There are a lot of reasons why online sportsbooks have a nice edge over casinos; convenience of location (you can bet in your sweatpants from your La-Z-Boy!), time to peruse your options before deciding where to put your money down and a quieter atmosphere where you’re the only one in the queue on Sunday morning without the shouting or crowds. But perhaps the biggest draws for first-time online sports bettors are the handsome, and in some cases spectacular, bonuses deposited into accounts after initial sign-up. They’re generous and intended to both lure prospective bettors to that particular site, while also giving you, the customer, the means to make the most out of online sports betting.
However, with so many options, it can be difficult to find the best sportsbook bonus you can get and even where to start your search. You also want to be wary of bonuses that look too good to be true—in some cases, they are, and your experience can turn into a nightmare. So how do you find the best bonuses? And how can you maximize the benefit so every game turns into a payout? All it takes is a little know-how.
Do Your Homework
If school wasn’t your thing and you got by on as little homework as possible, take heart: this is the kind of at-home research and studying that literally pays off. Look for sports betting forums and online sports betting reviews to see what everyone is saying about the insane offers they’ve found. The more you learn, the better your odds are of finding the best bonus. Search for betting sites and advance the search settings to sort the results based on bonuses or click here to skip the search and start betting.
Types of Bonuses
The two most common bonuses are percentage bonuses and flat bonuses.
– Percentage bonuses match your initial deposit and range from 10-100%. For example: if you sign up for a sports betting site that offers a 50% sign-up bonus, and you play with $200 of your own money, your account will read $300—reflecting your $200 deposit plus $100 (or 50%). Of course, the best options are the sites offering a 100% match; however, keep in mind that most sites will place a ceiling (or limit) on your initial deposit amount. Some of the most competitive sites even offer “rollover” on bonuses up to five or six times.
– A flat bonus is a specific dollar amount offered upon sign-up, regardless of your initial deposit. If you’re new to sports betting, this is the better option, as you can keep your deposit low and use the bonus toward a bet. In order to stay competitive with all the other sites, flat bonuses are at least $100.
The bottom line is that sports bonuses are great for both the betting sites and you, as the competition for your business is high and you will always have options. If you find one that doesn’t look good…on to the next!
Last Thoughts
You can sign up for one sports betting site and faithfully keep to it, but consider taking advantage of as many different sign-up bonuses as possible. You’re not limited on the number of sites you sign up for, though you should be cautious and be careful that you don’t strain your finances.
Samantha Knight is a contributing writer and online sports bettor who also enjoys casino gambling in her spare time. She and her husband regularly host poker nights at their home for friends and family.
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