Skip to content
21+Independent US gambling guideOdds, bonuses and banking checked against operator termsProblem gambling? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Gambling Sites.pro Top casino sites
Home Online Sports Betting Strategies Legal Online Sports Betting

Legal Online Sports Betting

The United States is home to some of the most unusual and complex gambling laws in the world. US laws towards sports betting are always changing, yet have become far more lenient across most of the country over the past few years.

Updated 24 Sep 2026 21+ · 1-800-GAMBLER

Last checked

On this page — 8 sections
  1. Sports Betting in Legal States
  2. How to Choose Legal Sportsbooks in Your State
  3. Comparing the Best Sites to Place a Legal Sports Bet
  4. Where to Find the Best Odds on Your Favorite Sports
  5. Biggest United States Betting Site Bonuses
  6. American Sports Betting Sites vs International Options
  7. 7 Safety Tips for USA Online Sports Betting
  8. Ready to Place Your Bets Online?

Below, you will learn about some of the various betting rules and regulations across different states. You’ll also discover what exactly makes the sites we recommend stand out.

Sportsbooks that take US bets and publish their sign-up terms

These books accept US customers and state the rollover attached to the sign-up offer. Free-bet offers and deposit matches are listed on the same basis so the numbers are comparable line by line.

Ratings last updated: 6 sites checked
  1. 1BetUS logo
    BetUS 9.6

    Online since 1994 · Sportsbook + casino · Crypto · 0–1h

    Crypto acceptedSportsbookFrom $100Curacao licence
    Sports welcome: 125% up to $2,500 (100% sportsbook + 25% casino)Wagering 14x sports · Minimum deposit $100 · Code JOIN125
    Visit BetUS Read our review
    Bonus detail
    Welcome offerSports welcome: 125% up to $2,500 (100% sportsbook + 25% casino)
    Wagering14x sports
    Minimum deposit$100
    Bonus codeJOIN125
    WithdrawalsCrypto · 0–1h
    LicenceCuracao; Comoros Gambling License Authority
    Banking

    Deposit routes: Crypto, Card, Wire

    Cryptocurrencies supported: 2

    Typical withdrawal: Crypto · 0–1h. Card and wire payouts run to several business days at every offshore book, which is why the crypto rail is the one we time.

    Pros and cons
    What works
    • Crypto cashier for same-day withdrawals
    • One account covers the sportsbook and the casino
    • Trading since 1994, one of the longest US-facing records
    • Headline offer runs to $2,500
    Watch for
    • Needs $100 in to claim the welcome offer
    • No free spins attached to the welcome offer
    • Short coin list — crypto limited to the majors
  2. 2BetOnline logo
    BetOnline 9.3

    Online since 2001 · Sportsbook + poker + casino · Crypto · 3–5 min

    Crypto acceptedSportsbookPoker roomFrom $20Panama Gaming Control Board licence
    Sports welcome: 50% free bet up to $250Minimum deposit $20 · Code FREE250
    Visit BetOnline Read our review
    Bonus detail
    Welcome offerSports welcome: 50% free bet up to $250
    Minimum deposit$20
    Bonus codeFREE250
    WithdrawalsCrypto · 3–5 min
    LicencePanama Gaming Control Board
    Banking

    Deposit routes: Crypto, Card, Wire

    Cryptocurrencies supported: 2

    Typical withdrawal: Crypto · 3–5 min. Card and wire payouts run to several business days at every offshore book, which is why the crypto rail is the one we time.

    Pros and cons
    What works
    • Crypto cashier for same-day withdrawals
    • Sportsbook, poker room and casino share one balance
    • Welcome offer triggers from a $20 deposit
    • Trading since 2001, one of the longest US-facing records
    Watch for
    • No free spins attached to the welcome offer
    • Short coin list — crypto limited to the majors
    • Offer only applies if the code FREE250 is entered on deposit
  3. 3Bovada logo
    Bovada 9.0

    Online since 2011 · Sportsbook + poker + casino · Crypto · 10–15 min

    Crypto acceptedSportsbookPoker roomFrom $10Curacao licence
    Crypto sports welcome: 75% up to $750 with a 5x rolloverWagering 5x · Minimum deposit $10 · Code BTCSWB750
    Visit Bovada Read our review
    Bonus detail
    Welcome offerCrypto sports welcome: 75% up to $750 with a 5x rollover
    Wagering5x
    Minimum deposit$10
    Bonus codeBTCSWB750
    WithdrawalsCrypto · 10–15 min
    LicenceCuracao
    Banking

    Deposit routes: Crypto, Card, Wire

    Cryptocurrencies supported: 2

    Typical withdrawal: Crypto · 10–15 min. Card and wire payouts run to several business days at every offshore book, which is why the crypto rail is the one we time.

    Pros and cons
    What works
    • Crypto cashier for same-day withdrawals
    • Sportsbook, poker room and casino share one balance
    • Welcome offer triggers from a $10 deposit
    Watch for
    • No free spins attached to the welcome offer
    • Short coin list — crypto limited to the majors
    • Offer only applies if the code BTCSWB750 is entered on deposit
  4. 4Xbet logo
    Xbet 8.6

    Online since 2013 · Sportsbook + casino · Crypto · instant

    Crypto acceptedSportsbookFrom $45
    Sports welcome: 100% up to $200 (crypto) / 50% up to $200 (card)Wagering 10x · Minimum deposit $45 · Code XBCRYPTO100
    Visit Xbet Read our review
    Bonus detail
    Welcome offerSports welcome: 100% up to $200 (crypto) / 50% up to $200 (card)
    Wagering10x
    Minimum deposit$45
    Bonus codeXBCRYPTO100
    WithdrawalsCrypto · instant
    Banking

    Deposit routes: Crypto, Card, Wire

    Cryptocurrencies supported: 1

    Typical withdrawal: Crypto · instant. Card and wire payouts run to several business days at every offshore book, which is why the crypto rail is the one we time.

    Pros and cons
    What works
    • Crypto cashier for same-day withdrawals
    • One account covers the sportsbook and the casino
    Watch for
    • Needs $45 in to claim the welcome offer
    • No free spins attached to the welcome offer
    • Short coin list — crypto limited to the majors
  5. 5MyBookie logo
    MyBookie 8.3

    Online since 2014 · Sportsbook + casino · Crypto · 0–1h

    3 cryptocurrenciesSportsbookFrom $50
    Sports welcome: 100% up to $1,000Wagering 10x · Minimum deposit $50 · Code MYB100
    Visit MyBookie Read our review
    Bonus detail
    Welcome offerSports welcome: 100% up to $1,000
    Wagering10x
    Minimum deposit$50
    Bonus codeMYB100
    WithdrawalsCrypto · 0–1h
    Banking

    Deposit routes: Crypto, Card, Wire

    Cryptocurrencies supported: 3

    Typical withdrawal: Crypto · 0–1h. Card and wire payouts run to several business days at every offshore book, which is why the crypto rail is the one we time.

    Pros and cons
    What works
    • Crypto cashier for same-day withdrawals
    • One account covers the sportsbook and the casino
    Watch for
    • Needs $50 in to claim the welcome offer
    • No free spins attached to the welcome offer
    • Offer only applies if the code MYB100 is entered on deposit
  6. 6SportsBetting.ag logo
    SportsBetting.ag 8.0

    Online since 2003 · Sportsbook + poker + casino · Crypto · 10–15 min

    4 cryptocurrenciesSportsbookPoker roomFrom $50Panama Gaming Control Board licence
    Sports welcome: 50% up to $250 in free bets plus 100 free spinsMinimum deposit $50 · No code needed
    Visit SportsBetting.ag Read our review
    Bonus detail
    Welcome offerSports welcome: 50% up to $250 in free bets plus 100 free spins
    Minimum deposit$50
    Bonus codeNone required
    WithdrawalsCrypto · 10–15 min
    LicencePanama Gaming Control Board
    Banking

    Deposit routes: Crypto, Card, Wire

    Cryptocurrencies supported: 4

    Typical withdrawal: Crypto · 10–15 min. Card and wire payouts run to several business days at every offshore book, which is why the crypto rail is the one we time.

    Pros and cons
    What works
    • Banks in 4 cryptocurrencies, so withdrawals clear in minutes
    • Sportsbook, poker room and casino share one balance
    • Trading since 2003, one of the longest US-facing records
    Watch for
    • Needs $50 in to claim the welcome offer
    • No free spins attached to the welcome offer

Advertising disclosure. Links marked “Visit” are commercial and we may be paid when you open an account through them. That does not change the order above: it follows the offer terms, the banking and the operating record. 21+ only. Gambling should be entertainment, never income — if it stops being that, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Gambling laws in the US are constantly changing. Unlike many other parts of the world, the United States sets its laws toward sports betting on a state-by-state level. Fortunately, there are now platforms to make legal online sports bets in almost every single part of the country.

More than half of the US has chosen to begin regulating sports betting. This gives states the ability to earn money on this activity through taxes.

In other parts of the United States, online sports betting remains unregulated. That does not mean that the wagering sites operating in these states are unsafe. Most have multiple gaming licenses and provide a large variety of payment and customer support options.

Our experts have taken a close look at each state’s sports betting laws. Hit the links below to learn more about the legal sports betting sites available in different states across the country.

View the full list of states

With so many great options available, some will find the process of choosing a platform to make legal online sportsbooks in the US a little daunting. Allow us to help! Below are several key features that you will want to look for in a site before you decide to join any of them.

No one wants to join a site, only to find that it has actually been banned in their location. Finding a legal site for online sports betting should be priority number one. Most of the online betting platforms operating around the country today are legal and have gained excellent reputations amongst players.

Specific laws toward sports betting can change at any time. It’s highly recommended to spend time reading about the gambling regulations in your state. We also recommend reading reviews on different sites to ensure they have not been banned in the US.

US-Focused Banking Options

Next, you will want to ensure that the legal US site for sports betting you join provides US-focused payment options. Some of the sites operating in the US are actually based in other countries. As a result, some provide banking options that are not even available for residents of the United States.

Spend time looking at the various options available to deposit and withdraw your funds. Below are some of the ones most commonly offered by the best legal US sports betting sites.

Wide Coverage of US Sports

The US has one of the largest sporting fan bases in the world. Americans love a wide variety of sports including football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. Our experts tend to recommend the sites that provide odds on all of these sports.

Everyone’s sports preferences differ. Most of the popular legal sportsbooks offer odds on major sports. Those that do not are probably best to avoid.

Before signing up to a site, take a close look at the odds that it provides. There is no point in joining one that is not offering odds on the sports you are interested in betting on.

Good Coverage of International Sports

International sports have grown far more popular over the past couple of decades. Many Americans now love watching events taking place around the world. The very best betting websites now provide odds on just about every major international sporting event that takes place.

These types of odds can be great when no major American sporting events are taking place. Soccer fans may choose to bet on the English Premier League. Baseball fans might choose to bet on Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. There are an endless number of international sporting odds available through our favorite online platforms.

We looked at the top 10 most popular sports in the world based on the number of fans and viewership. Here are the results.

Rank Sport # of Fans
1 Soccer 4.0 billion
2 Cricket 2.5 billion
3 Hockey 2.0 billion
4 Tennis 1.0 billion
5 Volleyball 900 million
6 Table Tennis 875 million
7 Basketball 825 million
8 Baseball 500 million
9 Rugby 475 million
10 Golf 450 million

US-Focused Customer Service Options

Customer support is an often-overlooked feature. That is a shame, as it is one of the most important aspects of these sites. We only recommend sites that offer their members direct support options, 24/7.

Below are some of the support features you will want to see being provided.

  • Live text chat support
  • Phone line support
  • Email support options to answer in-depth questions.

Hope is that you will never need to use these customer service options. If, however, you come across an issue, you will want to know that your betting site is available to help you out.

Track Record of Servicing US Customers

The US sports betting industry is still fairly new when compared to many other countries. It has taken time for many of the sites offering legal US online sports betting odds to catch up with some of the other, more established sites operating in many European countries.

Some of the most popular wagering platforms have been operating for more than a decade. Our experts tend to recommend sites that have a proven track record of offering good service to American bettors. Keep this in mind when choosing a site to join.

The purpose of this page is to give you an overarching view of online betting in the United States. We aim to provide details on what factors you should look at when picking an online wagering platform, covering the various features they provide.

Our experts have looked at and reviewed most of the best sites to place legal US sports bets. Below is a quick look at some of the ones you should check out today.

Site Bonus Restricted States Average Rating
Bovada 50% up to $250 NJ, NV, DE, MD 9/10
BetUS 100% up to $2,500 None! 9.8/10
BetOnline 50% up to $1,000 None! 8.9/10
MyBookie 100% up to $1,000 NJ, NV, NY, PA 9.6/10
SportsBetting.ag 50% up to $1,000 None! 8.4/10
Xbet 100% up to $300 NJ, NV, NY, PA 7.9/10
View all online gambling site reviews

Where to Find the Best Odds on Your Favorite Sports

As we mentioned in the previous section one of the most important factors in choosing an online bookie is making sure they’ll have competitive odds on your favorite sports.

Since each of these sports can be so different to bet on we’ve included some links to dedicated pages on each of the most popular US sports for betting. On these pages, you will find information on how to be on that sport online, as well as specific details on the best sites offering odds on the sport.

NFL Football
NBA Basketball
MLB Baseball
Boxing
Horse Racing
NHL
NCAA Football
NCAA Basketball
UFC
Golf
Soccer
NASCAR

Biggest United States Betting Site Bonuses

We are constantly on the hunt for the best bonuses possible. Those interested in making legal sports bets in the US probably are, as well! It took some time, yet we managed to narrow down some of the very best online sports betting bonuses for sports fans across the country.

Below are some of the top bonuses you can find. As you might expect, each is being offered by sites with excellent reputations.

Site Type Bonus % Max Bonus
BetUS Welcome 100% Up to $2,500
BetUS Welcome 150% Up to $7,500
BetOnline Welcome 100% Up to $2,500
MyBookie Welcome 50% Up to $1,000
MyBookie Welcome 10% Up to $200 (Only 1x rollover)
BetOnline Reload 25% Up to $250
MyBookie Reload 25% Up to $500

Tips for Maximizing Bonuses When Betting on Sports for Real Money in the US

  • Shop your options regularly.
  • Know what the rollover requirement is and what it means.
  • Take time to read the fine print. As boring as that is, it’s important.
  • Understand you’re never required to take a bonus if you don’t want to.
  • Capitalize on multiple real money sportsbook bonuses if it makes sense.
  • Contact customer support if you ever have any questions or don’t understand anything.
  • Look for special one-time bonuses around major sporting events like the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Daytona 500, etc.

American Sports Betting Sites vs International Options

Here we’ll be taking a look at the main differences between USA wagering platforms and ones operating in other counties.

  • The biggest difference is what areas of the globe each option serves. US sports betting sites generally service the US AND the rest of the world. International options only service major areas like Europe or Asia and NOT the United States.
  • International sportsbooks generally offer service in the local currency. US sports betting sites generally offer all action in US currency, even to the rest of the world.
  • The coverage of sports is often similar between both options. The only marked difference is international online sports betting sites tend to cater more towards soccer, rugby, and cricket. US sports betting apps tend to cater more towards the big four (NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL).

7 Safety Tips for USA Online Sports Betting

With all those offshore servers hosting US gambling sites, the need to stay safe is great. Don’t worry, though; we’ve got you covered. That’s what this section is all about.

The easiest way to stay safe is to stick with expert-approved sites. That said, we get that you might want to understand the process of picking a US betting site.

Sadly, there are lots of unscrupulous operators willing to take advantage of US gamblers, knowing there’s little legal recourse if you choose to bet online.

Look for the License

Even if a site is hosted offshore in a place like Costa Rica, it should have a license to operate. Curacao is a popular destination for sites catering to US players, so a license from there is a start.

Pay Attention to the Small Details

A poor website design, slow or unprofessional customer service, unrecognizable game software providers, or poor English on the website can all be tell-tale signs that a gambling site may be one to avoid. Go with your gut on this, and if you have any doubt, leave it out.

Try to Find RTP Figures

If the site offers casino games and publishes its Return To Player percentages, that’s a good sign. It’s especially good if these are verified by a third-party specialist in this area, such as eCogra.

Ask the Important Questions

The customer service team isn’t hired to sit and twiddle their thumbs all day. They are paid to assist you and answer your questions. Ask them anything you want to know and ask for clarification if you find anything suspicious or unclear.

Check Out the Terms and Conditions

We know — reading betting site terms and conditions is about as exciting as waiting for a bus. However, we suggest skim-reading at the least and paying attention to the deposit and withdrawal policies and the general terms of service. If there’s anything sinister afoot, it will likely be written right there in the terms.

Find Out About the Management

In our in-depth reviews, we always take time to focus on the management. If they have a history of ripping people off, we’ll tell you. The people behind the site can tell you a lot about what to expect.

Deposit a Small Amount First

If you have any doubts about the site, don’t be tempted by a generous welcome bonus. What use is that if you can’t ever get your money back? Deposit a small amount, bet, and try to make a withdrawal. You’ll soon find out if the site is legitimate.

We don’t want to scare you off! There are honest and trustworthy US betting sites. But there are also frauds out there. We’re just trying to give you a heads-up so you don’t get swindled, especially if you’re new to betting online.

Ready to Place Your Bets Online?

If you’re ready, what are you waiting for? The time is now to try out one of the best sites for legal US sports betting. The action is available 24/7/365 and you can’t win if you don’t get in the game. Head back up to the top of the page and check out one of the great options we’ve hand-selected for you. The sky is the limit if you’re a sharp bettor who knows how to pick winners!

If you still have unanswered questions about sports gambling in the USA please contact us or check out some of the commonly asked questions below:

Frequently asked questions

Is It Legal For US Citizens to Bet Online?

The UIGEA does not state that it is illegal for US citizens to bet on sports online. It does put the burden on gambling site operators, prohibiting them from knowingly accepting wagers from US players. It also puts pressure on financial institutions like banks to prohibit deposits to sites offering gambling services. Plenty of operators still do, though.

Why Do So Many US Gambling Websites Accept Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies?

Since it isn’t actually expressly illegal for US citizens to gamble online, cryptocurrencies are arguably a legal way around the restrictions. Financial institutions aren’t allowed to transact with gambling sites, and gambling sites aren’t allowed to accept wagers from US players, but with cryptocurrencies, this transaction is peer-to-peer and often anonymous. We’re not advising you to use them, but rather are simply explaining why so many sites accept them.

Which US Betting Sites Accept Cryptocurrencies?

This is a common question, and lots of Americans use cryptocurrencies when betting online. You can find some US Bitcoin betting sites, as well as those that accept altcoins, in the table above.

What is the Safest US Betting Site Online?

Every site listed on this page is 100% safe and secure. Our experts have checked them out, they are all running on secure connections, they are all licensed, and they all have a history we can trace, proving they are honest. Pick any one of them, and feel free to do some further research yourself.

Are the Approved US Betting Sites for Sports Wagering Only?

Honestly, that depends on the site. Some US gambling sites offer online poker and real money casino games as well. There are several, as you can see, and they are all different. Check out the full reviews of the sites above in our review section for more details, or better yet, click through and visit the sites yourself to make sure they have everything you want.

Are There Any USA Betting Apps?

The mobile side of the United States online betting industry has been rapidly evolving. There are no top online bookmaker brands that don't have either a sports betting app or a mobile-friendly online sportsbook interface.

More in this section