FanDuel Ohio Promo Code: Get $100 When You Pre-Register Now in Buckeye State

Sports betting is coming to Ohio on New Year's Day, and FanDuel has turned on its pre-registration on Saturday, Oct. 1, to give new users a $100 free bet when they sign up.

Signing up with this link will get Ohio users a $100 free bet upon registration. It begins at midnight ET, so overnight Friday into Saturday.

So how does this promo work? And should you claim it now? Let's get into it.

What Is a FanDuel Free Bet?

Most sportsbooks offer some form of free bet, which is almost like cash, but it can't be withdrawn. It must be bet first, then it will turn into cash.

Here's an example. Say you have $100 in free bets and you want to put it all on Ohio State -39.5 vs. Rutgers on Saturday.

You don't have to place all $100 in bets at once — you can split them up across several different bets. It's just easiest to use one big example.

• If Ohio State covers the spread, you keep the profits from that bet, but you don't keep the free bet.
• If Ohio State loses, you end up with nothing.

We always recommend you make plus-money wagers with your free bets, so taking spreads actually isn't the best idea. You're getting much more expected value, since you don't keep the initial stake. While you may not hit your free bets as often at +400 since those outcomes are less likely, it's mathematically optimal and you'll make money in the long run.

Will There Be a Better Offer?

It's hard to say, but FanDuel hasn't really been giving out anything better than $100 in free bets so far this football season.

The $1,000 no-sweat bet offer may sound better because the amount is higher, but that's because you actually have to wager up to $1,000, and you only get free bets back if you lose.

With this offer, you're locking in $100 in free bets, no questions asked.

More on Ohio Sports Betting

Ohio's operator-friendly rules should make it one of the biggest sports betting destinations in the midwest pretty quickly.

Unfortunately for the Buckeye State, most of its neighbors already have legal, fully-online sports betting, so there won't be much traffic from out of state.

A bill (HB 29) signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on Dec. 22, 2021 allows for dozens of online sportsbooks, with more than 40 expected at launch — the most for any state on its first day ever.

The bill legalized sports betting online, at casinos, racetracks, pro sports arenas, bars, restaurants, convenience stores and grocery stores. Ohio's first legal bets will occur Jan. 1, 2023, the Ohio Casino Control Commission recently announced.

Like many other states, including New Jersey, Ohio's sports betting operators will run through physical partners in the state. That means you'll have the likes of FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, etc.

The operators will pay a 10% tax, with almost all the proceeds going to fund education and youth sports.

What to Bet on Saturday

Even though sports betting isn't legal quite yet in Ohio, we've got you covered for Saturday's huge college football slate:

• Stuckey's 10 situational spots he's watching for Week 5.
• Two moneyline underdogs to back, both close to +200.
• College football not your thing? PropBetGuy is targeting a player prop in Jets vs. Steelers on Sunday.