Sports betting bonuses help bettors with a cash boost as they improve their handicapping skills. Welcome bonuses and risk-free bets give bettors free money when they first join the site. Reload bonuses and special offers give gamblers rewards for loyalty or volume play. Contests and sweepstakes keep things interesting for those focused on one sport.
When you read our guide to online sportsbook bonuses below, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get the most our bookmakers’ promotions. Learn why the size of a sports betting bonus isn’t everything. Read about special terms and conditions that help you max out your bonus, or void the whole thing if you don’t follow the terms. Once finished, you’ll have the tools you need to find the best online sports betting bonuses in the US market.
Types of US Online Sports Betting Bonuses
- 1st Deposit Bonuses: Also known as welcome bonuses, these are awarded to players when they make their first deposit. They are usually a percentage of the deposit amount, such as a 100% match bonus up to a certain amount. For example, if the bonus is a 100% match bonus up to $100, then a player who deposits $100 will receive an additional $100 in bonus funds.
- Reload Bonuses: Awarded to ongoing players when they make subsequent deposits after their initial deposit. Similar to deposit bonuses, these are not as large but are redeemable multiple times. For example, a reload bonus might be a 50% match bonus up to $50.
- Contests and Sweepstakes: These are promotions where players can win prizes by participating in contests or sweepstakes. For example, a sports betting site might run a March Madness bracket contest where players can win cash prizes for correctly predicting the winners of NCAA basketball games. One sportsbook offers a raffle for those who refer friends to the site.
- Crypto Bonuses: These are bonuses for players who use cryptocurrency to make their deposits. If you use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency to fund your account, you receive special bonuses. These are larger because the sports betting site saves money on processing fees when players use cryptocurrency.
- Percentage of Loss Bonus: This type of free bet bonus is a bit different than the previous ones. Instead of offering free betting credits upfront, the sportsbook refunds a percentage of a customer’s losses over a certain period. For example, a sportsbook might offer a 25% refund on all net losses during a customer’s first week of betting. This type of bonus can help mitigate some of the risks associated with sports betting, but it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully to understand any restrictions or requirements.
- Special Casino Bonuses: Some US online sportsbooks offer a special casino bonus side-by-side with the standard sports betting welcome bonus. For instance, you might receive a 10% casino bonus, so a $2000 deposit unlocks a sports betting bonus but also a $200 casino bonus.
- Risk-Free Bet Bonuses: Promotions awarded to players in the form of free bets. Players can use these free bets to place wagers on sports events without risking any of their own money. Free bet bonuses can be awarded to new and existing players.
Best US Online Sports Betting Bonuses
| ONLINE BOOKMAKER | WELCOME BONUS | BEST FEATURE |
| BetUS Sports | 100% up to $2500 | Trusted: Launched 23 Years Ago |
| MyBookie.ag | 50% up to $1000 | $50,000 Max Payout Every Day |
| Bovada Sports | 50% up to $250 | Sportsbook, Racebook, Casino, Poker |
Online Free Bet Bonuses
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- No Deposit Bonus: This is a type of free bet bonus where the sportsbook offers a certain amount of betting credit to new customers without requiring them to make a deposit first. It’s a risk-free way for new bettors to try out the sportsbook and potentially win some money without having to risk their own funds.
- Risk-Free Bet: A risk-free bet allows bettors to make a one-time wager on a sporting event of the bettor’s choice. If the bet fails, then the wager does not count against the player’s account. If the bet succeeds, the winnings go into the bettor’s account. This cash usually has a wagering requirement, though it’s often much smaller than online casino rollover requirements. The requirement can be as low as 3x the winnings.
USA Online Sports Betting Bonus Guide
To accept an online sportsbook’s bonus, you’ll need to take several steps. Here is a guide to the typical steps bettors must take to acquire a sports betting bonus.
- Username and Password: Launch a sports betting account at the site. Create a username and password for your account.
- Go to Cashier: Next, go to the cashier page of your account. Find the list of bonuses, focusing on the welcome bonus if you’re new.
- Pick a Deposit Method: Find your favorite banking method. Choose a deposit amount. Input any sports betting welcome bonus code that’s required. Confirm the deposit.
- Check Bonus Funds: Next, make certain the sportsbooks funded your account with extra bonus cash. Credit card deposits might take 5 minutes. Bank wires might take 12 to 24 hours.
- Start Betting: Choose sports bets that apply to the wagering requirement. Read through the terms of use to make certain you’re making the correct bets. Online bookmakers often have similar terms.
- Real Money Betting: For football and basketball, bets that clear the requirement are full game, 1st half, and 2nd half bets only. For baseball, these are full-game or first 5 innings bets. For soccer and hockey, these often are full game/match bets.
- Note Special Requirements: Sportsbooks often have special requirements, such as stating the bets under -200 odds do not apply to the requirement.
- Cash Out: Once you’ve cleared the requirements — which are often 3x the bonus — make a withdrawal request and wait until the winnings appear in your bank account or online wallet.
US Online Sportsbook Bonus Code Tips
US online sportsbooks often require the use of bonus codes for bettors to secure bonus cash or risk-free bets. If so, keep in mind the tips below to assure you get the best deal.
- Minimum Requirements: Most online sportsbooks have a minimum bonus requirement. This is often $10 or $20 but can be up to $50.
- Max Bonuses: Sites also have a max bonus amount. These often range into hundreds or thousands of dollars but can be larger depending on the sportsbook.
- State Limitations: Some US states ban the use of online sports betting bonuses. Check to see if your state allows bonus offers. Sportsbooks usually tell the bettor, based on their IP address.
- Risk-Free Bets: Many US online sportsbooks have risk-free bet promotions, which refund your cash if you lose the first bet. Sites might call these different names, such as “No Sweat” bets.
Online Sports Betting Bonuses FAQ
What is the best online sports betting bonus?
The risk-free bet is a nice promotion. Often, these give players a free $25 sports bet. If you win, then you collect the winnings and move on to clearing the requirement. If you lose, you don’t have winnings, and the $25 free chip is removed from your account, but you don’t lose money. There’s a reason it’s a one-time betting proposition because it’s a win-win for you.
How do you maximize online sports betting bonuses?
Pay attention to the terms of use and decipher what it’s telling you. For instance, why do many online sportsbooks set a $10 bet maximum on certain bets used to clear a bonus’s wagering requirement? It’s because the more bets you make, the more you are bound to make a mistake. More bets expose you to the vigorish (or, in other terms, the house edge) more times, so they want you to make more bets to clear the requirement. Make enough bets and the odds will catch up to you.
If the experts want you to make more bets, then you should take the contrarian view and make as few bets as possible. Think of being an underdog in a sport. Do you want to face the overwhelming favorite in a one-game, winner-take-all format? Or do you want to face them in a best 4 of 7 series? The answer is obvious: underdogs want the shortest period of competition possible. So if a bonus’s max bet limit is $10, clear the wagering requirement of $10 at a time.
How old do I need to be to place online sports bets in the United States?
If you’re playing in a regulated online sports betting market, then you often need to be 21 years or older. If you’re playing in an unregulated online sportsbook, then you need to be 18 years or older. The 21-year-old stipulation is an extension of the age requirement to enter a land-based casino (and bet at their sportsbook). Because land-based casinos have liquor sales, the minimum age to enter the casino often is 21.