A Complete Guide to US Online Sports Betting Sites

Intelligent sports bettors need trustworthy information about every aspect of the online sports wagering industry. Learn everything you need to know about sports betting, study U.S. gambling laws, read our honest online sportsbook reviews, and join a bookmaker site today.

Quick Facts About U.S. Sports Betting

US Sports Betting Subject	Quick Fact
U.S. Supreme Court Repeals PASPA	May 14, 2018
Legal Sports Betting Launch	June 2018 and later
Legal Betting Age	21 in most states; 18 in Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, West Virginia
States with Legal Betting	33 states plus the District of Columbia
Legal and Coming Soon	Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Vermont
Online Sports Betting	Yes
Retail Sports Betting	Yes
Total Handle (2022)	$92.7 million
Average Tax Rate	19%
Best Sports Betting Site	BetUS Sportsbook

How We Rate and Review Sports Betting Sites

When we rate sports betting sites, we ask a series of questions when formulating our review. The subsequent answers each make up a fraction of our rating. Once our review is complete, most of the answers below should have a satisfactory answer or we don’t give a good rating.

Banking and Payout Speed

Does it have the payment methods you use for non-gaming purchases?
Does it send winnings to you quickly and without trouble?
Furthermore, does it slow pay when you have a big payout?

Bonuses and Promotions

Is the welcome bonus large enough?
Is the min deposit amount realistic?
Next, are the wagering requirements fair and realistic?
Also, are other terms of use fair, such as the match rate, expiry terms, and game contribution rate?
Finally, does the sportsbook offer boosted bets and other daily promotions that help bettors?

Key Features

Does the live in-game betting page have every sports betting market that bettors want?
Furthermore, is it easy to navigate despite having many sports bets available?
Is the “Bet Slip” easy to use for new bettors?
Lastly, is it easy to turn a straight bet into a parlay on the bet slip?

Security and Trust

Does the site use SSL encryption technology to keep your data secure?
Is the verification process thorough yet speedy?
Also, does the site offer crypto payment methods to offer better security?
Where is the site licensed, or is it licensed at all?

Customers Support

First, is the sportsbook’s customer support knowledgeable?
Second, when you call the support staff, are they helpful or do they give you the runaround?
Third, are the customer reps friendly and patient?

Other Factors We Consider

Does the sports betting site have competitive odds?
Does it offer US sports only or mix a few foreign sports (cricket, handball) to the betting options?
Next, does it handle Esports betting?
What about prop bets on entertainment, politics, and awards ceremonies?

Which US Online Sportsbook is Best for Football? Basketball? Baseball?

Newcomers might find it hard to figure out which sports betting sites are best for which sports. We like sites like BetUS because of their huge $100,000 withdrawal limit, but we might like other sites because they offer better odds on certain sports. Some offer specific promotions targeted at a sport.

Bodog, which is the Canadian counterpart to Bovada, handles Interac payments for hockey bettors. With that in mind, here is our list of the best sports betting sites for each major North American sport.

Best US Online Sportsbooks for Each American Sport

US Online Sportsbook	Best Sports Betting Site For:
BetUS Sportsbook	NFL Football Betting
MyBookie Sports	NBA Basketball Betting
BetOnline Sports	MLB Baseball Betting
Bodog Sports	NHL Hockey Betting
XBet Sportsbook	College Football Betting
Bovada Sports	College Basketball Betting
Everygame	Soccer Betting
SportsBetting.ag	UFC, MMA, and Boxing
BetUS Sportsbook	Golf Betting

The Best US Online Sports Betting Sites of 2023

If the table above interests you and you want a bit more information, here are profiles of the best US online sportsbooks in 2023. Online gamblers have a lot of options and we recommend you do your own research. When you get started, here are the first sites you should evaluate.

BetUS Sportsbook – $1000 Welcome Bonus

First, BetUS is a premium provider of online and mobile sports betting options. Second, it supports $100,000 withdrawals, so high rollers, and premium players should love gambling at BetUS. The $1000 welcome bonus might be chump change to some high-stakes gamblers, but it still ties for the best on this list.

Furthermore, BetUS Sports supports betting on 27 different US and global sports. It has an excellent mobile sports betting app for Android and iPhone, so mobile sports bettors should love BetUS. Customer service is helpful and friendly, while BetUS’s odds are among the best in the business. Compare BetUS to the licensed sports betting operators and you’ll find a better bonus, more betting markets, and most often better odds.

MyBookie Sports – $1000 Welcome Bonus

MyBookie Sports provides a large number of sports betting markets, but also the ability play casino games and live dealer games. The betting setup is great for desktop users and even better for mobile sports bettors, which is why it’s so high up this list. Also, MyBookie has been in operation since 1994, so it has a tremendous reputation.

MyBookie offers a lucrative $1000 welcome bonus, plus a full range of sports betting markets and in-play bets. While its deposit methods have a high minimum deposit amount, MyBookie also has huge withdrawal limits that appeal to high rollers.

XBet Sports – $500 Welcome Bonus

XBet is owned by the same gaming group that owns BetUS. Bettors will find that BetUS Sports and XBet are quite similar when it comes to sports bets, live in-play betting, casino games, and live dealer games. It also has similar banking methods, which cater to penny players and high-stakes gamblers alike.

In other words, you should enjoy XBet if you like BetUS. Therefore, readers might wonder why XBet is the only third on our list. That’s because the welcome bonus is only $500 instead of the $1000 bonus at BetUS. If that’s not an issue for you or you want a second good chance at a welcome bonus, then XBet is a good option for you.

Bovada – $250 Welcome Bonus

Bovada Sports offers a nice 50% welcome bonus of up to $250 for sports bettors. It offers a large list of credit card and crypto deposits, plus fair bonus terms for its various promotions. The Bovada brand is the US successor to Bodog, so its staff has many years of experience and a great reputation for bettors.

Bovada gives bettors a full list of sports betting markets for Americans and in-game bets, though it gets big points off for now live streaming. Finally, those who like other forms of gambling will like Bovada. It supports betting on casino games, live dealer games, poker, and horse racing.

BetOnline Sports – $1000 Welcome Bonus

BetOnline is the rare US online sportsbook that has a foothold in the international online sports betting market. Gamblers around the globe can play at BetOnline, whether they like sports betting, casino games, or poker.

BetOnline Sports offers all the credit cards, crypto methods, and web wallets that bettors like. BetOnline also offers daily boosts and other promotions that make the difference for sports bettors who hope to reach that 52% success rate that makes them a winner. We don’t like its restrictions on Skrill deposits, but otherwise, it’s a great choice.

SportsBetting.ag – $1000 Welcome Bonus

SportsBetting is a sister site to BetOnline. For that reason, it’s got a quite similar set of casino games, live dealer games, poker setup, and sports betting operations to BetOnline. If you like BetOnline, it’s almost certain you’ll like SportsBetting.ag.

Like BetOnline, SportsBetting supports online sports wagers on 28 different sports. It features Odds Boosters, same-game parlays, and special sections on game props and futures bets. The bet slip tool is easy to use, making it simple to make straight bets, parlays, teaser bets, and If Bets.

Best Sports to Bet On in the USA

Most sports bettors have their favorite sports. Often, they consider one sport to be their main area of expertise. Or perhaps they like the pace of a sport. And sometimes it comes down to a bettor’s favorite childhood team or athlete playing a certain sport. Whatever the case, here is a quick overview of the best sports for US bettors to wager on.

NFL Football Betting

This is the big one. NFL appeals to casual fans, because most games take place on one day of the week. Also, NFL football breaks down into an 18-week regular season, so a fan doesn’t have to watch an 80+ or 160+ game schedule to track progress. Due to time constraints, football is the perfect sport for American bettors.

NFL betting focuses on point spreads that even betting between favorites and underdogs, but also over/under betting on point totals. For those who want to pick the winner, moneyline betting is king. And for those who want to bet once they get a feel for the game, in-game betting on football is huge.

In the end, Super Bowl betting is the biggest online sports betting event of the year.

NBA Basketball Betting

NBA betting has overtaken MLB betting with many fans. Once again, basketball has fewer star players, fewer games, and less to track than baseball does. Most NBA regular season games keep the same point lines and similar totals bets, so it gives basketball bettors an inside track if they know the ebb-and-flow of regular season NBA basketball.

Before the season, NBA futures attract many gamblers because there are so few true contenders. Once the NBA playoffs start, bettors love to make game prop bets, player prop bets, and in-game bets on these high-energy events. Stars take over and a lot of money can be won in the NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.

College Basketball Betting

Conversely, College basketball betting might not be as big as NBA betting, but for a few weeks each year, it is huge. That’s leading up to the NCAA Tournament, better known as March Madness. Not everyone is satisfied by filling out a March Madness bracket, and sportsbooks offer a lot of NCAAB betting markets.

College Football Betting

NCAA college football season attracts a certain kind of fanatic. Whereas NFL football is designed for parity, NCAA football is about huge point spreads, big blowouts, and major upsets. Because bettors often think they have inside knowledge of their alma mater, they like to make big bets on their favorite teams.

MLB Baseball Betting

No sport has more ebb-and-flow than Major League Baseball. For two long months each summer, MLB betting is the major activity at online sportsbooks. No sport receives more daily boosts (boosted odds) and featured bets, so baseball is a lot of fun. Make targeted bets based on pitching matchups and follow the latest injury news to make run line bets (point spreads).

Pay attention to the many in-game bets on MLB baseball games. The best online sports betting sites offer 90 to 100 sports betting markets (bets) on a single MLB game, so find your area of knowledge and target those bets.

NHL Hockey Betting

Through the long winter months and into the spring, NHL hockey betting has a small but devoted following. Bet on the puckline or player props to follow a hot team or your favorite player. Once the NHL Playoffs start, find the team that’s on a roll or has a hot goalie and roll with them to the Stanley Cup Finals. No sport is more of a “game of inches” than hockey, but it’s also one where the hot team (or healthy team) wins over the betting favorites.

Soccer Betting

Soccer offers a huge set of betting markets. While Americans focus on MLS soccer more than anyone else, it’s an afterthought with many bettors. Instead, the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and other European leagues dominate the action. The UEFA Champions League betting is huge, while the FIFA World Cup every four years is the only event that surpasses the Super Bowl in global action.

Golf Betting

Golf betting remains a major attraction, if nothing else because so many golfers make betting a part of their own game. Betting on golf has its pitfalls because it’s one player against a field of 140 other golfers. That being said, you can bet on Top 5 finishes and Top 10 finishes. Certain top PGA golfers consistently make the top of the leaderboard, so it’s a good way to bet on golf online.

Where is Sports Betting Legal in the United States?

US residents who want a quick list of sports betting across the USA should take a look below. We offer a quick list of the states with legal online betting, retail sports betting, and offshore sports betting only. Lastly, the final list includes updates on the latest US sports betting legislation.

States with Retail-Only Betting

Delaware
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Puerto Rico
South Dakota
Washington
Wisconsin

US States without Regulated Sports Betting

Alabama
Alaska
California
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont

States with Pending Online Sports Betting Bills

California: In 2022, California voters rejected two sports betting bills: Proposition 26 and Proposition 27. Both sides spend over $425 million on ads for the vote, but it still failed.
Florida: The DeSantis administration signed a sports betting bill with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, but a U.S. federal judge said the deal was against the Florida constitution and federal gambling laws.
Georgia: State lawmakers have pushed forward a bill. Unfortunately, these never get out of committee.
Maine: Retail sports betting is approved, but no launch date has been announced. And the new law doesn’t allow for online sports betting.
Massachusetts: At the moment, retail and online sports betting should launch later in 2023.
Missouri: Due to the launch of sports betting in Kansas, Missouri’s leaders want legalization to avoid residents crossing the border to place sports bets. Still, nothing appears imminent.

Types of Online Sportsbook Bonuses

Signup Bonus: Given to people who sign up for a player account. Many sportsbooks deceptively use this term to describe their first deposit bonuses. A real signup bonus is for registering a new account.
Welcome Bonus: Given to bettors who make a first deposit. Has a 50% to 100% match rate for $250 to $1000 in bonus cash.
Crypto Bonus: For bettors who deposit using Bitcoin or other crypto methods. Tend to have a higher match rate and more bonus cash than credit card deposits.
Reload Bonus: For loyal sports bettors after they reload their account with more bankroll.
No-Deposit Bonus: The holy grail of online sports betting bonuses, these are the same as signup bonuses. They offer cash for signing up — not making a deposit.
Refer a Friend Bonus: Offered to customers who refer friends who make a deposit. $25 or $50 is common, but FanDuel offers a $75 refer-a-friend bonus ($50 for sports, $25 for casino).

More Online Sports Betting Promotions

Boosted Odds: If an underdog’s odds are +500, the sportsbook offers +550 or +600 instead. Thus, a winning $100 bet would pay $550 or $600 instead of the original $500 payout.
Odds Boosters: The same as Boosted Odds or Boosted Bets. BetOnline Sports and SportsBetting.ag call these “Odds Boosters”.
Same Game Parlays: A ready-made same-game parlay offered by the sportsbook for promotional reasons. A favorite special promotion by many sportsbooks.
Progressive Parlays: Several licensed sportsbooks offer these bets as welcome bonuses because they don’t win very often.
Profit Boost: Another term for a Boosted Bet. Used at FanDuel to boost your payout.
Player Prop: Sometimes used as “Quick Hit” promos. One example is the Tennis Quick Hit promotions on FanDuel.
Free to Play: Part of a monthly giveaway, often for $2000 to $10,000 in prize money. For instance, FanDuel offers a $5000 Big League Pick’em contest under the terms “Free to Play” and “Free Games” on their site.

Types of Online Sportsbooks

Legal Online Sportsbook: A term used to describe sports betting sites that are licensed and regulated by a U.S. state agency. In truth, it’s legal for Americans to bet at regulated or unregulated online sportsbooks in all 50 states.
Offshore Online Sportsbook: Also called unregulated sportsbooks or even “illegal” online sportsbooks by some in the industry. Both are misnomers because offshore sportsbooks are licensed by foreign regulators. Also, US bettors are not prosecuted for betting real money on these sites.
Social Sportsbook: A term used for sweepstakes sportsbooks. They offer free-to-play games but have a paying option, too. Similar to the free downloadable apps on Google Play and the App Store that have in-app purchases.
Daily Fantasy Sports Site: Technically, these are not considered sports betting. In truth, it’s risking money on your sports knowledge. DFS sites include player-vs-player formats like FanDuel and DraftKings, but they also include player-vs-house formats like Underdog Fantasy. Sites like Underdog are a little different from a sports betting site.

How Risk-Free Bets Works

Risk-free bets are a major promotion at many online sportsbooks. These give bettors a chance to make a first sports bet of $25 or more with a rebate if they lose. In this way, the bet is “risk-free”.

The rebate appears as promotional cash, so you must clear a wagering requirement of 1x to 10x the rebate in order to cash out the money. In the unregulated sports betting market, it’s usually called a risk-free bet. In the regulated gaming market, they have novel terms for these rebates to avoid the use of the word “free”.

Here are some of the main names you’ll encounter when looking for risk-free bets:

Risk-Free Bet: If the bettor’s first bet wins, they pocket the cash. If the bet loses, they receive the bet back as promotional cash. Called a “No Sweat Bet” by some licensed sportsbooks.
No Sweat First Bet: The risk-free bet offered at FanDuel. They don’t use the term “free”, so their offer is called a No-Sweat bet.
Paid Back in Bonus Bets: An inelegant term used to describe rebate bonuses, casino insurance, or risk-free bets. If the bet loses, you receive the bet amount back in promotional money. The term is used to avoid saying the word “Free”.
Bonus Bets: The same as “paid back in bonus bets”. It’s a way to describe a rebate on lost sports bets.

Regulated vs Unregulated Sports Betting Sites

It can get confusing keeping track of the many sports betting sites on the internet. In fact, researching the regulated versus unregulated markets can be like looking into two alternate universes. To help newbies keep track, here is a checklist of the various offshore/unregulated sportsbooks and licensed/regulated sports betting sites.

Offshore Sports Betting Site	Licensed Online Sportsbook
BetUS Sportsbook	BetMGM Sportsbook
MyBookie Sports	FanDuel Sportsbook
XBet Sportsbook	DraftKings Sportsbook
BetOnline Sports	Bet365 Sports
SportsBetting.ag	Bally Bet Sportsbook
Everygame Sportsbook	Unibet Sports
BUSR: BetUS Racing	Hard Rock Sportsbook
Jazz Sports	Caesars Sportsbook
BetNow Sports	Fliff Social Sportsbook
Bodog Sports	PrizePicks
Bovada Sports	Underdog Fantasy Sports

Major Types of Sports Bets

New bettors will encounter a deluge of betting options. To help people pick the type of bet they prefer, here is a list of the broad betting categories you’ll find at online sports betting sites.

Futures Bets

Betting on seasonal outcomes. Might be placed before a season or sometime during the regular season or postseason. Examples include futures on the winner of the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, March Madness, or Stanley Cup Finals.

Moneyline Bet

Betting on the outright winner. You don’t need to worry about point spreads. Favorites are paid out less, while underdogs are paid out more. +250 odds denotes the underdog, who would receive $250 (plus the original bet). A -110 favorite means you must bet $110 to receive a $100 payout.

Over/Under Bet or Totals Bet

Betting on the combined point total of both teams. The bettor chooses whether the score will be over or under the total. If an NFL game has an over/under of 44.5, the bettor can wager on over 44.5 or under 44.5. The final score might be 42-3, 45-0, or 24-21, but all reach the necessary total of 45 for the over to win. A 24-20 score would be a win for the underdog bettor.

Point Spread Bet: Betting the Spreads

Point spreads allow gamblers roughly even odds whether they bet on the favorite or the underdog. To do so, the oddsmaker creates a betting line that’s added to the underdog’s score (or subtracted from a favorite’s score). In NFL football betting, -7 indicates the favorite while +7 indicates the underdog.

If you want to bet on the favorite and win the bet, the favorite must win by more than 7 points. For underdog betting, the underdog can lose by 6 or less (or win the bet outright) to win.

An over/under bet is also known as a total bet.

Prop Bet

A proposition bet is on a specific event in a game. It could be on who scores the first TD, the first run, or the first 3-pointer. A prop bet might be on a player, a team, or some other factor.

Some prop bets are tangential to the game, such as the length of the National Anthem or the color of Gatorade poured on a coach. Other prop bets involve politics, entertainment, or award ceremonies.

Double Action: What are If Bets?

Also known as an “If Bet”, it takes the stakes from a winning wager and places that on a second bet. Double action bets similar to parlay bets, but it allows winnings from one bet to make a bigger wager on a second bet.

Speaking of parlay bets, here are the main type of parlays.

Specific Sports Bets: Parlay Bet Terms

Parlay Bet: A wager where the bettor must win two or more bets to receive a payout. Most sportsbooks support parlays with 2 to 10 legs, but other sites support parlays with 12 or more legs. If any leg loses, then the bettor loses the bet.
Leg: An additional wager added to a parlay bet. A 2-leg parlay is two bets, a 3-leg parlay is three bets combined, and a 10-leg parlay is 10 bets combined into one payout.
Teaser Bet: A parlay bet where the player moves the odds in his or her favor. The basic NFL teaser bet would be a 2-leg, 6-point teaser. If the Chiefs were -9 and the Bills were -7, then a bettor could make a teaser that moves the line to Chiefs -3 and Bills -1. Both bets would need to win to collect a payout.
Pleaser Bet: A parlay bet where the odds are moved in the book’s favor. The basic NFL pleaser bet would a 2-leg, 6-point pleaser. In this case, the player moves to lines in the sportsbook’s favor and receives a bigger payout if they still win the bet.
Single Game Parlay: A parlay bet that focuses on a single game. Certain bets would be inadmissible because they would be betting on the same (or similar) outcome. For instance, a single-game parlay might not allow a 1st Half bet and Full Game bet on the same team.
Same Game Parlay: The same as a single-game parlay. Some sportsbooks call these wagers by a slightly different name.
Progressive Parlay: A parlay bet that still wins if one or more legs lose. Typically, a 2 to 4-leg parlay could have one losing leg, a 5 to 8-leg parlay could have two losing legs, and a 9 to 12-leg parlay could have three losing legs. Sometimes offered for promotional reasons.

Sports Betting Glossary: Terms Every Bettor Should Know

Sports Betting Term	Definition
Action	The amount wagered. Also called turnover.
Added Game	Common in college football, it’s a game added due to public demand.
Alternate Line	Odds that are higher or lower than the main posted line.
Backdoor Cover	When a late score doesn’t affect the game outcome but changes the outcome of a point spread bet or total bet.
Chalk	Another name for a favorite.
Closing Line	The final odds posted after a week of betting.
Edge	Gaining an advantage through research or inside knowledge.
Exposure	Amount of money the sportsbook or the bettor stands to lose on any given wager.
Favorite	The player or team expected to win. Usually denoted with a minus (-).
Handle	The total action a sportsbook accepts in bets on a single game or event.
Hook	A half-point added to a point spread or over/under bet.
Line	Betting odds posted by a sportsbook.
Lock	Term used by tipsters and tout services to claim a pick is certain to win. There is no sure thing in sports betting.
Opening Line	The first odds posted by a sportsbook, before a week of betting. Lines can move based on betting action.
Push	When the bet is a tie. The bettor’s stake is returned in most cases.
Straight Bet	A bet on a single outcome. This is the basic wager at a sportsbook.
Underdog	The player or team expected to lose. Usually denoted with a plus (+).

What is “Laying the Odds”?

When the bettor wagers on the favorite in a point spread bet. The favorite must win by a certain number of points for the bet to win. On a -3.5 win, the favorite must win by 4 or more points to win the bet.

What is “Taking the Odds”?

When the bettor wagers on the underdog. In a point spread bet, the underdog wins if they lose by less than the point spread or they win outright.

Sports Betting Odds Terminology

American Odds

These are the default betting odds used by US online sportsbooks. Based on a theoretical $100 bet, they use a plus (+) or minus (-) to indicate the underdog and favorite. -200 means you have to bet $200 to receive a $100 payout, while +200 means you must bet $50 to receive a $100 payout (or $100 to receive $200).

Fractional Odds

Also called UK odds, these use fractions such as 3/1, 7/2, or 10/1. To get the payout, multiply the bet by the fraction.

Decimal Odds

Also called European odds, these use a decimal to show what the payout (plus bet) would be. Multiply the decimal odds by the bet to see how much you receive back. 2.5 odds (or +150) would mean you’d receive $250 from a $100 bet, though in this case, it means you receive back your $100 bet plus $150 in winnings. This might confuse some US bettors.

Biggest Annual Sports Betting Events

Now that you know everything that you need to know about online sports betting, you should know a bit about the biggest sports betting events each year. While other big events happen in MMA and boxing, these are the annual or quadrennial events that sports bettors love the most.

Betting Event	Why Sports Bettors Love It
Super Bowl	High-profile game with a wide range of betting options. Massive media coverage and cultural significance.
March Madness	Exciting tournament with numerous games, upsets, and bracket challenges. Opportunities for diverse betting strategies.
Daytona 500	The opening event of the NASCAR season. Fast-paced action and potential for unexpected outcomes.
NBA Finals	Intense matchups between the top basketball teams. Individual player performances and game outcomes attract bettors.
World Series	Highly anticipated championship series in baseball. Each game brings unique betting opportunities and storylines.
The Masters	Prestigious golf tournament with a rich history. Unique course challenges and elite players captivate sports bettors.
The Open Championship	Regarded as the most prestigious golf event from a British or European perspective. Rich traditions and tough course conditions.
U.S. Open (Golf)	One of golf’s major championships. Different course setups each year add excitement and challenge for bettors.
PGA Championship	The fourth golf major with notable competition and betting interest. Moved to May to increase relevance and attract more attention.
Wimbledon	Premier tennis event with a long-standing legacy. Grasscourt matches and top-ranked players make it enticing for sports bettors.
French Open	Prominent clay court tournament. Unique playing surface and matchups offer distinct betting opportunities.
U.S. Open (Tennis)	Major hard-court tournament featuring top-ranked players. Exciting matches and betting options for tennis enthusiasts.
Australian Open	The first major of the year, is held in January. Warm weather and unpredictable outcomes make it appealing for sports bettors.
Stanley Cup Finals	The culmination of the NHL season. Intense games and passionate fanbases generate significant interest among bettors.
World Cup	Held every four years, it attracts global attention and offers a wide range of betting markets across multiple matches.

Conclusion

Online sports betting is a huge industry. Certainly, you won’t learn the best tips and tricks in a single day. Still, this guide should give new US sports bettors a solid start. If online sports wagers sound fun to you, then read a few sportsbook reviews, pick a site, make a deposit, and start making real money sports bets online today.

Online Sports Betting Sites FAQ

Is sports betting legal in the USA?

Yes, but sports betting in the USA is complicated because it’s handled at the state level. That means 50 sets of state gambling laws and 50 different sports betting policies. Some states have licensed retail sports betting but no licensed online sportsbooks. Others have licensed retail sportsbooks and mobile sports betting apps. Still, others don’t license either but do not prosecute residents for betting online for real money.

Thus, that’s the takeaway. US sports bettors can gamble online at offshore online sportsbooks with no legal issues. While states punish anyone who launches their own unlicensed online sportsbook and takes bets, they don’t punish real money players.

Where is sports betting legal in the USA?

Thirty-eight US states have some form of licensed and legal sports betting. Twenty-two have licensed online sportsbooks, while four states have pending legislation. Thirty-two have retail sportsbooks (brick-and-mortar), while three more states have pending bills to legalize retail betting. Only thirteen have not regulated sports betting to some degree, while one of those (Florida) would have if a US federal judge hadn’t stepped in.

What’s important is that Americans can make sports bets online for real money without legal trouble. No US official has ever charged or fined a U.S. resident for betting on sports online.

Are online sportsbooks legal in the U.S.?

Yes, but the law confuses many sports bettors. From the perspective of a bettor, online sportsbooks are legal. The bettor won’t be punished for making sports wagers online (or on a mobile sports betting app). From the operators’ perspective, they would be prosecuted if their servers were in U.S. jurisdiction. Hence, many online sportsbooks that accept US bettors are offshore.

Conversely, some US online sportsbooks are legal, though they aren’t in every state. Famous sports betting sites like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are licensed in 22 to 24 states, depending on the operator. Some, like Bally Bet, are legal in only 6 states. Of course, the key is knowing that states regulate sports betting.

What is the best online betting site for US players in 2023?

Our pick is BetUS, but there are many fine operators. We also like MyBookie, XBet, Bovada, BetOnline, and its sister site, SportsBetting.ag. These sites have bigger welcome bonuses and crypto bonuses, along with the ability to fund your account with Bitcoin and other cryptos. They also have more payment methods, including a full list of credit cards and many cryptos.

When it’s time to gamble, they offer the same sports betting markets and in-play bets as the brand names. And they have comparable betting lines to DraftKings and FanDuel.

What online sportsbooks accept PayPal in the U.S.?

That would be sites like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Keep in mind PayPal only supports payments in a few states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are a few examples. These same sites offer a handful of credit card options, but no crypto deposits.

What are the most popular sports to bet on?

NFL football betting is king. When the NFL regular season starts, that’s when the sports betting numbers increase every year. Of course, NBA basketball, MLB baseball, NHL hockey, PGA golf, ATP and WTA tennis, and UFC mixed martial arts are popular, too. NCAA football and basketball — usually listed as NCAAF and NCAAB on websites – are popular sports betting options for Americans.

Internationally, soccer (football) betting is huge. Betting on the major soccer leagues is wildly popular, including the English Premier League (EPL), La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga. MLS soccer betting has some action in the USA and Canada, but not much anywhere else. When major international soccer events happen — those hosted by FIFA, UEFA, or CONCACAF — these events receive some action.

Do online sportsbooks in the U.S. pay out?

Certainly, they do. People might not understand when they talk about the unregulated offshore sportsbook market is they’re regulated by international agencies. Those agencies aren’t US regulators, but they’re legitimate and respected. Beyond that, sites that don’t pay soon get a bad reputation online. Players’ forums and review sites soon spread the word about rogue sites. Research and read and you’ll find trustworthy sports betting sites that pay out.

Which online sportsbook pays the fastest?

Online sportsbooks use crypto banking methods. Because of blockchain technology, crypto payments are both transparent and anonymous. Anyone can look at the blockchain to verify the payment, but it uses a one-time verification code. Therefore, identity thieves cannot steal payment information and verification doesn’t take as long. Crypto sportsbooks pay within minutes or hours, while those that use credit cards and wire transfers take days.

Will sportsbooks ban you from winning?

It’s been known to happen but those sites get blacklisted quickly. Do your due diligence to avoid blacklisted online sportsbooks. If a site has a consensus reputation for banning bettors who win, then never deposit at those sites.

What are blacklisted sports betting sites?

These are sites known for dishonest or unethical practices. Review sites like our own create their own blacklist of rogue sportsbooks they call for bettors to avoid. If a sportsbook is blacklisted, you should never do business with it.

Several practices cause us to blacklist a sports betting site. One, they have one-sided and confusing terms that cause them to void payments. Two, they make slow or unreliable payments; slow paying is a sure sign of a dishonest sportsbook. Three, they don’t pay when they lose, citing obscure or nonexistent terms of use. Other bad practices exist, but these are the worst.

When will sports betting sites be legal everywhere?

Unfortunately, sports betting sites will never be legal everywhere. At the least, Utah and Hawaii will never regulate online sportsbooks. Both have a 100% ban against all forms of gambling: land-based casinos, lottery betting, bingo halls, and so on. If charitable bingo isn’t legal in Hawaii and Utah, no form of commercial sports betting ever will be.

Still, sports bettors in Utah and Hawaii can legally bet on sports online. That’s the contradiction; these states won’t license sites, but they won’t prosecute residents who bet on sports online for real money.

How do sports betting sites make money?

Legit sports betting sites make money from the vigorish. Usually called the “vig” or the juice, this is a rake from the betting action taken by the organizer. At most sportsbooks, the vig is roughly 9% to 11% of the turnover. That’s why most moneyline bets have a -110 bet for the favorite. If it was true odds, the betting line would be -100 and you’d be paid out $100 for winning a 1-to-1 bet. Instead, you’re paid roughly $89 or $90 for a winning bet of $100.

Where can I find the best sports betting promotions?

The best sports betting promotions are at offshore online sportsbooks. It’s not politically correct to say it, but the regulated sportsbooks have smaller welcome bonuses. Often, they have less attractive ones. They might offer a $100 deposit bonus while a site like BetUS offers a $1,000 bonus.

And offshore sportsbooks offer real money cash bonuses, while many of the legal sportsbooks offer “bonus bets”. It’s promotional cash, but contingent on specific events. When offered bonus bets, you don’t receive a bonus if you win. Instead, if you lose, you receive a rebate paid in promotional cash. It’s a do-over or a mulligan, but not a real cash bonus.

Can you legally sport bet online in 2023?

Absolutely. Any US resident can legally bet on online sports in 2023. While that might sound contradictory to all the recent US sports betting laws, it makes sense. US sports betting laws set up a legal framework and a system for punishing those who offer illegal sports betting. The system doesn’t punish US citizens who gamble on sports in the privacy of their own homes. It targets those who offer such games to bettors.

The key to sports betting online is finding an honest online sportsbook that pays quickly and reliably. That’s why US sports bettors should read player forums and sportsbook review sites like our own. Read unbiased sportsbook reviews, pick an online sports betting site that appeals to you, make a deposit, and start making online sports bets today.