The online sports betting industry has been thriving in the USA since 2018, when the federal government granted states the authority to regulate online gambling. Currently, three types of betting sites operate in the US: locally regulated real-money sportsbooks, sweepstakes sportsbooks, and international or offshore sportsbooks.
On this page, we look at the three common types of betting sites, explore their differences and legality, and provide you with the key information you need to know about the best sports betting sites in the USA.
US Sports Betting Landscape
The US sports betting landscape experienced a rebirth in 2018, when the US Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992. The Act was previously interpreted as a nationwide blanket ban on sports betting, but this decision created room for states to regulate sports betting on a state-by-state basis. Following the PASPA repeal, dozens of states started creating legal frameworks to license sports betting operators within their borders.
Regulated US Sportsbooks
Starting in 2018, states started regulating sports betting, and over the next few years, a total of 38 states (plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico), created their own regulated sports betting markets. In each of those states, players can now place bets with fully regulated, locally licensed sportsbooks, with operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM leading the charge nationwide.
Sweepstakes Sportsbooks
Sweepstakes sportsbooks serve as an alternative to regulated sportsbooks in states where sports betting is not regulated, and for players looking for a different betting experience. These social sportsbooks accept players from most states (with a few exceptions) but don’t allow real-money deposits or withdrawals.
Instead, a sweepstakes model is used, whereby players purchase Gold Coins (GC), which have no monetary value. These coins can be used to play on the social sportsbook, but with no monetary gain or risk. With their purchase, players receive a number of Sweeps Coins (SC), which can be used to place SC bets. These bets can yield further SC, which can be redeemed for real-money prizes.
Some states have cracked down on social sportsbooks and casinos, as they believe them to be a means for the operators to circumvent the law and operate real money gambling without a license. However, legally speaking, sweepstakes sportsbooks do not offer real-money betting and thus remain legal in most states.
Most Popular Sweepstakes Sportsbooks
The best sweepstakes sportsbooks offer services to players from dozens of states under the sweepstakes model. As such, these bookmakers allow users to bet on their favorites and potentially win real money prizes without actually placing real money bets in the process.
- Sportzino: The most popular social sportsbook in the US, Sportzino operates on the sweepstakes model, offers betting on all major sports leagues and competitions, and competitive odds across hundreds of betting markets.
Offshore/International Sportsbooks
Unlike regulated US sportsbooks, offshore sportsbooks operate from remote locations worldwide. These sportsbooks have no physical presence in the US, nor are they licensed by any American governing body. Yet, many offshore sportsbooks accept action from American players, often using cryptocurrencies and e-wallets for deposits and cashouts, as US banks aren’t allowed to process payments to such sportsbooks.
International online betting sites operate under licenses issued by gaming regulators such as Curaçao eGaming and the Gaming Control of Anjouan and cater to international audiences. While some sites in this category are safe to play at, there have been instances of offshore sportsbooks that have proven fraudulent.
Here is a quick rundown of the main pros and cons of offshore sportsbooks for US bettors:
| Pros | Cons |
| Available in all states | No regulatory oversight in the US |
| Higher deposit bonuses and betting odds | Credit/debit card deposits not accepted |
| Anonymous crypto deposits are accepted | Slower customer support response times |
| A wide spectrum of international sports betting markets | Fewer responsible gambling tools |
| Simple KYC and identity verifications | |
| Faster cashout processing |
Most Popular Offshore Sportsbooks
Unlike regulated or sweepstakes sportsbooks, whose numbers are often quite limited, there are dozens of offshore sportsbooks to choose from. These sites operate worldwide and are much easier to launch, which is why so many are based in remote locations such as Curaçao and the Comoros.
These are a few of the most popular offshore sportsbooks that US players often use:
- Bet105: Operating under a Curacao eGaming license, Bet105 is an international sportsbook with a vast selection of betting markets, superior betting odds, and crypto deposits and withdrawals. Bet105 is a sportsbook designed specifically to allow professional bettors to use its services, as sharp and +EV bettors are allowed to ply their trade on the site.
- CoinPoker Sportsbook: Integrated into the CoinPoker app, the CoinPoker Sportsbook offers a full array of betting markets while simultaneously offering access to crypto poker games.
Betting Features Users Should Consider
When choosing a betting site to play at, users should be primarily concerned with its legality and reliability. Once that’s established, a closer look at the betting features on offer can help pick the right sites to play at. Some of the following features are essential for a top-rated betting site:
- Odds Formats: The ability to switch between Decimal, Fractional, and American odds ensures that players from all parts of the world can view the odds in a format they can easily understand.
- Betting Markets Offered: A wide selection of betting markets gives players more opportunities to bet on the matches they want and place the specific bets they have in mind. The more sports and markets are available, the more likely one is to find good value.
- Live Betting/In-Play Features: A comprehensive in-play betting platform is a staple of any major betting site these days. It should allow players to place bets on live matches, with a good variety of betting markets available for each game.
- Payment Options: Being able to deposit and cash out with your preferred payment method is just as essential as the other features. The best betting sites offer deposits via traditional payment methods such as bank transfers and credit cards, as well as modern options like e-wallets and cryptocurrencies.
- User Interface/Mobile Apps: The quality of the user interface on both desktop and mobile devices is another category worth considering. At the end of the day, an intuitive user interface allows the player to make the right bets at the right time and easily navigate the site without stress or delays.
Responsible Betting and Legal Notes
When betting on sports online, it’s key to remember to bet responsibly and within the legal framework. As an American, you should always keep in mind that only persons over the age of 21 are allowed to gamble, whether it’s betting or casinos. In other parts of the world, the gambling age may be as low as 18 or 19, depending on the legal jurisdiction in question.
The best online sportsbooks also help players play responsibly by supplying a variety of responsible gambling tools. These tools can help players maintain control over their gambling behavior, especially for impulsive players who tend to bet more than they initially planned. Deposit limits, bet limits, and self-exclusion are among the key responsible gambling tools a reliable sports betting site should offer.
In the table below, you can find a short list of a few responsible gambling organizations, which American players can reach out to in case they or anyone close to them is experiencing gambling problems:
| RG Organization | Email Address | Phone Number |
| Responsible Gambling Council | Site form | 1-416-499-9800 |
| Responsible Online Gaming Association | info@responsibleonlinegaming.org | 1-703-935-8565 |
| Gamblers Anonymous | isomain@gamblersanonymous.org | 1-909-931-9256 |
