• Bookies
  • News
  • Best Kentucky Derby Betting Promos & Bonuses For May 3, 2025

Best Kentucky Derby Betting Promos & Bonuses For May 3, 2025

Mark Strotman for Bookies.com

Mark Strotman  | 

Best Kentucky Derby Betting Promos & Bonuses For May 3, 2025

No Sweat First Bet Up To $500 Back In Racing Bonus

Visit site
Used 70 Times Today
Must be 21+ to participate. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

The Kentucky Derby goes on Saturday at Churchill Downs Race Course in Louisville, Kentucky. Journalism remains the favorite to win it all. Horse racing betting fans can expect the online sportsbooks delivering odds and bonuses for this great event.

Below, we’ve listed out the top betting apps in the industry and spelled out their welcome bonus offers that are available for all qualified bettors. Here’s what you need to know about these offers.

FanDuel Kentucky Derby Promo

FanDuel Racing is the horse racing-only sidekick to the FanDuel Sportsbook app! This app allows bettors to place wagers on horse races even in states where sports betting is not fully legalized. 

If you are located in a regulated sports betting state (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NY, OH, PA, and VA), FanDuel will give you a No Sweat First Bet Up To $500 Back In Racing Bonus.

With the FanDuel Racing Promo Code for the Kentucky Derby, new customers can get a No Sweat First Bet for up to $500. Place a bet for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, and if your first bet loses, you will get back up to $500 in the form of FanDuel Racing credit.

No Sweat First Bet Up To $500 Back In Racing Bonus

Visit site
Used 11 Times Today
Must be 21+ to participate. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

BetMGM Kentucky Derby Betting Promo

Content Block With Header And Image - Left

The Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest horse races of the year, so it makes sense to also use the biggest welcome bonus offer on the board for new players. That’s what you’ll get with the BetMGM bonus code BOOKIES, which delivers all new players a first-bet bonus up to $150 when they register for an account.

Your first real-money wager will earn you a bonus if your bet wins. 

Caesars Kentucky Derby Betting Promo

Content Block With Header And Image - Left

The Kentucky Derby winner will feel like royalty, and so will those who sign up for a new account using the Caesars Sportsbook promo code BOOKIESDYW. 

Register before the race and Double Your Winnings. Place a bet and you will bouble your winnings on your next 10 bets.

DraftKings Kentucky Derby Betting Promo

Content Block With Header And Image - Left

We know DraftKings has an outstanding daily fantasy sports app and is an industry leader in online sports betting, and they’ve really turned the corner on their horse race betting offering, too. Players can download the DraftKings DKHORSE app for free on Apple or Android and receive a 100% deposit match up to $250 when they register for a new account using the, DraftKings Promo Code offer. There’s a 2x playthrough requirement on the bonus bets you receive, so you can get started early and have your winnings ready for the Kentucky Derby.

How to Bet on The Kentucky Derby

There’s certainly some analysis that goes into betting on horse racing. Past results, jockeys, trainers, course conditions, and position all play a factor. Then again, these are animals that are prone to anything that we’ll never be able to quantify.

Still, favorites are favorites for a reason—and there are plenty of handicappers analyzing the aforementioned factors that spit out the horses they believe will perform best. That’s where underdogs come into play. Research and reading analysis will always come into play in horse race betting, and knowledge is power in what is a short race with a huge impact on both the industry and potentially your pockets.

Types of Kentucky Derby Bets

As opposed to bets on sports like basketball, baseball, or hockey, horse race betting isn’t necessarily a winner-take-all outcome. 

Bettors certainly will be able to place wagers on the horse they believe will win the Kentucky Derby, but there are also available wagers on a horse to place (second) or show (third), with trifectas acting as a parlay where you wager on the exact outcome of the top-3 horses. There will be dozens of different betting options for players to bet on during the Kentucky Derby, and each of them comes with their own perks.

No Sweat First Bet Up To $500 Back In Racing Bonus

Visit site
Used 21 Times Today
Must be 21+ to participate. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

About the Author

Mark Strotman for Bookies.com
Mark Strotman
Mark is a veteran sports betting journalist who has covered the Bulls and the NBA since 2012. His work has appeared on ESPN.com, FoxSports.com, The Chicago Tribune and Yahoo Sports. He regularly provides NBA betting picks, as well as in-depth sportsbook reviews and the latest promo codes for all the major sports gambling operators, including Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and more.