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New User Bonus
Barstool Sportsbook has an average sign-up bonus offering a $1,000 new player bonus. They try and word it differently sometimes calling it a “2 for 1” but it’s a standard welcome bonus.
With the risk-free bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet, not deposit, up to $1,000.
If you do receive bonus cash from Barstool, bets placed with that bonus have more terms worth knowing. You can only use the bonus amount on a one-time wager. It can't be split into multiple smaller bets. You are also restricted to odds of -200 or longer (Example -110, +100, +200), and are not eligible to wager on round-robin betting.
While that’s commendable insurance, it rewards you with nothing if your first bet hits. For that reason, deposit matches are generally slightly more appealing.
The problem with deposit matches from other sportsbooks is that they usually only match a percent of your first deposit (usually around 20%) up to an amount, making it necessary to drop about $5,000 in a first deposit to get a maximum bonus. So, sign-up perks are minimal all-around in the industry. Sportsbooks simply don’t hand out free money often as their promotions imply.
Ongoing Promos and Contests
This is an area where Barstool’s experience as a sports media company really shines through. They have one of the most voluminous offerings of ongoing promos and contests in the industry. These are driven in part by their media personalities such as founder Dave Portnoy, Dan “Big Cat” Katz, and more.
Their first 30 days of operating in Illinois experienced high engagement, with 54% of customers wagering on Barstool-exclusive bets. Barstool’s fun over function model has proved profitable for them as they credit casual bettors and creative marketing for the bulk of their success. As stated in Penn National’s 2021 Q1 earnings report, “Our ability to deliver unique and engaging content through Barstool Sports sets us apart from our peers. Barstool’s social media reach, creative promotions, custom parlays, and exclusive bets have been key drivers of customer acquisition for the online sportsbook and have led to enhanced engagement and retention, particularly among more casual bettors.”
The problem with Barstool’s promos is that they’re typically very low-value plays limited with maximum bets of between $25-$50. In addition, they’re one of the quickest sportsbooks on the market to limit players who get hot and make it so that you can’t even participate in some promos.
Tailgate Tour
Barstool’s Tailgate Tour hosts in-person events. Event tickets will include entry, food, bar service, custom TV setups for the ultimate watch party experience, seating & tents, music and much more. This is another way for Barstool to engage with their loyal community.
mychoice Rewards
Thanks to their partnership with Penn National Gaming, Barstool Sportsbook features the mychoice loyalty rewards program. Like some of the other loyalty programs featured at sportsbooks like Caesars, this is a tiered program that requires huge amounts of money spent to become appealing.
For the mychoice rewards program, you earn loyalty points based on the bet types you place. Every $10 wagered in straight bets = 1 Tier Point. Every $10 wagered on Barstool Exclusive Bets: = 1 Tier Point. Every $5 wagered on parlay bets = 1 Tier Point.
There are five levels of benefit rewards. Lowest level rewards get discounts on mychoice partners like Barstool merch or 10% on Norwegian Cruise Line and access to entertainment presales. Top-level rewards get significant perks such as guaranteed complimentary hotel rooms, annual $500 travel reimbursement, VIP seating for entertainment and more.
The Dave Portnoy-led company is a formidable entrant in the U.S. sports betting landscape based on its heady reputation. But while there's a lot to like about what Barstool Sportsbook brings to the table, it has also done little to endear itself to players who want a little less Big Cat and a little more betting line value.
Here’s a comprehensive look at Barstool Sportsbook, and why it might struggle to build a more significant market share among both new players and experienced bettors.
* Barstool accepts cryptocurrency deposits only (no withdrawals), and only in Virginia and Colorado.
This list measures up with the industry standards from fellow heavy hitters DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars. The inclusion of pesapallo (Finnish baseball) is a curious one for U.S. bettors, but hey, perhaps Barstool is merely tapping into an underserved market there.
Barstool Sportsbook has an average sign-up bonus offering a $1,000 new player bonus. They try and word it differently sometimes calling it a “2 for 1” but it’s a standard welcome bonus.
With the risk-free bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet, not deposit, up to $1,000.
If you do receive bonus cash from Barstool, bets placed with that bonus have more terms worth knowing. You can only use the bonus amount on a one-time wager. It can't be split into multiple smaller bets. You are also restricted to odds of -200 or longer (Example -110, +100, +200), and are not eligible to wager on round-robin betting.
While that’s commendable insurance, it rewards you with nothing if your first bet hits. For that reason, deposit matches are generally slightly more appealing.
The problem with deposit matches from other sportsbooks is that they usually only match a percent of your first deposit (usually around 20%) up to an amount, making it necessary to drop about $5,000 in a first deposit to get a maximum bonus. So, sign-up perks are minimal all-around in the industry. Sportsbooks simply don’t hand out free money often as their promotions imply.
Ongoing Promos and Contests
This is an area where Barstool’s experience as a sports media company really shines through. They have one of the most voluminous offerings of ongoing promos and contests in the industry. These are driven in part by their media personalities such as founder Dave Portnoy, Dan “Big Cat” Katz, and more.
Their first 30 days of operating in Illinois experienced high engagement, with 54% of customers wagering on Barstool-exclusive bets. Barstool’s fun over function model has proved profitable for them as they credit casual bettors and creative marketing for the bulk of their success. As stated in Penn National’s 2021 Q1 earnings report, “Our ability to deliver unique and engaging content through Barstool Sports sets us apart from our peers. Barstool’s social media reach, creative promotions, custom parlays, and exclusive bets have been key drivers of customer acquisition for the online sportsbook and have led to enhanced engagement and retention, particularly among more casual bettors.”
The problem with Barstool’s promos is that they’re typically very low-value plays limited with maximum bets of between $25-$50. In addition, they’re one of the quickest sportsbooks on the market to limit players who get hot and make it so that you can’t even participate in some promos.
Tailgate Tour
Barstool’s Tailgate Tour hosts in-person events. Event tickets will include entry, food, bar service, custom TV setups for the ultimate watch party experience, seating & tents, music and much more. This is another way for Barstool to engage with their loyal community.
mychoice Rewards
Thanks to their partnership with Penn National Gaming, Barstool Sportsbook features the mychoice loyalty rewards program. Like some of the other loyalty programs featured at sportsbooks like Caesars, this is a tiered program that requires huge amounts of money spent to become appealing.
For the mychoice rewards program, you earn loyalty points based on the bet types you place. Every $10 wagered in straight bets = 1 Tier Point. Every $10 wagered on Barstool Exclusive Bets: = 1 Tier Point. Every $5 wagered on parlay bets = 1 Tier Point.
There are five levels of benefit rewards. Lowest level rewards get discounts on mychoice partners like Barstool merch or 10% on Norwegian Cruise Line and access to entertainment presales. Top-level rewards get significant perks such as guaranteed complimentary hotel rooms, annual $500 travel reimbursement, VIP seating for entertainment and more.
Barstool Sportsbook Review
Love it or hate it — and there appears to be no in-between — Barstool Sports has been one of the biggest headline-makers of any player in the U.S. sports scene over the past several years.The Dave Portnoy-led company is a formidable entrant in the U.S. sports betting landscape based on its heady reputation. But while there's a lot to like about what Barstool Sportsbook brings to the table, it has also done little to endear itself to players who want a little less Big Cat and a little more betting line value.
Here’s a comprehensive look at Barstool Sportsbook, and why it might struggle to build a more significant market share among both new players and experienced bettors.
Barstool Quick Facts
| 🏅 Rating | B+ |
| 🏢 Founded | 2003 |
| 🇺🇸 # of States | 12 |
| 🎰 Casino | ✅ Yes |
| ₿ Cryptocurrency | ✅ Yes* |
| 📱 Mobile Apps | ✅ Yes (iOS, Android) |
Sports Leagues to Bet On
Most Barstool Sports fanatics (affectionately known as "Stoolies") will agree that football is king – but Barstool Sportsbook does well to offer competitive betting market volume across all of the major North American professional and amateur sports.NFL Betting
Whether you're new to NFL betting or a veteran of gridiron wagering, you'll be pleased with what Barstool has to offer here. In addition to covering off all lines, totals and spreads each week of the NFL season, Barstool also offers a healthy selection of player and team props, along with its "Parlay+" offering which allows bettors to combine multiple eligible plays on one ticket.College Football
The U.S. college betting appetite continues to grow nationwide, and Barstool is here to feed the beast. I like how Barstool allows bettors to divide the weekly NCAA schedule up by conference, permitting those who prefer to stick to the Big 10 or SEC an opportunity to access those games easily. Matchup pages also feature recent history and pre-game win probability.NBA Betting
Give Barstool credit for providing bettors with a little extra when it comes to their NBA wagering needs. Not only does the sports betting site greet bettors with a trove of traditional and prop markets, it also features a rather comprehensive "Betting Stats and Trends" section atop the main NBA page with league-wide stats like Top Over Percentage and Team Stat Streaks.College Basketball
Like the majority of marquee sports betting apps in the U.S., Barstool Sportsbook offers college basketball bettors plenty of options once the season gets rolling. And as you might expect, that offering is super-charged in time for March Madness, when Stoolies from coast to coast rush to their sports betting apps to get in some action on their favorite teams.NHL Betting
NHL betting continues to grow in popularity, thanks in large part to expanded markets offered by Barstool and others. Get in on the moneyline or puck line, take a shot on hitting the right total bet or take your betting experience to another level by predicting who will score, and when. Barstool also features a decent selection of NHL futures in the offseason.MLB Betting
It's micro-betting on the Major Leagues! Many baseball bettors are no doubt rejoicing at the growth of quick-resolution live betting, one of Barstool's many MLB market offerings. You can bet on the result of a specific player's at-bat – or, if you want to get even crazier, the result of a specific pitch! With hundreds of markets for each game, Barstool brings the MLB heat.Other Sports Leagues
Barstool’s A-Z list of additional sports leagues includes athletics, Australian Rules football, badminton, baseball (international), basketball (WNBA, international), beach volleyball, boxing, cricket, curling, cycling (track, road), cyclo-cross, golf, handball, hockey (international), motorsports (NASCAR, F1), Olympics, pesapallo, Rugby League, Rugby Union, soccer, speedway, squash, surfing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and winter sports.This list measures up with the industry standards from fellow heavy hitters DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars. The inclusion of pesapallo (Finnish baseball) is a curious one for U.S. bettors, but hey, perhaps Barstool is merely tapping into an underserved market there.