a big fan of the Fanatics apps and I rate them as the top apps out of my recommended sportsbooks. You can download them for either iOS or Android smartphones, and the layout, usability, and betting setup work flawlessly. I also think this site excels when it comes to NFL and MLB coverage - especially the range of futures and specials bets they offer.
How To Sign Up
- Download the Fanatics mobile app. This is available on the Apple App and Google Play Store.
- Click “Log In” in the upper right corner.
- Enter your email address to start the account registration process.
- From here, provide the other necessary details like your name, date of birth, address, social security number, and more.
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Enable biometrics, which allows you to log in with a face scan.
BONUS
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Get your sports betting bonus today for added value at one of these sites
Sportsbook bonuses make your life easier. They give you better value, more potential funds or free bets to use, and allow you to be more effective with your deposit funds. Whenever I use online sportsbooks in the US, you can guarantee that I check for these bonuses! Remember that the welcome bonus is the first thing you should look for, and then you can keep an eye out for things like bet boosts, parlay insurances, referral schemes, and free bet offers for existing customers.
Please also make sure that you take the time to read any sportsbook bonus terms and conditions and look for the things I mentioned like expiry periods and minimum odds requirements. With all this info, all that’s left to do now is to give one or more of my recommended sites a try! Just use the banners or links featured on this page and get signed up today.
Discover our sport betting bonuses
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- Various promotions and boosts for existing customers.
- Live betting for all the supported sports, plus in-game stats and a 2D game
- Fantastic selection of team and player props
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Sportsbook bonuses FAQs
Can anyone get a betting deposit bonus?
Not necessarily. You have to be eligible to get the bonus. This includes being over the legal gambling age, and from a legal state that the promotion is available in. You will then usually have to create an account with the sportsbook you want to get the bonus from.
Which is the best sportsbook bonus?
I think BetMGM has the best welcome bonus for new customers. You can use our links and sign up here, and you can then get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Other top sites for bonuses include Caesars, FanDuel, Borgata, and Fanatics.
Can you win real money from sportsbook bonuses?
Yes. If there is a real money component and you get something like free bets or bonus money, then you can potentially get real money payouts from those features. Always read the terms and conditions fully though to make sure you understand how they work.
Which sites have the best bet deals?
I rate BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Borgata as having some of the best sportsbook bonuses. I particularly like the welcome bonus from BetMGM where you can get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses.
Do you have to spend money to get sportsbook bonuses?
Most of the time yes, however, I’ve also found plenty of no deposit bonuses where you get something for nothing. Some welcome bonuses, for example include a small no deposit bonus of $10-25.