Best Online Sportsbooks in September 2024
How We Pick the Best Betting Sites
The method and criteria are not a secret. All it takes is betting experience and a clear set of rating rules. This way, regardless of the sport you’re into or the type of bonus you’re looking for, you’re getting exactly what you expect.
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Licenses
The only right way to bet online is to bet with a licensed online sportsbook. Thanks to PASPA, bettors in more than 25 states can enjoy betting, and almost as many can do so online. Betting with a US-authorized online betting site gives you peace of mind that you will get your winnings paid out. Your local gaming & betting regulator is there to protect your interest should any disputes arise.
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App interface & features
Your online betting experience is conditioned by the mobile app interface and the features it offers. Whether it’s the way betting markets are filtered, or in general, the interface of the app, we compare that too. Access to early cash-out, combined with a user-friendly in-play betting interface sets the ground for memorable bets.
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Betting bonuses
A big welcome bonus is a good enough incentive to join a new sportsbook! As the market is growing, US online sportsbooks are rather generous with their promotions. They are in the range of $200 to a staggering $1,000. Free bets, match bonuses, and boosted odds are up for grabs. In addition, the wagering requirements are in most cases extremely favorable. Promotions for registered bettors are also part of the review process.
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Betting offer
The choice of markets is rarely a problem if you bet on the most popular sports. However, we also cater to bettors who are into niche sports. A top-class sportsbook offers odds on the most popular sports but also on the ones that are not in the spotlight. In addition, top betting sites offer more markets than the mediocre ones.
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Odds
US online sportsbooks have a rather similar offer, in terms of features, bonuses and payment methods. The odds are the thing that no betting site can fake. They either got it or they don’t. An odds comparison goes a long way in helping determine which is the betting site for you. It’s perfectly reasonable to shop for a betting site based on the odds.
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Live betting
In-play betting, also known as live betting, mandates entirely different evaluation criteria. We pay attention to how quick the site is, whether it’s responsive, and the choice of markets available. The odds are important, but you can’t compare them in a reliable way. As part of the in-play betting rating, we also look into live streaming. Nothing beats being able to follow the action in real-time and placing a bet seamlessly.
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Deposit and withdrawal policy
How you get your money to your betting account is rarely the issue. Frustrations can arise once you submit a withdrawal request. This is why we test and compare payout times, fees, and if the operator is known for random more detailed checks than they have to. In addition, it’s best to plan ahead and choose a payment method that enables you to deposit and withdraw hassle-free.
You can get all the details on how we rate sportsbooks here. This gives you a better picture of what we value the most, and ideally, what you should do as well. Since no two bettors have identical criteria, we’ve made sure to cover all angles, such as popular sports, payment methods, types of bonuses, and a few other factors such as live betting, and a separate category of new sportsbooks.
Mobile Betting Apps
“Online betting” and “mobile betting” are used synonymously in the US. The reason behind this is your location, or in other words, where you are at the time of placing the bet. Almost all sportsbooks have apps for both Android and iOS, with a few giving priority to iPhone users.
Both iOS and Android apps are essentially a carbon copy of the desktop site, making it as easy as possible to bet on mobile and on a computer.
Online betting operators have to pack as many features as possible in the most compact and easy to digest way. This is what sets great mobile betting apps from the average.
Live Betting
Live betting gives you the opportunity to wager on games as they happen, opening up a wealth of possibilities. It’s not suitable for all sports, but the big four certainly is! The NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL tick all the boxes when it comes to live bets.
Most bettors use statistics for pre-game wagering but in-play betting allows you to see how the game is being played out to judge whether a bet is worth placing.
For instance, an NFL game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills in 2021 saw the Patriots pass only three times and rush an incredible 46 times, which was not expected to be the case before the game.
It can bring a lot of value as the pre-match odds are not always accurate. Alternatively, if you’ve placed a pre-match bet, you can hedge it with an in-play one! Live betting opens an entirely new chapter to those who have been betting pre-match exclusively.
- More potential value
- Can hedge pre-game bets
- Wager based on run of play
- Adjust wagering strategy as game goes on
- Can get carried away
- Limited markets compared to pre-game
Provided you go into games with a strategy and ensure you keep track of how much you are betting, live betting can prove to be a fruitful endeavor. However, it’s very easy to get carried away, trying to bet your way out of an existing losing position. Hedge your bet only if it’s reasonable and within budget.
Bonuses
One of the great things about online sportsbooks is that they will often reward you with betting bonuses just for using them to place your wagers. The incentive is usually free bets or extra betting balance, giving you more money to bet with.
There are a few different types of bonuses available to customers and whilst they tend to offer similar rewards, it’s important to know how to qualify for each type.
New Betting Sites
Online betting is legal since 2018 and so new sportsbooks are popping up regularly, especially as more states begin to allow wagering.
It is quite common to see existing operators launch in new states as soon as they can, but there is still plenty of room for competition from new sportsbooks.
Because of the infancy of the betting industry in the US, new sportsbooks are popping up all the time and particularly as more states legalize online wagering.
Bettors can be wary of new betting sites, preferring established sportsbooks instead, but there are plenty of new sportsbooks that are worth joining.
What Sports Can You Bet on at Online Sportsbooks?
No matter what sport you want to bet on, you’ll almost certainly be able to find a betting site that caters to your needs.
Every US sportsbook offers betting on major sports such as football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and soccer, whilst it is also common to see the likes of tennis and golf at most betting sites.
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Football
Football is the most popular sport in the US, with the Super Bowl attracting over 100 million viewers every year. The NFL season runs from September through to February, with each team playing 17 games, and the top 14 teams go into the playoffs. It is estimated that $4.5 billion is wagered on the Super Bowl. Now, you can bet on the NFL online as well.
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Basketball
The NBA continues to attract millions of fans and is the second-most viewed sport behind football. All the popular basketball betting markets are available. In addition, if you choose to bet online, you get to take advantage of promotions and specials. NCAA basketball is also incredibly popular and some states allow betting on college teams.
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Baseball
No pro sports league has more games in a season than baseball, with each of the 30 teams playing a mammoth 162 games per year. The culmination of this comes with the World Series, a best-of-seven series played between the winner of the American League and the National League. That’s 162 matches you can bet on online in a year. Follow the actions from the stands, and place your bets in-play if you like!
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Hockey
Hockey is certainly the least watched sport of the ‘big’ four but it still remains extremely popular in certain pockets of the US. Bet on the Stanley Cup, or bet on some of the less popular hockey leagues and competitions from Europe. In terms of the offer, nothing’s different between betting in a betting shop and online.
As well as the sports mentioned above, the more established sportsbooks will also provide niche sports like handball, rugby, and darts. Smaller betting sites usually just stick to offering a few sports.
US sportsbook also cover all the international sports events, such as the Olympics and world cups for different sports. Some of the more popular events usually have tens if not hundreds of markets available. For example, soccer World Cup betting is available at every betting site you see on this page.
Betting sites tend to prioritize different sports and so finding the best one for you is crucial as it will make sports betting more enjoyable.
If you like to wager on basketball but choose a site that specializes in football, they will likely offer worse NBA odds than competitors and have fewer promotions.
Payment Methods
Sportsbooks often have a range of ways for you to deposit money into your account, ranging from simple bank transfers to physically visiting a partnered casino to deposit at the cage.
We list all the available betting payment methods and the sportsbooks that accept them.
State regulations do prevent some methods from being available everywhere. For instance, BetMGM offer 13 unique methods for New Jersey customers but those in Wyoming are restricted to only four.
It should also be noted that not every method can be used for withdrawing money, so you should always check that with your betting site.
What Makes a Great Betting Platform
There are certain aspects that separate strong betting sites from poor ones as these factors directly affect your betting experience, sooner or later.
These criteria that we look for at USBetting when assessing sportsbooks as they can determine how highly our experts rate them.
Customer Support
Having good customer support is critical for any online business, let alone betting. You are betting with real money, the least you should expect is a real person at the other end of the live chat. Whether it’s an issue you are experiencing and you want to raise a dispute, or just a general question related to betting, your needs should be addressed.
Some markets or promotions are not always worded in the best way and so having knowledgeable representatives – who are easy to contact – to explain things can be very helpful.
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The best betting sites offer most of or all of these support methods, and if they are not able to respond to you within the timeframe above then they should at least tell you how long the wait will be. Reliable customer support is essential. It’s one of the most important things we value when rating sportsbooks.
Cash Out
Early cash out allows you to settle your bet before a game is completed for a determined amount of money. This feature is a necessity for a good sportsbook to have, although its usage varies by the betting site.
Some betting sites may offer it for a wide range of sports and markets, whilst others may simply have it for the most popular betting markets.
Sportsbooks take a premium of around 10-25% for the privilege of offering you early cash out. The amount shown on screen is what you get but the return is around 10-25% less than the amount should be based on the betting site’s odds.
The theoretical cash out value can be calculated by dividing the winning potential of the bet by the current odds available (in decimal format).
Using the example above again: If the Steelers’ odds moved to -1000 when they went 28-10 up then you should theoretically be offered $43.64, including stake, to cash out ($48/1.1). A sportsbook would likely offer you somewhere in the region of $33-39.
Live Streaming
More and more sportsbooks are starting to offer live streaming of sports on their website or app, making it as easy as possible to see what you’re betting on.
The video of the game appears on the same page as the markets, so you can easily watch and bet at the same time. This is a trait of top-level sportsbooks. Some recently launched betting sites or ones that are owned by small companies cannot afford it.
How to Get Started with US Betting Sites
Opening an online betting account is easy and simple, taking a few steps only. You only need to know the basics to place your first bet.
To make it as easy as possible for beginners, all the information you need to start wagering on sports online is right here.
How to Start Betting Online
Note, you have to be within state borders where online betting is legal to place your bets. You can register even if you’re not within state lines. However, once the time for placing your bets come you are required to be in a state where online or mobile betting is legal.
With your account all set up, you can now check out the events listed, look for good odds and a betting market you are most comfortable with. This is where we can help.
Betting Odds
The way US betting sites display odds is nothing short of baffling for inexperienced bettors. Although more confusing than decimal or fractional odds, American odds are actually pretty easy to understand.
Odds that start with a plus display the amount you would win from a theoretical $100 wager. The higher the number, the less likely it is that the bet will be successful.
If the number has a minus in front of it, then that is the amount that must theoretically be wagered to win $100. Numbers that are higher mean the bet has more chance of coming in and thus lower your returns will be.
Odds Comparison
Finding the best odds available for your bet means you can win more money if you are right. Even the slightest bit of difference can have a big impact in the long run.
You should also be looking at sportsbooks with lower margins, as these tend to have better odds. The margin is the money that a betting site theoretically makes on a market and is calculated by adding together the theoretical probability of the selections and taking 100 away.
Game | FOX Bet | BetMGM | PointsBet |
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Minnesota Vikings Spread | -110 (-3.50) | +100 (-3.5) | -110 (-3.5) |
Pittsburgh Steelers Spread | -110 (+3.50) | -120 (+3.5) | -110 (+3.5) |
Spread margin | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
Minnesota Vikings Moneyline | -175 | -167 | -171 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Moneyline | +150 | +140 | +140 |
Moneyline margin | 3.6% | 4.2% | 4.8% |
The comparison table shows that BetMGM are slightly better for both the Vikings spread and the Vikings Moneyline, but if you want to bet on the Steelers to cover the spread then you should use one of the other two.
Betting Markets
Most sports games have dozens of markets available to bet on with some having upwards of 100, but there are a few key ones that are important to understand fully.
These markets are available on most sports and the concepts can be applied to other markets that aren’t listed here.
Where Are Online Betting Sites Legal?
Online sports betting is only legal in certain states and sportsbooks have to apply for individual licenses to operate in each location. Online betting was legalized in the US in 2018 and each state must legislate separately if they want residents to be able to wager. PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992) prohibited betting nationwide, with a few exceptions. Its overruling set the ground for legalized betting!
Every betting site that we recommend is safe and approved, which means you have legal recourse if they try to keep your money or grade a bet wrong and refuse to change it.
State | Year legalized | Number of online sportsbooks |
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Arizona | 2021 | 9 |
Colorado | 2020 | 22 |
Illinois | 2020 | 5 |
Indiana | 2019 | 11 |
Iowa | 2019 | 11 |
Louisiana | 2020 | 6 |
Michigan | 2021 | 13 |
Mississippi | 2021 | 1 |
New Jersey | 2018 | 20 |
New York | 2022 | 5 |
Pennsylvania | 2019 | 9 |
Tennessee | 2020 | 7 |
Virginia | 2021 | 9 |
West virginia | 2019 | 4 |
Wyoming | 2021 | 3 |
Arkansas | 2022 | 2 |
Delaware | 2018 | 2 |
Montana | 2019 | 1 |
Nevada | 2018 | 11 |
New Hampshire | 2019 | 1 |
South Dakota | 2021 | 4 |
Oregon | 2019 | 1 |
Rhode Island | 2018 | 1 |
Washington DC | 2019 | 2 |
As such, not every state offers online sports wagering as it has to go through legal avenues, and simply it is not a priority for many states.
Not Recommended Betting Sites
There are a lot of offshore bookmakers that you may stumble across and should avoid because they are not licensed in the US.
The main problem with this is that if an offshore site refuses to settle a bet properly or they decide to just keep your deposit, there’s not much you can do. They also charge extortionately high fees for deposits and withdrawals.
Sportsbetting.ag
BetOnline
MyBookie
Conclusion
Online betting in the US is here to stay, with more states paving the way for online sportsbooks replacing local betting shops. All arguments are in favor of remote betting, including tax collection, monitoring, control, and protection of patrons under threat of problem gambling.
If online betting still hasn’t gotten the green light from your local authorities, you can still test your betting skills with fantasy sports.
FAQs
Which is the most trusted betting site?
There is no one legal betting site that is more trustworthy than others. Any sportsbook that has a valid US license is secure, legit, and safe, meaning you can safely bet with them. Remember to only bet with state-approved sportsbooks.
What are the top 10 betting sites?
You can find our list of the top betting sites here. They are rated on a variety of factors including bonus, number of sports available, and how easy it is to use. Sportsbooks availability depends on your location. Patrons in some states get more options than others.
What is the safest online betting site?
All betting sites that are licensed in the US are safe. They have to abide by state regulations and if they try to keep your money or refuse to pay you out, you can go to your state’s gambling regulator. Betting with a local sportsbook is the wise choice to make. Disputes of this kind happen rarely.
What is the best betting site?
The best betting sites are listed at the top of this page and are chosen based on criteria such as bonuses, range of deposit methods, live betting, and how many markets they have. In short, it’s a legal US sportsbook, with decent odds, great bonuses and reliable customer support.
What states have sportsbooks?
Online sports betting is legal in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wyoming.