Online sports betting is on the rise in the United States of America, with more people turning to sports wagering for entertainment and commercial purposes.

Since the apex court in America ruled against the restrictions on sports betting years ago, the industry has witnessed increased growth and the projections for the gambling industry are even more promising.

Today, more than 30 states have legalized sports betting within their boundaries and a few more are working tirelessly to join the fray.

Even years after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), thus paving the way for a virile online sports betting industry, online betting still remains a controversial subject in some sections of American society.

Despite the pockets of controversies, the industry continues to thrive. But how exactly have sportsbooks been managing to keep the existing players and attract new customers?

Given the competitive nature of the market, there is a need to fashion creative ways of attracting and retaining customers.  

Nowadays, sportsbooks have devised a number of ways to achieve this, and chief amongst them is the use of sports betting bonuses as a reward for signing up or depositing and playing consistently.

Betting bonuses have become central to the marketing campaign of the sportsbooks and they go to great lengths to promote their various offers. Sportsbooks engage the services of well-known celebrities across various strata to promote their bonus offerings to new players and promotions to existing players.

With the wide range of new players offers it would not be a hard sell to get new players to join the fray, especially with the wide array of bonus bets. Undoubtedly, these freebies have been instrumental in winning over new customers for the various betting platforms available in the United States.

So, what exactly is attractive about bonus bets that makes betting enthusiasts queue up to claim them?

One of the most prominent reasons is that betting bonuses afford players a chance to create a decent wagering bankroll. When players are awarded betting bonuses or bonus bets, they are provided with an opportunity to wager with essentially ‘free money’.

Although this ‘free money’ may not be withdrawable, it can be used to place bets, with all winnings excluding the wagered sum going to the player. This is a common practice for sportsbooks to deduct the bonus bet amount used in wagering from a successful wager.

It is understandable that players might want to keep the entire proceeds from a successful wager, but it is a known fact that sportsbooks will always set the rules and have their day on that.

Despite a portion of the returns ( stake amount) being taken away, players will still have some leeway and freedom to place bets without having to use their personal funds.

When free funds or bonus bets are available to players, it gives players the chance to experiment and in the case of new players, there is an opportunity to get familiar with the Sportsbook and its betting options.

There is a natural tendency to want to be careful and not lose one’s hard-earned money when wagering with personal funds, but a bonus provides an avenue for more freedom in exploring the various betting options.

For instance, if you favor prop bets naturally, the availability of bonus bets could mean that you will be more inclined to experiment with other betting options like parlays or spreads.

It is not uncommon for Sportsbook to attach some conditions to bonus bets. These could be the validity period of the bonus or even the sports or betting options on which the bonus can be used. So, one way or the other, bonus bets give players a chance to try their hands on various markets.

Another advantage of getting bonus bets, it affords players an opportunity to place bets without any form of pressure.

Ordinarily, when players place bets with personal funds, there is an amount of pressure that comes with it. The feeling of not wanting to lose the money is always present and it may hinder players from making the most sensible betting decision. Bonuses take that away, or at least reduce the stress or pressure that is associated with placing bets.

Again, the more a player wagers, the higher the chances of winning. And with free funds available via sportsbook bonus bets, there is an increased chance of winning because of the volume of bets players have the capability to place.

It is important to state that whether you are a new or existing player, there are various types of bonuses available to be claimed. The advantages outweigh the shortcomings. 

To sum it all up, bonuses will continue to be central in both the operations of sportsbooks and customers alike because of the inherent advantages for both parties.