Last Updated Sep 29, 2022, 11:28 AM ET
The competitive U.S. online sports betting market consists of 31 states, plus DC, that offer access to legal sports betting sites in some capacity. Our experts cut through the clutter to uncover actionable and trustworthy information about the best sportsbooks in your area.
Our unbiased online sportsbook reviews — backed by the Covers BetSmart System™ — are designed to make smarter sports bettors.
The competitive U.S. online sports betting market consists of 31 states, plus DC, that offer access to legal sports betting sites in some capacity. Our experts cut through the clutter to uncover actionable and trustworthy information about the best sportsbooks in your area.
Our unbiased online sportsbook reviews — backed by the Covers BetSmart System™ — are designed to make smarter sports bettors.
#1 Top-rated sportsbook
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.7/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.7/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.7/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.8/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.4/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.4/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.4/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.2/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.3/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.4/5Deposits & withdrawals
The competitive U.S. online sports betting market consists of 31 states, plus DC, that offer access to legal sports betting sites in some capacity. Our experts cut through the clutter to uncover actionable and trustworthy information about the best sportsbooks in your area.
Our unbiased online sportsbook reviews — backed by the Covers BetSmart System™ — are designed to make smarter sports bettors.
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DraftKings | Deposit match of up to $1,000 | Visit DraftKings |
| 2 | PointsBet | Up to $800 risk-free | Promo code: MC4X200 |
| 3 | FanDuel | $1,000 no sweat first bet | Visit FanDuel |
| 4 | Caesars | Up to $1,250 on Caesars | Promo code COVERSFULL |
| 5 | BetRivers | Up to $500 in free bets | Promo code: SPORTS |
| 6 | BetMGM | Up to $1,000 risk-free | Visit BetMGM |
| 7 | FOX Bet | $50 risk-free | Visit FOX Bet |
| 8 | Betway | $250 risk-free | Visit Betway |
| 9 | bet365 | Bet $1, win $200 | Visit bet365 |
| 10 | SugarHouse | Up to $500 in free bets | Promo code: SPORTS |
The best ability is availability, and DraftKings Sportsbook typifies that criteria. Players in 18 states can legally download the DraftKings mobile app, create an account and claim bonuses within minutes. The Boston-based sports betting operator runs neck and neck with bitter rival FanDuel regarding overall ubiquity.
Despite its needlessly fussy and busy interface, users can tap, swipe and navigate its free mobile apps for iOS and Android with relative ease. DraftKings also occupies the top spot on our list of the best sports betting apps for 2022, thanks mainly to its functionality. The bottom line is that DraftKings makes it easy to find the markets you want to wager on.
Data provided by SBTech unlocks a robust set of betting action from props, futures, and totals, among others. We found that, more often than not, DraftKings updated quicker than competing betting sites, which helps you uncover value in the market.
Looking through the lens of casual bettors, DraftKings satisfies all online sports betting benchmarks. Players are routinely treated to odds boosts and promotions. Experienced bettors or sharps may take umbrage with that statement since the odds are average to fair. DraftKings may limit bettors on a hot streak, but that is common with virtually all legal sportsbooks.
With the football season underway, DraftKings own the most comprehensive selection of NFL betting markets. Drilldown on everything from player and team props to same game parlays and live (in-game) betting.
Increased competition places additional pressure on betting sites to meet customer needs, and DraftKings has responded. We consider the DraftKings sportsbook a worthy contender for your sports betting download or bookmark.
Uncover more helpful facts and features about the best betting site through our DraftKings sportsbook review.
Covers has been providing Americans with independent sportsbook reviews for over 25 years. With legalized sports betting rolling out across the USA at the state level, we're providing U.S. sports bettors with comprehensive breakdowns of legal sports betting in each state.
Whether you're looking for the best sportsbook with the best NFL odds or the betting site with the most in-play markets for the NBA, we've assembled a list of the most trusted betting sites in your area:
Covers BetSmart System™
Covers has been rating sportsbooks for over 25 years. This experience has led us to develop the Covers BetSmart System™ to ensure that you're betting at a safe and legit betting site. The main factors that go into a sportsbook's overall rating are bonuses and promotions, banking and payout speeds, key features, security and trust, and customer support.
Of course, there are many other factors we look at as well as we strive to give you all the information you should know about every sportsbook we recommend. That's why our team spends a few days at each sportsbook before submitting their reviews. They deposit, they collect bonuses, they place bets, and they withdraw — all so that you're getting the most in-depth sportsbook reviews on the internet.
Learn how we rate sportsbooksAll bettors want their winnings quickly, so payout speed is important in our evaluation process. We’re also looking for a good variety of sportsbook deposit and withdrawal methods.
While a big welcome bonus is always nice, we also check to ensure that the terms and conditions of the most common sportsbook sign-up bonuses are fair. We also evaluate the sportsbook for reload bonuses and promotions for existing customers.
This is a broad category, but we like to see sportsbooks and sports betting apps that push the envelope to deliver a fantastic experience to sports bettors. Some of the features we look for include: a mobile app, competitive odds pricing, a variety of betting markets, live betting, early cash out, streaming options, poker and casino offerings, and responsible gambling features.
With real money at stake, you need to know you’re depositing at a site you can trust. Before recommending any sportsbook, we’ll make sure they have a valid license for the jurisdiction from the appropriate regulators. We’ll also ensure the website is safe and secure so that your data is protected.
If an issue arises, you should be able to have it solved quickly and conveniently by a real person. We like to see different options to reach customer support and how quickly they resolve the issue.
While the five categories above are the basis for our sportsbook ratings, we dig deep and look at everything we possibly can at every online sportsbook we review: the sign-up process, verification process, limits, localization, VIP or loyalty program, and user experience.
As regulated online sports betting spreads across the USA, established sportsbooks and new betting sites are doing all they can to attract users. This usually starts by offering a juicy welcome offer. Learn about the most common sportsbook sign-up bonuses, since not all bonuses are created the same. Deposit matches, bet credits, free bets, and risk-free bets are different ways betting sites entice gamblers to make a deposit. These offers can be a great way to build a bankroll but it's important that you understand each one so that you can choose the offer that is right for you. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the bonus before claiming it.
| Bonus | Description | Find this bonus at |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit Match |
These are the most popular bonuses awarded by sportsbooks. They are usually given at first deposit as a percentage of your first deposit. For example, get a 100% deposit match bonus up to $200. |
DraftKings
|
| Bet Credits |
A bet credit is money added to your account that can be used to make a bet but can’t be withdrawn. You can, of course, withdraw any winnings made from bet credits. |
bet365
|
| Free Bet |
A free bet works just like a bet credit where you're given money to wager with, but it can't be withdrawn. Any winnings from a free bet are yours to keep, of course! Some sportsbooks will offer free bets just for signing up — no deposit required! |
 Unibet
|
| Risk-Free Bet |
A risk-free bet works exactly how it sounds. If you win your risk-free wager, you keep the winnings just like any other bet. But if you lose the risk-free bet, the sportsbook will refund your stake up to the amount specified by the promotion. |
FanDuel
|
It will come as no surprise that the "Big Six" leagues in North America are the most heavily bet on by Americans, but we're also starting to see soccer become more popular with the rise of MLS.
The NFL remains the most popular sport to bet on. With more fans tackling NFL odds every Sunday, the best football betting sites know NFL gambling is all about options. The best ones offer early opening odds and a menu of markets, from game lines to player props.
Notable star athletes and near-nightly action fuels the NBA betting markets, but there's more to NBA betting than spreads and totals. The most trusted basketball betting sites post team and player props as well as live betting options.
There’s no better way to show your school spirit than betting on college basketball. And there’s no better time to bet on college hoops than March Madness. While the college basketball season runs from the fall to the spring, the action really heats up for the NCAA Tournament — one of the best sports betting events of the entire year.
Saturdays belong to college football betting. The top programs in the country battle for a shot at the CFP National Championship, with heated rivalries, marquee matchups, and stunning upsets along the way. College football is one of the most popular sports and the best online betting sites back that up with multiple ways to wager on NCAA football.
Betting on the MLB reigns supreme in the summer months and gives sports fans a drama-packed postseason in the fall. What more could you ask for? How about endless ways to wager on those games at the most trusted baseball betting sites in the U.S. The MLB odds have multiple methods to make money, from run lines and totals to five-inning odds and in-play betting.
Betting on the NHL has it all: Speed, hits, scoring, and a ton of odds to cash in on. The most trusted hockey betting sites won’t leave you out in the cold when it comes to NHL odds and gambling options.
Soccer betting is one of the fastest-growing markets at US sportsbooks. From the English Premier League to the MLS, the “beautiful game” is catching on with bettors. The most trusted soccer betting sites offer aggressive bonuses and strong odds.
Golf betting is one of the fastest rising gambling markets in the USA. With tournaments taking place every weekend, there are always great odds to bet into. The best golf betting sites should offer multiple markets and a robust live betting section.
Covers takes pride in being the most trusted site for sports betting information, and we want you to have the best experience wagering at safe betting sites. So when a sportsbook doesn’t meet our standards, or when we get multiple reports of bad practices from our users, they end up on our blacklist The following sportsbooks do not meet our rigid quality standards:
We have had our finger on the pulse of the sports betting industry for more than 25 years.
The sportsbooks we recommend have been personally reviewed, rigorously curated, and frequently updated by our team of experts.
News outlets turn to Covers for our earned reputation as a trusted and authoritative source of sports betting information. These are among the notable publications and media outlets that have referenced Covers.com and our industry experts.
Quick facts
| Legal sports betting launch date | May 14, 2018 |
| Legal age for betting | 21; 18 (MT, NH, RI, WY) |
| Legal U.S. markets | 31 states plus DC |
| Online sports betting | Yes ✅ |
| Retail sports betting | Yes ✅ |
| Total handle (2021) | $1.74 billion |
| Tax rate | 19% (U.S. average) |
| Best sports betting site | DraftKings |
On a federal level, yes, sports betting is legal following a Supreme Court ruling in May of 2018. However, each state is responsible for its own sports betting legislation, so the legality of sports betting depends on which state you're currently residing in.
Sports betting is now legal in more than 31 U.S. states, plus DC. This includes: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 2023 is expected to bring the several new states into the fold as well. Stay up to date with our U.S. legal tracker.
Online sportsbooks are legal provided they are licensed by the gaming authority from the state in which they are operating. All of the sportsbooks listed above are licensed in New Jersey by the NJDGE.
Our top online sportsbook for U.S. players in 2022 is DraftKings. The rest of our favorite betting sites are listed above. All have been reviewed and vetted by our trademarked Covers BetSmart System.
Most regulated online sportsbooks in the US accept PayPal as a payment method, including our top options FanDuel, DraftKings, and PointsBet.
Football is king, with the NFL being the most popular sport for betting in the US. The NBA, MLB and NHL, along with men's college football and basketball, are other popular options among bettors. Major sporting events like the World Cup of soccer and Masters Tournament for golf tend to generate increased action as well.
Yes, any regulated sportsbook in the US will pay out customers the winnings they are entitled to. If you're having an issue with a payout from a regulated sportsbook in the US, please let us know via the Covers Blacklist page.
Currently bet365 has our highest rating for banking and payout speed. Payout speed tends to depend on the method of payment, more than the sportsbook itself. Interac, iDebit and Instadebit can all process within 24 hours.
Technically, sportsbooks can ban you for any reason they like. Accounts can be limited or closed due to promotion abuse, multi-accounting, potential arbitrage (betting both sides) and yes, winning too much. It is not uncommon for a winning player to have their wagering amount restricted.
Customers in over 30 U.S. jurisdictions can access legal single-game wagering either through online or retail options or a mix of both. Pending legislation in several other markets signifies an increase in legal states, but some states likely will never authorize sports betting.
Sports betting sites and their operators collect a commission on losing bets, frequently called the vigorish, vig, or juice, in betting parlance. The vig represents the price a sportsbook charges for taking a bet. The standard vig used is -110, which means for every $1.10 bet, the bettor wins $1.
Experts at Covers continue to identify, collect, and share the best sports betting promotions available to customers across the USA. The offers on this page stand as the industry's best sign-up or welcome bonuses.
Yes, provided that you reside in one of the 31 U.S. jurisdictions regulating legal sports betting.
Mike has been researching and reviewing products for more than a decade. The former travel and entertainment publisher is all in on sports betting. When he's not sweating picks or supporting Covers' betting experts in making smarter sports bettors, you can find him by the BBQ, perfecting his cross-hatch marks.
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