Underdog Promo Code GRINDERS: Play $5 Get $50 in Bonus Entries

by Dylan Wilkerson (dwilkerson) Last Updated 2026-05-18T16:31:52
✅ Fact checked by Pablo Capris

Updated on 5/18/26

Underdog

Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries!

Bonus Code

GRINDERS

Claim $50

Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; AZ: 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783) or text NEXT-STEP to 53342; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).

New players can lock in the Underdog promo code GRINDERS to trigger a guaranteed welcome offer: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries!

If you are loading up the Underdog app for today’s action, claiming the sign-up bonus is your best first move to pad your bankroll. But getting the bonus is just the beginning—our goal is to use it effectively. 

We are staring down a critical 2026 sports slate. The NBA Conference Finals and NHL playoffs are reaching their boiling points with conference-defining matchups, while MLB gives us a fresh early-week slate featuring incredible starting pitching. Whether you want to back Donovan Mitchell in a high-stakes Cleveland Cavaliers playoff tilt or lock in strikeout projections for elite arms like Shota Imanaga and Bryan Woo, the Underdog Pick’em lobby is fully stocked. 

Stick with me as we navigate this week’s board. I will walk you through the deposit process, flag potential geolocation hiccups, and detail exactly how to extract the maximum value out of today’s most favorable projections.

🚨Depending on your state, you might see different contest formats, and minor details like a strict location check or a mismatched ID can delay your deposit right when a valuable multiplier drops.

Underdog Promo Code GRINDERS for May 2026

The best Underdog promo code is GRINDERS. When new users enter this code at signup, they score the welcome offer of Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries!

Underdog signup code GRINDERS is exclusive to new customers at this top DFS app. Even though the bonus hits your account after you make a $5 entry, you must meet the $10 minimum deposit requirement.

How Does the Underdog Welcome Bonus Work?

Underdog keeps things pretty simple with its welcome bonus. When you sign up using the Underdog promo code GRINDERS, you’ll get the best value offer for new players: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries!

It’s a “Play-and-Get” setup. Once you deposit at least $10 and enter a contest for $5, Underdog will credit your account with $50 in bonus entries—no matter if that first entry wins or loses.

That’s a big difference from some other DFS apps, where you only get a bonus if your first play loses. Here, you get the bonus either way, so you can jump right into more contests without having to chase anything.

Where to Deploy Your Underdog Bonus Entries

Once your bonus entries hit your Underdog account, the real fun begins. 

Looking at the board for this week, you have a wealth of daily fantasy options across multiple leagues. The NBA Conference Finals are providing immense value as rotations shorten and stars log massive minutes. We also have pivotal NHL playoff battles where high-volume shooters dictate the pace. Meanwhile, baseball bettors are looking at a beautiful Monday MLB slate packed with elite starting pitching. 

When navigating this board, your priority should be finding correlated value. For example, if you expect a low-scoring, defensive NBA clash, pairing a ‘Lower’ on Donovan Mitchell’s combined rebounds and assists with a ‘Lower’ on a teammate’s points makes mathematical sense. By tying related game scripts together, you maximize the utility of your newly acquired bonus credits instead of firing blind darts.

How to Use the Underdog Promo Code

Not only will promo code GRINDERS get you the best fantasy offer at Underdog—it’s super easy to claim.

1. Use the links on this page to go to the Underdog site or app.
2. Enter the Underdog promo code GRINDERS, if it didn’t auto-fill.
3. Complete your registration and verify your account.
4. Deposit at least $10.
5. Enter a contest with $5 to trigger the bonus.

Once your first entry settles, you’ll receive $50 in bonus entries.

From there, you can start building Pick’em entries, joining drafts, or testing different contest types depending on what’s available in your state.

Underdog Promo vs Other DFS Promos

Underdog isn’t the only DFS app offering a welcome bonus, but its Play $5, Get $50 structure stands out for how easy it is to use.

Here’s how it compares to other popular DFS promos:

The biggest difference is how quickly you can use your bonus. With Underdog, you get guaranteed entries after your first play, instead of having to unlock a deposit match over time.

If you’re planning to deposit a larger amount upfront, a deposit match might offer more total value. But if you want something simple and immediate, Underdog’s play-and-get format is one of the easiest ways to get started.

Why Use Underdog Promo Code GRINDERS?

While a lot of DFS apps lean on deposit matches with playthrough requirements, the GRINDERS code grants you Underdog bonus entries that you can actually use right away.

Here is why we think this play-and-get structure is the best route for new players:

• Guaranteed Bonus Value: You’ll receive $50 in bonus entries after your first $5 play—win or lose. Some platforms only reward losing entries, but Underdog credits your account either way.
• Low Barrier to Entry: You only need a $10 minimum deposit to qualify, making it easy to get started without committing a large bankroll.
• Works for All Modes: Bonus entries aren’t locked into one format. You can use them on Pick’em contests, Best Ball drafts, or other available games depending on your state.
• No complicated rollover: Unlike traditional deposit bonuses, there’s no long grind to unlock value. You can start entering contests and building lineups right away.
• Verified for 2026: Our GRINDERS code is tested daily by the DFS experts at RotoGrinders to ensure it remains active and valid across all eligible states.

It’s that easy to claim the code and start exploring Underdog’s massive lobby of pick’em options and daily fantasy drafts.

Underdog Promos for Existing Users

Once you’ve used the Underdog promo code GRINDERS and claimed the welcome offer, there are still plenty of ways to get extra value on the platform.

Underdog regularly runs promotions for existing users, including profit boosts, insurance-style tokens, and referral bonuses.

Is Underdog Legit and Safe?

Yes. Underdog is a highly secure, legitimate DFS platform backed by major investors. The platform uses industry-standard security to protect your data and processes transactions reliably.

Because daily fantasy sports (DFS) is classified as a game of skill rather than traditional mobile sportsbooks, Underdog is legally available in most U.S. states—including California and Texas.

Where Is Underdog Available?

The Underdog promo code and app are available in 41 states (including DC), though the types of contests you can participate in will vary. Check out our table for a full breakdown of Underdog available states and their corresponding contests:

If you’re signing up for the promo, check state eligibility before you deposit and make sure the contest format you want is live where you are. That saves you from going to the app, seeing a different lobby than expected, and assuming the offer didn’t work. It also gives you a better reason to use the bonus right away instead of figuring things out after the fact.

While Underdog is available in the majority of states, so is the Kalshi bonus.

Our Favorite Underdog Picks Today, May 18, 2026

Here are a few of our favorite Underdog Pick’em plays for today’s slate:

Updated 05/18/2026 8:15 AM ET – Fantasy Pick’em – Subject to Change. These fantasy picks are eligible to be used with the Underdog promo code.

Building a profitable slip from scratch? My biggest piece of advice is to anchor your entries with proven commodities in high-stakes environments. Game 7s in hockey are notoriously tight, making “Lower” projections on total goals an appealing angle.

Conversely, Game 1s in the basketball Conference Finals often feature feeling-out periods, but the primary offensive engines will still dominate the usage rate. Combine a reliable basketball star’s point projection with a pitcher strikeout prop from the MLB slate to craft a smart, correlated entry. Just remember to check the starting lineups on social media before locking anything in, as late scratches can dramatically alter your expected value.

If you want to go deeper, you can access all of our best Underdog picks today, with premium predictions from our expert projections team.

Smarter Strategies for MLB Strikeout Props

Let’s talk baseball! While a lot of casual fans might be distracted by all the intense playoff hoops action right now, smart DFS players know that the daily baseball grind is an absolute goldmine—especially when it comes to pitcher strikeout props.

Sometimes, the projections for top-tier arms (like Shota Imanaga, Seth Lugo, or Bryan Woo) get set just a bit too high when they are facing disciplined lineups that rarely swing and miss. Strikeout props can definitely be a bit of a rollercoaster, but they are highly profitable if you follow a few key guidelines when building your slips:

• Look at Recent Splits, Not Just Season Stats: Instead of just trusting a pitcher’s season-long numbers, dig into how the opposing team has actually performed against lefties or righties over the past two weeks. Recent form tells a much better story than a season-long average!
• Check Workloads and Bullpen Rest: Always take a peek at a pitcher’s recent pitch counts and their team’s bullpen availability. If a starter is coming off a high-stress game, or if their top relievers are completely rested from an off-day, managers are way more likely to pull the starter at the first sign of trouble. That makes grabbing the “Lower” incredibly appealing.
• Don’t Ignore the Umpires and Weather: Never underestimate external factors! Weather dictates pitch movement, and umpires absolutely dictate the strike zone. A humid, hitter-friendly park combined with an ump who has a famously tight strike zone drives up pitch counts fast, knocking starters out early and easily cashing those “Lower” tickets.
• Correlate with Opposing Batters: If you’re confident in taking the “Lower” on a starting pitcher’s strikeouts, try to logically correlate that pick by grabbing “Higher” on total bases for the opposing team’s leadoff hitter. Think about it: if the starter struggles and gets pulled early, the top of the batting order is inevitably going to get more trips to the plate!

Grinding these specific baseball edges is the perfect way to steadily build up your bankroll for those massive weekend contests!

Navigating High-Stakes NBA Games on Underdog

There is nothing quite like the tension of an NBA Conference Finals, but that emotion can be a massive trap for daily fantasy players. Because casual fans flock to these primetime matchups, the ‘Higher’ projections on superstar point totals often become artificially inflated by public bias. To find true value, you have to look past the scoring column. 

I constantly target the peripheral stats—like rebounds, assists, or combined defensive metrics. For instance, if an opposing defense is aggressively double-teaming a player like Donovan Mitchell, his raw point total might suffer, but his assist numbers could skyrocket as he kicks out to open shooters.

Always build your Underdog entries based on expected defensive schemes rather than blind hope that your favorite player drops forty points. Betting with logic over emotion is the fundamental rule of surviving the playoff grind.

My Experience With Underdog

I’ve used Underdog across multiple states and slates, and overall, it’s one of the more reliable DFS apps available right now.

The app is fast and easy to navigate, especially when building Pick’em entries or joining drafts. Deposits and withdrawals are straightforward, and I haven’t run into major issues with payments or contest grading.

Where Underdog really stands out is in its simplicity. Pick’em contests are easy to understand, and Underdog Best Ball drafts remove the need for constant lineup management, which makes it a good fit for both new and experienced players.

That said, there are a few areas where it could improve. There’s no formal rewards or loyalty program, which some competing DFS apps offer. Customer support is also limited to chat and email, so if you prefer phone support, that’s something to keep in mind.

Overall, Underdog is pretty straightforward and has a good mix of contests, especially for Pick’em and Best Ball players.

Pros & Cons

After playing on the app across multiple states and testing out the latest features for the spring sports calendar, here’s my honest take on where Underdog shines and where they still have some work to do.

Underdog Contests & Games

Underdog started with the major sports—NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL—but has since expanded to include college sports and other offerings like soccer, tennis, PGA, and esports.

When it comes to NFL DFS, Underdog stands out with simple but competitive formats that work for both casual and experienced players.

You can jump into snake drafts for daily, weekly, or season-long contests, or go straight to Pick’em with Higher/Lower and Rivals, where payouts can reach up to 20x your entry.

Regular Daily Fantasy Drafts

Underdog has a typical fantasy draft option, with a scoring system that isn’t much different than what you see elsewhere. For their fantasy football leagues, Underdog has adopted 0.5 PPR (points per reception) scoring.

Users can select between two different draft speeds, Fast or Slow, depending on their needs and their desired draft experience. Each user is given 30 seconds per Pick in Fast Drafts, while Slow Drafts give users 8 hours per Pick.

If you want to try a unique draft game, check out Griddy’s fantasy football puzzle game.

Battle Royale Daily Fantasy Draft

Battle Royale is another popular feature that is unique to Underdog.

In Battle Royale, entrants select players through a Snake Draft, but with a twist. Not only are you competing against others in your group, but Battle Royale is also grouped in.

You will compete one week at a time against every snake draft the group entered in your respective contest; you may have the same players as other teams.

At the end of the week, the players with the highest scores are awarded prizes based on the respective pool they entered.

Tips for Drafting Your First Battle Royale Lineup

Battle Royale can be a little intimidating, so here are some tips for newbies:

• Familiarize yourself with the scoring—knowing how many points you get for, say, steals can help you make better picks.
• Do your research beforehand so that your draft time doesn’t pass you by.
• Start small—being conservative with your initial entry fee will empower you to try again if things don’t initially go your way.

Best Ball Tournament Contests

Of course, NFL Best Ball is Underdog main attraction. Check out Best Ball Mania VI’s payout structures below.

Best Ball is a draft-only format where you pick your team at the start of the season, and Underdog automatically sets your highest-scoring lineup each week—no management required.

All contests use a snake draft, and once your roster is set, there are no waivers or lineup decisions. That makes it a great option if you want a more hands-off fantasy experience.

Best Ball contests vary by entry fee and prize pool, but they all follow the same core structure. It’s also where some of Underdog’s biggest tournaments and payouts are available.

If you want more insight so you can make smart picks, check out our NFL Best Ball Season Long Fantasy Rankings for Underdog.

Our DFS podcasts offer general insights for players interested in formats like best ball and daily drafts.

Playing College Football on Underdog

As a huge college football fan, I’m pumped to see that Underdog is expanding their Best Ball contests into the college football space.

I’m telling my friends and family who love college football to take advantage of the Underdog promo code GRINDERS and use it for entries into Best Bowl Mania. Especially for those in states that have yet to legalize online sports betting or college football player props, Underdog is the perfect alternative.

Some things to keep in mind:

• No NCAA daily fantasy drafts
• Pick’em and rivals are available for the NCAA
• No live scoring for college football
• You often have to wait until Thursday mornings ahead of Saturday games to find the NCAA pick’em options

Underdog Pick’em Contests

Like other DFS apps, Underdog has pick’em contests that mimic the traditional player prop bets of sports betting.

You can build entries with 2 to 8 picks, with payouts increasing as you add more selections—larger entries offer higher multipliers, while Flex options give you some room for error if not every pick hits.

Higher/Lower

The simplest Pick ’em game; all you have to do is pick whether players will achieve higher or lower on a given projection.

I’ve noticed that many users apply the Underdog promo code GRINDERS to this contest type since it’s one of the most straightforward ways to build a qualifying entry.

Rivals

Choose between two players with a spread applied. If your pick covers the spread, you win. Some matchups may be graded as a tie if no spread is included.

Some Rivals matchups won’t feature a spread, and in this case, the entry would be graded as a tie.

If you want to see how Underdog rivals competitors, check out our overview of the FanDuel Picks promo.

Champions

A peer-to-peer Pick’em format where you build a lineup of 2–8 players. Standard entries require all picks to hit, while Flex entries allow you to miss one and still cash for a reduced payout.

You can still secure a winning payout even if one of your player projections misses (Flex requires 3+ picks, whereas Standard requires 2+).

I highly recommend utilizing Flex entries during highly unpredictable daily slates, like the NBA playoffs.

When you get your picks right, you earn Champions Points. The user in the tournament with the most Champions Points takes the top prize. Standard Pick ’em rules apply, meaning at least two of your roster selections must be from different real-world teams.

Ladders

Underdog Ladders is a progressive format where payouts increase as each pick hits. The further you climb, the higher the multiplier.

For more details, check out our Underdog Ladders guide!

Does Underdog Have Early Cashouts?

Sort of. The “Win Now” feature originated on Underdog Champions contests, letting you lock in your Champions points and win a specified amount after the contest ends.

I appreciate that the “Win Now” feature was extended to Streaks, so if you want to take the money and run on your Streak, you can do so. If you hit your first few picks, you don’t necessarily have to wait to see if the rest of your picks are also winners to walk away on top.

Underdog Banking: Deposits & Withdrawals

Funding your account and withdrawing winnings on Underdog is simple. Most methods are quick, but one key thing to know: you’ll usually need to withdraw using the same method you used to deposit.

As of March 2026, Venmo, PayPal, and Trustly are the main payout options, with most withdrawals processed within 24–72 hours.

Key Things to Know

• Withdrawals are always free
• Minimum withdrawal is $10
• You can withdraw your full balance even if it drops below $10
• Most payouts arrive within 48–72 hours

👉 Important: You must confirm withdrawals via email within 10 minutes, or the request will be canceled and funds returned to your account.

Underdog operates under standard DFS regulations and uses secure payment systems. Based on our experience, deposits and withdrawals are reliable and processed without major issues.

Check out our review of EDGE Boost for more info on compatible Underdog banking methods.

Does Underdog Have a Sportsbook?

No, Underdog does not currently offer a traditional sportsbook. Instead, the company operates entirely under daily fantasy sports (DFS) regulations. Because DFS is widely classified as a game of skill rather than sports betting under federal law, Underdog’s pick’em contests and drafts are legally available in many states where standard sportsbooks are strictly prohibited (like California and Texas).

Underdog Responsible Gaming Tools

Underdog’s focus is on making sure every player has a safe and enjoyable experience. Daily fantasy sports should be a fun way to follow your favorite sports, and it is important to play within your means.

Underdog provides several built-in resources to help you manage your time and budget effectively.

• Self-Imposed Limits: You can set daily, weekly, or monthly restrictions on how much you deposit or the total amount you spend on entry fees. Once these limits are reached, the app will prevent further transactions until the period resets.
• Cool-Off Periods: If you feel the need to step away for a short time, the “Cool-Off” feature allows you to take a break from the platform for a few days or weeks.
• Self-Exclusion: For those who need a more permanent solution, Underdog offers a self-exclusion option. This restricts your access to the platform for a much longer duration or indefinitely.

State-Specific Protections

Depending on your location, you may notice automatic protections. For example, players in Massachusetts have a standard monthly deposit limit of $1,000, while Maryland and Tennessee also have state-mandated caps to encourage healthy play.

Underdog Customer Service

If you end up needing help on Underdog, you’ll be glad to hear that the customer service team is pretty helpful.

• Live chat: You must verify your account before speaking to an actual customer service rep instead of a robot.
• Twitter/X: @UDSupport
• Email: support@underdogfantasy.com.

Support is available 24/7, though response times can vary depending on volume. And from what we’ve seen, Underdog often hits users with the “volume is higher than usual” disclaimer.

Underdog Mobile App Review (May 2026)

Underdog currently boasts a 4.8/5.0 rating on the Apple App Store and a 4.6/5.0 on Google Play, making it one of the highest-rated DFS platforms on the market.

The interface is incredibly fast when you’re trying to lock in higher/lower picks before tip-off, but no app is perfect.

Here’s what real users have to say:

You may or may not have heard of Underdog, but seeing as you are reading this, you must know by now. Seriously, Underdog has become a major player in the DFS space, with strong brand awareness and a cool logo. (I like dogs.)

Getting to things that you actually care about, the Underdog app may not jump out immediately, but it functions very well. The home screen welcomes you with promotions, trending picks, popular picks, and the key matchup of the day. In other words, it’s what a home screen should be.

Of course, you can also search for particular players, teams, or stat types to make picks on. And if Pick ’em isn’t your thing, you can head over to Drafts and get in on some old-school DFS action.

Joe Beguiristain, novice DFS player

Making picks for NBA or NFL games on DFS apps has been something fun for me to research and do for years now. Sleeper and PrizePicks are the most popular ones for my friends and me, but we’d heard a lot about Underdog, too. Underdog’s reputation is pretty good, so I decided to add it to my DFS rotation this year.

I was really impressed with the Underdog app and DFS experience. Underdog has tons of great stats for all kinds of athletes to make picks on. I tend to focus on prominent NFL performers in important matchups, but Underdog also makes it easy to focus on those good performers in all kinds of sports each day.

Underdog also gave me an onslaught of options for daily drafts to enjoy as well. My friends and I will do daily drafts in basketball or football games, and we’ve added Underdog to our favorite apps because of how much fun we’ve been having. We can create our drafts with each other or join big pools, too. Underdog has been a great DFS option for all of us who play on these each day!

Stephen Pierce, experienced DFS player

Why We Love Underdog Here at RotoGrinders

It’s hard to be succinct when explaining why we love Underdog. But we’ll give it a try—it’s simple, hosts contests like Best Ball Mania III with massive prizes, has a user-friendly mobile app, and has various ongoing promos.

Perhaps one of Underdog’s biggest draws is its access to college football. This offering is vast for SEC football fans, considering that many southeastern states don’t have operators with legal online sports betting licenses. And even if they do, restrictions on college props can restrict your play.

But with Underdog’s various contests, you can get in on the college ball action despite many legal regulations that prohibit other types of real money play and the claiming of bonuses like the Underdog promo code GRINDERS.

Underdog Promo Code FAQs

Hopefully, we were able to answer any lingering questions about Underdog above. If not, check out our top Underdog FAQs below.

Does Underdog have a welcome bonus?

Yes. Using GRINDERS promo code you can Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries!

What is the best Underdog promo code for new users?

If you’re a new user at Underdog, you’ll get the most out of promo code GRINDERS, which yields the welcome offer of Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries!

Is Underdog legit?

Yes, the Underdog app is legit with a massive group of high-profile investors that includes Mark Cuban, Kevin Durant, Adam Schefter, The Chainsmokers, Nas, and Future. The platform operates within the legal framework of each state it operates in, ensuring that your deposits and winnings are protected.

What’s the minimum deposit at Underdog?

The minimum deposit at Underdog is $10, which you can make via online bank transfers, credit/debit cards, or PayPal. Though this amount is a little higher than the $5 minimum deposit requirement at other DFS apps, it’s still an affordable way to get in on the action.

How do Underdog bonus entries work?

When you claim the deposit offer, you’ll receive $50 in fantasy bonus entries that can be used to join Best Ball drafts, Snake Drafts, or Fantasy Pick’em contests.

What is Underdog?

Underdog is a daily fantasy sports site and app that offers various real money DFS contests. Underdog users can play pick’em, best ball, and snake drafts at this legal DFS platform that operates in the majority of states.

Does Underdog pay real money?

Yes, Underdog runs real money contests that allow you to cash out potentially.

How does Underdog pay out winnings?

Underdog pays out users quickly via PayPal and banking accounts. First, submit a withdrawal request, and then you can expect funds to reach your account within 2-3 business days following your initial request.

Which states have Underdog?

You can play Underdog in 41 states (including DC). With pending applications in other states, Underdog may enter your yard soon if it’s not already there!