Best US Betting Sites for Sports

Recommended US Betting Sites for Americans

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
• Bovada  – Safest Site for US Bettors
• MyBookie  – Best for Making Payments with Cryptocurrency
• EveryGame  – Top US Sportsbook for Experienced Bettors
• BetNow  – US Sportsbook with the Fastest Payouts
• XBet  – Best US Betting App

Best US Sports Betting Sites

Editor's Choice

B.E.S.T Rating

4.5/5

Bonus up to $750

Min Deposit

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2. 2
   

   Bonus 125% Deposit Boost up to $1250

   T&C Apply

   Wagering Requirement: 10x deposit + bonus combined

   Min Deposit $10
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3. 3
   

   Bonus 50% up to $1,000

   T&C Apply

   Rollover: 45x the deposit and bonus

   Min Deposit $20
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4. 4
   

   Bonus 100% up to $500

   Min Deposit
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5. 5
   

   Bonus 50% up to $1,000

   T&C Apply

   Rollover: 10x

   Min Deposit $20
   Visit Site Read Review
6. 6
   

   Bonus 50% up to $1,000

   Min Deposit
   Visit Site Read Review
7. 7
   

   Bonus 100% up to $1,000

   T&C Apply

   Rollover: 20x

   Min Deposit $1
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8. 8
   

   Bonus 100% up to $500

   T&C Apply

   Rollover: 7x

   Min Deposit $20
   Visit Site Read Review

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

2-Year Timeline of Sports Betting in the US

• June 2023: Thirty-three states and Washington, D.C. have implemented some form of legal, in-state sports betting operations. On the flip side, 2023 legislative sessions in California, Texas, and Florida (the largest states by population) closed without any steps forward, pushing back any potential sports betting launches to at least 2025. Players from these states can still use offshore betting sites, though.
• May 2023: Lawmakers seeking to legalize sports betting in Texas admitted that the bill was dead with the end of the annual legislative session.
• April 2023: Five NFL players — four from the Detroit Lions and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders — were suspended for breaching the league’s gambling rules.
• April 2023: The House Committee on State Affairs passed revised versions of two Texas sports betting bills. Those bills were sent to the Texas House of Representatives for a full vote.
• March 2023: Kentucky became the 37th state to approve sports betting, when Gov. Andy Beshear signed HB 551 into law.
• March 2023: The first locally regulated Massachusetts online sportsbooks began accepting customers.
• February 2023: The American Gaming Association reported that 50 million Americans planned to wager $16 billion on the Super Bowl. It later added that 68 million Americans planned to wager on March Madness.
• January 2023: Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York earned a record $909 million from sports betting in 2022.
• January 2023: Ohio introduced legal retail and online sportsbooks on New Year’s Day after the Ohio Casino Control Commission issued licenses. Ohioans set a new record for the heaviest month of sports wagering in US history.
• December 2022: The NFL suspended New York Jets wide receiver coach Miles Austin for violating the league’s gambling policy.
• November 2022: Online sports betting in Maryland launched after regulators expedited the licensing process.
• November 2022: Two ballot measures seeking to introduce locally regulated sportsbooks in California ended in failure.

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

The NFL takes center stage at American sportsbooks during the football season. The best sportsbooks offer 100-plus markets on each regular season game. They provide a choice of bets on playoff games, and they then roll out hundreds of props on the Super Bowl, from the MVP to the number of Super Bowl ads with puppies.

NBA

Pro basketball is very popular in the US, and there are more than 1,200 regular season games to bet on. You can bet on sides, totals, moneylines, alternate lines, props and same game parlay combos at the top US sports betting sites. They offer live bets, futures and multiples such as parlays and teasers.

NHL

Like basketball, you can bet on every game throughout the pro hockey season — even the Winter Classic. Popular bet types at online sportsbooks include the moneyline, puck line, correct score, total goals and props, plus bets on individual nperiods. Sportsbooks take bets on worldwide hockey leagues too, mostly European leagues in Finland, Germany, or Sweden. There’s also availability to bet on international games hosted by the IIHF.

College Sports

March Madness is the biggest event of the year for US betting sites. You will find great promos and bracket challenges as the NCAAB Tournament approaches, and betting sites offer lots of options on each game. You can also bet on all the big college football games, with many sites taking NCAA baseball and NCAA hockey bets too.

UFC Betting

UFC betting continues to soar in popularity across the US. The best betting sites will cover every UFC event, allowing you to bet on the fight winner, total rounds, method of victory and whether the fight will go the distance. You can also sometimes bet on props, such as a fighter to suffer a first-round knockdown.

Politics & Entertainment Betting

One thing that sets offshore betting sites apart from their locally-regulated counterparts is the inclusion of politics betting. You can bet on presidential elections, midterms, mayoral races and much more — some even offer a range of props. Entertainment markets include awards ceremonies, TV shows, celebrities and current affairs.

How to Bet at Online US Sportsbooks

With so many options available for betting in the US, 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: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988: https://988lifeline.org

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.

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
• Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992
• Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006

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

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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