Top Online Sportsbooks in the US: Your Guide

In 2018, daily fantasy companies DraftKings and FanDuel had the inside track to become the dominant forces in the online sports betting landscape. They already had a strong base of users and had established trust with a national audience.

Since then new competitors have risen and given American bettors a ton of options to sift through. Established casinos such as MGM and Caesars have thrown their hat into the ring, while global betting behemoths like Bet365 and Unibet have crossed the Atlantic.

Now we’re spoiled with a bevy of options. But how do you pick which one’s for you?

We’re here to help you avoid analysis paralysis. Let’s take a gander at some of the Most Popular Sportsbooks available to US bettors today.

Top US Online Sportsbooks

1. PointsBet - Aussie import on the rise
2. Bet365 - The world's most popular sportsbook is slowly making its way to the United States
3. Unibet - Originally founded in Sweden and available in 4 states
4. 888 Sport - Online casino magnate branching out into sports betting
5. FanDuel Sportsbook - Daily fantasy giant
6. DraftKings Sportsbook - The first widely available online sportsbook in the US
7. BetMGM - Las Vegas resort & casino mainstay making waves in online sports betting
8. Caesars Sportsbook - British book William Hill has been transformed by Caesars
9. FOX Bet - Sportsbook born out of a partnership between FOX Sports & Pokerstars
10. SI Sportsbook - Collaboration between Sports Illustrated & 888
11. Barstool Sportsbook - Founded by digital media company Barstool Sports
12. BetRivers - Casino chain expanding with online sportsbooks

It's always important to remember that what you read on our site is our own opinion. Between everybody working on the site, we have years of sports betting experience and have tried to narrow down what can make or break sportsbooks.

We review sportsbooks based on the following criteria:

• Sportsbook Bonus Offers - Most sites offer users some sort of sign up bonus as an incentive to choose their site over the competition. Does this sportsbooks bonus offer provide you with real value?
• Betting Variety - Of course, we expect to be able to bet on your basic spreads, moneylines, and over/unders for major leagues. But what kind of parlay options are available? Is there an online casino included in the sportsbook? How is the live betting experience?
• Mobile Sportsbook Experience - Most sports betting sites have an app companion these days. It's 2021, of course! But whether or not the proper amount of TLC has been put into a sports betting app can be the difference between an average and elite sportsbook.
• Betting Experience - When you're using a sportsbook, how does it feel? Is there any lag when switching between pages? Does everything look neat and organized. These features may seem small but they add up if you're going to be using a sportsbook on a regular basis.
• Payment Options - Common payment options for sportsbooks include credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal. But how many payment options are supported and how long each method takes for payouts and deposits is a crucial element of the user experience.
• Customer Support - Even if it doesn't rain it doesn't hurt to have an umbrella in your trunk, does it? Hopefully, you won't ever need to contact customer support, but for the times that you do, it's good to know the sportsbook is prepared to help you solve your issues

Since the overturn of PASPA in 2018, it has been incumbent on states to decide for themselves if legalizing online sports betting would be wise for their citizens.

This has led to the fractured states of sports betting in the US, where legal online sports betting laws can vary wildly from state to state. Right now, over a dozen states have legalized online sports betting.

States With Legal Online Sportsbooks

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

“The best ability is availability.” - Hall of Fame NFL Coach Bill Parcells

This is true of both football players and sportsbooks. With the slow rollout of online sports betting from state to state, the variance between sportsbook selection is high.

That is why the first element you must consider when choosing a sportsbook is whether or not it is available in your state. Luckily we’ve made a helpful guide displaying what sports betting sites are available in each state with online gambling and included the state availability in our reviews of each sportsbook.

Here at Sportsbooks Online we only list and review online sportsbooks that are licensed and regulated by state Gaming Boards. These Gaming Boards make sure the sites are following strict guidelines set forth.

This is important because these regulations ensure the player’s safety. Offshore sites such as Bovada are not bound to these rules and therefore do not offer you the same amount of protection.

Here are some of the benefits of using legal betting sites:

• Security - your information is less vulnerable to attackers due to the strict securities put in place with legal sites
• Payment Methods - legal sites offer you the most easily accessible and secure payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal
• Fairness - legal sportsbooks usually have no issue getting users their withdrawals, while offshore site users often take weeks if not longer to receive their money
• Peace of mind - you know that you are being treated fairly and that you aren’t breaking any laws

Most sportsbooks offer a carrot to attract new customers. There are many different types of bonuses offered by these sites. They can include deposit bonuses, free bets with no deposit necessary, and risk free bets.

This is a great feature for new users and sharps alike. Newbies can get used to how betting works in a low-risk environment, while veteran bettors get the opportunity to test out various books if their current provider isn’t satisfying their needs.

Here we’ve compared all of them to assess which offers you the highest value.

One of our favorite betting offers here is the risk free bet.

Here's how it usually works - after signing up, make your first deposit. Then, just go ahead and place your first real money bet. If your bet wins, then you just walk away with your winnings. However, if your bet loses then you will normally receive a refund of sorts in on-site credits that they can then use to place more wagers - hence the risk free label.

We love it because it lets users test the waters and helps them get used to the sportsbook's betting system.

Check out the list of risk free bets offered by top sportsbooks below!

Top Sportsbook Risk Free Bets

1. PointsBet - Bet now in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and New Jersey
2. Unibet - Offers available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Virginia
3. 888 Sport - Live in New Jersey
4. FanDuel Sportsbook - Available in CO, IL, IN, IA, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, and WV
5. Caesars Sportsbook - Bet now in CO, IL, IN, IA, MI, NJ, TN, VA, and WV
6. BetMGM - Live in CO, IN, IA, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, VA, and WV
7. FOX Bet - Available in Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
8. Barstool Sportsbook - Online in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania

Deposit bonuses enhance your investment when signing on to a new sportsbook. The way deposit bonuses work is fairly simple - deposit cold hard cash into your account and you get free bet credits in return.

But, every site has its own rules for measuring and dole out deposit bonuses. The sportsbook could match your entire initial deposit 100% right away, like BetRivers. Or they could dole your bonus out incrementally, over time like DraftKings Sportsbook.

Deposit bonuses are fantastic value for the player because you sometimes don't have to actually risk any money on a wager before receiving your bonus. Instead, all you need to do is deposit money into your account where it is safe and secure until you want to start wagering.

Some sportsbooks will even offer new users a free bet upon sign up with no deposit required. That's right, some sportsbooks are willing to fork over some virtual cash with no money down.

These no deposit free bet offers are increasingly rare, but they provide excellent value for the user. They differ from risk free bets because they do not require you to risk any of your own cash first, and they can even be a bit more valuable than deposit bonuses because you often don't even need to put any money into your account.

They're our favorite sportsbook sign-up bonuses out there, but they are also being offered less commonly now than they were in the past due to how much value is provided to the user up-front.

All of these sign-up offers are great, but here at Sportsbooks Online, we don't want to set you up with a temporary betting site. We want to ensure you find the right sportsbook for the long haul.

Every sportsbook wants to get you in the door, but we want to find one that fits your needs for more than just the first risk free bet or deposit bonus. One way a betting site can keep customers happy is through existing customer promotions.

Existing Customer Promotions are a great way to continue receiving value from a sportsbook after you've signed up

These promotions can include odds boosts, parlay insurance, or free bets.

These offers are sometimes determined by the sportsbook's partnerships with specific teams or leagues, or actions the user has to take themselves, such as completing their first live bet or referring a friend.

In any case, these promotions ensure that you will continue to receive great value for the length of your sports betting life.

In this day and age, it’s an absolute necessity to provide online sportsbook users with a top-flight mobile experience. Over 80% of the action in New Jersey is placed via a mobile device. Mobile sports betting is here to stay.

It’s easy to tell why. If you’re sitting in the bar with your buddies watching the Sunday slate during football season you probably don’t have a computer with you. Mobile apps make it possible for you to still get your wagers in on the go.

Sportsbook apps are super convenient and flexible ways to bet on sports. Any online sportsbook worth its salt should have a high-functioning app. A good app is easy to use, informative, and fast.

Sports betting sites should strive to make it as easy and simple as possible for users to deposit and withdraw their cash. Users also need to be able to trust that their money is being handled with the care it deserves.

The top sportsbooks usually offer the most popular payment methods such as PayPal, credit/debit card, and bank transfers. However, it should be noted that some sites allow differing options for deposits and withdrawals, so take note to see if your sportsbook has your preferred payment method for both actions.

E-wallets are all the rage in our increasingly online world. The most popular and secure for sports betting purposes is PayPal.

PayPal is extremely convenient for online transactions and boasts one of the most secure payment platforms on the web.

Most online betting sites in the US allow PayPal for both deposits and withdrawals. Combine this with the speed of transactions and the convenience of use, it’s no wonder PayPal is so popular with bettors.

Variety is the spice of life, isn’t it? Variety is also a determining factor when picking a sportsbook.

Betting Markets Available

Of course, most betting sites are going to offer you popular sports. Giving you the option of betting on the NFL or NBA isn’t exactly breaking new ground, but offering Esports, virtual games, and casino options can make a book stand out from the crowd.

Types of Bets Available

What you bet on is important, but so is how you bet. Most sites offer live betting, futures, player props, and the like. What we look for in this category are unique betting options. Do books offer bet-builders for soccer games? What about single-game parlays for the NBA?

These options are getting more and more popular, so we think it’s crucial that sites offer them to users.

Ever watch a game just knowing in your heart that a team was about to blow a big lead? There’s no way the Texans will be able to hold off the Chiefs’ offense for the entire second half, right? Well, one way to capitalize on this gut instinct is live betting.

Live betting allows users to place wagers with updated odds while an event is ongoing. Most sportsbooks offer live betting, but there is a high variance between the average site and those that aim for pristine live experiences.

Maybe the most exhilarating way to wager, live betting is a massive part of the online sports betting market.

In an effort to offer users as diverse a betting experience as possible. This helps them stand out from the competition and gives you even more options for how you want to wager.

The more ways to wager, the better

An online casino is a great way to do this. Feeling lucky after your 3-team parlay hits on Sunday? Sportsbooks with online casinos allow you to take your winnings over to the virtual Blackjack table.

An online sportsbook with an integrated casino platform allows you more ways to bet, so the fun doesn't have to stop when the action does.

Popular online casino games include Slots, video poker, and live dealer games for blackjack, roulette, and more!

A growing number of sportsbooks are now featuring online casinos.

Sportsbooks with Online Casinos

1. PointsBet Casino - Available in New Jersey & Michigan
2. Bet365 Casino - Bet now in New Jersey
3. 888 Casino - No Deposit Bonus for NJ Bettors
4. Unibet Casino - Live in NJ & PA
5. FanDuel Casino - Available in MI, PA, NJ, & WV
6. DraftKings Casino - Enjoy in NJ, PA, MI, & WV
7. Caesars Online Casino - Live in MI, NJ, and WV
8. BetMGM Casino - FREEPLAY + Deposit Bonus in MI, NJ, PA, & WV
9. FOX Bet Casino - Pokerstars Casino in MI, NJ, & PA
10. Barstool Casino - Now in PA & MI
11. BetRivers Casino - Online casino in MI, PA, and WV

It's no coincidence that America's game is also America's favorite betting pastime. Whether it's an office suicide pool, fantasy football league, or making outrageous parlays every weekend - making the weekend more interesting enriches your football fandom.

Online sportsbooks are becoming more accepted and even embraced by leagues. After years of lobbying against the legalization of sports betting, the NFL has three official betting partners - Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and FanDuel Sportsbook. Most teams have their own partners as well. Unibet has deals in place on either side of Pennsylvania, with the Steelers and the Eagles. BetMGM is soaring with the Ravens in Baltimore. The Monsters of the Midway in Chicago have teamed up with BetRivers as their official sports betting partner.

For college football bettors, there's even been some acceptance at the NCAA level. The University of Colorado and PointsBet partnered up in 2020 to create a revolutionary sponsorship deal that could lead to more Power 5 programs embracing online sportsbooks as a secondary revenue stream. With the NIL rules also changing, individual student-athletes may also be willing to lend their likeness to betting platforms.

This acceptance and partnership can only lead to good things for bettors - more mainstream acceptance lead to more states legalizing sports betting and partnerships lend themselves to generous sportsbook bonuses and promotional bets for teams on their betting platforms.

Basketball is the country's second most popular sport and slowly closing the gap between football and the rest of the crowd. Basketball has become an inescapable part of the culture. Not only do we discuss the game incessantly, but player movement and possible star trades are an integral part of just about any sports talk discussion these days. Heck, even NBA uniforms and #LeagueFits are ever-present on social media

Unlike the NFL, the NBA was quick to embrace legal online sports betting as soon as they could.

The NBA has official partnerships with many sportsbooks, including DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and BetMGM. Just about every team in the league has their own individual partnerships with teams as well, with sites like PointsBet, FOX Bet, and Unibet ever-present on local broadcasts.

College basketball is also one of the most bet on sports in the US, due in no small part to March Madness. Whether you're an active bettor, or just in a small bracket challenge in your office or with your friends, odds are you have some sort of financial interest in the NCAA Tournament.

Many sportsbooks offer specialized promotions surrounding the Tournament, and sites like DraftKings Sportsbook offer free-to-play pools that are perfect for filling out a March Madness bracket.

And, just like with College Football, NCAA basketball betting could be on the verge of a revolutionary moment as NIL changes forever alter the landscape of college sports.

Customer support is like car insurance - you hope you never need to use it, but it can bail you out of a tough jam.

If you use any site enough, there’s a decent chance you’ll run into some issues. This is why it’s important to choose a sportsbook with a rock-solid suite of service options.

Key features to look for include a detailed FAQ page, 24/7 live chats with real customer service representatives, and a helpline you can call.