Skip the Headaches and Play at a Legitimate Site

RiverNileCasino.com features the best online casinos USA that have been reviewed and rated by expert players. On our site, we only feature online casinos for US players and real money games worth playing. Our selection of US online casino reviews includes a breakdown of payment methods, games, security, licenses, contact methods, and bonuses.

You’re looking for a legitimate U.S. gambling site, but can’t decide which site to trust with your hard-earned money?

American Casino Guide is your ticket to all knowledge about casino gambling online in the USA. The online gambling industry in the US has taken a big turn for the bettor - pun intended - and now the gambling options in America are opening up for players online. American casino sites Casinos Online is an online source of expert information about gambling in the United States. Irrespective of whether you reside in New Jersey, California, New York, or Nevada, you will find authentic information on US online gambling laws on this website. NFL football betting is available at all bookmakers and various other online gambling sites, but there’s no point just picking one at random! Spend a little time considering the advantages of each site we review – one might offer a bigger bonus than another, while another might pay out winnings a little bit quicker. As the premier national trade group for the U.S. Casino industry, the American Gaming Association advocates for a favorable policy environment in which gaming can thrive. We do this by highlighting gaming’s positive economic and social impact with key stakeholders.

Good news! We’ve been in the online gambling industry for over a decade (several decades, really, if you add all of our experience together), and we’ve spent countless hours to bring you a list of the most legitimate sites.

Here’s what all of these sites have in common:

• 10+ years in the business with strong reputations.
• Attractive promotions for first-time customers.
• Quick money withdrawals (relative to the U.S. market).

Why Bovada Is #1 in the U.S.

#1: Fastest Check Cashouts

Bovada gets 10 times as much traffic as its second best US competitor and still delivers check payouts faster than any of them. Bovada processes check withdrawals in 7 days; many of its competitors take weeks, some more than a month to do the same. (There are other fast options, like the #3-ranked BetOnline, which delivers checks in 14 days.)

#2: Service

An equally important aspect of Bovada’s operations is its customer service. If there ever was an indication of how much a company respects its customers, it’s the level of customer service the company provides. I haven’t found any US-friendly site doing this aspect of the business better (although 5Dimes is a worthy runner-up).

#3: All-In-One

Finally, all parts of Bovada’s business (sportsbook, casino, poker, racebook) are popular. Bovada is best-known for sports betting and casino games, however, even its online poker room has around four times as many players online as the second biggest US poker site. You can access all of their games with one player account.

… But You Should Know This

Bovada is recreational-friendly, perhaps more-so than any other US site. You’ll find few golden opportunities in their sportsbook (read more about their use of dual lines), they have a relatively high overall house edge (especially after recently increasing house edge in video poker games) and their online poker room only has “anonymous” tables.

Although not everyone agrees with me, the recreational-friendly part is an advantage for skilled poker players. Since Bovada appeals to recreational gamblers, you’ll be like a shark among regular fish.

Bovada charges a 4.9% fee for credit card deposits (a lot considering how most sites charge nothing). The impact of the deposit fee is slightly compensated by their welcome bonuses, which are better than average.

All online gamblers look for entertaining games, attractive promotions and aesthetically pleasing software. To have a safe experience, however, you want a site to:

1. Serve its customers with safety and respect,
2. Operate with a reasonable house edge, and
3. Handle money transactions promptly.

Yes, the third point is included in the first point but it’s also such an essential part of the customer experience that it must be mentioned separately. Many online gambling websites operate without an adequate level of service so these points are worth considering. It’s rare to find a combination of all three points.

Bovada fulfills all of the above criteria better than other sites but 5Dimes does well, too. In fact, I’m confident in ranking those two as the best USA gambling websites specifically because they deliver so well in the areas related to safety and trustworthiness. A site without proper customer service and safety measures is not one you should deposit money to, regardless of its promotions and whatnot.

What Are Some Alternative Options?

For Sports Bettors

5Dimes.eu is the best betting site in the US for the following reasons: they’re professional-friendly and offer reduced juice betting lines (in other words, less house edge). Before betting on any game, I recommend taking a look at the odds 5Dimes is offering. They’ve been a reliable sportsbook for over 10+ years — you’ll find few complaints about 5Dimes online, and the ones you find have been resolved quickly.

For poker and casino games, I would go with Bovada. But for sports bettors, it makes the most sense to have an account at 5Dimes.

Another Solid Option

BetOnline.ag is my third suggestion. It’s not significantly better than the others in any area but they’re simply a solid option. Prompt cashout processing, decent poker traffic, good sports betting options and entertaining casino games. Additionally, I’ve had good experiences with their customer service.

For sports bettors, BetOnline is worth signing-up at simply to be able to compare betting lines among a few sites. For poker players, BetOnline may offer some good games every now and then (keep in mind: you can bet on sports and play casino and poker games with the same account, so plenty of gamblers will stumble on the poker games eventually). For casino gamblers, BetOnline has a basic but reliable offering.

BetOnline charges a 6% fee for credit card deposits.

Is It Legal to Play?

The definition of ”gambling” and the laws surrounding vary depending on which state you live in.

In Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey, some forms of online gambling have been legalized and regulated (only state-licensed sites are allowed to operate legally). In other states, it’s likely (although not widely agreed upon) that playing – and certainly operating – online gambling games for real money is illegal.

On a federal level, sports betting is the only form of prohibited gambling via the Wire Act of 1961. For several years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained that the Wire Act applies to all forms of online gambling, but in December 2011, they corrected that stance by stating that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting – a result of a 13-page memorandum from the Office of Legal Counsel to the Criminal Division of the DOJ (source).

State laws, however, often indirectly prohibit gambling. Or to put it another way: it would be difficult to claim any forms of online gambling legal with absolute certainty in most states (lotteries and such aside). Most state laws indirectly prohibit gambling simply by making all forms of gambling unlawful that have not been made lawful.

Purely based on history, it’s unlikely you’ll get into legal trouble; then again, if something is illegal, you can get into trouble, and someone probably will. Gambling online may be illegal where you live. Contact a local gaming lawyer to get a better idea of your local laws.

Legal Troubles

Industry-changing events have taken place in the online gambling world – mainly concerning online poker – such as the UIGEA and Party Poker’s exit from the US market, or PokerStars’ exit from the US market in 2011.

Those crimes were committed by online poker operators, though, not players. Still, the mere fact that online poker companies were targeted was enough to cast a shadow over the legality of US online poker, and furthermore, players grew more and more worried about one of these sites getting shut down along with the money on their player accounts.

In fact, there is a legitimate reason to worry about dishonest US gambling sites taking your money. Some sites have indeed taken off with the money – a recent example is Lock Poker, which currently may owe its customers over $15 million. I created LegitGamblingSites.com mainly to give more exposure to the sites with strong track records of honest business practices.

The lawmakers, in that regard, have a point about not allowing unlicensed sites to provide online gambling games to US citizens. While that may not be the reason, it’s likely one of them. (If I had to guess, I’d say they’re more concerned about losing out on tax dollars and protecting the interests of brick & mortar casino owners such as Sheldon Adelson, although through the RAWA – Restore America’s Wire Act legislation – he tries to do that by himself.)

How to Move Money Around

Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) became a law, US citizens have had a more difficult time finding a suitable deposit method.

There are only a few left, actually.

The most common deposit method for US citizens is still credit card deposits, out of which VISA is the most widely accepted brand, followed by Mastercard, with American Express being a distant third. Cards must be eligible for both international and online transfers.

The alternative method is to use a money transfer service such as Western Union. Western Union is mostly a deposit-only method. (Bovada is an exception since they only allow you to withdraw money via a check.)

Why to use a money transfer service instead of a credit card?

• A card deposit fails to go through. This happens every now and then, and the only way to know if your card will be accepted is to try. According to various forum reports, Vanilla VISA is declined at most sites while Netspend VISA has been successful.

  Surprisingly, players have had problems with card deposits even at state-licensed sites due to banks like Bank of America outright declining all gambling transactions. Things will likely get better with the new MCC codes for VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Distant which will help casinos to identify gambling transactions more accurately. It’s unclear how much of a help this will be since banks still have the right to decline transfers marked with the new MCC codes, and due to not wanting to violate the UIGEA (according to which they’re prohibited from knowingly processing unlawful gambling transactions), banks may decide it isn’t worth it and keep cancelling transactions even if they were for state-licensed sites.

  This is expected to change once bigger states – perhaps even the biggest of them all, California – join internet gambling, since declining the transactions will then affect such a large percentage of any bank’s customer base.

• You want a faster cashout. While money transfer services cost more (many sites, like Bovada, allow one free check cashout a month), the money is usually delivered to be picked up at a local Western Union location in five days or less.
• You don’t want a check cashout. You need to go to a cashier to cash a check. Most people would rather avoid doing this, especially since banks aren’t allowed to knowingly process online gambling related transactions (unless in Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey, but people have had problems in those states as well).

In general, you’ll have higher transaction costs with money transfer services than with a combination of credit cards and checks. BetOnline and Bovada are the only major USA sites charging for credit card deposits and most allow one free check cashout per month – some, like True Poker, allow a free check withdrawal every seven days.

How to use a credit card/check combination?

1. Enter your credit card details online after which you have the money on your player account instantly.
2. When done playing, order a check cashout, which will take from a week to over a month depending on which site you’re dealing with.
3. Go to your local bank to cash the check.

How to use a money transfer service (like Western Union)?

1. Go to their website or a live Western Union location and send money to the gambling site. (You’ll need to contact the gambling site first to get their transfer details.)
2. When done playing, initiate the withdrawal from your player account.
3. Go to a live location to collect the money.

State-Licensed Sites

As mentioned, Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have legalized and regulated some forms of real-money online gambling. Delaware started with online poker but has since expanded into casino games as well; Nevada offers online poker games only; New Jersey offers online poker and casino games.

As you can see, not a single one of these states offer online sports betting. In New Jersey – clearly the biggest market of the three – there’s a clause according to which sports betting may be considered to be added in the future.

Requirements

You must be physically located within a state’s boundaries to play at the licensed sites. If you’re currently located in California but live in Nevada, you’re unable to play until you return to Nevada; if you’re currently located in Nevada but live in California, you can play as long as you stay within Nevada’s state boundaries.

Licensed sites have to make sure nobody outside of the state can participate in the games. Geolocation – identifying exactly where a person is located – has been difficult, and there are still people who are unable to play even though they’re located within those states. This is one of the reasons licensed online gambling sites have done financially worse than expected.

Only existing brick & mortar casino owners within those states can apply for licenses, although they can apply together with an existing online gambling site in a software-licensing agreement, like Caesar’s Interactive and 888.com have done. If a poker site kept operating in the US after the UIGEA of 2006, it will be subjected to a ”bad actor” clause in Nevada and be prohibited from operating in the state for now.

Performance

Each state has had a rocky start, although New Jersey is doing OK. In March 2014, they did $11.87 million in revenue, which grew into $13.16 million in March 2015. A growth rate of 14.57% year-over-year is better than nothing, but still a far cry from the $1 billion within the first 7 months of operating Governor Christie expected (New Jersey gambling sites were launched in November 2013). In other words, his expectations were a little over $140 million a month on average, or about ten times the current revenue.

According to PokerScout.com, Nevada’s online poker revenue is going downhill. Year-over-year decrease in revenue of around 44% (from February 2014 to February 2015) is, no matter how you look at it, a disappointing result. Problems with card deposits and geolocation – both of which exist in other states as well – and player liquidity have undoubtedly contributed to the significant decrease. Players have to deal with fewer problems when playing at offshore sites, and as long as that continues, it will be difficult for state-licensed sites to gain major traction.

In Delaware, the state keeps all yearly revenue up to $3.75 million. Since total revenue for 2014 was around $2.1 million, gambling operators have made nothing. The main reason for such a low amount of revenue is Delaware’s population of 0.94 million (in comparison, New Jersey has a population of 8.9 million). Liquidity is important for online poker since you need lots of players to run games at various stakes, in several forms and throughout the day. Delaware is trying to improve its poker liquidity by combining player pools with Nevada but so far there hasn’t been a significant improvement to its online gaming revenue.

If all of the three states were to combine their player pools, it would create a poker economy of around 12 million people, which could add significant liquidity to the games and thus bring in more revenue to each of the states.

Offshore Sites

Gambling sites accepting US customers from outside of the three states are all ”offshore” sites, meaning they operate from outside of the US and have no license to operate within the US. They have obtained a license in some other jurisdictions – such as Antiqua & Barbuda or Panama – but many of those jurisdictions have less-than-stellar reputations.

The disadvantage of gambling at offshore sites is the lack of safety. For an outsider, it’s impossible to know how strict testing measures these sites go through to prove their legitimacy, and hypothetically, if one of them were to disappear from the internet tomorrow along with your money, what could you do about it?

Lock Poker, as already mentioned, is an ongoing example. They’ve now lost their license in Curacao (weirdly, they were able to keep the license easily over a year after refusing to process customer cashouts) and there’s nothing anyone can do to make sure Lock Poker’s customers have their money returned. All we can do is spread the word to the people who are considering signing-up and depositing money to their site.

The best thing you can do is consider the reputation of the site rather than the jurisdiction since all jurisdictions have had dishonest sites. The longer a site has been fully operational, and the fewer complaints it has generated, the better. Essentially, Bovada has been in the online gambling business since 2000 when Bodog.com was founded (the US-friendly operations of Bodog were re-branded as Bovada in 2011), and as mentioned, they’ve achieved an excellent reputation with a high level of customer service.

But there are advantages to playing at an offshore site, too, and you can legitimately argue that the advantages override the disadvantages. Offshore sites place fewer restrictions on customers, need less personal information and have to compete with lots of other sites (within US states, competition is limited) which forces them to be at their best in order to succeed. There are no geolocation issues either.

Safety and legality aside – although obviously, both are big considerations – offshore sites are the better option in almost every area. Since only three states have legalized some forms of real-money online gambling in the US, they’re the only places for internet gambling for around 96.4% of US population.

What’s Next?

US online gambling is in a transitional phase: after a long wait of legalization, three states have done it, mostly with lackluster success. Suggesting geolocation and deposit issues are resolved, revenue streams may grow. With online poker, though, most likely at least one of the bigger states has to legalize it and combine player pools with the others to create a meaningful poker economy.

A federal legalization would create much-needed competition and player pools, which in turn creates a bigger incentive for operators to participate and, in many ways, a better environment for gamblers. If internet gambling was to be legalized nationwide, every operator and their grandmother would want a license. As of now, it’s more beneficial for most operators to stay outside of the US.

Being an American affords you the freedom to be yourself and do what you want. One area where we’ve seen extensive growth when it comes to freedom is with online sports betting. Many states and jurisdictions have passed favorable laws paving the way for the best US sportsbooks to offer real money action to US citizens and guests all across this beautiful country.

If you live in the red, white, and blue and are ready to bet on sports online, you’ve come to the right spot. In this guide, we list a few top-rated US sports betting sites and apps for you to enjoy. And our team of expert sports bettors and industry insiders outlines everything you need to know to start making real money sports bets right from the comfort of your own home.

You’re just minutes away from the action.

Top US Online Sportsbooks

• MyBookie – Widest variety of sports betting options online.
• Bovada – Most trusted brand in United States sports betting.
• BetNow – Lucrative bonus opportunities for US sports bettors.
• SportsBetting.ag – Real money betting offered in all 50 states in the USA.
• BetOnline – Extensive selection of payment options with fast payouts.

If you’re here searching for the best online sports betting sites that services customers in the United States, you’ve found the motherlode. While each of these USA betting sites offers a slightly different experience, they each have one thing in common—trustworthiness. Each of these sites for real money online betting in the United States has proven its worth in the industry by providing exemplary service to sports bettors for years. If you want to bet where we bet, pick one of these US betting sites.

What Criteria Do These US Sports Betting Sites Meet?

Betting Options

To get on our list of the best US sports gambling sites, we conduct thorough reviews. And our reviews start with offering a superior product. One area we’re particular sticklers for are the number of betting options offered. Whether that’s USA sports betting options or international betting options, we want to see the ability to bet on major sports in the US, major sports internationally, special events around the world, and all of the smaller sports that unique fans love. Additionally, we like to see mobile US betting apps and online sportsbooks that offer more than just a few bets for every game, race, or match.

Lucrative Bonuses Opportunities

In the early days of real money online sports betting, the question was whether or not you could get a bonus from a site. Today, the question is not if, but how big of a bonus you can get. When we’re racking and stacking the top sports betting sites in the US, we want to see big bonuses and the sites that we have recommended have some of the best sports gambling bonuses online.

Not only that, but we also want to see bonuses that have fair terms, benefit the player, and are easy to clear. Plenty of online US sports betting apps slap a huge number on the homepage yet make it impossible to get. Our team digs under the hood to make sure that you’re getting what you think you’re getting.

Banking Options and Accepted Currencies

Not everyone uses the same bank or is comfortable using the same method of moving money around online. Because of this, we want to see real money online sportsbooks in the United States that offer several different banking options. Additionally, we like seeing that they accept multiple currencies. While this might not matter to most bettors in the US, it certainly does if you ever travel abroad.

But what is most important in all of this is whether or not the money moves quickly and safely. In the early days of real money sports betting online in the US, we were okay with options that were a little slower on the draw. Today, you’re only going to see fast payout betting sites on our recommended lists.

User Interface

Betting on sports is already challenging enough when it comes to picking winners. Why on Earth would you ever want to bet with a sportsbook that complicates that process? You wouldn’t, and neither would we! For that reason, we only recommend United States sports betting apps and sites that have great user interfaces that are intuitive, laid out well, and constantly being upgraded.

Trustworthiness and Reputation

While we love to joke around and have a good time, there’s one thing that we take very seriously when it comes to United States sports betting sites, and that’s the safety of our readers. We’re never going to recommend any US sportsbooks that we haven’t fully researched and vetted for trust, reputation, and reliability. If you can’t that trust your online betting experience is going to be safe, then there’s no point. Again, it’s hard enough to pick winners without the added stress of worrying about the safety of your money. You won’t have to worry about that here.

Customer Service

It’s incredible how many US sports betting websites can’t seem to get the customer service piece right. For us, that’s a non-starter. If you can’t provide top-notch customer service to your customers, then we’re not interested in sending you any business. Here’s what we’re looking for:

• 24/7/365 service
• Agents who are fluent in English
• Extensive FAQ guides to help with common questions
• Customer service teams that are equipped with the resources needed to help
• Short or nonexistent wait times
• The ability to contact a live person via chat or the phone

What USA Betting Sites Can I Use in My State?

Even though these are the best US sports betting sites, some sites are restricted in certain states. We’ve included the information below to help you find an online sportsbook no matter what state you are in.

• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania

• Delaware
• Maryland
• Nevada
• New Jersey

• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania

• Allowed in All 50 States

• Allowed in All 50 States

However, it’s always a good idea to get as specific as possible to get the best product available for you. Keeping with this idea, we’ve included links to dedicated guides below for all 50 states. Click on the state you’re in to see the best sports gambling sites for US players that are specific to the jurisdiction.

United States Gambling Laws

A popular area of discussion around betting on sports in America is the legality. For the most part, most areas of the country allow at least some form of legal gambling, including USA sports betting sites. Additionally, we see more and more states and jurisdictions add favorable legislation to help advance gambling and sports betting even further.

Let’s look at some of the more historic pieces of gambling legislation that have affected USA sports betting and US sports betting apps and sites. While not all of these apply today, it’s always nice to have a good idea of where we’ve come from to see where we’re going.

Wire Act of 1961

Also known as the Interstate Wire Act, this law sets out some guidance for the operation of different types of wagering businesses in the US Originally, the law was put in place to stop certain forms of brick and mortar gambling and the transfer of money and information through wire communications. Currently, there hasn’t been a ruling on whether or not the Wire Act of 1961 applies to online gambling or not.

Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act

This law deals with the transportation of certain gambling materials across state lines. In other words, it targets bookies that might be transporting supplies across state lines in order to run an illegal gambling operation.

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

Probably the most famous law concerning real money gambling on the internet was the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIEGA). This law specifically targeted online banking transactions within the betting business, leading many US sports betting sites and US betting apps to stop servicing the United States for an extended period of time and serving international customers instead.

What’s interesting about the law is that it doesn’t apply to “skill games,” which spurred a lot of debate in the horse racing community, online poker world, and with sports bettors.

The arguments began that all of these were games of skill, as they required skill to win, and players could gain an edge. The bottom line with the UIEGA is it’s heavily open to interpretation. You can still visit many US sports betting sites today.

Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) set out to define the legal landscape for real money online sports betting in the US. In short, the law outlawed sports betting in most areas of the US with a few exceptions. This caused the rise in offshore sportsbooks that worked to operate outside the control of PASPA.

What’s most important to note, though, is that in 2018, PASPA was overturned, paving the way for states to begin regulating sports betting in the ways they saw fit. The interesting debate that followed the overturning was whether states needed to rule in order for sports betting to become fully legal again.

Some states jumped on the opportunity to bring in more tax revenue and quickly laid out favorable legislation. Some of them have state-regulated US online betting sites available to local residents and visitors. But a few states went the other way and laid out legislation continuing the intent of PASPA. But the biggest debate came in states that did absolutely nothing. Is sports gambling now legal, or is a new law required to lay out the framework? Depending on the lawyer you ask, you’ll get a different answer.

Illegal Gambling Business Act

Rolled out in 1955, this law makes it illegal to own or operate an illegal gambling business in the US The law is an interesting one because it effectively says that it’s “illegal to do something illegal.” Profound. What the law does do is attach some additional outline to what is and what is not illegal. Still, this law was written in the 1950s, well before online gambling was a thing. How it pertains or is applicable today is completely up to interpretation. Additionally, it only deals with businesses running the operations and not the players participating.

Types of Bets You Can Place at US Online Sportsbooks

Something you’re really going to like when betting on sports in the US is the options. The top US betting sites offer a wide variety of different types of wagers. These options allow you to maximize your potential winnings by taking advantage of every unique prediction, hot tip, and lock you come across.

Here’s a look at the six most popular bet types you’ll see available on games, matches, and races.

Moneyline

All US sports betting apps and sites offer moneyline wagers. A moneyline wager is a bet on which team, person, or car is going to win a scheduled event. All you need to happen to win your bet is the person you chose to win to come out victorious. That’s it! Keep in mind that moneyline bets don’t always pay out the same amount of money, depending on who you bet on. The bigger the favorite, the less you stand to win. Big underdogs can bring a big payday, though.

Here’s an example of a moneyline bet. Let’s say the Bengals are playing the Browns on Thursday Night Football. The moneyline odds could look like this:

To win this bet at US sports gambling sites, you just have to pick which team is going to get the job done. But because the Browns are favored in this example, a bet on them won’t net the same profit as a bet on the underdog Bengals. Here’s what you’d earn with a $20 wager on each team.

Top American Gambling Sites

• Bengals $20 to win pays a profit of $42
• Browns $20 to win pays a profit of $7.40

Point Spread

In the prior example, you can see where a bet on the Browns might not be that enticing. But what are you to do if you think the Browns are going to have a great game but don’t want to risk an arm and a leg to get a real return? You’d have to bet $114 with a moneyline bet to get the same return as a bet on the Bengals.

This is where point spread wagers come in. The best sports betting sites in the US will determine how many points they believe the favorite in a game is going to win by. In this example, the sportsbook believes the favorites the Browns are going to win by 6 points. A point spread bet is a wager on whether a team is going to outperform that expectation or not.

Here’s what the bet would look like in the sportsbook.

With most point spread bets, either side of the wager pays the same amount. In some sports with lower score totals like soccer and hockey, though, that’s not always the case. In this example, each side pays out at -110. So, a $20 wager on either side pays a profit of $18.18

At most US sports betting sites, all you need to win your point spread bet is for the team you wager on to outperform the expectations. In this example, the Bengals are expected to lose by 6 points. All they have to do for you to win your bet is lose by fewer than 6 points. They don’t even have to win the game. As long as they lose by 5 or fewer points, you win your bet.

The same is true on the other side. The Browns are expected to win by 6 points. To win a bet here, the Browns must outperform that expectation and win by more than 6 points. In other words, they must win by at least 7 points.

If the game results in exactly a 6-point victory for the Browns, it’s a push, and all bets are returned.

Totals

Another popular bet you’ll see at many of the best US sports betting sites is a totals bet. This wager is based on the total points or goals scored in a game. The sportsbook sets the line of how many total points or goals they believe will be scored by both teams. From there, you have two options—bet the over or bet the under.

If you bet the under, the total points scored must be under the line set by the sportsbook. If you bet the over, the total points must be higher. If the number is exactly on the line, it’s a push, and all bets are returned.

Here’s an example using our previous football example.

As you can see, both sides of this bet pay out the same amount, just like the point spread wager. This can change in some sports, though.

British Gambling Sites

While it does say a team name on each bet, it doesn’t actually matter which team wins the game or how the points are scored. The only part of the bet you’re looking at is “Over 44” or “Under 44.”

If you bet the over on your US betting app and the final score is Browns – 45, Bengals – 0, you win because the total points scored is over 44. If the final score is Browns – 24, Bengals – 30, you win because the total points scored is 54 and is higher than 44.

Futures

A futures wager is a bet on something that takes more than one game, race, or match to decide. A common example found at US sports betting sites might be a wager on who will win an upcoming tournament or which team will win the end of season championship. Generally, futures bets can be made way in advance and are available throughout the duration of the event.

That being said, the odds on futures bets change as the likelihood of a person or team winning goes up or down. For example, if a team is winning every game, makes the playoffs, and there are only a few teams left—expect a lower payout on a futures bet. If you see a team that’s struggling but still has a shot to win, you might see some incredible odds on a futures bet.

Props

Many of the top US online sportsbooks and US betting apps offer what are called prop bets. Sometimes, these bets are available on every game, and sometimes, they’re just available on higher-profile events. By definition, a prop bet is a wager on whether or not something will happen during the course of a game, race, or match. When you bet on props at the best sports betting sites in the United States, you either wager on “Yes” or “No” or an exact prediction.

Here are a few sample prop bets that should clear up any confusion.

Parlays

A parlay is a bet that strings multiple individual bets together. In order for you to win, you must win every single bet included. As this is much harder to do, you are paid handsomely for hitting a parlay. Parlays found at most US sports betting sites can have as few as two bets up to as many as the sportsbooks choose to allow. If you’re looking for a way to turn a small amount of money into a big win, take a look at these bets.

How to Start Real Money Betting on Sports in the US

1. Choose the right US sports betting sites for you. Take a few minutes and test out some of the options we’ve recommended here. Most of these real money sportsbooks let you see anything and everything without creating an account! The only thing you won’t be able to do is to make an actual bet until you sign up.
2. Join the USA sportsbook of your choice. Once you’ve tested out a few US betting sites, make your final selection(s). Fill out the basic account information, and create your account. If you’re looking to join multiple United States sports gambling sites to shop lines, you can take care of that now or after you make your first bet.
3. Make a deposit. You’ll need to fund your account to make your first bet. Luckily, this only takes a few minutes, and you’ll have instant access to the cash. Head over to the banking page and select the deposit option you want to use. From there, follow the on-screen prompts and make your deposit.
4. Start betting online! Real money US online sportsbooks are designed to be convenient. Part of that convenience is the ability to get into the action quickly. Once you’ve made it to this step, all that’s left for you to do is to start picking winners!

US Sports Betting FAQ

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in the United States?

Sports gambling is legal in most parts of the United States. With that being said, there are some areas of the country that have specific rules and laws for their jurisdiction. While you should be good to go in most areas, it’s always smart to do a little research before diving into any USA sports betting sites. Additionally, it’s worth noting that many of the areas with legal hang-ups in years past have recently passed legislation in favor of online sports gambling in the United States!

Can You Bet on Sports Online in the US?

Yes! There are hundreds of online sportsbooks in the US offering action to residents and guests. If you’re looking to bet on sports in the US, you’re in luck. Our list of the best US sports betting sites can be found at the top of the page.

Where in the United States Can I Bet on Sports?

American Express Gambling Sites

When it comes to where to bet on sports in the US, you’ve got two main options. First, you can drive to the closest casino or sportsbook to place your wagers. If that doesn’t work for you, your second option is to bet online with real money US sports betting sites or through USA sports betting apps on your smartphone. Both options provide the chance to make real money bets on all types of sports.

What Betting Sites Can I Use in the USA?

This page is designed to provide you with the top US sportsbooks online, but these aren’t the only betting sites accepting US customers. If you would like to check out other US betting sites, head on over to our reviews page where you have the option to select reviews based on US and non-US betting sites. Click the button below to check out of our complete collection of online gambling site reviews.

What Are the Best US Betting Sites?

Chances are the reason you’re here is that you already know that not all betting apps or sports betting sites in the US are high quality. So, how do you go about finding the best sports betting sites in the USA? That’s where we come in. At the top of this guide, you’ll find a list of the best US sports betting sites. If you want a high-quality, safe, and trusted online betting experience, look no further than the table above.

What Are the Most Popular Sports to Bet on in the United States?

What’s great about sports bettors in the US is that they have eclectic tastes when it comes to betting on sports. That being said, the four most popular sports bet on include baseball (MLB), basketball (NBA), football (NFL), and hockey (NHL). College sports, NASCAR, and combat sports (UFC and boxing) are not far behind and may very well pass some of the big four in years to come.

Can I Bet Real Money on Sports Online in the USA?

Top American Sports Betting Sites

Absolutely! You can bet real money on sports online in the USA, and you can WIN real money betting on these sports. US online sportsbooks offer the same opportunities as land-based books and often more.

American Gambling Sites

Are There Apps for United States Sports Betting?

American Gambling Sites

If you’re looking for a dedicated phone app to bet on sports in the USA, you have some options. Check out our list of the best betting apps for US customers now to get started. Keep in mind that many of the options in this guide do have US betting apps or do work as mobile-responsive websites. In other words, if you don’t want to download a dedicated app, you don’t have to.