When bet365 rolled out its latest promotion ahead of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Las Vegas Raiders Monday Night Football game on November 17, 2025, it didn’t just offer a bonus—it turned the entire media landscape into a referral network. New users signing up through WTOP’s WTOP365 code, CBS Sports’ CBSBET365, or AM New York’s AMNY365 all unlocked the same $200 bonus bet deal. The catch? You don’t even need to win. Just bet $5 on any market—Cowboys -3.5, Over 50.5 points, or even the Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET—and the bonus hits your account. It’s not cash. It’s bonus bets. But here’s the twist: any winnings from those bets? That’s yours to keep.
How the Bonus Actually Works (And Why It’s Clever)
bet365 isn’t giving away $200 in free money. That’s a common misunderstanding. The $200 arrives as non-cash bonus bets, meaning if you wager $200 and win $100, you walk away with $100 cash. The original $200? Gone. But that’s not the point. The company knows most new users will place that first $5 bet on the Cowboys-Raiders game anyway. And with the Raiders having lost seven of their last eight games, and the Cowboys returning from a bye week after dropping three of four, the odds were already stacked for a high-volume betting day. The bet365 promotion turns what might’ve been a cautious first bet into a risk-free gamble. Even if you lose your $5, you still get $200 in bonus bets to play with. And if you win? You’ve got a real payday.
According to Pickswise, the line stood at Cowboys -3.5 (-105) versus Raiders +3.5 (-115), with the moneyline at Cowboys -180 and Raiders +150. The over/under was locked at 50.5. Oddschecker noted something extra: using the CHECK code didn’t just unlock the $200—it added a 50 percentage point Super Boost on Monday Night Football wagers. That means if you bet on the Over 50.5, your payout could jump from 110 to 160 odds. That’s not a small edge.
Media Codes Are the Secret Sauce
Why does WTOP have WTOP365, while Fox Sports Radio 1310 uses FOX365? It’s tracking. Each media partner gets a unique code so bet365 knows exactly which outlet drove the signups. It’s affiliate marketing at scale. And it’s working. CBS Sports confirmed the offer was live as of 7:29 p.m. ET on November 17, 2025—just minutes before kickoff. Users had to claim the bonus within 30 days of account creation, and the $200 in bonus bets expired seven days after being credited. That’s a tight window. But bet365 knows: once you’ve got $200 in bonus bets sitting there, you’re going to use it. You’ll bet on the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game that same night. You’ll bet on the Bills-Texans Thursday game. You’re hooked.
The Alternative: $1,000 First Bet Safety Net
Not everyone wants bonus bets. Some users prefer insurance. And bet365 offers that too. According to WTOP and AM New York, new customers can opt into a “$1,000 First Bet Safety Net.” The details are murky—some sources say it refunds your first bet up to $1,000 if it loses. Others suggest it’s a free bet match. No one’s clear. But here’s what matters: bet365 is giving users a choice. Either take the $200 bonus bet package, or risk your own money with a safety net. That’s not just a promotion. It’s a psychological play.
Why This Matters Beyond Monday Night
This isn’t just about one game. It’s about the new era of sports betting marketing. bet365 isn’t running TV ads. It’s partnering with hyperlocal sports sites, radio stations, and digital outlets that already have loyal audiences. The $200 bonus isn’t the headline—it’s the media codes. WTOP365, FOX365, GOALBET—they’re not just codes. They’re trust signals. If you read WTOP every day, you trust their picks. So when WTOP says “use this code,” you do. That’s worth more than any billboard.
The NFL’s Week 12 schedule is packed. The Bills-Texans game on November 20, 2025, is next. And bet365 will be ready. This promotion isn’t a one-off. It’s a template. Expect the same model for the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the NBA playoffs. The real winners? The media partners. The real losers? The casual bettors who don’t read the fine print. Bonus bets expire. The safety net has limits. And the house always has the edge.
What’s Next for Sports Betting Promotions?
State regulators are watching. In New York and New Jersey, where bet365 operates, the competition for new customers is brutal. Every site is offering something: free bets, risk-free wagers, boosted odds. But bet365’s media-code strategy is different. It turns journalism into a sales channel. And it’s working. If this model scales, expect more local newsrooms to start publishing “exclusive promo codes” as part of their content strategy. That’s not just advertising. That’s a new business model for local media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get $200 in cash with the bet365 bonus code?
No. The $200 is provided as non-cash bonus bets, not real money. You can use them to place additional wagers, but the original $200 amount isn’t returned to your account. Any winnings from those bonus bets, however, are paid out in cash. For example, if you use a $200 bonus bet and win $80, you’ll receive $80 cash. The $200 stake is forfeited.
Which media outlet’s bonus code should I use?
All codes—WTOP365, CBSBET365, FOX365, AMNY365, PWEVG, CHECK, GOALBET—deliver the exact same $200 bonus bet offer. The only difference is tracking: bet365 uses them to measure which partner drives the most signups. Choose the outlet you trust most. Oddschecker’s CHECK code also adds a 50pp Super Boost on Monday Night Football markets, making it slightly more valuable for live bettors.
What happens if I don’t use the bonus within seven days?
Any unused bonus bets expire after seven days from the date they’re credited to your account. There’s no extension, no grace period. bet365’s system automatically removes them. That’s why many users rush to place multiple small bets across NFL, NBA, or even college games to avoid losing the value. Plan ahead—don’t wait until the last hour.
Is the $1,000 First Bet Safety Net better than the $200 bonus?
It depends on your betting style. The $200 bonus lets you place multiple risk-free bets, but you don’t get your original stake back. The $1,000 Safety Net likely refunds your first cash bet up to $1,000 if it loses—making it better for big spenders. But it’s less clear how it works. Some users report it’s a free bet match; others say it’s a cash refund. Check bet365’s terms directly, as media reports vary.
Can I use the bonus on NBA games too?
Yes. The promotion applies to any market on bet365, including NBA, college football, soccer, and even esports. The Cowboys-Raiders game is just the hook. The $200 bonus can be used on the Heat-Knicks game, the Bucks-Cavaliers matchup, or even the Bills-Texans Thursday night game. The only requirement is that your first $5 wager must be placed before the bonus is unlocked.
What if I already have a bet365 account?
You’re not eligible. This promotion is strictly for new customers who sign up for a bet365 account for the first time. Existing users—even those who haven’t bet in years—cannot claim the bonus. The system verifies your email, phone number, and device ID. Trying to create a new account to access the offer violates bet365’s terms and may result in account suspension.