Best Sportsbook Promos & New-User Betting Bonuses for August 2026

• Bet & Get: Place the minimum required stake, and you'll receive a bonus (i.e., bonus bets, profit boosts, free trials, or merchandise). Some platforms require your bet to win to receive the bonus.
• First-Bet Insurance: This protects your initial wager by offering a refund if your first bet loses. If your first bet doesn’t win, you receive a bonus or site credit equal to your lost wager. 
• Deposit Matches: Deposit match promotions are rare welcome offers in which sportsbooks will match your first deposit in your new account up to a certain percentage.
• No-Deposit Bonus: Get a bonus without depositing any of your funds.

Now that we've covered what welcome bonuses are and how they can be structured, let's take a deep dive into our top-rated sportsbook promos. 

Editor's Score: ★★★★★★★★★★

theScore Bet's new welcome offer is ideal for mitigating initial risk, whether you're making a small or large first wager. This flexible option makes it an ideal choice for both casual bettors and high rollers alike.

How to Claim

1. Click on the link above to start setting up your new theScore Bet account.
2. When signing up, enter the promo code GAMBLING if prompted.
3. Deposit at least $10. 
4. Your bet can be on any market at any odds, but wagers placed with a profit boost are not eligible.
5. If you lose your bet, you'll receive 100% back in bonus bets, up to $1000, within 72 hours of the bet settling. These bonus bets will be distributed in five installments, each worth 20% of your original wager.

Why We Recommend It

• Bonus bets are credited in five installments, rather than one lump sum, giving you more chances to win
• Low entry point
• Specials, exclusives & pre-packaged parlays available daily
• Automatically enrolled in PENN Play Rewards

Our experts were especially impressed with the promotions for existing users, which we graded as the best in the country. theScore Bet offers an extensive list of daily promotions that rotate constantly, providing bettors with fresh opportunities each day.

The PENN Play program offers significant value, providing bettors with an even greater incentive to engage with theScore Bet.

Editor's Score: ★★★★★★★★½

Fanatics Sportsbook's Bet Match offer stands out for its sheer ceiling (up to $1,000 in FanCash spread across your first 10 days), but it comes with more moving parts than most welcome offers. You have to opt in every single day, your wager has to hit a minimum odds threshold, and missing a day's opt-in or wager means losing that day's reward entirely. 

How to Claim

1. Download the Fanatics Sportsbook app using the link above and register a new account.
2. Use the Fanatics Promo Code GDCSBK.
3. Verify your identity and agree to the terms of service.
4. Opt in by toggling the promotion in your bet slip to apply it to your bet.
5. Place a cash wager of $1 or more at odds of -200 or longer (e.g., -150, -110, +100, +200) on any eligible market.
6. If your wager loses, receive FanCash equal to your losing stake (max. $100 per day).
7. Continue for up to 10 consecutive days to maximize your rewards. 

Why We Recommend It

• One of the highest total welcome values available, up to $1,000 in FanCash.
• FanCash is issued regardless of whether the qualifying wager wins or loses.
• A 10-day window gives new users a full week and a half to build value.
• Flexible odds requirement (-200 or longer) covers a wide range of markets, including underdogs and even-money lines.
• You choose which wager each day gets the Bet Match applied to, giving you some control over strategy.

This is a strong offer for engaged bettors who plan to check in daily and want a big overall number to chase, but it demands more attention than a simpler one-and-done welcome bonus.

Fanatics Sportsbook has quickly earned top marks from our experts for one reason: its promotions set it apart from the competition. The standout is FanCash, a unique system that offers cashback based on the odds of your wager, regardless of whether your bet wins or loses. That’s a perk few other sportsbooks provide, and it makes every bet count.

Editor's Score: ★★★★★★★★

BetMGM's welcome offer takes two forms, depending on your state, each rewarding a different kind of bettor. 

In MI, NJ, PA, and WV, "Bet & Get If You Win" pays out only if your first bet lands, a smaller guaranteed number ($150), but with an easy path to hit it. 

Everywhere else, the "First Bet Offer" flips that logic: it's a safety net that pays you back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500, only if your first bet loses. 

You can only receive one of these two offers.

How to Claim

1. Sign up and register for a new account by clicking the button above (or tapping if on mobile).
2. Deposit at least $10 into your account.
3. Select your welcome offer. The offer available to you depends on your state, and you can claim only one.
4. Place your qualifying bet in accordance with your chosen offer's requirements. Make sure any required token is activated on your bet slip before confirming.
5. If eligible, receive your bonus bets within approximately 24 hours of your qualifying bet settling.

Why We Recommend It

• Two structures to fit different risk appetites: a guaranteed reward for a winning bet, or a safety net for a losing one, depending on your state.
• Extremely wide odds allowance (up to -10,000) means nearly any wager qualifies for either token.
• Straightforward one-bet mechanic for both versions; no daily or weekly wagering required to unlock the reward.
• The First Bet Offer's $1,500 ceiling is one of the largest single-bet insurance amounts available.
• Bonus Bets from either offer can be used as straight bets, parlays, or same-game parlays.
• MGM Rewards is one of the best in the business, especially for travel and live experiences

Neither offer requires much risk on your end beyond the initial wager, but which one is better for you really depends on how much you plan to bet on your first ticket and how confident you are in it.

Editor's Score: ★★★★★★★½

It’s worth signing up for the bet365 welcome offer. While the platform lacks a loyalty program or referral bonuses, the steady stream of boosts and risk-reducing promotions makes it one of the most reliable sportsbooks for ongoing betting value.

How to Claim

1. Register for a new bet365 Sportsbook account by clicking the link above. You must be a new customer and verify your identity. If you see a promo code field during signup, you may enter GAMBLING, but no code is required. This code is used for marketing and tracking purposes only.
2. Deposit at least $10, then claim the offer within 7 days.
3. Wager at least $10 total on eligible markets. (Your bet must contain at least one selection at odds of -500 or greater, and it must settle within 30 days of claiming the promo)
4. Get $150 in bonus bets, regardless of the outcome of your wager. Additionally, if you’re in PA or NJ, you'll receive 50 free spins via the Casino section of the app or site.

Why We Recommend It

• There is a low barrier to entry with simple qualifying requirements
• Bonus Bets are credited quickly, usually within one hour
• Flexibility to use rewards in both the sportsbook and the casino

You have little to lose by signing up with bet365. If you have a lower risk tolerance, you can wager as little as $10 and get bonus bets, win or lose.  

This is a fantastic welcome offer, as new players can wager very little and still have a substantial amount to play with simultaneously. 

Editor's Score: ★★★★★★★

BetRivers' Second Chance offer is a classic safety-net structure: there's no minimum odds requirement on your first wager, and if it loses, you get your stake back as a Bonus Bet up to $500. 

The main thing to watch is that the Bonus Bet itself comes with a narrower odds requirement than your original wager, so plan ahead for how you'll use it if you end up needing it.

How to Claim

1. Sign up for a new BetRivers account by clicking on the link above.
2. Make your first deposit of $10 or more using code GAMBLING.
3. Place your first bet of at least $10.
4. If your first bet loses, you'll receive a bonus bet in the amount of your initial stake up to $500. Depending on your location, you're eligible for $100 (Iowa & West Virginia), $250 (New Jersey), or $500 (Michigan & Pennsylvania) in second-chance bonus bets.
5. Use your Bonus Bet within 7 days of issuance, on any market with odds of -200 or longer (each leg of a parlay must meet that threshold, too).

Why We Recommend It

• No minimum odds requirement on your qualifying wager; bet on any market you'd like.
• Full stake-back protection up to $500 gives new users real downside coverage on their first bet.
• Simple to claim: just a promo code at signup, no extra opt-in steps beyond checking one box.
• Winnings from your Bonus Bet are withdrawable once the bet settles.
• Straightforward one-bet mechanic: no repeat wagering required to unlock the reward.
• Established iRush Rewards loyalty program & referral bonus

This welcome offer is a low-friction way to try the platform, since there's nothing extra to do beyond entering a promo code at signup and checking the second-chance box before placing your bet. 

While the welcome offer amount doesn't necessarily stand out compared to other operators, the sportsbook compensates for its strong selection of regular promotions and one of the industry's top loyalty programs, iRush Rewards, which offers great long-term value for bettors.

Editor's Score: ★★★★★★½

FanDuel's offer pays out daily rather than all at once, which is a nice change of pace from the standard lump-sum welcome bonus. New users get $50 in Bonus Bets just for placing their first $5 wager (win or lose), and can keep earning another $50 a day for the next six days simply by staying active. 

The 7-day window is consecutive, starting from your first qualifying wager; missing a day just means missing that day's $50, not resetting the whole offer.

How to Claim

1. Register a new FanDuel account.
2. Deposit at least $5 online. Cash-at-counter and PayNearMe deposits don't count.
3. Place a real-money wager of $5+ on any market to earn your first $50 in Bonus Bets, credited within 72 hours regardless of whether the bet wins or loses.
4. Place one more $5+ wager on each of the next 6 consecutive days (between 3 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. ET) to unlock an additional $50 in Bonus Bets per day, for up to $350 total.

Why We Recommend It

• $50 in Bonus Bets guaranteed on your first wager, win or lose.
• Up to $350 in total value for users who bet every day during their first week.
• Low $5 minimum wager keeps the daily requirement manageable.
• Winnings from Bonus Bet wagers are paid out as withdrawable cash.

This structure is best for bettors who plan to stick around and bet daily during their first week, giving new users a safety net across a full week of action rather than a single shot. 

It's a strong option for bettors who want to test the platform across several games or slates before committing to bigger stakes.

Bet Desert Diamond

Welcome offers and existing promotions can vary by state.  

You can claim our welcome offers in the following states: 

You will not be able to claim our welcome offers in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

However, you may be able to sign up for social sportsbook promos or free social casino coins, depending on your location.

We've tested and graded today's sportsbook promos based on potential profitability, required stake, creativity, and terms and conditions. Here are the best. 

Note: Offers can vary by state and account eligibility and are subject to terms and conditions.

You usually get automatically credited with rewards and/or points whenever you place a bet. Redeem these for benefits, such as dining credits or hotel stays. (Never wager only to earn rewards points.)

Here's a snapshot of the best sportsbook rewards programs:

Existing users can send a unique sign-up link or referral code and get bonuses when their friends follow the instructions to sign up. Typically, the new bettor will get bonus bets as well.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Refer-a-Friend programs across the top legal US sportsbooks, including bonus value, requirements, and key terms.

Note: Referral programs can vary and sometimes are restricted by state regulations.

Betting promotions are presented in one of two ways: either with a specific promo code or without one. With the former, you must enter your sportsbook promo code during sign-up or when prompted. With the latter, you must opt into the offer to claim it.

Either way, you'll need to go through each sportsbook's individual identity verification process when you sign up. You won't be able to claim your bonus or start betting until you've been adequately vetted. This is to protect you, your personal information, and your funds.

Watch the video below to see what the registration process looks like:

Always review the terms and conditions of each promotion. Understanding requirements such as minimum bets or eligible games ensures you fully benefit from the offer.

When evaluating sportsbook promos, consider the following factors to ensure you get the best value:

Committed to user well-being, Gambling.com always promotes responsible gambling practices with a sign-up bonus, offering tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion options.

Know Your Budget

Creating a budget boils down to knowing how much you can afford to risk. You should never place bets beyond your means. A betting budget is called a bankroll. Having a sensible bankroll includes these three core principles:

• Control risk (so one bad day doesn't wipe you out)
• Set consistent bet sizes
• Track performance over time

There are several ways of managing a bankroll. Different bettors prefer different strategies, but many use the Kelly criterion, a mathematical formula that helps determine the optimal bet size based on your bankroll, estimated edge, and the odds of your wager. 

Use the calculator below to see how the Kelly criterion would size your bets based on your inputs.

Set Limits

Although bonuses are easy to use and readily available, they don't replace sound betting practices. You still need to make sure you're betting within your means and gambling responsibly when using sportsbook promos.

This is particularly important for your first bet. First bet refunds or second-chance bets will often tout a significant total sum that's protected should you lose. You still need to ensure your first bet is within your limits.

Read Terms & Conditions

Bonus bets and similar offers often come with fine print. Don't forget about playthrough (or rollover) requirements. You must meet specific conditions to withdraw bonus funds with the rest of your profits. Most sportsbook promotions require you to wager a certain amount of money before you can withdraw bonus funds.

Tools & Resources

If you know that the requirement to continue betting could become a problem for you, there are responsible gambling tools and resources available at every sportsbook, as well as non-profit groups.

These include cooling-off periods, self-exclusion lists, depositing limits, wagering limits, and blocks on gambling transactions at your bank.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, you can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.