Maximize Your Earnings: Sports Betting Referral Bonuses in 2026
Sports betting referral bonuses are an underrated but extremely powerful tool available at your disposal. You could claim additional betting rewards simply by sharing your unique referral code and inviting friends to a betting site.
These programs aren’t that hard to understand. With this guide, we’ll clue you in on the best sportsbooks that are worth your time, share the best ways to maximize your rewards, and even get a quick start in understanding how the referral bonus works on your favorite sportsbook. Let’s get into the details now.
Find a Suitable Bonus For Your Needs at These Sportsbooks
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $150 in Bonus Bets *Paid Within 14 Days 
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days What is a sports betting referral bonus?
The concept is simple: you invite a friend to your chosen sportsbook using a link or custom code. Your friends then sign up and complete a qualifying action, such as funding their account or placing an eligible wager, and both of you will receive a reward. Bear in mind that the rules and rewards usually vary and will entirely depend on the platform you sign up for.
Some sportsbooks give you bonus bets to be used when your referred friend makes their first qualifying wager. On the other hand, other apps will give rewards in the form of site credit or loyalty points.
How exactly do sportsbook referral programs work? - step by step
Claiming a referral bonus is usually pretty straightforward, but the details are still important to understand so you and your friend receive the reward without any issues. Here’s what you usually have to do:
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Find the link
Log in to your sportsbook account and find the referral section. This can usually be found under ‘Account Settings’ or ‘Promotions’. If you don’t have an account yet, you can also pick one of the best betting apps we’ve recommended in this guide and sign up via our links.
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Share the code
Send your referral link or code to your friend. Some sites let you copy the link or code with a single click.
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Your friend registers an account
Your friend must then sign up as a new customer using the link or by inputting your custom code when prompted.
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Activate the referral bonus
After meeting the stipulated requirements, including ID verification, your friend then makes their first deposit on the site. While individual requirements may vary, they usually also have a qualifying bet on eligible markets.
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Receive your rewards
Once those requirements have been met, you and your friend collect your rewards.
What to look for in a sportsbook referral bonus
They might look similar at first glance, but not all referral programs offer the same value. There are a few key factors you should take into account before referring your friends to one of the best live betting sites from our list.
Bonus value
This is a deciding factor in choosing a platform. A $50 bonus bet sounds instantly better on paper than a $25 one, but that’s only part of the whole picture. Each major US sportsbook has its own terms and conditions, and sometimes the stake might not be returned if the bet wins, or you and your friend might face steep wagering requirements. This is especially true of bonus bets, so it's important that you weigh the pros and cons of each referral bonus.
Referral requirements
Some sites will require higher deposits or initial wagers to trigger the referral reward. We recommend you keep your friends informed of this and assess whether they’re able to meet these requirements before you share your code or link.
Referral caps
Annual or monthly referral caps are also worth paying attention to. Some sportsbooks cap the number of referrals you can make in a given timeframe. If you’re blessed with a large number of friends, be aware that these caps could limit the amount of rewards you could claim in a month or year.
The best sportsbook referral bonuses in 2026
Just because a betting site offers a referral bonus, it is already a good one. Separating a good from a mediocre referral reward can be time-consuming. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. Below you’ll find our list of the best prop betting sites and their respective referral offers.
| Betting site | Referral bonus |
| BetMGM | Up to $100 in bonus bets for each eligible referral |
| Caesars Sportsbook | 5 x $5 bonus bets per qualifying referral |
| FanDuel | $25 in FanDuel Picks credit (DFS only) |
| DraftKings | Bonus bets ranging from $25 to $100 |
| Hard Rock Bet | Up to $50 in bonus bets |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $100 in FanCash |
| Borgata Sportsbook | $50 in bonus funds |
| Crab Sports | $10 bonus bet |
BetMGM - refer and receive a huge welcome
As one of the most widely available US sportsbooks, BetMGM covers a broad range of 25+ sports and varied betting markets. The details of the referral program are kept inside the ‘Promotions’ section. The offer allows you to claim a $100 bonus for each friend who signs up. Once your friend signs up, is verified, and reaches the wagering requirements, you’ll both receive a bonus.
Outside of the referral bonus, BetMGM has a rock-solid sports betting product with highly competitive odds on major sports and a loyalty system to reward bettors beyond the early bonuses.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win Caesars Sportsbook - competitive welcome offers for new referrals
A huge percentage of bettors in the US must have already heard of Caesars, which definitely helps when referring your friends to the site. The sportsbook itself has many solid betting features and a Caesars Rewards loyalty program that rewards your wagering with vouchers for hotels, resorts, and other goodies.
The Caesars referral program rewards both you and your friend with five bonus bets worth at least $5 once they’ve registered with your link. Bonus bets are then processed within 3 days. With odd boosts, profit boosts, and a varied market selection, there’s plenty to explore at Caesars Sportsbook.
FanDuel - smooth app experience
FanDuel’s referral program is strongly linked specifically to its Picks program. Refer a friend and have them sign up with your link and you’ll get $25 in FanDuel Picks credit when they reach the qualifying requirements. It’s worth noting that this reward is limited to FanDuel Picks only. While there is no dedicated betting referral bonus, the sportsbook itself impressed us with over 20 sports to wager on and numerous betting markets available for each.
You’ll also find an excellent range of the same game parlay options and a decent live betting suite. The live betting interface, in particular, is super responsive and straightforward, especially on the app, which you can easily download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days DraftKings - referrals fit for royalty
If the friend you’re referring has ever played or heard of daily fantasy sports, there’s a good chance they’ve also heard of DraftKings. The referral program offered here is one of the simplest to get to grips with. If your friend deposits at least $25 and places a wager of up to $100, the bonus amount will increase with the size of their bet.
Both of you will then receive between $25 and $100 in bonus bets after the initial wager settles, and this process can be repeated up to five times per referral window. Bonus bets at DraftKings expire after seven days, so keep that in mind when referring your friends to the site.
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $150 in Bonus Bets *Paid Within 14 Days Hard Rock Bet - competitive odds and a strong loyalty program
Hard Rock Bet’s referral program keeps things easy but has a few conditions. First, you’ll need an existing wager in your account before your referral link can be shared. Once the referral link is available, you can send it to your friend. If they then place a cash bet of at least $10 at odds of -250 or longer, you’ll both get a bonus bet of up to $50.
Outside of this, the app offers competitive odds across most major sports and a loyalty program affiliated with the Hard Rock brand. As a result, you can also redeem points at Hard Rock hotels, casinos, and cafes. As one of the best cashout betting sites, you also benefit from early cashout on a huge range of eligible bets and smooth withdrawal processes.
Fanatics Sportsbook - excellent portfolio of rewards
Fanatics Sportsbook gives you access to one of the most straightforward referral setups around. When you refer a friend and have them sign up your link and place a $20+ wager, you’ll both receive $100 back in FanCash. They even have other options available, such as referring a friend on Thursday, and you’ll get back a 100% profit boost. The great news about the standard FanCash bonus is that it applies every time a new friend signs up and meets the bonus requirements. There’s no cap on how many people you can refer.
Other than that, you can use the accumulated FanCash to redeem it for branded merchandise, bonus bets, and other goodies on the site. Fanatics features over 30 different sports to bet on, including all major leagues as well as some niche options.
10 x $100 bet match in FanCash Borgata Sportsbook - the crown jewel of sportsbetting in Atlantic City
Part of the MGM family, Borgata Sportsbook works within the same format as BetMGM. However, the sportsbook app is only available to bettors in NJ and PA, while players in Pennsylvania can also access Borgata’s online casino. This makes it a smaller but worthwhile referral option for people in the area.
For every friend you get to sign up to the platform, you’ll receive a $50 bonus in your account. To claim this reward, your friend must first deposit at least $10. Then you’ll receive the bonus once your friend completes the 1x wagering requirement on their cash balance. This referral bonus can then be used on any of Borgata’s sports and betting markets.
Crab Sports - a loyal following in the heart of Maryland
Crab Sports is a sportsbook specifically for bettors in Maryland, and they’ve built a big following in the state since their launch in 2023. For bettors in the area, the platform has a strong regional identity, meaning it’s affiliated with a large number of Maryland companies.
When a friend signs up using your referral code and places a first wager of $50 or more (at odds of -120 or longer) you’ll both receive a $10 bonus bet. If you’re based in Maryland and looking for a sportsbook with competitive odds and over 20 sports to wager on, Crab Sports is a great option.
Pros and Cons of Sports betting referral bonuses
- Both you and your friend receive rewards
- Programs are available all year round
- Several operators offer scaled rewards
- Limits on the number of referrals you can make
Conclusion - my verdict on the best betting referral bonuses
Referral programs are one of the few ongoing promos that reward bettors all year. What makes them even more exciting is that it gives you a chance to share a reward with a friend. Most major sportsbooks across the US offer unique referral rewards to their users. For example, DraftKings matches the reward to your friend’s wager, whereas Borgata caps referrals at 20 but offers you $50 per referred friend.
If you’ve already been raving about these highly rated sportsbooks to your friends, then it's worth getting an extra reward out of it too. Just make sure to double-check the qualifying terms first and confirm that your friend follows through on the deposit and qualifying wager. There’s excellent value to be found with the right referral bonus.
To start getting rewarded for your referrals, take a look at the banners on this page and sign up with the links provided.
Betting site referral bonuses FAQ
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