DraftKings has come up with an exciting bonus offer to celebrate the first weekend of NFL football. For a limited time, you can bet just $5 and get a massive $250 in bonus bets, along with a one-month subscription to NFL+ Premium.
21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler
This deal is perfect for anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a betting pro or even a casual bettor. When a sportsbook props you up with $250 from their own account, you don’t want to pass that up.
To help you get started, we’re going to break down how the bonus works and even toss in a few picks you might want to use the bonus on.
To take advantage of this promotion, all you need to do is place a bet of at least $5 on any NFL game. Well, it doesn’t have to be an NFL game; there are plenty of college games as well, but the NFL is what’s kicking off this weekend.
Once the bet is placed, you’ll receive $250 in bonus bets instantly from DraftKings. The bonus will be credited to your account as 10 $25 bonus bets. Plus, you get a free month of NFL+ Premium, which lets you stream games and access exclusive content.
You can use your bonus bets on any NFL or college football matchup, making it a perfect time to experiment or place bets on some of the most intriguing games of the opening weekend.
We've put together some of the best bets for this weekend that will help you make the most of your bonus bets. These include some game bets as well as some props.
One of the most anticipated matchups of Week 1, this game features two teams with exciting new rookie wide receivers.
The Arizona Cardinals picked Marvin Harrison Jr., the highly-rated WR from Ohio State, while the Buffalo Bills selected Keon Coleman out of Florida State. Both players are expected to play big roles right away.
Buffalo comes into this game as a heavy favorite, with a -6.5 spread. A safe way to use your bonus here would be to bet on the Bills covering the spread. Buffalo's defense, especially with Rasul Douglas in the secondary, will be a tough test for Harrison in his NFL debut. If they’re able to shut down Harrison Jr., we think the Bills will have no problem clearing the spread.
On the other hand, you can take a shot at player props with your bonus bets. Marvin Harrison Jr.'s debut could be a great opportunity to bet on his total receiving yards or whether he’ll score a touchdown. He’s a talented player, but with the tough matchup against Douglas, it might be a good bet on the under for his yardage. He’ll want to break out in his debut, but we don’t see it happening against the Bills secondary.
This matchup pits two teams in the middle of a rebuild, but both have made some huge additions in the off-season.
The Bears have a lot of hype with new quarterback Caleb Williams and a revamped roster. Meanwhile, the Titans are hoping Will Levis makes a big leap in his second season as their starting quarterback. Which QB will come out on top? We’ll see, both are looking really good.
Chicago is favored by 4.5 points, and we think there are plenty of ways to use your bonus bets here.
Betting on the Bears to cover the spread seems like a decent bet, given Tennessee’s question marks on both sides of the ball. The Bears have done a good job at surrounding Williams with talent, and they should be able to put up points against a Titans defense that was leaky last season. You know Williams will be hungry to show off his talents on the pro stage.
If you're looking for something a bit more specific, take a look at a player prop for Titans receiver Calvin Ridley, who will be making his debut for Tennessee. Ridley’s matchup against Chicago's All-Pro corner Jaylon Johnson is going to be tough, so taking the under on his total receiving yards might be the best way to go with your bonus bets. Ridley has the talent, but Johnson has been a shutdown corner. To top that off, Ridley’s chemistry with Levis is still unproven.
In this NFC South showdown, we’ll see Bryce Young, the Panthers’ young quarterback, going up against a solid New Orleans defense. The Saints are favored by just over a field goal at 3.5 points, and that feels about right to us, given Young's struggles so far in the NFL.
The Saints, however, boast one of the better defenses in the league. They’re led by linebacker Demario Davis, who has been a thorn in Young’s side.
If you’re betting on this game, New Orleans covering the spread seems like a safe use of your bonus bets. With Bryce Young still figuring things out, the Saint's defense should be able to limit Carolina’s offensive output. We think the spread is an easy bet, but at the very least, the money line on the Saints is a no-brainer.
If you’re more interested in player props in this game, take a look at betting on Alvin Kamara’s rushing or receiving totals. Even with the uncertainty around his future, Kamara is a player who will undoubtedly be heavily involved in the Saints’ offense. You could also look at betting on Bryce Young's passing yards and might want to take the under on 205.5, as the Saints’ pass rush and coverage will likely make it tough for him to put up big numbers.
Joe Burrow returns for Cincinnati after an injury-plagued 2023 season. Despite this, the Bengals are still heavy favorites with an 8.5-point spread. On paper, Cincinnati has all the tools to blow out New England, which is entering a new era under head coach Jerod Mayo.
One way to use your bonus here is by taking the Bengals to cover the spread. Burrow’s return means Cincinnati will be firing on all cylinders offensively, and the Patriots defense may have trouble containing stars like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. We just don’t see the Pats doing much in this game and it will be a Bengals blow out.
Speaking of Chase, you can use your bonus bets on his receiving yard total or to score a touchdown. Chase will be eager to prove himself after missing part of training camp due to contract issues, and he’s one of the league’s most dynamic receivers. Betting on him to clear 13.5 receiving yards against a still-developing New England secondary feels like a solid option.
To get the most out of the DraftKings promo, you’ll want to spread your bonus bets across multiple types.
Place some bets on traditional moneylines or point spreads for the games we previously mentioned. Then, experiment with player props or parlays to increase your payout. This promo gives you a lot of flexibility to try out different bets and see what works for you. Don’t hesitate to try out different strategies.
With $250 in bonus bets and a full slate of exciting games to choose from, NFL opening weekend is the perfect time to get involved in sports betting. Even after this weekend, we’ll keep you updated with ongoing DraftKings bonus offers for returning customers as well.
21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-877-770-7867(CO), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Call or text 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov (NC). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-888-532-3500 (VA).