Playoff hockey and basketball, not to mention regular season baseball, are all in full swing, so there’s plenty of big-time sports action. If you want to cash in on some betting value, you should do it with some extra value in hand, and you can do just that by taking advantage of BetMGM’s offer for new users.

Users in most states where the sportsbook is legal and active can choose between code PINEWS1600, which lets you access a 20% deposit match worth up to $1,600 in bonus bets, or code INQUIRERNEWS, for a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,500. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to access either of these offers, and how you can get the most value out of whichever you choose.

How to access bonus code PINEWS1600

The mechanics of this offer is pretty simple; all you have to do is make sure to enter the code when you sign up, and you’ll receive bonus bets equal to 20% of the value of your first deposit. It’s worth noting that these bonus bets cannot be withdrawn, they must be wagered, and they do expire eventually, so it’s important to go in with a strategy so that you can gain as much value as possible from the offer.

Once you’ve made a first deposit with which you’re comfortable, you’ll have a certain sum of bonus bets in your account. As for using them, you’ll need to remember that when you win a bet placed with bonus bets, you won’t receive your stake back as cash- just the profit. Because of this, you’ll want to find a bet that would provide you with enough cash winnings to be worth your while.

Let’s take an example from Saturday’s action. The Miami Heat have already upset their longtime nemeses the Boston Celtics once in this series- if you think they can do it again, on their home floor this time, you might want to invest in their +360 moneyline for Saturday’s game three. This number is almost exactly what we look for when playing with bonus bets, as it provides a good balance of risk and potential upside.

How to access bonus code INQUIRERNEWS

Using this code is a bit more complicated, as there’s a strategy around qualifying. If your first bet up to $1,500 loses, you’ll be refunded by way of bonus bets, which have the same restrictions as we discussed above, so you’ll want to follow the same strategy when you use them; making bets with odds approximately between +200 and +300.

In terms of making that first bet, you’ll still want to find something with relatively long odds, to take advantage of the diminished risk level, but not quite as long as if you’re playing with bonus bets. For instance, you could take the New York Islanders’ +158 odds as they look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

How to sign up for BetMGM

If you’ve ever signed up for an online sportsbook before, the process of getting started with BetMGM should be a simple and familiar one, but even brand new bettors should have no issues getting registered. Let’s take a look at the key steps you’ll need to take to launch your account and start betting.

The Inquirer is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site. We provide this information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only.