Legal sports betting continues to expand across the United States with new online sportsbooks and betting sites launching all the time. If you’re in a state with legal online sports betting, having new online options for placing sports bets is an exciting prospect.
See below for a comprehensive guide to new and upcoming online sportsbooks in the US.
What are the newest sportsbooks to the US market?
As more and more states legalize online sports betting, new online sportsbooks continue to appear including some US bettors are likely unfamiliar with. Here is an introduction to five relatively new online sports betting sites that have recently launched in the US.
Bet365 Sportsbook
- States where Bet365 Sportsbook is legal: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina
- Pros of Bet365 Sportsbook: Wide selection of sports, daily boosts, generous welcome offer
- Cons of Bet365 Sportsbook: Few live same-game parlays, no phone support, platform due for update
Bet365 is an internationally known gambling brand. The UK-based company was founded in 2000 and had been a huge player in online gambling internationally before launching its first US online sports betting site in New Jersey back in 2020. Bet365 Sportsbook later expanded to Colorado in September 2022 before going live more recently in other states.
That background perhaps explains why Bet365 Sportsbook is a great choice for betting on international sports and leagues in addition to all the top North American favorites. In other words, while you’ll find plenty of pregame bets and props on NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and college sports at Bet365, you’ll also find ways to bet on rugby, darts, futsal, netball, sailing, Gaelic sports, water polo and more, plus (of course) all the European soccer leagues. Bet365 Sportsbook has a terrific welcome offer plus frequent bonuses and promotions as well highlighted by daily “Bet Boosts” and early payouts.
Customer service is responsive, although the site lacks support by phone. The site has a solid live betting selection and also offers same-game parlays, but it isn’t easy to combine the two. Some have reported issues with the Android app, and others have commented that the overall platform could probably use an overhaul, although in our testing we found it easy to use and well designed.
Fanatics Sportsbook
- States where Fanatics Sportsbook is legal: Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
- Pros of Fanatics Sportsbook: Welcome bonus, FanCash program, withdrawal tracker
- Cons of Fanatics Sportsbook: Relatively few ongoing promotions, not many odds boosts, platform still being developed
The Fanatics brand is probably best known in the US as a supplier of official sports gear, but has now expanded to include playing cards and collectibles while also becoming an online sportsbook operator. The first Fanatics Sportsbooks began to go live online in May 2023. Meanwhile, Fanatics acquired PointsBet Sportsbook’s online sites in several US states and is in the process of rebranding each of those as well.
We can discuss pros and cons of the current Fanatics site, although with the PointsBet acquisition you can expect many features to change considerably as new states are added. At present the site has several positives going for it, including its FanCash program that awards users up to 5% toward store purchases just for wagering. The welcome offer is similarly strong, and at times has incorporated Fanatics’ sports gear by offering free jerseys to new sign-ups. The withdrawal tracker letting you track the progress of the transaction is a nice feature as well.
Most agree the Fanatics platform is still in its early stages and could use various improvements. There aren’t that many ongoing promotions at Fanatics, but they do arise from time to time. There isn’t a great emphasis on daily odds boosts like you see at other sites, but again stay tuned as the site continues to grow and develop.
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook
- States where Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is legal: Arizona, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia
- Pros of Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook: Micro-betting and flex parlays, occasional promos and bonuses, Hard Rock Rewards program,
- Cons of Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook: Solid but limited selection of sports, no live streaming, payout speeds
The Hard Rock name is a familar one thanks to the company’s many rock ’n roll-themed retail casinos, hotels and restaurants. The first Hard Rock-branded online betting site went live in New Jersey in 2019 before starting to expand elsewhere. In 2023 the site was rebranded as Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook and is now available in more than a half-dozen states.
Hard Rock Bet has the usual array of moneyline, spread, and totals bets plus props, parlays, futures, live betting and more. There is a focus on in-play micro-betting some users may enjoy, and the flex parlay option allowing you to pick how many legs you need to get right to win your parlay is another neat future. The site offers various ongoing promos like trivia contests and free-to-enter pools that give chances to win free bets. There is also the Hard Rock Rewards program that enables bettors to earn credits as they wager.
The site has available betting in all the major sports and leagues but does not necessarily stand out in terms of its market coverage. Some have reported payout speeds when withdrawing could be better, although how long your transaction takes to process is subject to various factors. There is no live streaming of games on the site, but that is not unusual as only some sites have that feature.
Note that after years of legal limbo in Florida, the online Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook relaunched in the Sunshine State on Nov. 7, 2023.
ESPN Bet Sportsbook
- States where ESPN Bet Sportsbook is legal: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
- Pros of ESPN Bet Sportsbook: Frequent odds boosts, ongoing promos, ESPN programming tie-ins
- Cons of ESPN Bet Sportsbook: Could use more options for same-game parlays, lack of withdrawal methods
You may have heard — the worldwide sports leader is now in the sports betting game. In August 2023, ESPN signed a licensing deal with Penn Entertainment to rebrand Barstool Sportsbook as the new ESPN Bet sports betting site. That meant existing Barstool customers saw their accounts roll over into the new ESPN Bet site starting in mid-November.
The new ESPN Bet site retains most of the same features as the Barstool site. That means users are still enjoying the frequent odds boosts and “super boosts” as well as the loyalty program (currently called the Penn Play program though perhaps due for a name change). Expect even more ESPN programming tie-ins to come as the company employs on-air personalities like Scott Van Pelt and others to become more involved with various promos.
Right now the site could use more options with its same-game parlays (e.g., adding more alternative lines) and depending on your state the available withdrawal methods are limited. We’ll reserve judgement, however, until after the ESPN Bet site manages to establish itself further in 2024.
See more:
New betting sites coming soon
New online sportsbooks are expected to launch soon in several states. Let’s take a look at the forecast:
- Illinois — Fanatics, Hard Rock Bet
- Indiana — Betr, Fanatics, ClutchBet
- Louisiana — Betway, Betfred, Golden Nugget
- Pennsylvania — Bet365, Betr, Golden Nugget
- Tennessee — Bally Bet
- Wyoming — Fanatics
North Carolina is the newest state to launch online sports betting. Eight sportsbooks went live on March 11, 2024. The NC law allows for up to 11 commercial online sports betting sites, with the state's two tribes also able to offer online sportsbooks. See here for the newest North Carolina sportsbook promos.
Vermont's new online sportsbooks went live Jan. 11, 2024. You can now wager at FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics in VT. See here for Vermont sports betting promos.
New betting sites state by state
Here is a complete overview of states with legal online sports betting, including all the latest regarding new online betting sites going live. We'll start with states that have recently launched new online sportsbooks, then review all the other states and their current status with regard to live sports betting sites.
States with new online sportsbooks – recent launches
New betting sites in Colorado
Once Colorado launched legal sports betting in 2020, the state saw a huge number of online sportsbooks go live. More than two dozen sites have launched in the state, although the number available right now is closer to 20.
A few CO online sportsbooks closed down during 2023 (Maverick, PlayUp, FOX Bet and WynnBET), but one new site has gone live:
- ClutchBet Sportsbook CO -- Launched June 7, 2023, ClutchBet's second site after earlier going live in Iowa.
See more: Latest Colorado sportsbook promo codes
New betting sites in Florida
As noted above in the discussion of Hard Rock Bet, Florida has finally launched legal sports betting as of early November 2023. Or should we say, relaunched legal sports betting.
In 2021, the state and the Seminole Tribe revised their gambling compact, and the tribe briefly went live with a Hard Rock online sportsbook late in the year. But that new compact was challenged in federal court, and the site was taken offline. The tribe appealed and in June 2023 received a favorable ruling. A temporary stay was initially granted in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, but US Supreme Court Justice John Roberts denied that stay in late Oct.
That prompted the Seminoles to announce they will be opening retail sportsbooks in their six Florida casinos on Dec. 7. Exactly one month before that day arrived, the Hard Rock Bet online app went live and began accepting wagers.
- Hard Rock Bet FL -- Launched Nov. 7, 2023 after having gone live for about a month in late 2021
New betting sites in Illinois
The first online sportsbooks went live in Illinois in 2020, and today there are seven sites available. The most recent Illinois online sports betting sites to launch were BetMGM and Caesars in March 2022. One new online sportsbook launched in IL during 2023:
- Circa Sportsbook IL -- Launched Sept. 29, 2023, just after opening a new retail site in American Place in Waukegan.
See more: Latest Illinois sports betting promos
New betting sites in Iowa
Iowa is another state where several online sportsbooks are available to bettors. Since launching online sports betting in 2019, Iowa has become home to two dozen sites. The latest, Superbook Sports, arrived in October 2022.
Iowa’s sports betting law allows for up to 57 sites, which means the total could grow. Two new sportsbooks went live in Iowa in 2023:
- Tipico Sportsbook IA -- Launched Jan. 11, 2023, making it the site's fourth state following Colorado, New Jersey and Ohio.
- Bet365 Sportsbook IA -- Launched June 5, 2023, at the time becoming Bet365's fifth US site.
New betting sites in Kentucky
Kentucky has now joined the growing list of states with legal online sports betting. On Sept. 28, 2023, seven new online sportsbooks launched in KY with more like to come. Most have a minimum age requirement of 21, but a couple accept users 18 years or older. The seven new Kentucky sportsbooks are as follows:
- Barstool Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, will be rebranding as ESPN Bet Sportsbook soon.
- Bet365 Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, and with DraftKings accepts user aged 18 and up.
- BetMGM Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, ahead of opening a retail site at Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland.
- Caesars Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, after having opened a retail site a few weeks earlier at Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington.
- DraftKings Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, and along with Bet365 accepts 18+ bettors.
- Fanatics Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, after joining forces with PointsBet to expand its US reach.
- FanDuel Sportsbook KY -- Launched Sept. 28, 2023, as well, making it seven sites going live on KY's first day.
See more: Best Kentucky sports betting promos
New betting sites in Maine
Maine legalized both retail and online sports betting in Aug. 2022, and after more than a year of working out regulations and licenses, the first online sportsbooks finally went live in Maine on Nov. 3, 2023. The law allows up to four online sportsbooks operated by the state's four federally recognized Native American tribes, but the tribes' partnerships suggest the two new sites might be the only ones:
- Caesars Sportsbook ME -- Launched Nov. 3, 2023 with the three Wabanaki Nations tribes as partners.
- DraftKings Sportsbook ME -- Launched Nov. 3, 2023 with the Passamaquoddy Tribe as its partner.
New betting sites in Maryland
Maryland first launched legal sports betting in 2021 with the first online sportsbooks going live in November 2022. Today there are 11 online sportsbooks available, including four that have launched in 2023. Let’s dive into those four:
- Betfred Sportsbook MD -- Launched Feb. 9, 2023 to increase the number of states where Betfred operates to 10.
- SuperBook Sportsbook MD -- Launched May 9, 2023, making it eight states for SuperBook.
- Fanatics Sportsbook MD -- Launched June 1, 2023 after opening a retail site at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Commanders.
- Crab Sports Sportsbook MD -- Launched July 13, 2023, partnering with a Baltimore seafood restaurant to open the first and only Crab Sports site.
See more: Latest Maryland sports betting bonuses & promos
New betting sites in Massachusetts
It’s all new in Massachusetts where the first online sportsbooks all went live in 2023. Currently, there are eight new sports betting sites in MA with more expected. Here’s more about those eight sports betting sites.
- Barstool Sportsbook MA -- Launched March 10, 2023 and will be rebranding to ESPN Bet soon.
- BetMGM Sportsbook MA -- Launched March 10, 2023, partnering with its namesake MGM Springfield casino.
- Caesars Sportsbook MA -- Launched March 10, 2023 with Encore Boston Harbor its land-based partner.
- DraftKings Sportsbook MA -- Launched March 10, 2023 to much excitement since DK's headquarters are in Boston.
- FanDuel Sportsbook MA -- Launched March 10, 2023, announcing a partnership with the Boston Bruins when it did.
- WynnBET Sportsbook MA -- Launched March 10, 2023, making it six sites total that went live on Massachusetts first day of online sports betting.
- Betr Sportsbook MA -- Launched May 8, 2023, Betr's second US site after having went live in Ohio earlier in 2023.
- Fanatics Sportsbook MA -- Launched May 25, 2023, and has since partnered with PointsBet to enter other states as well.
See more: Massachusetts sports betting bonus & promo codes
New betting sites in Ohio
Ohio launched legal online sports betting on New Year’s Day 2023, and right now bettors in the Buckeye State have no fewer than 19 new online sportsbooks from which to choose. Here are some key details on this huge new crop of sites:
- Barstool Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, and as in other states will become ESPN Bet soon.
- Bet365 Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, a partner of the Cleveland Guardians MLB team.
- Betfred Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, partnering with the Cincinnati Bengals.
- BetJACK Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, partnering with the JACK Cleveland Casino.
- BetMGM Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023 via MGM Northfield Park's license.
- BetRivers Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, then making it 14 different states for BetRivers.
- Betr Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, the first Betr site to go live in the US.
- Betway Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, at the time making it eight states for Betway.
- Caesars Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, partnering with Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Casino Racetrack in Columbus.
- DraftKings Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023 and has since surged to the top of the state’s market for both handle and revenue.
- FanDuel Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, licensed through Belterra Park in Cincinnati.
- Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023 initially as Hard Rock Sportsbook before rebranding to Hard Rock Bet.
- MVGBet (Betly) Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, using the same platform as the Betly Sportsbook (by which it’s also known).
- SuperBook Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, at the time making Ohio the Vegas-based company’s seventh state for online sports betting.
- Tipico Sportsbook OH — Launched Jan. 1, 2023, making it 16 sites altogether that launched in OH on New Year's Day (one of which, PointsBet, has closed).
- betPARX Sportsbook OH — Launched Feb. 14, 2023 following the first big wave of new OH sites, the first state for betPARX.
- Fanatics Sportsbook OH — Launched May 1, 2023 in beta mode with Fanatics later acquiring PointsBet’s US operations (at which point PointsBet Sportsbook OH closed).
- BallyBet Sportsbook OH -- Launched Aug. 31, 2023 after partnering with the Cleveland Browns.
- Prime Sportsbook OH -- Launched Sept. 13, 2023, making it 20 new online sportsbooks to go live in Ohio within nine months.
See more: Latest Ohio sports betting bonuses
New betting sites in Tennessee
Tennessee legalized online-only sports betting in 2019, the first state to have only online sportsbooks and no retail locations. The first sites went live in 2020, and now there are 13 different sites, including two newcomers in 2023:
- Fanatics Sportsbook TN — Launched May 1, 2023 in beta mode, the same day it launched in Ohio.
- ZenSports Sportsbook TN — Launched June 8, 2023, the first site for the Florida-based KeyStar Corp.
New betting sites in Vermont
As noted above, Vermont finally began a new era of legal online sports betting in January 2024 with three sites launching:
- DraftKings Sportsbook VT — Launched Jan. 11, 2024, making it 26 states for DK's sportsbook.
- Fanatics Sportsbook VT — Launched Jan. 11, 2024, the 10th state for Fanatics.
- FanDuel Sportsbook VT — Launched Jan. 11, 2024, becoming FanDuel's 21st sports betting state.
New betting sites in Virginia
Virginia kicked off online sports betting with the first sites going live in January 2021. The state now has 15 online sportsbooks from which to choose with two more launching in early 2023:
- Bet365 Sportsbook VA — Launched Jan. 31, 2023, able to do so via a partnership with the Washington Commanders.
- Betfred Sportsbook VA — Launched Feb. 1, 2023, with Virginia becoming Betfred's then-ninth different state.
Current online sportsbooks in other states
New betting sites in Arizona
Arizona legalized sports betting in 2021, and the first online sportsbooks launched later that year in time for the NFL season. Since then, close to 20 different sports betting sites have launched in AZ, the most recent being Bally Bet in May 2022.
No new Arizona online sportsbooks launched in 2023.
See more: Current Arizona sports betting promo codes.
New betting sites in Arkansas
Arkansas legalized sports betting at its three casinos several years ago and, in 2021, allowed the casinos to operate online sportsbooks as well. All three launched sites the following year, the last of which was Oaklawn Sports.
No new online betting sites went live in Arkansas in 2023, although more could come in the near future. A fourth casino is being built, and each casino (including the new one) is allowed up to two online skins.
New betting sites in Connecticut
Connecticut first went live with online sports betting in October 2021 when three sites launched. All three (DraftKings, FanDuel, and PlaySugarHouse) continue to operate in CT.
While online casinos have recently launched as well in Connecticut, no new online sportsbooks debuted in 2023, and none are expected to do so in 2024.
New betting sites in Indiana
Indiana launched online sports betting in 2019 and now offers a dozen online sports betting sites after Bally Bet temporarily went offline in June 2023. The most recent new online sportsbook in the Hoosier State to go live was the Hard Rock site in September 2022; it rebranded as Hard Rock Bet Indiana in July 2023.
Meanwhile, no new Indiana online sportsbooks went live in 2023, although as 2024 begins, ClutchBet has indicated it intends to go live soon.
New betting sites in Kansas
Online sports betting arrived in Kansas in 2022 with six sites going live in time for the NFL season: Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet.
The new law allows the four KS casinos each to partner with up to three online sportsbooks. That means that while there were no new sites in 2023, more could come in the future.
New betting sites in Louisiana
In early 2022, Louisiana legalized online sports betting in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes. Seven sites went live within the first month, with the eighth online sportsbook, PointsBet, launching in September 2022. It is ending operations in the state in February 2024, however.
No new online sportsbooks arrived in Louisiana in 2023. ClutchBet launched in 2024, and several, including Betway, Betfred, and Golden Nugget, may do so soon.
New betting sites in Michigan
Michigan went live with online sports betting in January 2021 and now hosts 15 different online sportsbooks. The latest to launch was the SI Sportsbook in September 2022.
No new online sportsbooks launched Michigan in 2023, although some operators like Fanatics have indicated plans to do so. Meanwhile, one site, FOX Bet Michigan, is in the process of shutting down its operations.
See more: Michigan sports betting bonus & promo codes
New betting sites in Mississippi
Mississippi has legal sports betting at its many retail casinos, and the state also allows online sports betting but only when physically present at the casino sites. There are just two online apps operating this way in the state, BetMGM (at a couple of locations) and Pearl River Sports.
No new apps appear ready to launch at present, nor is online betting expansion currently on the table in Mississippi.
New betting sites in Montana
Like Mississippi, Montana allows in-person sports betting at many locations throughout the state and also has online sports betting, but only at the sites with retail licenses (i.e., not statewide).
There’s only one app: Sports Bet Montana. Don’t expect any alternatives to appear in 2024.
New betting sites in Nevada
Nevada has had legal sports betting longer than any other state. In 2010, it became the first state in the US to launch online sportsbooks. Today there are over a dozen online sportsbooks available to bettors in Nevada.
No new sports betting sites have launched in Nevada over the last few years. Caesars Sportsbook did, however, launch a newly improved site in Nevada in June 2023.
New betting sites in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, DraftKings Sportsbook has essentially enjoyed a monopoly as the state’s only online sportsbook since 2019. That arrangement is unlikely to change any time soon, meaning no new sports betting sites in NH.
New betting sites in New Jersey
New Jersey has led the charge since online sportsbooks began sweeping across the US in 2018. Today, NJ has 18 sports betting sites up and running.
There have been no new New Jersey online sportsbooks recently, but there were a couple of exits. PlayUp Sportsbook closed over the summer after experiencing numerous issues. Both FOX Bet and WynnBET shut down in NJ during 2023 as well.
See more: New Jersey sports betting bonuses & promo codes
New betting sites in New York
New York launched legal sports betting in January 2022, and today there are eight online sportsbooks available in the Empire State.
A ninth site, Bally Bet Sportsbook, was the most recent to launch in NY in July 2022. After going offline for a short while, Bally Bet relaunched in New York in late Nov. 2023.
See more: New York sports betting bonuses & promo codes
New betting sites in Oregon
After Oregon debuted online sports betting in 2019 with the Scoreboard sports betting app, DraftKings Sportsbook took over the state’s only betting site in January 2022. Today, DraftKings remains the only option in OR, with no plans at present for any other sportsbooks to be authorized to launch.
New betting sites in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania launched online sports betting in 2019 and today has 13 different betting sites for PA bettors. PointsBet Sportsbook launched in February 2022 and transitioned into Fanatics in January 2024.
No new sites have gone live recently although Bet365 and Golden Nugget appear poised to join the PA market soon. Meanwhile, FOX Bet left PA just as it has in other states.
See more: Best PA sportsbook promos
New betting sites in Rhode Island
Rhode Island first allowed legal sports betting in 2018 and, at present, offers only the lottery-run Sportsbook Rhode Island app for online bettors. Considering how the law is presently written, we likely won’t see any new sports betting sites in RI any time soon.
New betting sites in Washington, DC
There are three online sportsbooks in Washington, DC, none of which are new. The only one available district-wide is the lottery-run GambetDC app. Caesars and BetMGM also have online sportsbooks, but they are only available in restricted locations (Capital One Arena for Caesars and Nationals Park for BetMGM).
FanDuel could be launching in DC soon, though it would be restricted to the vicinity of Audi Field, home of DC United.
New betting sites in West Virginia
West Virginia legalized sports betting in 2018 with the first online sites launching the following year. Today there are nine online sportsbooks available in the Mountain State. There was one newcomer arriving in 2023, WynnBET Sportsbook WV that launched June 26, 2016. However, just a couple of months later WynnBET closed its sports betting platforms in WV and seven other states.
New betting sites in Wyoming
Like Tennessee, Wyoming also legalized online-only sports betting with the first sites launching in September 2021. Right now, there are four Wyoming sportsbooks operating, the last of which (Caesars) launched in August 2022.
No new Wyoming online sports betting sites went live in 2023, although Fanatics could be launching in the near future.
New betting sites benefits
When new sports betting sites go live in a particular state, bettors can benefit in many different ways. All online sportsbooks have welcome offers of some kind, meaning new sites bring new offers for users.
If the state hosts many different sportsbooks, the competition to attract bettors increases, which means more possible benefits for bettors, including the ability to find the most favorable odds among many sites before making a particular wager.
Here are a few benefits of note.
Sign-up bonuses and incentives
A lot of online sportsbooks have similar welcome offers, but some distinguish themselves with unique promotions and bonus types.
Many have “first bet insurance”-type promos that let a new user make an initial bet and if it loses, the book refunds the bet amount in “bonus bets” that have to be wagered. The maximums for this offer differ across the sites.
Also, with this offer, you have to lose your bet to get any bonus at all. Recognizing this, some sites have constructed offers that award users even if their first bet is a winner.
You’ll also find various no deposit bonuses, first deposit match bonuses, and other offers meant to incentivize users to sign up. Be sure to shop around to find the best sports betting sign-up bonuses and pay attention to any restrictions on bonus funds such as time limits to use them or wagering requirements to release the funds.
Newer software
The platforms running online sportsbooks are getting better every day, which means newer sites often take advantage of the latest and greatest software.
Both the web-based browser versions of new betting sites and their sports betting apps tend to demonstrate such improvements, making them worth checking out when they appear. A good site design and smooth functionality can be important when you’re building parlays or live betting.
Potentially competitive odds
New sports betting sites will sometimes purposefully offer better-than-average lines and odds to attract players to sign up. Having a lot of sites to choose from also enables a bettor to “line shop” before placing a particular wager.
For example, if you're looking for NFL betting lines and want to place a spread bet on the Buffalo Bills versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Most sites might have the Bills as a 2.5-point underdog while another might have Buffalo as a 3-point or 3.5-point underdog.
You’ll want to place your bet on the NFL betting app that has the more favorable line for you.
Cons of new betting sites
Having a wide selection of new sites to choose from is generally a good thing for sports bettors, but let us add a few “buyer beware” qualifications to the discussion.
New betting sites sometimes experience glitches that can affect your experience in a negative way. For example, live betting may not function smoothly, or there could be problems with specific wagers or markets. Some new sites have had missteps with regulators, too, in connection to bonuses and promotions or for other reasons.
Be aware of these potential hiccups new sites sometimes exhibit, and always do some research before signing up. Indeed, reading this page is a good start.
How to find the best new betting sites
Before you create an account at an online sportsbook, there are several factors you should review to help you make an informed decision about whether to join a site.
As a sports bettor, you know it pays to spend some time researching a wager before you place it. Use that same approach when deciding which sportsbook is going to get your business.
Here are some primary factors to consider in your search for the best sports betting sites.
Legal and licensed new betting sites
More importantly, always be certain an online sportsbook is legal and licensed in your state. A licensed site will display the state regulator’s seal on its home page (e.g., the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement in NJ).
When you wager on a legal and licensed site, your personal information (including banking info) is safe and secure, as is any money you deposit into your account. Also, if you have any issues regarding the settling of bets or any other aspect of the site, you will receive support and even have legal recourse if ever needed.
Meanwhile, if you place real money sports bets on sites that are not licensed or legal, you have none of these comforts. Therefore, we strongly advise you to avoid such sites; they’re too risky.
Deposit and withdrawal options
Look over the online sportsbook’s available banking methods. Often, there will be many ways to deposit funds, and several (but fewer) ways to withdraw later. The sites generally don’t charge fees for transactions although your bank or provider might.
Sites typically allow you to use debit and credit cards, prepaid cards, gift cards, online banking and VIP Preferred (e-Check), PayPal, PayNearMe, Apple Pay and/or other methods. See what options there are and what the minimums and maximums are for both deposits and withdrawals.
See more: Fastest paying sports betting sites
Bonuses and promotions
We talk a lot about welcome offers, and you should definitely spend time evaluating those before signing up for an account. Distinguish between cash bonuses and “bonus bets” or “credits.”
Compare bonus amounts, but also make note of the terms and conditions, especially if there are any wagering requirements that must be satisfied before you can claim a bonus.
One sign of a good sportsbook is the transparency with which they explain any limits or restrictions associated with their bonuses. If the site is making it difficult to figure out how a bonus works, that might be a red flag of sorts.
Meanwhile, look to see what ongoing promotions the sportsbook has beyond the welcome offer. Some sites have lots of deposit bonuses, odds boosts, parlay boosts, refer-a-friend bonuses, and other promos on a regular basis. That, too, can be an important factor as you decide between sites.
See more:
- NBA betting promos
- NFL betting promos
- College football betting promos
- MLB betting promos
- NHL betting promos
Sports betting app
Practically every online sportsbook has both a web-browser version and a downloadable betting app you can use on a smartphone or tablet. The apps are usually available for both Apple and Android devices.
Sports betting apps are hugely convenient for sports bettors, so be sure to check out how the apps look and function, how bet slips are presented, how wagers are submitted, and how to access the cashier.
Note as well whether you can toggle between the sportsbook and the site’s online poker room, online casino, or horse betting site (if available).
Betting options and odds
Take a look at the site’s available bet types and markets. Most online sportsbooks offer moneyline bets, spread bets, totals, props, parlays, teasers, futures, and live betting.
Most also take bets on a large menu of different sports and leagues (eg. NBA betting lines, MLB betting lines, college football odds, NBA prop bets, etc). But there can be significant differences from site to site, so shop around.
Take some time to compare the odds across sites. Experience bettors know that little differences in odds and lines can pay dividends over time.
Loyalty programs
Finally, find out whether the online sportsbook offers any sort of loyalty or rewards program that gives you benefits just for placing wagers on the site. This is where the sites tend to diverge markedly, with a few sites offering such programs and others having none.
If there is a loyalty program, look over the terms and see how the program works. Learn how you can accumulate loyalty points (or whatever the program uses), move up tiers (if there are those), and what kinds of rewards you can actually earn via the program.
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