Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-18**Lead**
BetMGM is sweetening the MLB postseason with a bold offer for new customers: place a first bet on Game 5 between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians, and if that bet loses, BetMGM will cover it with bonus bets up to $1,500. To unlock the promotion, new users must sign up and enter the bonus code FOXNEWS before placing the wager. The offer lands just as the two American League clubs prepare for a decisive matchup in their best-of-five playoff series, with the winner advancing to the next round.
**Context**
The promotion is part of BetMGM's ongoing effort to attract new bettors during the high-stakes baseball postseason. Game 5, scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2026, represents everything that makes October baseball compelling: two evenly matched teams, a hostile road environment, and a season on the line. The Rays and Guardians have split the first four games, setting up a winner-take-all showdown that is expected to draw heavy betting action from both casual fans and experienced handicappers.
Under the terms of the offer, a new customer who registers using the bonus code FOXNEWS and makes their first real-money wager on the game will receive bonus bets equal to the amount of that initial wager, up to $1,500, if the bet settles as a loss. This is commonly known in the sports betting industry as a “first-bet safety net” or “bet insurance.” If the first bet wins, the bettor keeps the winnings. If it loses, the bonus bets provide a second chance to find value on another game or market.
BetMGM has rolled out similar promotions in previous seasons, but the sharp focus on a single playoff contest highlights how bookmakers use marquee moments to engage new users. The launch of this specific offer with the FOXNEWS code also underscores the growing crossover between sports media and sports betting operators. The code itself is a partnership marker, designed to be used by audiences of a major news network that covers sports extensively.
**Analise**
Why does this matter beyond the individual bettor? The offer is a sign of how competitive the legal sports betting market has become in the United States. With more than three dozen states now allowing online sports wagering, operators like BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars are fighting for market share. One of the most effective ways to gain a new customer is to eliminate the risk of a first losing bet. Promotions like this one lower the barrier to entry for first-time bettors who might otherwise hesitate to place their initial wager on a high-pressure game where either outcome is plausible.
The Rays-Guardians matchup itself provides an ideal vehicle for such a promotion. Both teams feature young pitching and quick lineups, and any game can turn on a single defensive miscue or a late-inning home run. That unpredictability makes a same-game moneyline or point spread bet both exciting and risky. The bonus bet protection gives new users the freedom to make a confident pick without the fear of losing their entire deposit on their very first try.
Still, sportsbook promotions are not gifts. They are acquisition costs. BetMGM expects a certain percentage of new customers to become long-term players, and the bonus betting credits, which often expire within a short window, encourage bettors to return to the platform and place additional wagers. This is a standard and legal practice in the regulated sports betting industry, but it carries the usual caveats. Responsible gambling advocates remind consumers that no promotion removes the inherent risk of betting, and that wagering should always be done within one's means.
**Fontes**
Information for this article was drawn from BetMGM’s published promotional terms and the official MLB 2026 postseason schedule. The bonus code FOXNEWS and the $1,500 maximum cover amount are directly referenced from BetMGM’s public offer. Details regarding the Rays and Guardians playoff series, including the Game 5 date, are based on the MLB schedule. No additional sources were used, and no statistics or figures were independently verified by FORTIS NEWS.