Sports betting has definitely changed in the last few years. The US Supreme Court effectively handed over legal responsibility to individual states when it overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018 and things have never been the same.
Millions of Americans now have the opportunity to bet on sports legally. But many have no experience, so don’t know what to look for in an online sportsbook. All the best sites offer a welcome promotion – but how do you know where to find the best sportsbook bonuses online? Read our quick guide to the offers so you know what to look out for.
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Free Bets
These sound like they must be the best kind of welcome bonuses to get. But the word ‘free’ can sometimes be doing a lot of heavy work. All sportsbook bonuses come with their own terms and conditions, so you should check to see what you have to do to get your free bet.
For example, you may need to deposit a certain amount into your new customer account to claim a free bet. Or you may have to place a bet with a minimum amount and minimum odds. The other thing to know about these free bets is that any returns will not include the original stake amount like bets usually do.
Deposit Match
This is probably the most common kind of online sportsbook welcome bonus. Once you have registered for a new customer account you will be required to make your first deposit. You would have to do this anyway to bet, so it is not that much of an ordeal.
A percentage will then match your deposit amount by the sportsbook. It is usually by 100%, but it all depends on the individual offer. You may find that the welcome offer consists of a series of deposits and matches as well. There will always be an upper limit and probably a time limit to use the bonus amount too.
Combination Bonus
Many online sportsbooks also incorporate a casino gaming section these days. That’s great for customers who like to play the slots or one of the many table games when they fancy a break from betting on sports. But it also gives the sites a chance to appeal to more people.
Some sites will offer a free bet or deposit match as well as free spins on selected slots titles. All of these will come with their own wagering requirements, of course. A closely related offer that you will sometimes see is a welcome bonus for sports and a separate one for the casino – leaving you to choose between the two.
No Deposit Bonus
These kinds of bonuses are far rarer, as they seem to be giving something away for nothing. If there is one thing you learn about online sportsbooks, it is that they never give away something for nothing! But these offers are attractive, as they could get you going without you even having to fund your new account.
All you have to do is opt-in, or activate, your account and you will receive a bonus. Whatever the reward for doing this is, it will commonly apply only to selected games or betting markets. If it is for a casino, it will usually be for a new game, as a way of an introduction to the new title.
Don’t Forget Ongoing Promotions
All of these welcome offers can be a very good way of starting off with an online sportsbook. You will get used to meeting requirements to claim bonuses and quickly figure out if a bonus is good for you or not. But it is probably even more important to look beyond the new customer promotion.
Always check the promotions for existing customer account holders when you are comparing sportsbooks. You can tell by the size of the bonuses whether a sportsbook really values its customers or not. That should be the biggest factor when you are choosing a sportsbook to register with.
