Betting Referral Programs

Many betting sites run refer-a-friend schemes: if someone signs up through your link and meets the conditions, you get a bonus and often they do too. This page explains how those schemes work and what their terms actually require, because the conditions are where the value usually goes.

Marketing teams at major betting sites understand the power of social networks and word-of-mouth referrals. Traditional advertising mediums are effective, but expensive. Word of mouth referrals come from a personal, trusted source. Personal recommendations are effective, which is why many betting sites are willing to pay for them.

Refer a friend programs at online gambling websites are cheaper than ad buys on national television and radio, and performance based. Betting sites don’t have to pay anything until the person referred deposits and plays, which is why they are willing to run them.

How Betting Refer a Friend Programs Work

Every betting site does it a bit differently so you’ll want to make sure you read up on the details for whichever brand you’re considering mentioning to your friends. However, the basic idea commonly is that you convince your friend to sign up for an account and in return, you get paid.

Referrals are typically tracked by one of two methods. In one, you are given a special link that you can send to anyone. If your friend clicks your unique link, he is sent to the betting website and can sign up like normal. You are meanwhile credited with the referral because the link that you sent is unique and tags each referral as having been sent by you. The link can be sent directly to someone, though note the restrictions below on where you may post it.

Sometimes sites track referrals with the use of unique "referral codes" that you give to your friends. In this case, you don’t have to use any sort of special link. Just tell your friends to type in your referral code when they sign up and you’ll be credited with the referral.

How Are Referral Earnings Paid?

Payment is staged against what the person you referred does. In most cases, this means signing up for an account AND making a real money deposit. There may also be additional qualifiers, such as the person you referred having to place a minimum number of bets before you get paid.

Payments are most often awarded in the form of a bonus applied to your player account. This bonus is treated as any other bonus and comes complete with rollover requirements. Betting sites that pay cash for referrals tend to give you less total money, but the advantage is that you do not have to meet any wagering requirements and can withdraw or wager it whenever you want.

Before You Use One

Two things are worth knowing. Programmes generally ban link-spamming on forums and social networks, and will close your account for it. And the person you refer is the one taking on the gambling: the bonus is paid for their deposit and their play, which is worth being clear-eyed about before you send anyone a link.

Of course, make sure you only send your friends to safe and reputable betting sites. If you wouldn’t play somewhere with your own money, it’s just wrong to send your friends there. There are plenty of highly trusted online bookmakers that would love to have your business.