Top Online Sportsbooks USA Guide 2021

Author: Yan Zhylinski

Online bookmakers work the same way as brokerage accounts. Punters need to be confident of the company before they can send their hard-earned money. It’s prudent to join honest, trustworthy, and financially sound sportsbooks to ensure fun, secure, and safe gaming.

Free Bets

Betting Sites

Betting Apps

TOP Sportsbook

A MINIMUM deposit of $55.00 is required to qualify for the bonus. You will receive a 50% bonus on your qualifying first deposit only. Deposits via Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this bonus. The maximum bonus per deposit is $1,000. There is a 10x (ten times) rollover requirement associated with this promotion. In order to receive a bonus you must use promo code SB1000 in the cashier while making your deposit. You must use any existing free plays already in your account before claiming any new free plays. All free plays expire in 30 days unless otherwise stated. At the 30 day mark, any unused free plays will disappear from your account.

To receive your Welcome Bonus, simply redeem it, make a deposit and instantly receive a 50% bonus up to $250. Once your deposit is processed, your bonus will be available for wagering within 30 minutes. This bonus can only be redeemed on your FIRST DEPOSIT. Bonus funds cannot be used for play on Live Dealer games.

There are numerous bookmakers out there, and the process of choosing the right one can become daunting for punters. While many of these bookies are legitimate, licensed, and regulated, others are bogus and shady. In this guide, you’ll learn about the trusted offshore bookies that accept USA punters, what sets them apart, and how to choose the best one.

Is Online Betting Legal in the USA?

Although there aren't federal laws that forbid sports gaming, there are laws in the US that make running a sportsbook in the country a crime. It means that punters can place bets on Bovada without committing a federal crime. However, the US Department of Justice considers Bovada an illegal gambling operation and treats the operators as criminals. Also, there are banking restrictions included in the SAFE Port Act that make it illegal for financial institutions and credit card companies to process payments made from online betting.

In some states, online gaming is considered a crime, and if you live in either of them, you’ll find it hard to find a betting platform. Punters from Utah and New York can join most of the sites, but they need to use P2P to make deposits. However, if you live in most of the other states, you won’t have any issues betting online.

In most U.S. states, consumer-level betting isn’t considered a crime. The sites in Kahnawake, Costa Rica, Panama, and Antigua - all these locations are outside US territory- and they are in countries where betting is legal. The challenges players face in most states are banking restrictions and finding a trustworthy wagering site.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Betting Websites

Before you choose a sportsbook and start wagering, there are various consideration you need to keep in mind. These will make your gaming experience as seamless and fun as possible. Some of the crucial things to consider include:

Bonuses

Among the easiest ways to distinguish between the best platforms is by comparing their bonuses and offers. Most of the reputable houses offer their punters irresistible bonuses to keep them hooked and attract new ones. Some of these bonuses include first deposit or sign-up offers, where punters get a percentage of their initial deposit. On the other hand, reload bonuses are the same, but they offer a portion of each additional deposit a punter makes.

These two types of bonuses are the most common ones. However, there are other rewards, including the match bonuses; that match the first deposit with a varying percentage. These bonuses are given during important events, like the Stanley Cup series and Super Bowl. The matching percentage can go up to 100%.

There are also rare bonuses, including no deposit and free bet bonuses. Free bets are complimentary and offered as a way to thank punters for signing up. These free rewards usually are reserved for major sporting events, including the Kentucky Derby and the NCAA Tournament.

To tell various bonuses apart, punters have to understand the distinct types of rollovers employed by the operators. Rollovers are the amount of bets punters need to make before they can qualify for their bonus money.

The best prediction sites use them to ensure that their players stick with them, instead of just getting the sign-up bonus, before commencing to move on with the money.

Reputation and Trust

If you cannot trust a bookie to provide you with quality service, nothing else matters. Look around to find out whether the provider has any history of being trustworthy. They should also have a reputation for treating their punters well.

Available Betting Options

Sportsbetting is fun when you have many options. These include what games to bet and types of bets for every game you wish to wager on. A good platform should provide you with all the major sports, all games, and also offer many options for each of the games. If you don’t find flexibility in gaming to have all the fun you wish to have, the website is not worth your time.

Some of the betting options offered by reputable sportsbooks include:

Moneyline

To make a Money line bet, punters have to pick a winner. If the Yankees are playing the Red Sox, you’ll be needed to select which team you think will emerge victoriously.

Parlays

This kind of bet mixes various bets into a single ticket. You can include a Moneyline bet on Royals vs Dodges, and a point spread bet on Eagles vs Steelers. Some websites allow punters with ten or more teams. If you choose this wager, remember that all bets need to hit for you to win your parlay.

Totals

To make a total bet, you’ll need to determine whether the combined score for the two teams will either go UNDER or OVER the bookmaker’s set number. If you believe that the total score will be more than what has been set, bet the OVER and vice versa. In case the score hits the set total, it’s referred to as a PUSH and punters get their money back.

Props

A prop is a wager that punters make on specific instances that are not related to the game’s outcome. Some of the common prop bets include a coin toss before a game or the standard Gatorade color that is poured on the coach of the winning Super Bowl. Props usually act as an entertaining act as they are based on fun options.

Point Spread

This is a number that is set by bookmakers. You need to pick the team you believe is likely to cover the spread. For example, if the Dallas Cowboys are playing the New England Patriots, the spread will be like this:

Cowboys-3.5

Patriots+3.5

It means that Cowboys need to win by at least four points to cover the spread. New England also needs to either win the game outright or avoid losing by more than three points.

Futures

One of the most exciting things with sports betting is that punters can bet on significant events that are expected to happen in the future. It’s known as future bets. Players can bet which team will win the World Series before the matchup.

They can also wager on things such as which NBA player is likely to get the most assists, which NFL player will get the most sacks, or which pitcher is expected to claim the Cy Young Award.

Apart from these bets, you’ll find live betting and teasers among other types of bets.

Security and Safety

When it comes to making transactions online, security is of utmost importance. Punters need to be assured that their money will be in safe hands. Reputable bookies employ strict security measures, including SSL encryption, to ensure that their customers’ personal and financial information is safe and secure all the time.

Payment Options

This is also a crucial factor to consider when choosing an bookmaker. Ensure that the payment options are available in your country. These methods should also come with the shortest payout waiting time as you don’t want to wait for long periods before you can receive your money.

The Best US Bookmakers

Here are the top five trustworthy sports wagering sites in the US.

Bovada

Intertops

Betonline

Borgata

Unibet

FAQ

Can US players bet on sports from another country?

Yes! Most platforms allow US players to wager on both domestic leagues and international sports.

Can I wager from my mobile device?

Most bookies are mobile-friendly, and players don’t need to download an app. The process of staking is the same as you would form a computer.