DraftKings Offers Low-Barrier Promo for Week 0 College Football
AI-generated image · US National Wire
As Week 0 kicks off the 2026 college football season, DraftKings is offering new users bonus bets following a minimal initial wager.
The 2026 college football season has arrived with an eight-game Week 0 slate, and DraftKings is meeting the surge with a promotional offer for new users. According to CBS Sports, the sportsbook is offering new users $200 in bonus bets after making a $5 wager, with the bonus paid within 21 days.
This push coincides with high-profile Week 0 matchups, including Memphis vs. UNLV and Hawaii vs. Stanford. CBS Sports notes that DraftKings currently lists the over/under for the UNLV vs. Memphis game at 55.5 total points, a decrease of three points from the opening line.
While DraftKings focuses on the traditional sportsbook model, other platforms are utilizing different incentive structures to capture the same CFB audience. CBS Sports reports that prediction market Polymarket is offering new users a $20 trading bonus following a $10 initial deposit. Similarly, Kalshi is providing a $25 trading bonus to new users after they complete $25 in trades.
As the industry scales for the 2026 season, DraftKings is also emphasizing user retention and safety through its "Responsible Gaming Center." CBS Sports reports that the platform provides "Safer Play Tools," which allow users to set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits, as well as wagering and time limits, supported by a 24/7 live chat team.