Best Online Sports Betting Sites

Trusted Sports Betting Sites

This page is designed to give you the rundown on what to look for in a betting website. Nobody wants to have a bad experience with any company they do business with, and betting sites are no different.

When evaluating any betting website, we look for the following:

Any of the sportsbooks we recommend above are safe, secure and hit all the marks from our list. There are too many online betting sites to count, which is why Odds Shark has done the vetting for you. It would be impossible for you to try out every single sportsbook on the Internet. You’d miss entire seasons of all major sports. We can’t have that.

What Makes an Ideal Betting Experience?

As the old saying goes, “Customer service is key.” We’re not sure who said that originally, but it’s something that bettors should consider when visiting any sportsbook.

Unlike Las Vegas, where you can physically visit a bookmaker at a casino resort, online gambling sites are essentially virtual casinos that accept real money to wager on major sports leagues (and some minor leagues too). However, this doesn’t mean a web-based sportsbook’s address is only located on the Internet.

Any reputable sportsbook will have a physical address located on its website along with contact information. Some will even have a FAQ or “About Us” section that you can review to help you feel more comfortable about betting there.

Another important source you can use to research online betting websites is social media. Any trustworthy sportsbook should have a social media presence that they can use as a valuable customer service tool. Following and/or “Liking” the betting site enables sports bettors see how the company communicates and interacts with potential and current customers. If a betting website is responsive on social media, you can see that they really care about their customers and are open to feedback.

Finding the Right Online Sports Betting Site for You

The online books we recommend are good at every facet of sports betting, casino wagering, poker, and horse racing. Whatever you’re looking for in an Internet gambling site, do not settle for anything less than one that caters directly to your needs and provides all the features you require as a bettor. If you’re looking for live odds so you can bet on any given NFL game on any given Sunday, make sure the sportsbook you choose offers exactly that.

If you’re into betting college sports like March Madness, ensure that the sports betting site you use offers game lines and odds on the NCAA basketball game you’re watching. The reason we recommend these sportsbooks is because they are proficient in all aspects of betting.

Casino and Poker

One of the great things about the betting is when your done with your NFL props, a soccer futures bet or betting college basketball totals, you can take a break and check out a sportsbook’s casino offering. Most betting sites have their own brand of slot machines, table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat), live dealer poker and poker rooms.

Since you’re using the same sportsbook for your casino and betting needs, you can go back and forth easily to check out the score of the basketball, soccer or NBA game you’re betting on between hands of poker. Betting MLB while playing casino games? Sounds like a fun day.

Ready to Bet on Sports?

Odds Shark aims to take your best interests into account – combining our knowledge of the online betting company, its history, how they cater to their current customers, and what promotions they use to attract new sports bettors.

You can also do your own research by creating accounts at multiple sportsbooks to see which one (or ones) you like best. Look for odds and lines on your favorite sports to bet on. Most betting websites will give you a hefty welcome bonus or even reduced juice when you sign up.

Another great way to determine if a sportsbook is worth your time is to play around on the site to get familiar with the layout. See what the graphics are like and if they’re too flashy (or not flashy enough) for you. If a site is cluttered with graphics that seem out of place, you may have a hard time finding the betting lines you’re looking for.

Furthermore, if a site looks great on your desktop but is impossible to scroll through on your phone, it’s a sign that the sportsbook needs to get with the times. Mobile betting is equally important as wagering on your laptop, whether you use Android or Apple products. Most bookmakers will have an app or mobile-optimized site, making it easy to bet from your handheld device (iPad, Tablet).

Plus, with mobile gambling, you can place your bets on the go. The next time you’re at the dentist waiting for a cleaning, why not take out your phone and see what the future odds are on the Super Bowl? It’ll definitely help the time pass.

Additionally, if you have any questions that still need answers after checking out any of the best sports betting sites we recommend above, contact the sportsbook directly. The best betting sites truly care about their customers and will take the time needed to secure your business and keep it.

Creating an Account

Signing up at an online betting site is a simple process. You’ll need to provide some personal information like your name, email and region. How you want to fund your account is up to you. Just make sure you have your deposit info handy – more on that below – because once the sign-up process is complete, you place your first bet.

Deposit Options

Playing for real money at your chosen sportsbook means deciding on a deposit option that you prefer. The majority of betting sites allow you to make deposits using your credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX), e-wallets (PayPal, Neteller, Skrill), and debit.

As we move closer and closer to a fully digitized world, more and more online sports betting sites will accept cryptocurrency as a deposit method. Generally, you’ll find gambling sites that take Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash and Ethereum. You could find yourself at the receiving end of a crypto bonus since some betting websites offer special promotions for those who use Bitcoin.

You’ll notice that while the best sports betting sites permit you to withdraw your money the same way you funded your account, a different option to collect your winnings will be required at other sportsbooks. Depending on the website, you can receive your winnings via a paper check or if you use a credit card or cryptocurrency as your deposit, you can use it to withdraw your funds too. You can also leave your winnings in your account and use it to keep betting.

Now that you’re equipped with enough information to get you started, choose the best online sportsbook from our list and you’re all set to bet.