Best US Betting Sites for Sports

Top US Betting Sites

Throughout this guide, we’ll be focusing on sports betting sites for the USA that are based offshore. They can accept customers from across the country, as they are not governed by state or federal laws. There are no US laws that would prevent you from betting at these sites, and millions of Americans use them daily.

We have vetted each site carefully to ensure it offers a fair, trustworthy user experience and provides secure, dependable payouts. Each of the sites our team highlights have their strengths and specialties. The reviews below are designed to help you find one that aligns with your personal preferences.

• BetUS  – Best Overall Sportsbook
• BetWhale  – Best US Sportsbook for Esports Bets
• XBet  – Best US Betting App
• MyBookie  – Best International Sports Betting Site
• Bovada  – Safest Site for US Bettors
• EveryGame  – Top US Sportsbook for Experienced Bettors
• BetNow  – US Sportsbook with the Fastest Payouts

How We Choose US Bookmakers to Recommend

Bonuses

Entertainment

Safety

Transactions

Our experts conduct thorough research into each sportsbook, focusing on the ownership, reputation and licensing of each site. We use our one-of-a-kind B.E.S.T. rating system to grade each site in the categories that matter most to US bettors.

Here is an overview of the B.E.S.T. categories we use to rate American betting sites in particular.

Bonuses

The best sportsbooks will offer a generous welcome bonus with a high match percentage and competitive wagering requirements. They should also offer a variety of sports betting bonuses for returning customers, like reload bonuses, free bets, cashback, and loyalty programs.

Entertainment Features

To assess the quality of each site’s betting platform, we evaluate the range of betting markets available for users (US and international), the betting limits, and the advantage betting policies. We also reward sites for offering exciting betting features, such as live-streaming, early cashout, enhanced odds, or bet builders.

Safety and Security

Safety is the most important category in the B.E.S.T. system, so it includes several factors. We identify whether basic licensing, privacy, and encryption protocols are in place to protect users’ data. Then we’ll look at the reputation of the site itself and the company that operates it. Finally, we consider the customer support available for users when they experience issues.

Transactions

There are multiple factors we consider when we rate the deposit and payout options on a betting site. For starters, the site should have multiple banking options, including credit cards, cryptocurrency, and e-wallets. Then we compare the deposit and withdrawal limits, and whether the site charges transaction fees. Finally, we look for the fastest payout speeds available, so you can collect your winnings fast.

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Legal State of Sports Betting in the US

The legal state of sports betting in the US has been dynamic ever since the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). The decision allowed each state to craft its own legislation, and many states took full advantage. As of June 2023, sports betting is regulated in 33 states in various forms.

Some states like Colorado and Arizona allow online and mobile sports betting, while others, like Maine and North Carolina, only legalized in-person wagers. The specific rules vary greatly across the different states because of the lack of federal regulations.

On top of that, online sports betting is not against the law in the US. That’s why many offshore betting sites accept American players. They operate legally in other countries, so they are regulated, just not by US authorities.

Offshore betting sites are the only option for players in states that are yet to push through legislation on sports betting or that only allow in-person gambling. They also offer perks like politics and entertainment betting (not allowed at US-regulated bookmakers), which is why many players from states with regulated betting prefer offshore sites over the state-licensed bookmakers.

If you want more information about the options in your state, see our full, state-by-state breakdown of sports betting regulation. Below, you’ll also find an overview of the most notable pieces of legislation that have impacted the legal state of sports betting in the US:

Federal Wire Act

The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 — widely referred to as the Wire Act — prevents certain types of gambling businesses from operating in the United States. Robert F. Kennedy’s Department of Justice created the law to clamp down on the mob’s illegal gambling activities. It initially outlawed interstate sports betting, and it was later amended to encompass all forms of interstate gambling in the US.

The Wire Act prevents a site based in one state from accepting wagers from a customer in another state. It does not criminalize offshore gambling. The United States does not have any federal laws on the books that outlaw offshore gambling.

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA)

UIGEA is designed to stop gambling companies from “knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law.”

Section 5363 focuses on money transfers. However, it specifically singles out gambling businesses and makes it clear that bettors and financial institutions cannot be charged. Offshore sportsbooks do not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, so it is not applicable to them. However, it has inspired some banks and card providers to impose bans on the use of credit cards for online gambling. As such, many bettors depositing and withdrawing at offshore sites use crypto, wire transfers, P2P transfers or e-wallets.

Online Sportsbook Availability by State

Since PASPA was overturned, 33 states and Washington D.C. have enacted laws regulating sportsbooks. There are still many limitations on the actual availability of sports betting in most of these states, though. Delaware, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin, for instance, only offer in-person betting. In New Hampshire and Oregon, DraftKings has an exclusive deal making it the only operator licensed by the state.

The situation is dynamic and confusing. So, we have put together a table to help you understand what’s available in each state with links through to state-specific guides to sports betting.

Regulated Sports Betting Availability by State

Offshore vs. Regulated Gambling in the US

US online betting sites fall into one of two categories. They are either offshore betting sites run by companies in other countries, or regulated betting sites that are run by companies in a particular state. Here is an overview of the differences between offshore and regulated betting sites.

Some people believe offshore sites are untrustworthy, but that is not the case. As long as you choose a reputable and trustworthy site, like the ones we recommend, you can use offshore sites to bet securely. Many offshore sites offer more betting opportunities than a regulated site would, so they are worth checking out.

What Sports Can You Bet on Online in the US?

It would be easier to list all the things you can’t bet on than to list every available sport or league with lines available to US bettors. Across our list of recommended operators, you’ll find all the American classics — however you define them — as well as sports with an international fanbase, like rugby, cricket and Formula 1.

We’ve covered some of those below, however, this list is anything but exhaustive.

NFL

During the NFL season, top football sportsbooks offer 100+ markets on each of the 272 regular-season games. They provide bets on playoff games as well, along with hundreds of Super Bowl props, including bets like Gatorade color or the number of Super Bowl ads with puppies.

Bet on the NFL at BetUS

NBA

With 1,300+ games to bet on from October to April, it’s obvious why NBA is a favorite sport of US bettors. They can bet on moneylines, spreads, and totals at most sports betting sites in the USA. The best NBA sportsbooks offer even more – player props, live bets, futures, parlays, teasers, and others.

Bet on the NBA at BetOnline

NHL

Top NHL sportsbooks cover all 1,312 games of the regular season, as well as playoff games and the Stanley Cup Finals. For every game you can choose from a variety of betting markets, including the moneyline, puck line, and totals. With some bookmakers, you can also bet on player props like most goals or shutouts.

Bet on the NHL at Bovada

College Sports

Offshore sportsbooks let Americans bet on collegiate events, which isn’t the case with many locally-regulated bookmakers. You can bet on dozens of college sports, choosing from a variety of betting markets. March Madness is the biggest event of the year for US betting sites, so many of them come up with NCAAB bracket challenges and other contests.

Bet on college sports at Everygame

UFC Betting

The best USA betting sites allow their players to do UFC betting, as well as boxing betting. You can bet on who’s going to win the fight, how many rounds there will be, and by which method will the fight end. You can also sometimes bet on props, such as a fighter to suffer a first-round knockdown.

Bet on the UFC at MyBookie

Politics & Entertainment Betting

A thing that sets offshore sportsbooks apart from their US-based counterparts is the inclusion of politics betting. You can bet on who’s going to become President, put your money on the results of midterms, mayoral races, etc. These sites also provide entertainment betting markets like the Oscars and other award ceremonies, along with bets focused on TV shows and celebs. 

Bet on politics and entertainment at BetNow

How to Choose the Right US Sportsbook for You

When looking for the best betting site for you, it’s crucial to consider your personal preferences. To find your ideal bookmaker, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

What Options are Available in Your State?

If your state has regulated its online betting landscape, the regulations may prevent you from accessing certain offshore sites. The good news is that the best sportsbooks like BetUS and BetOnline are available in a majority of states. 

What Sports Do You Want to Bet On?

America’s favorite sports are covered by practically every online sportsbook, but what if you want to bet on a niche competition or place some bets on politics, weather, or entertainment bets. 

In that case, you need to make sure that your sportsbook covers these markets. It’s very likely that you’ll find what you’re looking for at sites like BetOnline and Bovada.

How to Bet at Online US Sportsbooks

With so many options for gambling sites in the USA, all that’s left is to get started. It is easy to sign up with any of the online sports betting sites we’ve recommended. As an American bettor, you can follow the steps shown in the carousel below to create an account and place a bet today:

Responsible Gambling in the US

There is a National Council on Problem Gambling in the United States. It was founded in 1972 to advocate for problem gamblers and their families. Most states have their own local councils too, from the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling to the Wyoming Council on Problem Gambling. These are some of the best resources:

• National Council on Problem Gambling 24-hour helpline: Call or text 1-800-522-4700
• Gamblers Anonymous
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988

US Online Betting Sources

• 16-476 Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn.
• Interactive US Map: Sports Betting
• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Interstate Wire Act of 1961
• Applicability of the Wire Act
• Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006

Start Playing at the Top US Betting Sites

The best sportsbooks also provide advice about how to bet responsibly, and they can help you set deposit limits and time limits on your account.

Now that you know everything about the US betting sites, it’s time to pick one and start placing bets. Our advice is to go with BetUS, not just because it’s available in 49 states, but also because it has so much to offer – 20,000 sports events daily, lucrative bonuses, and more.

This doesn’t mean you should forget about other USA sports betting sites as they all have something interesting to offer. At Everygame, for example, you can put your sports betting knowledge to good use by participating in some of its contests. 

Whichever sportsbook you pick in the end, keep in mind that safe betting is crucial. Also consider which sports you like to bet on the most, as well as things like payout speed, banking methods, and more.

Editor’s note: This page was originally published on April 30th, 2014. It was revised in November 2023 by the GamblingSites.com Team to include updates to our recommended sites, links to relevant pages on our site, and editing the content for readability.

Kevin

Roberts

Content Editor

Articles

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Kevin Roberts, previously published under the pseudonym Noah Davis, is one of the more diverse writers at GamblingSites.com. Like many of his colleagues, he’s a huge fan of both football and basketball. But he also writes about box office records, TV show prop bets, DFS, and all kinds of other subjects. When it comes to the NFL, Kevin’s favorite team is the Green Bay Packers. He enjoys cheering them on with his wife and daughter.

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