Best Sports Betting Sites

Best sports betting sites.

Sports betting is taking off across the United States as bettors race to visit the best sportsbook apps and websites. As a sports bettor, you will need to know the best sports betting sites available. Here’s a guide to what you need to know from top sportsbooks including offers, bet types, security, and more.

Sports betting is quickly expanding with more states giving approval for online sportsbooks. Legal sports betting is live in several states.

Sports betting is legal in the following US States: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

This list will continue to change as states continue legalizing sports betting. Check the latest news and updates to see if your state has become a legal sports betting state. If you are betting in the US, the rules will vary depending on the state.

The Top Online Sportsbooks

There are quite a few sportsbooks to choose from in legal betting across the United States. Whether it’s mobile betting or online sportsbooks, these are a few of the top options you’ll find now in sports betting legal states.

DraftKings

DraftKings Sportsbook is a popular and user-friendly platform offering various features to enhance the betting experience. It provides live in-game betting, which allows users to place bets on a game while it’s happening. The sportsbook started as a Daily Fantasy Sports site before transitioning to sports betting.

It also offers a range of betting options, including moneylines, point spreads, and totals. The sportsbook also has a cash-out option, which allows users to settle their bets before the game ends to secure winnings or minimize losses.

DraftKings also offers a variety of promotions, bonuses, and rewards programs to incentivize users to bet on the platform. For example, they have given new users bonus bets for registering as the sportsbook launches in new states.

BetMGM

BetMGM Sportsbook offers users various betting options across multiple sports and events. Its mobile app is easy to use, and users can access multiple features, including live streaming of select events, live betting, and cash-out options.

The platform also offers users daily promotions and bonuses that can enhance their betting experience. New users can now claim an exclusive first-time deposit match when they register for an account using the BetMGM bonus code BN1600! There is a 10x wagering requirement on the 20% deposit match.

Most states can also claim a $1.5K first bet insurance promo.

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

Caesars

Caesars Sportsbook is a well-designed platform that offers users a great betting experience. It provides users with various betting options, including live betting, and a user-friendly mobile app.

One of its unique features is the Caesars Rewards program, which enables users to earn points that can be redeemed for various benefits at Caesars resorts and casinos. It’s one of the best VIP loyalty programs in the business. This is one of the reasons Caesars finds itself among the best online sports betting options.

FanDuel

FanDuel Sportsbook is a top-rated online sports betting platform that offers users a seamless and enjoyable experience. One of its unique features is its wide range of betting options, including the ability to place bets on live sporting events. FanDuel has some of the best live betting odds in the entire sports betting market.

Users can also benefit from various promotions and bonuses that are available throughout the year. The sportsbook usually offers promotions such as a No Sweat First Bet or a special Bet & Get offer for new users.

Like DraftKings, FanDuel is also a Daily Fantasy Sports site. It’s one of the most popular in the country and this is why it made an easy transition to being one of the top gambling sites.

BetRivers

BetRivers is starting to make a push as a top sportsbook. The platform has an “iRush” rewards program where you can earn points for betting. These points can be used to redeem rewards, bonuses, and more.

The sportsbook has a wide range of bet types and sports available as well as live streaming. You can also take advantage of promotions. In the past, the sportsbook has had 2nd Chance Bets. Your first bet is protected if it loses. BetRivers will give you bet credit up to a maximum amount.

ESPN BET

ESPN BET Sportsbook launched on November 14, 2023, and comes from one of the most recognizable brands in the sports media industry, ESPN. The current welcome bonus allows new users to make their first wager and get $150 in bonus bets back.

Why set up a betting account with a legal online sportsbook? You are going to want the top betting experience. Legal and regulated sportsbooks in the sports betting industry offer not only convenience but also trustworthy features and promotions.

Safe and Secure

A legal sports betting site has to follow strict guidelines set forth by a governing body. In states where online sports betting is legal, a commission has been put in charge to oversee sports betting. This ensures the sportsbooks are following guidelines and rules. It protects you as a sports bettor.

Your information is safe due to the sportsbooks using state-of-the-art technology to protect your data. You can rest easy knowing your information is being secured.

You will not get the same level of security with an unregulated or offshore book. They are not held to the same standards as legal online betting when it comes to security, features, etc.

More Banking Options

Regulated sports betting also has more banking options for deposits and withdrawals. The best betting apps will allow you to deposit using major credit/debit cards, online banking, PayPal, Venmo, Skrill, and more. A lot of these options are also available for withdrawal.

An unregulated sportsbook might have limited options or you will run into issues when making deposits or withdrawals. Processing times might not be listed, take too long, or don’t happen at all.

Live Betting

One of the best features of top online sportsbooks is live betting. Sports bettors have plenty of options for in-game lines and odds. You can place wagers while watching the action.

The top betting sites will have a long list of odds available that will quickly change depending on how the game or event is going. It’s one of the most exciting ways to wager on sports and it has continued to grow in popularity.

Promotions, Bonuses, and More

Regulated online sportsbooks have great offers, promotions, and more. You can score online sports betting bonuses for registering as a new user. These can include bonus bets, deposit matches, second-chance bets, and more.

As a sports bettor, you can take advantage of multiple offers from different legal sportsbooks. This will help you load up your funds as you start betting. For example, DraftKings gave new users in Ohio $200 in bonus bets if they signed up before launch day.

Offers are listed throughout the year. It’s common to see offers and promotions pop up around major events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness. This entices new bettors to join a top online sportsbook.

How to Place a Bet on an Online Sports Betting Site

You are ready to place a bet. To do so you will need to register with a sportsbook. This involves providing your personal information, such as your name, address, and date of birth. The sportsbook uses this information to verify your identity.

Once registered, you will need to confirm your location to ensure that you are within the state where the sportsbook is licensed to operate. You can also claim any promotions, betting bonuses, or offers for new users to get started.

To place a bet, use the navigation to find the sport and game you want to bet on. Most sportsbooks will have the sports league and type listed so you can easily find what you are looking for. Scan the bet options and add a wager to your bet slip.

Claiming a Sportsbook Promo Code or Offer on Betting Sites

Most sportsbook promo codes and offers will be automatically applied. If you click on a referral link, the promo code bonus is likely already entered before registration. If you have questions, contact customer support before signup so you don’t miss out on an offer.

Other offers will be claimed immediately after you register. Some might involve a qualifying bet to unlock the bonus. For example, a sportsbook might be giving out $100 in bonus bets after you place a $10 wager. Other bonuses might be required to be bet on specific games or events.

Be sure to check the terms and conditions. Don’t miss out on a good promotion because you didn’t ask a simple question. Contact customer support so you can take full advantage of the offer.

Offers and Promotions from the Best Betting Sites

The best sportsbooks will have offers and promotions to encourage new users to signup. It’s a nice way to give a new bettor a boost when placing their first bet. Here are some of the common bonuses you’ll see.

Bonus Bets

Bonus bets are extremely common among sportsbooks and betting sites. A sportsbook will give a user bet credit for signing up. A lot of the bonus bet offers do not require a deposit. As a new user, you might be given $100 in bonus bets for registering. 

Bonus bets might come with strings attached. Sometimes they are divided up into small bets or need to be placed on a specific sport or game.

Some bonus bets might require a deposit. For example, DraftKings has run an offer in the past that gave any new users $200 in bonus bets as long as they place a $5 bet.

No-Risk Bets

A no-risk bet can be referred to as First Bet Insurance, Second Chance Bet, No Sweat First Bet, and more. All of the terms basically mean the same thing. For new users, your first bet is covered if it loses.

This is a common offer at sportsbooks because it requires a user to make a deposit. it encourages users to make a larger initial deposit knowing the bet is covered if it goes south. You’ll see a maximum set such as $1,000 or $2,000 for these types of bets.

Deposit Matches or Bonus

A deposit match or bonus is when you are awarded bonus money after a deposit. Some sportsbooks have a percentage attached to a deposit bonus. Say it’s 20% and you deposit $100. You would receive $20 in bonus money. Like other offers, there is a maximum for a deposit match or bonus.

Most sportsbooks will also attach a rollover requirement to the bonus funds. This keeps a user from signing up, claiming the money, and withdrawing it all. You need to bet a certain amount of money before the bonus funds become available to you.

Odds Boosts

You will see sportsbooks do odds boosts on major events or even daily games or props. This is when a sportsbook will change the odds of a particular bet to create a chance at a bigger payout for the bettor.

An odds boost can be something simple such as Patrick Mahomes over 1.5 TD passes going from -120 to +110. Others can be much bigger. For Super Bowl 56, FanDuel boosted the moneyline for the winner to 56 to 1.

Odds boosts will usually come with a bet maximum and might not be available on every sport or contest. It varies from sportsbook to sportsbook.

The most popular sports to bet on with top sportsbooks include football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer. These sports typically offer the most markets, the biggest payouts, and the most exciting action.

Football is the most popular sport to bet on, especially during the NFL season, with the Super Bowl being the biggest event of the year. Basketball is a close second as March Madness is another massive betting event.

The best online betting sites will have a range of sports that also are popular across the world such as soccer, cricket, rugby, and more. The major sports get the most buzz, but the sites offer a long list of niche sports as well for more betting opportunities. This gives bettors a chance to see more than just American sports for their betting.

Betting on College Sports with the Best Sportsbooks

There are a few states with restrictions on college sports betting. These include New Jersey, Illinois, Iowa, and a few more. In New Jersey, betting on college teams from the state or games taking place in the state is not allowed, while in Illinois and Iowa, betting on in-state college teams is prohibited.

Additionally, some states have restrictions on specific types of bets for college sports. In Colorado, prop bets on college sports are not permitted. It’s important to check the regulations in your specific state before placing any bets on college sports.

Bet Types and Betting Options

The best sports betting apps and sites will have plenty of options in terms of bet types and betting markets. As a sports bettor, you’ll want to be familiar with the different bet types. Here are a few you will see when you bet online.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is one of the simplest and most popular types of sports bets. It involves picking the team you think will win a particular game. Let’s use the example of an NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions.

The Bears might be listed as -125 favorites, while the Lions would be the underdogs at +115. This means that if you bet $125 on the Bears to win, you would stand to win $100. A $100 bet on the Lions would yield a profit of $115.

Moneyline odds are usually displayed with a plus or minus sign in front of the number, indicating whether the team is favored or the underdog. With a moneyline bet, the only thing that matters is which team wins the game outright.

Point Spread

A point spread bet is when you bet on the margin of victory or defeat for a team in a game. In the NBA, the Bulls may be -3.5 favorites vs the Jazz, meaning they need to win by four or more points for the bet to pay out. 

The Jazz would be underdogs in this scenario at +3.5 and would need to lose by three points or less or win for the bet to payout. Betting on the point spread is a popular option in sports betting.

The odds for the Bulls to cover the -3.5 spread may be -110. This means you’d have to bet $110 to win $100. The odds for point spreads are usually around -110 on both sides.

Total

Total bets are also known as an over/under. This type of wager is placed on the total points scored by both teams combined. For hockey ,it would be total goals and for baseball would be total runs.

For example, we have a game between the Cubs and Red Sox with a total runs line of 8.5. If you think there will be more than 8.5 runs scored, you would bet the over. If you believe there will be fewer than 8.5 runs scored, you would bet the under.

It’s important to note that you’re betting on the combined score of both teams, not just one team. So if the final score is 5-4, the total number of runs scored would be nine. If you bet the over, you would win because nine runs or more were scored in the game.

Props

Prop bets are wagers placed on outcomes within a game. They aren’t necessarily tied to the end result. Props have boomed in recent years with the best sites adding a long list as you bet on sports like football, basketball, baseball, and more.

A prop bet could be betting on the first player to score a touchdown or placing a wager on Mike Trout to hit a home run. There are team, game, and player props available at most sportsbooks.

For big events like the Super Bowl, there are exotic/novelty props. These are bets that are fun and take no skill. Some include betting on the coin toss, the length of the National Anthem, and what color the Gatorade dumped on a coach will be.

Futures

Futures bets are what they sound like. They are a bet on an event that takes place down the road. Sports leagues will have odds on which team will win championships or which players will win major awards. These odds are available throughout the season.

The odds change based on how teams are playing, injuries, and more. Sports bettors like futures because they can get great odds on a team twinninga championship long before the playoffs even start.

Live Betting

Live betting, or in-play betting, is an exciting way to wager on sports. You can place bets while watching a game. The odds change quickly based on the action and you need to make quick decisions. Many bettors like the thrill of trying to predict what will happen next.

Live betting has a long list of bet types such as moneylines, spreads, totals, and props. You can bet on what will happen on the next play, drive, and more.

Best Betting Sites vs Retail Locations

Retail betting locations, such as sportsbooks in casinos, have been popular for many years. However, with the rise of mobile sports betting apps, many people are choosing to bet from the comfort of their own homes.

Mobile apps offer several advantages over retail locations, including the ability to bet from anywhere at any time, compare odds from different sportsbooks, and easily compare bonuses and promotions.

Additionally, mobile apps provide a more convenient and user-friendly betting experience, with features such as bet builders, live streaming, and in-play betting options.

With mobile apps, bettors can also access a wider range of sports and markets than they might find at a physical sportsbook. Overall, mobile sports betting apps offer many benefits that make them a preferred choice for many bettors.

Sign Up for the Best Betting Sites

When you are looking for the top sports betting sites, there is a lot you need to consider. Take a look at the promotions, offers, bet types, sports offered, and more. It’s important to do research before you start legal online sports betting.

Don’t be afraid to use multiple betting sites in the US. This will help you get the best value as you can compare the different betting platforms. You will be able to see which has the best odds, features, promotions, and more. You want to get the best value with each bet as you begin online gambling.

Take a look at sportsbook reviews and continue your research as you prep to place your first sports bet.

Best Sports Betting Sites FAQs

What are the best sports betting sites?

There are several great sportsbooks in the United States but the decision is up to you. Read reviews of the best sportsbooks such as DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars, and more. Check if their sports betting services fit what you are looking for.

Is online betting legal?

Yes. There are several online sports betting legal states across the country. These have legal and regulated sportsbooks taking bets. You will see more states opening up to sports wagering in the next few years as US sports betting expands.

What promotions will I see with online sportsbooks?

When looking for the best sports betting sites, you will see offers such as bonus bets, second chance bets, deposit matches, and more. Odds boosts are another common offer or promotion that you will see throughout the year.

Are online betting sites secure and safe?

Yes. Legal and regulated sportsbooks in the United States are safe to use. They have to follow strict guidelines set up by governing bodies. A regulated sportsbook is much safer than offshore betting. Offshore sportsbooks don’t have to follow the same strict rules.

Do all of the best sports betting sites have a mobile app?

Most of the top sportsbooks and betting sites will have a mobile app available for download. If the sportsbook doesn’t have an app, it will most likely have an optimized mobile website.

When will my state legalize sports betting?

The sports betting law allows each state to make its own decision about sports gambling. Check with your state and the latest news to see when your state might go live and join the sports betting scene.

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written by

Sam hails from Grandville, Michigan. He has a rich sports background, including playing baseball at Central Michigan before covering high school sports and working with the Orlando Magic. He earned his broadcasting/journalism degree from Central Michigan University and was a member of the 2010 MAC Championship baseball team. Sam developed his expertise while working with Betsperts, Bleacher Nation, and 4for4 in various areas such as writing, social media, betting research, and business development. He's a big fan of the NBA, NFL, and MLB, highly interested in data and statistics.

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