Bonus cash is sportsbook credit that acts like real money. Unlike bonus bets, the stake comes back with a win — making it more valuable per dollar.
Bonus cash (also called site credit or account credit) is money added to your sportsbook account that behaves like real cash — when a bet wins, you get both the profit and the stake back. It's distinct from a bonus bet, where only the profit returns on a win.
| Bonus Cash | Bonus Bet | |
|---|---|---|
| Stake returned on win? | Yes | No |
| Withdrawable immediately? | Usually after rollover | After wagering |
| Dollar value relative to face value | ~90–95% (after rollover) | ~65–80% (via hedge) |
Bonus cash typically appears as:
Most bonus cash comes with rollover requirements — you must wager the bonus amount (sometimes 1×, sometimes more) before withdrawing.
A 1× rollover bonus cash is nearly as good as real cash. Bet it on the side of a hedge with the best available odds, and you can withdraw 90–95% of the value after the rollover is met.
Higher rollover requirements (3×, 5×) reduce the effective value because you're exposed to vig on each rollover wager. Calculate the effective value before accepting: each rollover wager at -110 costs roughly 4.8% in vig. Three rollovers at -110 erodes roughly 14% of the value.
For the complete breakdown of all sportsbook bonus types, read our guide to sports betting bonuses.
This is part of our complete guide. Read the full breakdown for the complete strategy.
Read: Sports Betting Bonuses: Every Type Explained (2026) →