To choose a regulated and safe online sportsbook in the US, consider the following points:
- License and Regulation: Ensure the sportsbook is licensed and regulated by a reputable authority in your jurisdiction (generally your particular US State). This guarantees that the site meets specific standards and adheres to legal requirements, and in case of disputes the regulator has got your best interests at heart.
- Reputation: Check the sportsbook’s reputation by reading online reviews and researching their history. A long-established sportsbook with a solid reputation is more likely to be safe and trustworthy.
- SSL Protection: Make sure the sportsbook uses SSL encryption to protect your personal information and ensure a secure connection.
- Banking Options: Legal online sportsbooks typically offer a variety of secure payment methods, such as PayPal, Mastercard, Visa etc – and may not accept cryptocurrencies like Litcoin / USDT / Bitcoin.
- Customer Service: Look for sportsbooks that provide responsive and helpful customer service to address any issues that may arise.
- User Interface: A well-designed and user-friendly interface is an indicator of a high-quality sportsbook.
- Welcome Bonuses: Consider the size and terms of the welcome bonus, as well as any rollover requirements. Make sure to read the small-print and understand the terms completely.
- Sportsbook Ownership: Research the ownership information of the sportsbook, as reputable companies are more likely to operate safe and secure sites.
- Audits and Certifications: Check if the sportsbook has undergone audits or has certifications from reputable organizations, such as eCOGRA or TST, to ensure they meet high standards.
By following these guidelines, you can increase your chances of choosing a regulated and safe online sportsbook in the US.
Understanding USA Sportsbook Bonuses
As American online sportsbooks are all fighting to get your business, they attract new bettors to their sites with a welcome bonus or some other exciting free bet offer.
Remember, all that glitters is not gold…
Many online sportsbook offers and bonuses look pretty impressive at first glance, some perhaps even too good to be true. Of course, it wouldn’t be a sustainable business practice for online sportsbooks to simply give away free money to every new player. So there are a few things you need to be aware of before you go any further.
US Sportsbooks: Bonus Offer Terms and Conditions
Look a little closer and you will find the usual fine print which sets out those all-important terms and conditions. No one likes reading through all that small print so we do the hard work for you and simply lay down the key points so you know how to successfully claim a sports betting bonus and make the most of it.
Our reviewers will safely guide you through the Terms and Conditions minefield.
You will soon realize that there are a few hoops you have to jump through regarding obtaining and using these bonuses. Some will be easier than others but truth is sports betting bonuses can be a way to improve your overall long term betting profits. (if you know what you are doing!)
If played correctly, sportsbook bonuses allow you to maximize your bankroll and give you the chance to win some sizable payouts for relatively small stakes.
IMPORTANT – When you make an initial deposit into a sportsbook your funds will appear separately into two categories / balances – real cash and bonus funds. Together they are your total bankroll but you can only withdraw funds from your real cash balance. You can only withdraw bonus funds when you have met the offer’s wagering requirement.
US Sportsbooks: Deposit Bonus Wagering Requirements
We need to talk about ‘wagering requirements’ next (sometimes referred to as turnover requirements) as these are one of the most important aspects of bonus bagging.
The wagering requirement is simply a multiplier that specifies how much money must be wagered before any of your bonus funds are converted into real cash that you can withdraw.
Always make sure that the site you are betting at displays any bonus terms and conditions clearly. Some less trustworthy sites will try to hide the terms or use confusing language that can be difficult to understand even for experienced bettors.
How Do USA Sports Betting Site Bonus Wagering-Requirements Work?
You may be skeptical when you first come across wagering requirement terms but it’s standard practice with online betting sites that these bonus funds have to be wagered a certain amount of times before they can be withdrawn as cash. Online sportsbooks are in business to make a profit and they’re not going to do that by giving out free cash to all and sundry. To avoid “bonus abuse” it makes sense that some wagering play-through requirements exist.
With online casino bonuses, this wagering can be anywhere between 20x sometimes up to 60x and sometimes more. I’ve even seen 100x in some places. Thankfully things are much better for sports bettors with way more favorable turnover requirements, usually much lower than for casino offers, and occasionally sportsbook betting bonuses come with no turnover requirements whatsoever. These are golden.
If you are a regular bettor who plans on betting anyway then these requirements should be perfectly manageable if you don’t overstretch yourself. And there are always a few tricks you can use to cover the betting requirement such as ‘betting both sides’ which we’ll come to later.
Bigger Bonuses Are Not Always Better
It’s important to always check what the wagering requirements are first and then you can decide, based on how much you bet, what size of welcome bonus to go for so that you will be able to comfortably manage to meet the wagering requirement. (assuming you don’t go broke before then!)
For example, if the wagering requirement for a deposit bonus at a US Sportsbook is 10x and you get a $50 bonus then you will need to make $500 worth of bets (10x $50) before you would be able to withdraw any bonus funds (and any winnings from your bonuses) as cash.
If you were to go for the maximum bonus of $250 then you would have to wager a total of $2500 (10 x $250) before any bonus funds are converted to real money.
What if I don’t meet the sportsbook bonus wagering requirements?
If you fail to fulfill the wagering and/or other requirements for a particular bonus you will forfeit the bonus and any winnings derived from that bonus.
Vegas Odds only displays the best offers from the most reputable and trustworthy sites explaining the most pertinent points such as any wagering and odds requirements to ensure you don’t miss out.
What Are The Different Types of Sports Betting Bonuses
Sportsbooks offer a variety of deposit bonuses and reload bonuses (coming in various shapes and forms) and promotions to draw in new bettors and keep their existing customers coming back to gamble on sports on their site.
Here are the main types of sports betting bonuses you should look out for:
- Sign-up / Welcome Bonuses – Bonuses funds awarded to new customers usually based on a percentage of your first deposit
- Deposit Bonus – An additional top-up for each deposit you make
- Risk-free Bets – A promotion that will refund stakes of a losing bet
- Mobile Bonuses
- Sports betting Apps – Many users prefer the feel of a native Android or iOS App when they bet – but all sites listed here do offer mobile-friendly web-interfaces if they don’t offer an app.
- No Deposit Bonuses – Usually a smaller welcome / sign-up bonus that requires no initial deposit to be made
- Free Bet Tokens – Sportsbooks can credit free bet credits for various reasons such as loyalty bonuses or near misses (Losing in overtime for example)
- Odds Boosts – Special enhanced odds offers for certain outcomes
- Reload Bonuses – Bonus funds awarded with further deposits
- Parlay Insurance – A concession for parlay bets where if one of your selections let you down, your stake is refunded (usually as a free bet)
- Bitcoin Bonus – Many sportsbooks offer larger than usual bonuses for customers making their first deposit with Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bet online with my cellphone?
Yes- sportsbooks and online casinos can be used from iphones, android devices, ipads and PC's - in fact any device with a web-browser. You can even bet on your smart TV!
What is the best betting site online?
There is no single or simple answer to this question - it depends on where you are located, what games you like to bet on, and whether bonuses are important to you.
How does a US betting site know my location?
Using 3g/4g/5g location data, ISP lookup or IP location look-ups - there are many ways that a sportsbooks knows if you are in the United States.
Is online sports betting legal in the USA?
Online sports betting is legal in many states. In states where legislation doesn't permit online gambling, gamblers must travel to place their bets or wager on international online betting sites which accept American customers.
Why do Americans bet on sports online on offshore / international sportsbooks?
Sometimes there are no legal options available where a bettor is located, or it may be the case that local sportsbooks are not offering the same betting markets that one can find online (e.g some college sports, politics betting)
How do i place a bet on a sports event online?
- Select a reputable bookmaker from our list
- Make a deposit.
- Navigate to the betting market you wish to bet on and make your selection, which will be added to your betting slip.
- Once you are happy with the bet, select the place bet option. Good luck!
Which US sportsbooks have fast withdrawals and deposits?
Most U.S facing online sportsbooks support banking with cryptocurrency - which can be instant / take less than an hour for transactions - and which avoids bank fees. Alternatively it's generally possible to deposit & withdraw with Visa, MasterCard, bank-transfer, wire-transfer and more.