The Best Online Sportsbooks in 2025
More than two decades’ worth of sports betting excellence has positioned Covers as the preeminent digital authority for sports bettors across the world. We cut through the clutter to uncover actionable and trustworthy information about leading betting sites.
We never recommend a bookmaker that we wouldn’t use ourselves. Our unbiased betting site takes — backed by the Covers BetSmart Rating — are designed to make smarter sports bettors.
|
Sportsbook |
Welcome bonus |
Promo code |
|---|---|---|
BetMGM
|
$1,500 First Bet Offer | |
Caesars
|
Bet $1, Double Winnings on Your Next 20 Bets | |
bet365
|
Bet $5, Get $200 Win or Lose | |
FanDuel
|
Bet $5, Win $300 | |
Fanatics Sportsbook
|
Bet $50, Get $250 in FanCash | |
DraftKings
|
Bet $5, Get $200 + $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket | |
BetRivers
|
$500 Second Chance Bet |
Top-rated sportsbooks for September 2025
2 days
- More details
- Fewer details
- BetMGM Benefits
- User-friendly mobile app
- Over a dozen deposit options
- Offers same-game parlays
- BetMGM Bonus Review
Within 24 hours
- More details
- Fewer details
- Caesars Benefits
- Best customer support
- Top-tier rewards program
- Highly trusted legacy brand
- Caesars Review
Within 24 hours
- More details
- Fewer details
- bet365 Benefits
- Best prices
- Gold standard layout
- World-class live betting
- bet365 Review
Within 24 hours
- More details
- Fewer details
- FanDuel Benefits
- Best user experience
- World-class mobile app
- Best for live betting
- FanDuel Review
Within 24 hours
- More details
- Fewer details
- Fanatics Sportsbook Benefits
- Flexible FanCash Rewards
- Fanatics Fair Play policy
- Unique promotions
- Fanatics Sportsbook Review
Within 24 hours
- More details
- Fewer details
- DraftKings Benefits
- Best mobile app
- Supreme navigation
- Best for grading winners
- DraftKings Review
Within 24 hours
- More details
- Fewer details
- BetRivers Benefits
- Weekly promotions
- Over 20 sports available
- NFL live streaming
- BetRivers Review
How we rate and review sportsbooks
Learn how we rate sportsbooks
Covers BetSmart Rating
Covers has been in this game for a long time — 25-plus years, in fact. This means that we have been rating and reviewing online betting sites since sportsbooks first took their offerings to the World Wide Web. We’ve decided to take all of this experience and develop the Covers BetSmart Rating, all in an effort to ensure you’re playing at a safe and secure betting site.
Each sportsbook is given a 5-star rating that is based on the five main factors that we feel are crucial to you having a good experience while betting online: bonuses and promotions, banking and payout speeds, key features, security and trust, and customer service.
This isn’t to say that we only look at the above factors when reviewing a sportsbook. Our team of experts digs deep to ensure we’re only recommending the best betting sites available. Our reviewers are also sports bettors and they test out each site for a few days before submitting their review.
They sign up, deposit, and grab their welcome bonus. Then they make bets, testing out features like live betting and cash out. Finally, they withdraw their money. The detail that goes into our review process ensures that you’re getting the most detailed sportsbook reviews possible.
Learn how we rate sportsbooksHow we rate betting sites
All bettors want their winnings quickly, so payout speed is an important factor in our evaluation process. We’re also looking for a nice variety of deposit and withdrawal options.
While a big welcome bonus is always nice, we also check to ensure that the terms and conditions around it 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 that push the envelope to deliver an amazing experience to sports bettors. Some of the features we look for include: mobile app, competitive odds pricing, variety of betting markets, live betting, early cash out, streaming options, poker and casino offerings, 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, user experience.
Blacklisted Sportsbooks
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.
- Allegations of withdrawal issues
- No license information available on site
- Poor customer service
- Multiple reports of slow payments
- Allegations of non-payments
- Risk of account closure simply for winning bets
- Reports of confiscated winnings
- Slow customer support response times
Bonuses, bonus bets and promotions
Bonuses can be a great way to grow your bankroll right out of the gate. But they can be a bit confusing: 100% deposit match up to $200. Up to $200 in bet credits. A $200 first bet offer bet. Which one is right for you?
With so many different types of promotions available, it's important you understand the differences between them before making your choice. We explain the differences below, but as always, be sure to check 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. |
 888 Sport
|
| 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
|
| first bet offer |
A first bet offerworks just like a bet credit where you're given money to wager with, but it can't be withdrawn. Any winnings from a first bet offerare yours to keep! |
 Betway
|
| Bet & Get |
Some sportsbooks will reward new bettors for making their first real money wager by offering first bet offer as a reward. For example, make a first bet of £10 and get £30 in first bet offer. |
 William Hill
|
| Backup Bet |
A backup bet is also known as a first bet offer bet in the gambling industry. Make a wager according to the terms of the promotion and get your stake back if that bet loses. |
 Sportingbet
|
Best sports to bet on
Bettors wager on a wide variety of sports but these seven tend to pull in more bets than the others.
Betting on “the beautiful game” has never been easier due to the proliferation of football betting sites. The most trusted soccer betting sites have something for everyone, with odds on teams, goals, bookings, and corners plus in-play odds for every EPL fixture.
for EPL:
NBA basketball betting may set up shop in North America, but the sport is now truly a global phenomenon. The most trusted basketball betting sites post team and player props as well as live betting options.
for NBA:
Betting on American football is spreading. Fans wager on the bone-crunching action of the NFL every week instead of only the Super Bowl. The best football betting sites have more than enough NFL odds to make you a fierce fan for at least a Sunday.
for NFL:
Ice hockey's lightning-quick pace and crushing hits have made the NHL one of the most popular betting markets at sports betting sites around the globe. The most trusted hockey betting sites around the globe offer plenty of NHL odds options.
for NHL:
Step up to the plate and take a swing with MLB baseball betting. The MLB schedule has action on the diamond every day from the spring to the fall, and the best online baseball betting sites provide more than enough odds to keep up with that constant calendar.
for MLB:
You haven’t bet on sports until you’ve tried betting on college basketball. The NCAA Tournament is nicknamed March Madness for a reason, with the 68-team bracket providing a thrill ride for anyone with action. Online sports betting sites offer college basketball betting odds all season but really go mad in March.
for NCAAB:
The bands. The cheerleaders. The rivalries. The bowl games. College football betting is a wild ride every Saturday. It doesn’t matter if you’re not alumni, the best betting sites will have you shouting for your favorite school in no time.
for NCAAF:
Esports is one of the world's fastest growing sports leagues, meaning that esports betting is one of the hottest markets across sportsbooks in 2025. The top esports betting sites allow you to keep up with the virtual betting action.
for esports:
Popular Betting Picks
Tips for choosing a sportsbook
- Know your betting style. What sports will you be wagering on? Do you need a solid app for betting on the go? Is a big bonus important for you or would you rather low margins all the time? Answering these questions beforehand will help you choose the perfect sportsbook for you.
- Do your homework. Don't settle on the first review you read as your sportsbook of choice. Read a few of our in-depth betting site reviews so you have a better idea of the options available to you. Thinking about depositing at a site that isn't on our recommended list? Just ensure it isn't on our blacklist before you do.
- Read the fine print on the welcome bonus. A big number looks nice but sometimes the rollover requirements might be too steep for your betting style. The same applies to any loyalty rewards or ongoing promotions.
- How long will it take to get your winnings? Most of the top online sportsbooks these days get your withdrawals to you quickly, but you should check the payout speeds anyway just so you're not disappointed when you go to request your money.
Learn more
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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.
Best betting sites abroad
Online sportsbook FAQ
A sportsbook is a place that accepts bets or wagers on sporting events.
This depends on where you’re trying to place a bet from. Be sure to check your local gambling laws before placing a bet.
The best online sportsbook for 2023 is bet365. The rest of our favorite betting sites are listed above. All have been reviewed and vetted by our trademarked Covers BetSmart System.
Our research has shown that Pinnacle, bet365, and William Hill are consistently among the sportsbooks with the best odds. Best odds can vary by sport and even by game, however, which is why it is important to shop around before placing a bet.
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