March Madness begins Thursday with an action-packed slate of Round 1 games, and new users can capitalize on the tournament excitement with a generous welcome offer. No DraftKings promo code is required to claim this bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets promotion available March 19.
The tournament kicks off with TCU vs. Ohio State at 12:15 p.m. ET and continues hourly until Idaho vs. Houston at 10:10 p.m. ET, giving bettors numerous opportunities to use their bonus funds on sportsbook promos.
DraftKings promo code delivers $200 bonus for March Madness
New DraftKings users can secure $200 in bonus bets without entering a DraftKings promo code by placing their first $5 wager on any March Madness matchup. The promotion also includes a 100% profit boost token for NCAA Tournament championship futures bets. Users must select the promotional token before placing their qualifying bet to activate the offer.
The bonus structure breaks down as follows:
- Make a minimum $5 deposit and qualifying $5 bet
- Receive eight $25 bonus bets instantly or within 72 hours
- Bonus bets expire seven days from issuance
- Bonus bet stake not included in winnings
- Complete 1x wagering requirement before withdrawing
For example, if you bet $5 on Duke to cover the spread against Siena and win, you keep your original winnings plus receive $200 in bonus bets to use on other tournament games. If your initial bet loses, you still receive the full $200 bonus amount to continue betting on exciting matchups like Texas vs. BYU or Saint Louis vs. Georgia.
What our experts say about March Madness Round 1
Siena vs. Duke
- Best Bet: Cam Boozer o22.5 Points (-110)
Cameron Boozer dominated his way to an average of 22.5 ppg, and the books have decided to set his points prop right at that average. Against an overwhelmed Siena squad, we should expect Boozer to have an above-average game. The Blue Devils have a high team total of 82.5 and should find room to work inside against a Saints defense ranking 211th in near-proximity attempt rate allowed (Haslametrics).
The Blue Devils will likely be without two starters in point guard Caleb Foster and center Patrick Ngongba. Those are no small losses as they combine for 19.2 ppg while ranking third (Ngongba) and fourth (Foster) on the team in OBPR (combined +8.99).
Enter Boozer to fill the scoring void.
Howard vs. Michigan
- Best Bet: Michigan o90.5 Team Total (-120)
Howard’s opponents draw a free throw rate on average at 38.5%, which is one of the highest in the field.
Michigan hasn’t really played any team this season with a number that high, but you have to legitimately worry about the twin-tower combo of Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara fouling out the entire Bison frontcourt.
TCU vs. Ohio State
- Best Bet: Brock Harding o4.5 Assists (-105)
Brock Harding averages 5.7 assists and leads the TCU fast break, with those possessions fueled by creating turnovers. Texas Christian’s offense thrives on ball movement, with one of the higher assist-to-FGM rates in the country (63rd), and Harding dished out five or more dimes in 14 of the final 19 regular season games.
Round 1 projections flirt with six dimes.
Browse all of our expert March Madness picks during this monumental stretch of the sports calendar.
Best DraftKings March Madness Boosts
All Users
- Get a 30% Profit Boost to use on a 3-2-1 or BTTS First Minute bet for any Men's NCAAB game on 3/19
Must be physically located in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY or WV (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/KY/WY).
How to claim your March Madness betting bonus
Claiming this March Madness promotion requires no special code and takes just minutes to complete. Follow these steps to activate your bonus bets:
- Register for a new DraftKings account by providing personal information and confirming your identity
- Make an initial deposit of at least $5 using any accepted payment method
- Select the promotional token before placing your first bet
- Place a qualifying $5 wager on any March Madness game or market
- Receive $200 in bonus bets instantly plus your 100% profit boost token
The bonus bets can be used on any remaining tournament games, from Thursday's opening round through the championship game. Read our comprehensive DraftKings Sportsbook review for additional details about betting options and platform features.
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*GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org/ (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/ (CT), or visit http://www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $200 in Bonus Bets. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bet must settle by and Token expires 2/22/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: http://sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos . Ends 2/15/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.*






