
Best Sportsbooks and Betting Sites in the US
Sportsbook Reviews for April 2026
Locations
Sportsbooks
What’s the Best Betting Site?
The best betting site usually shows its value after the welcome offer stops being the main thing you notice. You feel it when a live market loads without a fight, when a smaller game is easy to find, or when you check one more book and realize the number is just better there.
That's why this page works best as a sorting guide, not a trophy case. Some sportsbooks are stronger on pricing, some on app flow, some on rewards, and some are mostly useful for one specific job in a normal betting week. That matters more than the promo banner. A sportsbook can look great in a roundup and still get annoying the minute you move beyond the headline game.
The goal here is to figure out which one actually fits the way you bet, how often you bet, and what you care about once the signup offer is over.
TL;DR
If you want a quick breakdown before diving deeper, here is how the top sports betting sites stack up based on bettor type and use case.
-
Fanatics Sportsbook: Best for simple bonuses and low-friction betting, a clean interface with straightforward "bet and get" promos.
-
Main offer: Get Up To $1000 Matched in FanCash!
-
-
BetMGM Sportsbook: Best for larger bonuses and frequent reload offers, strong market variety with aggressive promo cycles.
-
DraftKings: Best for parlay bettors and high-volume markets, deep props, same game parlays, and constant promos.
-
bet365: Best for bettors who prioritize pricing and early payouts, known for strong odds on spreads and totals.
- Main offer: Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose!
How To Tell Whether a Sportsbook Bonus Is Actually Good
A sportsbook bonus can look great on the homepage and feel a lot smaller once you read the terms. The big number is only part of the story. What matters more is what you have to do to unlock it, how the bonus is paid, and whether it actually fits the way you bet.
Start with the trigger. Some promos pay after one qualifying wager, win or lose, some only kick in if your first bet loses, others are spread out over several days. Those differences matter. An offer that pays quickly works a lot differently from one that asks you to keep coming back all week.
Next, check what you’re actually getting. Bonus bets, site credit, FanCash, and profit boosts are not the same thing. A bonus bet can still have value, but it doesn't work like cash. Reward-style credits make more sense if you already use that brand for something else, while profit boosts are worth having only if they apply to the kinds of bets you were already planning to make.
Then get into the part most people skim past: the terms. Before you decide whether a promo is any good, check the minimum odds, the qualifying stake, the expiration window, and whether you need to opt in or apply the offer in the bet slip. Also check whether the promo pays once or trickles out over multiple days. That's usually the difference between an offer that feels useful and one that turns into homework.
The right bonus depends on what kind of bettor you are. If you only want a couple of bets on a major game, a promo that pays quickly usually makes more sense than one tied to a longer schedule. If you're comfortable taking a bigger first swing, a first-bet refund offer may be more appealing. If you already care about a brand’s rewards system, non-cash credits may not be a bad tradeoff. It also helps to keep the promo in its place. A good bonus can make an app worth trying, but it doesn't automatically make that sportsbook worth keeping. If the markets are thin, the pricing is weak, or the app gets annoying the minute the games go live, the welcome offer isn't going to save it.
The better question here is whether the offer gives you real value without asking you to bet in a way you wouldn't normally choose. That's usually the line between a bonus that's worth claiming and one that only looks good in the banner.
Best Betting Sites & Sportsbook Promos for April 2026
| 🏟️ Best Betting Sites 🏟️ | 💵 Main Sportsbook Promo 💵 | 🚨 Promo Code 🚨 |
| 🏅 Fanatics Sportsbook | ||
| 🏅 BetMGM |
Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win! |
|
| 🏅 DraftKings Sportsbook |
Bet $5+, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins! DraftKings is live in Arkansas: Bet $5 and Get $300 Instantly in Bonus Bets! |
Use our links! |
| 🏅 FanDuel Sportsbook |
Bet $5, Get $250 If Your Bet Wins! Arkansas-specific offer: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets! |
Use our links! |
| 🏅 bet365 |
Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose! or |
Click to claim the code TAN365 |
| 🏅 Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook | Get 10x 100% Profit Boost Tokens! | Use our links! |
| 🏅 Caesars Sportsbook |
Bet $1+, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Wagers! | ACTION22DYW |
| 🏅 theScore Bet | Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets If You Win! | TANBONUS |
| 🏅 Underdog | Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries! | ACTION |
| 🏅 BetRivers | Use our links! | |
| 🏅 Borgata Sportsbook | Bet $20, Get $100 in Bonus Bets! | ACTIONBSPORTS |
Best Betting Sites Reviews April 2026
When searching for the best online sportsbook for you, there's a good chance that the answer is somewhere on this page. Let's take a look at an in-depth review of each of the best sportsbooks on the market, as per our evaluation.
Fanatics Sportsbook: Best for Rewards

Fanatics is a relatively new name to sports betting, but they've wasted no time in bursting onto the scene and becoming one of the best options in the business, especially for users who will play enough to earn rewards. The website and app are as modern as it gets, and the unique FanCash program allows users to earn rewards that can be used both within the sportsbook and to buy the brand's licensed sports merchandise.
What really makes it stand out though is that with only one promo code, ACTION, you can get access to
- AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY: Get Up To $1000 Matched in FanCash!
- New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting day of account creation. FanCash rewards will equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash/day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
- CT, MO, NC, NJ, OH, VA, WV: Bet $20, Get $200 Bonus Bets Sequenced Over 4 Days!
- New customers in CT, MO, NC, NJ, OH, VA, WV. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $20+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $50 in Bonus Bets each day for your first 4 days. Must opt in each day to claim Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets issued in connection with this Promotion expires 24 hours from issuance. Terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
- CO, DC, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, PA: Bet $20, Get $200 Bonus Bets Sequenced Over 4 Days!
- New customers in CT, MO, NC, NJ, OH, VA, WV. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $20+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $50 in Bonus Bets each day for your first 4 days. Must opt in each day to claim Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets issued in connection with this Promotion expires 24 hours from issuance. Terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
- AZ, IA, IN, MA, TN, WY: Bet $20, Get $350 in Bonus Bets!
- New customers in AZ, IA, IN, MA, TN, WY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $20+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $50 in Bonus Bets each day for your first 7 days. Must opt in each day to claim Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets issued in connection with this Promotion expire 24 hours from issuance. Terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
- NY: Get 10x100% Profit Boost Tokens Instantly! and Bet and Get up to $250 in No Sweat Bets FanCash!
- Get 10x100% Profit Boost Tokens Instantly!
- New NY customers only. Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -500) daily for 10 consecutive days starting at account creation. Wager must settle as a loss to earn FanCash equal to wager (max $25 FanCash/day). FanCash from this Promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from the date of issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
- IL: Get 3x500% Profit Boosts!
- Select new customers in IL only. Must establish an active and verified account during the Promotional Period to receive one 500% Profit Boost Token (max wager $50, max pre-boosted odds +20000) each day for your first 3 days. Tokens expire at 11:59pm ET on the day of issuance. Terms apply - see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
- AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY: Win a Long Ball Jackpot! $50K Daily in Fancash!
- Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-321-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (811)8- HOPENY or text HOPENY (461369) (NY), (888) 189-1111 or ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC). Select customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. 3/26/26-4/30/26. Must receive invite, opt in, and place a pre-match $5+ cash wager on an MLB player to hit a HR. Each day, customers who wager on the player with the longest HR share that day's $50K FanCash jackpot equally (100K FanCash jackpot on 3/26, 4/15, & 4/25). Must opt in to claim FanCash. FanCash expires 1 days after issuance (11:59 p.m. ET). Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
Read more about the Fanatics sportsbook promo code here!
bet365 Sportsbook: Best for Daily Boosts

If you’re looking for a sportsbook that offers more than just a standard signup bonus, bet365 is widely recognized among experienced bettors. It stands out for its extensive in-play markets, live streaming features, and tools like Bet Builder and Cash Out, which enhance the overall betting experience.
Read more about the bet365 bonus code!
| 💰 bet365 Promos | 📲 Promo Codes |
| AZ, CO, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA: Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose!* | Click to claim the code TAN365 |
| AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, VA: Get a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets!** | Click to claim the code TAN365 |
| NJ & PA: Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose + 50 Casino Spins! *** | Click to claim the code TAN365 |
| IL: Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose! **** |
Click to claim the code TAN365 |
*Terms & Conditions: Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply. Not available in Illinois.
**Terms & Conditions: Deposit Required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customers Only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply. 21+ (18+ in KY). Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, VA only. Place a qualifying bet of up to $1000 to be eligible for a matched refund in Bonus Bets if your qualifying bet loses.
***NJ, PA Terms & Conditions: Deposit Required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customers Only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in NJ and PA only. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns.
****IL Terms & Conditions: Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply. Illinois Only.
Why should I choose bet365? If you value options, this is the right operator for you. Nobody offers a better variety in terms of sports, leagues, and bet types than bet365.
| ✅ Best bet365 Features | Broad offerings, competitive odds & easy parlay-building |
| 🏆 bet365 Sportsbook Rating | ⭐ 9.8/10 ⭐ |
bet365 Sportsbook Pros and Cons
Pros of bet365
-
🚀 Daily Boosts: bet365 does a good job of offering fair everyday prices, but they'll also often provide users with the chance to bet on the day's most interesting events at boosted odds.
-
🧠 Great Customer Service: As a bigger sportsbook than most, bet365 is able to provide quality customer support around the clock through multiple avenues of contact.
-
🏆 bet365 Parlays: This sportsbook offers a uniquely broad array of parlay-eligible wagers and allows you to combine legs at generally fair prices.
Cons of bet365
-
📱 App Experience: While the sportsbook itself is our favorite, the mobile app could be a bit more visually attractive and feature-rich.
bet365 Sportsbook Conclusion and Tips
This sportsbook can be a bit intimidating for the new bettor, but with its size, there's something for everyone with bet365. If you choose this sportsbook, be sure to spend some time combing through the different sports and bet types to fully familiarize yourself with the unique depth of options offered by this one-of-a-kind operator.
Sports Betting Education & Resources
Action Network's Tips for Picking the Best Betting Site
While we certainly have our favorite online sports betting sites, the best option for each player will be different, as everyone has their own priorities and limitations. Let's take a look at some of the best ways to find the best site for you.
- If you're looking to bet on a niche competition, look for a sportsbook with those specific betting markets. If there is more than one, see which one offers a broader range of products within that sport or league.
- Look for a welcome bonus offer that fits your priorities well, whether that means grabbing a quick, easy boost out of the gate or maximizing your potential upside.
- If you plan on playing frequently, learn more about loyalty or rewards programs, as well as existing user promotions.
- Read user reviews on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store to get an idea of what current players think about the sportsbooks you're seriously considering.
What States Have Legal Sports Betting?
As the years pass, more and more states offer legal online sports betting. However, the rate of new states joining the club has slowed since they were first able to legalize sports betting back in 2018. Even so, it's hard to keep track of the full list of states that have made online sports betting legal.
Let's take a look at a summary of states that offer legal sportsbooks. Click on any of the links for more details on the legal sports betting offerings in your home state. The most recent sportsbook to launch in a new state was FanDuel going live in Arkansas! Learn more about the FanDuel Arkansas Promo Code by reading our review.
How Action Network Reviews the Top Betting Sites
Every sportsbook on this page is judged on the same core values: safety, app quality, betting menu, odds, promo value, banking, and whether the book actually stays useful after the welcome offer is gone. Some books win on pricing, some win on usability, and some are mostly here because the day-one promo is still strong. The ranking works best when you read it like that, not as a one-size-fits-all answer.
Sportsbook Promo Types from the Best Betting Sites
While every sportsbook has the ability to come up with its own promotion for new users, there are a few common general types you'll see from most operators. Let's take a look at a few of the most popular ones so you have an idea of what to expect.
Bonus Bets
The simplest type of promotion a sportsbook can offer is a fixed package of bonus bets, which are funds that can be used within the sportsbook like regular dollars but cannot be directly withdrawn. You can place a bet with bonus bets, win, and withdraw the profits, or keep the profits in the sportsbook and keep betting.
Deposit Match
A deposit match is similar to bonus bets, but the amount can vary based on the amount of your first deposit. Sometimes, a deposit match is 100%, meaning that a deposit of $100 will yield $100 worth of bonus bets. Other times, they can be at a different rate, like 50%, meaning that a $100 deposit would provide the user with $50 worth of bonus bets.
Often, there is a minimum or, more commonly, a maximum amount for a deposit match. Be sure to keep this parameter in mind whenever you sign up for a sportsbook bonus of this type.
Safety Bets
Also known as first-bet insurance or safety nets, these offers provide you with the chance to get a refund via bonus bets if your first bet loses. If it wins, it simply behaves as a normal bet, giving you the opportunity to swing for the fences and look for a big payout with your very first wager.
Profit Boosts
This is a slightly more complex bonus, and it can be offered to both new and existing users. It's exactly what it sounds like, allowing you to apply it to a certain bet in order to increase the potential payout to a higher level than the base odds would imply.
Many times, there are parameters for using profit boost tokens, such as sports, games, odds, bet types, and bet amounts, so be sure to keep these in mind when accessing this type of bonus.
How To Build a Sportsbook Rotation
A lot of bettors make the same mistake right after signup: they download too many legal sportsbooks, then still default to the same one or two every time they want to place a bet. Having a sportsbook that actually fits the way you bet is less about volume and more about role.
A sportsbook earns space on your phone when you know what job it does. One app may be the book you trust for regular pregame sides and totals, another may exist mostly as a pricing check before you bet anything number-sensitive, and a third may stay relevant because its live board is cleaner, its rewards still matter after signup, or its market depth holds up once you move past the obvious game.
That also means every app doesn't need to be good at everything. A book can be worth keeping even if you don't love the layout, as long as it keeps giving you a better number on the markets you actually bet. On the other hand, a sportsbook with a strong promo and a polished homepage can still turn into dead weight if you barely open it after the first week.
Most bettors don't need a huge setup, as one main book and one comparison book already covers a lot of ground. Once you go beyond that, each extra app should solve something specific. If it doesn't, it's just clutter.
This is where book identity starts to matter more than raw ranking.
- bet365 is worth checking first when pricing is the main priority
- FanDuel and DraftKings still make sense for bettors who spend more time on live boards and prop menus
- Caesars and Fanatics matter more for bettors who actually use rewards after signup
- BetMGM works better as a steady all-around option than as a one-week promo app
After that, the filter is pretty simple. Every app needs a real job. One can be the home base, one can be the comparison book, and one more can stay if it keeps solving a specific problem. Beyond that, the rotation starts getting crowded for no real reason.
How To Test a Sportsbook Before You Give It a Bigger Role
A sportsbook can tell on itself pretty quickly. You don't need a long trial run to figure out whether it belongs in your regular mix. One normal betting session usually gives you enough to judge whether the app is useful, overpriced, or just taking up space.
Start with a pregame market you would actually bet
Skip the homepage promo tile and go straight to one regular wager you already had in mind: a side, total, or moneyline on a game you were going to check anyway. Pay attention to the path, not just the market. How many taps did it take? Did the menu make sense? Did the bet slip react cleanly, or did the app start feeling crowded the second you moved off the front page? That matters more than it sounds.
Finding a market once is nothing. Finding it over and over is where a book starts earning trust, or losing it.
Check a game that's not carrying the whole board
The featured game doesn't tell you much. Try a weekday MLB matchup, a lower-priority NBA game, or something outside the main TV window. That's where menu organization, market depth, and card structure start to show up. Some books still give you full coverage there, while some thin out fast once you leave the obvious game.
Compare the number against one other legal book
You don't need to make line shopping your whole personality, just compare one market you bet often. A small pricing gap doesn't feel important on one ticket, but repeated over a week or a month, it changes the quality of every bet you place. In baseball, where the board is busy and the volume keeps coming, weak pricing gets exposed fast.
Put the live board under a little pressure
Pregame menus can hide a lot. Live betting cannot. Once the game starts, look at how the app handles movement. Can you switch from a live side to a prop without getting moved around? Are odds refreshing in a way that still feels usable? Can you track what changed without losing your place in the bet slip? If you bet in-game even occasionally, that part would still make a difference.
Check banking and grading before either becomes urgent
Don't wait until you want a payout to figure out how the cashier works. Look at deposit methods, withdrawal options, minimums, hold periods, and whether the rules are stated clearly. Then do the same with settlement language on one prop, one alternate line, or one cash-out market.
You're not trying to read every policy page here; you just want to know whether the book explains itself well enough that you're not guessing later.
A quick sportsbook test should answer five things:
- How quickly can you get to the exact market you want?
- Does the market depth still hold up away from the headline game?
- Is the pricing good enough to justify opening this app first?
- Does live betting stay usable when the board starts moving?
- Are the banking flow and settlement rules clear before you need help?
That's usually enough.
A sportsbook doesn't earn a bigger role because the signup offer looked good on day one. It makes it to the top by making ordinary betting easy: finding a market, checking a number, following a live line, understanding a grade, moving money in or out. When those basic tasks feel clean, the app probably belongs in the mix. When they keep turning into friction, the promo and the ranking stop carrying much weight.
The Best Betting Site Can Change Depending on the Sport
A sportsbook can be strong in one lane and just okay in another. The app you trust for NFL Sundays may not be the one you want for MLB totals, and the book that works for NBA same-game parlays may not be the one you check first for soccer or tennis. That's normal. Different sportsbooks are better at different things, which is why the best choice usually gets clearer once you look at the sports and markets you actually bet most.
Football is the easiest place to see this.
If most of your betting year revolves around NFL or major college football Saturdays, price shopping and market clarity matter a lot. You're usually dealing with big public games, heavy menu depth, and lots of alternate lines, props, and same-game builds. In that setup, one sportsbook may be fine for casual picks, while another is more useful because the spread, total, or moneyline just comes in a little better more often. Over time, that difference matters more than people expect.
Basketball is a different test.
NBA and college basketball bettors usually feel the gap between sportsbooks through pace. How easy is it to move from pregame markets to live ones? Can you find player props quickly? Does the app stay usable once the game goes live and the board starts moving? A book can look perfectly fine for a pregame side, then become annoying the second you try to follow a live total and one player angle in the same window. That's why the best basketball app isn't always the one with the biggest promo. Sometimes it's just the one that feels less clunky once the slate gets busy.
Baseball shifts the question again.
MLB gives you a lot more volume, a lot more repetition, and a lot more spots where small pricing differences add up. If you bet baseball often, you start noticing which books are worth checking first for moneylines, totals, and alternate run lines. The “best” site for baseball may not be the flashiest app on your phone: it may just be the one that hangs a better number and makes it easy to move through a long board without wasting time.
Then there's international coverage.
If you follow soccer, tennis, golf, or other markets outside the biggest U.S. game windows, sportsbook quality starts to show up in depth and availability. Some apps feel wide open during the NFL and NBA season, then get surprisingly thin when you move into lower-profile leagues or early-day markets. Others hold up a lot better there. That matters if the sports you care about don't live on the same national-TV schedule as everyone else’s.
So the better question isn't “What is the one best betting site?” It's closer to this:
- Which sportsbook do you trust most for the sport you bet most often?
- Which one do you check when price matters?
- Which one still feels worth opening once you move beyond the obvious headline game?
The setup usually ends up looking pretty ordinary: one sportsbook you trust most for the sport you bet most, one book you check when price matters, and maybe one extra that keeps proving useful for a specific market. That lens tells you more than trying to force one app into every job.
Why Baseball Season Is the Best Time To Figure Out Your Sportsbook Rotation
Football can hide weak habits. Baseball exposes them.
A full MLB card forces you through repeated pricing decisions, lineup-driven moves, first-five markets, alternate run lines, and quieter games that never do much for the homepage. That's where a sportsbook’s daily value starts to show.
A book that feels fine on an NFL Sunday isn't always the one you want on a random Tuesday with 15 baseball games and prices you want to compare across the board. Baseball makes routine matter, which is useful, because routine is where bettors usually learn which apps they actually trust.
MLB Game: ARI Diamondbacks vs. BAL Orioles
Below is a selection of odds for the upcoming MLB game: Updated April 17, 2026 - Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change
|
Team |
Spread |
Win |
Total Points |
|
+1.5 (-156) |
+129 |
Over 9 (+101) |
|
|
-1.5 (+129) |
-156 |
Under 9 (-122) |
Best Existing User Promos at Top Betting Sites
It's great to take advantage of a high-value welcome offer, but once you've settled into your sportsbook, there can still be ways to find added value. Let's take a look at some of the most common existing user promos available at top betting sites.
Referral Programs
With these offers, you can share a unique link or code with a friend who is not yet a customer of the sportsbook. In most cases, you'll both receive bonus bets or some other sort of perk after your friend launches their account using that link or code.
Rewards Programs
The exact details will vary between sportsbooks, but the core concept is the same: the more you play, the more benefits you get. Usually, this means profit boost tokens, bonus bets, or some other sort of perk within the sportsbook, but with some operators, rewards can be accessed outside of the sportsbook at casino and resort locations.
Daily Boosts
Usually, these are pre-selected bets, giving users the opportunity to access longer-than-usual odds. You should be aware of the reason each boost has been selected, but these easily accessible perks can provide users with some excellent value.
Special Sports Promos
In the same vein as daily boosts, special parlays and offers are often available around major betting events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness. These can be pre-selected wagers, or they can be sport-wide, so keep an eye out for these special opportunities.
Popular Bet Types at the Best Betting Sites
Once you've signed up for some online betting sites, you'll want to know how to actually play with them. With any of the betting options we've discussed in this article, there are plenty of different bet types available, giving both new and experienced users the opportunity to have fun and find value.
Let's talk about the most popular bet types, which you'll be able to find at any of the sportsbooks discussed in this article.
Parlays
This special bet type has risen alongside legalized online sports betting, as building these multi-part wagers is much easier on one's phone or computer than dictating one to a human taking your bet at a casino.
A parlay combines multiple individual bets into one larger wager, compounding the odds of each individual "leg" for an exponentially higher combined line. Your bet wins if all of the legs hit. If a single one is wrong, it breaks the whole parlay. This makes these wagers tough to hit, depending on how many legs you choose. However, the upside can be quite high.
If you're interested in seeing what a parlay of a certain selection of bets might look like, check out Action Network's parlay calculator. However, be advised that a particular sportsbook might calculate things slightly differently, especially if there are correlated legs.
This discrepancy in calculations is especially common when it comes to same game parlays, which pull together lines from within one contest, so the legs will inherently be correlated more often or not.
Moneylines
A moneyline is the simplest way to bet, making it a great option for beginners. Simply put, if you pick a team that wins, your bet wins, but if your team loses, the bet loses.
Let's look at an example involving baseball. If the New York Yankees are -150 favorites on the moneyline against the Boston Red Sox, you'd have to bet $150 to make a profit of $100. If the Yankees win, that's exactly what you'll get, but if they lose, your $150 is lost.
If you bet on the underdog Red Sox at a line of +130, you'll earn a $130 profit on a bet of $100 if the Sox win, but if they lose, you're out $100.
Futures
Like moneylines, all you need to do for a futures bet is to simply pick one correct outcome, but these take place over a longer period of time, usually a season. These markets include straightforward bets, such as team win totals and playoff qualification props, or player stat totals, which are usually simple over/under or yes/no bets.
However, some futures can be quite complex, as they involve events with multi-sided outcomes, such as awards or championships. For instance, a heavy favorite to win the World Series might have a line of +300, while in a two-sided market, the favorite will have minus-odds.
A realistic underdog might have a number like +1200, while a true long shot could offer an insane figure (it was +500,000 for the Leicester City team that famously won the Premier League in 2016). These wagers can be very tough to hit because of the wide array of options, but their payout can be significant for the savvy bettor.
Spreads
Like moneylines, point spreads are a very traditional way to bet on an individual game. A spread is essentially a projection of the favored team's margin of victory, and the bettor's job is to figure out whether or not the team will beat that number, or "cover" it.
Let's move on to basketball, a sport for which spread betting is more popular than it is for baseball. If the Boston Celtics are -7.5 favorites against the New York Knicks, that means they have to win by eight points or more to cover that line and provide a win for a spread bettor who backed them.
Meanwhile, a Knicks spread bettor wins this game if New York loses by seven points or less or if they win by any margin. Since the spread itself is adjusted to the matchup, the odds for each side are usually about -110.
Over/Unders
Over/unders, or totals, are the last of the three main single-game bets, joining moneylines and spreads. Like spreads, they deal with the final score and are game-specific, so odds are usually approximately -110 on both sides thanks to the vig, but the outcome is determined differently.
A total is the projected amount of points, runs, or goals scored between the two teams in a game. For instance, if the total is set at 8.5 for a game between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, the two rivals need to combine for a total of nine runs or more in order for an over bet to hit.
This means that if the Cubs score four and the Cardinals score six, for a total of 10 between the two squads, the over hits. However, if the Cubs score the same four and the Cardinals only score two, the total is six, and the under hits.
Props
Prop bets are contained within one game, but they're even more granular than traditional game lines. They deal with just one aspect of a game, usually the performance of a single player. This could mean an over/under for a basketball player's points total, an NFL quarterback's passing yards, or a line on whether an NHL player will score a goal that day. These are known as player props, and are very common components in same-game parlays.
There are also team or game props, such as the points one team will score, or the number of fouls accrued between the two squads. The props market is an extremely deep one, and varies greatly between sportsbooks, so it's worth doing some exploring across the sites with which you have an online sportsbook account to find the best markets and lines for you.
Live Betting
Technically, this isn't a bet type so much as it's a way to play. Almost any bet type can become a live bet. These wagers are ones made regarding a game in progress, with odds changing based on the unfolding action.
For instance, let's say the Kansas City Chiefs came into their game against the Cincinnati Bengals as -7.5 favorites. Then, as he has tended to do in recent years, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws an interception on the first possession, setting the Bengals up with the ball on the Chiefs' 20-yard line. The live spread could change to -4.5, and it could go all the way down to -2.5 if the Bengals score a touchdown, or back up to -7.5 if Joe Burrow responds with an interception of his own.
Live lines are always changing once the game starts, so it takes an experienced bettor to quickly identify value, but it can be an extremely profitable way to play if you can figure out a system.
Teasers
These are parlays made up from favorable alternate lines, giving bettors the opportunity to increase their payout on generally "safe" bets. Let's take a look at a very popular teaser type, the "Wong Teaser," used for the NFL.
A Wong Teaser takes favorites of over a touchdown and underdogs of under a field goal, teases their lines, and pulls them together. For instance, if the Green Bay Packers are -8.5 against the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots are +2.5 against the Buffalo Bills, a Wong Teaser of Packers -2.5 and Patriots +8.5 would provide users with a parlay that offers a reasonable payout and a solid chance of hitting.
Popular Banking Options at Top Betting Sites
Naturally, a sportsbook isn't going to provide you with a very enjoyable sports betting experience without the proper payment methods. If you can't get money into your account to place bets or take money out of your bank account after you win, then why bet at all?
The exact payment methods will vary between sportsbooks, like Venmo sportsbooks, but let's talk about some of the most broadly popular ones at the best sports betting sites.
Best Sportsbooks Deposits
The most widely available and popular deposit methods are credit and debit cards, as well as direct deposits from online banking. However, e-wallets like PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay are also available in many cases, as are wire transfers and even paper checks.
Best Sportsbooks Withdrawals
Many withdrawal options will be similar to those for depositing. However, some methods that work for deposits, such as credit cards, checks, or wire transfers, may not be compatible with withdrawals. Be sure to check eligibility in both directions before linking any payment method.
Learn more about the best sportsbook payment methods by checking out our review!
Best Betting Sites for Canada 🇨🇦
While the online sports betting sites we've discussed in this article are largely specific to the United States, we can also provide users located north of the border with our guide to the best betting sites in Canada. There are plenty of online sportsbook options that can provide Canadian users with competitive odds.
It's also worth noting that the sports betting industry in Ontario, in particular, is subject to certain regulations that the rest of Canada does not face. You'll have to use a province-specific mobile app for each sportsbook. Please note that certain markets, welcome bonuses, and promotions may not be available. However, many US-based sportsbooks are available in Ontario but not in Canada's other provinces and territories.
Action Network's Responsible Gambling Guide

Whichever online sports betting sites you choose to play with, it's absolutely vital to always practice responsible gambling. This means that you should never bet more than you can safely lose, and make sure you're never chasing your losses.
Let's take a look at some of the key facets of responsible gambling.
-
Bankroll Management: Your bankroll is the total amount of money you have in any given sportsbook account. It's a form of budgeting, so you should always be aware of this amount when deciding whether to deposit. Keeping a reasonable bankroll is how you keep your habit safe and healthy.
-
Set User Limits: If necessary, you can set limits on how much you can bet, how long you can spend using the sportsbook, or how much you can deposit, in order to make sure you're playing a reasonable amount.
-
Think Before Betting: Never bet simply on a whim; always research games and competitions before you place your wagers and think hard about how much you want to invest in each one.
-
Take Timeouts: You should always take breaks when betting, whether that means for a few hours, a few days, or even longer. In particular, make sure you walk away whenever betting stops being fun.
-
Use Sportsbook Resources: Many sportsbooks offer tools to help manage a gambling problem and resources to inform users about responsible gambling. Check the responsible gambling page at your chosen sportsbook for more information.
-
Continue Having Fun: Whenever sports betting stops being fun, walk away. Only bad things can come from betting out of obligation rather than enjoyment.
It's worth keeping in mind that while some sportsbooks offer excellent resources for managing your gambling habits, there's more out there if these guardrails are insufficient. 1-800-GAMBLER is always open for 24/7 support, while GamTalk.org offers online resources. Gambler's Anonymous meetings can also provide the in-person assistance that is necessary in some cases.
Action Network's Best Betting Sites Tips
When you're approaching the decision of what sports betting site to play with, be sure to not only look at the most popular gambling sites but also the sportsbooks with the right betting markets and your favorite sports.
Always make sure to research your bets fully; never get involved with a market you know nothing about. Even so, always think of sports betting as a pastime rather than a source of income, and budget for it accordingly.
When you're getting started for the first time, test the waters with some simple moneyline and spread bets before branching out to more complicated bet types like futures and parlays.
If you want the best possible value on each bet, you'll need to have access to a handful of different sportsbooks; always compare odds offered by each operator before placing a bet, especially a future, as the odds variation can be significant.
Action Network continuously monitors sportsbooks throughout the year to update relevant information and align with the ever-changing landscape of online sports betting. That way, you’ll always know you’re getting the best information available to make a smart sports betting app selection. Now that you've read about our list of best online sportsbooks, you can also check out our untrustworthy sportsbooks review so that you can avoid books with key warning signs and keep your money safe.
And, if you want insights as to what bets to make, consider following the best sports handicappers in the industry.
Action Network Sportsbook Selector Quiz
Still not sure which sportsbook is right for you from our sportsbook review? Give our Best Sportsbook Quiz a try to help narrow down the options based on your location, specific betting preferences, and favorite sports markets.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Action Network makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.










