US sports wagering and NFL season promotions

Promotional offers for sports wagering and prediction markets continue to be introduced for users in the United States. Major platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel have previously targeted events such as UFC 330, MLB, and the NFL preseason. With the start of the NFL season, specifically the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, Polymarket and BetMGM have launched new promotions. Polymarket continues to offer new users a $50 trading bonus upon a $10 deposit, applicable across markets including sports, politics, cryptocurrency, and finance. BetMGM has also introduced NFL kickoff promotions in states including Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, offering a $150 bonus for winning initial wagers or a second-chance bonus of up to $1,500 if the wager is lost. Fliff has also provided up to $150 in bonuses for NFL games.

As NFL Week 1 progressed, platforms intensified incentives for the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Polymarket maintained its $50 bonus, Kalshi offered a $25 bonus for completing $25 in trades, and Bet365, Dabble, and Fliff provided various bonus bets and incentives. Prediction markets initially indicated the Rams were favorites with approximately a 64% to 65% chance of victory.

In the season opener held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7. The 49ers' victory was driven by a dominant defensive performance and three touchdowns from quarterback Brock Purdy, including a 15-yard pass to Deebo Samuel. The Rams struggled, managing only 290 total yards and two turnovers, while quarterback Matthew Stafford completed only 4 of 11 passes for 65 yards in the first half. Sportsbooks including BetMGM, FanDuel, and Polymarket released specific promotional offers and odds centered around this international matchup.