10 Best Sports Betting Sites in the U.S. 2024

With sports betting bills being passed across the nation, more and more sports bettors can play. If you’re looking to join in on the fun, the sheer number of options available can feel intimidating, but this article is here to help identify the best options for you.

We’ll discuss some of the top sportsbooks on the market, what to look for when making your choice, how to get started, and even how to play once you’ve launched your account. Let’s talk about some of the best online sports betting sites in the U.S.

Where to Bet: Our Top Picks for Online Sports Betting Sites

With so many sportsbook options available to bettors in most legal sports betting states, it’s hard to know where to start. Let’s start your search by talking about 10 of the top online betting sites.

BetMGM Sportsbook

MGM’s “The King of Sportsbooks” moniker is self-styled, but those who have played with this sportsbook know that it’s well-deserved nonetheless. This casino and resort giant has done exceptionally well in turning its decades of experience in brick-and-mortar gambling venues into a great online product. BetMGM Sportsbook offers a wide array of leagues and markets and some of the best sportsbook bonuses for new and existing users.

Of course, great bonuses are only worth a little if they’re not for an excellent sportsbook platform, and BetMGM certainly delivers on that front as well. It excels as a live betting platform, with competitive odds and the app functionality needed to keep pace with this type of wagering. An outstanding rewards program is the cherry on top, adding even more value to one of the best platforms for sports betting on sports events throughout the sports calendar.

Check out our BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus Code and review for more information!

Fanatics Sportsbook

Fanatics has been a major retailer of licensed merchandise in the sports world for some time, but after taking over the platform formerly known as PointsBet, it’s a new brand in the sports betting industry. As such, they’ve come in strong with some great promotions and boosts to bring in new users, and they’ve done an excellent job retaining those sign-ups, as the platform is already one of the best in the business.

The FanCash rewards system is unique, allowing fans to earn perks within the sportsbook and Fanatics merchandise. One minor drawback is the lack of a desktop platform, requiring users to play on the mobile app, but this has hardly been an issue as the app is already one of the top options available. This platform also offers some of the broadest live-streaming options on the market, a real plus for some players.

Check out our Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more information!

ESPN BET

When the partnership between ESPN and PENN Entertainment was announced, the sports media brand’s entry into the sports betting industry took a long time. However, despite the wait, they have certainly delivered on high expectations. The app for this platform is very visually appealing and backed up with some great technology, making for a great mobile gaming experience.

The joint venture with the biggest name in sports media provides a uniquely integrated sports betting experience, with plenty of features and promotions centered around events televised on ESPN’s networks. With plenty of odds boosts and bonuses for new and existing users, this new betting brand has lots of value. It has yet to establish itself as one of the best options for bettors, new and experienced alike.

Check out our ESPN BET Promo Code and review for more information!

DraftKings

DraftKings has relatively humble origins, starting as nothing more than an operator of Daily Fantasy Sports contests. Yet, it has grown into just about the most extensive U.S. online sportsbook on the market. In addition to running great daily fantasy competitions, DraftKings offers odds on various sports, leagues, and bet types, all housed in a well-designed app.

This platform is also known for providing users with plenty of odds boosts and ongoing promotions, allowing you to secure extra value beyond the welcome bonus. DraftKings has forged significant partnerships with big leagues like the MLB, NFL, and NBA and even individual sporting competitions like the UFC and PGA Tour, making this platform perfect for sports betting on the year’s most significant sporting events.

Check out our DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more information!

FanDuel Sportsbook

This is another platform that can trace its roots back to the world of Daily Fantasy Sports. Since then, it has become one of the veritable titans of the betting industry as a fully functional online sportsbook. FanDuel is a favorite among NFL bettors, with plenty of specials for the highly popular league, so if you’re a football fan, this app should be in your arsenal ahead of the fall.

One of the biggest positives with this operator is the app itself, which is one of the very best in the industry. FanDuel continues to excel in this trendy area as a pioneer of same-game parlays, giving parlay specialists great opportunities to build bets and find value. With lots of promos and odds boosts long after the welcome bonus is a thing of the past, this sportsbook is one you’ll want for the long haul.

Check out our FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more information!

Caesars Sportsbook

A mainstay of the in-person gambling world, offering sports betting and casino games at resorts across the country, Caesars Sportsbook has done a great job adapting to the online space. This sportsbook is best known for providing generous welcome bonus offers and a top-tier loyalty rewards system.

With the legendary Caesars Rewards program, users can cash in on bonus bets within the online sportsbook or for in-person perks at Caesars resort and casino locations. Caesars also boasts a modern, effective mobile app and robust customer service options, making it one of the best options on the market today.

Check out our Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more information!

BetRivers

This brand may have a different international presence than others on the market. Still, from its roots as a local fan favorite in Pennsylvania to its current broader presence, it has continued to foster a user-friendly, personable feel. Of course, nothing feels better than competitive odds, which BetRivers does a great job providing across significant markets.

The live betting section is visually apparent, which is essential given the speed at which information is processed and those bets are made. The mobile app provides a very consistent experience as compared to the desktop interface and includes some eye-catching live streaming features as well, helping you stay up to date on your bets even as you’re on the go.

Check out our BetRivers Sportsbook Promo Code and review it for more information!

bet365

As the largest online sportsbook out of all the options we’ve discussed, bet365 excels in sheer volume. This major international platform offers more markets than any other sportsbook you’ll play with, both in sports and bet types.

Quality matters as much as quantity, and Bet365 certainly delivers one of the best apps available, with very competitive odds for many vital leagues. For fans of niche sports and international competitions, it will take a lot of work to top what bet365 offers, making it a must-have app for sports like soccer, cricket, or anything else that’s more popular abroad than in the U.S.

Check out our bet365 Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more information!

betPARX

This brand, derived from an in-person sports betting operator, has stayed true to its roots in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, still serving just those two states and potentially expanding to a couple more nearby. However, this platform provides a great gaming experience for users who can access it, with an impressive range of markets available, especially given the sportsbook’s relative size.

betPARX excels at offering competitive odds and a unique early cash-out feature that allows bettors to seize value on in-progress bets. With a solid desktop interface and app options on both Apple and Android, bettors in the few states where it’s available should add betPARX to their online sportsbooks.

Borgata

After years of building goodwill and entertaining bettors down the shore in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Borgata has entered the online betting field. This platform is becoming a fan-favorite, with a very intuitive desktop site and mobile app and competitive odds on key sports betting markets.

The biggest knock on this platform is its availability; it’s only available in its home state of New Jersey, but it’s one of the best options for bettors who can play with Borgata. This platform offers a solid array of prop bets, many of which can be accessed as live markets after the game has started, allowing you to find minute-by-minute value with this intriguing local favorite platform.

Check out our Borgata Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more information!

Where is Online Sports Betting Legalized?

So far, 30 U.S. States, plus Washington DC, have voted to legalize online sports betting in some capacity. Availability of different sports betting options will vary from state to state, so be sure to check out which ones are active where you live or plan to do most of your betting.

Read on below for a complete list of the states where online regulated sports betting is legal.

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

States with Retail Sports Betting

In a few states, online sports betting is not allowed, but you can place bets at specific in-person locations, like a casino, racetrack, betting kiosk, or dedicated sportsbook.

Below, let’s examine a list of states where in-person retail betting is allowed, including ones where you can also bet online. Washington, D.C., is not included in this list as it is not a state, but it’s worth noting that you can bet at several in-person locations throughout the District.

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

Betting Odds: How to Read & Compare

Learning how to read sports betting odds might seem overwhelming, but it’s easy enough to reduce it to a couple of simple rules.

The most important one to remember is that a number preceded by a minus sign (-) means that the associated outcome has an implied probability greater than 50%, but will have a smaller payout than your initial stake. If the line is preceded by a plus sign (+), the implied probability is 50% or less and your potential profit will match or exceed your risked stake.

For instance, odds of -150 mean that you would need to bet $150 to make a profit of $100, while if the odds are +200, you can make a profit of $200 off of a bet of $100.

Comparing odds is an essential part of the sports betting process; different operators will offer different odds for the same bet, giving you varying levels of value depending on where you bet. If you have accounts with multiple sportsbooks, you can compare the odds each offers to get the best value on each bet.

Odds Boosts

Some sportsbooks will boost users’ odds, providing artificially high odds on a given bet. Sometimes, these boosts apply to any wager on the sportsbook, while sometimes, on a pre-selected bet or a specific betting market.

These offerings will vary from sportsbook to sportsbook and even within each platform over time, so be sure to monitor each sportsbook with which you have an account to ensure you’re getting the most value.

Sports Betting Markets

Once you’ve made your choice out of all the sports betting options and signed up for an account, there’s another choice: which types of sports wagers you’d like to make.

Let’s talk about the available sports betting markets, what each means, and how to figure out which might be right for you.

Moneyline

This is the simplest type of bet and one of the most traditional. To win a moneyline bet, you must correctly project the outright winner of a game. The odds will vary based on the projected likelihood of each outcome, and thus, your payout will change accordingly, but the mechanics at their core are very simple: pick a winner, win your bet.

These bets are great for backing favorites with moderate confidence level, or underdogs you strongly feel can pull off the upset.

Point Spread

A point spread is another very traditional way to sports bet, but it’s a bit more complicated. The spread is a projected margin of victory for the favored team, and as a bettor, you have to pick whether or not they’ll beat that number, known as “covering.”

If 6.5 points favor an NFL team, expressed as a spread of -6.5, they need to win by at least 7 to cover the spread and thus cash a spread bet on them. The underdog, whose spread would be listed as +6.5, must lose by six or less or win the game outright to cover and secure a win for their bettors. These bets are great for supporting favorites in which you are very comfortable, or underdogs you think can keep it close.

Over/Under (Totals)

A total bet, also known as an over/under, is a projection of how many points will be scored between the two teams in a game. As a bettor, you must project whether that number is too high.

For instance, the total for an NBA game could be something like 212.5. If the two teams can combine for more than that, you’d pick the over, while if they’ll score less, you choose the under. This is the bet to make when you feel strongly about a game’s general pace but not who will win or by how much.

Parlays

Parlays are a particular type of bet that pulls together several other individual bets, known as legs, resulting in an increased payout derived by compounding the odds of each leg. You get the benefit of compounded odds because you assume increased risk; if a single leg misses, the entire bet loses, so the more legs you include, the higher the potential payout, but the higher the risk as well.

These wagers can be a great way to dial into a full-day slate of a major sport. Same-game parlays can also be used to hone in on a single matchup; these special parlays can include game lines like the ones we’ve discussed or more granular prop bets, which we’ll discuss in just a moment.

Prop Bets

Props allow you to bet on a specific aspect of a game rather than the final scoreline. There are two major types, likely the most popular of which is player props. These wagers deal with a single player’s statistical performance, such as whether a soccer player will score a goal, how many yards a quarterback will pass for, or an NBA player’s total of points+rebounds+assists.

Game props deal with an angle of the game at large other than the final score. This can include the total penalties in a game or the score after one-quarter of play. Props can be played independently but are standard legs of same-game parlays.

Futures Bets

These wagers take place over a more extended period than a game; usually, they involve a season-long outcome. Common team futures include win totals, odds to make the playoffs, or to win a championship, while player futures include statistical totals and individual awards.

Two-sided markets like team or player totals usually have -110 odds on both sides, just like spreads or game totals, but many-sided markets like awards and championships can have very long odds at times. These bets are more challenging to hit but can provide a significant payout if done correctly. However, it’s worth noting your money could be tied up for a long period of time.

Live Betting/In-Game Betting

This type of sports betting encompasses others, like spreads and props, with the critical difference that live bets are ones placed on a game already in progress. The odds constantly change based on the unfolding events of the game and how they affect the probability of specific outcomes.

Live betting requires bettors to act quickly, as a favorable line can appear and disappear in mere seconds, but for experienced bettors who know what to look for, serious value can be found by taking this approach.

Getting Started with Sports Betting Site

Beyond the critical requirement of being available in your state, there are quite a few aspects of a sportsbook to keep in mind when picking which one, or ones, to sign up with. Let’s discuss these and how to evaluate a sportsbook in each category.

Banking Options/Payment Methods

You can’t start sports betting without money in your account, and it’s hard to justify playing if you can’t withdraw your winnings. This is why it’s so important to consider the options available for executing the financial operations associated with online betting, deposits, and withdrawals.

Most online sports betting sites offer at least one method that works for most sports bettors, but it’s essential to check and make sure of this before you sign up. The most commonly used methods include online banking transfers, credit and debit cards, or e-wallets like PayPal or Venmo.

Withdrawal Speed

You can trust every sportsbook app discussed in this article to safely, securely, and reliably execute your withdrawals, but they will all do so at different speeds. Different methods will also have different withdrawal wait times within each sportsbook app. Still, if speed is essential to you, it’s worth checking out the average times for the withdrawal method you choose with each sportsbook you’re considering.

Referral Programs/VIP Programs

When it comes to adding promotional value, plenty of the focus will often be on welcome bonuses, which we’ll discuss in just a moment. But there are ways for existing users to grab some bonus bets and other perks after the welcome bonus. The main ones you’ll see are referral and VIP or loyalty programs.

The latter rewards you for repeatedly playing with one sportsbook, using benchmarks like time with the site and dollars wagered to determine your VIP loyalty status. Rewards can include bonus bets, boosts, merchandise, or even in-person perks for brands associated with hospitality locations or casinos. Referral programs reward users for bringing new friends to the site via a referral link or code.

Welcome Bonuses

When starting an online sports betting site, welcome bonuses and promotions can provide an excellent value boost for new users. Most online sportsbook operators will offer these promotions in some form. However, the availability will vary over time, so keep checking in with the big platforms to see what they’re offering and if what you see at first could be more enticing.

Top sports betting sites will offer promotions like first-bet matches or insurance, deposit matches, or a fixed sum of bonus bets to use as you start online wagering. Whether you’re a brand new sports bettor or a veteran of the pursuit, these offers can be a great way to secure some extra value when you get started with new online sportsbooks.

Mobile App Availability

Even in today’s online betting landscape, in which many sports betting apps are available, only some platforms offer a mobile betting app. If this is a crucial feature to you as you intend to bet online on the go, make sure that each betting site you choose has a mobile app available, and ideally, check out reviews to confirm that it’s a good one.

Live Streaming

This is a relatively niche feature, but it’s important to some players nonetheless. Usually, this capability will only be available for one or a selection of major sports, so if you have specific favorite sports that you’re looking to stream through your sportsbook app, make sure that the league you’re looking for is offered through the operator’s streaming features. For certain bettors, this can be a significant deciding factor in identifying the best sports betting site for their needs.

Live Betting Options

For some bettors, the best way to play is live betting, which involves placing bets on in-progress games with a fast-paced market in which the odds are always changing to adjust to the ongoing action.

Different sportsbooks have different live market offerings, and of course, some platforms have quicker processing speeds than others. These factors are the main ones to consider when evaluating the best sportsbook for your live betting needs.

Odds Comparisons

It’s worth addressing the simple fact that the best way to have the best odds at your disposal is to have accounts with several online gambling sites. Each one will have different odds on every game, so comparing your options will allow you to find the best value on each wager.

However, individual sportsbooks have varying reputations for providing competitive odds. One might have the best odds on NFL games, another might be favorable for futures bettors, and a third could provide great value on same-game parlays; it’s important to research this topic to find the best value for the type of sports betting in which you’re most interested.

Customer Support

Many users don’t think about this feature until it becomes incredibly important, at which point it’s often too late. See what customer support methods each sports betting app offers, whether it’s an automated live chat, a phone line, or simply email support, and check out reviews to see how responsive each one is.

All mobile betting apps will have customer service departments, but not all will be equally helpful; this can be a major sticking point if you need their help, especially for brand-new bettors.

Reviews

This area will inform your evaluation in the above section; checking out reviews from other users and sports betting professionals can be extremely valuable as you research the best betting sites.

Whether reading articles like this one or checking out user reviews on the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, learning from those who have experience with the platform can boost your understanding of what to expect.

Responsible Sports Betting

When playing with any of these online sportsbook apps, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling. This means never to bet more than you can afford to lose, and to step away when gambling stops being fun, rather than “chasing losses,” which can often make a bad situation worse. Failure to play responsibly can lead to detrimental effects in your personal, family or professional life.

Most online sportsbooks will offer some responsible gambling tools. With some, new users will be prompted to set limits on play time or deposit and wagering amounts. You can also opt for an account timeout if that’s helpful.

If the on-site options aren’t sufficient, feel free to call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER for free 24/7 support. You can also visit a Gamblers Anonymous support group meeting or try GamTalk.org for the online version of similar resources.

Online Betting FAQs

We hope that the above sections have provided you with plenty of helpful information about the best sports betting sites, but you might have a few more questions. If there’s anything else you’re wondering, read on; we’ve compiled a few of the most frequently asked questions about online sports betting and answered them for your convenience.

Is sports betting legal?

The betting options will vary in each location, but a substantial majority of U.S. states have voted to legalize sports betting in some capacity. In some states, you can only be in person, while in a few, you can only bet using sports betting sites. Many will offer bettors the opportunity to do either.

Are online sportsbooks safe?

While there are certainly some untrustworthy offshore options on the internet, you can rest assured that every single online sportsbook we’ve discussed in this article is a safe and secure one with which you can place bets and share personal information without worry.

Can I use more than one sportsbook to bet?

Absolutely; in locations where more than one sportsbook is available, it’s in a bettor’s best interest to use as many as possible always to have access to the best odds on the market.

What is the most reliable sports betting site?

Every sportsbook discussed in this article can be considered a highly reliable option.

What is the most accurate odds site?

There’s no one answer to this question, as odds offerings will vary from market to market, so be sure to compare sportsbooks for each bet you intend to place.

What are the safest sports to bet on?

No sport is safer than any other; injuries and other variances can happen anytime in any league. The safest bet is always the one you understand the best and have done the most research on, so betting on the sport where you have the greatest expertise is probably the safest approach.

Where can I bet on college sports?

Just about every state that allows you to bet on sports will offer college sports markets, so be sure to check out the availability in your location.

Do I have to pay taxes on my sports bet winnings?

The rates and policies will vary by state, but if you are profitable over the year, you do have to pay taxes on your sports bet winnings.