Thursday marks the start of College Football Week 5, which runs through Saturday, and several sports betting platforms are promoting welcome bonuses to mark the occasion. New users who sign up with DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, Fanatics, Caesars and bet365 can each earn extra bets by placing a small first wager.
Iowa faces Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium in what’s being called the biggest game of the week. The Buckeyes are the favored side by 14.5 points, with the total set at 44.5. However, the promo codes aren’t restricted to bets on that game alone; they’re available across nearly all wagers.
DraftKings and FanDuel Both Offer $250 in Bonus Bets
DraftKings is offering $150 in bonus bets after a first wager of $5 or more. The offer doesn’t require a code, but you have to be a new user — which means you couldn’t have previously signed up for a DraftKings account. You create an account, enter your name, email and the last four digits of your Social Security number, agree to the terms, make a $5-plus deposit and place a first bet of at least $5. Then you collect two $25 bonus bets every seven days via click-to-claim for 14 days.
FanDuel’s deal is more straightforward. It requires no promotional code, though players must be of legal age and located in a state where FanDuel is permitted to operate. A minimum $5 wager placed daily earns bonus bets for seven consecutive days. The site awards $50 in bonus bets each day, irrespective of whether the original wager wins or loses, with those bonus bets expiring seven days after they are given.
BetMGM Offers Up to $1,500 Back if Your First Bet Loses
New users who enter promo code CBSSPORTS when signing up with BetMGM receive up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if their opening wager ends up losing. In New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan, the offer works differently: players there earn $150 in bonus bets if their first bet of $10 or more wins. To take advantage of the promotion, users must download the app, click the SIGN UP button, include promo code CBSSPORTS in the registration process, permit BetMGM to determine their location, and put down at least $10. A winning first qualifying bet pays out as cash. A losing one returns the wagered amount as bonus bets, capped at $1,500.
Fanatics Pays Out in FanCash Over Seven Days
New users at Fanatics Sportsbook get $350 in FanCash following a first-time bet of at least $20, provided the odds are no lower than -500. The process involves downloading the app, signing up for an account, turning on geolocation services, agreeing to the terms, and placing a qualifying wager within seven days of account creation. Day 1 FanCash shows up automatically within 24 hours after your qualifying bet settles. For Days 2 through 7, you need to confirm each day in the app to earn that day’s FanCash. FanCash cannot be withdrawn and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Caesars and bet365 Round Out the Offers
Caesars Sportsbook promo code CBSDYW lets new users get up to $250 in bonuses as five days of $50 bet resets. You click “Claim Bonus,” enter promo code CBSSPORTSBR250, register with a username and password, make a first deposit of at least $10, and your first Bet Reset token lands in your Bonus Drawer as soon as your account is verified — no minimum first bet required.
bet365’s offer is the simplest of all: bet $10, get $200 instantly. There’s no code needed, and the bonus drops immediately after your first wager settles.
What to Know Before You Sign Up
Not every offer on this list works in every location. The BetMGM $1,500 deal is restricted to New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan. FanDuel and DraftKings serve more states than that, though you must still confirm your local rules before signing up for an account.
Both bonus bets run out fast. FanDuel’s expire seven days after receipt, and DraftKings’ disappear seven days after they arrive. BetMGM’s bonus bets are tied to the outcome of your first bet, so you could walk away with nothing if it wins. FanCash from Fanatics is locked in for seven days, and Caesars’ Bet Resets restart every five days instead.
Here’s how the key offers break down:
- DraftKings: $150 in bonus bets after a $5-plus first wager
- FanDuel: $250 in bonus bets after a $5-plus daily wager
- BetMGM: Up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses
- Fanatics: $350 in FanCash after a $20-plus qualifying bet
- Caesars: Up to $250 in bonuses as five days of $50 bet resets
- bet365: $200 instantly after a $10-plus first bet
| Sport | Site | Offer |
|---|---|---|
| College Football | DraftKings | $150 bonus bets after $5 wager |
| College Football | FanDuel | $250 bonus bets after $5 wager |
| College Football | BetMGM | Up to $1,500 bonus bets if first bet loses |
| College Football | Fanatics | $350 FanCash after $20 bet |
| College Football | Caesars | Up to $250 in bonuses as five days of $50 bet resets |
| College Football | bet365 | $200 instantly after $10 bet |
This week’s betting offers come with real money behind them, and the Iowa vs. Ohio State game stands as the headline contest. Across the board, the apps are putting out bonuses, and nearly $3,000 in combined bonus bets sits on the table for players to chase.
Remember that the offers change from state to state and that the bonuses don’t last long. Before you sign up, check what your local laws say, and confirm that you can put the bonus bets to use before you claim them.
New users are the prize, and the apps that offer money tied to placing a bet, rather than to sitting through a broadcast, are the ones making the strongest push for them. The games themselves remain free to watch either way.
Source material: “Best Week 5 college football betting promos: Get nearly $3,000 in bonuses from top betting apps, sportsbooks,” CBS Sports.
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