Site Credit

Site credit is a kind of promotional balance a sportsbook adds to your account. Unlike a cash deposit, you can’t withdraw site credit directly. You have to use it to place bets. The big difference from a standard bonus bet is that when a bet placed with site credit wins, the full payout — including the stake portion — usually comes back as withdrawable cash. That makes site credit generally more valuable than a bonus bet of the same face amount, since you effectively keep the stake on a winning bet.

Sportsbooks hand out site credit in a few situations: as part of sign-up offers, as compensation for a losing bet, as a loyalty reward, or during special promotions. The exact terms change from one operator to the next, so reading the fine print really matters. Some books treat site credit just like bonus bets (stake not returned), while others use the better full-payout setup. Knowing which version you’ve got directly affects how you should value and use the promo.

Example

A sportsbook drops $100 in site credit into a bettor’s account after a qualifying deposit. The bettor uses the $100 site credit on an NFL spread at -110 odds. If the bet wins, they get the full payout of about $190.91 — the $100 stake plus $90.91 in profit — all as withdrawable cash. If the bet loses, they’re out the $100 site credit but haven’t touched any of their own deposited money. Compare that to a $100 bonus bet at the same odds: a winning bonus bet would return only $90.91 in profit (no stake back), making the site credit worth roughly $100 more on a winning bet.

Key Points

• Stake included on wins: The main edge of site credit over a standard bonus bet is that winning bets return the full payout, stake included, as withdrawable cash. That puts it closer to real money.
• Can’t be withdrawn directly: Site credit has to be bet at least once before any funds free up for withdrawal. It’s not a cash deposit and can’t just be cashed out.
• Terms vary by sportsbook: Not every operator defines site credit the same way. Some treat it like a bonus bet where the stake isn’t returned. Always check the exact payout rules before betting with it.
• Often comes with conditions: Site credit may carry minimum odds requirements, expiration dates, or limits on which markets qualify. Some promos also attach wagering requirements before site-credit winnings can be withdrawn.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, assuming the stake-included terms apply.