DraftKings wins on speed; FanDuel wins if your first bet loses. Those two sentences cover most of what you need to know before picking a sportsbook for your sign-up bonus — but the details matter, so let's work through them.
What Does Each Sportsbook Bonus Actually Give You?
FanDuel's current offer is a first-bet safety net: if your opening wager loses, you get back up to $200 in bonus bets. Bet $5, win, and you collect real cash — you only trigger the refund on a loss. Bonus bets expire in 7 days after they land in your account.
DraftKings works differently. Bet $5 on anything, and you get $200 in bonus bets instantly — win or lose. That's a Bet & Get structure, not a safety net. You don't need to sweat the outcome of your first wager. Same 7-day expiry applies.
FanDuel vs DraftKings Bonus: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | FanDuel | DraftKings |
|---|---|---|
| Offer type | First-bet refund (if bet loses) | Bet $5, get $200 instantly |
| Maximum bonus value | Up to $200 | $200 |
| Bonus bets expiry | 7 days after issue | 7 days after issue |
| Rollover on bonus bets | None on refunded bets | None |
| Minimum qualifying wager | $5 | $5 |
| Bonus bet stake returned on win? | No — only net winnings paid | No — only net winnings paid |
Which Offer Is Actually Worth More?
On paper they're equal — both cap at $200. In practice, DraftKings puts $200 in your account the moment your $5 bet settles, regardless of outcome. You're guaranteed the credits. With FanDuel, you only get the refund if that first bet loses. If you're confident in your pick, that's fine — a winning first bet means real cash anyway. But if you're uncertain, DraftKings removes the risk entirely.
One thing both offers share: when a bonus bet wins, you keep the net winnings only — the bonus stake itself is not returned. A $25 bonus bet that wins at -110 pays roughly $22.73 in cash, not $47.73. Factor that into how you value the credits.
Neither offer carries a wagering requirement on the returned bonus bets, which puts both well ahead of offshore alternatives. For the full picture on no-rollover deals across the market, see sportsbook bonuses with no rollover requirement.
How Do You Claim Each Bonus?
Both require an opt-in at registration — either via promo code entry or a checkbox. Geographic restrictions apply; offers are only valid in states where the operator is licensed. DraftKings is live in nearly all legal US states; FanDuel covers the majority of legal markets too. Check the app's geolocation screen if you're unsure about your state.
For step-by-step instructions, the FanDuel Sportsbook welcome bonus review walks through every screen, and the DraftKings Sportsbook bonus and promo code guide does the same for that side.
Which Sportsbook Should You Pick?
If you want certainty — money in the account no matter what — go DraftKings. If you'd rather let your first bet ride and only collect on a miss, FanDuel's structure works fine. Either way, you're looking at a clean, rollover-free $200 bonus from a fully licensed US operator. That's a better deal than any offshore headline number with a 14x rollover attached.
Want to see how these two stack up against BetMGM's $1,500 first-bet offer or Caesars' 20 Profit Boosts? Check the best sportsbook welcome bonuses ranked for new US bettors for the full field. And if raw dollar size is your only filter, the highest-value bonus bet offers ranked page sorts the market by maximum credit amount.
Must be 21+ (18+ in select states). Only available in states where each operator holds a valid license. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.