The Best Gambling Sites for 2024

Which Gambling Sites Are the Best?

Finding the best online gambling websites requires a lot of time and expertise. You have to research dozens of sites, compare what they offer, and know how to recognize the most valuable details. Fortunately, we have already done that work for you and used it to create comprehensive online casino reviews. We have named the following sites as the top five gambling sites because they are objectively the best:

• Bovada  – Best Overall Gambling Site
• DuckyLuck  – Best Online Casino
• BetUS  – Best Online Sports Betting Site
• Ignition Casino  – Best Online Poker Site
• TrustDice  – Best Gambling Site for Payouts

How We Find the Best Gambling Sites

There are hundreds of options to choose from, but separating good gambling sites from the best is not an easy task. The smallest details can make one site stand out from another. For example, most (if not all) real money online gambling sites offer a welcome bonus when customers make their first deposit. So, it is not as simple as deciding between the site that does or does not offer a bonus.

It’s also important to understand that the industry changes rapidly. Having a mobile-compatible website or app was the feature that would distinguish the best sites a few years ago. Now, they stand out negatively if they don’t have a well-functioning gambling app.

We created the B.E.S.T. rating system to objectively compare gambling sites based on all of those details, and we regularly update the system to reflect industry trends. Every site we recommend is scrutinized based on specific criteria to help us remain unbiased. Here are the main factors we look for when identifying the best online gambling websites.

Bonuses

We compare the details that make online gambling bonuses valuable for different players, such as a high match percentage and a low rollover requirement. We also take into consideration how the rollover is calculated. Additional bonuses that are available after the initial welcome bonus are also important for distinguishing the best gambling sites for existing players.

Entertainment and Features

The entertainment category of the B.E.S.T. system is differentiated for different types of gambling, such as casino, sports, and poker. For example, when we rate casinos, we consider the game variety and software providers they work with. Software providers don’t matter as much for sports bettors, so we rate sportsbooks based on their betting features, like early cashouts.

Safety and Security

Safety is the most heavily weighted category in the B.E.S.T. system because we know it is so essential. First, we rate sites based on direct safety measures, like their licensing status, privacy policy, and encryption techniques. Then, we take it a step further by also digging into the background and reputation of the company operating the site. For example, offshore gambling sites can be just as safe as state-regulated options.

Transactions

Banking is an integral part of the experience when you participate in online gambling for real money. The sites we recommend are all gambling sites that pay real money. So, they all have a diverse selection of convenient banking methods that make it easy to get your money to and from the site. We also rate sites based on their payout times, transaction limits, and banking fees.

Each site that goes through the B.E.S.T. system gets a score in each of these categories. They also get scores for the more generic categories of user experience and whether they have a high-quality mobile gambling app. All six of these scores are combined to determine the site’s overall rating. You can see a breakdown of scores by category on our comprehensive gambling site reviews.

Once we’ve determined the scores for each site, we use this information to compile gambling site rankings. We know that the best site for one person might not be the right choice for another. So, we use our wide-ranging knowledge of each site to categorize them. For example, we have different recommendations for people looking for horse race betting and political betting. These rankings are objectively determined based on the unique details that relate to each category.

Who Is GamblingSites.com?

Kevin Roberts Content Editor

• Posts Written: 531
• Experience: 15 years
• Expertise: Sports, Entertainment, and Casino

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J.W. Paine Content Specialist

• Posts Written: 93
• Experience: 50 years
• Expertise: Poker, Casinos & Horse Racing

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Anthony Haage Content Specialist

• Posts Written: 255
• Experience: 5 years
• Expertise: Sports Betting (NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.), Casino, Entertainment Betting

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GamblingSites.com is operated by a team of gambling experts. Some of us are sports bettors, while others prefer casino games or poker tournaments. While each of us has our particular area of expertise, most of us participate in multiple types of gambling for entertainment. Together, we have more than 20 years of experience in the online gambling industry.

The goal that unites us is helping you find which online gambling website works best for you. We spend countless hours creating, revising, and updating our reviews and rankings to make sure we have the most accurate and objective information available. Of course, we also want to provide informational resources as well. That is where our gambling blog and expert guides come in.

You can trust GamblingSites.com because our reviews, blogs, and recommendations all come from our direct experiences. We test every site ourselves, and we’re not afraid to point out the areas where they may need to improve.

Why You Can Trust Gamblingsites.com

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You can trust GamblingSites.com because our reviews, blogs, and recommendations all come from our direct experiences. We test every site ourselves, and we’re not afraid to point out the areas where they may need to improve.

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Is Online Gambling Safe?

It is generally safe to gamble online. Of course, there are a few unfortunate exceptions, but most gambling sites are committed to protecting the safety of their customers. You can look for a few specific features to ensure the gambling site you are using is safe.

• Licensing – Legit gambling sites are licensed by a government authority. The licensing standards vary based on the jurisdiction, but you can trust sites with active licenses because they have to meet certain safety standards to maintain their license. Look for licensing information in the site’s footer, or on their terms and conditions page.
• Transport Layer Security Protocol – TLS security is the most advanced system for encrypting information sent over the internet. You can easily identify sites with updated security certificates by looking for a closed padlock in your browser’s URL bar. If the padlock is open, any information sent to or from that website is not encrypted.
• Privacy Policies – Websites track information about you, like your IP address and how many times you visit a site or click on an ad. The site’s privacy policy includes details about what kinds of information they collect and how they can use that information for marketing or other purposes. The privacy policy should be clearly explained with a link in the site’s footer, and you should be notified if the site makes any changes to its privacy policy.
• Multi-factor Authentication – Passwords are not as secure as they once were, so safe gambling sites use multi-factor authentication to ensure you are the only person with access to your account. For example, they may send you a text or email with a code you have to enter before you can log in.
• Third-Party Auditing – Online casino games typically use random number generator software to determine the outcomes of each hand. Third-party companies can conduct audits of this software to ensure the casino isn’t controlling the outcome of your game.
• Anti-fraud Policies – Fraudulent players who use hacking software or other techniques to make themselves win affect the odds that genuine players could win. So, trusted gambling sites have strict anti-fraud policies that look for players abusing the system and canceling their accounts as necessary.
• Site Transparency – Trust starts with transparency. You should be able to easily find information about the site and its policies, either from a page published on the site or by contacting customer support.

These are just a few safety features you can look for when evaluating gambling sites. It is also important to consider the source offering you information about a site. The site is obviously going to market itself in the best light possible. On the other hand, user reviews are sometimes overly negative because some people tend to be more vocal about bad experiences, but they don’t often say much about their good experiences.

Gamblingsites.com is a more neutral source of information. We’re not afraid to point out flaws, because we know that even the most popular gambling sites aren’t perfect. If safety and security is your primary concern, check out our recommendations for online casinos and sports betting sites.

Remember, real money online gambling sites are legitimate businesses, similar to land-based casinos. As for-profit businesses, gambling sites collect lost wagers as their form of revenue, so the house always wins in the long run. That doesn’t mean the site is scamming you, as some angry customers claim. As long as each customer has an equal chance of winning, the casino is operating a legitimate business.

How to Protect Yourself When Gambling Online

Gambling sites have an obligation to protect their customers, but you are also responsible for taking some steps to protect yourself. Here are some important tips for safe online gambling.

Managing your passwords responsibly is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself. Create a strong password from the beginning, and make sure you aren’t using the same one on every site. Ensure other people don’t have access to any documents or software that display your password. Change your password every few months to make it more difficult for hackers or outsiders to access your account.

Pay attention to the site’s terms and policies. You need to know what their policies are so that you can advocate for yourself if something happens that violates those policies. Some of the most common complaints about gambling sites come from people who didn’t understand the terms they agreed to when they collected a bonus. So, always make sure you know what you are signing up for.

Keep track of your wins and losses. It is easy to lose track of things when you have been spinning the reels for a while. Tracking your stats over time can help you identify something that might be off.

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to choose trustworthy gambling sites. Taking just five minutes to do a little bit of research can help you learn about the site’s reputation and its commitment to player protection.

Avoid Scam Gambling Sites

Unfortunately, not all of the gambling sites on the internet are as good as the ones we recommend. There are several scam sites that use unfair games, complicated terms and conditions, or other tactics to take advantage of customers. The point we want to get across here is that avoiding the wrong sites is even more important than finding the best online gambling sites.

In the first instance, you need to make sure that the site you’re playing at is licensed and regulated by a respected body. The exact regulatory requirements vary from one licensing authority to another. Some are stricter than others, but the reputable ones all ensure that certain minimum requirements have to be met. The following are what we consider to be the most important requirements.

• Separation of customer funds from working capital.
• Third-party audits and testing.
• Advanced security measures.

Here are a few examples of scam sites and why you should avoid them. You can also visit our casino blacklist where we have a complete list of blacklisted gambling sites.

Is Online Gambling Legal?

Online gambling is legal, in some form or another, in most states across the United States. However, the exact laws depend on location. In the US, gambling laws are handled at the state level.

Your location is typically the state where you live, but you can also cross state lines to legally place bets in another state. For example, all forms of land-based gambling are prohibited in Utah, but Utahns can freely travel to Las Vegas to play casino games or drive to Idaho to buy a lottery ticket. When you are using sites to gamble online, they use geolocation software to determine your physical location, and crossing state lines may affect your access to some gambling sites.

It is important to understand that most gambling laws are primarily concerned with operators who run a gambling business, such as the companies offering an online casino. Gambling laws are rarely written with language about individual players. It is always your responsibility to be aware of the gambling laws in your state or country, but it is extremely unlikely that you will face criminal charges simply for gambling online. Here are some more resources that can help you learn about the gambling laws in your area.

United States Canda Australia United Kingdom

Responsible Gambling Resources

Gambling can be a fun and entertaining activity, but as with all types of recreation, there is potential to develop problematic behaviors if you don’t exercise caution.

Problem gambling, also known as gambling addiction or pathological gambling, is an addiction characterized by compulsion that negatively impacts people’s lives in many ways – financially, socially, and psychologically.

If you think that you may be suffering from problem gambling, it’s important to reach out for help. There are a number of responsible gambling resources available depending on your area; we’ve compiled a list to help you get started on the path toward recovery.

Gamblers Anonymous US 1306 Monte Vista Avenue Suite 5 Upland, CA 91786 Phone: Phone (909) 931-9056

Gamblers Anonymous AU P.O. Box 122 FAIRFIELD, NSW 1860 Phone: (02) 9726 6625

GamCare UK 1st Floor, 91-94 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8QP Phone: 0808 8020 133

Detailed Gambling Guides from Expert Gamblers

If you’re searching for information about online gambling for real money, we have a variety of guide pages to help. These guides were written and fact-checked by experts with decades of combined experience. They include introductory information for beginners, as well as advanced strategy tips for more experienced players. No matter what type of gambling you are interested in, we have something for everyone.

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Sports betting is all about options. You can bet on pretty much every sport, from football to darts. Our sports betting guide will help you get started and offer additional resources.

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