The NBA season is full of non-stop action with 30 teams from around the country, and even into Canada, facing off nightly in what can only be described as a sports bettor’s dream. Whether it’s marquee national-TV games featuring megastars on Christmas, a regular-season doubleheader with massive playoff implications or the incredibly dramatic NBA playoffs, there’s no shortage of action in the pro-basketball season.
If you are new to betting on the NBA, or are looking to try out a new sportsbook, you can instantly build your bankroll with some lucrative new player offers. These offers range from risk-free bets, deposit matches and many other promos and can help you start off betting with house money.
Looking for the best sportsbook bonuses for the upcoming season can be overwhelming, but we will help you through the process.
Benefits of NBA Betting Promos
No matter if you are an experienced bettor, or a new player interested in getting in on the action, starting off with a new online sportsbook comes with many benefits. Whether it’s a deposit match, risk-free bet or a bet-and-get offer, you are playing with their money, not yours.
You may be wondering why an online sportsbook would just be giving away free bets? They want you to try their service and see how exciting it is, thus creating millions of long-term customers. A small investment results in consistent playing.
New player bonuses give you the chance to play around on the sports betting site, and in turn, the sites hope you come back for all your future sports betting needs. These new player offers can seem a bit confusing, but don’t worry, we will walk you through how to claim these offers and the best way to collect some cash along the way.
Online Sportsbooks with NBA Signup Bonuses
Caesars Sportsbook
When Caesars first launched its online sportsbook in New Jersey in 2019, there was not much to be excited about: Limited markets, no in-game betting and a short list of betting sports. Yet, Caesars has since shown its commitment to becoming a top online sportsbook by acquiring international superstar William Hill in 2021. With that acquisition, Caesars has transformed into one of the top betting options for sports fans in the US market.
The William Hill-powered Caesars Sportsbook has a ton of betting markets, enough prop bets for even the most niche bettor and seemingly endless supply of betting promotions. Caesars has committed to becoming a sportsbook that caters to both the casual bettor, and the high stakes punter with their willingness to take bets of all sizes, not limiting customers as their competition has in the past.
BetMGM Sportsbook
MGM is one of the most recognizable names in the international gambling community, with high-end properties throughout the world. The online betting wing, BetMGM, brings that same level of elegance that you have come to expect from their parent company.
BetMGM Sportsbook has one of the most robust prop betting menus in the US market and offers odds boosts daily. In states that have online casinos you can always find promos that cross between the two verticals and an easy to use app that helps you find all your NBA bets in seconds.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel got its start in the DFS industry, but since the dawn of legal sports betting in the US, it has been one of the top online sportsbooks in the country. FanDuel Sportsbook is in every legal market in the US and is the go-to sportsbook for most bettors. FanDuel offers a full daily list of odds boosts, promos for nearly every betting market and plenty of safe and secure banking options.
FanDuel also offers some of the most competitive lines among the legal US sportsbooks and one of the most intuitive apps out there, plus has a partnership with TNT that enables boosts for marquee national-television games.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook has arguably the best new-player bonuses of any online sportsbook: a first deposit match of up to $250.
BetRivers offers myriad betting options for basketball and has one of the best rewards programs in the industry. The more you wager, the more points you get. These points can be traded in for odds boosts, site credit or spin a wheel to earn prizes. There’s also no shortage of prop bets and parlays boosts, plus BetRivers helps new and novice bettors with a helpful glossary.
BetRivers matches first deposits with bonus money. These funds function as site credit and can be withdrawn after fulfilling a 1x wagering requirement.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings has one of the best online sportsbooks around and is available in just about every state where online sports betting is legal. DraftKings offers great odds, dozens of games — in sports both in the U.S. and around the globe — and hundreds of markets for each game each night.
The DraftKings Online Sportsbook’s best new-user offer is typically a bet-and-get where new players who deposit a certain amount, then place a bet between $1-5, will receive $200 or more in free bet credits to use on any game or market they desire.
SI Sportsbook
The Sports Illustrated brand is synonymous with sports, and the people there are hoping that also converts to bettors. SI purchased New Jersey-based 888 Sport in 2021 and launched its own online sportsbook shortly thereafter.
SI is currently only available in Colorado and Virginia but is growing every day, and it has a few really solid new player offers like multiple bet-and-gets that could boost playable funds over $100 just by depositing $10.
Best NBA Betting Promos
Each online sportsbook has its own unique offer, but each typically breaks down into a few categories. Each offer comes with its own set of terms and conditions, usually minimum odds or minimum deposit amounts, but we did the hard work and combed through offers. Here’s a look at the best.
Site credit vs Free Bets
NBA betting promos usually end with a new user having either site credit or free bets added to his/her account. Before we jump into the top bonus offers, let’s clear up the difference between site credit and free bets.
When you get site credit added to your account, it plays the same as cash. With site credit, users can bet in any denomination and is converted to cash once you bet the site credit one time through. Site credit also pays out the bet plus profits, so if you were to bet $500 in site credit at +200, the potential payout would be $1500 ($500 bet + $1000 profit.)
Free bets, on the other hand, typically have to be used in one shot and only pay the profit from the wager. So, using the example above, a $500 free bet wager at +200 would only pay out $1000 for a winning bet. Some sites will let you break your free bet into smaller amounts, but for the most part, its a “one and done" situation.
Deposit Bonus
Online sportsbooks can offer new players a match on their first deposit up to a certain amount. The amount they match and wagering requirements will vary by sportsbook and may not always match 100% of the first deposit. Lets take a look at a few examples.
Sportsbook A may offer a 100% deposit match up to $500 with 1x wagering. Once the registration process is complete, you use one of the site’s many safe and secure deposit methods to load up $500 into your new account. Your bankroll will instantly double to $1000 ($500 cash and $500 in site credit) and once you bet the $500 in site credit in play, any remaining bonus funds will convert to your cash balance.
Sportsbook B may offer a 25% deposit match up to $1000 with 10x wagering requirements. In order to trigger the full $1000 in bonus funds, you would need to deposit $4000 which would start you off with $5000 to bet with. The 10x wagering requirements would mean you have to place $10,000 in bets in order to convert the bonus to cash.
Risk-Free Bet
Risk-free bets can come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic premise of the promotional offer is that you place a bet, and if it comes out as a loss, you get a refund up to a certain amount in the form of a free bet or site credit. Lets take a look at a few examples.
Sportsbook A may be offering a risk-free bet up to $1000 that pays out a refund in the form of site credit if your first bet loses. You make your first deposit of $2000 and bet $1500 on the Philadelphia 76ers over the Golden State Warriors at +200 odds. If the 76ers prevail, you will be paid out the usual $4500 ($1500 bet + $3000 profit) and nothing else happens, you are done with the promo.
If the Warriors win, your bet will be graded as a loss, but, no worries, you will get $1000 in site credit refunded to your account. You can then bet that site credit in any amount, like 100 $10 bets, 2 $250 bets and one $500 bet etc as long as the final tally is $1000. Once you are done betting through the $1000, anything left over is yours to keep.
If the same scenario as above plays out at sportsbook B, who is offering a risk-free bet up to $2000 that pays out in a free bet, the only change would be how a losing bet is refunded and the amount. If you put $2000 on the 76ers and they win, you would still be paid out $6000, just as any other cash bet. If that first bet loses, you will get a one-time free bet for $2000.
That free bet will need to be used on a single bet, and will only pay the profits from the bet. So, let’s say you put that $2000 free bet on the New York Knicks -15.5 at -110 odds, you would only be paid out $1,888, which is the profits from the bet, and does not include the $2000 stake.
First Bet Match
If you sign up for a new online sportsbook that is offering a first bet match, you will find yourself in a similar scenario to a risk-free bet, but with the refund coming win or lose. For instance, if you register a new account and that sportsbook is offering a first bet match up to $1000, you would make a deposit and place a bet on any qualifying market.
If that first bet is for the full amount of $1000, once the bet is settled, you will find a free bet or site credit in your account for $1000, no matter if your first bet won or lost. If that bet is matched in site credit, you will need to wager that $1000 through 1x in order to convert to cash. If you get a free bet, you can place that bet on any qualifying market, but only the profits from the bet will be paid out.
Bet & Get
When you are offered a Bet & Get promo, it boils down to making a specified wager or amount of wagers and you are rewarded with free bets, site credit or cash. For example, if FanDuel is offering a Bet $5, Get $250 if your team scores 10 points, you would simply need to bet $5 and if your team scores 10 points, you would get $250 in site credit. Some sportsbooks may pay out the promo in free bets, while others may just pay out in withdrawable cash.
NBA Betting No-Deposit Bonus
Although this has become one of the least popular new player offers in the US sports betting market, some sites will offer a no-deposit bonus where you are credited with a free bet or site credit, just for successfully registering a new account.
These no-deposit bonuses tend to be on the smaller side, usually around $10-$25 and can be cashed out once the free bet or site credit is played one time through. You are not going to be able to pay your rent with this offer, but hey, free money is free money.
How To Pick the Best NBA Sportsbook Promos
It’s important to pick the right sportsbook bonus to allow you to make the most out of it, so let’s take a look at the criteria to help you make this selection:
- Type of Bonus: Check to see which type of bonus is being offered. The preferred choice is the first-deposit bonus because you are given bet credits immediately upon your first deposit, which is useful.
- Time Constraints: Sportsbooks require you to use the bet credits within a certain timeframe, so make sure that you’re aware of the time limit.
- Odds Restrictions: Some bonuses can only be used on certain moneyline odds, preventing you from using them on heavy favorites. You might also be limited to certain bet types, such as straight bets.
- Wagering Requirements: Some bet credits might be non-withdrawable, while others might require you to place a certain amount of wagers to be able to deposit them.
NBA Sportsbook Promo Codes vs Bonus Codes
Promo codes and bonus codes are terms sportsbooks use interchangeably. Marketing departments at all sportsbooks employ this strategy, and while it can get confusing at times, just keep in mind that they are the exact same thing!
To put it simply, there is no difference between the two.
Do You Need A Promo Code?
Promo codes are some combination of letters and numbers that can be entered upon signing up at a sportsbook’s website or app upon first deposit or during your stint at a book. Some sites will require a promo code, and others will just require you to opt in once you register.
In order to guarantee the best offer, be sure to click through TheGameDay and use our promo codes as we have developed partnerships with all the top online sportsbooks to be able to offer you the most lucrative bonus offer, often better than the general advertised new player offer.
Promo codes grant additional value to your sports betting experience and represent an enticing way to bring both casual and seasoned sports bettors to the platform.
Best NBA Betting Promotions
Sportsbooks feature several useful promotions that users should take advantage of. These promotions provide users with significant odds boosts that would help build their bankroll.
The NBA playoffs are a marquee sports betting event with multiple games each night, especially in the early rounds. There are great opportunities to build bankrolls so users continue to have funds in their accounts through the playoffs and Finals.
Here are some of the best promos from the playoffs:
- Bet $5, Get $150 (DraftKings): DraftKings provided a terrific bet-and-get that enabled new users who deposited then bet at least $5 would receive $150 in site credit immediately in conjunction with the NBA playoffs.
- Same-Game Parlay Bet-and-Get (PointsBet): Bettors who placed a $20 three-or-more-leg same-game parlay receive a free bet of $20.
- No Sweat Same-Game Parlay (FanDuel): FanDuel offered bettors one risk-free Same-Game Parlay, with a minimum of three legs, per week throughout the NBA playoffs.
How To Use NBA Betting Bonuses
The best way to use the welcome bonus is to treat it as if it were your own funds. You don’t want to use these bet credits recklessly just because they were given to you for making a first deposit or losing a risk-free bet. Instead, research your wager just as you would if it were with your own money.
I would suggest mixing the bet types between straight bets with safer picks and longshot parlays to take a shot at a large payout. You can use your straight bets as insurance in case you lose your parlay. Keep trying to swing for the fence with these bet credits.
You should also make sure to choose your bet with these promotions carefully. It’s a good idea to take favorites with the odds boosts to increase your expected value.
It doesn’t make sense to take a heavy underdog at, say +1600 moneyline, when you’re getting a +3000 odds boost because you can take a favorite at -120 moneyline instead. This is a good way to get the most out of this promotion.
You can also take a team that hits a lot of three-pointers if it’s a promotion that rewards you some bet credits if your team hits a three. This is just another way to maximize your potential winnings with these promotions.
Always remember to be diligent with these bonuses and promotions as a way of putting yourself in the best position to succeed.
Do NBA Betting Promos Have Restrictions or Limitations?
Almost all college basketball betting bonuses have restrictions and limitations.
Time limitations and bet amount requirements are the common types of restrictions, or as we will discuss next, wagering requirements.
At some sportsbooks, bet types are heavily affected. Risk-free bet offers often do not work with parlays unless explicitly stated in the promotion that they do.
Being thoroughly aware of the restrictions and limitations for each promotion is very important as a sports bettor looking to get maximum value on your returns.
What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements have a significant impact on the value that each promotion carries. They are extremely common and they stand as a way for sportsbooks to not be in the business of handing out free money.
One common form of wagering requirement is the time limitation. Bet amount wagering requirements are also quite common.
Viewing the wagering requirements in the “fine print” of promotions is the best way to approach them.
Where Can I Bet on the NBA?
Let’s look at a list of states where sports wagering is already legal and a few more that are in the legalization process:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Look for More than One NBA Sportsbook Bonus
It is very important for all sports bettors with varying bankroll sizes to cash in on as many sportsbook bonuses as possible. With the NBA locking in agreements with many sportsbooks, and pro basketball’s popularity growing every day, it is important to take advantage of good promos while they last.
By getting NBA sportsbook promotions, you are not just extracting the maximum monetary value — you are also extracting the maximum amount of “edge” over sportsbooks. Plus, with odds varying from site to site, shopping for the best odds is integral to max out your return and build your bankroll.
