Sports betting is easily the most widespread and popular form of wagering in the United States with billions of dollars a year flowing through offshore accounts. Despite the prevalence of this activity, most players either don't have the time or don't take the time to make sure these recreational dollars find the right home by conducting a thorough review of the best online sportsbooks.
Here, we've done the heavy lifting by analyzing the features of the top sportsbooks available to American bettors.
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Best Betting Sites USA For 2019
Not surprisingly, football is king among American sports bettors and fans. The National Football League (NFL) and college football seasons offer some of the most intriguing and betting friendly matchups each weekend in games packed with significance. In a college football season, just a single loss can derail the national title aspirations of the nation's top teams.
Certainly, a high volume of wagering action is also directed towards NCAA basketball, the NBA, Major League Baseball, boxing, horse racing and soccer. Some sportsbooks are more friendly to specific sports, offering a wider variety of prop bets and games from around the country. It's critically important for players to know the book and its offerings before committing to a deposit.
#1 Bovada review
One of the most well-rounded and well-known sportsbooks in the industry, the name Bovada stands out for a variety of reasons from its easy-to-use platform to its bevy of promotional offers. Bovada offers welcome bonuses (up to $250), referral bonuses (200% cash bonus per friend), and a full menu of betting options from props, parlays, teasers and in-game action. The feel and function of the Bovada app and website is certainly well above the industry standard.
#2 BetOnline review
It's hard to find a more value-added sportsbook anywhere on the web than Betonline. Using promo codes advertised on the website, new Betonline players can score a 50% welcome bonus up to a whopping $1,000 in free sports plays. This book also offers a 25% lifetime bonus for all existing account holders when they deposit at least $50. While these features are ideal for larger bettors, they also pad the coffers of more conservative players in equal measure.
#3 SportsBetting.ag review
With a nearly identical interface and structure to Betonline, the Sportsbetting sportsbook allows players to to take home up to $1000 via a generous 50% bonus on initial deposits using the promo code "NEW 1000." This book also offers the 25% bonus for life program as well as a "reduced juice" feature for NHL bettors. The live, in-game wagering feature is also quite attractive for bettors who enjoy a faster pace.
#4 WagerWeb review
One of the more comprehensive bookies out there, Wagerweb offers a full menu including props, teasers, parlays, fantasy betting and in-game opportunities as well as an exapanded lineup of matchups in all sports. To boot, Wagerweb allows players several different options for cashback bonuses. In short, all sports bets qualify for a cashback bonus.
With reliability and credibility so essential to selecting the right online sportsbook, it's just as important to consider a provider's longevity, customer service history and overall reputation. A sportsbook that slow pays its customers or makes itself unavailable to troubleshoot and answer basic questions isn't likely to stay in the game very long, but there have been many fly-by-night companies capable of swindling the unsuspecting public. We stand behind our recommendations as the stalwarts of the online sports betting industry.
Like solid financial planning, it's also a good idea to diversify when betting sports. Simply put, if a player can easily capitalize on multiple bonus and rebate structures, why not do it? There's no law against double-dipping and the name of the game is to make money.
Additionally, players will inevitably find that they enjoy the unique features of certain sportsbooks more than others and that a particular sportsbook may have inherent advantages depending on the betting strategy. Having options is always a good thing, so using multiple sportsbooks to satisfy your wagering needs is a sound betting practice.
Sports Betting Sites Rating Guide
Surely a subjective concept, selecting a "good sportsbook" can mean different things to different bettors. That being said, there are a few factors that must be considered absolutes. In fact, these absolutes should comprise the litmus test for sports bettors looking for an online book.
- Reliability
The world is full of shady business operations and unfortunately a disproportionate number of them find their way into the online sportsbook industry. This makes it paramount to closely examine a sportsbook's business profile. How long have they been in operation? What are their methods of deposit and withdraw? Are there any formal or pending litigation against the company?
Any sportsbook that does not offer convenient payment methods for players to deposit or withdraw is probably not worth dealing with. Also stay away from companies who feature sketchy wagering platforms or ones that seem to be operating on a shoestring budget - both are red flags.
- Customer Service
While this is a favorite cliche of online sportsbooks professing to provide "24/7, 365" service, very few sportsbooks actually deliver. It's a positive indicator when online sportsbooks offer live operator service during normal business hours. It's a better sign if the operator speaks fluent English and seems to understand the betting landscape. There should also be multiple ways (ie: email, chat) to reach out to your online sportsbooks and get questions answered quickly.
- Bonuses and Rebates
Most sports bettors are playing for fun, but they're all playing for money. Real money. That's why it's critical to reap rewards and comps just like those playing from a Las Vegas casino. Regardless what anyone says about gambling, it's really only fun if you're winning. Sportsbooks offering the most lucrative welcome bonuses and rebate/referral programs always warrant a closer look. Be sure to read all the fine print and determine how well the offer fits your bankroll. In many cases, it's better to splurge on the initial deposit to maximize the bonus.
- Wagering Array
Here's another self-evident truth about bettors: they like action. Rare is the sports bettor who specializes in a single sport or type of wager, so the best sportsbook must contain plenty of options regardless of whether the player is financially or recreationally driven. Some offshore books seem to cater to predominantly European pursuits such as soccer or tennis, with American sports like football and baseball relegated to secondary status. The typical U.S. bettor needs a book that "gets" football. From props, in-game action and conventional wagers, a sportsbook geared towards the American bettor must be diverse, yet focused on our wagering interests.
- Technical Application
There's nothing worse than a buggy website when you're trying to wager on your favorite sporting event, except maybe a website that requires the assistance of a computer software engineer to navigate. In the world of online betting, wide disparities exist in the quality of websites and therefore, bettors must consider the user-experience and functionality of the sportsbook they choose. Gamblers are also notoriously guilty of waiting until the very last second to make their bets further justifying the need for a site that works quickly, reliably and intuitively.
Related articlesWhen it comes to Super Bowl prop wagers, Bovada is taking the high road, even though bettor Yuri Andrade took the low road. Andrade was the fellow who ran on the field in the midst of Super Bowl 55. It turned out that he'd wagered $50,000 on a Bovada Super Bowl prop on whether someone would run on the field during the game. Even though the outcome was tainted, Bovada is honoring these wagers.
