The Best Online Betting Sites in the USA

Top Online Sportsbooks: 2024 Rankings

If you want to bet on sports with nice bonuses, the top US sports gambling sites await you below. Take your pick from the best online betting sites in the United States:

Matt Speakman, Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

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Matt Speakman is a Connecticut-born and raised betting expert with a soft spot for the Patriots. He is also a proud member of the online-gambling.com team. You can read his articles on a broad range of topics, including sports betting and DFS.

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List of the Best US Sports Betting Sites

• ?? BetMGM (Best Online Betting Site in the US Overall)
• ?? BetRivers (Great Option for Same Game Parlays)
• ?? DraftKings (Top-Rated Online Sportsbook for Live Betting)
• ?? Caesars (Sportsbooks with Best Refer-a-Friend Bonus)
• ?? Bet365 (Accepts PayPal and Other Popular Payment Methods)

Top Sports Gambling Sites by Type

Your betting strategy will depend on what options the sportsbook you have an account at is able to provide you with. We had this important consideration in mind when we delineated the categories we see detailed above. If you know what you are after, instead of wasting time wading through pages of sports gambling sites, you can take your pick from the selected operators above. Each online sportsbook excels in its own way as they are run by different companies with different outlooks on sports gambling and their very own loyalty reward systems.

We factored all that into the degree possible and laid out in simple terms what we would recommend each respective sports betting site for. We hope your top priority is for the gambling platform to be safe and licensed because this is what we work toward with these reviews. We acknowledge the fact that even the best online gambling sites might not cater to your present situation, hence why we put forward the many categories you saw listed prior to this paragraph.

As each bookie has viable selling points, it’s safe to say that the gaming service of all of them is up to the mark. If you want to see us discuss the finer details, please keep on reading.

How Do I Choose an Online Sportsbook?

What makes the best online betting sites for US players stand out is the uncompromising quality standards. Since we sift through lots of sports betting websites, we developed a set of criteria to review operators and determine who receives a good rating and who doesn’t. This is what to pay attention to when evaluating a betting site:

If you’re venturing out to conduct your own search, it’s crucial to adhere to rating principles akin to ours or maintain similar standards. Foundational aspects such as security and payment methods should never be overlooked.

If the bookie doesn’t transparently highlight its measures to ensure a secure gambling environment, it might warrant a deeper investigation. Especially in the realm of payment methods, consider giving preference to Play+ gambling sites, as they offer a combination of convenience and security for users.

License and Security

An SSL certificate from DigiCert or another expert in the field is a must for online betting sites accepting American players. This, together with the secure payment channels, ensures that the personal and payment information you enter will be encrypted.

In addition to that, online sportsbooks in the US process their clients’ information in a sensible way, only keeping it for as long as necessary. These are the most prominent gaming control commissions and online security agencies certificate issuers, the names of which you will see mentioned most often:

Of course that a single sports betting license will not be viable everywhere in the United States. Before you learn how to bet on sports from your location, you first need to learn which the main license issuer is. Having a license from the relevant authority or not is what determines whether the online betting sites you are considering are legit or not. If the bookie in question doesn’t, you should keep your distance from it.

Best Bonus Offers for Online Sports Betting

The best online sports betting sites are celebrated for their bonuses and reward systems, similar to poker sites for US players. As a new player, you are always entitled to a sign-up bonus, which is given to you on certain conditions. If the promised reward is a cashback, then you won’t have to mind a wagering condition but simply keep wagering, and the refund money will be credited to your balance automatically.

Whether you are a client of betting sites with ice hockey, darts, or any other sport, you can certainly bolster your game with a refund bonus. One of the most common promotions and loyalty perks is precisely that – the refund. Check out the following table for the full breakdown of all the sports betting bonuses in the US:

It’s typical for the best online sports gambling sites in the USA to keep a high level of transparency in everything they do, but don’t use that as an excuse to forego common sense. It’s good practice to carefully read the terms and conditions of even the best online casino bonuses or any online sportsbook we recommend here.

Doing away with that essential rule may cause a lot of headaches in the future for a regular visitor of betting sites. We advise you to consider the things that stick out, like minimum deposit, validity, promo code, and eligibility criteria in general. The top Visa gambling sites in the US can provide you with promotions with convenient terms.

Betting Apps and Mobile Compatibility

A mobile phone is just as practical of a solution when it comes to playing at US online sports betting sites, the reason being that a lot of operators have come out with branded apps available on the App Store. Android users are not left out; it’s just that sometimes what they get is a direct download link rather than a link to Google Play.

To make things even better, live sports betting is also easily accessed on mobile. We searched long and hard for the best mobile sportsbooks in the US, and here’s what we found:

Just as the best online sports betting sites are characterized by their welcome bonus, compatibility, and accepted payment methods, so too – their mobile apps need to have these things in place. We believe we’ve got a bead on which the top apps for sports gambling in the US are because the shortlisted selectees shine through with cross-platform compatibility, they are available via web browser, they are free to install, and a lot more. Sounds a lot like the best online casinos, doesn’t it? Both are great options for the real-money gambler.

Available Payment Methods

The commitment to customer service is evident when observing how top US sports betting sites consistently cater to users’ preferred payment methods. Common options found at many gambling platforms, including Mastercard gambling sites, extend to Discover, Visa, and American Express. Moreover, a range of top-tier choices spans from e-wallets and prepaid cards, prominently featuring Paysafecard gambling sites, to more traditional online banking.

While there are inevitable constraints, such as minimum and maximum deposit limits, one assurance remains steadfast. The best online betting sites operating in America are unwavering in their commitment to dispense rightful winnings to their patrons.

Deposit Options

We cared to do our research on the most used payment methods and how the sports gambling sites accommodate the users thereof. You might see there’s a notable discrepancy in the deposit cap column. This goes to show that not every means of payment is suitable for the high-stakes bettor these days. If you are a high-roller, then the Bank Transfer gambling sites in the USA may be suitable for you as the deposit limits can be higher.

Apparently, if you want to wager big sums of money, your debit card will be your best friend as far as the US betting sites go. On the other hand, the variety of accepted payment service providers doesn’t affect deposit times that much.

E-wallets are quite popular, for example, some of the top PayPal gambling sites offer unmatched conditions you can’t find at many other operators. Also, some gamblers like Apple Pay and Play+. Of the two, the Play+ platform was launched specifically with players in mind. More and more gamblers and operators are realizing the advantages of money transfers with Play+. Given the popularity of the payment method, it is also widely accepted at the best real money online casinos.

If all you have is your debit card, then the American Express gambling sites and operators with Discover cards seem like a reasonable way of funding your player account. The deposit limit for online transfers starts at $10, meaning that everyone is welcome at online sports betting sites in the States. A similar model of accessibility is adopted by the best payout online casinos as well.

Withdrawal Options

Sports betting would not be the same without the fast cashouts. Luckily, there are many means of payment by which you can receive your winnings, and all of them allow for pretty fast payouts. When it comes to withdrawals, there’s one thing American speculators need to know – the pool of options is not as abundant as with deposit methods. Below, we’ve underlined the important aspects of the best withdrawal methods for US gamblers:

From our experience with betting sites and the fastest-paying online casinos in the US, we can draw the conclusion that payouts take more time than sending money to your gambling account. This is caused by the mandatory know-your-customer checks licensed operators usually do.

To speed things up, you must make sure that your account is verified, especially when playing at Apple Pay gambling sites. Furthermore, you should know that the best online betting sites in the USA want you to cash out with the same payment account you used to send money in the first place.

Most Popular Sports in Online Betting

When we talk about the top level of sportsbooks, it’s never just about one or two sports. All of them keenly follow the principle of versatility. Market diversity being at the very top of the agenda for the sportsbooks we reviewed, is influencing in a big way how their sports markets look. We picked the sports that not only seem to be the popular choice but also whose betting lines are priced up best:

We picked the above five sports for the following reason – they are team sports with frequent tournament meets. If you want yet another angle to find good odds on the sport you like, just visit the in-play section of any of the online sports betting sites in the United States, such as the Discover gambling sites.

Football

If you visit online sportsbooks in search of football betting lines, you won’t be disappointed. The golden standard – the NFL – is the league that is priced up with odds the most often?but is not the only market you will find. College football also proves very interesting to speculators from the United States. The Canadian Football League and rugby are also potent options for the putters who like to cast their net wide. Here is our favorite sports betting platform for football in the US:

One thing you can be sure of is that the best sports gambling sites accepting Americans are allocating a significant part of their resources to provide satisfactory football coverage. They put a ton of work into their live streaming and odds scraping too. Additionally, football fans can even play football-themed blackjack games at some of the best blackjack online casinos in the US.

Basketball

We don’t need to tell you how crazy sports fans are about the NBA. It’s only natural that the best basketball league will be one of the most desirable betting markets for Americans. At the time of writing, our top US sports betting sites have 150+ lines on the NBA.

Besides, it’s super easy to look up fixtures from basketball leagues in other countries like Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Turkey. After all our checks from a bettor’s vantage point, we found the following to be the best online bookmaker for basketball in the US:

Always keep an eye on the schedule so you don’t miss out on the match you’re eager to bet on. If the game is about to be played, you’ll typically find it listed in the “upcoming events” section, a feature prominently seen in the live betting segment of many online platforms, especially those on VIP Preferred gambling sites. With ample opportunities available, you can craft a robust selection of basketball predictions that could lead to the desired winnings.

Things are pretty heated whether you bet pre-match or in-play, but you always have the option to bet in a more relaxed fashion at the best fantasy sports betting sites.

Baseball

You can count on sports betting sites to lay odds on the MLB and major events like the World Baseball Classic. The good thing is that you can speculate on baseball matches before their start and while they are ongoing. It’s also important to note that the top baseball betting sites strike a good balance between futures and game wagers. All things considered, we have a favorite sports betting site for baseball based on all the abovementioned facts:

There’s room for baseball fans under the umbrella of US sports betting operators. Placing wagers on this particular sport has no specifics you should be aware of. If you’ve been doing okay so far, wagering on football or basketball, baseball ought not to be a challenge for you, especially when playing at the PayNearMe gambling sites.

There are just a couple of rules you better abide by if you want to maximize your chances of making a profit. You need to check the recent performances of the teams and the head-to-head statistics.

Hockey

We are yet to visit an American sportsbook that doesn’t offer hockey betting markets. The sport is very popular in the northern regions of the United States, and that’s exactly what a good portion of the handicappers there end up betting on.

It would be a bit of an overstatement to say they are spoiled for choice, but at least they have the option to speculate on world-class hockey – the MLB and the Stanley Cup. Our recommended online bookie for hockey betting is the following:

The game of hockey enjoys international popularity, and consequently, you can easily find odds on international matches at the Venmo gambling sites we discuss here. If you venture outside your comfort zone and aren’t familiar with certain teams, it’s always a good idea to research their track record and objectives for the current season.

Practice moderation in your gambling habits, and if available, utilize promotions like Draw no Bet to enhance your betting experience.

Tennis

The tennis calendar is filled with high-intensity tournaments and matches, which action is perfect for placing bets live. Feel free to take the odds of online sportsbooks with a license, even if you are not into the game of tennis. The four Grand Slams are always the center of attention, just like the four majors in golf.

Aside from the majors in tennis, for those sports betting online from the United States, there’s the opportunity to speculate on the tournaments from the ATP 1000 and WTA 1000 series. Below are the details of the sportsbook we think is perfect for that.

Tennis matches are particularly suitable for a same-match parlay. Not only that, but you can sometimes get boosted odds and other goodies for being a tennis pundit. If you don’t like the odds prices of the major tournaments, you can go down a notch to the Challenger level and see how things are there. There’s, indeed, no shortage of tournaments viable for betting, especially at the Skrill gambling sites. The Davis Cup and the ATP finals can also be considered the high point of the season, depending on your vantage point.

Live Sports Betting

This function of the best online betting sites was a long time coming, and now it’s everywhere. So, this is the opposite of placing a wager pre-match. There are many good sides to this, and one that is a bit of a tradeoff. Wagering live means your predictions are processed and accepted while the game is in play.

This is a cool interaction, but you need to be quite experienced to extract profit out of it because the odds are going up and down faster than you can predict. Here are the top six available for live betting sports in the US:

Where live betting comes especially handy is big events like March Madness – the culmination of college basketball’s Division 1. It helps you get the most out of the big derby you’ve been waiting for or whatever sporting event you wanted to see so much.

You also have the ability to spectate a good portion of the sporting events that take place in the USA and around the world directly on the website of the bookie of choice. If they have the right to stream, then it’s game on. If they don’t, they will replace the live stream with helpful graphics and animations, similar to what the Maestro gambling sites do.

Most Popular Types of Online Bets

In case there was anything unclear about how to bet on sports, let us reiterate that while the wagers you can place vary, the whole idea revolves around you making the right calls. Maybe it would be useful to know how the wager types function before making the next step, which is to stake a bet and confirm it.

This is exactly what we intend to do in this section – to give insight into the most common betting types. Unlike when you play roulette online for real money in the USA, for example, here you have a chance to strategically pick a sport that you enjoy and have knowledge of. Without delaying it further, here is a short description of the popular betting lines:

How Does Daily Fantasy Compare to Sports Betting

There’s no real pundit that would regret the element of skill integrated into the act of placing a sports wager. If this is something you seek intentionally, you should feel in your element at a fantasy sports contest. These competitions are settled very fast – in the course of a week, at most. Sometimes a single day is enough to see who grabs the lion’s share of the prize pool.

While not a world apart, daily fantasy and sports betting are dissimilar enough for each of them to be in a separate category. We talk more about the notable differences in the following table:

DFS came in for criticism back in the day when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was still in effect. However, in the span of a few years, as much as 18 states legalized DFS. Nowadays, the activity is recognized as a legal game of skill in the majority of the United States. Three of the notable exceptions are Hawaii, Idaho, and Louisiana.

They are yet to iron out the problems in their legal framework that don’t allow for DFS sites to launch officially. Even if daily fantasy sports are not an option, you still can check if sports betting is available in your state.

Land-based vs. Online Sportsbooks

If you feel like you’re in a sports betting rut, perhaps it’s time for a change of pace. What separates online from in-person sports betting? We’ll break it down for you in the upcoming comparison table. As you explore your options, also consider the convenience offered by Cash at Cage gambling sites which allow you to collect winnings at land-based venues.

Do we need to remind you that the best online sports betting sites in the USA are run in cooperation with the same bookies owning the bet shops? Chances are, if you like one, you will like the other.

Sports betting is not legal in those states where gambling is banned as a whole. As for where it is legal, you will most likely find that one of the top operators discussed here on the page has a branded facility. Examples of such are the BetMGM Sportsbook & Bar and Caesars Sportsbook at Wild Wild West.

Licensing and Legislation

The expected legal changes in the US, as a whole, are thought to bring even more flexibility to gamblers. For example, the states where sports gambling is in its experimental phase will move on to issuing more license quotas if the experiment proves successful. We also have unique cases like Delaware, which became the first state – if we don’t count Nevada – to legalize single-game sports betting.

Regarding sports betting revenue records, iGaming Business^[2] reports that New York remains at the forefront of the US. If we talk about real-money casino gambling in the US, we should point out that once going down the road of legalizing gaming, none of the states have gone back. Nowadays, you can even find legal US lottery sites, and there’s no negative trend in that respect.

Which States Have Legal Online Sports Betting?

Keeping up with legislative changes is a part of the game when you are an avid gambler because the last thing you want is to go against the law with what’s nothing more than a pastime for the majority of US gamblers. Going on the internet and doing extensive checks is not for everyone – we completely understand.

That’s why we did the heavy lifting for you so that you know where you can enjoy the best online sports betting sites and where you should wait more. It’s all illustrated on our interactive map. You can bet any further changes will also be reflected.

Paying Taxes on Winnings

Not only do you have to pay the state when you win from sports betting, but the IRS also needs to know about the size of your profits if they exceed $600. The federal tax can be up to 28% of the total payout, which is reported via a W-2G form.

Since online sports betting in the USA is a form of taxable income, a portion of your winnings also goes to the state. The exact percentage of the tax differs but doesn’t exceed 9.90%, according to our information. Here’s a list of the betting products taxable in the US:

Typically, Form 1040 is what you need to fill out for small amounts of money won on sports betting. Form W-2G comes in when your winnings exceed $600. On that occasion, you can rely on the sports betting sites with a license to issue a form W-2G for you. This applies to all gambling products, including online casino games. So, if you win over $600 at the best video poker sites, the operator will issue the form.

The good news is that you are allowed to deduct losses under certain conditions. You must itemize your losses if you want to deduct them later on from your total income but bear in mind you can’t deduct more than you’ve won.

Are Offshore Bookmakers an Option?

Offshore sportsbooks are not recommendable, to say the least. They don’t pay for a license and neither will you pay taxes if you win. You can see how this can rub the authorities the wrong way, right? What’s worse, this would be considered illegal gambling, and this could have huge repercussions if done repeatedly. Generally speaking, the law identifies a small act of illicit gambling as a “misdemeanor”, but under certain conditions, this can escalate into a felony and lead to hefty fines.

Future of US Sports Betting Sites

As mentioned earlier, most states are seeing a year-to-year increase in tax revenue from sports gambling sites. The relatively new shift to stay-at-home work mode has played an important role in the growth of mobile gambling activity. A survey conducted by the AGA^[1] shows that 85% of US residents support the Supreme Court’s decision to end the federal sports betting ban.

The only thing stopping more operators from joining the fray is the steep tax rates. Not only that, but the sportsbooks with a permit to operate are required to have a partnership with a land-based casino, which makes things even harder for the smaller players.

Conclusion: Safe Betting for Sports Fans

All online bookmakers we reviewed and presented here are legal and have what it takes to be called “the best”. No matter which one of them you choose, they have the capacity to deliver nail-biting online gambling action on popular and not-so-popular sports.

More importantly, they have security measures in place to allow handicappers to bet without worrying about the safety of their funds. Once again, this is our sportsbook of choice for the first spot.

With the top-recommended platform, you get a lot of diversity and options, so in order to stay on top of your games, you will need to do your homework as well. If you want to know the most recent facts that will help you gamble on sports, make sure to stick around. Not only that, but the rank list of top-rated sports betting sites in the USA is not cemented either. We are ready to change the order of the operators there if the need for that arises.

References

1. American Gaming Association, (May 9, 2023), 85% of Americans Support Supreme Court Decision to End Federal Sports Betting Ban, Retrieved December 13, 2023
2. iGaming Business, (11 December, 2023), New York sets $2.11bn handle record in November, Retrieved December 13, 2023

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