Bonus bet rules by sportsbook: ten US books compared

Every US sportsbook's bonus bet looks the same on the surface — credit you can bet but not withdraw — and differs in the details that decide what it is worth: how long it lasts, whether you can split it, what a push does to it, and what the book's terms say about hedging it.

Each guide below takes one book's rules from its own help and terms pages, then works a conversion with real arithmetic.

Each book's rules were checked against its own help and terms pages on October 14, 2026. 21+ only. Offers change; read the offer in the app before you bet.

The ten books at a glance

Sportsbook	What it calls the credit	Stake returned?	Both sides / hedging	States
FanDuel bonus bets	Bonus Bets	No — winnings only	No such clause in the pages read	26
DraftKings bonus bets	Bonus Bets	No — winnings only	General bonus-abuse clause	27
BetMGM bonus bets	Bonus Bets	No — net winnings only	Counts hedging bonus funds as abuse	24
Caesars bonus bets	Bonus Bets	No — winnings only	Both sides prohibited (Bet Reset terms)	22
Fanatics bonus bets	Bonus Bets (from FanCash)	No — winnings only	General promotion-abuse clause	22
bet365 bonus bets	Bonus Bets	No — winnings only	Restricts both sides and locked-profit play	12
theScore Bet bonus bets	Bonus Bets (also Credits)	No — winnings only	Good-faith clause	19
Hard Rock Bet bonus bets	Bonus Bets, No Sweat Bet tokens	No — winnings only	General promotion-abuse clause	10
BetRivers bonus bets	Bonus Bets and Bonus Money	Bonus Bets: no	Arbitrage clause	15
Desert Diamond bonus bets	Bonus Bets	No — winnings only	Both sides counted as abuse (offer terms)	1

What is the same everywhere

At every book in this table a bonus bet's stake is not returned with the winnings, which is why each one is worth less than its face value and why it belongs on plus-money odds. Hedged at another book with a tight price on the other side, a bonus bet typically converts at roughly 65–75% of face value — an estimate that depends entirely on the prices you get.

Two books are different in what their terms allow. BetMGM's general terms count hedge betting with bonus funds as bonus abuse, and bet365's offer terms let it reclaim a bonus that produces a profit on every outcome. Their guides show what a bonus bet is worth placed on its own instead of a hedge walkthrough.

What differs, and where to look

Expiry windows, splitting, minimum odds and boost rules vary by book and often by offer. The offer's own terms in your account override any general rule, including the ones summarised here. Where a book's terms restrict betting both sides or locked-profit play, its guide says so.

Every guide

Frequently asked questions

Do any US sportsbooks return the stake on a bonus bet?

Not on bonus bets at the books compared here: each one's terms pay a winning bonus bet its winnings only. Some books also issue credits that do return the stake, such as theScore Bet Credits and BetRivers Bonus Money, which work more like site credit.

Which sportsbook's bonus bets are easiest to convert?

Books that let you split a bonus bet into smaller pieces give you the most flexibility, because each piece can sit on its best price. Each guide says whether that book allows it.

How long do sportsbook bonus bets last?

Often around 7 days, but it varies by book and by offer. The expiry printed on the token in your account is the one that applies.