The 2024 baseball season is here, and this guide looks at the best MLB betting sites and how to sign up for new accounts with sportsbook apps.
All major MLB betting sites and apps post daily MLB odds, ranging from game lines to player props to World Series futures bets. Fans can engross themselves in the season by betting on individual games, player performance, or season-long results.
You can choose from multiple sportsbooks and apps to bet on MLB games. You’ll have to create a new account at each, but you’ll also qualify for new-customer bonuses and promotions, so exploring your options and finding the best deal is worth the effort.
Best MLB betting sites and apps
Below, we break down our four favorite MLB betting sites and apps.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings, a premier sportsbook platform, boasts an extensive array of Major League Baseball betting options for novice and seasoned bettors. Their MLB odds include intriguing player and game prop bets, such as predicting the First Inning Winner or First Team to Score.
These allow bettors to engage with games beyond simple outcomes. For those looking at the bigger picture, DraftKings provides futures bets. Fans can bet on potential division victors or take a shot at predicting the next World Series champion.
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FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel stands out as a top destination for MLB enthusiasts looking to bet daily. It offers the staple bets such as run lines, where you can bet on the margin of victory, and totals, predicting the combined score of both teams.
FanDuel also has dozens of player props, allowing bettors to focus on individual performances, predicting stats like hits, home runs, or strikeouts. Additionally, FanDuel presents an array of game props and futures bets, letting fans speculate on longer-term outcomes such as division champions or MVP candidates.
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BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM provides MLB aficionados with an expansive betting portfolio. Traditional bet types, such as moneylines, where one bets on the outright winner; run lines, which focus on the margin of victory; and totals that predict combined team scores, are all readily available.
For those who relish a deeper drop into the game, BetMGM has a deep lineup of player and team prop bets. Whether it's forecasting a player's strikeouts in a game or predicting the cumulative runs scored by a team, there's something for every strategy.
For the long-term visionaries, BetMGM rolls out an impressive array of futures bets. Fans can place wagers on outcomes such as which team will clinch its division or which player will be honored as the league's Most Valuable Player.
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Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars has a comprehensive suite of MLB odds to elevate the game-watching experience. That includes run lines, predicting the margin of victory; totals, where bettors forecast the combined scores; and player props, focusing on individual milestones such as hits, home runs, or RBIs.
Beyond these, game props allow bets on specific game events, while player futures bets provide the chance to predict longer-term outcomes like season MVPs or rookie of the year honors.
Caesars also has a cash-out option that allows you to settle bets early to guarantee a payout (though at a reduced amount).
Bet365 Sportsbook
One of the world's premier sportsbooks, Bet365, has marked its presence in the US, notably emphasizing its Major League Baseball odds. Now accessible in many states and expected to grow further, Bet365 posts daily MLB odds boosts. The Bet365 app is perfect for rookie bettors yet also offers customized displays for seasoned MLB wagering veterans.
A significant highlight is the platform's live-betting feature, allowing real-time bets on MLB games.
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BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers stands out for its comprehensive Major League Baseball betting offerings. Bettors are presented with a wealth of stats and insightful tips related to upcoming games, enhancing the decision-making process.
Alongside the standard betting options, MLB enthusiasts can delve into a vast selection of alternate lines and prop bets tailored to the baseball experience. Moreover, loyal MLB bettors can benefit from the iRush Rewards program.
As they place bets on baseball events, they accumulate points, which can be redeemed for exclusive VIP gifts, MLB event tickets, BetRivers branded merchandise, and a range of enticing special offers.
How to use an MLB betting app
MLB betting apps make it easy to wager on your favorite teams and players while keeping track of your bankroll, profits, and more. Below, we have a short guide on how to use a betting app from your favorite sportsbook.
- Download the app: Visit the sportsbook’s website via our links. If you haven’t signed up previously, you can claim the best new customer sports betting bonus & promos. While you’re at the site, download the sportsbook’s betting app for your phone or tablet.
- Place your bets: You’ll have the option to bet on MLB games either pre-game or live. You’ll find all of the traditional pre-game bets, like game lines and run totals, and live betting options. Live bets can become more granular, like the result of the next at-bat.
- Keep tabs on odds: Your MLB betting app can help you track shifting odds and facilitate live betting. Betting apps offer real-time updates on all odds, which allows you to react to game flow as it’s happening.
- Bet from within legal states: As long as you are in a state that has legal online sports betting, you can use your app to make bets, track your account, add or withdraw funds, and more. Remember that you can only place bets when you are in the state lines, but you can access your account and monitor wagers from anywhere you have internet access.
MLB live betting
The best sports betting apps offer live, in-game betting for Major League Baseball.
Live betting means you can bet on a game in progress, right down to what the next batter will do with the next pitch or what team will win the inning.
You’ll find live betting with top betting sites such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars.
The key to live betting is using a betting app to make your wagers. Apps allow you to track all of the changes — both on the diamond and in the odds — as they happen. You won’t find that response time at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
Some common MLB in-game betting lines includes:
- Next team to score
- Run line and moneyline odds
- Total runs scored
- Winner of the next inning
- Player props, such as total hits or strikeouts
Bet on MLB run lines, moneylines, and totals
Three of the most popular bet types for Major League Baseball games are run lines, moneylines, and totals. In case you’re not familiar, let’s explain all three.
A moneyline wager is as straightforward as they come. You’re betting on which team you believe is going to win the game. Each team is given odds by the sportsbook to indicate their perceived chances of winning. The underdog is represented by a positive (+) number, and the favorite is represented by a negative number (-).
Similar to a point spread in other sports, the run line bet gives the underdog a handicap of 1.5 runs in the game. The underdog needs to lose by one run or win outright for bets on them to be successful, while the favorite in the game needs to win by two runs or more to cover the spread.
Totals bets, also known as over/unders, focus on the combined number of runs both teams score. Oddsmakers assign a total number of runs, and bettors must decide if the two teams will score over or under that predicted total. The actual winner of the game doesn’t matter.
You’ll find these staple bet types at every online sportsbook that supports MLB betting.
How to bet First 5 Innings in MLB
For bettors who prefer to focus on the early portion of a Major League Baseball game, First 5 Innings or F5 bets are ideal. These bets concern the outcome of just the first five innings of a game, which often takes out the uncertainty of relief pitchers replacing the starters.
You’ll find the F5 bets in the MLB tab of your online sportsbook or MLB betting app, where you can browse the available odds and lines for those particular wagers. You can still place bets on moneylines, run lines, or totals—focused on only the first five innings of play.
Keep in mind that the odds and lines will likely be different than those for the full game since they are concentrated on the first half of the game only.
Best MLB props and futures
MLB props and futures allow you to bet on team and player performance irrespective of individual game outcomes. Some examples of popular MLB futures odds and proposition bets include:
- World Series: You can bet on which team you believe will become the next World Series champion. You’ll find World Series futures odds for these nearly as soon as the previous World Series comes to an end, and they’ll change based on offseason moves, team news, team performance, and more.
- MVP: Wager on the player you believe will take home the Most Valuable Player award for the season. This bet can be a fun way to keep tabs on certain players throughout the entire season.
- Home run leader: Which player do you think will crank out the most homers during the regular season?
- Regular-season win totals: Make an over/under wager on a team based on the number of wins a sportsbook sets for them. Do you think your team will finish over that predicted win total, or will they come in under it?
Every sportsbook offers its own selection of futures and props bets, so shop around to find the sportsbooks that best fit your needs.
How to find the best MLB lines
It stands to reason that bettors always seek the most favorable MLB odds. “Line shopping” involves researching several different sportsbooks to compare odds.
This might involve using an odds feed, like the ones you’ll find here, or by comparing the odds on multiple online sportsbooks or MLB betting apps.
By doing this research, you’ll find the best odds for the bets you were already planning on making, which means you can maximize your potential return on your wager.
This can be a time-consuming process, but it also helps you boost your bankroll and give yourself the largest possible profit.
MLB betting rules at online sportsbooks
Every sportsbook has terms and conditions for all bets, MLB included. While those rules may be specific to each sportsbook, there are some general rules that should apply everywhere.
For example, MLB First 5 Innings bets are usually considered actionable after five innings of play, or 4.5 innings in the case of the home team having the lead.
Another rule many sportsbooks follow for baseball bets is weather-related, such as if a game is suspended due to rain or other weather conditions. These delays may lead to bets being refunded depending on the circumstances and the specific rules of your sportsbook.
Here are some other rules found at online sportsbooks for MLB betting.
- Wagers include extra innings unless specified otherwise.
- The game must start on the scheduled day (local stadium time) for bets to have action.
- The game must go 9 innings or 8½ if the home team is winning for the run line to have action.
- On ‘team to score first’ wagers, once a run is scored, the prop will be graded, regardless of how long the game lasts.
- Wagers on postseason baseball series are based on the team to win the series, regardless of the number of games involved.
- For player props, the player must be in the starting lineup for wagers to have action.
It’s important to read through the rules for baseball betting before placing your MLB bets, and you can find them in the terms and conditions section of your sportsbook’s website.
Related Pages:
- Best NFL betting sites
- Best NBA betting sites
- Best NHL betting sites
- Best college football betting sites
- Best college basketball betting sites
- Best UFC betting sites
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