DraftKings promo code for MLB Tokyo opener

Play ball! The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to open the 2025 MLB season from Tokyo on Tuesday, March 18, and new bettors can use a DraftKings promo code to get in on the action. 

The Dodgers are the preseason +290 World Series favorites at DraftKings, while the Cubs are tied for the 14th-shortest odds at +3000. But all eyes will be on Shohei Ohtani for this one, as the three-time MVP will be playing his first MLB game in Japan after playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2013-17 and winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic with Team Japan. 

Are you looking to bet on the first MLB game of the season? DraftKings currently has a welcome offer that gives out $150 in bonus bets to any new users who place a first bet of at least $5. 

DraftKings is one of several sportsbooks to have a sign-up bonus ahead of the MLB Tokyo Opener. Let’s check out the latest odds and storylines from the diamond to help you profit from DraftKings’ offer. 

How to sign up for the DraftKings promo

Interested in securing DraftKings’ sign-up bonus? New users can follow below to get $150 in bonus bets.

1. Go DraftKings’s website and click “Join Now”
2. Enter the requested information and allow DraftKings to verify your identity and location
3. Make a first deposit of at least $5
4. Place a first wager of $5 or more, then receive $150 in bonus bets instantly

As soon as the first wager is placed, a new user would get the reward instantly in the form of six $25 bonus bets. The $25 bonus bet isn’t included in the total payout for any wagers placed, as bettors would only receive the bet winnings back. All bonus bets will expire after seven days in your account. 

New users must be 21+ to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook, except for Kentucky and Wyoming, with those two being 18+. 

DraftKings promo comparison

If you’re curious about how DraftKings’ welcome bonus compares to other sportsbooks’ offers, you can check out the table below:

DraftKings and bet365 are both running promotions of bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets regardless of the result of your first bet. While it’s a lower amount in bonus bets compared to FanDuel’s bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets, you do have to worry about winning your initial wager in order to get that reward. With DraftKings, you automatically get $150 in bonus bets and can even wind up with a bigger starting bankroll if you also win your first bet. 

With BetMGM, Fanatics and Caesars offer different types of welcome offers compared to DraftKings. BetMGM and Fanatics allow first-time bettors to receive insurance on their first bet if the first bet loses. BetMGM provides up to $1,500 in bonus bets that matches the amount of your first bet if it loses. With Fanatics, if your first wager from any of your first 10 days with the sportsbook loses, you’ll get up to $100 back in bonus bets for a maximum total of $1,000 in bonus bets over that 10-day stretch. Caesars has a unique offer where after your first bet of at least $1, you receive 10 100% profit boost tokens to use to double your potential winnings for 10 bets. The maximum wager for each of those 10 bets is $25, and the maximum winnings for each profit boost is $2,500.

MLB Tokyo Opener preview

The Dodgers will start their title defense with a two-game series against the Cubs at the Tokyo Dome. After winning the franchise’s eighth World Series in 2024, Los Angeles bolstered its roster this offseason by adding two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Japanese star Roki Sasaki to the starting rotation. 

Many of the key pieces return from last season, including reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, former MVP Mookie Betts and 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman. Last season, the Dodgers became the sixth team ever to have four MVPs on the same roster, as those three and Clayton Kershaw (2014) all joined forces. Kershaw is back in Los Angeles for an 18th season after signing a one-year deal with the Dodgers this offseason. 

The Cubs went 83-79 and missed out on the playoffs in Craig Counsell’s first year as manager, as they finished with the same record as David Ross’ final season as manager in 2023. Chicago made a big splash this offseason, trading for Houston Astros slugger Kyle Tucker ahead of the final year of his contract. Tucker has made the All-Star team in each of the past three seasons, and crushed 23 home runs in only 78 games last season after it was marred by a right shin fracture. Even in his shortened season, Tucker finished with more homers than nearly every Cub in 2024, as only Ian Happ had more with 25. 

Responsible Gaming

It’s a must for every bettor to be careful with how they wager on sports. DraftKings takes responsible gaming seriously, and there are tools available at the DraftKings Responsible Gaming Center. Some include being able to set deposit limits and wagering limits, or even the ability for you to take a cool-off break.

Additional resources include The National Council on Problem Gaming, Gamblers Anonymous and reaching out to 1-800-GAMBLER.