The Best Online Betting Sites in the USA

US Online Sports Betting Basics
Rules Difficulty Medium
Sports 26
Skills to Start Moderate
Top Payment PayNearMe
Legal States 22
Where to Bet BetMGM

Top Online Sportsbooks: 2024 Rankings

If you want to bet on sports with nice bonuses, the top US sports gambling sites await you below. Take your pick from the best online betting sites in the United States:

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Last updated: March 13, 2024

Online Sports Betting in the US

United States
Arizona Colorado Connecticut Illinois Indiana
Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland
Massachusetts Michigan Nevada New Jersey New York
Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia
US Sports Betting Site Welcome Bonus Bonus Code Legal In Site Rating Features Secure Link Terms
BetMGM Sport Up to $1,000 In Bonus Bets
Not Required
100% Excellent
Edit My Bet One Game Parlay BetMGM Rewards 21+. T&Cs apply.
DraftKings Sportsbook Up to $1,000 First Deposit Bonus
Not Required
99% Excellent
Deposit Bonus NBA No Sweat Bet Game Tickets for VIPs 21+. T&Cs apply.
BetRivers-sports 2nd chance bet up to $250
SPORTS
98% Excellent
Big Soccer Leagues Fair Futures Odds Second Chance Bet 21+. T&Cs apply.
Caesars Sport Up to $1,000 First Bet back as Bonus Bets
IGAMING1000
97% Excellent
High Stakes Bonus Cash Out Parlay Boosts 21+. T&Cs apply.
Matt Speakman, Betting Expert at online-gambling.com
Matt Speakman

Matt Speakman is a Connecticut-born and raised betting expert with a soft spot for the Patriots. He is also a proud member of the online-gambling.com team. You can read his articles on a broad range of topics, including sports betting and DFS.

Why You Can Trust online-gambling.com
  • Our reviewers are au courant with the latest amendments of the American gambling laws and check all reviewed sportsbooks in accordance with state law.
  • We keep tabs on the latest developments and amendments to the gambling law in the country by reading the information published by reliable news sources like NBC News.
  • We take an interest in the gambling sector as a whole and have published popular articles such as our overview of the best slot sites as well as our page on real money online casinos in PA.

Online Sports Betting Sites Summarized

The best US sports betting sites include BetMGM, BetRivers, and DraftKings. The highest-rated of them, BetMGM, awards a welcome bonus of up to $1000 cashback on your first bet. The platform offers bets on multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. Recommended payment methods include Apple Pay, Play+, Online Banking, and 7 more.

List of the Best US Sports Betting Sites

Elements of a US sports including an American flag, american football and baseball players.
  • 🥇 BetMGM (Best Online Betting Site in the US Overall)
  • 🥈 BetRivers (Great Option for Same Game Parlays)
  • 🥉 DraftKings (Top-Rated Online Sportsbook for Live Betting)
  • 🏅 Caesars (Sportsbooks with Best Refer-a-Friend Bonus)
  • 🏅 Unibet (Sports Betting Site with Parlay Boosts)
  • 🏅 Betway (Online Bookmaker Licensed in 8 States)
  • 🏅 Bet365 (Accepts PayPal and Other Popular Payment Methods)

Top Sports Gambling Sites by Type

Your betting strategy will depend on what options the sportsbook you have an account at is able to provide you with. We had this important consideration in mind when we delineated the categories we see detailed above. If you know what you are after, instead of wasting time wading through pages of sports gambling sites, you can take your pick from the selected operators above. Each online sportsbook excels in its own way as they are run by different companies with different outlooks on sports gambling and their very own loyalty reward systems.

👑 #1 Online Sportsbook BetMGM
🏈Top Football Betting Site DraftKings
🏀Best Basketball Site Caesars
#1 Baseball Sportsbook BetRivers
🏌Top Golf Sportsbook Hard Rock
🎾Top Tennis Betting Site Bet365
🥊Best MMA Betting Site Betway
🏏Top for Cricket Betting Borgata
Top Soccer Sportsbook Unibet
📱#1 Sportsbook Mobile App BetMGM
🎁Best Sports Betting Bonus SugarHouse
👆Most Sports to Bet On DraftKings

We factored all that into the degree possible and laid out in simple terms what we would recommend each respective sports betting site for. We hope your top priority is for the gambling platform to be safe and licensed because this is what we work toward with these reviews. We acknowledge the fact that even the best online gambling sites might not cater to your present situation, hence why we put forward the many categories you saw listed prior to this paragraph.

As each bookie has viable selling points, it’s safe to say that the gaming service of all of them is up to the mark. If you want to see us discuss the finer details, please keep on reading.

How Do I Choose an Online Sportsbook?

What makes the best online betting sites for US players stand out is the uncompromising quality standards. Since we sift through lots of sports betting websites, we developed a set of criteria to review operators and determine who receives a good rating and who doesn’t. This is what to pay attention to when evaluating a betting site:

If you’re venturing out to conduct your own search, it’s crucial to adhere to rating principles akin to ours or maintain similar standards. Foundational aspects such as security and payment methods should never be overlooked.

If the bookie doesn’t transparently highlight its measures to ensure a secure gambling environment, it might warrant a deeper investigation. Especially in the realm of payment methods, consider giving preference to Play+ gambling sites, as they offer a combination of convenience and security for users.

License and Security

Elements of secure sports betting overview in the US including an American flag, multiple sports players winning and security screen.

An SSL certificate from DigiCert or another expert in the field is a must for online betting sites accepting American players. This, together with the secure payment channels, ensures that the personal and payment information you enter will be encrypted.

In addition to that, online sportsbooks in the US process their clients’ information in a sensible way, only keeping it for as long as necessary. These are the most prominent gaming control commissions and online security agencies certificate issuers, the names of which you will see mentioned most often:

Of course that a single sports betting license will not be viable everywhere in the United States. Before you learn how to bet on sports from your location, you first need to learn which the main license issuer is. Having a license from the relevant authority or not is what determines whether the online betting sites you are considering are legit or not. If the bookie in question doesn’t, you should keep your distance from it.

Best Bonus Offers for Online Sports Betting

The best online sports betting sites are celebrated for their bonuses and reward systems, similar to poker sites for US players. As a new player, you are always entitled to a sign-up bonus, which is given to you on certain conditions. If the promised reward is a cashback, then you won’t have to mind a wagering condition but simply keep wagering, and the refund money will be credited to your balance automatically.

Whether you are a client of betting sites with ice hockey, darts, or any other sport, you can certainly bolster your game with a refund bonus. One of the most common promotions and loyalty perks is precisely that – the refund. Check out the following table for the full breakdown of all the sports betting bonuses in the US:

Sports Betting Site Bonus Promo Code Min Deposit Validity Legal in T&C
BetMGM $1,000
Not Required
$10 7 days AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MS, NC, NV, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WA, WV, WY 21+. T&Cs apply.
DraftKings $1,000
Not Required
$5 90 Days AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OR, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY 21+. T&Cs apply.
Betrivers up to $500
SPORTS
$10 30 Days AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV 21+. T&Cs apply.
Caesars Up to $1,000 First Bet back as Bonus Bets
IGAMING1000
$20 14 Days AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, NV, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, WV, WY 21+. T&Cs apply.
Unibet $500
Not Required
$10 30 Days AZ, IA, IN, NJ, PA, VA 21+. T&Cs apply.
Betway up to $250
Not Required
$10 7 Days AZ, CO, IN, IA, NJ, OH, PA, VA 21+. T&Cs apply.
Bet365 $200
Not Required
$10 30 Days CO, NC, NJ, OH 21+. T&Cs apply.

It’s typical for the best online sports gambling sites in the USA to keep a high level of transparency in everything they do, but don’t use that as an excuse to forego common sense. It’s good practice to carefully read the terms and conditions of even the best online casino bonuses or any online sportsbook we recommend here.

Doing away with that essential rule may cause a lot of headaches in the future for a regular visitor of betting sites. We advise you to consider the things that stick out, like minimum deposit, validity, promo code, and eligibility criteria in general. The top Visa gambling sites in the US can provide you with promotions with convenient terms.

Betting Apps and Mobile Compatibility

A mobile phone is just as practical of a solution when it comes to playing at US online sports betting sites, the reason being that a lot of operators have come out with branded apps available on the App Store. Android users are not left out; it’s just that sometimes what they get is a direct download link rather than a link to Google Play.

To make things even better, live sports betting is also easily accessed on mobile. We searched long and hard for the best mobile sportsbooks in the US, and here’s what we found:

Mobile Sports Betting App Betting Bonus Promo Code Min Deposit OS Compatibility Native Sports App Legal in T&C
BetRivers $500
SPORTS
$10
iOS
Android
Yes AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV 21+. T&Cs apply.
Betway $250
Not Required
$10
iOS
Android
Yes AZ, CO, IN, IA, NJ, PA, VA 21+. T&Cs apply.
DraftKings $1,000
Not Required
$5
iOS
Android
Yes AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OR, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY 21+. T&Cs apply.
Unibet $500
Not Required
$10
iOS
Android
Yes AZ, IA, IN, NJ, PA, VA 21+. T&Cs apply.

Just as the best online sports betting sites are characterized by their welcome bonus, compatibility, and accepted payment methods, so too – their mobile apps need to have these things in place. We believe we’ve got a bead on which the top apps for sports gambling in the US are because the shortlisted selectees shine through with cross-platform compatibility, they are available via web browser, they are free to install, and a lot more. Sounds a lot like the best online casinos, doesn’t it? Both are great options for the real-money gambler.

Available Payment Methods

The commitment to customer service is evident when observing how top US sports betting sites consistently cater to users’ preferred payment methods. Common options found at many gambling platforms, including Mastercard gambling sites, extend to Discover, Visa, and American Express. Moreover, a range of top-tier choices spans from e-wallets and prepaid cards, prominently featuring Paysafecard gambling sites, to more traditional online banking.

While there are inevitable constraints, such as minimum and maximum deposit limits, one assurance remains steadfast. The best online betting sites operating in America are unwavering in their commitment to dispense rightful winnings to their patrons.

Deposit Options

We cared to do our research on the most used payment methods and how the sports gambling sites accommodate the users thereof. You might see there’s a notable discrepancy in the deposit cap column. This goes to show that not every means of payment is suitable for the high-stakes bettor these days. If you are a high-roller, then the Bank Transfer gambling sites in the USA may be suitable for you as the deposit limits can be higher.

Apparently, if you want to wager big sums of money, your debit card will be your best friend as far as the US betting sites go. On the other hand, the variety of accepted payment service providers doesn’t affect deposit times that much.

Deposit Method Payment Type Availability Min Deposit Max Deposit Deposit Times Available at:
PayPal e-wallet Common $10 $10,000 Instant sportsbook.draftkings.com
Visa debit card Common $10 $30,000 Instant hardrockcasino.com
Skrill e-wallet Uncommon $10 $10,000 Instant borgataonline.com
Paysafecard pre-paid card Uncommon $10 $1,500 Instant nj.bet365.com
PayNearMe pre-paid card Common $10 $1,500 Instant caesars.com
Cash cash Uncommon $1 N/A Instant va.betrivers.com
Online Banking banking Common $10 N/A Instant pa.unibet.com
American Express debit card Uncommon $10 $30,000 Instant nj.betmgm.com
Discover debit card Common $10 $30,000 Instant in.betmgm.com
Apple Pay e-wallet Uncommon $10 $10,000 Instant borgataonline.com
Play+ pre-paid card Common $10 $10,000 Instant nj.betway.com

E-wallets are quite popular, for example, some of the top PayPal gambling sites offer unmatched conditions you can’t find at many other operators. Also, some gamblers like Apple Pay and Play+. Of the two, the Play+ platform was launched specifically with players in mind. More and more gamblers and operators are realizing the advantages of money transfers with Play+. Given the popularity of the payment method, it is also widely accepted at the best real money online casinos.

If all you have is your debit card, then the American Express gambling sites and operators with Discover cards seem like a reasonable way of funding your player account. The deposit limit for online transfers starts at $10, meaning that everyone is welcome at online sports betting sites in the States. A similar model of accessibility is adopted by the best payout online casinos as well.

Withdrawal Options

Sports betting would not be the same without the fast cashouts. Luckily, there are many means of payment by which you can receive your winnings, and all of them allow for pretty fast payouts. When it comes to withdrawals, there’s one thing American speculators need to know – the pool of options is not as abundant as with deposit methods. Below, we’ve underlined the important aspects of the best withdrawal methods for US gamblers:

Withdrawal Method Payment Type Availability Min Deposit Cash Out Times Available at:
PayPal e-wallet Common $10 Up to 24h sportsbook.draftkings.com
Visa debit card Common $10 3 -5 days hardrockcasino.com
Skrill e-wallet Uncommon $10 Up to 24h borgataonline.com
Cash cash Uncommon $1 Instant va.betrivers.com
Check by Mail banking Common $10 7 – 21 days nj.betmgm.com
Online Banking banking Common $10 3 – 10 days pa.unibet.com
Play+ pre-paid card Common $10 3 – 5 days nj.betmgm.com
Discover debit card Common $10 3 – 5 days in.betmgm.com
Apple Pay e-wallet Uncommon $10 Up to 24h borgataonline.com

From our experience with betting sites and the fastest-paying online casinos in the US, we can draw the conclusion that payouts take more time than sending money to your gambling account. This is caused by the mandatory know-your-customer checks licensed operators usually do.

To speed things up, you must make sure that your account is verified, especially when playing at Apple Pay gambling sites. Furthermore, you should know that the best online betting sites in the USA want you to cash out with the same payment account you used to send money in the first place.

Most Popular Sports in Online Betting

When we talk about the top level of sportsbooks, it’s never just about one or two sports. All of them keenly follow the principle of versatility. Market diversity being at the very top of the agenda for the sportsbooks we reviewed, is influencing in a big way how their sports markets look. We picked the sports that not only seem to be the popular choice but also whose betting lines are priced up best:

We picked the above five sports for the following reason – they are team sports with frequent tournament meets. If you want yet another angle to find good odds on the sport you like, just visit the in-play section of any of the online sports betting sites in the United States, such as the Discover gambling sites.

Football

If you visit online sportsbooks in search of football betting lines, you won’t be disappointed. The golden standard – the NFL – is the league that is priced up with odds the most often but is not the only market you will find. College football also proves very interesting to speculators from the United States. The Canadian Football League and rugby are also potent options for the putters who like to cast their net wide. Here is our favorite sports betting platform for football in the US:

BetMGM Up to: $1,000 Risk-Free Bet
Not Required
Lion’s BoostNFL prop bets 21+. T&Cs apply.

One thing you can be sure of is that the best sports gambling sites accepting Americans are allocating a significant part of their resources to provide satisfactory football coverage. They put a ton of work into their live streaming and odds scraping too. Additionally, football fans can even play football-themed blackjack games at some of the best blackjack online casinos in the US.

Basketball

We don’t need to tell you how crazy sports fans are about the NBA. It’s only natural that the best basketball league will be one of the most desirable betting markets for Americans. At the time of writing, our top US sports betting sites have 150+ lines on the NBA.

Besides, it’s super easy to look up fixtures from basketball leagues in other countries like Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Turkey. After all our checks from a bettor’s vantage point, we found the following to be the best online bookmaker for basketball in the US:

Caesars Up to $1,000 First Bet back as Bonus Bets
IGAMING1000
Dedicated betting appBasketball promotions 21+. T&Cs apply.

Always keep an eye on the schedule so you don’t miss out on the match you’re eager to bet on. If the game is about to be played, you’ll typically find it listed in the “upcoming events” section, a feature prominently seen in the live betting segment of many online platforms, especially those on VIP Preferred gambling sites. With ample opportunities available, you can craft a robust selection of basketball predictions that could lead to the desired winnings.

Things are pretty heated whether you bet pre-match or in-play, but you always have the option to bet in a more relaxed fashion at the best fantasy sports betting sites.

Baseball

You can count on sports betting sites to lay odds on the MLB and major events like the World Baseball Classic. The good thing is that you can speculate on baseball matches before their start and while they are ongoing. It’s also important to note that the top baseball betting sites strike a good balance between futures and game wagers. All things considered, we have a favorite sports betting site for baseball based on all the abovementioned facts:

BetRivers Up to: $500 In Free Bet
SPORTS
Decent odds levels on baseballMany baseball futures 21+. T&Cs apply.

There’s room for baseball fans under the umbrella of US sports betting operators. Placing wagers on this particular sport has no specifics you should be aware of. If you’ve been doing okay so far, wagering on football or basketball, baseball ought not to be a challenge for you, especially when playing at the PayNearMe gambling sites.

There are just a couple of rules you better abide by if you want to maximize your chances of making a profit. You need to check the recent performances of the teams and the head-to-head statistics.

Hockey

We are yet to visit an American sportsbook that doesn’t offer hockey betting markets. The sport is very popular in the northern regions of the United States, and that’s exactly what a good portion of the handicappers there end up betting on.

It would be a bit of an overstatement to say they are spoiled for choice, but at least they have the option to speculate on world-class hockey – the MLB and the Stanley Cup. Our recommended online bookie for hockey betting is the following:

DraftKings Up to: $1,000 First Deposit Bonus
Not Required
Good odds for Next GoalGreat MLB coverage 21+. T&Cs apply.

The game of hockey enjoys international popularity, and consequently, you can easily find odds on international matches at the Venmo gambling sites we discuss here. If you venture outside your comfort zone and aren’t familiar with certain teams, it’s always a good idea to research their track record and objectives for the current season.

Practice moderation in your gambling habits, and if available, utilize promotions like Draw no Bet to enhance your betting experience.

Tennis

The tennis calendar is filled with high-intensity tournaments and matches, which action is perfect for placing bets live. Feel free to take the odds of online sportsbooks with a license, even if you are not into the game of tennis. The four Grand Slams are always the center of attention, just like the four majors in golf.

Aside from the majors in tennis, for those sports betting online from the United States, there’s the opportunity to speculate on the tournaments from the ATP 1000 and WTA 1000 series. Below are the details of the sportsbook we think is perfect for that.

Bet365 Bet $1 & Get $200 In Free Bets
Not Required
Live betting on tennisGrand Slam promotions 21+. T&Cs apply.

Tennis matches are particularly suitable for a same-match parlay. Not only that, but you can sometimes get boosted odds and other goodies for being a tennis pundit. If you don’t like the odds prices of the major tournaments, you can go down a notch to the Challenger level and see how things are there. There’s, indeed, no shortage of tournaments viable for betting, especially at the Skrill gambling sites. The Davis Cup and the ATP finals can also be considered the high point of the season, depending on your vantage point.

Live Sports Betting

This function of the best online betting sites was a long time coming, and now it’s everywhere. So, this is the opposite of placing a wager pre-match. There are many good sides to this, and one that is a bit of a tradeoff. Wagering live means your predictions are processed and accepted while the game is in play.

This is a cool interaction, but you need to be quite experienced to extract profit out of it because the odds are going up and down faster than you can predict. Here are the top six available for live betting sports in the US:

  • American Football
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Ice Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Where live betting comes especially handy is big events like March Madness – the culmination of college basketball’s Division 1. It helps you get the most out of the big derby you’ve been waiting for or whatever sporting event you wanted to see so much.

You also have the ability to spectate a good portion of the sporting events that take place in the USA and around the world directly on the website of the bookie of choice. If they have the right to stream, then it’s game on. If they don’t, they will replace the live stream with helpful graphics and animations, similar to what the Maestro gambling sites do.

Most Popular Types of Online Bets

In case there was anything unclear about how to bet on sports, let us reiterate that while the wagers you can place vary, the whole idea revolves around you making the right calls. Maybe it would be useful to know how the wager types function before making the next step, which is to stake a bet and confirm it.

This is exactly what we intend to do in this section – to give insight into the most common betting types. Unlike when you play roulette online for real money in the USA, for example, here you have a chance to strategically pick a sport that you enjoy and have knowledge of. Without delaying it further, here is a short description of the popular betting lines:

  • Moneyline – Pick one side or the other as the winner and win according to the odds. A +100 price tells you how much you win when you wager $100, while -200 tells you how much to bet in order to play for $100.
  • Point Spread – In spread betting, the outcome of the wager depends on the accuracy of the prediction. If you back the correct point estimation, you win.
  • Prop Bets – Those are propositions made by the bookmaker for certain outcomes that don’t always relate to who the winner will be. You can regard them as slightly off-topic lines.
  • Parlays – The introduction of same-game parlays allowed players to join several predictions about the same match into a single bet. The traditional parlay allows you the same thing but with the luxury of picking from any events you like.
  • Middle Bets – Also known as “middling”, is a technique rather than a specific line. With this strategy, the handicapper backs both sides by taking different lines.
  • Future Bets – The wager is placed way before the actual outcome is known. For example, at the beginning of the season, you place a future bet on the outright winner.
  • Teasers – A teaser has a little bit of everything. You can order the point spread however you want, but the bookmaker lowers the odds in exchange, and you have to parlay a set number of selections.
  • Over/Under Bets – Another quantitative wager aiming to guess whether the value of a certain statistic will go over the value set by the bookmaker.

How Does Daily Fantasy Compare to Sports Betting

There’s no real pundit that would regret the element of skill integrated into the act of placing a sports wager. If this is something you seek intentionally, you should feel in your element at a fantasy sports contest. These competitions are settled very fast – in the course of a week, at most. Sometimes a single day is enough to see who grabs the lion’s share of the prize pool.

While not a world apart, daily fantasy and sports betting are dissimilar enough for each of them to be in a separate category. We talk more about the notable differences in the following table:

Sports Betting Online Daily Fantasy Sports
• Odds prices determine potential winnings • Shared prize pool
• You win by making the right prediction • You win by earning points
• Stake size matters • You assemble a team of players
• Live streams are available • Salary cap limits your choice of players
• Cash Out is available most of the time • Different contest types
• Large selection of sports • Somewhat limited choice of sports

DFS came in for criticism back in the day when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was still in effect. However, in the span of a few years, as much as 18 states legalized DFS. Nowadays, the activity is recognized as a legal game of skill in the majority of the United States. Three of the notable exceptions are Hawaii, Idaho, and Louisiana.

They are yet to iron out the problems in their legal framework that don’t allow for DFS sites to launch officially. Even if daily fantasy sports are not an option, you still can check if sports betting is available in your state.

Land-based vs. Online Sportsbooks

If you feel like you’re in a sports betting rut, perhaps it’s time for a change of pace. What separates online from in-person sports betting? We’ll break it down for you in the upcoming comparison table. As you explore your options, also consider the convenience offered by Cash at Cage gambling sites which allow you to collect winnings at land-based venues.

Do we need to remind you that the best online sports betting sites in the USA are run in cooperation with the same bookies owning the bet shops? Chances are, if you like one, you will like the other.

Sports Betting Online Pros Offline Sports Betting Pros
• Ease of access • Friendly environment
• Daily promotions • Easy to find help
• Better odds • Watch sports with friends
• Cash out active bets • Bet with cash
• Live betting platform • Use loyalty points
• Live streams • Prizes for regular visitors

Sports betting is not legal in those states where gambling is banned as a whole. As for where it is legal, you will most likely find that one of the top operators discussed here on the page has a branded facility. Examples of such are the BetMGM Sportsbook & Bar and Caesars Sportsbook at Wild Wild West.

Elements of legal sports betting overview in the US including an American flag, soccer, basketball and football players, money and stamp

The expected legal changes in the US, as a whole, are thought to bring even more flexibility to gamblers. For example, the states where sports gambling is in its experimental phase will move on to issuing more license quotas if the experiment proves successful. We also have unique cases like Delaware, which became the first state – if we don’t count Nevada – to legalize single-game sports betting.

Regarding sports betting revenue records, iGaming Business[2] reports that New York remains at the forefront of the US. If we talk about real-money casino gambling in the US, we should point out that once going down the road of legalizing gaming, none of the states have gone back. Nowadays, you can even find legal US lottery sites, and there’s no negative trend in that respect.

Which States Have Legal Online Sports Betting?

Keeping up with legislative changes is a part of the game when you are an avid gambler because the last thing you want is to go against the law with what’s nothing more than a pastime for the majority of US gamblers. Going on the internet and doing extensive checks is not for everyone – we completely understand.

That’s why we did the heavy lifting for you so that you know where you can enjoy the best online sports betting sites and where you should wait more. It’s all illustrated on our interactive map. You can bet any further changes will also be reflected.

The legal landscape is very dynamic when it comes to sports betting. As it stands, the laws in 23 states allow for at least some form of sports gambling. We are talking about the likes of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Indiana – where online bookmakers operate freely for as long as they have a license.

In the meantime, the likes of Texas are not too keen on adding betting to the legal framework. There, in 2021, the legislature declined a bill that would have made way for legal sports gambling.

Paying Taxes on Winnings

Not only do you have to pay the state when you win from sports betting, but the IRS also needs to know about the size of your profits if they exceed $600. The federal tax can be up to 28% of the total payout, which is reported via a W-2G form.

Since online sports betting in the USA is a form of taxable income, a portion of your winnings also goes to the state. The exact percentage of the tax differs but doesn’t exceed 9.90%, according to our information. Here’s a list of the betting products taxable in the US:

Legal State Online Sports Betting Tax Land-Based Sports Betting Tax
Arizona 2.59% – 4.50% 2.59% – 4.50%
Arkansas 2.00% – 5.50% 2.00% – 5.50%
Colorado 4.63% 4.63%
Connecticut 3.00% – 6.99% 3.00% – 6.99%
Delaware N/A 2.20% – 6.60%
District of Columbia 4.00% – 8.95% 4.00% – 8.95%
Illinois 4.95% 4.95%
Indiana 3.23% 3.23%
Iowa 0.33% – 8.53% 0.33% – 8.53%
Kansas 3.10% – 5.70% 3.10% – 5.70%
Louisiana 2.00% – 6.00% 2.00% – 6.00%
Maryland 2.00% – 5.75% 2.00% – 5.75%
Michigan 4.25% 4.25%
Mississippi 3.00% – 5.00% 3.00% – 5.00%
Montana 1.00% – 6.90% 1.00% – 6.90%
Nevada No Tax No Tax
New Hampshire No Tax No Tax
New Jersey 1.40% – 8.97% 1.40% – 8.97%
New Mexico 1.70% – 4.90% 1.70% – 4.90%
New York 4.00% – 8.82% 4.00% – 8.82%
North Carolina N/A 5.25%
North Dakota N/A 1.10% – 2.90%
Ohio 0% – 3.99% 0% – 3.99%
Oregon 4.75% – 9.90% 4.75% – 9.90%
Pennsylvania 3.07% 3.07%
Rhode Island 3.75% – 5.99% 3.75% – 5.99%
South Dakota N/A 0% – 7.00%
Tennessee No Tax N/A
Virginia 2.00% – 5.75% N/A
Washington N/A No Tax
West Virginia 6.5% 6.5%
Wisconsin N/A 3.54% – 7.65%
Wyoming No Tax No Tax
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Typically, Form 1040 is what you need to fill out for small amounts of money won on sports betting. Form W-2G comes in when your winnings exceed $600. On that occasion, you can rely on the sports betting sites with a license to issue a form W-2G for you. This applies to all gambling products, including online casino games. So, if you win over $600 at the best video poker sites, the operator will issue the form.

The good news is that you are allowed to deduct losses under certain conditions. You must itemize your losses if you want to deduct them later on from your total income but bear in mind you can’t deduct more than you’ve won.

Are Offshore Bookmakers an Option?

Elements of sports betting outside of the US including an multiple sports players, laptop and different currency signs

Offshore sportsbooks are not recommendable, to say the least. They don’t pay for a license and neither will you pay taxes if you win. You can see how this can rub the authorities the wrong way, right? What’s worse, this would be considered illegal gambling, and this could have huge repercussions if done repeatedly. Generally speaking, the law identifies a small act of illicit gambling as a “misdemeanor”, but under certain conditions, this can escalate into a felony and lead to hefty fines.

Future of US Sports Betting Sites

As mentioned earlier, most states are seeing a year-to-year increase in tax revenue from sports gambling sites. The relatively new shift to stay-at-home work mode has played an important role in the growth of mobile gambling activity. A survey conducted by the AGA[1] shows that 85% of US residents support the Supreme Court’s decision to end the federal sports betting ban.

The only thing stopping more operators from joining the fray is the steep tax rates. Not only that, but the sportsbooks with a permit to operate are required to have a partnership with a land-based casino, which makes things even harder for the smaller players.

Conclusion: Safe Betting for Sports Fans

All online bookmakers we reviewed and presented here are legal and have what it takes to be called “the best”. No matter which one of them you choose, they have the capacity to deliver nail-biting online gambling action on popular and not-so-popular sports.

More importantly, they have security measures in place to allow handicappers to bet without worrying about the safety of their funds. Once again, this is our sportsbook of choice for the first spot.

BetMGM Up to $1,000 Risk-Free Bet
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Edit My Bet featureGood odds on college football 21+. T&Cs apply.

With the top-recommended platform, you get a lot of diversity and options, so in order to stay on top of your games, you will need to do your homework as well. If you want to know the most recent facts that will help you gamble on sports, make sure to stick around. Not only that, but the rank list of top-rated sports betting sites in the USA is not cemented either. We are ready to change the order of the operators there if the need for that arises.

Frequently Asked Questions

After such an extensive overview, it’s almost impossible not to have questions. Since we designed this page with the reader in mind, we left a section dedicated to answering the recurring questions on the topic. Have a read and see if you can find that vital piece of information that has been eluding you.

1. Which are the best online sports betting sites in the USA?

It depends on which state we are talking about. There is a group of elite bookmakers that can be talked about as being the best American betting sites for a number of reasons. One mandatory condition for being in that group is to have a license.

2. How do I find the best betting sites?

Firstly, you need to know what makes a great online bookmaker to successfully recognize an operator with these qualities. This is nothing you can't learn from a well-written guide to the top sports gambling sites in the USA, so don't worry if you don't feel qualified to do that on your own.

3. Is live sports betting available online in the US?

You bet it is. In actuality, some of the top brands in the bookmaking business can be regarded as the best sites for live betting. A key component like the functionality that allows you to wager live is sought after by the majority of the players who use online sportsbook sites.

4. Are there bonuses available for online sportsbooks?

As a matter of fact, there are quite a few betting bonuses you can find online. If you are looking for bonuses for online gamblers in the US, look no further than the sites of the top operators with a license to offer their services to Americans.

5. Are there any sports betting apps for US players?

If betting on mobile is written in the state law as legal, then you will be able to either install one on your mobile phone or simply open it in a web browser. Just, remember to choose one of the sports betting apps for American handicappers with a license before you deposit any money.

6. Which payment methods are accepted at US sportsbooks?

PayPal, Visa, PayNearMe, and Skrill are considered four of the top banking methods for sports betting online from the USA. With each one of them, you can deposit and withdraw comfortably from your online gambling account as long as they are supported.

7. Are winnings from the US online sportsbooks taxable?

Anything you make from gambling on sports odds is taxable income. Depending on the size of the money you receive from gambling, you may need to pay up to 28% to the federal government and up to 9.90% to the state. The sports betting tax in America is the last thing you want to make guesses about, so take it as seriously as possible.

8. Can I legally play at any sports betting site in the US?

The answer to this question depends on the region in which you are located. Many states in the US enjoy legal sports betting, but a few remain as hostile to the growing gambling industry as they were years before. When you visit the site of a regulated bookmaker site, it will ask you where you are at the moment. If you don't see your location in the options given to you, it's time to leave.

9. What types of bets are available?

Three of the best sports betting types in the United States according to how often they are placed are moneyline, parlay, and spread bet. There are many others, too, so don't be discouraged from actively looking for lines with good odds.

10. Which sporting events can I bet on?

Without a doubt, the most in-demand sports gambling markets for US speculators are football, basketball, tennis, golf, and baseball. Each individual sport has events of its own that spur more or less interest, like the NFL's Playoffs and Super Bowl matches and the NCAA's March Madness.

References

  1. American Gaming Association, (May 9, 2023), 85% of Americans Support Supreme Court Decision to End Federal Sports Betting Ban, Retrieved December 13, 2023
  2. iGaming Business, (11 December, 2023), New York sets $2.11bn handle record in November, Retrieved December 13, 2023

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