Betting Sign-Up Bonus

Sports betting sign-up bonuses is the most powerful marketing tool in the arsenal of the online sportsbooks. A large deposit bonus with fair terms can make all the difference, and is often the deciding factor in which operator the players pick. As a result, the market is very competitive, and the betting sites often update their offers to make sure that theirs is the best one out there.

Some sportsbooks offer continuous offers, like repeated deposit bonuses, in order to keep their customers loyal to their brand. But these offers are rarely as generous as that initial sign-up bonus. For that reason, experienced players often hop between different sportsbooks in order to claim and use sign-up bonuses repeatedly. Luckily, in most states, there are quite a few sportsbooks with sign-up bonuses available!

Availability may vary between states.

A sports betting sign-up bonus isn't really a specific type of bonus in the same sense as the other examples on this list. This type of offer is specifically targeted to new customers and is only available when signing up and make your very first deposit. Usually sign-up bonuses are bigger and more generous than the ones offered to existing customers. A sign-up bonus can basically mean any type of bonus mentioned in the following list.

A sportsbook deposit bonus reward players, often new customers, with additional bonus cash when they make a deposit. It's common for 100% of the amount deposited to be matched by the sportsbook, which is why they are also sometimes called matched deposit bonuses. 

Deposit bonuses usually have a higher ceiling than other types of betting bonuses, and players are free to bet them on whichever odds they want. For that reason, the turnover requirement is also significantly higher. The clear advantage is a much bigger freedom with regards to what to bet on, and how. Deposit bonuses usually come with a minimum odds.

Bonus bets used to be called "free bets" in the past, until this was deemed misleading, as you actually have to deposit funds to claim them, making them by definition not free. But regardless of the name change, bonus bets still work the same way as they used to.

Bonus bets simply means that the player places a bet where the sportsbook provides the stake. After claiming the offer, players usually need to place a qualifying bet. After the bet has won or lost, the wagered amount is matched by the sportsbook in the form of a bonus bet credited to the player. 

When the player has been credited their bonus bet, they simply select an odds they want to bet on and use the bonus bet instead of their own funds. If you lose, you lost the sportsbook's money instead of your own. If you win, you get to keep the profits, minus the bonus bets value.

When placing a qualifying bet to claim a bonus bet, there is usually a minimum and maximum amount required, as well as a minimum odds. The bonus bet itself usually also comes with a minimum odds.

No Sweat Bets, sometimes called Second Chance Bets, is another type of betting bonus that had to change its name. The whole concept of a No Sweat Bet is that the sportsbook pays back a lost stake, which is why they used to be referred to as "risk free bets" in the past. 

A No Sweat Bet works in a similar way as a bonus bet. Players claim the offer, place a bet, and activates the offer before locking in the slip. If it's a win, the player keeps the profit. If it was a loss, the sportsbook pays back the wagered amount in the form of a non-withdrawable No Sweat Bet, and the player can have another go at it. No sweat! 

The calendar year is full of massive sports events, and during these seasons, sportsbooks often offer exclusive betting promotions for new- and existing customers alike. Especially peak events such as the Super Bowl, March Madness, World Series, NBA finals and Stanley Cup finals offer great opportunities to find a promo. 

Betting promotions are often claimed by using special sportsbook promo codes given out by the betting site. While at the campaign page or when making a deposit, look for a text field where players enter their bonus code to claim the offer. Sometimes only new customers are eligible to use promotion codes.  

A Bet/Get promotion is about as clear-cut as it gets. Bet something to get something. Usually the amount you receive is significantly larger the the amount you have to bet, such as bet $5 to get $100, or bet $10 to get $200. The outcome of your bet is not a deciding factor in whether you get your bonus or not, simply bet and get. Bet Get bonuses are most commonly given out to new customers at a sportsbook.

An odds boost, also known as profit boost, takes an existing odds and boosts it to a much more profitable level. Boosts come in various shapes and forms. Many sportsbooks offer daily boosts and extra boosts on popular events. Some operators spice it up by offering massive boosts as an alternative to a welcome offer. Regardless of which type we're talking about, an odds boost is a great way to make a somewhat predictable game a lot more exciting, and the stakes even higher. 

Word of mouth is invaluable, and sportsbooks are very much aware of this. This is why many of them offer a referral bonus to players who refer a friend to their sportsbook. Refer-a-friend bonuses are a great way for players who have already claimed all available promotions to keep getting rewarded by their betting site. In most cases, both the referrer and the referee end up benefiting. Claiming a referral bonus usually means getting a referral link from your sportsbook and your friend using it to sign up and make a deposit. 

Social sportsbooks are a way to bet on sports for free. They also offer social features like betting pools and sharing tips, letting players enjoy the fun together with their friends. Social sportsbooks are very popular (and legal) in states where online betting is yet to be legalized. Just like a normal betting site, social sportsbooks usually hand out sign-up bonuses to new members. 

Sign-up and deposit bonuses for social sportsbooks work a bit differently than at real money sportsbooks. The bonuses are often coin-based, non-withdrawable, and have more easy-going terms and conditions. Whereas a normal sportsbook sign-up bonus encourages players to deposit money, a social sportsbook sign-up bonus often aims to encourage social interaction with friends or other players. 

Common social sportsbook sign-up bonuses

• Free coins/tokens when signing up
• Referral bonuses
• Deposit match bonuses
• Community bonuses
• No-deposit bonuses
• Cashback
• Loyalty rewards and programs

Just like there are sign-up bonuses for sportsbooks and social sportsbooks, there are equivalents for casinos and social casinos. The concept is identical - become a member and make a deposit in order to receive bonus funds to play with. Promotions for casinos also often include free spins for slot machines in addition to extra money. 

Many gambling websites offer both sports betting and online casino games. But keep in mind that players are usually only entitled to one sign-up bonus. This means that claiming the betting bonus might lock you out of the casino bonus. If you both bet and play casino games, choose wisely which sign-up bonus seems like the better deal. And remember, if you feel like playing casino games, but the sports bonus is too good to miss out on, you can always get the casino bonus at a different operator.