BEST SPORTS BETTING SITES 2024

HOW TO FIND A BOOKIE

Finding the best sports betting site can be a challenge. Each bookmaker is unique in its qualities and features. Choosing a sportsbook is always a player’s personal decision. One player may put more of an emphasis on a structured website, while another prefers to bet on props and moneyline. There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a good sportsbook. We present each criterion of our analysis in detail and present to you the best sportsbooks 2024 in each category.

SPORTSBOOK CRITERIA

We have put all legal sportsbooks through a detailed test that analyzes the following criteria:

• Betting offers and betting options
• Betting odds
• Bonus, free bets and promotions
• Usability of the website/app
• Live betting
• Deposits and withdrawals
• Customer service
• Sportsbooks commissions
• Additional offers
• Trustworthiness, security and legality

Betting offer and betting possibilities

The betting offer and betting possibilities are different at every sportsbook. All bookmakers are likely to offer the most popular sports such as football, basketball and hockey. The betting gets more exciting when you get to see the betting program offered and the various betting options. Is there more than one line offered on a bet? Are prop bets and/or player props being offered? When choosing a bookmaker, always examine the betting offer and the betting options. If the betting offer meets your range of bets, then the sportsbook will be suitable for you and keep you happy in the long run.

The best betting offer and the most betting opportunities:

• 

  100% up to $600

  Bet now

Betting odds

Odds are the most important criterion when choosing your sportsbook because betting odds determine your profit earned from sports betting. If you like to bet on parlays, then the odds are even more important than they would be for single bets. The following is an example of a parlay at two different bookies with the same picks but different odds.

Bookie A

• 1st odd: -120
• 2nd odd: -160
• 3rd odd: -110
• parlay odds: +451

Bookie B

• 1st odd: -115
• 2nd odd: -140
• 3rd odd: -110
• parlay odds: +511

The odds of the two sportsbooks are only slightly different, but the difference in possible profit on a $100 bet is not insignificant at $60.

The more bets you place with better odds in a parlay, the more of a difference in profits you may win.

How to calculate a parlay can be found in our Sports Betting 101 & Glossary.

Best betting odds:

• 

  Bet $1 and Get $200

  Bet now

Bonuses, free bets and promotions

Every bookmaker offers bonuses, free bets or promotions to attract new customers. The most popular is the welcome bonus offered by every bookmaker. For example, they may say 100% CASH BONUS ON FIRST DEPOSIT UP TO $1000, which means that a new customer who deposits $1000 will have a total of $2000 available to bet.

Free bets, also known as risk-free bets, are another very popular option. In this type of bet, the sportsbook will make your first bet (up to a certain amount as set by the bookmaker) completely risk-free. If you lose your bet, your stake will be fully refunded. If your bet wins, the sportsbook will transfer the profit of the bet straight to your account. You can decide for yourself whether or not to claim a welcome bonus. If you decide to use the bonus or the free bet, it may be very profitable for you.

However, always read the fine print before claiming a bonus. Often, you will be required to roll over the bonus a certain number of times before you can make a withdrawal. For special events like the Super Bowl, NBA Finals or the Stanley Cup, sportsbooks also offer lucrative promotions to existing customers. This may be in the form of free betting credit without deposit, or it may be a deposit bonus for existing customers. Check out our free NBA picks, NFL picks, NHL picks or Soccer picks for using your free bet.

Best bonuses and free bets:

• 

  100% up to $600

  Bet now

Usability of the website/app

The behavior of bettors has seen some changes in the era of smartphones. Nowadays, the majority of bets are placed on cell phones, therefore it is essential to choose a bookmaker that has a very good app for iOS and Android. It is not only important for a bookmaker to have an app, but it is also essential that the app is easy for users to navigate. If you want to place a bet quickly while you are on the go, then the app must be intuitive and easy to use quickly. The bets available to choose from should not be hidden, they should be quickly and easily accessible.

With this said, it is also no problem if a betting provider does not have an app available to download in the app store. Most betting providers’ websites are designed as web apps that are optimal for use with mobile devices. All of the functions you need are available on the web app, and there are usually no major differences between this and a downloadable app.

Apple users will find most sports betting apps in the App Store. Android users can download and install apps from the website of the betting provider. A download link will usually pop up automatically, or it can be found in the footer of the betting provider's website.

Best sports betting app for mobile betting:

• 

  Bet $1 and Get $200

  Bet now

Live betting

Live betting is one of the most popular bets among sports bettors. Imagine for a moment that you are out with your friends watching a live NFL game. The favorite is behind but you are confident that they will still win the game. You may decide to place a live bet to make the situation a little more exciting and potentially even profitable. When choosing a sportsbook, you should always look at the live betting section before registering.

Consider questions such as: how many bets are available, and whether there are only standard bets like moneyline, over/under and against the spread available, or if you can also wager live player prop bets. Every online sportsbook these days tends to offer very good live betting. However, always double-check whether a bookmaker offers your favorite bets in-play to avoid any disappointment.

Best sportsbook for live betting:

• 

  Bet $1 and Get $200

  Bet now

Deposits and withdrawals

Every bookmaker offers different options for deposits and withdrawals. We believe that PayPal and/or credit cards should be accepted by any betting provider. Deposits are immediately credited to your betting account, depending on the payment option. Bookmakers typically differ in the processing time of withdrawals. A good betting provider will offer customers fast and secure deposits and withdrawals.

Sportsbook with the fastest and most secure deposit and withdrawal:

• 

  100% up to $600

  Bet now

Customer service

Legal bookmakers all tend to provide excellent customer service, although they differ in the response time, office hours and contact options. Some bookmakers, for example, may only offer a contact form or email service or limited live chat. We firmly believe that a sportsbook in this day and age should have a 24/7 live chat option available so that you can get answers or help with potential problems at any time.

Sportsbook with the best customer service:

Sportsbooks commission

Every bookmaker keeps a certain percentage of commission, also known as "vig," "juice" or "vigorish." When calculating the payout of a bet, you will find that the bookmaker rarely offers two fair odds that equal the value of 100%. If that were the case, the bookmaker would not earn any money on bets. The difference between 100% and the determined payout conclusion is the commission of the sportsbook. While this may sound somewhat confusing at first, the following example will make it simple to understand.

An online sportsbook offers the following odds on the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics:

• Moneyline Celtics: -113
• Moneyline Lakers: -113

First, we must convert the betting odds into decimal odds:

• Positive odds: 1 plus (the American odds divided by 100) = decimal quote
• Negative odds: 1 minus (100 divided by the American odds) = decimal quote
• Our example: 1-(100/-113) = 1.88

Formula to calculate the payout key:

1. (1 divided by ((1 / decimal odd) + (1 / decimal odd)) x 100 = payout key in percentage
2. Our example: (1 / ((1 / 1.88)+(1 / 1.88))*100 = 94%

In this example, the bookmaker would earn a 6% commission. Therefore, if you were to bet the same amount on the Lakers and the Celtics, you would lose 6% of your total bet.

Online sportsbook with the fairest odds:

• 

  Bet $1 and Get $200

  Bet now

Additional offers

Some online betting providers offer special additional offers to their customers. For example, you may receive personal bonuses, participate in promotions or receive rewards. This encourages customer loyalty so that people will continue placing bets with the same betting provider. The customer may profit from these benefits and generate real money with these additional offers.

The betting provider with the best additional offer:

Trustworthiness, security and legality

We recommend that players bet only at online betting sites that have a valid U.S. betting license. These bookmakers are 100% safe, legal and trustworthy, as the sportsbook must meet various criteria to obtain a betting license. Each sportsbook is audited by the appropriate U.S. government agencies before being granted a betting license.  

Some betting pick sites advertise unlicensed bettors from the Caribbean or other places. You should know that unlicensed betting providers operate in a legal gray area. We strongly discourage anyone from registering with these sports betting sites because they run the following risks:

• In case of conflict, U.S. laws and regulations do not apply.
• Payouts may not always be carried out as promised.
• Operators sometimes simply disappear without notice and may take your money with them.
• Your betting account may be frozen if you win too often.

There are many black sheep amongst unlicensed betting operators. If you want to have fun betting in the long run, then you should only register at an online sportsbook that has a valid U.S. license.

The safest legal sportsbook in the U.S.:

• 

  Bet $1 and Get $200

  Bet now

FAQ BEST ONLINE SPORTSBOOK

HOW DO YOU BET ON SPORTS IN THE U.S.?

Many new bettors wonder how to bet on sports in the U.S. This step-by-step guide will demonstrate how to begin betting on sports within minutes.

1. Check whether sports betting is legal in your state: You can find legal betting sites in the U.S. at the top of our page. Just filter by your state to find the legal bookmakers near you.
2. Choose the sportsbook that best fits your needs: Check the details that matter to you, such as the welcome bonus, payment options, betting odds and betting offers.
3. Register with the bookmaker: You may need to verify with the bookmaker that you are the correct person opening a betting account. This ensures the security of your betting account to block any unauthorized access. If you want to claim the free bet or the welcome bonus, some bookies require you to activate that via a checkbox during the registration process.
4. Make a deposit: Use your favorite deposit method such as PayPal or credit card to make your first deposit.
5. Place your first bet: Choose the game on which you want to place your first bet. If you have chosen a free bet as a new customer bonus, make sure your chosen bet meets the bonus conditions.
6. Payouts: Did you win your first bet? You should be able to easily request a payout from your betting account. Some bookmakers require a verified betting account to make a withdrawal.
7. What to bet on? Check out our best bets for today.

IN WHICH STATES ARE SPORTS BETTING LEGAL?

You can bet legally on sports in the following states of the U.S.A. (as of March 2021):

• Colorado
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Nevada

More states will follow suit soon as more laws begin to pass at the federal level.

WHY DO THE ODDS DIFFER ON THE SAME BET BETWEEN VARIOUS ONLINE SPORTS BETTING SITES?

Each online sports betting site operates as a sole operator individual from the rest of the betting market. Each betting site also sets a commission. For that reason, we recommend opening a betting account at more than one sportsbook to do line shopping. This is essential for maximizing profit in the long run.