The best betting sites in the US price your bets fairly, pay out quickly and are licensed in your state. BetMGM is my top pick for its prop depth and parlay pricing, while FanDuel runs it close with the best app and the fastest payout I timed. I funded all six online sportsbooks below with real money, priced the same games at each one and timed every withdrawal, and each result carries its date.
How I test & affiliate disclosure ▾
Who tests. I’m Stefan Peric, and I fund every account myself. Gustavo Cantella checks the figures and the enforcement findings before anything goes live. Prices, payouts and sign-up checks are from October 2026, and offers were last checked on October 26, 2026.
How the order is set. The star rating is our overall verdict, and it sets the order. It starts from the six-part editorial score shown under each review, and our editors then weigh which strengths matter most to the widest range of US bettors. That’s why BetMGM sits first even though FanDuel scores two points higher (89 vs 87 out of 100). If price matters most to you, the editorial scores and the Measured Hold Table are the better guide. A bigger welcome offer can’t move a book up the list.
Affiliate disclosure. Some links pay TopEndSports a commission. That doesn’t affect the order or any score.
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Top US betting sites for November 2026
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-
BetMGM ranks first for the deepest betting menu I counted (420 markets on one NFL game) and the best price on my test parlay (+615). FanDuel has the higher editorial score and is the pick if app quality and payout speed matter most to you. The star rating is our overall verdict, the editorial score under each review covers six measured criteria, and the “best for” tag shows each book’s strongest area. Every one of these betting sites is state-licensed, but none is live in every state, so check yours before you deposit.
-
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Best US sportsbooks reviewed
These are the best online sportsbooks in the USA for 2026, in ranking order. Each sportsbook review shows the editorial score breakdown, what I measured and when, who the book suits and who should look elsewhere. For full standalone write-ups, see our sportsbook reviews hub.
Odds are shown in American format (for example, -110 or +615). They change often, so treat them as a guide.
1. BetMGM, best for prop depth
21+ in VA. $10 min bet req. Bonus Bets non-withdrawable, expire 7 days after receipt. T&Cs apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
|
Star rating |
5.0 |
|
Editorial score |
4.4/5 (87/100) |
|
Available in |
23 states plus DC and Puerto Rico (Nevada and Mississippi require in-person sign-up) |
Editorial score: 4.4/5
Markets 25/25 · Odds and hold 16/20 · Live 12/15 · Banking 12/15 · Promotions 13/15 · Experience 9/10
If you build bets around player props, BetMGM is the online sportsbook I’d send you to first. It had the deepest betting menu I counted and paid the most on my test same game parlay.
Why it ranks first. No other book matched its market depth, and it beat all five rivals on parlay price. FanDuel scores two points higher on our six criteria, but BetMGM’s lead in depth and parlay value carries more weight in our overall rating.
What I measured. On the reference NFL game in my October 2026 market count, BetMGM had 420 markets, with at least 10 player-prop markets for every key player. That’s the most of the three books I counted market by market (DraftKings had 395, bet365 340). My 3-leg test parlay paid +615 there, the lowest implied hold of all six books (13.0%). Every book’s price is in the parlay pricing table.
I ran the account test in Tennessee on an iPhone. A $10 PayPal deposit landed within a minute, verification took about four minutes with no documents, and live chat answered in three minutes.
Where it falls short. Straight bets and payout speed. In my October 2026 hold check, BetMGM’s hold ran from 4.8% to 5.0%, and DraftKings and bet365 were cheaper on all three lines, so compare prices first if you mostly bet singles. My $10 PayPal withdrawal (requested October 10, 2026) took about 90 hours, 70 of them in BetMGM’s internal review. FanDuel’s took 22 hours 40 minutes.
Other features. Easy Parlay for quick multi-game slips, a promotion on qualifying parlays of four or more legs and MGM Rewards credit you can spend at MGM resorts. I didn’t test these, so check the current terms.
Not best for: bettors who want fast payouts or the cheapest prices on straight bets.
Regulatory record. BetMGM has been fined in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Massachusetts since 2024. The largest was $260,905 in Pennsylvania (January 2025), after self-excluded people were able to gamble on its platform 152 times. Massachusetts regulators are also investigating claims that promotional emails went to people under 21 and to self-excluded people; no finding has been made. Every fine and open investigation is in the Enforcement table.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
420 markets on one NFL game, the most I counted (October 2026) |
Slowest withdrawal I timed (about 90 hours) |
|
Best parlay price of all six (+615, 13.0% implied hold) |
Mid-pack hold on straight bets (4.8%–5.0%) |
|
Verified in about four minutes; live chat replied in three |
Fined in three states since 2024, including over self-excluded customers |
420 markets on one NFL game, the most I counted (October 2026)
Best parlay price of all six (+615, 13.0% implied hold)
Verified in about four minutes; live chat replied in three
Slowest withdrawal I timed (about 90 hours)
Mid-pack hold on straight bets (4.8%–5.0%)
Fined in three states since 2024, including over self-excluded customers
2. FanDuel, best for app experience
21+ in VA. $5 min deposit req. Bonus Bets non-withdrawable, expire 7 days after receipt. T&Cs apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
|
Star rating |
4.9 |
|
Editorial score |
4.5/5 (89/100), the highest of the six |
|
Available in |
24 states plus DC and Puerto Rico |
Editorial score: 4.5/5
Markets 22/25 · Odds and hold 17/20 · Live 13/15 · Banking 14/15 · Promotions 13/15 · Experience 10/10
FanDuel was the sports betting app I enjoyed using most. bet365 and DraftKings loaded just as quickly, so speed wasn’t what set it apart: its same game parlay builder and the way it held up through a full NFL slate were.
Why it ranks second. FanDuel has the highest editorial score of the six and the quickest payout I timed. It sits behind BetMGM because BetMGM’s market depth and parlay pricing count for more in our overall rating.
What I measured. The parlay builder kept the odds, legs and potential payout easy to follow as I added selections, and live betting stayed quick throughout. Sign-up took about four minutes with only the last four digits of my SSN, and my account was verified within three hours. My PayPal withdrawal landed in 22 hours 40 minutes (October 2026), the quickest of the six. That’s one withdrawal, so yours may take longer.
FanDuel also holds a 4.8 rating from 2.3 million US App Store ratings (checked October 26, 2026).
Where it falls short. Prices were mixed in my October 2026 hold check: second-lowest on the NFL line (4.6%, behind DraftKings), third on MLB (4.9%) and higher than bet365, DraftKings and BetMGM on WNBA (5.0%). My test parlay also paid less than at BetMGM (+590 vs +615). FanDuel limited my winning account too: after about six weeks, the largest stake it accepted was $400.
Other features. Weekly profit boosts across the major leagues (check the promos tab) and FanDuel TV livestreams for selected events. These weren’t part of my testing.
Not best for: bettors who want the lowest hold on every line, or winning bettors who plan to stake big.
Regulatory record. FanDuel has been fined in Iowa and Massachusetts since 2024. The largest was $125,000 in Iowa (July 2025) for bets on unapproved events, including $30,000 for not giving customers working responsible-gambling tools.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Highest editorial score of the six (89/100) |
Winning account capped at $400 after about six weeks |
|
Quickest withdrawal I timed: 22h 40m via PayPal (October 2026) |
Test parlay paid less than BetMGM (+590 vs +615) |
|
The cleanest same game parlay builder I tested |
WNBA hold of 5.0%, higher than three rivals |
Highest editorial score of the six (89/100)
Quickest withdrawal I timed: 22h 40m via PayPal (October 2026)
The cleanest same game parlay builder I tested
Winning account capped at $400 after about six weeks
Test parlay paid less than BetMGM (+590 vs +615)
WNBA hold of 5.0%, higher than three rivals
3. Fanatics, best for FanCash loyalty
Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
|
Star rating |
4.8 |
|
Editorial score |
4.1/5 (82/100) |
|
Available in |
23 states plus DC |
|
Platform |
App only, no desktop site |
Editorial score: 4.1/5
Markets 20/25 · Odds and hold 15/20 · Live 10/15 · Banking 12/15 · Promotions 15/15 · Experience 10/10
Fanatics Sportsbook is the betting site I’d point you to if you already buy team gear. Its FanCash rewards can go toward bonus bets or jerseys and caps, which no other book in the ranking offers. As a lifelong sports fan, I liked having the merch right next to the betting.
Why it ranks third. Fanatics earned full marks for promotions and app experience, and FanCash is the only rewards currency in the ranking that doubles as retail credit. On our six criteria alone it scores below bet365 and DraftKings, mainly because of price.
What FanCash is really worth. One FanCash is worth about $1. You can turn it into bonus bets or spend it in the Fanatics store, but you can’t withdraw it as cash. Favorites (-110 or shorter) earn between 0.01% and 1% back, and longer odds earn more, which nudges you toward riskier bets. Treat it as a small extra on bets you’d place anyway. FanCash earned from betting expires on December 31 of the year you earn it.
What I measured. Registration took about three minutes, the fastest I timed, but verification took two hours (BetMGM’s took four minutes). The app ran smoothly, including during live games, and my withdrawal arrived on the third day (October 2026). Live betting is still one of its weaker areas in my scoring (10/15, level with Bally Bet).
Where it falls short. Price. In my October 2026 hold check, Fanatics had the highest hold of the six on all three lines (5.3%–5.6%), and my test parlay paid the least there (+540 at a 16.2% implied hold, against +615 at BetMGM). It also had no early payout feature when I checked in October 2026. If price matters to you, FanCash won’t make up the difference.
Not best for: bettors who want the sharpest prices or like to bet from a desktop.
Regulatory record. Fanatics has been fined in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Colorado since 2024, including $20,000 in Colorado (August 27, 2026) for sending promotional offers to a self-excluded customer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
FanCash works as bonus bets or Fanatics merchandise |
Highest hold of the six on all three lines (5.3%–5.6%) |
|
Fastest registration I timed (about 3 minutes) |
Worst-priced test parlay (+540, 16.2% implied hold) |
|
App stayed smooth during live games |
App only, with no desktop site |
FanCash works as bonus bets or Fanatics merchandise
Fastest registration I timed (about 3 minutes)
App stayed smooth during live games
Highest hold of the six on all three lines (5.3%–5.6%)
Worst-priced test parlay (+540, 16.2% implied hold)
App only, with no desktop site
4. bet365, best for live betting
Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
|
Star rating |
4.7 |
|
Editorial score |
4.2/5 (84/100) |
|
Available in |
17 states (not New York or Massachusetts) |
Editorial score: 4.2/5
Markets 20/25 · Odds and hold 15/20 · Live 15/15 · Banking 11/15 · Promotions 13/15 · Experience 10/10
If you like betting while the game is on, bet365 is the online sportsbook I’d recommend. It had the most in-play markets I counted and is the only book with a perfect Live score (15/15).
Why it ranks fourth. Its live-betting lead is the clearest category win in the ranking, which puts it ahead of DraftKings overall despite a slightly lower editorial score (84 vs 86). A smaller state footprint keeps it below the top three.
What I measured. On the reference NFL game in my October 2026 market count, bet365 offered 120 in-play markets, against 95 at BetMGM and 80 at DraftKings. I also used the app throughout the 2026 World Cup (June 2026), placing World Cup and other live bets, and it never lagged or glitched. Odds show in American format with the decimal price beside them.
In my October 2026 hold check, bet365 had the lowest WNBA hold (4.7%), the second-lowest MLB hold (4.8%) and the third-lowest NFL hold (4.7%), which makes it the second-best pricer overall behind DraftKings. My test parlay paid +595 (13.8% implied hold), third of the six.
Sign-up took about four minutes with the last four digits of my SSN and a promo code, but verification took four hours, the slowest I timed. My first withdrawal took 48 hours, and a later Play+ withdrawal landed in 24 hours 5 minutes (October 2026).
Other features. Livestreaming (bet365 cites 600,000+ events a year worldwide; what you can watch depends on your state and the event), cash out on many live bets, a standing early payout across the major sports (see the Early Payout table) and a 50% profit boost token on main-card fights at numbered UFC events, since bet365 became the UFC’s official betting partner on March 5, 2026. I didn’t test these, so check the current terms.
Not best for: bettors in states bet365 doesn’t serve. It’s live in 17 states, which leaves out big markets like New York and Massachusetts.
Regulatory record. bet365 isn’t licensed in Massachusetts. It has faced action in New Jersey and North Carolina, including a July 2024 order to repay $519,323 to 199 New Jersey bettors after it changed the odds on bets it had already accepted, and a $75,000 fine in North Carolina (September 23, 2026) after a push notification reached self-excluded customers, which bet365 reported itself.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Most in-play markets I counted (120 on one NFL game) |
Live in only 17 states |
|
No lag or glitches while betting live through the 2026 World Cup |
Slowest verification I timed (4 hours) |
|
Second-best pricer of the six in my October 2026 hold check |
First withdrawal took 48 hours |
Most in-play markets I counted (120 on one NFL game)
No lag or glitches while betting live through the 2026 World Cup
Second-best pricer of the six in my October 2026 hold check
Live in only 17 states
Slowest verification I timed (4 hours)
First withdrawal took 48 hours
5. DraftKings, best for low hold
21+ in VA. $5 min bet req. New Customer Offer Token expires 7 days after offer expiration. T&Cs apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
|
Star rating |
4.6 |
|
Editorial score |
4.3/5 (86/100) |
|
Available in |
27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, the widest footprint in the ranking |
Editorial score: 4.3/5
Markets 24/25 · Odds and hold 17/20 · Live 13/15 · Banking 12/15 · Promotions 11/15 · Experience 9/10
If you mostly bet straight lines on the NFL or MLB, DraftKings is the book I’d check first. It had the lowest hold on both in my price check, it’s live in more states than any other betting site in the ranking, and it offers same game parlays across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and college football.
Why it ranks fifth. DraftKings has the third-highest editorial score (86/100), but its price edge is narrow, its promotions scored lowest of the six (11/15) and it limited my winning account sooner than any other book I tracked.
What I measured. In my October 2026 hold check, DraftKings had the lowest hold of the six on the NFL moneyline (4.4%) and the MLB run line (4.7%), and the second-lowest on WNBA (4.8%, behind bet365’s 4.7%). That was three lines on one day, though. On the NFL game I priced at every book within a few seconds, its home price of -145 was the worst of the six while its +124 away price was the best, so the cheapest book can depend on which side you back.
Parlays were strong too: +605 at a 13.5% implied hold, second only to BetMGM’s +615. Building a same game parlay was easy, and on the reference NFL game it had 395 markets (second to BetMGM) and 80 in-play markets. My deposit posted instantly, and my withdrawal arrived 46 hours 5 minutes after I requested it (October 2026).
Where it falls short. On my winning test account, DraftKings capped my stake at $350 after about four weeks, sooner than FanDuel’s six weeks (the only other book I tracked this way). With this many markets and features, the app can also feel crowded.
Other features. SGPx, which combines same game parlays from different games into one bet, daily odds boosts in the promos tab, and daily fantasy sports (DFS), a separate product that matters in states where sports betting isn’t legal. These weren’t part of my testing.
Not best for: winning bettors who want to keep placing large stakes.
Regulatory record. DraftKings has been fined in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Colorado since 2024. Its Massachusetts fines total $466,500, the highest in that state of any book in the ranking, including $450,000 (July 24, 2025) for accepting more than 1,100 credit-card-funded bets, which Massachusetts bans.
Separately, a Michigan customer filed a class action, Koester v. DraftKings (December 30, 2025), alleging that DraftKings let users in seven states raise their own responsible-gambling limits without the waiting period state rules require. These are allegations only: the Michigan regulator decided not to take enforcement action, and when I last checked, the court had not ruled on the case.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Lowest NFL and MLB hold in my October 2026 check (4.4% and 4.7%) |
Winning account capped at $350 after about four weeks |
|
Second-best parlay price of the six (+605) |
The app layout can feel crowded |
|
Live in 27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico |
Highest Massachusetts fines of any book in the ranking ($466,500) |
Lowest NFL and MLB hold in my October 2026 check (4.4% and 4.7%)
Second-best parlay price of the six (+605)
Live in 27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico
Winning account capped at $350 after about four weeks
The app layout can feel crowded
Highest Massachusetts fines of any book in the ranking ($466,500)
6. Bally Bet, best for casino resort rewards
Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
|
Star rating |
4.5 |
|
Editorial score |
3.9/5 (77/100) |
|
Available in |
12 states (Bally Bet’s own list, October 26, 2026) |
|
Platform |
Mobile app |
Editorial score: 3.9/5
Markets 18/25 · Odds and hold 13/20 · Live 10/15 · Banking 12/15 · Promotions 14/15 · Experience 10/10
Bally Bet makes the most sense if you already visit a Bally’s casino. Your bets earn Bally Rewards points, the same loyalty program used at its land-based properties. If you don’t go to Bally’s, the bigger betting sites will serve you better.
Why it ranks sixth. It has the lowest editorial score of the six (77/100) and the smallest footprint, but it still cleared every entry check and every minimum mark.
What I measured. The smaller footprint didn’t stop me from liking it. The core markets were all there, the interface stayed clean and building a bet felt easy. My deposit went in instantly, and my withdrawal cleared after 47 hours 30 minutes (October 2026).
What Bally Rewards is really worth. Bets earn 1 point per $2 on straight bets and 2 points per $2 on parlays, and 2,000 points convert into $1 in bonus bets. That’s about 0.025% back on straight bets and 0.05% on parlays. The real value comes from redeeming points at Bally’s casinos for gaming, dining and merchandise, much like BetMGM’s link to MGM Rewards. Parlays earn double points, but my test parlay carried a 15.6% implied hold against about 5% on straight bets, so the extra points don’t come close to covering the gap.
Where it falls short. Price is the main weakness: the second-highest hold of the six on all three lines in my October 2026 check (only Fanatics was higher) and a test parlay that paid +555, fifth of the six. The core markets are covered, but deep prop menus aren’t.
Not best for: bettors who want the widest betting menu or the sharpest prices, or anyone who doesn’t visit Bally’s casinos.
Regulatory record. I found no fines against Bally Bet’s sportsbook from US state regulators as of October 2026. Bally’s has also won the license for Rhode Island’s second online sportsbook, with a launch no earlier than November 26, 2026.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Bally Rewards points count at Bally’s casinos for gaming, dining and merchandise |
Second-highest hold of the six on all three lines (5.2%–5.5%) |
|
Clean interface with easy bet building |
Lowest markets score in the ranking (18/25) |
|
Withdrawal in 47h 30m (October 2026) |
Live in only 12 states |
Bally Rewards points count at Bally’s casinos for gaming, dining and merchandise
Clean interface with easy bet building
Withdrawal in 47h 30m (October 2026)
Second-highest hold of the six on all three lines (5.2%–5.5%)
Lowest markets score in the ranking (18/25)
Live in only 12 states
How we review and rank US sportsbooks
Every online sportsbook goes through the same 10 checks. Three are entry checks: a book has to pass them to be listed, but they don’t add points. The rest feed six weighted criteria, which add up to a score out of 100. To be listed among our best online sportsbooks, a book needs at least 60 points and at least half marks in every criterion. All six cleared that bar, with Bally Bet the lowest on 77.
The order follows our overall star rating. The editorial score is its main input, and our editors then weigh which strengths matter most to the widest range of US bettors, so list position and score don’t always match. Each “best for” tag reflects the area where that book’s evidence is strongest, and a book can win a category without ranking first. Six sportsbooks are compared here; TopEndSports also reviews Caesars, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet and Circa Sports separately.
Licensing (entry check)
The US has no single licensing register, so I confirm each book’s state footprint using state regulators, company releases and the operator’s own state list. A book has to pass this check to be listed at all.
Reputation (entry check)
I look for regulatory action against each book from January 2024 onward, in Massachusetts and other states.
Player safety (entry check)
Each book has to offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and I check that these tools are easy to find. A book without them isn’t listed.
Sign-up and verification (feeds Experience)
I open a real account and complete identity verification, timing both steps. Results are published for four of the six books so far: BetMGM (verification time only), FanDuel, Fanatics and bet365.
Markets (feeds Markets and Live betting)
I count prop and in-play markets on a reference NFL game. So far that covers three of the six books: BetMGM, bet365 and DraftKings.
Odds and hold (feeds Odds and hold)
In October 2026, I took a one-day, pre-game snapshot of three lines at all six books and worked out the hold on each, then priced one same game parlay at every book. Both are snapshots, so prices on other days and markets will differ.
Promotions (feeds Promotions)
I read the full terms of every offer, including minimum odds, expiry and playthrough, and judge what it’s worth once those terms are applied. No offer is treated as risk-free.
Payments (feeds Banking)
I withdraw real money and time how long it takes to arrive. Withdrawals ranged from 22 hours 40 minutes (FanDuel, PayPal) to about 90 hours (BetMGM, PayPal), and each review gives that book’s time.
App and support (feeds Experience and Live betting)
I use each app during live games and record how it holds up. FanDuel, Fanatics, bet365 and DraftKings stayed stable during live betting, and BetMGM’s live chat replied in three minutes.
Monitoring (not scored)
I revise ratings when something significant changes. The latest checks: offers on October 26, 2026, and testing in October 2026, with each result dated where it appears.
Recommended sportsbooks by sport
The six betting sites in the ranking aren’t equally strong at every sport. My market counts and price tests come from one NFL game, plus a hold check on NFL, MLB and WNBA lines. Where I measured a sport, the figure is given. Where I didn’t, the pick rests on a feature the sportsbook offers, and I say so.
Top sportsbooks for NFL betting
The NFL is the biggest betting league in the US, and the core menu is spreads, totals, NFL player props and same game parlays. For multi-leg slips, our best parlay betting sites guide compares how each book builds them. Our Super Bowl hub covers the once-a-year outrights and props ahead of February.
- BetMGM: the most markets on the NFL game I counted (420).
- FanDuel: the cleanest same game parlay builder of the six.
- DraftKings: 395 markets on the same game and the lowest NFL hold in my October 2026 snapshot (4.4%).
Top sportsbooks for NBA betting
NBA betting runs on the moneyline, spread, totals and player props, and our NBA betting guide explains each one. Injury news moves prop lines and futures markets quickly, so compare at two books before you bet. I didn’t count NBA markets, so both picks are my judgment based on the NFL count.
- BetMGM: the deepest prop menu on the NFL game I counted, which makes it a good starting point for NBA player props.
- bet365: the most in-play markets on the NFL game I counted (120), a strength that suits NBA nights.
Top sportsbooks for MLB betting
Most MLB betting runs on the moneyline, run line and totals, with MLB player props and first-five-innings bets on top. Our MLB betting guide explains each bet type, and World Series futures for next season open soon after the Fall Classic.
- bet365: the second-lowest MLB run-line hold in my October 2026 check (4.8%).
- DraftKings: the lowest MLB run-line hold in the same check (4.7%).
Top sportsbooks for NHL betting
Hockey betting covers the moneyline, puck line and totals, plus player props and Stanley Cup futures (see how to bet on the NHL). I didn’t measure NHL markets, so these picks are based on features.
- BetMGM: deep prop menus and parlay tools, based on my NFL count.
- bet365: strong live NHL betting, backed by the highest in-play count I recorded.
Top sportsbooks for UFC betting
UFC betting starts with the fight moneyline, then method of victory, total rounds, round betting and fight props. In the US, every numbered UFC event and Fight Night streams on Paramount+, with no extra pay-per-view fee.
- FanDuel: runs profit boosts on major UFC cards, so check the promos tab before fight night.
- bet365: the UFC’s official betting partner in the US and Canada since March 5, 2026, with a 50% profit boost token on main-card fights at numbered events (check the current terms).
Top sportsbooks for horse racing betting
Horse racing runs under its own license, called advance deposit wagering, so a book’s racing footprint can be very different from its sportsbook footprint.
- BetMGM: racing is only available in Florida, Louisiana and Ohio.
- FanDuel Racing: available in around 30 states (April 2026).
- DraftKings: racing in more than 30 states through DraftKings Racing and the DK Horse app (April 2026), with DK Horse being folded into the main DraftKings app.
Top sportsbooks for soccer betting
Every book in the ranking prices MLS, the Premier League and the major European leagues. The differences show up in early payout offers and alternative lines such as Asian handicaps. Our soccer betting hub has more.
- BetMGM: 2 Up Early Payout on Premier League match-result bets.
- bet365: 2 Goals Ahead early payout across 80+ competitions.
- DraftKings: a broad range of Asian handicap lines, a feature I didn’t measure against the other books.
Upcoming MLS fixtures
Here are the next MLS matches, with kickoff times in your local time. All six books offer MLS betting, but markets and prices vary, so compare a couple before you bet. For previews and the wider league picture, see our MLS betting hub.
MLS
vs
Charlotte FC to Win
MLS
vs
NYC FC to Win
MLS
vs
Philadelphia Union to Win
MLS
vs
Columbus Crew to Win
MLS
vs
FC Dallas to Win
MLS
vs
LA Galaxy to Win
MLS
vs
SJ Earthquakes to Win
MLS
vs
Colorado Rapids to Win
MLS
vs
Whitecaps to Win
MLS
vs
Atlanta United to Win
MLS
vs
Nashville SC to Win
MLS
vs
Inter Miami to Win
MLS
vs
LAFC to Win
MLS
vs
Timbers to Win
Best sports betting apps in the US
I tested every online sportsbook in the ranking on its mobile app. Sports betting apps check your location, so they only take bets while you’re inside a state where that sportsbook is licensed.
I judged each app on how quickly it moved between markets, how it held up when a big game kicked off and how easy it was to build a bet. I didn’t record load times, so “quick” means how it felt in testing. FanDuel, Fanatics, bet365 and DraftKings all stayed stable during live betting.
App Store ratings barely separate these betting apps: five of the six are rated 4.8 and Bally Bet 4.6. The real differences showed up in testing, so my findings sit next to each rating.
| App | Platforms | iOS App Store rating (Oct 26, 2026) | What I found |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
iOS + Android |
4.8 from 261K ratings |
Verified in 4 minutes; live chat replied in 3 minutes |
|
FanDuel |
iOS + Android |
4.8 from 2.3M ratings |
Cleanest parlay builder; quick and stable in live betting |
|
Fanatics |
App only (iOS + Android) |
4.8 from 265K ratings |
Quickest sign-up I timed (about 3 minutes) |
|
bet365 |
iOS + Android |
4.8 from 355K ratings |
Quick, with no lag through the 2026 World Cup |
|
DraftKings |
iOS + Android |
4.8 from 1.3M ratings |
Quick and stable in live betting |
|
Bally Bet |
iOS + Android |
4.6 from 52K ratings |
Clean interface, easy bet building |
Ratings and counts are from each app’s US App Store listing, checked October 26, 2026. They change often.
For a closer look at each app, see our full best betting apps breakdown.
Bonuses and offers at US sportsbooks
Every betting site in the ranking has a welcome offer, and most apply it automatically when you sign up. bet365 asked me for a promo code during registration, so have yours ready there. US sports betting sites pay their offers as “bonus bets”: if one wins, you keep the winnings but not the stake. For a longer list that we update often, see our best sportsbook bonuses guide.
No offer is risk-free. Even one that pays out whether your bet wins or loses still asks you to bet your own money first.
Welcome bonus
The six welcome offers below were listed on October 26, 2026. Each book’s own terms page has the full conditions.
| Sportsbook | Welcome offer | Key terms |
|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
Up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses |
$10 min deposit; bonus bets expire in 7 days. MI, NJ, PA and WV get “bet $10, get $150 if you win” instead. Offer period ends November 1, 2026 |
|
FanDuel |
Bet $5, get $50 in bonus bets a day for 3 days (up to $150), win or lose |
$5 min deposit (PayNearMe and cash-at-counter deposits don’t count); $5+ cash bet on any market each day; bonus bets expire 7 days after they’re credited and can’t be used on round robins. 21+ (18+ in DC, PR and WY). Offer ends November 22, 2026 |
|
Fanatics |
Up to $1,000 in FanCash: a 100% match on your daily bet, up to $100 a day for 10 days |
$1+ cash bet at -200 or longer; opt in each day; FanCash expires in 7 days; offer ends December 2, 2026 |
|
bet365 |
Bet $10, get $200 in bonus bets, win or lose |
Odds of -500 or longer; bonus bets expire in 7 days; amount may vary by state; offer ends November 23, 2026 |
|
DraftKings |
Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets, paid over 21 days |
Paid as $50 every 7 days; each bonus bet expires 7 days after it’s issued. 21+ (18+ in DC, NH, PR and WY) |
|
Bally Bet |
Bet $10, get $50 in bonus bets |
$10+ cash first bet at -250 or longer; paid as two $25 bonus bets that expire in 7 days; not available in Illinois |
What it takes to get the full amount. The headline figure is the most you can get, and most people end up with less:
- BetMGM: the full $1,500 only comes back as bonus bets if you place a $1,500 first bet and it loses.
- FanDuel: the full $150 means a $5+ cash bet on three days in a row. Bets placed with bonus bets, or settled with cash out, don’t count.
- Fanatics: the full $1,000 means betting $100 a day for 10 days in a row.
Pick an offer that fits what you were already planning to bet. Betting more just to reach the maximum isn’t worth it.
Early payout offers
With an early payout offer, a pre-game moneyline bet is settled as a winner once your team builds a set lead, even if that team goes on to lose. These are promotions, so they can change or end at any time.
| Sportsbook | Early payout offer | How it works |
|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
Premier League only |
2 Up Early Payout on match-result bets tagged “Early Payout”, when your team goes two goals ahead |
|
FanDuel |
Selected games only |
Early win promos on selected games or leagues, such as an NFL game or an MLB run-lead token. Found in the promos tab, and not run all year |
|
Fanatics |
None |
No early payout feature, so cash out is the way to lock in a lead |
|
bet365 |
Standing offer across the major US sports (MLB in season) and soccer |
Pays out if your team goes ahead by 17 points (NFL), 20 points (NBA), 3 goals (NHL), 5 runs (MLB) or 2 goals (soccer). No opt-in needed. On parlays, the qualifying leg is settled as a winner and the rest of the parlay continues |
|
DraftKings |
Selected games only |
Early win promos on selected games or leagues, found in the promos tab and not run all year |
|
Bally Bet |
None found (October 2026) |
– |
Checked October 2026; bet365’s thresholds were rechecked against its own rules on October 26, 2026.
Reload bonus
A reload bonus rewards an existing customer for depositing again, usually as a deposit match or bonus bets. Unlike welcome offers, reloads at these books are targeted: at my October 2026 check, none listed a standing public reload offer on its promotions page.
| Sportsbook | Standing public reload? | How reloads work |
|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
None listed |
No standing reload on its promotions page |
|
FanDuel |
None listed |
Targeted offers only, sent by email, push notification or the in-app promos tab; the amount depends on your account history |
|
Fanatics |
None listed |
Its FanCash match is part of the welcome offer for new customers only |
|
bet365 |
None listed |
Targeted offers only, sent by email, push notification or the in-app promos tab; the amount depends on your account history |
|
DraftKings |
None listed |
Targeted offers only, sent by email, push notification or the in-app promos tab; the amount depends on your account history |
|
Bally Bet |
None listed |
Bally’s $500 reload is a New Jersey casino offer, not a sportsbook one |
Treat a reload as a bonus on money you already planned to deposit, never as a reason to deposit more. Chasing reloads is a common route into a gambling problem.
Referral bonuses
When a friend signs up with your link and places a qualifying bet, a refer-a-friend offer pays you, and usually your friend too. The book must be live in your friend’s state.
| Sportsbook | Referral bonus | What your friend must do, and limits |
|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
$100 each |
Deposit and bet $100; up to 20 referrals a month |
|
FanDuel |
$50 each |
Deposit and bet $5; up to 5 referrals every 30 days |
|
Fanatics |
$100 in FanCash each |
Bet $20; up to 5 referrals; not available in Massachusetts |
|
bet365 |
$50 each |
Deposit $10 and place a $10 cash bet; up to 10 referrals a year |
|
DraftKings |
Up to $100 each, tiered to your friend’s first deposit |
Deposit and bet $25; up to 5 referrals a year; not available in Massachusetts |
|
Bally Bet |
No referral offer found |
– |
Checked October 23–26, 2026.
How to choose between US betting sites
There’s no single winner among the best betting sites: the right one for you depends on your state, the sports you bet on and how you like to pay. Weigh these before you sign up:
- Your state. Make sure the book is licensed and live where you are, since none covers every state. The Trust Table shows each book’s footprint, and our state-by-state guide covers the rules in each state.
- Your sports. Some bettors want deep NFL and NBA prop menus; others want wide live markets, horse racing or Premier League lines.
- Odds value. Compare the price on the same market at two or three books before you bet. The Measured Hold Table shows how big the gap can be.
- Payouts and banking. Check that the book supports your payment method, and see how long withdrawals took in each review.
- Rewards and limits. A welcome offer pays out once. Loyalty programs like FanCash or Bally Rewards add a small amount on every bet, so check what they’re really worth in each review. If you win regularly, expect limits: FanDuel capped my winning account after about six weeks and DraftKings after about four.
- Responsible gambling tools. Deposit limits, time limits and self-exclusion should be easy to find in any of the sports betting apps you use. They’re your first line of defense against a gambling problem.
Popular betting calculators
A soccer betting tool that uses the Poisson distribution to estimate the probability of match results and correct scores. Read More
Poisson Calculator
Works out the combined odds and potential payout of a multi-leg bet. Read More
Parlay Calculator
Turns American, decimal or fractional odds into the win probability they imply, so you can compare prices across books. Read More
Probability Calculator
Removes the sportsbook’s margin from a two-way market to show the fair odds and the fair probability behind them. Read More
No-Vig Fair Odds Calculator
Best new betting sites for US bettors
If you’d like an alternative to the long-established names among the best betting sites, three of the online sportsbooks in the ranking arrived in the US more recently than BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings, which have all been live since 2018. Each one has a full review above, and our new betting sites tracker lists further launches as they go live.
| Sportsbook | Best for | Why it makes the list |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Best new national sportsbook |
Launched in 2023 and took over PointsBet US; now live in 23 states plus DC. App only and built around FanCash. Read more |
|
|
Best new for live betting |
Brings its global live-betting experience to the US, with streaming on selected events and the most in-play markets I counted (120). Read more |
|
|
Best for Bally’s casino regulars |
Relaunched in 2023 on a new app with a clean layout, and linked to Bally Rewards at Bally’s casinos. Live in 12 states. Read more |
Popular bet types in the US
These are the bet types you’ll see most often at US betting sites. Tap any card for a fuller explanation. Before you build a parlay, remember that books take a much bigger margin on multi-leg bets: on my 3-leg test slip, the implied hold ran from 13% to 16%, against roughly 4–6% on straight bets.
Prediction markets, explained before you bet on one
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket aren’t sports betting sites. You buy and sell contracts on whether something will happen, such as a team winning a game, and they’re registered with the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than licensed by state gaming regulators. They aren’t part of the ranking.
Where things stand. Courts disagree on whether federal law overrides state gambling laws for these contracts, and the Supreme Court has been asked to decide. The appeals courts are split: the Third Circuit sided with Kalshi against New Jersey, while the Sixth sided with Ohio and Tennessee and the Ninth with Nevada. Whether a prediction market can operate in your state therefore depends on where you live. Most events below are preliminary decisions, filings or statements rather than final rulings, and each is labeled.
| Date | What happened | Type |
|---|---|---|
|
January 2026 |
A Massachusetts state court ordered Kalshi to stop offering sports contracts in the state while the case continues |
State court, preliminary injunction |
|
February 17, 2026 |
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig argued that the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts |
Regulator statement |
|
April 2, 2026 |
The CFTC sued Arizona, Connecticut and Illinois over their actions against prediction markets |
Lawsuit filed |
|
April 6, 2026 |
The Third Circuit (2–1) upheld Kalshi’s preliminary injunction against New Jersey |
Federal appeals ruling (preliminary) |
|
July 27, 2026 |
A federal judge blocked Minnesota’s prediction-market ban days before it was due to take effect |
Federal court, preliminary injunction |
|
Late August 2026 |
The Ninth Circuit (3–0) ruled that Nevada can regulate Kalshi’s sports contracts |
Federal appeals ruling |
|
September 25, 2026 |
The Sixth Circuit ruled that Ohio and Tennessee can enforce their gambling laws against Kalshi |
Federal appeals ruling |
|
October 2026 |
New Jersey’s petition to the Supreme Court is pending |
Supreme Court, not yet decided |
Why it matters to you. State-licensed sportsbooks come with state protections, such as self-exclusion programs and a regulator you can complain to. Those don’t necessarily apply in the same way to prediction markets.
Three of the six books now run prediction apps of their own: FanDuel Predicts, Fanatics Markets and DraftKings Predictions. These are run separately from their state-licensed sportsbooks. Last checked October 26, 2026; this will be updated if the jurisdiction question is resolved.
Scores you can audit
Every test result below is my own and dated, and the enforcement records come from regulators’ published orders. Some tests cover all six books and some only part of them so far, and each table says which. All six scored as follows, in ranking order:
| Sportsbook | Sub-scores (Markets · Odds · Live · Banking · Promotions · Experience) | Total /100 | Editorial score /5 | Star rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
25 · 16 · 12 · 12 · 13 · 9 |
87 |
4.4 |
5.0 |
|
FanDuel |
22 · 17 · 13 · 14 · 13 · 10 |
89 |
4.5 |
4.9 |
|
Fanatics |
20 · 15 · 10 · 12 · 15 · 10 |
82 |
4.1 |
4.8 |
|
bet365 |
20 · 15 · 15 · 11 · 13 · 10 |
84 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
|
DraftKings |
24 · 17 · 13 · 12 · 11 · 9 |
86 |
4.3 |
4.6 |
|
Bally Bet |
18 · 13 · 10 · 12 · 14 · 10 |
77 |
3.9 |
4.5 |
Maximum marks per criterion: Markets 25, Odds 20, Live 15, Banking 15, Promotions 15, Experience 10. The total out of 100 divided by 20 gives the editorial score, so 87 points shows as 4.4. The star rating is our overall verdict and sets the order. Licensing isn’t scored separately; it’s covered in each review.
| Criterion | Weight | What I check |
|---|---|---|
|
Betting markets and depth |
25 |
Range of sports and prop depth, counted on one reference NFL game (3 of 6 books so far) |
|
Odds and hold |
20 |
Measured hold on a one-day NFL, MLB and WNBA snapshot (lower is better) |
|
Live betting and streaming |
15 |
In-play markets, cash out and live-betting stability |
|
Banking and payout speed |
15 |
Payment methods and my recorded request-to-received withdrawal times |
|
Promotions (real value) |
15 |
What each offer is worth once its terms are applied; no offer is treated as risk-free |
|
Site and app experience |
10 |
Speed, navigation, app quality and sign-up friction |
The measured hold table – every book, priced the same day
Hold is the margin built into a book’s prices: the lower it is, the less you pay on each bet. On one day in October 2026, no betting site was cheapest everywhere. DraftKings had the lowest hold on the NFL and MLB lines, and bet365 on the WNBA line. It’s a one-day snapshot, not a long-term average.
| Sportsbook | NFL moneyline (2026 regular season) | MLB run line | WNBA spread/total | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
4.8% |
5.0% |
4.9% |
Prop depth |
|
FanDuel |
4.6% |
4.9% |
5.0% |
App experience |
|
Fanatics |
5.3% |
5.5% |
5.6% |
FanCash loyalty |
|
bet365 |
4.7% |
4.8% |
4.7% |
Live betting |
|
DraftKings |
4.4% |
4.7% |
4.8% |
Low hold |
|
Bally Bet |
5.2% |
5.4% |
5.5% |
Casino resort rewards |
Work out the hold on any bet yourself with our No-Vig Fair Odds calculator.
For context, the American Gaming Association reports that bettors wagered $166.94 billion at legal US sportsbooks in 2025, and sportsbooks kept $16.96 billion of it, about 10.2% (AGA). That figure covers every bet, including high-margin parlays, while mine is the margin on single straight-bet prices, so the two aren’t directly comparable.
One-timestamp price capture – every book, same game
I captured every book’s moneyline on a single 2026 regular-season NFL game within five seconds, in October 2026. It shows one game at one moment.
| Sportsbook | Home moneyline | Away moneyline | Captured (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
-140 |
+118 |
19:00:03 ET |
|
FanDuel |
-142 |
+120 |
19:00:02 ET |
|
Fanatics |
-135 |
+112 |
19:00:06 ET |
|
bet365 |
-141 |
+121 |
19:00:03 ET |
|
DraftKings |
-145 |
+124 |
19:00:02 ET |
|
Bally Bet |
-136 |
+114 |
19:00:07 ET |
A book can be the cheapest on one side and the most expensive on the other. DraftKings had the worst home price (-145) but the best away price (+124), so check the side you actually want to bet.
Enforcement records as a safety signal
Licensed betting sites still get things wrong, and when they do, a state regulator can fine them and make them fix it. An offshore book has no US regulator to answer to. Most fines below are small next to the money these books handle, so what they were for matters more than the amount.
What stands out for players: three books in the ranking were fined over customers who had excluded themselves from gambling: BetMGM in Pennsylvania, Fanatics in Colorado and bet365 in North Carolina. BetMGM also faces open investigations in Massachusetts over promotional emails sent to people under 21 and to self-excluded people. If responsible-gambling protections matter to you, these are the records to read.
How the table is built: it covers actions by US state gaming regulators from January 2024 to October 2026: every Massachusetts action, plus other states’ actions of $25,000 or more and any involving self-exclusion, under-21s or responsible-gambling tools. It isn’t a complete list of small settlements, and books aren’t ranked by total fines.
| Sportsbook | Regulator | Date | Amount | What it was for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |
January 2025 |
$260,905 |
Self-excluded people were able to gamble on its online platform on 152 occasions |
|
BetMGM |
Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission |
November 20, 2025 |
$50,000 ($25,000 suspended) |
48 bets on college player props, which Colorado bans (self-reported) |
|
BetMGM |
March 12, 2026 |
$6,500 |
A bet on an unauthorized college player-prop market (October 2024) |
|
|
BetMGM |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
March 12, 2026 |
$15,000 |
Bets on unauthorized UFC markets (2024–25) |
|
BetMGM |
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |
March 25, 2026 |
$100,000 |
Identity checks that let fraud rings open accounts |
|
BetMGM |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
June 18, 2026 |
$7,500 |
Bets on unauthorized markets (June–August 2025) |
|
FanDuel |
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission |
July 2025 |
$125,000 |
Bets on unapproved events, including $30,000 for not giving customers working responsible-gambling tools |
|
FanDuel |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
March 12, 2026 |
$5,000 |
Bets on college player-prop markets (September 2023) |
|
FanDuel |
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission |
August 2026 |
$95,000 |
Bets on unapproved markets (soccer cards and a Filipino basketball league) |
|
Fanatics |
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
August 2025 |
$55,000 |
Bets on soccer matches whose results were already known, plus older violations inherited from PointsBet |
|
Fanatics |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
December 4, 2025 |
$20,000 |
83 bets on a Boston College football game; Massachusetts bars bets on in-state college teams (September 2024) |
|
Fanatics |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
March 12, 2026 |
$7,500 |
Bets on the Heisman Trophy market (January–March 2025) |
|
Fanatics |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
March 12, 2026 |
$20,000 |
Bets on an unauthorized UFC market (July 2025) |
|
Fanatics |
Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission |
August 27, 2026 |
$20,000 |
Promotional offers sent to a self-excluded customer |
|
bet365 |
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
July 2024 |
$519,323 repaid to 199 bettors |
Changed the odds on bets it had already accepted, without approval (2020–22) |
|
bet365 |
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
August 29, 2024 |
$33,000 |
Bets on finished or unapproved events (2021–23) |
|
bet365 |
North Carolina State Lottery Commission |
September 23, 2026 |
$75,000 |
A push notification sent to self-excluded customers (self-reported) |
|
DraftKings |
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
July 2024 |
$100,000 |
Inaccurate betting data reported to the state |
|
DraftKings |
Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission |
July 17, 2025 |
$90,000 |
Tyson–Paul props Colorado hadn’t approved plus late reporting ($50,000), and a banned college player prop ($40,000) |
|
DraftKings |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
July 24, 2025 |
$450,000 |
More than 1,100 credit-card-funded bets; Massachusetts bans credit-card betting |
|
DraftKings |
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
November 2025 |
$32,500 |
Bets on finished events, past-posted bets and prohibited markets |
|
DraftKings |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
March 2026 |
$6,500 |
Prop bets involving Blake Corum (January 2024) |
|
DraftKings |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission |
March 2026 |
$10,000 |
In-game college basketball player props (March 23, 2025) |
|
Bally Bet |
– |
– |
– |
No state actions found against its sportsbook |
Open matters (no finding yet)
| Sportsbook | Who | Since | What’s alleged |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission (investigation) |
February 2026 |
Promotional emails sent to about 3,800 people under 21 |
|
BetMGM |
Massachusetts Gaming Commission (investigation) |
July 2026 |
Promotional email and mail sent to self-excluded people |
|
DraftKings |
Federal court, Michigan (private class action) |
December 30, 2025 |
That customers in seven states could raise their own responsible-gambling limits without the waiting period state rules require |
These are allegations. Neither the regulator nor the court has made a finding. Last checked October 26, 2026.
Sources, in ranking order: BetMGM – PA, Jan 2025, CO, MA $6,500, MA $15,000, PA, Mar 2026, MA $7,500, MA investigations · FanDuel – IA, 2025, MA, IA, 2026 · Fanatics – NJ, MA, Dec 2025, MA Heisman, MA UFC, CO · bet365 – NJ, NC · DraftKings – NJ, 2024, CO, MA $450,000, NJ, 2025, MA, Mar 2026, court docket.
Our original betting data
I measure these figures myself at every one of these online sportsbooks and date every result: payout speed, same game parlay pricing, closing line value, betting limits, market depth and sign-up friction. Some tests cover all six books; others cover only some so far, and each table says which.
Withdrawal times, all six books
Withdrawals took from 22 hours 40 minutes (FanDuel, PayPal) to about 90 hours (BetMGM, PayPal). Each figure is a single withdrawal, so your own timing may differ. In my tests the book mattered more than the method: PayPal was both the fastest and the slowest.
| Sportsbook | Method | Time | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
PayPal |
About 90h (70h internal review + 20h transfer) |
Requested October 10, 2026 |
|
FanDuel |
PayPal |
22h 40m |
October 2026 |
|
Fanatics |
Not recorded |
Arrived on the third day |
October 2026 |
|
bet365 |
Play+ (later withdrawal) |
24h 05m |
October 2026 |
|
bet365 |
Not recorded (first withdrawal) |
48h |
October 2026 |
|
DraftKings |
Not recorded |
46h 05m |
October 2026 |
|
Bally Bet |
Not recorded |
47h 30m |
October 2026 |
Bet builder fair value – one 3-leg slip, every book
I priced one fixed 3-leg same game parlay on the game from the price capture above, at every book within the same few seconds. The payout ran from +540 at Fanatics to +615 at BetMGM, so a $10 stake would win $54.00 at one book and $61.50 at the other.
| Sportsbook (3-leg reference slip) | Payout (American odds) | Implied hold |
|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
+615 |
13.0% |
|
FanDuel |
+590 |
14.0% |
|
Fanatics |
+540 |
16.2% |
|
bet365 |
+595 |
13.8% |
|
DraftKings |
+605 |
13.5% |
|
Bally Bet |
+555 |
15.6% |
This is one slip on one day, so it’s no guarantee the same book will price every parlay best.
Closing line value
Closing line value (CLV) compares the odds you took with the final odds just before kickoff. If you regularly beat the closing line, you’re usually getting good prices. On the game from the price capture, the home side closed at -152; DraftKings’ -145 was the closest of the six to that closing number. That’s one game, so I’m tracking CLV across a reference NFL, NBA and MLB slate before drawing wider conclusions.
How long until you get gubbed? (2 of 6 books)
“Gubbing” is when a sportsbook limits how much a winning account can bet. It’s common practice, including at regulated US books. So far I’ve tracked two of the six:
| Sportsbook | Max stake accepted (winning account) | Time until limited |
|---|---|---|
|
FanDuel |
$400 |
About 6 weeks |
|
DraftKings |
$350 |
About 4 weeks |
These are my winning test accounts. Other accounts may be limited sooner, later or not at all.
Market depth – one reference NFL game, 3 of 6 books
BetMGM had the most markets on the game I counted (420) and bet365 the most in-play markets (120). Counts change as books add and remove markets, and more markets don’t always mean better prices: BetMGM had the most, but its hold was mid-pack.
| Sportsbook | Markets on a reference NFL game | In-play markets on the same game | Month on month |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
420 |
95 |
+2% |
|
bet365 |
340 |
120 |
+4% |
|
DraftKings |
395 |
80 |
flat |
Sign-up and KYC – 4 of 6 books
DraftKings and Bally Bet aren’t in this table yet. Identity checks didn’t slow my payouts down: the biggest delay I saw was BetMGM’s 70-hour internal review on the withdrawal itself.
| Sportsbook | Registration time | Details asked for | Verification time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
Not recorded |
Personal details only (no documents) |
About 4 minutes |
|
FanDuel |
About 4 minutes |
SSN last four only |
3 hours |
|
Fanatics |
About 3 minutes |
SSN last four only |
2 hours |
|
bet365 |
About 4 minutes |
SSN last four plus promo code |
4 hours |
Trust table – state licensing
The US has no single national license register, so this table shows how many states each book is live in for online sports betting rather than listing license numbers. A book can hold a license in a state before it launches there, so check the operator’s own state list before you sign up.
| Sportsbook | Online sportsbook live in (checked October 26, 2026) |
|---|---|
|
BetMGM |
23 states plus DC and Puerto Rico (Nevada and Mississippi require in-person sign-up) |
|
FanDuel |
24 states plus DC and Puerto Rico |
|
Fanatics |
23 states plus DC |
|
bet365 |
17 states |
|
DraftKings |
27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico |
|
Bally Bet |
12 states |
Counts are drawn from state regulators, company releases and each operator’s own state list.
Legal sports betting in the US is a state-by-state patchwork. In May 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban (PASPA), and every state has since made its own rules on whether to legalize sports betting, which sportsbooks it licenses and whether it allows online betting or retail sportsbooks only.
As of October 2026, 39 states plus Washington DC have legal sports betting, and 31 of those states plus DC allow online sports betting through apps. Eleven states still have no legal sports betting at all, and offshore betting sites try to fill that gap. Puerto Rico, a US territory, also has legal online sports betting, and BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings are live there.
| State | Sports betting status | Online since |
|---|---|---|
|
Alabama |
Not legal |
– |
|
Alaska |
Not legal |
– |
|
Arizona |
Online + retail |
2021 |
|
Arkansas |
Online + retail |
2022 |
|
California |
Not legal |
– |
|
Colorado |
Online + retail |
2020 |
|
Connecticut |
Online + retail |
2021 |
|
Delaware |
Online + retail |
2023 |
|
Florida |
Online + retail |
2023 |
|
Georgia |
Not legal |
– |
|
Hawaii |
Not legal |
– |
|
Idaho |
Not legal |
– |
|
Illinois |
Online + retail |
2020 |
|
Indiana |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
Iowa |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
Kansas |
Online + retail |
2022 |
|
Kentucky |
Online + retail |
2023 |
|
Louisiana |
Online + retail |
2022 |
|
Maine |
Online |
2023 |
|
Maryland |
Online + retail |
2022 |
|
Massachusetts |
Online + retail |
2023 |
|
Michigan |
Online + retail |
2021 |
|
Minnesota |
Not legal |
– |
|
Mississippi |
Retail only (mobile only on casino premises) |
– |
|
Missouri |
Online + retail |
2025 |
|
Montana |
Retail only |
– |
|
Nebraska |
Retail only |
– |
|
Nevada |
Online + retail |
Before 2018 |
|
New Hampshire |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
New Jersey |
Online + retail |
2018 |
|
New Mexico |
Retail only |
– |
|
New York |
Online + retail |
2022 |
|
North Carolina |
Online + retail |
2024 |
|
North Dakota |
Retail only |
– |
|
Ohio |
Online + retail |
2023 |
|
Oklahoma |
Not legal |
– |
|
Oregon |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
Pennsylvania |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
Rhode Island |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
South Carolina |
Not legal |
– |
|
South Dakota |
Retail only |
– |
|
Tennessee |
Online only |
2020 |
|
Texas |
Not legal |
– |
|
Utah |
Not legal |
– |
|
Vermont |
Online only |
2024 |
|
Virginia |
Online + retail |
2021 |
|
Washington |
Retail only |
– |
|
Washington DC |
Online + retail |
2020 |
|
West Virginia |
Online + retail |
2019 |
|
Wisconsin |
Retail only (online legalized for tribes, April 2026; not live yet) |
– |
|
Wyoming |
Online only |
2021 |
State notes
- Rhode Island: one operator handles online betting today. Bally’s won the license for the state’s second online sportsbook and can’t take bets before November 26, 2026.
- Florida: Hard Rock Bet is the only legal mobile betting option, run under the Seminole Tribe’s compact, so none of the six books takes Florida sports bets. Horse racing works differently.
- Nebraska: voters decide on online sports betting on November 3, 2026. If approved, it would only be offered through in-state racinos.
- Wisconsin: online betting was legalized for the state’s tribes in April 2026, with no launch date yet.
- Daily fantasy sports: DFS is available in more states than sports betting, including Texas, though its legal status there is disputed. Of the six books, only DraftKings and FanDuel offer paid DFS (FanDuel started as a fantasy site in 2009). DFS has its own rules, and in July 2025 California’s attorney general said paid DFS is illegal in the state.
- States without legal betting: no ballot measure is on California’s 2026 schedule, so 2028 is the earliest realistic chance. In Texas, the earliest realistic legislative opening is 2027. Georgia’s House rejected HR 450, a proposed constitutional amendment on sports betting, on March 6, 2026. Minnesota’s SF 4139 was introduced in March 2026 but didn’t pass before the session ended on May 18.
Why every book in our ranking is state-regulated
Every one of these legal betting sites holds a license in each state where it takes bets. Unlicensed offshore sports betting sites still market to US bettors, so here’s what that license gets you:
- Recourse. If a payout goes wrong, a licensed book has to answer to a named state regulator, such as the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. With an unlicensed offshore book, there’s no one a US bettor can realistically turn to.
- Self-exclusion. State self-exclusion programs are designed to block your access at every licensed book in that state, and regulators fine books when that fails. An offshore book has no such program.
- Tax reporting. Licensed sportsbooks send out W-2G forms and report to the IRS when a win meets the reporting threshold (see taxes). An offshore book generally does neither. That doesn’t make your winnings any less taxable; it just makes them easier to under-report and harder to prove if you’re audited.
- Protected funds. Some states require player money to be kept separate from the operator’s own funds. In Pennsylvania, for example, licensed books must hold a separate account covering every player’s balance plus any unpaid bets, and their CFO must confirm this every quarter (58 Pa. Code § 1408a.6).
- Location checks. Licensed apps confirm you’re inside a state where the book is licensed before they take your bet.
No US state licenses offshore betting sites such as Bovada and BetOnline, so none of these protections apply to them.
So which is the most trusted betting site? No licensed book has a spotless record, so a “most trusted” badge means little. Check what each book was fined for, especially anything involving self-exclusion.
Our commitments to US bettors
Four principles shape how we choose US sportsbooks, how we test them and whether we recommend them.
Tested with real money
Every sportsbook in the ranking is tested with a funded account, and every result is dated. We deposit, place real bets and time payouts rather than relying on operator data.
Specialist knowledge
Regulatory claims are sourced to the regulator’s own records wherever they’re published, and to named news reports where they aren’t. Our author’s law training helps turn licensing, enforcement and tax fine print into plain English.
An established name since 1997
Topend Sports has published sports science content since 1997 and has since added betting coverage. Every review carries a named author and a named fact-checker.
Independent and transparent
Editorial scores come from testing, and the order follows our overall rating. Commission doesn’t change either one, and the affiliate disclosure explains how links are paid.
Common mistakes to avoid for US bettors
A few habits separate disciplined bettors from the rest, even at the best betting sites. These are the mistakes I see most often:
- Assuming betting sites work in every state. Check that the sportsbook is licensed in your state before you sign up, because availability changes from state to state.
- Depositing with a credit card. Most US banks treat a credit-card sportsbook deposit as a cash advance, which means extra fees and interest from day one. Some states ban credit-card betting outright: Massachusetts fined DraftKings $450,000 for taking credit-card bets.
- Chasing losses, or betting with bill money. Both are early signs of a gambling problem. Set a budget before you start and stick to it. If it slips, or betting has stopped feeling like fun, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
- Ignoring tax. US winnings are taxable, and for tax year 2026 the loss deduction is capped at 90% under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act. You can only deduct losses if you itemize.
- Treating prediction markets as sportsbooks. They’re regulated differently and face an active 2026 jurisdiction fight (see prediction markets, explained).
- Not reading the promo terms. Minimum odds and playthrough decide what a welcome offer is really worth. Work out what you’d have to bet to unlock the full amount. Every offer has conditions, and none is risk-free.
- Sticking to one sportsbook. A second account lets you shop the line. In my October 2026 hold check, DraftKings was cheapest on the NFL and MLB lines, while bet365 was cheapest on the WNBA line.
How US betting winnings are taxed
This is general information, not tax advice. All gambling winnings are taxable income and go on your Form 1040, whether or not you receive a tax form from the sportsbook.
When you’ll get a W-2G. From 2026, a sportsbook issues a Form W-2G when your winnings minus your stake reach $2,000 and are at least 300 times your wager. That’s up from $600 in 2025, and the threshold will be adjusted for inflation each year from 2027.
Federal withholding. The book withholds 24% for federal tax when your winnings minus your stake exceed $5,000 and are at least 300 times your wager. The 24% applies to the whole win, not just the part above $5,000.
Deducting losses. From 2026, the OBBB Act caps the gambling-loss deduction at 90% of your losses. Say you won $10,000 and lost $10,000 over the year: you could deduct $9,000, leaving $1,000 taxable. You can only deduct losses if you itemize. Most taxpayers take the standard deduction instead, and for them the cap doesn’t come into it, because they can’t deduct losses at all.
Bills to restore the full deduction, including the FAIR BET Act, have cleared a House committee but are not law, so the 90% cap applies for 2026.
To estimate what you might owe, try our gambling tax calculator or read IRS Topic 419 on gambling income and losses. For anything specific to your situation, speak to a tax professional.
Sources: IRS W-2G instructions (Rev. January 2026); Covers on the FAIR BET Act.
Responsible gambling in the US
Betting should stay a form of entertainment, never a way to make money or escape stress. Every legal betting site in the ranking has to offer tools that help you stay in control. Those tools help, but they don’t remove the risk, so it’s worth knowing the warning signs too.
Staying in control
- Set deposit and time limits to stay within your budget
- Use session timers and reality checks to track how long you’ve been playing
- Take a break with a cooling-off period or a time-out
- Use your state’s self-exclusion program, which is designed to block your access at every licensed book in that state
Signs to watch for
- Chasing losses, or betting to win back money you’ve lost
- Betting with money meant for bills, rent or essentials
- Hiding your betting from friends or family
- Feeling anxious or restless when you’re not betting
- Betting to escape stress, anxiety or low mood
For more information, read our responsible gambling page.
Getting help in the US
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat at 1800myreset.org. Run by the National Council on Problem Gambling, it’s free, confidential and available 24/7, and connects you to a problem gambling contact center wherever you are in the US
- 1-800-GAMBLER: run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, it also connects you to support
- Arizona: call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783), text NEXTSTEP to 53342, or visit problemgambling.az.gov
- New York: call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY to 467369
- Massachusetts: call 1-800-327-5050 or visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org
These helplines aren’t emergency services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988. Helplines checked October 27, 2026.
Payment methods at US sportsbooks
Most US betting sites support a wide range of payment methods: debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), ACH bank transfer and eCheck, PayPal, Play+, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayNearMe cash deposits. Availability varies by book and state.
Which method pays out fastest? In my tests, the book mattered more than the method. PayPal took under a day at FanDuel (22 hours 40 minutes) but about 90 hours at BetMGM, mostly because of BetMGM’s internal review, and a Play+ withdrawal at bet365 took 24 hours 5 minutes.
Credit cards. Credit-card deposits aren’t banned at the federal level, but most US banks treat them as cash advances, and some states ban them outright.
What I’d recommend: debit, ACH or Play+. They avoid cash-advance fees and are widely accepted.
US sports betting FAQ
Is online sports betting legal in the US?
Yes, in the states that have legalized it. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban (PASPA) in 2018, each state has made its own rules. As of October 2026, 39 states plus Washington DC have legal sports betting. Of those, 31 states plus DC allow online sports betting through apps, and 8 allow in-person betting only. You must be 21 or over in most states. See every state’s status.
Are betting winnings taxable in the US?
Yes. All gambling winnings are taxable income and go on your Form 1040, whether or not you get a tax form. From 2026, a sportsbook issues a Form W-2G when a win (minus your stake) reaches $2,000 and is at least 300 times your wager, and withholds 24% federal tax when it exceeds $5,000 at that ratio. You can only deduct losses if you itemize, and from 2026 the deduction is capped at 90% of your losses. This is general information, not tax advice.
Which US sportsbook is available in my state?
It depends on where you are, because no US betting site is live in every state. DraftKings has the widest footprint of the six (27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico), and Bally Bet the smallest (12 states). Betting apps check your location before they accept a bet, so an app only works while you’re inside a state where that book is licensed. In Florida, for example, Hard Rock Bet is the only legal online option. Check the operator’s own state list and your state regulator before you sign up.
What is the best sports betting app in the US?
It depends on how you bet. Among the best betting apps I tested, BetMGM is our top pick overall for its market depth and parlay pricing, FanDuel had the cleanest same game parlay builder and the fastest payout I timed, and bet365 leads for live betting. If you’re new to betting, FanDuel’s app is the easiest to find your way around. Fanatics is app only, with no desktop site.
Who is FanDuel’s biggest competitor?
DraftKings. In June 2026, DraftKings led on money wagered (36.7% of national handle to FanDuel’s 31.8%), while FanDuel led on revenue (36.1% to 33.2%). In our ranking, FanDuel is the pick for app experience and DraftKings for low hold.
What is the largest sports betting site in the US?
It depends on the measure. DraftKings is the largest by money wagered, with 36.7% of national handle in June 2026 against FanDuel’s 31.8%. FanDuel is the largest by revenue, with 36.1% of national sports betting revenue against DraftKings’ 33.2%. Between them, the two take more than two-thirds of the US market.
What is the most trusted betting app?
The state-licensed betting sites and apps. A license gives you a named regulator to complain to, access to state self-exclusion programs and formal tax reporting. No licensed book has a spotless record, so check what each one was fined for, especially anything involving self-exclusion. Offshore books hold no US license, so none of these protections apply to them.
Which sportsbook has the fastest payouts?
In my tests, FanDuel was fastest: a PayPal withdrawal arrived in 22 hours 40 minutes, and bet365’s Play+ withdrawal took just over 24 hours. The slowest was BetMGM, at about 90 hours, most of it an internal review. By method, Play+ and PayPal are usually the quickest, debit card withdrawals typically take 1 to 3 business days and ACH bank transfers 3 to 5. A first withdrawal can take longer while the book completes its own checks.
Can I use a credit card at a US sportsbook?
Credit cards aren’t banned at the federal level, but most US banks treat sportsbook card deposits as cash advances, with fees and interest. Some states, including Massachusetts, ban them. Debit, ACH or Play+ are better options: they avoid cash-advance charges and are widely accepted.
What happens if you win over $100,000 on FanDuel?
Once the bet settles, the win goes into your FanDuel balance like any other. FanDuel’s house rules cap the payout at $1,000,000 per bet (or group of related bets) on most markets, and large withdrawals can take longer to process. A win that size is well above the $2,000 reporting threshold, so FanDuel issues a Form W-2G if your winnings are at least 300 times your stake, and withholds 24% federal tax when your winnings minus your stake exceed $5,000 at that ratio. The winnings are taxable income either way.