Bet And Get Up To $1,000 In Bonus Bets + A Daily Chance To Win A Jersey
Fanatics Sportsbook Simplifies Your Betting Experience
FanCash Feature Delivers Increased Value With Unique Rewards
Industry-Leading Search Functionality Available
$1,000 First Bet on Caesars
Exclusive Live Streaming on Select NFL Games
Strong VIP Rewards Including Bonus Bets
Tier Credits Earned For Every Bet Placed
Check Out BetMGM Here
Official Gaming Partner Of The Knicks, Rangers & Devils
Free-To-Play Sweepstakes During Big Events
MGM Rewards Program
In the last five years, more than half the U.S. states have legalized sports betting, with most including online sports betting apps as an essential component. Even better, the major online sportsbooks that are live in those states continue to improve and expand their operations. That means it's only getting better and that you're getting started at a great time.
New players earn welcome bonuses through exclusive sportsbook promo codes and links (available on this page) when beginning their online sports betting experience at these operators and unlock full access to the daily features that each provide. North Carolina became the latest state to join the ranks, going live on March 11. New customers in the Tar Heel state can now take advantage of some exclusive North Carolina sportsbook promos.
It might sound tricky or difficult but learning how to place a sports bet is really quite simple.
Learning how to read odds and understanding point spreads are among the basics for newcomers entering the world of sports betting. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½Ó³» Sports)
You've arrived here wondering how to bet on sports online legally. The good news? It's incredibly easy. At its core, betting on sports is placing a real-money wager on either the outcome of an event or something happening (or not happening) during an event, such as a basketball player to score more than 20 points or a quarterback to pass for more or less than 250 yards.
Simple examples include betting on the Packers to beat the Bears, or the Cavaliers and Lakers to combine for more than 230 points. Each side of a bet has odds attached to it, which calculates a specific amount in return if a wager wins.
Here are four steps to placing a wager online:
The basics of sports betting includes understanding how odds work. Anything that bettors can bet on will have odds attached to it. Those odds will either be minus odds (-115, -400, -1000 for example) that indicate the amount bettors need to wager to earn $100 profit ($115, $400 and $1,000 in those examples), or plus-odds.
Plus-odds (+220, +350, +800) are underdog odds and less likely to happen, meaning bettors need to bet $100 to earn that amount in profit ($220, $350 and $800 in those examples). Minus-odds have a higher probability of happening.
Point spreads are odds that balance the odds between favorite and underdog, typically at -110, by giving "points" to the underdog. If the underdog loses by fewer than that amount of points or wins outright, the underdog bet is paid. If the favorite wins by more than the spread given to the underdog, the favorite bet wins.
An example from NBA odds: if the Lakers are 3.5-point underdogs to the Celtics, Boston must win by four or more to cover. The lakers would be +3.5 while the Celtics are -3.5.
Online sportsbooks will also feature a wide selection of , as betting on professional football is a huge draw for bettors.
If you want to understand how to bet on sports and win, you'll want to figure out a strategy (and stick to it). Betting is about much more than a gut feeling or blindly choosing a side. There are multiple betting strategies that bettors can choose from to help them make their choices.
We recommend sticking to a specific strategy (home underdogs, betting the under on low-scoring teams, etc.) and sticking to it throughout. You can check out NBA picks from experts for advice. Remember, that betting with your heart every now and then can be fun, but it likely won't be profitable in the long run.
Odds at different online sportsbooks will be similar, but not always the same. One operator having odds at +110 and another having it at +120 is the difference between earning $110 and $120 profit. That's just $10, but that really adds up over time. It's why we recommend bettors always shop around different online sportsbooks to make sure they're always getting the best odds on the lines they want to wager on.
Different sportsbooks also have different welcome bonuses, and there's no maximum number of operators players can sign up for. Take advantage of as many as you can.
Simply put, a bankroll is the amount of money you have to play with at your online sportsbook. It's critical to always know how much money you have in your account and to bet wisely, responsibly and not emotionally. Understanding how to bet on sports successfully means knowing what your bankroll looks like at all times.
Only bet what you can afford to lose, don't bet emotionally, and always know what your bankroll looks like and wager accordingly. We can't stress this enough. What's nice is that all major operators have resources for players who feel as though their sports betting is out of control and they need help cooling off or stopping altogether.
Bettors can find almost any bet type they might be interested in for wagering on different sports. (Photo by Ron Chenoy/Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½Ó³» Sports)
There are a dozens of different sports bets that players can make, but the ones we'll explain below are the most popular that you're likely to make most often on the sports betting apps you play on.
The moneyline is the set of odds attached to the winner of a specific game. The favorite has minus odds attached to it (-330 for example) meaning bettors need to wager that amount to earn $100 in profit. The underdog has plus odds attached to it (+215 for example) meaning bettors will wager $100 to earn that amount in profit if they're successful.
It's easy to learn how to bet on sports point spread wagers. Point spreads even the playing field between two teams. The favorite of a matchup has a minus point spread (-5.5 for example) that means points are subtracted from the actual final score. Underdogs have points added to their final score (+4.5 for example). Odds on point spreads are usually -105 to -115 because the spread number evens the two teams out.
Totals bets are only concerned with the combined points between two teams. Bettors wager on whether the line set by oddsmakers will actually be over or under that amount. For example, NBA betting sites might set a total of 222.5 for a Lakers-Bucks game. It would go over if the Lakers beat the Bucks 130-110 (240 points) or if the Bucks win 115-114 (229 points). All that matters is the combination of points.
A parlay is a combination of two or more individual bets combined into one that forms longer, more lucrative odds with a smaller wager. The caveat is that all legs of a parlay must be successful in order for the parlay to pay out. Less likely to hit because bettors need to go undefeated, but higher potential payouts because of it.
Futures are typically season-long bets. Our guides to both NFL futures and betting on MLB futures will take you through everything you need to know. Examples include the MVP of a league, the champion of a league or a division winner in a specific sport. Futures odds change throughout the course of the year based on the likelihood of it happening, and these odds are available up until the end of the season.
Prop bets are bets within a game. There are player props that include a player to score over or under a certain amount of points or the first player to score a touchdown in a game. There are also team props that include the first team to score 10 points or a team to record over or under 3.5 sacks in their game. The biggest online sportsbooks have hundreds of different team props in the biggest markets of games. You'll be amazed at how many there are to choose from.
Betting doesn't end once a game begins. Sportsbooks have hundreds of live-betting options during the course of a game, including every-changing spreads, totals, and moneylines based on what's happened in the game to that point and how much time remains.
It's a good idea for bettors to decide on strategies before placing their wagers. Going on hunches rarely pays off. (Photo by Mykal McEldowney/Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½Ó³» Sports)
Once you've figured out how to bet on sports games, it's important to know that profiting on sports betting isn't easy. If it were, everyone would do it full-time and be rich.
That isn't the case, obviously, meaning bettors serious about making money with the bets they make need to follow one strategy or another. It's nice to follow your gut at times, but more often than not that's going to let you down.
Here are some strategies to consider before placing your bets:
Recreational betting is how most of us play. Bet on the teams you want to root for or who you just have a feeling will take home a victory (or a cover). Professional bettors take nothing for chance and analyze the trends of public betting lines, shop for the best odds (and look for oddities) and follow certain trends without considering context. It's incredibly strategic and mathematic. Betting professionally is real, but it takes tons of homework, consistency, quick triggers and faith in your numbers. It is a job.
Numbers don't lie. Neither do injury reports, trends, and local reporters covering the teams you're interested in betting on. No matter what kind of bet you're interested in making, it's critical for bettors to research everything surrounding its probability.
What's nice about the major online sportsbooks that help teach players how to bet on sports odds is that more are offering statistics within the actual sportsbook itself. You don't have to leave the book to find out about these trends. Want to learn how to bet on sports football? Click into any NFL matchup and dig through numbers that the online sportsbook provides.
There are countless strategies to betting, and you'll want to stick with one that brings success or that you feel best about. That can include looking for high probability results, shopping around for inflated odds (i.e., one sportsbook has a line at -110 and another has it at +100, you're saving $10 on the bet), or fading the public, where the thought is the majority of bettors wind up losing, so betting against what they feel strongest about can return profit.
Online sportsbooks want bettors to spend less time signing up and more time placing bets. It's why the top operators in the industry have made it such a simple process for new players to register for accounts. Though the instructions vary slightly by operator, the general directions are the same for players.
Here are how to bet on sports app instructions:
The best place to bet on sports games online is at the operator that you feel most comfortable with and the one that caters most specifically to your needs. That being said, there are four elite operators that have established themselves as leaders in the industry. Once you've learned the basics of how to bet on sports games online, you can decide which operator is best for your style and frequency of play.
BetMGM recently underwent an overhaul of its mobile betting app, adding another layer to an already great sports betting experience. Between that and the First-Bet Offer up to $1,500 provided by the BetMGM bonus code Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½Ó³»TODAY available to all new players, there's something for everyone. Sports bettors also really enjoy the BetMGM Parlay Builder, a tool that allows players to create parlays while watching their odds update in real-time all in one space.
North Carolina sports fans can take advantage of a special BetMGM North Carolina bonus code now that online sports betting has launched in the state.
Caesars Sportsbook is known for providing perhaps the most competitive odds in the industry, dozens of different odds boosts on player and team props and an elite mobile betting app that easily lets players take their picks with them on the go. New players will also enjoy a first bet up to $1,000 on Caesars with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½Ó³»TODAY1000, one of the largest potential dollar amounts of any welcome bonus at the major operators in the industry.
Sports fans in the Tar Heel State can stay up to date on the latest Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina promo code now that online sportsbooks have launched there.
Guarantees are rare in the online sports betting world, but they do exist at DraftKings. Its DraftKings promo code offer delivers $150 to all new customers who sign up and make a first wager of $5 or more. DraftKings also has a number of different odds boosts available, and players get to pick the specific odds that get boosted.
The flagship FanDuel promo code offer takes care of new players with a No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000, meaning you're either earning cash profit with a victory or receiving site credit equal to your original wager if it loses. The current short-term offer is a Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if you Win offer in most of the country. Make your first bet of at least $5 and get $150 in site credit if your bet wins. In Massachusetts and Ohio, the offer is Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if You Win.
On top of that, FanDuel has daily odds boosts, free-to-play tournaments that hand out real cash prizes and a mobile betting app that was built for live betting.
The new ESPN BET sportsbook features one of the best online betting sites. It has a broadcasting rights contract with multiple sports that are playing a big role in its legal online sportsbook.
You will be able to choose from a wide range of betting options at ESPN BET. Using the ESPN BET promo code TODAY unlocks an appealing offer.
ESPN BET was one of the first sportsbooks to begin. accepting wagers when NC launched online sports betting in March. The ESPN BET North Carolina promo code provides users with a one-of-a-kind offer.
The largest online gambling site globally is also among the best sportsbooks operating in America. bet365 offers a strong welcome offer for new players who sign up using the bet365 bonus code and is already live in nine states with more on the way.
North Carolina launched online sports betting on March 11, 2024. The bet365 North Carolina bonus code offer unlocks a lucrative NC welcome bonus.
Fanatics is one of the newer sportsbooks on the market but is already establishing a strong presence. Part of the reason for Fanatics' quick ascent in this space is the Fanatics Sportsbook promo which is a unique offer where new customers can get up to $100 in bonus bets every day for 10 days after activating their account. That means upwards of $1,000 in bonus bets for new Fanatics players.
Bet And Get Up To $1,000 In Bonus Bets + A Daily Chance To Win A Jersey
If you've decided to begin betting on sports online, there are best practices to follow: Always bet with legal, licensed sportsbooks in your state - which are the only ones we review and recommend. Be sure to use as many welcome bonus offers as you feel comfortable having, as that allows you to shop around and compare odds. Always bet within your means, don't wager based on emotion and avail yourself of the vast responsible gambling resources if you feel like you have a problem.
Though the goal in most instances is to earn cash, it means very little if you aren't enjoying yourself. The goal is to have fun.
Bet And Get Up To $1,000 In Bonus Bets + A Daily Chance To Win A Jersey
Fanatics Sportsbook Simplifies Your Betting Experience
FanCash Feature Delivers Increased Value With Unique Rewards
Industry-Leading Search Functionality Available
$1,000 First Bet on Caesars
Exclusive Live Streaming on Select NFL Games
Strong VIP Rewards Including Bonus Bets
Tier Credits Earned For Every Bet Placed
Check Out BetMGM Here
Official Gaming Partner Of The Knicks, Rangers & Devils
Free-To-Play Sweepstakes During Big Events
MGM Rewards Program
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators and sports betting partners for audience referrals. The Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½Ó³» Network newsroom and editorial staff maintains direction on this content, which is created by partner staff. Sports betting operators have no influence over our news coverage. See applicable operator site for its terms and conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.