One wants you to be an emperor. One proclaims itself the king of sportsbooks. But which is the top monarch when it comes to Caesars vs. BetMGM Sportsbook?
Here, we’ll explore Caesars vs. BetMGM Sportsbook and whether there’s a right answer for you, the average bettor, when looking for the best betting app that suits you best.
Promos Offered At Caesars And BetMGM
The first place to look when comparing Caesars vs. BetMGM is at the betting sites’ respective welcome bonuses. Betting promo codes enable you to maximize your value at any sports betting site, so they’re an important part of evaluating these apps.
The best promos are always available to new accounts signing up. So, you’ll want to know about them ahead of time before picking between Caesars and BetMGM and registering.
Eventually, you’ll be able to take advantage of further promos available to all users. Both Caesars and BetMGM have plenty of those, including parlay insurance and odds boosts.
But the welcome bonuses are a big key and an important factor in comparing Caesars vs. BetMGM.
Promo value may vary by customer. Read all promotional terms and conditions before opting in and wagering.
BetMGM Welcome Bonus
On paper, BetMGM has one of the biggest welcome bonuses available in the industry. They’re offering $1,500 in bonus funds, a flashy number compared to the few hundred dollars available in sign-up promos at several competing sportsbooks. You’ll use promo code THELINES when signing up.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that in order to take advantage of this promo, the user must lose his or her initial cash wager. Therefore, if the wager wins, they won’t have access to any bonus funds.
Also, the bonus funds will match the initial bet up to $1,500. That means if your first cash bet is $100, you’re only eligible for $100 in bonus funds.
So, in order to take full advantage of the sign-up promo at BetMGM, you need both a decent-sized bankroll and to have lost your first bet.
Terms and conditions apply as well. You’ll need to use the bonus funds within seven days, and they’ll be distributed as five equal-sized bets, unless the bonus has a value of under $50.
And keep in mind that bonus funds aren’t the same as cash. If you win a bet using bonus funds, you’ll keep only the winnings and not the initial stake. For example, if you bet on a moneyline underdog at +200 with a $100 bonus bet, you’ll win $200. Using cash, that bet would return $300 — the winnings plus the initial $100 stake.
Note that some states, including New York, won’t have access to the welcome bonus due to high tax rates or other local regulations.
Caesars Welcome Bonus
Caesars offers a very similar sign-up promo to BetMGM. Using Caesars promo code THELINES1000 when signing up, you’ll earn up to $1,000 in bonus bets.
Much like the BetMGM promo, cashing in on the Caesars welcome bonus requires the user to lose their first bet. Again, it applies to your first cash wager. So, to get the maximum value, you’d need to wager $1,000, or it will match any lower amount.
The Caesars welcome bonus does differ in a few small ways.
An obvious downside is it’s currently smaller. Keep in mind that can change down the road, though. Sportsbooks may change their marketing strategies at any time.
Another downside is the Caesars welcome bonus is less flexible because it’s credited in one lump sum. Where the BetMGM bonus divvies the amount into five bets, allowing you to spread out your risk, you’re all in on one bet with the Caesars welcome promo.
The Caesars bonus does have a couple of advantages, however. For one, you get 14 days to use it, so you don’t have as much pressure to find a suitable wager. For another, even users in high-tax jurisdictions like New York have access to the promo.
Further Promos Available At BetMGM And Caesars
Both Caesars and BetMGM will offer their fair shares of ongoing promo offers to their existing customers. The exact promos you find may depend on your area. However, most users will generally get fed similar offers.
Caesars and BetMGM both have easy-to-find offers by simply clicking on the “Promos” or “Promotions” tab at the top of the website or app, right next to the various sports in the menu. Currently, Caesars has the edge in my area, offering five ongoing promotions to all users compared with just two from BetMGM.
Users’ mileage may vary on the welcome bonus, depending on how big you bet and how much risk you’re willing to shoulder on the initial wager. BetMGM has the edge over Caesars when it comes to the welcome bonus, but Caesars has a more robust menu of ongoing promos for all users.
Caesars Vs. BetMGM Legal States
One of the simplest ways to decide whether Caesars or BetMGM is better for you is to determine whether you live in a legal state for one or both. Perhaps only one of them operates a sportsbook in your jurisdiction, in which case your decision might be made for you.
Here’s a look at Caesars vs. BetMGM through the lens of which states each one has a presence.
| BetMGM Legal States/Territories | Caesars Legal States/Territories |
|---|---|
| Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi*, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota*, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington*, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wyoming | Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wyoming |
Both BetMGM and Caesars operate in essentially the same jurisdictions. There isn’t much of an advantage either way, with the only possible difference being retail presences. Caesars properties will host Caesars-branded books and MGM properties likewise.
What Sets Caesars and BetMGM Apart?
Both apps come from huge, well-known casino brands, though, so you’ll find plenty of properties operating both MGM and Caesars sportsbooks all across the country. Both betting apps have chosen to tie their online sportsbooks to the rewards programs available at their respective retail properties, Caesars Rewards and MGM Rewards.
That sets Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM apart from most of their competitors. Caesars and MGM are arguably the two premier casino brands in the country. Other sportsbook apps are operated by what started as daily fantasy sports companies, lesser-known casino brands, or entities who built their brands in areas such as retail clothing and media.
Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM tying their rewards programs to their retail properties opens up some tantalizing opportunities for customers. By accumulating points betting on the apps, customers can earn things like dining credits and even free hotel stays at popular casino destinations across the country. Options in Las Vegas, for example, include MGM Grand and ARIA for BetMGM, and Caesars Palace and Paris for Caesars Sportsbook.
Since increasing my use of the Caesars Sportsbook app over the past few years, I can confirm that it results in an increase in offers. Having never been offered comps in my life (I don’t really play table games), I’ve been offered multiple free casino stays in Las Vegas in the past few months alone. And a friend of mine who bets with MGM frequently has used multiple comped stays at ARIA, one of the nicest casinos in Las Vegas, in that time frame.
If you enjoy comped offers from the top casino brands in the country, BetMGM and Caesars have a lot to offer.
BetMGM vs. Caesars Payment Methods
Typically, most online betting sites offer a pretty similar selection of payment and withdrawal methods. These are often dictated by market regulations. Here’s a list of payment and withdrawal options at BetMGM vs. Caesars.
BetMGM Payment Methods
| Method | Payout Timeframe | |
|---|---|---|
| Venmo | Deposit & Withdrawal | 1-3 business days |
| AMEX | Deposit Only | N/A |
| Casino Cage | Deposit & Withdrawal | ~15 minutes |
| Mastercard/VISA | Deposit Only (Except for certain debit cards) | 24-48 hours |
| PayNearMe | Deposit Only | N/A |
| Check By Mail | Withdrawal Only | 7-21 business days |
| PayPal | Deposit & Withdrawal | 24-48 hours |
| Bank Wire | Deposit & Withdrawal | 5-7 business days |
| Apple Pay | Deposit & Withdrawal | 1-3 business days |
| Discover | Deposit Only | N/A |
| ACH/Bank transfer | Deposit & Withdrawal | About 3 business days |
Caesars Payment Methods
| Method | Payout Timeframe | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card | Deposit Only | N/A |
| ACH / eCheck | Deposit & Withdrawal | 5-10 business days |
| PayPal | Deposit & Withdrawal | 24-48 hours |
| Prepaid Card | Deposit & Withdrawal | 24-48 hours |
| Casino Cage | Deposit & Withdrawal | 1 hour |
| PayNearMe | Deposit Only | N/A |
| Online Bank Transfer | Deposit Only | N/A |
What Does BetMGM Do Better?
As detailed above, BetMGM has the superior welcome bonus when compared to Caesars. In fact, by sheer size, BetMGM’s welcome bonus compares favorably to all competition in the U.S. legal betting space.
BetMGM tying into the MGM properties also gives it an edge, in my opinion. Both Caesars and MGM have dozens of properties across the country. MGM’s just tend to be higher quality, though. Places like Borgata and ARIA are much nicer than the average Caesars property. To be sure, Caesars has the greater quantity, but when it comes quality, it’s really not close. That, in turn, makes racking up points with MGM Rewards a more, well, rewarding proposition.
What Does Caesars Do Better?
Caesars may not have the welcome bonus to match MGM, but they do have a nice collection of promos for existing users, one that has a bit more value and breadth than MGM’s offering.
Additionally, Caesars has the sports betting product that I prefer. MGM has more of a tendency to outages — it was down for an extended period during a high-profile software malfunction — and finding the markets you’re looking for can take too many clicks at times. MGM also features more high-juice markets compared to Caesars, at least in my experience.
Caesars also has a wider spread of offerings for smaller sports like F1. It also tends to get markets up a little earlier. It’s often easier to find good prices there, as they are willing to post a line that’s a little off market.
The Verdict: BetMGM vs. Caeasars Sportsbook
The best answer to this is that it pays to have accounts with both Caesars and BetMGM. That enables you to take advantage of the best offers and strengths at each betting app.
More importantly, it will help you with price shopping. That means if you want to bet something, say Kansas City Chiefs odds in Week 1, you can look at more than one sportsbook and get the most favorable price. For example, maybe the consensus line is Chiefs -3 but you find a Chiefs -2.5 at either BetMGM or Caesars. If you only have accounts at sportsbooks with -3, you’re going to have a tough time beating the game in the long run.
Price shopping will add more to the bottom line of most bettors than almost any other strategy. And it requires keeping accounts open at multiple sportsbooks.
Giving each sportsbook a try will enable you to get a feel for the ins and outs of each of them. You’ll likely develop a preference and eventually use that more.
Certainly, if you travel to Caesars or MGM casinos regularly, it’s going to pay to rack up points with the one that has properties more easily available to you. That might also be a determining factor for many people. Personally, I use Caesars more often and that’s partially because I have easy access to a retail property just a short drive away.
But other folks who frequent MGM properties might rightfully go the other way.