Site Credit

Site credit is a form of promotional currency that a sportsbook deposits into a bettor’s account. Unlike a cash deposit, it cannot be withdrawn outright; it must instead be put toward placing bets. The pivotal difference from a standard bonus bet is that when a wager funded by site credit wins, the full payout — the stake portion included — is typically returned as withdrawable cash. That structure makes site credit generally more valuable than a bonus bet of identical face value, because the bettor effectively retains the stake on a winning wager.

Sportsbooks distribute site credit in a range of circumstances: as part of sign-up promotions, as compensation for a losing bet, as a loyalty reward, or during special promotional events. The precise terms differ by operator, so reading the fine print is essential. Some sportsbooks handle site credit exactly like bonus bets (stake not returned), while others extend the more favorable full-payout structure. Knowing which version applies bears directly on how you should assess and deploy the promotion.

Example

A sportsbook credits $100 in site credit to a bettor’s account following a qualifying deposit. The bettor stakes the $100 site credit on an NFL spread at -110 odds. If the bet wins, the bettor collects the full payout of roughly $190.91 — the $100 stake plus $90.91 in profit — entirely as withdrawable cash. If the bet loses, the bettor forfeits the $100 site credit but has spent none of their own deposited funds. Set that against a $100 bonus bet at the same odds: a winning bonus bet would return only $90.91 in profit (no stake returned), making the site credit worth roughly $100 more on a winning wager.

Key Points

• Stake included on wins: The chief edge of site credit over a standard bonus bet is that winning wagers return the full payout, stake included, as withdrawable cash. That brings site credit closer in value to real money.
• Cannot be withdrawn directly: Site credit has to be wagered at least once before any funds open up for withdrawal. It is not the same as a cash deposit and cannot simply be cashed out.
• Terms vary by sportsbook: Operators do not all define site credit identically. Some treat it like a bonus bet where the stake is withheld. Always confirm the specific payout rules before wagering with site credit.
• Often paired with other conditions: Site credit may arrive with minimum odds requirements, expiration dates, or restrictions on eligible markets. Certain promotions also attach wagering requirements that must be satisfied before winnings from site credit bets can be withdrawn.
• Higher real value: Thanks to the full-payout structure, site credit is generally worth more in expected value than a bonus bet of the same face amount, provided the stake-included terms apply.