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Who doesn’t love a nice loyalty program? Like a virtual punchcard counting up your visits, offshore sportsbooks are known for offering rewards programs to keep you coming back for more.
Whether it’s cash back bonuses, discounts, or priority deposits and withdrawals, many of the best sports betting sites offer excellent perks for loyal customers. Let’s dig into what they are, what they look like, and how to find the best offshore sportsbook rewards programs.
What Are Sportsbook Loyalty Programs?
Sportsbook loyalty programs (sometimes called rewards programs) are your ticket to unlocking bonuses that are exclusive to long-time customers. Typically, you’ll be automatically enrolled as soon as you sign up, with every bet you place getting you one step closer to enjoying better perks.
In short, it’s the sportsbook’s way of rewarding you for choosing it over the competition. The more you bet, the more they’ll give back. This way, they ensure that you have plenty of incentives to continue playing.
What do Sportsbook Rewards Programs Look Like?
Sportsbooks will explicitly mention their rewards programs, so you likely won’t have to look too hard to figure out which benefits you’ll be getting by betting. These betting sites usually have a page or two dedicated to explaining how theirs works, too.
Regardless, it’s good to be aware of a few hallmarks of sportsbook loyalty programs. Here are some features to look for.
Tiered Rewards
One thing is pretty consistent across the board: Sportsbooks aren’t giving you the best perks right from the jump. You’ll need to spend some time and money to work your way up the ladder to bigger and better things.
Tiers will range in size and overall benefit. For example, bronze tier bonuses won’t be nearly as impactful as those found in a diamond tier. The increments for increasing tiers will usually increase as you go up, too. Here’s an example of how this system might look:
- Bronze: 0-1,000 Points
- Silver: 1,001-10,000 Points
- Gold: 10,001-100,000 Points
- Platinum: 100,001-1,000,000 Points
- Diamond: 1,000,000+ Points
Points may be earned in a variety of ways, including referring friends, participating in contests, or making deposits, but the main method will almost always be placing bets (and, by default, spending money).
Keep in mind that there’s no one way to utilize a loyalty program. Rewards structures, tier names, and benefits will vary by site. That’s why it’s always essential to read up on the terms and conditions before getting started.
Cash Back
While not present in all offshore sportsbook rewards programs, cash back is a common staple that’s appreciated by bettors of all backgrounds. Some sportsbooks offer a static cash back percentage for being part of the loyalty program, while others offer scaling rewards as you climb the ladder.
Typically, the cash back funds will work as bonus bets, meaning they can’t be withdrawn immediately. However, any amount can be wagered, and winnings are treated as cash.
You probably won’t get some massive percentage of cash back, but it adds up over time–especially if you’re placing big bets. For this reason, cash back programs are a great fit for volume bettors who either bet big or bet often.
Priority Features
Offshore sportsbooks are willing to put you first if you’re a repeat customer. That means getting prioritized deposits and withdrawals, early or exclusive access to bonuses, and more.
Sportsbooks may not be explicit about just how much priority you’ll get (or how to equate that priority status into time), but it’s good to have nonetheless. Prioritized withdrawals are especially nice to have, as some withdrawal methods can take upwards of 15 days for your winnings to arrive in your account.
How to Pick the Best Rewards Program for You
Not all rewards programs are created equal, and what’s best for one bettor may not necessarily be the best for all bettors. There are several factors to keep in mind when you’re considering rewards programs in your decision to sign up for a new betting site.
Consider Your Goals
Are you a casual bettor, or is this more of a job to you? How you anser that question will go a long way in determining how seriously you should look into offshore sportsbook rewards programs. Every bettor can get something out of them, but hardcore gamblers will find infinitely more value.
Consider Your Budget
Placing bets and spending money is the primary way to climb the ladder and earn better rewards at offshore sportsbooks. Some loyalty programs are catered more toward casual bettors, while others keep the top tiers reserved for the highest of high-rollers.
The difference between tiers isn’t always large enough for it to be worth spending the extra dough. If you’re satisfied with the rewards you’d earn from a lower tier, that’s a good sign that you might have found the best sportsbook for you.
Consider Your Time
Accumulating points and ranking up aren’t things that happen overnight, and there’s little value in trying to force the issue. Most of the perks will benefit you in the long run, anyway.
Our best advice is to take your time and not get too excited about the big prizes waiting in the upper tiers. You may get there eventually, but you must be willing to wait.
Best Offshore Sportsbook Loyalty Programs
Your results may vary, but in our experience, these are the best sportsbook loyalty programs in the business.
Bovada
New players at Bovada are automatically enrolled in their rewards program, and you can start earning from day one. You’ll earn points for every dollar you spend, with rewards varying by bet type. Points can be exchanged for cash prizes. Conversions require fewer points per dollar as you climb the ranks.
For single bets, you’ll earn two points for every dollar spent. Reward points increase dramatically for every dollar spent on parlays (15), teasers (25), and round robins (25).
Those in the starter tier can redeem 2,500 reward points for $1 in cash prizes. Pros see that rate improve to 1,666 points per dollar, followed by All-Star (1,250/$1), Legend (1,000/$1), and Hall of Fame (1,000/$1).
BetOnline
BetOnline’s VIP program is best suited for those who have plenty of time and cash to spend. You’ll have access to a good chunk of the perks from the start, but bonuses–like weekly and monthly cash boosts–increase exponentially with each tier, ranging from Bronze through Black III.
You’ll climb higher by increasing your total wager amount, as seen below:
- Bronze: $0.00
- Silver: $10,000
- Gold: $50,000
- Platinum I-III: $100,000-$500,000
- Diamond I-III: $1,000,000-$5,000,000
- Elite I-III: $10,000,000-$50,000,000
- Black I-III: $100,000,000+
Obviously, the top tiers are reserved for the few and far between. However, it’s important to keep in mind that your total wager amount won’t expire or decrease, so you can take all the time you need to work your way up to the top.
Heritage Sports
Heritage Sports offers a fairly simple loyalty program that best appeals to casual bettors. Rather than taking a wager amount into consideration, this sportsbook is focused solely on the number of bets you’ve placed. Tiers are as follows:
- Diamond 2: 0-149 bets, 0.4% cash back each quarter
- Diamond 3: 150-499 bets, 0.6% cash back each quarter
- Diamond 4: 500+ bets, 0.8% cash back each quarter
Parlays also reward up to 4.5x cash back depending on how many teams are included in the bet. Bonuses start at four or five teams (2x cash back) and go up to 14 or more teams (4.5x). Once you’ve accumulated $25 in cash back, you can redeem your funds for a prize.
Open an Account and Getting Started Today
Now that we know how these rewards programs work, it’s time to pick your sportsbook and start playing. Remember to consider which bonuses are most important to you and to keep in mind how much time and money you’re willing to spend to receive those perks.
A rewards program should never be the sole reason why you join a sportsbook, but the benefits can certainly make it an important part of the decision. After all, it’s best to feel valued as a repeat customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still looking for more answers? Check out some frequently asked questions about sportsbook loyalty programs below.
Are rewards programs free?
Yes, sportsbook rewards programs are free to join. Often, you’ll be automatically enrolled upon registering your account. If you aren’t sure if you’re part of the program or not, find your account page on the site and look for VIP status. Typically, you’ll find your associated tier next to your account name.
Are loyalty programs worth it?
Loyalty programs can certainly be worth it as long as you pick one with reasonable benefits. If the only good perks are locked behind massive paywalls, you might want to look elsewhere. But considering some perks are available right away, you can find value as soon as you join.
Do you have to enroll in rewards programs?
No, you don’t normally have to enroll in offshore sportsbook rewards programs. Unless stated otherwise, you will automatically attain some level of loyalty status as soon as you create your account. In any case, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions before signing up so you know what to expect.
Are offshore sportsbooks safe?
Offshore sportsbooks are safe as long as you’re dealing with a reputable brand and gambling responsibly. If you aren’t sure where to start, consider checking out our list of the best offshore sportsbooks. We independently review each site to determine whether or not it’s a legitimate operation and to find out if it’s worth your time and money.
