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Prediction-market promotions and sportsbook bonuses may advertise similar dollar amounts, but they can award different things and impose different conditions. A trading credit is not necessarily withdrawable cash, while a sportsbook offer might be a bonus bet or bonus funds subject to wagering rules. Compare what you receive, what you must do to qualify, and when or where the offer applies—not just the headline amount.

What each promotion actually gives you

The word “bonus” does not tell you how an award works. Identify the reward type in the operator’s terms before comparing its advertised value with another offer.

  • Trading credits: Credits used to trade event contracts. The credit itself may not be withdrawable, and it may expire or require trading before any resulting profit can be withdrawn.
  • Bonus bets: A sportsbook award used to place a wager. The offer’s rules determine whether the stake is returned with a win and what happens to winnings.
  • Bonus funds or deposit matches: Promotional funds added in connection with a deposit. They may be subject to play-through conditions before withdrawal.

These are distinct structures, not interchangeable labels. Ask separately whether the award principal can be withdrawn and whether profits or winnings can be withdrawn, and under what conditions.

Compare the conditions, not just the headline

Before opting in, put the material terms side by side. The value of an offer depends on its qualifying activity and restrictions as well as its stated amount.

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What to check Questions to answer
Reward Is it trading credit, bonus funds, a bonus bet, or something else?
Qualification Must you be a new user, enter a promo code, deposit a minimum amount, trade, or place a qualifying wager?
Withdrawal Can you withdraw the award itself? Can you withdraw profits or winnings, and only after what conditions?
Expiry When must you claim or use the offer? Does unused value expire?
Eligible activity Are only certain markets, contracts, wagers, odds, or types of play eligible?
Location and age Which states or locations are eligible, what age applies, and must you be physically present in a permitted location?
Source of terms Are you reading the operator’s current terms or a third-party promotion roundup?

Do not treat a published offer amount as a market-wide norm. A secondary roundup verified on a particular date is a snapshot, not a guarantee of current availability, eligibility, or final terms.

Examples of reported offer structures

CBS Sports marked its prediction-market promotions roundup “Last verified October 3, 2026.” The following are amounts and requirements reported in that dated secondary-source snapshot—not a promise that an offer remains available or that you qualify:

Offer reported by CBS Sports Reported qualifying activity and reward
Kalshi Trade $25 for $55 in bonus trading credits. CBS Sports says the credits cannot be withdrawn directly, must be used to trade, and must be used within seven days.
Polymarket US Deposit $10 or more for $25 in trading credits. CBS Sports says the credits are not withdrawable, though profits can be.
Underdog A 50% deposit match up to $1,000 in bonus funds.
Novig Deposit $10 or more for $25 in trade credits.
FanDuel Predicts Up to $100 in bonus credits after trading $1 for five days.

CBS Sports’ roundup is a secondary source; confirm the live terms with the operator before acting. Separately, an affiliate-marked FOX Sports page described a Kalshi new-user offer of up to $55 in trading credit after at least $25 in event-contract trades, with age, location, and other restrictions. It is another secondary description, not independent primary confirmation of the terms. Neither source establishes a permanent offer amount.

Sportsbook promotion rules depend on jurisdiction

There is no single nationwide rule for sportsbook promotions in the cited material. Ohio provides one specific example: Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3775-16-09, effective October 26, 2024, permits sports-gaming proprietors to offer promotions unless otherwise restricted. It requires clear, unambiguous rules that include active dates, rules of play, and prize or award value; operators must make the rules available and track promotions.

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The Ohio rule permits play-through conditions on bonus funds, while saying patrons must not be prevented from withdrawing their own funds or winnings on wagers made using their own funds. That is an Ohio-specific example, not a statement of sportsbook rules in every state.

Prediction-market availability and rules can also vary

Do not assume that prediction markets are universally exempt from state gambling restrictions or available everywhere. In an April 28, 2026 release, the CFTC described active litigation between the Commission and states over authority concerning event contracts. The release presents the Commission’s position and describes ongoing disputes; it does not settle every jurisdiction or establish that every platform or product is available in every state. Check current state restrictions and the operator’s location rules for the specific product.

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Do not mistake a business rebate for a signup bonus

A CFTC filing dated February 7, 2026 describes KalshiEX LLC’s “Sportsbook Hedging Rebate Program.” It is a business-facing incentive for qualifying members who offset or hedge risks from sportsbook services—not a consumer welcome offer. Under the filing, eligibility includes attestations and designated markets, and rebates apply to specified fees only on orders exceeding 300,000 total contracts traded for the stated hedging purpose. The program is scheduled to end no later than February 1, 2027, but may be amended or terminated earlier. See the CFTC-filed program terms for its scope and conditions.

A practical way to evaluate an offer

  1. Read the operator’s current terms. Use a roundup to identify a possible offer, not as a substitute for the rules governing your account.
  2. Name the reward precisely. Establish whether it is trading credit, bonus funds, a bonus bet, or another award.
  3. Calculate the activity required. Note any deposit or trade minimum, qualifying market or wager, odds restriction, promo code, and new-user condition.
  4. Trace the money out. Check whether the award itself is cash-withdrawable and what happens to profits or winnings.
  5. Check the clock and location. Confirm the expiry, eligible states, age requirement, physical-location rules, and any separate restriction on sports contracts.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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