Nothing beats signing up with a new sportsbook promo code, especially when it gives new players an early advantage through valuable welcome offers.
Searching for the best sportsbook promos available online? You are in the right place. We will help you navigate the options and point you toward the most worthwhile bonuses across top-rated sportsbooks.
With so much hype surrounding betting offers, it can be difficult to figure out which promotions actually provide real value. Sportsbooks advertise aggressively, but without understanding the types of bonuses available and how they work, it is easy to overlook the best deals. That is where we come in.
- Lower risk
- Added bankroll
- Ongoing value
- Restrictive caveats
What makes the best sportsbook promotion?
To some extent, the answer to this question depends on the player. Different players will have different priorities from a sportsbook promo, but there are certainly bottom lines which should always be considered when looking for sportsbook bonuses to suit you. While there are other details to be taken into account, always be on the lookout for:
Low friction
You want simple qualifying steps here. The less the offer depends on you, the better. If the offer relies on a small first bet or simply signing up, these are things you would already be doing – so it's not asking much of you. Some promos may demand more, but if they're offering more as a result, the balance is acceptable.
Clear conversion path
Once you have secured the bonus and put it to use, the obstacles to redeeming any winnings should be as simple as possible. You may be asked to play through your winnings a certain number of times – if this is the case, ideally it would be 1x wagering; the lower the better as a rule.
Flexible usage
Some promotions will be specifically tied to a particular event, such as the World Cup or the Super Bowl. That's fine, but on a standard betting promotion, you would ideally want to be able to pick and choose what you bet on to give the best chance of success. Preferably, the minimum odds shouldn't be too prohibitive; anything higher than 200 seems excessive.
Fair expiry
Even the best sportsbook promotions come with a use-by date. Usually this will be a week (7 days) or a month (30 days) from the moment they are triggered. The longer the better, as it gives you a chance to think about how you will use the bonus.
Operator reliability
It's always worth checking on the reputation of a sportsbook when evaluating its bonus. As an absolute bare minimum the book must be licensed in your state, but go further: see what other users say about the transparency of its Ts and Cs and its customer support, too.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
How to use the best sportsbook promotion
It is essential to maximize what you can get from a sportsbook promotion. Really, truly good promotions don't grow on trees, and they do come with caveats, so it is all the more important to squeeze them until the last drop as far as possible.
📜 Read the Terms and Conditions Twice
Like St Nicholas and his naughty/nice list, you really do need to check that list of Ts and Cs. Ensure that you are meeting the requirements as set out by the sportsbook: qualifying bet size, minimum odds, and expiry windows can see you lose out if you're not focusing on what's been asked of you.
🚫 Avoid Disqualifiers
Sometimes a betting offer will give you only one chance, and if you do something that invalidates the offer, you won't get it back. So make sure that you are sticking to the requirements on things such as funding methods; if it says "credit or debit card deposits only", don't use an e-wallet.
🗓️ Keep Track of Everything
When you're using a betting promotion, make sure that you're on top of how and when it needs to be fulfilled. Log the date and time that you redeemed it and set a reminder for 24 hours before it expires, so as not to leave any promos out there unused.
💻 Use Online Resources
Here at Picks and Parlays we're always looking for as much information as we can get on the best sports betting promotions. We'll share it with you so you can always be confident in the bonuses you choose.
🎯 Target Sensible Odds
It's easy to get caught up thinking, "This is a free bet, I can use it on whatever", and that's a very good attitude to take if you don't want to have any free bets left. The idea is to turn it into actual money, so use your free bets on reasonable opportunities; it's not bad to back a +700 shot if it has a real chance of coming off – but lumping it on a +8000 – because it would be amazing if it did come off - is just a waste of one of the best sportsbook promotions.
Quick Recap: How to Spot & Use the Best Sportsbook Promotions
| Promo Type | What You Do | What You Get | Best For |
| Bet/Get (Welcome) | Sign up, place a qualifying bet | A fixed stack of bonus bets | All users |
| First-Bet Insurance | Place your first cash bet. | If it loses, refund issued as bonus bets | New users |
| Matched Deposit | Make a qualifying deposit | % match of your deposit in bonus funds/bets | New users |
| Odds / Profit Boosts | Opt in and apply the boost | Enhanced odds or % profit increase on wins | Experienced bettors |
| Loyalty / Refer-a-Friend | Wager to get points; invite friends | Redeemable points/credits; bonus bets | Existing users |
The bookmakers we recommend
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $200 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Bet $50, Get $300 in FanCash
Different types of sportsbook promotions
It's useful to know the kinds of sportsbook promos you can end up benefiting from; once you have an understanding of the typical shape of the best sportsbook promotions, it becomes much easier to evaluate them. From no deposit bonus sites down to free bets, let's take a closer look at the different sportsbook promotions you will find.
1. Bet/get welcome offers
Very common as a signup promotion for top sportsbooks, a bet/get is one where you place a small qualifying bet and are presented with a fixed stack of bonus bets; this will usually be given to you regardless of whether the initial bet wins. To qualify you will usually need to place a wager of $10-20 at or above a certain odds floor after signing up to the sportsbook. The stake will pretty much never be returned as part of this bet – it's bonus money purely for the purpose of the offer.
2. Insurance bets
If your first bet loses, an insurance bet means that the stake will be refunded in bonus bets (again, the stake on these bets will not be returned) up to a cap set by the sportsbook. To qualify you simply need to make your bet, and the insurance will only be triggered on losing bets. Of course, if your bet wins, that's a result anyway.
3. Matched deposits
The concept is pretty simple here. You make a deposit, and the sportsbook matches it with free bets. This can be a percentage of the deposit or an exact match, and the percentage can be more or less than 100%. You might, for example, deposit $20 and receive $40 in bonus funds. You may need to include sportsbook promo codes for this kind of offer, but as long as you read the terms and conditions, you should be fine. Bonus bets may require rollover before any winnings can be withdrawn
4. Odds/Parlay boosts
As the name suggests, this kind of promotion boosts the odds on a specific market or contender so that if the bet wins, it returns more value. A selected bet which may have been available at +200 may be boosted to +300, for example. On a parlay, some offers will give a percentage boost based on how many "legs" are in the parlay. For example, winnings may be boosted 10% if a five-leg parlay wins, then 20% on a seven-leg bet, and so on.
Check out these top sports betting sites with impressive promotions
Now that we've given you the info you need on the best sportsbook promotions, let us now give you some options on where to start betting and which sportsbook bonuses you can claim within these brands.
BetMGM - A blockbuster first bet offer
- Mobile app available for Android and Apple devices
- Available in 21 states
- Comprehensive sports coverage
- Not available to all US bettors
Depending on the state you live in, BetMGM offers you either a First Bet offer of up to $1500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses, or the chance to bet $10 and get $150 free bets if it wins. This offer helps BetMGM stand out as one of the premier sportsbook providers in the states where it operates, which is most of the states that have legal online betting. Along with perhaps the broadest selection of betting markets available and stellar reload offers, this is a persuasive offer.
Caesars - An emperor-level experience
- First bet safety net offer
- Dedicated mobile app
- User-friendly platform
- Live chat and phone support
- Not available in all states
The brand that was set up to make its customers feel like VIPs should have a lot to recommend it. Along with markets on just about every sport you can think of (and excellent customer support) Caesars' signup promotion certainly delivers on that front. Sign up, make your initial qualifying bet, and the sportsbook will furnish you with twenty 100% profit boosts on your next twenty bets (a maximum of $25 stake is boosted). Used wisely, that can really pay off.
DraftKings - One for the real fans
- Sports welcome offer
- Diverse range of betting markets
- Separate sportsbook and DFS page
- No phone customer support
- No live chat
DraftKings already has an exceptional reputation due to its data-driven prop bets and early odds, but the offer is what will attract most players to their door: for an initial $5 bet, you will be granted $300 in bonus bets (in the form of 12 $25 stakes). Not only that, they will also give you a promo code worth $200 against the NFL Sunday Ticket running on YouTube so you can watch the games for less. A market-leading app is a further sweetener.
FanDuel - Bet, win, bet for free
- Variety of betting markets
- DFS contests
- Downloadable mobile app
- Not available in all states
FanDuel has garnered a positive reputation for excellent odds and speedy payouts, and is one of the top apps for live betting, so you don't want the promotion to be a let-down. And fortunately, it is far from it: sign up and deposit, then place an initial bet of at least $5. If you win, you'll get a bonus sports betting kitty of $300, which can be used like a standard bankroll, a bit at a time. You'll be able to track your bonus balance at any time via the website or app.
Bet365 - Living up to an international reputation
- Flexible deposit and withdrawal methods
- Reliable early cash-out function
- Strict KYC adds extra account security
- Live streaming across global leagues
- Streaming is restricted for the U.S. major leagues.
This UK-born betting site has gone global with a reputation that precedes it; you'll find few bettors with anything but positive remarks about it. With a wider selection of odds than most books and weekly sports betting offers, it's attracting customers in the US, too – and the signup offer is simple and worthwhile. Bet $5, get $200 in free bets whether you win or lose. In some states, you can choose between this and their First Bet Safety Net, which allows you to bet up to $1000 and get it all back in free bets if you lose. Either way, it's a market leader.
Bet alongside bonuses from reputable sportsbook sites today
The best sportsbook promotions aren't always about the biggest numbers. As you can see above, there are some which require bigger leaps to fulfil them and place greater strain on your bankroll. They all have something to offer, though, and used well, sports betting promotions can take the pressure off your own contribution and add extra value when you need it.
Do your own research by all means – you can never know too much – but coming back here to Picks and Parlays and clicking on our banners will always help you make the smartest choices. If you're looking for more betting options, explore our comprehensive sportsbook reviews or check out online betting sites available in your area.
The best online sportsbook bonuses in 2025
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $200 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Bet $50, Get $300 in FanCash
FAQ
What is the difference between free bets and bonus bets?
There isn't one, really. The terms are used interchangeably and a free bet is simply a bet given by the sportsbook as a bonus for completing a specific action. Just be aware of any caveats that are included in the Ts and Cs even in the best free bet offers lately.
Do I need sportsbook promo codes?
It depends on the book, but usually you won't need any code to benefit from the best sportsbook promotions. If you do need codes on any low deposit betting sites, the code will be prominently displayed as part of the offer.
️ What's better: bet insurance or a bet/get?
If you're placing a smaller initial bet, then a bet/get is straightforward and delivers more for less. On the other hand, if you've got enough balance and want more bang for your buck, bet insurance will soften the landing if your bet doesn't come off.
