Ranking the Best Sportsbook Referral Bonuses December 2024

Best sportsbook referral bonuses

Refer-a-friend sportsbook bonuses are common at the nation's best sports betting sites. While the basic principle of the bonus always remains the same — send a referral link and get a reward once your friend joins and deposits — the bonus value, payout times, expiration dates, and the number of available referrals may differ between sportsbooks.

Below is our ranked list of the operators with the best sportsbook referral bonuses, along with their top features — click or tap each one to jump to an in-depth breakdown of its referral offer.

1. FanDuel — Best overall referral offer
2. Caesars — Great rewards program
3. DraftKings — Leading mobile experience
4. BetMGM — Loads of betting options
5. Hard Rock — Most lucrative referral offer

Editor’s note: The offer(s) outlined here are for eligible U.S. customers only.

What are sportsbook referral bonuses?

Sportsbook referral bonuses — or refer-a-friend incentives — are sports betting promos that reward you for inviting another person to a sportsbook you've already joined.

A sportsbook running a referral promotion will generate an invitation link you can send to your friend. Once your friend uses the link to create an account on the betting site and completes the referral bonus requirements — usually by depositing and placing a bet of a certain minimum amount — you will become eligible for the bonus.

Notably, a sportsbook referral bonus differs significantly from a welcome offer. For instance, you are not limited to acquiring this bonus once or only as a new customer. Many sportsbooks allow for 10 or more referrals per account, and the deal is available to both first-timers and existing account holders.

Another difference is that referral bonuses tend to be less lucrative than the best sportsbook promos for new players. Most of them max out between $50 and $100 per referral. That’s not bad, considering you can claim the reward more than once. However, remember that you don’t have complete control, as you’ll need to convince another person to create a sports betting account and place a real-money deposit.

How do I claim a sportsbook referral bonus?

The best sports betting apps and sites require similar steps to snag bonuses. That said, it's always best to check out all the terms and conditions before you attempt to secure a bonus. This is where you'll notice differences, such as whether a sportsbook requires you to opt in to recover your bonus.

While every sportsbook is different, below is a list of steps that you will generally be required to take to earn your referral bonus:

1. Pick a sportsbook with a referral bonus and click or tap our links to visit its website.
2. Create an account by providing the necessary personal information.
3. Find the invitation link in the sportsbook referral bonus section and send it to another person.
4. Make sure that your friend meets all the requirements so that you can receive the bonus. They usually just need to deposit and/or place a bet of a certain amount.
5. Enjoy your bonus by using it to wager with the sportsbook.

If your chosen betting site allows multiple referrals, repeat the same action, only with a different person. If you're out of options for referral bonuses, you can use other offers, such as the BetRivers bonus code, to acquire bonuses. 

1. FanDuel refer a friend 🔵

FanDuel offers what we consider the best sportsbook referral bonus — a $50 reward for yourself and any friend who uses your invitation link and places a sports bet of $5 or more.

How much is the FanDuel referral bonus worth?

The FanDuel refer-a-friend bonus earns users $50 in bonus bets that can be used at the sportsbook. 

Since FanDuel vs. DraftKings is always a debate, one major difference between the two sportsbooks' refer-a-friend bonuses is that FanDuel's comes in divisible bonus bets rather than a single bonus bet, meaning you can use your $50 bonus to make several different wagers.

The number of referrals you can make is limited to five, which resets every month, meaning you can technically refer up to 60 people a year.

How to claim the FanDuel referral bonus

1. Access FanDuel Sportsbook using our link.
2. Click "Join Now" and create your account.
3. Locate the referral link under the "Earn $$$" or "Refer" sections of the website.
4. Send the link to your friend, who must use it to create their own account, deposit, and place a bet of at least $5.
5. Once the bet settles, you'll both receive $50 in sportsbook bonus bets. The bonus will enter your account within 72 hours of your friend’s first bet settlement, and you'll have 14 days to use it.

Other FanDuel Sportsbook promos

Aside from being the best referral bonus sportsbook, FanDuel also offers one of the top sign-up promos in the country — a bet $5, win $150 in bonus bets offer. You don't need a FanDuel promo code to claim the offer.

Other incentives awaiting you at FanDuel Sportsbook include a great daily selection of odds, profit boosts, and other deals tied to specific events. For instance, the sportsbook offers a boost or bonus every day of summer.

To discover more about the sportsbook's platform, dive into our FanDuel review.

2. Caesars refer a friend 🏛️

Caesars, one of the most historic brands in the industry, unsurprisingly steps up with a competitive sportsbook referral bonus that your friends can also benefit from. You and your referral stand to earn 5,000 Reward Credits from Caesars' refer-a-friend offer, worth $50 in bonuses.

How much is the Caesars referral bonus worth?

The Caesars referral bonus is worth 5,000 Reward Credits after your referral creates an account, puts down $50 or more as their first deposit, and then wagers $50. The Reward Credits will land in your account within seven days after the bet settles. You can invite up to 10 friends, so the maximum amount you can get from this bonus is 50,000 Reward Credits, equal to $500 in bonuses.

In contrast to most other sportsbooks with referral bonus promotions, Caesars gives its users more time to spend their $50 bonus. Specifically, they’ll get 30 days compared to just a week or two with other sportsbooks. 

How to claim the Caesars referral bonus

1. Join Caesars Sportsbook to begin.
2. Click on "Get Started," select your state, and follow further instructions to create your account.
3. Navigate to the sportsbook’s refer-a-friend bonus page and find a referral link.
4. Send the link to an unregistered customer, who will then need to use it to create an account and place a deposit of at least $50.
5. Within seven days after the deposit and wagering requirements are fulfilled, you and your friend will receive 5,000 Reward Credits (equal to $50 in bonuses). You can repeat this process with up to 10 different people.

Other Caesars Sportsbook promos

Caesars is known for having one of the most generous welcome bonuses among U.S. sportsbooks. By joining with our exclusive Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBRBONUSDYW you can get 10 100% Profit Boosts for wagering at least $1.

Other periodic and event-specific promotions are available. Caesars is also known for boasting a large selection of daily odds boosts, although most are on long-shot markets and have stringent betting limits.

Rifle through our Caesars review to learn more, including why it's arguably the best online sportsbook for payouts.

3. DraftKings refer a friend 👑

The DraftKings refer-a-friend sportsbook bonus works differently than offers. Namely, the sum you get for referring another person isn’t fixed. Instead, it depends on the value of that person’s first deposit, with the maximum amount being $100.

How much is the DraftKings referral bonus worth?

After you send a referral link to another person and they join DraftKings Sportsbook, you will both get a bonus bet once they complete a first deposit of at least $25. Both parties will receive a 100% match in bonuses equal to the amount deposited by your friend. For example, a $75 first-time deposit by the new customer would net you a $75 bonus.

Once your friend completes their deposit, you can expect to receive a bonus bet within three days. You will then have the following seven days to use it. Don't forget: you are limited to five referrals per offer period.

The referral must be a new customer at DraftKings. If they already have an account at the DK Casino or for daily fantasy sports, neither of you will be eligible for the promotion. Also, per bonus terms, the offer is not available to users physically located in Massachusetts.

How to claim the DraftKings referral bonus

1. Click here to access DraftKings Sportsbook.
2. Create an account — but first, ensure you’re located in a state where DK Sportsbook is licensed to operate.
3. Go to the promotions tab and find the "Refer-A-Friend" offer.
4. Click "Refer Now" and send the generated invitation link to another person.
5. Once your referral joins DraftKings via the invitation link and deposits at least $25, you will each receive a bonus bet.

Other DraftKings Sportsbook promos

DraftKings continues to be one of the leading sports betting platforms in the U.S., partly due to its wide range of lucrative promotions. New users with DraftKings can claim one of the top welcome bonuses in the industry — a bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets deal — without a DraftKings promo code.

The sportsbook also organizes a variety of free-to-play pools, boasts an array of daily odds boosts for the NFL season, and has special limited-time promotions focused on specific sporting events. 

For more information, read our complete DraftKings review.

4. BetMGM refer a friend 🦁

BetMGM offers a $100 bonus for referring a friend to its sportsbook. However, the invitee must meet specific requirements first.

How much is the BetMGM referral bonus worth?

The BetMGM referral bonus grants $100 to you and each of your referred friends. To unlock this offer, your invited friend must claim the $100 reward through your referral link, wager the bonus amount at least once at odds of -200 or greater, and do so within 30 days.

The $100 you receive will also carry a 1x wagering requirement, with odds of -200 or higher qualifying.

Importantly, if your friend chooses to claim the $100 referral bonus, it will count as their welcome offer. That means they won't be eligible for BetMGM's standard $1,500 back in bonus bets promo.

You and your invitee must also be from the same eligible state. For instance, if you send them the referral link from the BetMGM Colorado app and they join through the BetMGM New Jersey app, neither of you will qualify for the promotion.

How to claim the BetMGM referral bonus

1. Navigate to and register with BetMGM Sportsbook.
2. Create an account by sharing necessary personal information.
3. Locate the referral bonus in the promotions tab and generate an invitation link.
4. Invite another person to BetMGM and ensure they meet the bonus wagering requirements. Also, ensure they know that claiming the offer will count as their sign-up promo.
5. Upon meeting the requirements, you will receive your $100 referral bonus. You can do this up to 20 times a month.

Other BetMGM Sportsbook promos

BetMGM features a fairly generous welcome offer of an up to $1,500 First Bet Offer. Make sure you use BetMGM bonus code SBRBONUS during registration. 

On top of that, the sportsbook continually organizes free-to-play prize pools for various competitions, from NCAA tournaments to golf to NASCAR. Similarly to Caesars, BetMGM runs a prestigious loyalty program called MGM Rewards, allowing regular customers to enjoy plenty of benefits online and at MGM’s land-based properties.

For more intel on the sportsbook — including why it ranks among our top live betting sites — check out our BetMGM review.

5. Hard Rock refer a friend 🏔️

Hard Rock Bet's sportsbook referral bonus is one of the most straightforward in the industry. Once a friend activates an account using your referral link, you'll both receive a bonus match equal to their first wager. The maximum amount you can receive from Hard Rock's refer-a-friend offer is a $50 bonus.

How much is the Hard Rock Bet referral bonus worth?

The Hard Rock Bet referral bonus is worth between $10 and $50. Once your friend activates their account and their opening bet of at least $10 settles, you'll score a bonus equal to the amount of their first wager. Bonuses expire seven days after receipt and users can refer up to 20 friends.

How to claim the Hard Rock Bet referral bonus

1. Begin by registering with Hard Rock Bet.
2. Following sign-up, go to "Account Summary" and then "Earn Rewards."
3. Share a generated referral link with your friend.
4. After your friend uses the link to sign up and bets between $10 and $50, both parties will receive a bonus bet once the wager settles.

Other Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook promos

A Hard Rock Bet promo code gets new users a $100 No Regret First Bet. Aside from this, the referral bonus, and the occasional odds boost, Hard Rock Bet doesn’t run many other promotions.

Dig into our detailed Hard Rock Bet review for more information.

6. Fanatics Sportsbook refer a friend

When you refer a friend to Fanatics Sportsbook, and they place and settle a $20 bet, both of you will receive $100 in FanCash

How much is the Fanatics Sportsbook referral bonus worth?

The Fanatics Sportsbook referral bonus is worth $100 no matter how much your friend deposits. Because this promo is strictly Bet $20 Get $100 FanCash, it will only trigger after your friend successfully places and settles bets totaling the required amount.

Referrers are limited to a maximum of five referrals worth $100 each ($500 total) in FanCash during the promotional period. All wagers must settle during the promotional period for the referral bonus to be applied. The promotional period begins on June 17, 2024 and ends on December 17, 2024.

How to claim the Fanatics Sportsbook referral bonus

1. Click here to register with Fanatics Sportsbook.
2. Share the unique Referral Link found on the Promo page of your Account to invite Referees
3. The Referee must place $20 in cumulative cash wagers on any eligible game, market, or event.
4. Wagers must settle during the promotional period.
5. The Referrer and Referee Rewards in the form of FanCash will be credited to respective Accounts within 72 hours after both parties complete the above steps.
6. Rewards are non-withdrawable and are not redeemable for cash or cash equivalent.
7. Rewards are not transferable and cannot be substituted, except in Fanatics Sportsbook’s sole discretion.
8. The refer a friend promo is not available in Massachusetts.

Other Fanatics Sportsbook promos

Fanatics is currently offering a $1,000 welcome offer to new users. To take full advantage, new users must make a single wager of $100 for 10 consecutive days. Any bet that loses will be credited with bonus bets equal to the amount lost. Check out our Fanatics Sportsbook promo code page for information on how to claim the offer.

Additionally, to celebrate the start of NFL season, Fanatics is giving away $5 million worth of official team jerseys. Fanatics is randomly awarding 20,000 customers $150 in FanCash to be used on a jersey of their choosing.

For additional expert insight and analysis, engage with our Fanatics Sportsbook review.

More sportsbook promo codes

While it technically doesn't offer a referral promo, Borgata has a welcome bonus that's worth checking out. If you live in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (the only two states Borgata currently operates in), our Borgata promo code gets you $100 in bonus bets when you bet $20.

Sportsbook referral bonuses summary

States with legal sportsbook referral bonuses

Other regions with legal sportsbook referral bonuses

Sportsbook referral bonuses are not only found in the United States. These promotions  are available for Canada sports betting sites and U.K. sports betting sites, as well.

Many of the same sportsbooks operating across the U.S. are also available in the Ontario sports betting market, the only province with full-scope regulated online wagering in Canada. The playfield is slightly different across the Atlantic Ocean regarding brands, but reputable U.K. sportsbooks like Betfair and William Hill regularly offer referral bonus promotions similar to what you'll find in the US.

Additionally, keep an eye out for sportsbooks coming to Missouri. The state legalized sports betting in 2024, and it's just a matter of time before it becomes active in the state. Once it is, referral bonuses will be on the table.

Sports betting in other regions

Legal Canada News

Stay updated on the status of Canadian sports betting in provinces where it is legalized:

International News

For sports betting in U.K., visit our U.K sports betting pages.