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America’s best betting sites add an extra dimension to your wagering with deep markets, crystal-clear live streams, and in-play betting options.
The best sportsbooks in the US also offer super-fast payouts and high-value promos. We’ve got the full lowdown on all of this and more. But first up, here’s a snapshot of the top operators in the market right now.
Top US Online Sportsbooks
Three of the Best Betting Sites Reviewed
We’ve picked a trio of the best online sportsbooks in the US using our strict criteria. These sites offer deep betting markets, flexible payment options, fair and competitive bonuses, as well as ongoing perks.
1. BetWhale – Best Betting Site Overall
BetWhale is in a league of its own when it comes to your overall betting experience. It’s got a huge welcome deal and a simple user interface that impresses right off the bat. You also get deep market coverage with a live betting area that displays odds in real-time. This and the regular promos make it ideal for in-play markets.
- The Perks – Unlock 200% welcome bonuses with 15x wagering requirements, enter tournaments and missions with real-money prizes, and access perks via BetWhale’s bonus store.
- Coverage & Features – Live betting with embedded live streams on selected events, dedicated esports and racebook sections, notable specialism in soccer, tennis, and major league sports markets.
- Cashier – Crypto, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Neosurf, Flexepin.
- Wild Card – Opt-in to BetWhale’s prediction contest, MatchX, and correctly predict enough results to finish at the top of the leaderboard to win free prizes and bets.
- The Catch – $150 minimum withdrawal across all accepted payment methods.
Welcome Bonus | 200% up to $6,000 |
Promo Code | BIGACTION |
Minimum Deposit | $100 |
Wagering Requirement | 15x |
2. BetUS – Best Betting Site for Pre-Game Tips
BetUS is a household name in US sports betting, operating online since 1994. Over the last three decades, it’s gained a reputation for in-depth pre-game analysis for all major sports. This includes shows covering college sports, the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. All of this makes BetUS perfect for building parlays based on form and expert insight.
- The Perks – Bag deposit match welcome bonuses in USD and crypto, with 2x additional crypto reload offers,
- Coverage & Features – Regular odds boosts, prop builder and same-game parlay tools, dedicated live betting and racebook platforms, and BetUS TV shows for expert insight.
- Cashier – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bank Transfer, crypto with fee-free deposits and payouts.
- Wild Card – BetUS has just unveiled an enhanced live betting platform, but you can still choose between the new and classic versions.
- The Catch – $100 minimum deposit for all welcome and reload bonuses may not suit everyone.
Welcome Bonus | 125% up to $2,000 |
Promo Code | JOIN125 |
Minimum Deposit | $100 |
Wagering Requirement | 12-14x |
3. BetNow – Best Online Sportsbook for Contests
If you’re looking for the best online sportsbook in the US for contests, BetNow ticks all the right boxes. There are massive pick’em contests and bracket tournaments with million-dollar prize pools. Many of these are free-to-enter but it’s the March Madness contest that really stands out. Last time around the prize pool was $1 million with $350k paid out to the leader at end of tournament.
- The Perks – Bag 150% or 200% welcome bonuses using USD or crypto, 2% rebate on net weekly losses, and no fees on deposits.
- Coverage & Features – Dedicated racebook, huge game day betting limits on NFL and college football, live betting markets with $500 betting limits, and reload bonuses available to regular bettors.
- Cashier – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and crypto, with crypto payouts cleared within 1 hour.
- Wild Card – Take part in regular contests across major league sports seasons, with five and six-figure prize pools available.
- The Catch – Less of a focus on fast-emerging niche sports, like esports, table tennis, and darts.
Welcome Bonus | 200% Welcome Bonus of up to $1,000 |
Promo Code | CRYPTO200 |
Minimum Deposit | $10 |
Wagering Requirement | 15x |
How We Rate the Best Sports Betting Sites
There are many features we look for when recommending the best online betting sites in the US. Here are some of the standout benefits you should look for in a leading online sportsbook that’s available to Americans.
Achievable Wagering Requirements
Bonuses should have a realistic rollover figure, giving you a shot at converting bonus funds into your real-money balance.
Fast and Flexible Payouts
Withdrawals should never be a chore again, with versatile payment options like crypto making it possible to receive winnings within 1-2 hours.
Engaging Live Betting Experience
The best betting sites give you dynamic, real-time odds, with in-play data and embedded live streams to live bet with your eyes.
Competitive Vig on All Sports
Get the best value odds on the biggest events thanks to low vigorish (juice), allowing you to bet closer to “true” odds.
Bonuses at Top Sportsbooks
The best sports betting sites the US has to offer are bursting at the seams with bonuses, both for new and existing customers. Here’s a breakdown of the types of promos you can expect to find and how each one works.
Welcome Bonus
Welcome bonuses reward you for creating new accounts at the best betting sites in the US, often by matching your first real-money deposit.
Example: A 100% welcome bonus up to $2,000 will match your first deposit cent-for-cent, up to a maximum of $2,000, effectively doubling your available sports betting bankroll.
Free Bets
Free bets are credited to your online sportsbook account, either as part of a welcome bonus or an ad-hoc promo, and can be used on any eligible market before they expire. However, often you only get the bet’s profit, not the stake back too.
Example: Get a $25 free bet on the NFL Super Bowl that can be used only on the Moneyline market – effectively a free punt on the next team to lift the Lombardi Trophy.
Parlay Insurance
Lock in a refund of your parlay stake if only one leg of your parlay loses, with the funds returned as either withdrawable cash or free bet credits.
Example: Parlay insurance is available on qualifying parlays of 5 legs or more, refunding you in free bet credits (up to a max stake of $25) with a 1x wagering requirement attached.
Odds Boost
Some of the best betting sites offer regular odds boosts on favorites in horse racing markets, as well as high-profile Major League Sports games, giving you more value on popular wagers.
Example: Ahead of a big NFL weekend of action, a betting site offers an odds boost on the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills to win, enhancing its parlay odds from +150 to +200. With a $100 wager, you’d potentially win $50 more at +200 than at +150.
Reload Bonus
Reload bonuses are repackaged versions of welcome bonuses, designed to incentivize regular bettors to reload their accounts by offering more bonus funds.
Example: The best betting sites in the US may offer weekend reload bonuses for use on a packed schedule of sports action. They tend to be smaller matched deposit bonuses, e.g. 50% reload bonus up to $250.
VIP Programs
VIP programs, also known as loyalty programs, reward you with perks like cashback, exclusive bonuses, faster or higher max withdrawals, and access to personal account managers.
Example: BetOnline awards you tier points for every $10 wagered. Work your way up the tier levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) to get the most valuable rewards.
Banking Methods at Betting Sites
The best betting sites in the US market give you the power to fund, bet, and withdraw using whichever method suits you best. Here’s a breakdown of the five most common banking options accepted by America’s top sportsbooks.
Cryptocurrency
High-volume cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum allow for fast, low-fee, and practically anonymous transactions. Many of the best betting sites in the US also cater to popular altcoins like Dogecoin, as well as USD stablecoins (USDT/USDC).
Credit/Debit Cards
Credit and debit card providers like Visa and Mastercard remain a convenient, widely accepted payment option at the best betting sites for Americans, though payouts take longer than with crypto.
eWallets
Keep your bank account one step removed from your online sports betting by using an eWallet. Fund an eWallet like Skrill or Neteller and make secure, quick transactions to and from your betting site account.
Bank Transfer
A traditional method often used for moving larger sums digitally. Wire transfers are a secure traditional payment option, but processing times are much slower than crypto and eWallets.
Prepaid Cards
Options like Paysafecard and even branded betting site cards ensure a safe way to deposit without having to link your bank account details. It’s also a good way of budgeting for your weekly or monthly sports betting.
Banking Methods at a Glance
Here’s a brief roundup of the payment speeds and fees for the most popular payment options at the best betting sites in the US:
Banking Methods | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Time | Fees |
Cryptocurrency | Within 0-60 minutes | Within 0-60 minutes | Often none (only network fees) |
Credit/Debit Cards | Instant | 1-5 business days | Rarely (1%-3% if charged) |
eWallets | Instant | Within 24 hours | None |
Bank Transfer | 1-3 business days | 2-5 business days | ($30-$50 per withdrawal with offshore sites) |
Prepaid Cards | Instant | n/a | None |
Popular Bets at the Top Betting Sites
The best betting sites cater to casual bettors who want to place fun, simple wagers, as well as serious, data-led bettors who want creative betting options. Below, we explain the most common bet types found at America’s best online sportsbooks.
Moneyline
The easiest type of sports bet is the moneyline. Bet on a team or player to win an upcoming game. Your bet only pays out if your selection wins.
Heavy pre-game favorites tend to carry little value, so it’s often more about finding underdogs worth backing to upset the form guide.
Example Bet: Place a moneyline bet on the Chicago Bulls at -200 to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wager $200 to win a potential $100 that only pays out if the Bulls win after the final buzzer.
Spread Betting
If you’re a bettor that prefers even-money wagers – or as close to even as possible – point spread betting markets are a great option. They help to level the playing field in games involving a heavy favorite and a big underdog.
The favorite starts with a points deficit, and the underdog starts with a points advantage. It’s your job to decide if either team can win with the spread applied at odds of around -110 per side.
Example Bet: Back the Dallas Cowboys to beat the Tennessee Titans at a -3.5 point spread. This means the Cowboys have to win by at least four points for your wager to pay out.
Totals (Over/Under)
Totals betting is a wager on whether the final score of a game will finish over or under a benchmark points total set by your online sportsbook. Totals lines can shift pre-game based on weather reports or injury news affecting the roster.
Example Bet: Back Over 46.5 points in the Chiefs vs 49ers NFL game – it pays out if 47 or more points are scored between the two teams.
Parlays
Parlays are multi-leg wagers that require all legs to win for the overall bet to pay out. The risk is that you only need one leg to let you down for the entire parlay to fall apart.
The best online betting sites in the US now offer same-game parlays too, so you can bet on multiple events in the same game.
Example Bet: Place a five-leg parlay on the same round of MLS matches – backing Orlando City (-110), Inter Miami (+120), LA Galaxy (-150), FC Cincinnati (+110), and New England Revolution (+150) all to win at $10 for a potential return of $357.50 (+3575).
Prop Bets
Proposition (prop) bets are ideal if you don’t want to back the outright winner of a game. Instead, prop bets focus on certain outcomes in a game, rather than the final scoreline.
The best sports betting sites in the US usually offer team and player prop bets, allowing you to wager on team outcomes or player-specific outcomes.
Example Bet: Bet on Patrick Mahomes to throw 290+ passing yards in an upcoming Chiefs vs Patriots NFL game. The bet pays out if Mahomes achieves this passing yards figure.
Futures
Instead of betting on a specific game, futures markets let you take a long-term view on a season. In the NFL, for example, you can place futures bets on divisional or championship winners, as well as the next Super Bowl winner.
Many of the best betting sites online now offer cashout functionality. This gives you a chance to cash out and take a percentage of your profit or loss on a futures bet midway through the season if needed.
Example Bet: Place a futures bet on the Buffalo Bills to win the next NFL Super Bowl during the preseason at odds of +550. It only pays out if the Bills lift the Lombardi Trophy that season.
Live Betting
Since many of the best online betting sites in the US now offer live streams on sports like soccer, tennis, basketball, cricket, and esports, live betting markets have become especially popular.
You can place live bets mid-game, with most of the above bet types available in-play as well as pre-game. You also get the added benefit of using the live streams and in-play data to support your picks.
Example Bet: In the US Open men’s final, you back Novak Djokovic (+500) to win at 2-1 down in sets against Jannik Sinner. Djokovic just clinched the third set on a tie break, and you feel the momentum is with the Serbian.
Popular Sports at Online Betting Sites
Although America’s best sports betting sites online typically cover dozens of sports to bet on, there are a handful that consistently attract the most attention from bettors. We’ll run through the top sports based on their betting popularity and the types of wagers you can place.
NFL
The NFL is comfortably the most popular sport to bet on with America’s best online sportsbooks. Ingrained in popular culture, the NFL offers betting opportunities at your fingertips from the preseason through to the Super Bowl.
Bet on weekly matchups on the moneyline, player props, same-game parlays, or season-long futures.
Example Bet: Patrick Mahomes to throw Over 2.5 Touchdown Passes against the New Orleans Saints.
NBA
The NBA is North America’s premier professional basketball league, starring 29 American teams and one Canadian franchise.
The end-to-end nature of NBA games means basketball betting is fast-paced, with markets available on individual player performance, point spreads, points totals, and much more.
Example Bet: LeBron James to score 25.5+ points against the Sacramento Kings.
MLB
The MLB is the world’s top baseball league. It oozes sporting heritage, with some clubs dating back to the 19th century.
The seemingly never-ending regular season and postseason MLB schedule means there are almost daily betting opportunities, with moneyline, run line, and pitcher prop betting proving the most popular MLB wagers.
Example Bet: LA Dodgers -1.5 Run Line to beat the Chicago Cubs.
NHL
All 32 teams compete for the coveted Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy on the continent.
The all-action nature of NHL games makes it ripe for live betting opportunities, with momentum capable of switching in an instant following a penalty, power play, or strong defensive play.
Example Bet: Sam Reinhart to Score 2 or More Goals for the Florida Panthers versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
College Sports
The NCAA is the cream of the college crop, with teams including students with high potential to be selected on the rosters of professional teams.
College football and basketball are two divisions that attract the most attention from a media and betting perspective. In college football, players are looking to catch the eye for the NFL Draft, and it’s a similar story for college basketball stars. In the latter, the March Madness tournament also attracts huge betting interest.
Example Bet: Alabama Crimson Tide -5.5 Point Spread to beat the LSU Tigers (NCAA Football).
Soccer
Soccer is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US. The best betting sites in the US now offer coverage of the biggest domestic and continental soccer leagues, including Major League Soccer (MLS).
The US is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico. America is staging all games from the quarter-finals onward, and media coverage of the MLS and the US men’s national soccer team is sure to ramp up.
Example Bet: Over 3.5 Goals in the Inter Miami vs Orlando City MLS match.
Tennis
The ATP and WTA Tours start over the New Year period in Australia and run through to the ATP and WTA Finals in November. There’s also the Challenger Tour, featuring many up-and-coming prospects for the ATP and WTA Tours.
With momentum swings aplenty in tennis matches, the sport lends itself brilliantly to live betting. You can often catch value odds on a player in-play if they show signs of mounting a fightback.
Example Bet: Jannik Sinner -1.5 Set Betting to beat Cameron Norrie in the US Open.
Golf
America’s top sports betting sites also cover every drive, chip, and putt of the major golf tours. These include the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and LIV Golf, as well as the ladies’ PGA and European Tours.
You’ll also find ball-by-ball coverage of the four golf Majors – The Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open Championship.
Example Bet: Bryson DeChambeau First Round Leader at The Masters.
Combat Sports
The US is home to many high-profile combat sports events throughout the year, be it world-level boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA) franchises like UFC.
That’s why the best sports betting sites in the US offer some of the most competitive odds and market depth for pay-per-view fight cards, and even lower-profile events.
Example Bet: Tom Aspinall to win by KO/TKO/DQ against Curtis Blaydes.
Esports
There is a growing contingent of US betting sites online that offer esports betting markets.
These tend to be the best operators licensed offshore, with the capacity to offer pre-game and live esports betting, along with embedded live streams of esports events from sites like Twitch.
Example Bet: FaZe Clan -1.5 Maps to beat Ninjas in Pyjamas in a best-of-three-map CS2 match.
Expert Tips for Using Top Online Sportsbooks
If you’re keen to get the most out of your wagering at the best online sportsbooks in the US, check out our five top tips to bet smarter on sports at home or on the go.
Use Live Streams to Back Up Your Live Bets
If live streams are available for games you plan to wager on in-play, use them. You can spot momentum shifts before odds fully adjust and discover if your pre-game analysis is playing out as expected, giving you a chance to cash out bets if things aren’t going to plan.
Choose Crypto to Fund Your Account Quickly and Anonymously
If slow payouts are one of your main bugbears with US sports betting sites, pick the best betting sites that allow crypto deposits and withdrawals. You can discreetly fund your account via blockchain and receive your winnings in under an hour with only network fees attached.
Prioritize Market Depth As Well As Odds
While competitive odds matter to your bottom line, you should ensure your chosen betting site has ample market depth too. We’re not just talking about depth in available markets, but we’re also talking about depth in bet limits, since it’s no use having fun, creative markets available with $10 maximum stakes.
Always Hunt for the Best Vig
The best betting sites in the US will use a vig (juice) that’s often thinner than most state-licensed online sportsbooks. Even tiny differences in betting lines e.g. -110 instead of -115, can all add up over time to improve your long-term ROI.
Keep Track of Your Wagers
If you’re serious about profiting from the sports betting markets, log every bet placed to identify strengths, weaknesses, and patterns in your wagering. Tracking every wager also encourages sound bankroll management, incentivizing you to avoid chasing losses and focus on the long term.
Responsible Gambling at Betting Sites
Betting should always be about fun. The best sportsbooks offer tools to help you keep control over your spending. Here are the types of tools you’ll come across.
- Deposit and Loss Limits – You can set limits on your deposit amounts based on time periods like per week or per month to prevent overspending.
- Time Limits and Reminders – Set time limits if you need to. These reminders will pop up and let you when you’ve reach your time limit.
- Self-Exclusion – If you need a longer pause, you can temporarily lock your account and return when you’re ready to.
- Reality Checks and Stats – You can track your betting habits per month and keep tabs on your wins and losses to make better decisions going forward.
- Support Resources – Reputable sportsbook also have access to helplines, counselling, and responsible gambling information on their site.
Is Sports Betting Legal in the US?
In May 2018, the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), paving the way for legal online sports betting.
Online sports betting is now regulated and licensed at state level, with each US state setting its own laws and tax rates. There are currently 40 states and jurisdictions that have legal sports betting with 30 of those launching a regulated online market.
Sites that are licensed outside the United States are also available in states with regulated markets and those that have yet to pass sports betting legislation.
Betting Sites FAQs
The best all-around betting site really depends on how you plan to wager. If promos and contests are your thing, BetNow is a great option with its free-to-enter pick’em contests. But if you’re more interested in live betting, BetWhale is the obvious choice thanks to its dynamic live odds and in-play markets.
No federal laws stop you from visiting the best betting sites licensed offshore, and many international operators even have promos tailored to US sports. You’ll often find bigger and better bonuses and lower vigorish at these sites, too, since they aren’t bound by the same regulatory frameworks as state-licensed alternatives.