There are thousands of dollars in sportsbook promos available to players who sign up with a new betting app and open an account.
Bonuses play a major role in the sports betting experience, which is why it pays to focus on offers that actually fit how you like to wager. Not every promotion delivers the same value. Our experts have reviewed and compared dozens of sportsbook deals to narrow the list to the options that are truly worth considering right now.
In this guide, we walk through everything you need to know about sportsbook bonuses. You will learn how the top sign-up offers work, what ongoing promotions returning bettors can expect, and which terms and conditions really matter. We also share our top bonus picks and explain how to claim your first promotion with confidence.
Betting bonus offers are designed to give you extra value when you sign up, make a deposit, or place your first few wagers at an online sportsbook. On this page, we explain exactly how each type of sportsbook promotion works, what the small print really means, and how to turn bonus bets into withdrawable cash. Whether you are chasing a first bet offer, a Bet and Get promotion, or a deposit match, we highlight the key terms you need to watch, like wagering requirements and minimum odds. You can also compare risk-free options at our dedicated no-deposit bonus betting guide and find low-commitment offers at minimum deposit betting sites before you lock in your next promo.
Getting started: How does a sports betting bonus work?
If you have spent any amount of time in and around the sports betting scene, then you’ll be well aware that bonuses are present. Naturally, these offers will pique the interest of new and existing members, but it is important to understand their purpose.
The best bonus bets will enable you to get familiar with the online sportsbook as a whole. Of course, you will have specific terms attached, but the idea is to provide you with a set amount of bonus bets to use on sports, leagues, and markets at every turn. That’s right – you won’t just receive bonuses as a new member; you’ll also be able to claim them throughout.
In an ideal scenario, you would use your bets, win, and walk away with your winnings. However, almost all sportsbook promotions will come with terms attached. At a no-deposit bonus betting site, you will find that you won’t need to fund the initial experience to claim your offer, but you will need to play through the bonus a set number of times. For any other promotion, you can expect a deposit will be required and wagering requirements of some sort.
Once these terms have been met, only then will you find that bonus winnings become part of your cash balance. Obviously, we search through the terms meticulously while building our reviews to ensure that you have all the facts ready to go.
Pros and cons of sportsbook bonuses
- Great way to get familiar with sports betting
- Available throughout your time online
- Can withdraw winnings that have met requirements
- No guarantee of playing through the terms
New recruits: Can a sports betting welcome bonus boost your first time online?
As established, a sports betting bonus isn’t a guaranteed way to add to your cash balance. It is, however, a great way to get familiar with a new site. Just about all online sportsbooks will welcome you aboard with a new bonus. Generally, they will fall into one of the following headers.
- First bet offer: The first bet offer is a staple of most online sportsbooks, providing you with the chance to add a little insurance to your first time online. The idea is that you’ll receive your initial bet back as a bonus bet. However, your first bet must not win. If it does, you’ll simply leave with your winnings.
- Bet and Get: The Bet and Get welcome bonus requires you to place an initial bet once again. This time, however, you can simply place a bet, wait for it to result, and leave with additional bonus bets added to your account.
- Deposit match: The deposit match is another popular sportsbook bonus that is utilized by many top names. With this one, you will be expected to make a qualifying deposit in order to receive a matched bonus. This match will be based on a set percentage and is often utilized at low deposit betting sites, as it allows new recruits to boost their betting power.
- No-deposit bonus: This welcome bonus is great for those of you who are just looking to get a feel for the site. You won’t need to fund your experience at all; however, the bonus itself will be much smaller and will come with various terms attached.
The betting sites you'll want to know
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
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Bet $50, Get $300 in FanCash
Loyal bettors: What type of sportsbook bonuses keep you coming back for more?
Of course, any credible online sportsbook will ensure that it caters to returning players, too. Now, based on our recent reviews, we would be quick to suggest that you can find the same offers noted above throughout your time online. However, you will also come across a few additional promotions that are well worth checking out.
🎉 Odds Boosts
The odds boost is one of the most common promotions that you will come across, allowing your single bets, accumulators, or parlays to be boosted. The latter will be based on a set percentage for each selection, while your singles will be set prior to a match/fixture starting.
⚽ Early Payouts
Early payouts tend to be focused on soccer, hockey, and basketball, but could be available on any sport. The idea is that your moneyline will be considered a winner as soon as your team has gone a set number of points or goals up. This position still stands, regardless of the end result.
🔒 Parlay Insurance
The parlay insurance is an interesting bonus that works in a similar way to the first bet bonus. In essence, you’ll have a set number of picks that can let you down and still walk away with a percentage of your winnings. Alternatively, you may find that the original bet is returned.
💰 Reload Bonus
A reload bonus isn’t too dissimilar to the deposit match; however, the reload bonus works by providing you with bonus bets at a later time. For instance, if you had a 20% reload bonus and made a $100 deposit, you would need to bet the $100 within the week before you could claim $20 back.
👥 Refer-a-Friend
The refer-a-friend bonus is a common addition to top online sportsbooks, presenting you with the chance to invite your friends and claim rewards based on their activity. For instance, after your friend bets $50, you may find $20 in bonus bets in your account.
📅 Event-Specific Promos
We have lots of fantastic sporting events during the calendar year, and the best sports betting sites will accommodate this. Leading up the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, and even UFC fight cards, you’ll find streams of boosted odds and alternative promos geared towards them.
🏆 Sport Predictors
The sport predictors offer you the chance to guess the outcomes of a set number of fixtures and walk away with prizes. They tend to be free to enter, but will require you to land on the leaderboard to claim a portion of the prize pool.
🎖️ Loyalty Programs
Previously, loyalty programs have always been focused on online casino activity. However, nowadays, you will find top sportsbooks that allow you to contribute to your VIP level through your sports bets. As you level up, you’ll unlock additional perks and promos.
Terms and conditions: How difficult is it to play through your sportsbook bonus?
Earlier, we mentioned the need to meet relevant terms and conditions in order to turn your bonus balance into a cash balance. Below, we’ve created a table that covers all.
| Promo Code | A promo code is an alphanumeric code that allows you to claim a specific bonus. As you will find DFS, sports, and casino hybrids, this allows you (and your chosen site) to release the correct bonus for you. |
| Qualifying deposits | Unless you have opted to make the most out of a no-deposit promo, you’ll need to meet a minimum qualifying deposit to release your bonus. This is usually set between $5 and $50. |
| Minimum bet requirements | Although not always put in place, a minimum bet requirement can often be found. Again, this will vary from bonus to bonus, but will usually hover around ‘evens’ and above. |
| Eligible sports | For new users claiming a welcome bonus, the list of eligible sports will be fairly extensive. However, when looking at ongoing promotions, you may find certain restrictions in place. |
| Wagering requirements | This refers to the number of times you will need to play through the bonus (or combined deposit and bonus) before winnings will be considered part of your withdrawable cash balance. |
| Expiration dates | This links in well with the wagering requirements, and refers to the amount of time you will have to meet the demands of the bonus. Naturally, you will want to look out for those with more time to spare. |
| Capped winnings | You won’t always find that your bonus wins are capped, but it is possible that you will have limits put in place. This will vary from bonus to bonus. |
League leaders: Sportsbooks with the best betting bonuses in January
That should have explained all you’ll need to know in order to get started. So, we think now is a good time to share some of the best sportsbook promotions from this month’s top sports betting sites.
ESPN Bet: Offering a simple but effective way to kick off your sports betting experience
- Wide betting coverage
- Competitive moneyline odds
- Intuitive bet slip
- The promotions could be more competitive
- Not available in 20 U.S. states
ESPN Bet is first up, offering an impressive Bet and Get promotion to all new members. Once you’ve signed up and registered your account, you can soon deposit and bet $10 before claiming $100 in bonus bets. Then, you can look to filter through a user-friendly sportsbook, full of competitive odds across all your favorite sports. Along the way, you’ll also find that odds boosts and specials come as standard. Additionally, we discovered that the ‘promotions’ tab features rotating offers, including early payouts, a refer-a-friend offer, and a VIP program known as the Mint Club.
Fanatics: Choose between two impressive sports betting deals
- NFL live game streaming
- Quick deposit and withdrawals
- Personalized promotions tab
- Strong brand credibility
- Mobile-only, no desktop version
It would be fair to suggest that Fanatics knows a thing or two about betting bonuses. As a new user, you’ll actually have the choice between two top promotions based on your location, including a $1,000 first bet bonus and a Bet and Get style offer. To claim, you will of course need to download the app, be completely new to the site, and be able to pass verification checks. However, from here, we found that the terms and conditions were fair throughout. As a returning player, you will also find that bonus bets, boosted odds, and Fan Cash can be claimed. The latter can then be exchanged for further promotions, merchandise, and additional perks that you won’t otherwise see elsewhere.
FanDuel: Get things started with FanDuel backed by $300 in bonus bets
- Variety of betting markets
- DFS contests
- Downloadable mobile app
- Not available in all states
Next, we have to talk about the bonus offers from FanDuel. To get things started, you’ll find that you can soon take advantage of a Bet and Get promotion, allowing you to bet just $5 and receive $300 in bonus bets. When returning, sports fans will have plenty to filter through, including first bet offers on college ball, profit boosts on tennis, and you can even look to win a trip to the World Series. Along the way, you can also look to refer your friends to claim $50 in bonus bets, and you should keep an eye on your own bonus section, as personalized promotions are often added to suit your own preferences.
DraftKings: Release your welcome bonus and claim DK dollars throughout
- Sports welcome offer
- Diverse range of betting markets
- Separate sportsbook and DFS page
- No phone customer support
- No live chat
When looking at betting sites with top bonuses, you won’t need to look much further than DraftKings. As a new user, you can get your experience started from just $5, unlocking $300 in bonus bets if your first wager is successful. First bet offers run throughout the college season, odds boosts are available on Thursday’s games, and there is, of course, the Dynasty Rewards program. Like many other rewards programs, you’ll find that continued play boosts your potential promos and experience, including the option of exchanging Crowns and DK Dollars for bonus bets, hotel stays, and more.
BetMGM: Redeem your rewards points for hotel stays and holidays
- Mobile app available for Android and Apple devices
- Available in 21 states
- Comprehensive sports coverage
- Not available to all US bettors
Bonuses are available throughout your time online with BetMGM, allowing you the chance to claim boosts, specials, and additional bonus bets at every turn. To begin, you will find that you can sign yourself up, verify your account, and soon benefit from a Bet and Get promotion. To release, you’ll need to initially stake $5 on qualifying markets before finding $150 in bonus bets in your account. As already touched upon, you’ll then find odds boosts and specials along the way; however, it is the MGM Rewards program that is the real standout. Here, you’ll find that your bets contribute towards your loyalty points and overall level. Over time, you’ll find that you can exchange points for prizes, including additional bonus bets, hotel stays, exclusive events, and holidays.
Verdict: Keep an eye on our reviews to discover the best ways to kick-start your time online
As you can see, there are plenty of top sportsbook bonuses out there. The trick is to find one that ticks the right boxes for you. A first bet offer, Bet and Get, deposit match, and no-deposit bonus are likely candidates for new recruits; however, you really will find all manner of offers available as a returning, loyal member.
Before making your selection, remember to review the wagering requirements, eligible markets, capped winnings, and whether we have an exclusive promo code for you. We’ve made finding out all of this information as straightforward as possible by creating dedicated sportsbook bonus reviews. We provided a brief breakdown of some top sites earlier, but you can find out more by exploring the banners on this page.
Don't miss out on these premier betting bonuses
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
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Bet $50, Get $300 in FanCash
Sportsbook Bonuses FAQ
How do you play through a sportsbook bonus?
Almost all sportsbook promotions will come with playthrough requirements. This refers to the number of times your bonus bets must be played through before they are considered part of your cash balance. You do this by placing additional bets until the terms have been met.
Where can you find the best sportsbook bonuses?
You can find top sportsbook offers at just about every turn. However, based on our recent reviews, we would be quick to recommend checking out ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
️ Will you be able to make use of more than one sportsbook bonus?
Usually, you are unable to benefit from more than one sportsbook bonus at a time. That said, you will find sportsbooks that allow your free bets to contribute towards your VIP points. In turn, you’re benefiting from two offers. However, for the most part, additional bonuses will void your progress.
Do all online sportsbooks provide you with bonus offers?
Almost. Just about each and every online sportsbook will provide you with bonus offers. They act as a great way to introduce you to the site, new markets, and new sports. Plus, with so many sportsbooks offering top offers, it becomes a simple way for sports betting sites to give something back to you.
Can you really win money using bonus bets at an online sportsbook?
Yes. You can win money by using sportsbook bonuses; however, it is important to understand that you cannot do so until you have met specific terms. This includes playing through your bonus a set number of times.
