Compare the best US sports betting sites for 2023 and claim your exclusive welcome bonuses below.
The history of gambling in the US dates back to the 1600s when horse racing betting was popular in states like Virginia. However, for most of recent US history, betting was banned through the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) until 2018, when the Supreme Court lifted this ban. This meant that sports betting was no longer federally illegal, but each state was left to make its own rules.
In the first year after the ban was overturned, New Jersey, Mississippi, New York, Arkansas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Delaware all launched their first legal sportsbooks. Delaware was the first to kickstart legal sports betting, with New Jersey following shortly after. Now there are about 31 states where sports betting is legalized, including 18 that legalize online sports wagering.
The ruling of the federal ban on betting in the US has really boosted the growth of the industry. More than ever before, millions of Americans now have access to quality gambling options where they live. Now you can wager on various sports competitions, including soccer, NFL, NHL, MLB, UFC, and basketball, among many others. In addition, there are a plethora of legal online bookies for you to enjoy the best gambling experience.
This review goes in-depth on the best betting sites in the US to help you navigate the gambling space. We apply very rigorous criteria to compile a list of the top bookmakers. Let's get started.
Here are the best sites offering sports betting in the US:
Our compilation of the best betting sites is based on well-researched information and defined methodology by our team of experts. Here are the key factors and criteria we consider when selecting a sportsbook for our list or readers:
For a sportsbook to be deemed fit to be on our list, we ensure the sportsbook is licensed to operate in at least one state in the US. Individual states of the country are responsible for their own betting laws and offer licenses through their regulatory body. As a result, these sportsbooks are licensed in different states.
The internet is riddled with fraudsters and identity thieves, so choosing a site with top-notch security is crucial. The best bookmakers use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption certificates to protect users' personal and financial information.
Apart from this, the licenses of sportsbooks allow for their books to be open to legal, third-party audits to ensure the customers are not defrauded. On the other hand, offshore sites are quite risky as you have no guarantee of payment.
All the bookies on our list are well-known by gamblers all over the world. Some have even gotten awards and merged with other credible sectors or industries. Their good reputation also guarantees credible bonuses and betting options to their customers.
Bookies generally provide numerous banking gateways for deposits and withdrawals. To pick the best of the best bookmakers, we evaluate the availability, accessibility, convenience, security, and efficiency of the payment channels available on the platform. Popular banking options include credit/debit cards, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, bank transfers, and cash at casino cages.
Bonuses and free bets are essential to make customers satisfied. The casinos we have chosen offer captivating welcome bonuses to attract new customers, and mouthwatering bonus offers to keep the regular users elated.
The best sportsbooks don't operate one-sidedly. Instead, they ensure their customers' opinions and concerns are always considered. The sportsbooks on our list have accessible emails and live chat channels available for most hours of the day. Though they all don't have phone numbers available, there are comprehensive FAQs with already answered questions that users might find helpful.
Another vital thing is the mobile sports betting apps of these bookmakers. We ensure they are compatible on numerous devices and platforms like iOS and Android. We are also particular about the site design, functionality, and navigation in assembling the best bookmakers. We consider how easy punters are able to get what they want. Is the search filter available? Can users get a seamless transaction with the mobile app?
There is no sportsbook without sports, so we take this criterion quite seriously. We review sportsbooks that have numerous sports that bettors can place bets on, ranging from football, soccer, hockey, MMA, golf, and horse racing to hockey. Not to mention, a sportsbook should be able to provide users with major and minor sports events across all geography.
We pick the sportsbooks with the most favorable betting odds for players. These sportsbooks offer consistent, competitive, and impressive betting odds to satisfy you. This ensures players have a higher chance of winning more money.
Live streaming and live betting are innovative features the best bookmakers are implementing to create the best gambling experience on their sites. Players can now place real-time bets while watching a live match. In addition, the best bookies provide free bet clubs for additional bonus offers and cash-out options to help users withdraw their winnings at any point. They also feature Acca insurance offers which prevent bettors from losing out on bets.
The new betting sites in the US offer welcome bonuses to attract potential customers and loyalty offers to keep existing ones happy and satisfied. They are licensed in the US and have user-friendly apps on numerous devices. They also have a variety of odds from which customers can choose to win big.
Some of the new ones include Fubo Gaming, which launched around November 2021. Based in Chicago, Fubo Gaming is licensed in 10 states. Maximbet is another new betting site launched in late 2020. It offers great bonuses and promotions, but there are limited banking options.
Here are the betting sites offering the best betting markets for the sports below:
DraftKings offers well over 100 soccer leagues to choose from, and most of them include live betting. They also feature the most World Cup qualifying same-game parlays betting options. You can also get a 20% bonus on any Champions League same-game parlay with a maximum bet of $50.
BetMGM is a high-rated NHL sportsbook with some of the best bets and Moneyline bets in the game. They offer a Stanley Cup Finals promo where you can get $200 when you make a bet of $10.
Wynnbet offers a large betting market for MLB leagues. The promotions offered by WynnBet include parlay boosters, free bets, and boosted odds during specified days or events.
When it comes to basketball betting, this is one of the best, as you have a chance of getting $200 in free bets once you make a minimum deposit of $5. In addition, they offer the widest range of betting markets throughout the NBA season.
This sportsbook offers unique NFL markets, betting options, and promotional offers. In addition, there are generous risk-free bets for newly registered users. All bettors, including Spreadline and Moneyline bettors, who have had bad beats would get reimbursed by the Karma Kommitee.
In May 2018, the PASPA federal ban on sports wagering in the US was lifted, allowing individual states to make decisions on betting laws. However, sports betting is not yet legalized in all states. Here are the states that allow legal sports betting:
Arizona residents can legally place bets on sports, and this took effect in September 2021. In addition, the bill allows the operation of retail and online sportsbooks within state lines and daily fantasy sports. The Arizona Department of Gaming regulates sports betting in Arizona.
Sports betting has been legal in retail capacity since July 2019. The Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) governs sports betting in this state. There are currently four active sportsbooks in the state. However, the state does not have online sports betting platforms as it is not legal yet.
The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission and the Colorado Division of Gaming are the regulatory bodies for sports betting in Colorado. Sports betting, including retail and mobile wagering, became legal in this state in May 2020. The state has about 33 physical sportsbooks in operation.
The sports betting market in Connecticut became a reality in May 2021. It is regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division, which regulates all legal gambling in the state.
With sports betting legalized in June 2018, Delaware became one of the first states to launch legal sportsbooks after the federal ban was lifted. The state has licensed three casinos at the moment for operation. However, while physical sportsbooks are active in the state, there is no online sports betting platform.
Sports betting became legalized in Illinois by June 2019. And it is presently regulated by The Illinois Gaming Board. There are currently seven land-based sportsbooks active in the state.
The regulator for Indiana sports betting is the Indiana Gaming Commission. Sports betting in Indiana became legal in May 2019 and was launched in September 2019. Over 20 different sportsbooks offer retail and online sports betting in the state.
Sports betting was launched in Iowa in May 2019. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission regulates sports wagering in the state. Iowa sports betting takes place at 19 physical sportsbooks. There are also online wagering markets available.
Sports betting in Louisiana fully came to light in June 2021. The regulatory body is the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB). The first sportsbook was launched in January 2022, offering mobile and desktop sports wagering.
The licensing body is the Kansas Lottery, while the regulating body is the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC). Sports betting in Kansas was signed into law on May 12, 2022. The law will be in effect by July 1, 2022, with operators to launch on or before January 1, 2023.
On May 2, 2022, Governor Janet Mills signed Maine's sports betting bill into law. The Gambling Control Unit regulates this activity.
The State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency regulate sports betting in Maryland. On May 18, 2021, Governor Harry Logan signed sports betting in the state into law.
In 2019, the legislature approved sports betting in Michigan. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is in charge of sports betting regulation in the state. There are currently nine retail sportsbooks locations in the state.
Presently regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC), sports betting in Mississippi was legalized in August 2018. However, bets must be placed within the four walls of a casino. The state features 29 retail physical sportsbooks.
Sports betting in Montana became legal in March 2020. Though, online betting is restricted to certain areas of the state. Currently, Montana Lottery is the sole regulator overseeing the legal sports market in the state.
In 2021, Governor Ricketts signed a bill that creates a regulatory framework for in-person sports betting. The sports betting industry in Nebraska is expected to be regulated by the Nebraska State Racing and Gaming Commission.
The Nevada Gaming Commission and Nevada Gaming Control Board oversee the gambling industry. Surprisingly, Nevada has been the only state where betting has been legal since 1949. As a result, it is regarded as the home of betting in the US.
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission oversees and regulates sports betting in New Hampshire. The market was launched in December 2019, and this state frowns at underage and college-level betting. Players have to be 18+.
New Jersey was among the first to launch sports betting after the PASPA ruling. The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) regulates sports betting in New Jersey. And sports betting was officially launched in the state on June 14, 2018.
Sports betting in New Mexico was launched in October 2018. The state offers and regulates retail wagering, but online sports betting is not available yet.
On July 16, 2019, sports betting in New York was fully legalized following the ban lift. The governing body for sports betting is the New York State Gaming Commission. There are currently seven physical sportsbooks locations. However, online sports betting is yet to launch in the state.
Sports betting was fully legalized in North Carolina in June 2020. The North Carolina Lottery Commission is the regulatory body.
After PASPA was judicially overturned in 2018, Oregon, which had a previous history of gambling, made sports betting legal in 2019. The Oregon Lottery oversees sports betting in the state.
November 2018 was a major turning point in legalizing sports betting in Pennsylvania. Retail and online wagering is offered at 30+ sportsbooks, and as of December 2020, about 90% of all sports wagers are placed via online sportsbooks. The Pennsylvania sports betting body is the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Sports betting started in Rhode Island in November 2018, and since then, many developments have occurred, like retail and online wagering offered at more than five sportsbooks. The Rhode Island Lottery regulates sports betting in the state.
South Dakota has the South Dakota Commission as the regulator for sports betting. In 2021, legislators finally legalized betting in the state.
Having taken off by November 1, 2020, with nearly five operators, the growth in sports betting in Tennessee is hindered by delays to incoming platforms getting their licenses. Retail wagering is currently legal and regulated in the state. Tennessee's Sports Wagering Advisory Committee is the regulator.
Sports betting didn't become legal in Virginia until January 22, 2021. The Virginia Lottery is in charge of regulating the market. There is no physical sportsbook in the state yet, and online sports wagering is offered at only one sportsbook. More retail sportsbook locations are set to launch soon.
Having launched in May 2020, Intralot – GamBetDC is the only legal and regulated sports betting option currently available in the whole state. The Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) strictly regulates sports betting in DC. But, players can also use BetMGM and Caesars if they're within the radius of the Nationals Park stadium.
In late August 2018, sports betting was legalized in the state of West Virginia. Since then, West Virginian bettors have been able to place bets on sports events legally. The West Virginia Lottery Commission is the regulator for sports betting here.
Wisconsin legalized in-person sports betting on July 1, 2021. The Wisconsin Gaming Commission is likely to regulate sports betting in the state.
Sports betting became legal in Wyoming in April 2021 after the bill was signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon. The sports betting market started with two bookmaker brands, DraftKings and BetMGM. Sports wagering and gambling in the state are regulated and governed by the Wyoming Gaming Commission.
Robert is responsible for all content on BettingGuide US. Robert previously worked as a poker dealer during his college years at MIT where he studied Computational Science and Engineering. With a great interest in gambling, Robert likes to go in-depth when writing so that you can make a wiser choice when choosing an operator.