Find the best bookmakers for betting on soccer in the US as we compare the sportsbooks with the highest odds, live streaming, free bets, and much more.
There is no competition regarding the best sport in the world. Soccer is and would continuously be the favorite sport among sports bettors and viewers worldwide. As a renowned sport, bettors get more options and varieties to place bets.
Beyond the international options like the Spanish Primera Division (La Liga), English Premier League (EPL) played all year, and FIFA, UEFA Champions League, etc. holding periodically, American bettors can also explore domestic leagues like the Major League Soccer (MLS), USL Championship, and many more.
The legal situation regarding sports betting is still evolving. However, since the Supreme Court struck down the PASPA Act, states were given the power to choose their path. Technically, the New Jersey victory pioneered sports betting in the US.
Many states in the US have legalized sports betting. Although some states' legislative arms are not bothered about the subject, we believe that more states would welcome sports betting in the future. Sports enthusiasts would have the opportunity to win real money on a sport they love.
As mentioned earlier, the New Jersey victory altered sports betting progression in the US. Now, there are more than two dozen US states welcoming sportsbook operators with their products, generating huge revenue yearly. Here, we take a quick look into states where you can place soccer bets.
New Jersey has become a haven for sports betting, especially soccer. The State led the fight to have sports betting legal for almost a decade, with several lawmakers playing a massive role in the landmark judgment.
New Jersey residents have a lot of betting options to choose from. Being the first state to allow sports wagering often comes with many privileges. Bettors must be within state borders and should be 21 years or more. Gambling activities are regulated and licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Entertainment.
Michigan is another top state where bettors can comfortably place bets on sports, including soccer. Bettors can also place bets using mobile apps from their preferred bookmaker for convenience.
Following the steps of NJ, players can register outside Michigan on a mobile app but must be in the State physically before placing bets. In addition, users must be 21 years old or more before legally placing wagers. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is the regulatory body responsible for licensing the operators in the State.
Illinois has fully legalized online sports betting for its residents to participate fully. The state governor signed the legislation supporting the gambling industry in June 2019, but operations started fully in March 2020, and soccer betting has been one of such markets available to users.
The Illinois Gaming Board, the governing body for online gambling regulation, has licensed leading operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, etc., to accept wagers from users. Mobile apps are also permitted. To be eligible, bettors must be at least 21 years, and can only place bets within the State before their wagers are accepted.
Sports betting is live in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is responsible for licensing and regulating the betting space. Users are only eligible if they are within state borders and are 21 years or more.
Betting with the aid of a sportsbook app is possible. Users have to get this app from their play stores depending on their device.
The Volunteer state is now a top valid option for placing bets as of November 1, 2020, with residents able to place mobile bets on soccer sports events for both professional and college games. Tennessee holds a peculiar situation: they offer online betting solutions without retail casinos. The State's law empowers the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TEL) to regulate and license online sports betting and operators in the State.
To place bets on soccer legally, you must be 21 years or older, reside within the State. Users cannot place bets on in-game prop bets for college sporting events.
Online soccer betting through sports betting apps is live in the Old Dominion state. Two of the country's leading sportsbook operators, FanDuel and DraftKings, started offering wagering options to the residents through their mobile apps from January 2021.
One of the particular situations of sports betting in Virginia is providing a geolocation technology that shows that you're within the state lines before you can comfortably place bets on soccer. This location barrier does not stop you from registering on a mobile betting app anywhere you are outside the State.
The legislation allows for a minimum of four online operators to operate legally in the State, providing up to 12 sportsbooks. Players must be at least 21. Bets on college soccer games are illegal.
Other states worth mentioning include:
The sites we recommend to our readers pass through a list of essential factors to make soccer betting exciting and safe.
Licensing is one factor we do not take for granted when reviewing a sportsbook. Every sportsbook should have a regulatory body responsible for its license and operations within a jurisdiction. Any soccer betting site without a licensed body displayed on its sites is not considered.
A regulated betting site has a body watching them to ensure they operate within accepted practices so that the players can also have a chance at winning.
Also, players betting at a licensed site can direct their grievances to the regulatory body if the site's customer support does not resolve their complaints amicably.
Another cause of concern when we review a site is the mobile betting options. Users should have a good experience on a betting site. Sites should be fully optimized to fit mobile devices. Additionally, sportsbooks should have mobile apps that would aid sports betting.
Such sportsbook apps should be easy to use, especially for newbie bettors. Live bets are preferably placed with mobile apps. Operators often offer a special bonus to users who play via their apps.
We search for the top bonus offers and test them out to see if they're genuine too. We also read the terms and conditions to ensure that the wagering requirements are average for the players to withdraw their bonuses.
Next, we lookout for the various payment gateways available to the bettors on the sportsbook. We consider the ease, security, and speed of these transaction channels. There should be many deposit options with an easy and seamless withdrawal process.
A soccer betting site should offer the most common payment options, which are popular and secured. Some of the options include:
We test each option, especially the withdrawal part, and look out for two important features:
We know that most deposits are instant, so our primary focus is withdrawals.
The best soccer sportsbooks we recommend must have an active customer support system available for the players. As much as we don't hope for any bettor to encounter any issue when placing bets, some of the complaints or inquiries are inevitable, and we want a means where they can get a fast and easy response to their tickets through different means of communication.
Another crucial factor we look out for is the security processes in place to protect the information of the bettors entered. Any soccer betting site with the latest security architecture to protect its customers' information is not regarded and recommended for our players.
Currently, the online betting situation for soccer has improved dramatically. There is a healthy competition of some of the best online sportsbooks in the US, looking to offer soccer wagering products to the residents.
As a result, the states that have legalized online soccer betting have created unique regulatory bodies to ensure these mobile sportsbooks operate within acceptable standards and only offer a fair market to users. Here are top soccer betting sites in the US.
Also known as "in-play betting," this bet type is probably the most popular of them all. Players can enjoy this bet type best on the mobile app of their favorite sportsbook. However, live betting is usually associated with premium sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. The live bet options come on when the game starts, with the odds fluctuating continuously as the game progresses.
Bettors can wager on a team's possession, goals scored, number of cards received, and several other options. Live betting offers users more control compared to the usual pre-match pick.
It is also called the 'to-win,' straight up, or game-winner bet and is also popular among soccer bettors. Essentially, it is the simplest bet type on soccer games. This bet type allows you to choose one of two teams to win the game. If your prediction is correct, your bet is a winning one.
Additionally, the Moneyline bet is only focused on the winner, not the number of goals scored or other game statistics.
The double chance bet type is readily available at soccer betting sites. Here, bettors have the option of backing two outcomes with a single stake. The first outcome is team A winning, the second outcome is team B winning, and the last option, both groups, share the spoils.
Essentially, using the double chance bet, players get the chance to decide which two of these outcomes are bound to happen. Either team one wins, or they draw, or team two wins or they draw. The double chance bet has more safety room than the straight-up bets, so the odds are usually lower.
Spread bets are an interesting bet type to explore. Like Moneyline bets, bettors can either bet on the favorite or underdog team. However, if a bet is placed on the favorite team to win, the team needs to win the game with more points than those assigned. On the other hand, underdogs must win outrightly or lose the game by a small margin compared to the point spread they are assigned.
The Draw No Bet option eliminates every possibility of a draw. Bettors can either place a bet on a home or away win. If your prediction is successful, your bet wins. Here's the catch, if the match ends in a draw, there would be a refund of your stake.
A future wager is a bet type that allows players to determine the outcome of a match that will be played in the future. The real money used to stake on this market is tied up until the game is played and the result determined. The odds usually used in this game are fixed, also known as "Odds to Win."
The strategies employed for soccer betting are not all different from those used in other sports games. However, some of the general tips you can use to formulate a working strategy include:
In-Play betting allows bettors to access a range of betting options. You can use this fixture while enjoying the game to place bets on the subsequent outcome of the game as it progresses, not necessarily the outcome.
This tip is essential because a game can change momentum while in session, with the underdogs becoming favorites to win a game. You can use in-play betting to select different options as you watch the match.
When placing bets on soccer matches, users should research past events to make accurate predictions. Some of the best soccer betting sites have a dedicated page having statistics from the previous meetings on games you might be betting on.
Although certain factors can affect a match and it goes the other way, statistics of games are still instrumental in shaping your prediction of a game.
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.