FanDuel has become one of the top online sportsbooks in the United States since its debut in 2018.
You will be hard-pressed to find a more consistent and usable sports betting option than FanDuel, as it checks boxes across the board.
When you sign up, you will be eligible for a welcome bonus if your first bet loses, no promo code is necessary.
But what is the right bet for you to place? Is it smarter to bet on a favorite or underdog? How much should you wager?
We will walk you through all the salient details, covering everything you need to know about FanDuel’s “no sweat first bet” for up to [ct id=14 slug=fanduel-sportsbook-bonus] and all the factors to consider as a new bettor at the sportsbook.
FanDuel new player welcome offer
| FanDuel promo code | None – Click to claim promo |
| Welcome bonus | Up to $1,000 No Sweat bet |
| Legal States | [ct id=49 slug=fanduel-sb-legal-states] |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
Terms and conditions apply to all offers. Please see FanDuel Sportsbook for details. 21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER+
“No sweat first bet” means that the first bet you place at FanDuel Sportsbook will have some insurance. So, if that bet loses, FanDuel will provide a refund, equal to your initial stake up to [ct id=14 slug=fanduel-sportsbook-bonus], in bonus bets.
However, while you might not worry as much about your opening bet, remember you get bonus bets back instead of cash. So it is entirely possible to lose with this welcome bonus. Now let’s break it down in more detail.
Using the FanDuel promo code
You don’t need a promo code to claim the FanDuel welcome bonus. Just follow these steps:
- Use one of the links on this page to head over to FanDuel’s sign-up page.
- Follow the directions to create your account, including providing the necessary personal information and creating a username and password.
- Make a first deposit of at least $10.
Just like that, you’re all set. The no sweat bet will automatically be your first qualifying wager.
FanDuel welcome promo terms and conditions
There are a few other things to note about this sports betting welcome bonus. It only applies to your first wager, and all users must be 21 or older to be eligible. If you end up losing and receiving bonus bets, they will be available within 72 hours of your bet settling.
These bets are not eligible for cash withdrawals — you must wager them, and then any winnings are yours to do with as you wish. Finally, unused bonus bet credits expire 14 days after you receive them.
Using the FanDuel welcome bonus
When you hear “no sweat” bet, you might think there’s no disadvantage to placing a larger-than-normal first bet, but that’s not the case — you definitely can end up losing that money very easily.
If your first bet loses, you cannot withdraw the bonus bets that FanDuel reimburses you with; you have to wager them and win to receive any benefit. On top of that, when you bet with bonus bets, you do not get the actual bet amount back if your wager wins. That means you can’t simply wager on big favorites to get your money back.
There is no right or wrong answer here; you should always do what feels best for you and make sure to bet within your limits. Here are the key things to keep in mind:
- There is no infallible way to win. No matter how juicy the welcome bonus is, it’s always possible to walk away with nothing. Make sure you deposit a sum you are comfortable losing just in case your bets do not play out as you hoped and planned.
- While there is no such thing as “free money” in sports betting, if you can make something out of a bonus that works for you, that can give you a rare advantage over the sportsbook, so bonuses like this are still worth looking into.
Maximizing the FanDuel no sweat first bet
The FanDuel welcome bonus is fairly straightforward, but there are some nuances to consider. Most importantly, you must decide how much you want to wager on your first bet. Since you only get bonus bets back if it loses, though, you absolutely should not wager more than you are comfortable losing.
Next, you need to decide what you want to use that first bet on. The two schools of thought are fairly simple: Make a lower-risk bet with the hopes of winning a small amount and not having to use the promo. Or bet on an underdog with the hopes of winning big, but knowing that if you don’t win, you still get the bonus bets.
Lastly, you will need to decide how to use your bonus bets if your initial wager loses. Here, it’s important to understand how betting with bonus bets impacts your returns.
For example, say you’re betting on the moneyline of an NFL game between the Green Bay Packers (-460) and New England Patriots (+360). If you have a $100 bonus bet and use it on the Packers, you would only get $21.74 back on a winning bet since the bonus bet doesn’t count. That same $100 bonus bet on the Patriots would return $360 to you if New England wins.
In that example, betting on the Patriots pays over 15 times what betting on the Packers does. If you were getting your $100 back, that multiplier drops below four times. This doesn’t mean you should always bet on underdogs; it simply means you need to know how the payouts with bonus bets work.
However, a perk of the FanDuel bonus is you don’t have to use your bonus bets all at once. For instance, if you place a $100 bet to start with and lose, you’ll receive $100 in bonus bets. You can then divide those bonus bets up however you want.
This is ideal as it allows you to do multiple things with the refund. You could bet $5 on a few long shots with the hopes of getting a lot of your money back that way. And you could bet $10 or $20 on some spread bets and get close to 100% of that money back if you win.
Welcome bonus key points recap
- Even using FanDuel’s no sweat first bet, there is no surefire way to win, so do not bet more than you’re comfortable losing with your opening wager.
- If you lose, now you need to shift your focus on how to best use the bonus bets. Remember, you don’t get the bet amount back if these wagers win.
- Once again, while the FanDuel welcome bonus is valuable and can help you get off to a good start, it still is very possible to lose your entire opening wager.
FAQ
What is the FanDuel Sportsbook welcome bonus?
It is for a no sweat first bet of up to [ct id=14 slug=fanduel-sportsbook-bonus]. You don’t need a promo code to claim this bonus; just sign up at FanDuel via this link to be eligible.
Is FanDuel sportsbook legit?
Yes, FanDuel has been operating in the United States for over a decade. It started as a daily fantasy sports provider in 2009 and expanded into legal sports betting in 2018.
In which states is the FanDuel online sportsbook available?
FanDuel sportsbook is currently active in [ct id=49 slug=fanduel-sb-legal-states]. States that we anticipate joining that group soon include Ohio, Maryland, and Massachusetts.