What are sportsbook promos?
As if you need telling! OK then, Sportsbook promos are simply special offers put on by betting sites. They will work to help you out with your sports bets in a number of ways.
Some sportsbook promos will simply give you extra site credit to bet with, while others will refund your losses. You’ll rarely be given something for free with these deals, as you’ll usually be expected to make a qualifying deposit or bet first. However, most sportsbook promos are a lot of fun.
Pros and cons of getting sportsbook promotions
I’m fairly sure that I’m not the only person who spends A LOT of time hunting around for betting offers, but I’ll admit that some people can be a touch skeptical about these deals. That’s fair enough, but I’d recommend considering the following pros and cons of getting sportsbook promotions before you get too set in your ways:
- Get to know the sportsbook better
- Enjoy even more sports betting
- Cover those surprising losses
- Find out new ways to bet
- Often complicated terms and conditions
The five best sportsbook promotions you can get right now
Pretty much all betting sites will have special offers, but there can be quite a lot of variety in terms of the quality of these deals. So what I’ve done here is handpicked five of my favorite betting promos to give you a good idea of things that you should be looking for:
| Online Sportsbook | Standard Welcome Offer |
| DraftKings | Bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets |
| bet365 | Bet $5 Get $150 in bonus bets or first bet refund up to $1,000 |
| FanDuel | Bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets if your bet wins |
| Fanatics | Get 10 losing bet refunds of up to $100 each |
| Caesars | Bet $1 and get double your winnings for your next 20 bets up to $25 |
DraftKings - Such a generous betting promotion
- Great mobile apps
- Supports live streaming
- Withdrawal takes 1 to 3 days
- Subpar customer service
Everyone knows that DraftKings is one of the biggest online sportsbooks in the nation, and so it’s only fair that it would put on one of the best betting promos in the US. It’s a deal for new customers that will give you $200 in bonus bets just for signing up and making an opening bet of $5 or more.
DraftKings will make sure that you get plenty of promos as an existing customer, too, with a nice line in profit boosts for same-game parlays on most major US sports. Plus, you can even get promo credit just for referring a friend to the online sportsbook and getting them to sign up using your code.
bet365 - Pick your perfect sportsbook promo
- Fast, reliable mobile app performance
- Quick deposits and fast withdrawals
- 24/7 live chat customer support
- Unavailable in some US states
- Phone support hours not 24/7
This sportsbook has come up with no less than two welcome offers, and both of them are excellent. I loved the deal that gives you $150 in bonus bets just for making a $5 qualifying bet, but I can also understand the appeal of the promo that offers you a losing bet refund up to $1,000.
bet365 has made sure that you get a fair range of promos as an existing customer, too. The most useful of these are those early payout deals that’ll simply settle your bet as a win before things get too nasty later on. Definitely useful if your chosen team has a habit of throwing away early leads.
FanDuel - So many betting promos here
- Best in class usability
- Available in 25+ states
- Competitive odds and coverage
- Top tier brand rep
- No sportsbook VIP program
FanDuel is a sportsbook that totally understands what betting fans like me like. That’s right, lots of promo offers. Things start great with that welcome offer that’ll give you $200 in bonus bets if your opening qualifying bet of $5 wins.
After this, things get even better with lots more promos, including profit boosts, bet protect deals, and some handy referral offers. Each of these promos is backed up with fair terms and conditions that should help you get something back from your qualifying bets - not always the case with some sportsbook promos.
Fanatics - All the losing bet refunds you’ll need
- Awesome market coverage.
- User friendly betting tools.
- Bet legally from 22+ states.
- Fun FanCash promos.
- App only.
This is definitely the sportsbook to try if you are a little nervous about making your opening sports bets. After all, you will just have to sign up and then you could get your first 10 bets covered with losing bet refunds. This is the equivalent of getting up to $1,000 in no sweat bets, and it goes a long way to explaining why so many people are signing up here.
Fanatics also has a fair amount of promos for existing customers, including a handy Fair Play offer that will cover your bets should your chosen player get injured. However, it’s the brand’s rewards program that is its main calling card, as you’ll get FanCash for all of the bets you make, and this FanCash can be traded in for everything from bonus bets to official merchandise from your favorite sports teams.
Caesars - Top deals for new and existing customers here
- Generous welcome offers
- Wide range of markets
- Live chat support
- No esports available
I love the latest welcome offer from Caesars, as you just have to sign up and make an opening bet of $1, and then you will get double your winnings on your next ten bets. Just remember that these bets cannot be more than $25 each.
Caesars has plenty more deals than that, and its rewards program is one of the best in the business. After all, you will get Reward Points for each single or parlay bet that you make, and these Reward Points can be traded in for anything from fine dining experiences to discounts on hotel room stays at dozens of Caesars resorts nationwide.
Different kinds of sports bet promos
It’s always interesting to see what kinds of deals emerge from these online sportsbooks. While you occasionally get a unique offer, most promos will fall into one of the following categories:
💰 Bonus Bet Deals
These promos are pretty common and they’re hugely popular too. How they work is that you just have to make a qualifying bet and then the sportsbook will give you bonus bets that you can use as stakes rather than your own cash.
📈 Matched Deposit Promos
Here, you will be expected to make a qualifying deposit and then the sportsbook will match that with extra credit. So if you deposited $10 on a 100% matched deposit bonus, you would get $10 extra in site credit to use to enjoy double the amount of sports betting.
💵 Losing Bet Refunds
This is where your losing bet will be refunded up to a certain amount with either site credit or withdrawable cash. Definitely a good option for any rookie bettors out there.
🎁 No Deposit Bonuses
It can be pretty hard to find no-deposit bonus betting sites, but they are out there. Such deals will simply give you free credit that you can use to bet with rather than your own cash. While these promos sound great, they are often accompanied by some pretty tricky wagering conditions.
📊 Odds Boosts
These deals will simply give you enhanced odds for specific betting lines. For example, you might get an odds boost that’ll take the odds for the Chiefs to beat the Jets from -300 to -200. This therefore, gives you extra returns for making the same bet with no strings attached.
📈 Profit Boosts
Here, you will simply get better returns for making particular kinds of bets. Such offers are usually restricted for use with parlay or same-game parlays, where you have to include more selections to get more of a profit boost.
🤝 Referral Deals
This is where you will usually have to get a friend to sign up to the online sportsbook using your unique referral code, and if they do that and go on to make a qualifying deposit or bet, you will be rewarded with site credit.
🏆 Loyalty Programs
These are long-running programs that typically feature multiple loyalty tiers that you work through by picking up reward points that are granted by you, making more bets. The higher up the loyalty levels you rise, the better the potential benefits will be. Such perks usually include things like bespoke promos, enhanced customer support and even invites to VIP events.
Don't miss our selected sportsbooks
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Key ingredients of the best sports promo codes
While these sportsbook promos come in all shapes and sizes, I’ve found that they will also share the following critical characteristics:
- Good value for money: You should be able to get the deal by making a modest deposit and get a fair amount of credit to bet with.
- Clear terms and conditions: It should be made clear how you can get the bonus and how you can use it.
- Broad usage: You should be able to use most promos on a wide range of sporting events with easy-going odds.
- Legality: The sportsbook issuing the bonus should be fully licensed and regulated in your state of residence.
Step by step guide using sportsbooks with sign up bonus codes
Most sportsbook welcome offers can be claimed in roughly the same way. This means that you’ll usually just have to take the following steps to get your promo credit:
- Tap on any of the links for the online sportsbooks featured in the banners of this guide
- Load up the sportsbook site and then download the brand’s app to your smartphone or tablet
- Create your first-ever customer account by filling in the form with the required personal info
- Enter in the promo code in the relevant box
- Submit your account application
- Log into your account and verify your identity
- Make a qualifying deposit with one of the accepted payments
- Take any other steps, such as making a qualifying bet to get your welcome bonus
Important terms to look for with sportsbook promos
Before you rush to claim any of the promos listed on this page, you should remember that they’ll all be bound by certain terms and conditions. This is why it’s smart to read through the small print of any special offer to check for the following things:
- Wagering conditions: This refers to how many times you’re expected to wager your bonus before you can withdraw what you’ve won. Such wagering conditions can vary anytime between just once and up to 60 times.
- Time limits: It’s common to be given anywhere between 24 hours and seven days to use your sportsbook offer. Remember that this time period covers using the bonus credit AND clearing the wagering conditions.
- Odds requirements: You’ll probably have to make your qualifying bets and use your bonus bets on riskier than average betting odds.
- Accepted bet types: You might have to make parlay bets rather than single bets to qualify for the promo, or even bet on specific sports or sporting events.
- Minimum deposits: Chances are that you’ll have to deposit at least $5 or even $10 to activate these betting promos. Definitely something to consider if you’re prioritizing using low deposit betting sites.
- Qualifying payment methods: Most sportsbook promos can be claimed by making a deposit with a card or bank transfer, while the same might not always be true for using ewallets.
- Limits: There might be limits in terms of how much promo credit you can bet with at a time or even how much you can win.
- Eligibility: Some sportsbook promos may be available in some states and not others, plus welcome offers will only be available for brand-new customers.
Awesome tips for using sportsbook promo codes
I thought I’d leave you with a few handy tips to consider the next time you pick up a sportsbook offer. Here’s what to keep in mind:
💰 Set a Budget
Sure, you’re betting with promo credit, but best think of it like it was your own cash. This will help you make considered choices, bet modestly and make your bonus last longer too.
🎯 Focus Your Attention
I’ve found it’s best to restrict the use of my promo credit to just a few sporting events. This helps me focus my attention on researching the relevant stats to get a better chance of getting something back from my bonus.
⏰ Set an Alarm
Finally, I always set an alarm on my phone calendar to remind me when that bonus expires. After all, there’s nothing worse than a bonus expiring before you’ve had a chance to use it.
Conclusion - Have fun using these sports betting promotions
I’ve shown you that most online betting sites are more than happy to give you a range of promos, both as a new or existing customer. This is great news as it means that you could get deals that do everything from give you extra credit to bet with, to refunding those losses.
I’ll also make sure that this guide is regularly updated so that you will be the first to know about any changes to any of the deals listed above, or even if a brand new sportsbook promo comes on the scene. But for now, simply tap on any of the links for the sports betting offers listed in the banners of this page and put your bonus credit to good use.
Discover the sportsbook bonuses we recommend
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Best sportsbook promotions FAQ
Do you always need betting promo codes?
No, not at all. In fact, the majority of sportsbook bonuses can be claimed without having to use a promo code. Perfect for getting straight into the betting action.
How old do you have to be to get these betting promo codes?
It depends on which state you are betting from, but you will usually have to be at least 21 years old. Expect to have to verify this with some government-issued photo ID, such as your passport or driver’s license.
Can I get the best sportsbook bonus code in my state?
It’s likely, although you should note that different sportsbooks are available in different states. At the time of writing this guide, online sports betting was legal in 30 states across the nation.
Are there any free betting offers?
Yes, although they aren’t always too easy to find. We’ll let you know whenever one of these deals emerges by foregrounding it in one of the banners of this page.
Can I get the best sportsbook promotions on my mobile?
Yes, and this is because all of the best online sportsbooks will have their own mobile apps. These can be downloaded for free to your iOS or Android device and you should be able to claim all of the promos from the small screen.