Sports Betting How-To: Earning & Using Sportsbook Rewards
My guide on how to earn and use sportsbook rewards shows you where to play to earn points, the best ways to maximize rewards, how to redeem them, and more. We're helping you achieve VIP status!
🤷♂️ How to earn sportsbook rewards
You can earn sportsbook rewards by placing bets in person at a land-based casino or real money online casinos through an operator’s app or website.
Most - if not all - land-based casinos offer rewards programs. To enroll, visit the rewards desk and present a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. You earn points by presenting your rewards card when placing bets at the counter or by inserting the card when betting at a kiosk.
Our best sports betting sites typically promote their rewards programs and display them prominently on their app or website.
However, not all sports betting sites offer rewards programs.
If you’re unsure whether a sportsbook offers a rewards program, check with customer support via live chat. I’ll cover some of the larger programs later in this article.
📈 What is the best way to earn sportsbook rewards?
In my experience, sportsbook rewards are calculated similarly across operators, with the biggest differences coming in how rewards can be redeemed.
Rewards are typically based on the amount you wager and the hold, or house edge, on each bet.
📊 What is the hold on a sports bet?
A standard spread bet at -110 odds on each side carries a 4.55% hold. This means the sportsbook expects to profit $4.55 for every $100 wagered over the long run. Straight bets typically have the lowest hold in sports betting.
Bets with higher holds - such as parlays, same-game parlays (SGPs), and player props like anytime touchdown scorers - are better for earning rewards points.
The more you wager, the more rewards you accumulate. Betting in markets with higher holds also accelerates rewards but makes long-term profitability more difficult. We cover how to read odds and payouts here.
💸 How to earn the most points
The fastest way to earn rewards is through SGPs, but the more responsible approach is to focus on straight bets and concentrate your larger wagers at one or two sportsbooks with strong rewards programs.
🤝 How to use sportsbook rewards
Using (or redeeming) sportsbook rewards depends on the program.
Converting your rewards points into bonus bets is typically done at our best sports betting apps or the sportsbook website, under a section labeled "Rewards."
Make sure to save up your rewards points for as long as you can, as sportsbooks usually offer better value on bonus bets when redeeming a higher amount of points.
While you're earning rewards points through the best sportsbook promos, you're usually earning tier credits as well. While tier credits aren't traded directly for rewards, the more tier credits you earn, the more perks you'll be offered.
Perks usually include free hotel rooms in Las Vegas, along with casino freeplay and resort credit for food and beverages.
Tier credits usually reset every year on Jan. 1, and you will have to earn a certain number of credits to maintain your status for the next year.
🤔 Which sportsbooks offer rewards programs?
Here are some of the more popular sportsbook rewards programs:
| Sportsbook | Rewards program | Tiers (lowest to highest) |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Dynasty Rewards | Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Onyx |
| BetMGM | MGM Rewards | Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum, NOIR |
| Caesars | Caesars Rewards | Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Plus, Diamond Elite, Seven Stars |
Let’s take a closer look at how these rewards programs - and their tiers - compare.
Dynasty Rewards: DraftKings
Dynasty is one of the most popular sportsbook loyalty programs in the U.S., as DraftKings reportedly holds a 25-30% market share in North America.
- 🟤 Bronze (0+ credits): Redeem rewards points (or "Crowns") for bonus bets
- 🩶 Silver (5,000+ credits): $750 off a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 🪙 Gold (25,000+ credits): Weekly casino rewards
- 🔹 Diamond (90,000+ credits): Gifts; access to exclusive live experiences; VIP host
- ⚫ Onyx (175,000+ credits & invite): Onyx tier reach gift
This is not a complete list of Dynasty tier benefits, but compared to some competitors, DraftKings offers fewer travel-related perks for bettors who frequently visit destination properties.
MGM Rewards: BetMGM
While not as widely used nationwide as DraftKings, MGM Rewards can offer greater value for bettors like me who enjoy visiting Las Vegas.
- 🔵 Sapphire (0+ credits): Redeem rewards points for bonus bets; 15% off hotel rooms
- ⚪ Pearl (20,000+ credits): Complimentary tickets to select concerts in Las Vegas
- 🪙 Gold (75,000+ credits): Complimentary valet parking; resort fees waived
- 🪨 Platinum (200,000+ credits): Up to $600 air travel credit to Las Vegas, Beau Rivage, or Borgata
- ⚫ NOIR (Invite only): VIP host; up to $1,200 air travel credit; VIP lounge check-in
It’s also easier to accumulate tier credits with MGM by gambling in person at one of its many properties - a major advantage given MGM is one of the two dominant operators on the Las Vegas Strip.
Caesars Rewards: Caesars
Caesars - the other major operator on the Las Vegas Strip - offers six loyalty tiers.
(Note: Caesars calls its rewards currency “Reward Credits.” For consistency, I’ll refer to them as rewards points.)
- 🪙 Gold (0+ credits): Redeem rewards points for free play; 10% off hotel rooms
- 🪨 Platinum (5,000+ credits): Complimentary 4-night stay at Atlantis in The Bahamas
- 🔹 Diamond (15,000+ credits): No resort fees; priority lines at check-in, casino cages, etc.
- 🔷 Diamond Plus (25,000+ credits): Complimentary access to VIP Laurel Lounge
- 💎 Diamond Elite (75,000+ credits): $600 airfare credit to Las Vegas; congratulatory cruise
- 🌟 Seven Stars (150,000+ credits & invite): Retreat to any Caesars destination with airfare up to $1,200
From my experience, Caesars is often the preferred rewards program for high-rollers. Bettors with smaller bankrolls, however, may find it more difficult to climb into the upper tiers.
👑 Which sportsbook has the best rewards program?
Choosing the best sportsbook rewards program ultimately depends on how - and where - you place your bets.
DraftKings is a strong option for bettors who primarily wager online and have little interest in travel perks. Gold-tier members receive weekly casino rewards, while higher-tier players can earn invitations to exclusive watch parties featuring complimentary food and drinks.
Meanwhile, Caesars tends to appeal most to high-rollers. Its Seven Stars tier includes a retreat to any Caesars destination with up to $1,200 in airfare credit, a complimentary five-night stay in a deluxe suite at Atlantis in The Bahamas, and a range of other travel benefits.
🦁 My personal favorite
MGM Rewards offers a more accessible path to climbing tiers and caters to both online and in-person bettors. Players with modest bankrolls can still level up through the BetMGM app, and earning tier credits is even easier at MGM properties.
❓ What are sportsbook VIP programs?
Several sportsbooks offer VIP programs alongside their standard rewards systems, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
I’ve never personally been a VIP member at a sportsbook. However, I have friends who are VIP players, as well as others who work as VIP hosts, and the perks can include (but aren’t limited to):
- Weekly bonus bets
- Large deposit bonuses
- Higher limits on bet boosts
- Tickets to sporting events
- Exclusive watch parties
You can typically join a sportsbook’s VIP program either through an invitation based on your betting activity or by applying through the sportsbook’s app or website.
From what I’ve seen, DraftKings often looks for players with roughly $20,000 per week in settled handle to qualify for VIP consideration. That threshold is usually lower at smaller sportsbooks that offer VIP programs.
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