Online sports betting sites
Determining the best online betting sites involves multiple attributes, but also a bit of personal preference. That’s right, you may prefer a betting site that’s not mentioned below and that’s OK!
What we look for when it comes to this is the welcome bonus, available sports betting markets, the number of states it’s legal to operate in, the user interface, and much more.
Below, we’ll dive into our favorite sports gambling websites and why they rank there for us at Ballislife.
DraftKings Sportsbook - Best User Interface on Mobile and Desktop
Requirements (WR):
1x Bonus
Get DraftKings Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Navigating a site with ease, whether on desktop or mobile, is paramount to having a top-tier online sports betting experience.
While other sites in the sports betting industry are fine, don’t get us wrong, DraftKings Sportsbook is, well, the king of user interface design and software—we’ve never lagged when using the site.
A cluttered homepage can make it difficult to find which bets to wager on, the live betting page, or even where to log in.
But at DraftKings Sportsbook, you can easily see where everything is, and a big part of that is using multiple text/background colors to assist players in finding those key elements.
The Mobile App Is Basically The Same As the Desktop
Having consistency from the mobile app—which is available for iOS and Android users—to the desktop is important. This allows players to dive into the action easily without needing to learn another platform.
Here’s where DraftKings does well:
- Great prop betting options across all sports
- Best mobile app on the market today
- Instant withdrawal on winnings is available
DraftKings could improve here:
- The welcome offer leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a 20% deposit match up to $1,000 and then you need to wager $25 in cash to access $1 in bonus bets.
PointsBet Sportsbook - Best Unique Betting Option
Bonus:
5 x $50Bet Credits
Requirements (WR):
1x Deposit
Get PointsBet Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
PointsBet originated in Australia and is now one of the best online gambling sites. The welcome bonus varies on where you’re located—it’s some variation of multiple free bets—but what makes
PointsBet so notable is its PointsBetting betting option. This is one of the riskier ways to bet, but nothing offers this potential upside on a single bet.
The goal is simple: Place a wager on something and get rewarded for how correct you are.
PointsBet Sportsbook - What is PointsBetting?
One of the best ways to utilize PointsBetting is betting the total in a basketball game. With such high scores, PointsBetting can net you some rather big winnings.
Here’s how Points Betting works:
- If you bet $10 on the over for a game with a line of 200 points, you’ll get whatever you wager multiplied by the number of points you were right about.
- So, if the game ends with 220, you’d win $200.
- Conversely, if it ends at 180, you’d lose $200.
Here’s how it’ll appear to you on the site
PointsBet does well here:
- PointsBetting bet type
- Multiple free bets welcome bonus
- Straightforward rewards program—bet, get points, redeem for bonus cash
PointsBet could do this better:
- Accessing the site requires more steps than other top online gambling sites
BetMGM - Best Place for Parlays and Live Streaming
Bonus:
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
Get BetMGM Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
On top of the first bet offer for new customers, BetMGM shines in parlay building and live streaming.
With parlays, the goal is to put multiple betting options on one ticket and for them all to succeed. BetMGM Sportsbook makes the process more streamlined, cutting out all the additional things on the site and focusing solely on parlays.
Also, there’s a live-streaming feature. This isn’t available for all sports, but if, for example, you enjoy betting on tennis or soccer, you’ll likely find some viewing options. This is also a great way to utilize live betting.
BetMGM - Build those parlays
One of the best features BetMGM has for parlays is the Easy Parlay tool. Here are some examples of how the page looks.
Access Live Streaming Capabilities
On the right-hand side of the desktop site, you’ll see a tab that says “Media.” Here, you’ll find a drop-down menu for available events. You can then watch these live on BetMGM.
BetMGM succeeds at…
- First bet offer where you get up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets if your first wager loses.
- Easy Parlay tool
- Live streaming is available
BetMGM could improve here:
- Slow to offer odds on prop bets
- Rewards program isn’t accessible to casual players
Bonus:
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Requirements (WR):
1x Deposit
Get FanDuel Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Finding a nice user interface isn’t a make or break for determining the best sportsbooks, but it’s certainly a refreshing experience when there.
FanDuel has logos for all the leagues and teams, which makes navigating betting options that much easier.
Additionally, FanDuel has numerous personalities associated with the brand, including Pat McAfee and A.J. Hawk. These provide unique additional promo offers that you find elsewhere.
FanDuel - Look at this clean interface
Again, the way the user interface is managed is minor in the grand scheme of things, but man, oh man is this clean to look at.
Now let’s look at those unique promo offers. This one features, McAfee, Hawk, Darius Butler, and Kay Adams.
FanDuel doesn’t miss when it comes to…
- $1,000 No Sweat First Bet welcome offer
- Personality-based promo options
- Clean user interface
- Odds boosts are offered each day
FanDuel could improve here:
- Odds are priced better elsewhere at times
Caesars Sportsbook - Best Welcome Offer
Whenever you sign up for a new online sportsbook, there’s nothing better than getting access to the welcome offer and making your first bets there. These sometimes deposit bonuses, risk-free bets, free bets, or something else.
Either way, you get your bankroll loaded and ready to make that first bet.
Well, no sportsbook does it better than Caesars Sportsbook—they offer a $1,250 risk-free bet in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- New York
- And more!
At $1,250, this is the best welcome bonus amongst all online gambling sites right now. The next best is $1,000.
With this bet, you can deposit and wager up to $1,250 while knowing that if you lose, you’ll receive it back as site credit that you can use again with a chance to get your money back.
The minimum deposit for this offer is $10.
Caesars Sportsbook - Get rewards points with the offer too
With the welcome offer, you’ll receive the $1,250 risk-free bet, but you’ll also receive 1,000 Rewards and Tier Credits. These are part of the Caesars Rewards Program and can be redeemed for bonus cash on the site or for retail perks at participating Caesars locations, such as Tropicana, Caesars Palace, Horseshoe, and more.
Below is a list of offers that are available in any of the following states: NJ, NY, PA, MI, CO, AZ, and more.
Oh wait, there’s more
Here’s one of our favorite offers at Caesars Sportsbook. It’s available in New Jersey, New York, Michigan, and Colorado.
With this offer, you’ll get a parlay profit boost token.
Here’s what we like about Caesars Sportsbook:
- $1,250 Risk-Free Bet Welcome Offer available in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.
- Additional Promos such as NBA Parlay Profit Boost, World Cup Parlay Boosts, Ticket Giveaways, and more.
- Caesars Rewards Program offers perks and rewards such as free credits, birthday gifts, free/discounted hotel stays, and more.
And this is what could be better:
- Does not provide a live streaming feed for any sports which could make live betting more engaging.
Sports betting sites offer numerous types of promos and bonus offers. These include no deposit bonuses, free bets, risk-free bets, bonus bets, first bet promos, deposit bonuses, no sweat first bets, bet & get offers, and so much more.
A popular new-player welcome offer at betting websites is a risk-free bet
If the site you’re looking at offers a $1,000 risk-free bet, you can make your first wager on the site without running the risk of losing your money. Instead, if you wager and lose, you’ll receive your money back in either bonus credits or free bets. However, if you win, you’ll keep your winnings like any other bet.
With risk-free bets, it’s important to look for market restrictions, including which types of bets you can make, minimum odds requirements, how long until you get the bonus funds/free bets, and how long you have to use whatever you receive back.
Other First bet offers
Brands like Fanduel, DraftKings, and BetMGM do not offer risk-free bets or free bets, as the term is a little misleading. Instead they offer first bet offers and bonus bets. There is nothing risk-free about using a bonus that only refunds your stake in bonus bets. That's because you cannot cash out the stake, but only the winnings accrued and there is a chance of losing it again.
Websites with a signup match deposit
Some online betting sites will offer a signup match deposit offer. This allows you to deposit funds and get them matched to a certain percentage. For example, suppose the offer is a 100% match worth up to $500. In that case, you can deposit up to $500 and get it matched completely, receiving $500 in site credits.
Sports betting sites: The top 9 sites in a condensed list
The sports betting sites landscape is an incredibly competitive market, and they’re all looking for ways to capture bettors’ attention, both new and veteran. At Ballislife, we only recommend the best. Below is a list of the best sports betting sites on the market today and the feature that best defines them.
- BetMGM: Offers multiple tools for parlay wagers, including Easy Parlay, a streamlined page for moneyline, point spread, and total betting odds for each available sport
- PointsBet: PointsBet has a unique bet type known as PointsBetting, where you get paid out based on how correct you are. If you bet $10 on the over of an NBA game with a total set at 200 and the final score is 210 points, you win $100
- BetRivers: Here, you’ll find a consistently updated menu showcasing real-time winners that inspire you to win big on this online betting site
- FanDuel: With their $1,000 No Sweat First Bet, you can make your first online sports betting wager massive while knowing you’ll get it back up to $1,000
- WynnBET: While the aesthetics may be plain to some, this online sports betting site has a streamlined user interface making it easy for players of all skill levels to access
- Betway: Offers a live betting interface that provides real-time updates on the game and key statistics that you can use to make informed wagers
- Betfred: An easy-to-understand and brand-new rewards program about how much money you need to bet to move up the ranks and earn new and exciting perks and benefits
- DraftKings: Experience a world-class mobile app that is free of lag and buffering and is the best way to bet on the go
- SI Sportsbook: Receive news and reports from the legendary Sports Illustrated magazine on the homepage that could provide insight into your next bet
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What can you compare between websites and mobile apps?
In addition to bonuses and promotions, sports bettors want to look out for other features to discern the best sports betting sites from the others. Often, these can be things such as how the mobile app functions, how live betting works, or even the best sports betting sites for specific sports.
While you can always fire up any websites of the commonly used online sportsbooks, you may miss out on some features that enhance the way sports bettors play that you may not even be aware of. Since these sites are all legal in the United States, you can rest assured that your data and banking information will all be safe.
The best sports betting sites also have numerous banking methods for deposits and withdrawals.
Below, we’ll dive into more detail about some of the critical elements that make the best sports betting sites, well, great.
Mobile Betting Apps
Most online sports betting sites you’ll come across have a desktop and a mobile app version. While the desktop version may be enjoyable, chances are there will come a time when you’re out and about, and you remember you need to bet on your favorite team.
When evaluating a mobile betting app, you first want to check for lag and buffering. This can be the difference between getting the best odds you want and then changing to something slightly worse.
Next, you want to look for consistency from platform to platform. The term “mirror image” or “carbon copy” is appropriate here for sports bettors. You want a mobile and desktop platform that is alike because this allows for an easier learning curve when going from one to the other.
Sports Betting Site for Live Betting
Live betting allows sports bettors to enjoy sporting events in a way unlike any other. At the best sports betting sites, live betting will enable you to place real-time wagers as the game progresses. These odds update rapidly, but they provide a new way to stay engaged with the game you’re viewing.
An example of live betting could include any standard bet types you enjoy betting on. However, as the game evolves, those odds will change. If the NBA game has a team up by 20 and the pre-game spread was four points, you’ll see that reflected in the betting odds.
You’ll also be able to bet on things like the result of the next play, which can allow you to stay engaged all night long even more.
NFL betting sites
The NFL is the most popular sport to bet on, so all of the best sports betting sites will emphasize this when the season progresses and even during the offseason. The best site for NFL betting is DraftKings Sportsbook. Here, you’ll have your standard bets, but you’ll also have a significant number of prop bets and futures. Some of the bet types you’ll have to choose from include the following:
- Game Parlays
- Game Props
- Weekly Specials
- Team Futures
- 2023 Draft
- Player Parlays
- H2H Player Props
- And More!
Several prop bets available for the NFL Draft allow you to stay involved with the sport even when games aren’t being played.No sportsbook is necessarily “bad” for NFL betting, but there’s a lack of these additional bet types.
NBA betting sites
The NBA has a long and arduous season, so finding the best basketball betting site can make that 80+ game season much more enjoyable. A site like Caesars Sportsbook offers players the best bet types, including the standard ones, props, live betting, futures, and more.
The welcome bonus, which is a $1,250 risk-free bet, makes Caesars stand out. This allows you to make the biggest risk-free NBA bets on the market today.
Caesars will also offer several NBA-exclusive promotions and has even given away jerseys in the past. Like the best NFL sites, you’ll find a lot of these bet types, but where Caesars thrives, and others trail behind are the new player and existing player promotions.
College betting sites
Betting on college sports is fun and enjoyable, but it’s actually not available in every legal sports betting state. Instead, there are some states that outright prohibit it or limit the available wagers you can make. So, by default, the best college betting sites will be those located in states without such restrictions.
As for bet types, you’ll want to look for sites that offer a wide array of college basketball betting options for March Madness in NCAAB and bowl games/College Football Playoffs for NCAAF. March Madness, is a 64-team single-elimination tournament where each team competes to be crowned champion. During this time, sports bettors have the opportunity to bet on multiple college sports markets and also receive numerous promotions for each round of the college basketball tournament.
As for the college football bowl games the College Football Playoff, there are over 40 events that will also offer up promotions that make that betting experience that much more enjoyable.
Sports Betting Laws Governing Legal sports betting sites
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, overturned in May 2018, allowed each state in the United States to decide whether to legalize mobile sports betting. Each state has its politics that influence the trajectory of these bills, just like any other legislation.
Some states may only offer retail sports betting as mobile sports betting requires a different set of parameters and could take some time for the necessary changes for legal online betting to be implemented. It’s not uncommon for some states not even launch mobile sports betting months after they decided to legalize sports betting.
Check out your state’s official gaming commission or gaming control board website for vendor details to determine whether you’re on a legal sports betting site. You can also scroll to the bottom of most pages and find some information discussing said control board.
7 top tips for finding the best online sportsbooks: What to compare and check before betting online
You’ll want to look for some key elements and unique offerings when comparing sports betting sites. These include:
- New player bonuses existing player promotions
- Terms and conditions differences
- Betting markets
- Live streaming
- Cash out
- Same Game Parlay
- Competitive odds
When examining these safe betting sites, look for features that you’re unable to find elsewhere as well. This could be a deciding factor for your go-to online sports betting apps in the USA.
If you don’t want to spend your time comparing sites, don’t worry, we’ve got you and other sports bettors covered. Here at Ballislife, you can use our comparison tables to find what the best betting sites offer and which lack features you may desire.
Find All Betting Sites In Our Toplists
Conclusion - Best betting sites
Finding the best online sports betting sites is complex, as you can see. We’ve laid the groundwork for you to have all the information to get started at these sites. While we have a couple of the best sites listed here, there are many other competent places to bet.
Online gambling is an excellent form of entertainment, and we recommend the sites mentioned above or any other site that aligns with what makes online sports betting great based on our research.
FAQ Sports Betting Sites
📉 What is the vig in sports betting?
Whenever you place a sports bet, regardless of the outcome, the sportsbook’s odds have a built-in profit margin. So, the vig is the equivalent of a commission charged by sportsbooks for each wager made, which ensures that the operator makes a profit. You’ll also see it described as vigorish, juice or overround and they are all exactly the same thing.
🏅 Which is the best sports betting site?
When it comes to selecting a US sports betting site, there are many things you might want to consider before you get to the point of signing up. However, the most crucial factor is whether or not you can do so legally. First, you must live in a US state that has legalized online sports betting and second, the sportsbook must be licensed to operate in your state. We recommend DraftKings Sportsbook since they tick most of the boxes.
⚖️Where is sports betting allowed?
All of the US states which have opted to permit online sports betting have a licensing scheme in place. Currently the following states are allowing mobile betting: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Maryland,New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia & Wyoming. In addition, you can always check to see if a sports betting site is legit by checking with your state regulatory authority.
💻 What is a sports betting line?
A sports betting line is a different way of referring to the odds a sportsbook displays on its betting platform. So, you’ll find lines for a variety of different bet types such as moneyline, over/under and parlays. If you like to wager on a particular sport, you’ll need to learn how to use a variety of betting lines to enhance your enjoyment when you wager.
🏈 What sports are the best to bet on?
Most online sportsbooks will offer a good number of different sports to keep users engaged with their brand. Naturally you can expect to find a good deal of emphasis on the most popular US sports and leagues like the NFL, NHL and NBA. Most of the top sportsbooks, like Unibet and PointsBet also have betting markets that include lower league matches. Beyond the US sports, you’re also likely to find popular global sports like soccer, golf, cricket and tennis on offer.
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