Choosing where to bet on sports online in the USA is tough. Not all online sportsbooks can be trusted, which is a problem when you’re betting for real money. There are some safe options, though, and we’ve identified the best of them.

1. All Online Betting Sites
2. Gambling In Sports Articles
3. Sports Betting Research Sites
4. Free Sports Betting Contest

Based on extensive research by our team of sports gambling experts, these are the best US betting sites in 2021.

Odds Shark Sports Databases Odds Shark offers the best sports databases on the web, including the popular Odds Shark NFL Database which allows you to search for head-to-head matchup data between. Online Sportsbook Reviews – Finding the Best Betting Sites. Knowing what sports to bet on is the first piece of the equation. However, knowing where to bet is arguably way more important. The best online sports betting sites can be tough to find, especially when every one of the thousands of options claims to be the best.

Our list of the top sports betting sites for the USA is relatively short. That’s because we’re serious about only showing the very best options to our readers. We compare hundreds of real money betting sites every year, and only a few meet the extremely high standards that we set.

As an absolute minimum, online betting sites must meet the following criteria to be listed here.

• Properly licensed to offer regulated and legal online sports betting
• Demonstrably safe for US bettors
• Owned and managed by trusted and reputable operators

Of course, the best betting sites go way beyond meeting just the minimum requirements. They offer fast payouts when you win, the best odds for your real money wagers, and excellent bonuses. And much more, too.

Can you simply trust our rankings and join one of our recommended betting websites right now? Absolutely. We’ve been reviewing real money gambling sites and ranking them in different categories for many years, and we have a solid reputation for providing honest and accurate information.

With that said, we’re still going to back our claims and explain what we look for when ranking the top US betting sites. On this page you will discover why the sportsbooks and bookmakers we recommend are genuinely the best sites for betting on sports online.

Best Sports Betting Sites Ranked for 2021

Before we get into the detail of how compile and maintain our rankings of the best betting sites, let’s start with some information on the sites we currently recommend. First, here are a few of the things we like most about each of the top sports betting sites.

• Bovada: Excellent reputation, juicy promotions, huge variety of sports and leagues
• MyBookie: Very user friendly and some of the quickest payouts around
• BetOnline: High betting limits, excellent welcome bonus, fast payouts
• BetNow: Lots of markets and consistently high odds
• SportsBetting.ag: Plenty of payment options, speedy withdrawals, great bonuses

That’s just a very small taste of what these top sports gambling websites have to offer American bettors. We provide thorough reviews of all the sites we recommend (and some that we don’t), so that you can find out everything you need to know before deciding where to join.

Here’s some further information about each of our top-rated US sports betting sites.

• Welcome Bonus: $250
• Established: 2011
• Min. deposit: $10
• Average Payout Time: 4-7 days

Bovada is one of the oldest and most trusted US betting sites. The company has been online since 1998 and has built quite the reputation as one of the safest betting sites for the USA. They offer poker and casino games as well as sports betting.

If you open Bovada’s website, you will see that all popular competitions like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more are available, as well as a bunch of other sports and tournaments of a lower profile.

The betting odds here are among the highest on the internet, and the limits should satisfy everyone. This is definitely one of the best sports betting sites for high rollers, but low stakes bettors are also welcome.

Another perk of joining Bovada is the large number of special betting offers. Each new player can start with a welcome bonus of up to $250 and keep earning with other regular promotions from the bookmaker.

• Welcome Bonus: $1,000
• Established: 2014
• Min. deposit: $25
• Average Payout Time: 1-2 days

Ever since entering the market in 2014, MyBookie has been among the best sports betting sites for the United States. The bookmaker offers all kinds of sports and competitions. The list of betting markets for each one is also impressive, so the customers have plenty of options for trying to win money.

MyBookie is one of the best sports gambling websites in terms of interface and navigation, both on desktop and on mobile devices like iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

The other advantages are the many payment options, the juicy promotions for both new and existing customers, and the fast payouts. Simply put, MyBookie is one of the best online sports betting sites that accepts customers from the USA.

• Welcome Bonus: $1,000
• Established: 2004
• Min. deposit: $10
• Average Payout Time: 3-10 days

If you have been betting on sports on the internet for any length of time, you’ve probably heard about BetOnline. This is one of the best online betting sites in the US for numerous reasons.

First of all, the sportsbook offers one of the top welcome bonuses available to sports bettors in the United States. You can get up to $1,000 on your first deposit. When you’re done with the initial bonus, there are plenty of other BetOnline promotions that will help you earn more.

The extra money you get can be used to bet on plenty of sports, and the betting odds are among the highest you can find on the web.

You can fund your BetOnline account using a lot of different options, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and even crypto. The payouts are fast and secure, which makes the sportsbook one of the most trusted sports gambling websites for the USA.

• Welcome Bonus: $500
• Established: 2016
• Min. deposit: $20
• Average Payout Time: 1-10 days

One of the top sports betting sites for the US right now is BetNow. This online sportsbook is licensed in Curacao, so you know it’s legit.

As you’d expect from any of the best sports betting sites, BetNow offers an intuitive user interface that will help you easily browse through the large number of sports and events covered.

If you want to take a look for yourself, BetNow has one of the top betting bonuses for US players and plenty of other promotions that offer a lot of extra value.

Furthermore, the bookmaker has excellent customer support service and a great betting app. The whole experience is smooth on all platforms, and this is easily one of the best online sportsbooks in terms of usability.

• Welcome Bonus: $1,000
• Established: 2003
• Min. deposit: $20
• Average Payout Time: 3-10 days

A genuine veteran in online sports gambling is SportsBetting.ag. It was launched in 2003 and has been working with US players ever since. SportsBetting.ag’s license is from Panama, which is one of the safest options when it comes to USA betting sites.

The sportsbook has a huge welcome bonus of up to $1,000 that can be used on the many sports and events that are available for wagering on. We’d put this book among the very best sports gambling sites when it comes to betting offers.

You can enjoy sports betting online not only on desktop but on mobile devices, too. SportsBetting.ag offers a wide variety of payment options to each customer from the USA, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The deposits are instant, and the withdrawals are pretty fast.

Our rankings of the top sports betting sites for the USA are based on a long list of factors that will impact your overall online sports gambling experience. We consider every aspect that truly matters when betting on sports online for real money.

Some of the factors are important for all types of online gambling sites. Others apply specifically to sports betting websites.

We break down some of these factors below, and explain why each one is important and needs to be considered.

When you are gambling online for real money, there are certain minimum requirements you should expect from the sites you’re using. These requirements form the foundation of our ranking process for all sites, whether for betting on sports or anything else.

Let’s take a look at them.

Licensed and Regulated

All gambling sites should have an appropriate license from a recognized authority. This shows that they are legitimately able to offer real money online gambling services. Licensed gambling sites also have to meet regulatory requirements and act ethically and fairly.

Solid Reputation

The leading online gambling sites have typically been around for many years. We don’t automatically exclude new sites from our rankings, but we do prefer those that have been in business for a while. This way we can assess their past performance and determine whether they have a solid enough reputation to deserve our recommendation.

Easy to Deposit and Withdraw

Deposit and withdrawing are fundamental aspects of betting online for real money, whether that’s on sports, casino games, or anything else. All gambling sites should make the process for depositing funds and cashing out winnings as easy as possible.

Fast Payouts

Cashing out your winnings shouldn’t just be easy, it should also be quick. No-one wants to wait around forever for their money, and no-one should have to. The top operators always do their best to ensure fast payouts.

Helpful Customer Support

Good customer support should be a staple for any company, and it’s especially important online. You need to be able to get in touch with someone if something isn’t working properly, or if you have a query. We put the customer support at gambling sites to the test during our ranking process, and we expect to see efficient and professional assistance.

Now let’s look at the attributes that matter the most when we’re ranking the best sports betting sites. Note that these are all in addition to what we’ve already mentioned.

Range of Sports Betting Options

One of the benefits of online sports betting is that it opens up a ton more opportunities for making money. Your average land-based sportsbooks and bookmakers cover all the major sports, yes, and maybe a few of the less popular ones. The variety is usually somewhat limited, though. That’s not the case when betting on the internet. Or at least not when using the best online betting sites. The leading sports betting websites cover pretty much every sport you can imagine, and many more besides. You’ll never be short of something to wager on, that’s for sure.

Competitive Odds and Lines

A key aspect of betting on sports is trying to find the best value. That’s a skill that takes some practice, and no small amount of knowledge, but it’s made a whole lot easier when you have access to competitive odds and lines. The best betting sites for the USA, and anywhere for else for that matter, keep their margins low and their odds high. That is just the way we like it.

User-Friendly Betting Interface

Regardless of whether you bet on sports to make money, or just to have some fun, you’re going to want to place your wagers as easily as possible. You need to be able to see your options, and get your money down, with the minimum of fuss. This is no problem when there’s a user-friendly platform, but some betting sites are stuck in the 20^th century when it comes to website design. That’s not the case with the top online betting sites, though.

Live Betting Platform

Betting in-play has become incredibly popular in recent years, and is another big advantage of online sports gambling. It opens up a whole new range of real money wagering opportunities, which can be very profitable if you know what you’re doing. Even the best US sports betting sites were a little slow on the uptake when it comes to this form of betting, but most of them have caught up now. Live betting is something we now expect to see from US friendly sports betting sites, and we’re disappointed if we don’t.

Betting Limits for All Budgets

Some people like to bet big, some prefer to bet small. Most bettors in the USA fall somewhere in between. We think it’s important that you’re able to bet at whatever level you’re comfortable with, and we expect the top betting sites to facilitate that. When we’re ranking sports betting sites for the US, we look at the minimum stakes and the maximum stakes allowed. Those that cater for all budgets are looked upon favorably.

Additional Features

The leading online sports gambling sites are all trying to constantly improve what they offer their customers. One way they do this is by offering useful features that can help improve the overall experience of sports betting online. Some of the features we like to see at the top online sportsbooks include early cashouts, bet builders, and live streaming.

Compiling our rankings of the top online sports betting sites is a lengthy and ongoing process. Several members of our team are involved, as they each bring their own areas of expertise and experience.

Two team members who know a great deal about what makes the best sports betting websites are Jerry Summer and Noah Davis. These guys are serious bettors, and their knowledge is especially useful when it comes to ranking the best betting sites in the US.

The legal status of sports betting in the USA, especially online, has been something of a grey area for many years. United States laws that regulate gambling for real money, including betting on sports, have changed multiple times and often been left open to different interpretations.

We will bring some clarity to this somewhat complicated matter by explaining the current status of legal sports betting in the US, both offline and online.

There are a couple of key points in the history of sports betting in the US, but the first one that you need to know about is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) from 1992. The main goal behind it was to keep the integrity in sports competitions in America.

According to PASPA, sports betting was regulated on a federal level, and the individual states didn’t have the right to operate sports betting. Nor were they able to license or authorize third-party companies to offer sports gambling services.

The major exception to this rule was the state of Nevada which was authorized to have land-based sportsbooks offering a full range of betting services. A couple of other states also retained the right to offer some limited forms of betting for real money.

The good news is that the US Supreme Court revoked PASPA in 2018, returning the power to regulate sports betting to the individual states. We have since seen several states open the door to legal and regulated sports betting within the country, with more expected to follow.

For years, online sports betting had an unclear status. PASPA didn’t prohibit US citizens from placing real money wagers on sports, it only prevented US-based operators from accepting them.

There was also the Wire Act, a federal piece of legislation originally designed to prevent the acceptance of sports bets over the telephone (or via telegram, which was still a thing back when the act was introduced).

But since the arrival of the internet, plenty of betting sites that were licensed and regulated in other jurisdictions could offer their services to US customers. This created a loophole of sorts that basically meant that both the players and the online betting sites were doing nothing wrong.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 tried to change that by making financial transactions for online gambling illegal. The move did drive a lot of operators away from the US market, but since it didn’t target the players or the process of accepting real money wagers, a number of online gambling operators continued to welcome Americans.

Since the repeal of PASPA, there are now several legal US betting sites operating within the country. These legal betting sites are licensed and regulated by the state(s) in which they’re based. Most of the top USA betting sites, however, operate elsewhere.

It’s important to note that there’s nothing wrong with that. They are perfectly legal in the jurisdictions where they are licensed, and bettors are not breaking the law by placing wagers with them, either.

The NFL season is now over, so betting on football is no longer an option in March. Don’t worry, though, there’s plenty of action in other major US sports.

The MLB is back with some spring training games and there’s a certain NCAA basketball tournament that you might’ve heard of!

That’s just in the USA, there are many other exciting competitions from all over the globe that you can bet on March. Let’s take a look at the most appealing gambling opportunities this month.

• March Madness starts and the top college basketball teams will be fighting for eternal glory
• The NHL and NBA both continue, with plenty of games to bet on.
• All the top European soccer leagues are still going and the Champions League is in the knockout stage now.
• There are several tennis tournaments, including the Miami Open

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sports betting in March. There are many other events, including UFC fights, boxing, golf, and so much more.

Our sports blog is the place to go to check on for all the latest updates on what’s going on, along with regular analysis from our experts. You should also check out our betting picks section for all our latest recommended wagers.

More Real Money Online Betting Sites

The sites we recommend on this page are the best overall sites for betting on sports online in the USA. However, there are other sites worth considering, too, especially if you have some specific requirements or preferences.

We rank the top online betting sites in a variety of different categories, and below are some that might interest you.

Football is the most popular sport in the United States, and also the most bet on. It’s no surprise, therefore, that most online sportsbooks cover the NFL and college football extensively. Some cover the Canadian Football League, too.

Simply covering the sport is not enough to be considered the best, though. The top football betting sites go the extra mile and beyond, to ensure that they do everything they can to satisfy the most ardent football bettors.

All of our recommended US betting sites make fast payouts. We wouldn’t recommend them if they didn’t! Some are faster than others, though, and there are certain sites that process cash outs in super quick time.

If getting your winnings paid out as quickly as possible is THE most important thing for you, then you should check out our list of the fastest paying betting sites.

The top US sports betting sites will all take a good sized wager. When betting on mainstream sports in particular, the limits should be high enough for almost everyone.

If you’re looking to wager especially high stakes, however, or wanting to bet big on some of the less popular sports, then you might want to consider a site that specializes in catering for high rollers.

With the online gambling industry as competitive as it is, all betting sites have to work hard if they want to be successful. Most sites use bonuses and rewards to attract new customers and keep existing ones happy, but some are more generous than others.

If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, these are the sites you should be betting with.

Our rankings are regularly updated to ensure they’re always accurate. As of right now, these are the best US sports betting sites online.

As far as we know, there isn’t a single bettor from the United States who has been convicted or even charged for betting on sports online.

We’re not lawyers, but our interpretation of the current US gambling laws is that individuals are not forbidden to place bets on sports online.

If you stick to trusted US betting sites, like the ones we recommend, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Bookmakers that don’t have a license from a legit jurisdiction are another story, so make sure to avoid them.

There are plenty of ways to bet on sports online. For a start, you can pick traditional options like moneyline, spreads, and totals.

Most of the reliable sports betting sites for the USA also offer props, futures, and outrights for the majority of the sports and leagues they cover.

The best online sports betting sites for USA bettors usually cover at least a few convenient options.

Common options include credit cards, cryptocurrencies, wire transfers, and money transfer services. Alternatives are often available, too.

Our recommendations can all be classed as fast payout betting sites. Payouts via Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are very quick and seamless.

Other withdrawal methods can take a little longer, but you’ll rarely be waiting long for your winnings if you bet with the top US online sportsbooks.

Gambling addiction can have devastating consequences. We strongly encourage responsible gambling, and recommend that you seek help immediately if you feel like you might be losing control of your betting

The best US sports betting sites will typically allow you to apply limits to your account in terms of how much you can deposit and wager. Please take advantage of these if necessary. You can also choose to self-exclude completely if you wish.

Research is one of the most important aspects of sports betting. Specifically, the willingness to roll up your sleeves and do it, and the insight to know how to do it properly.

Good research will make smart bets that pay off. That’s not to say you should ignore your gut. If your gut is telling you to something, it better have the data to back it up.

Below, we’re going to dig deeply into the art and science of sports betting research. Here’s a peek at what we’ll be covering:

• Why smart research is critical to your performance
• Sports betting biases and how they can hurt your bankroll
• What you should be focusing on when researching your bets
• Where to find reliable data
• How to create an effective research and analysis plan
• How to avoid costly misinterpretations of the data
• The art of analyzing your past performance
• The importance of identifying good value

By the time you finish reading, you’ll know how to make intelligent bets that bolster your bankroll.

Why Research Is Important For Sports Betting

When it comes to sports gambling, the more you know, the better you perform.

Information is what separates the hobbyist bettor who loses the majority of his (or her) bets from the profitable handicapper.

The former makes bets recklessly. He pays little attention to data and spends little time working the numbers. Consequently, he lacks the intel he needs to make intelligent wagers.

The latter knows there’s immense power in information. He spends time and effort crunching numbers to find opportunities. He can look at the moneyline or spread for a given game, and know whether it offers good value.

Predictably, the handicapper makes winning bets more often than the hobbyist. Many expert handicappers are professional, full-time sports bettors who make a comfortable living.

And that’s the reason research is crucial. It’ll help you to optimize your betting performance. Research gives you a greater chance of success every time you wager money. It helps you to hone in on the best opportunities while avoiding excessive risk.

The Danger Of Sports Betting Biases

Biases give rise to preconceptions. They might seem harmless, but can be very costly when it comes to betting on football, basketball, and other sports. They result in false expectations, and ultimately lead to poor decision-making.

Following are 5 common sports betting biases you’d do well to avoid

1. Confirmation bias

You have an existing theory about a game and interpret information in a way that confirms your theory.

2. Hindsight bias

You suddenly have 20/20 vision when reflecting on past games. You base future decisions on this newfound “insight.”

3. Outcome bias

You unfairly judge the merit of your decision based on how a particular bet turns out. Good decisions look like terrible ones in the light of unfavorable outcomes. Note that it’s possible for sound decisions to result in lost bets. Outcome bias contradicts the logic behind those decisions.

4. Recency bias

You place too much importance on recent performance, using it to predict future performance. For example, you assume the Celtics will win an upcoming game because they’ve won their last seven games.

5. Gambler’s Fallacy

You misinterpret past events as having predictive value. For example, you assume the Patriots will win the Super Bowl because they won last year.

These preconceptions have zero value when you bet on sports.

In fact, they’re worse than valueless because they prompt you to make terrible decisions that result in losses.

Biases are expensive. While they may be a part of human nature, it’s in your interest to abandon them.

Sports Betting Research Basics: What To Keep Your Eyes On

Suppose you’re betting on a team sport (e.g. football, basketball, hockey, etc.) as opposed to player-based sport, such as tennis, MMA, or golf. That being the case, there are a number of basic stats you should focus on.

Start by reviewing each team’s long-term performance.

• How have they fared during their last several seasons?

Next, review the teams’ short-term shifts in performance.

• First, identify the shifts. Then, try to identify the factors that caused them.

For example, let’s say a team has recently had difficulty preventing turnovers.

• Is the QB having trouble holding the ball after the snap, or are his receivers failing to make first downs?

The next step is to focus on recent news.

Pay attention to the injury report.

• Who’s a recent addition? Who just came off the list?

Pay attention to recent suspensions.

• If a key player has been suspended, when is he due back on the field?

Who’s been consigned to warm the bench, and how are his subs expected to perform?

• If you are betting NBA and want some great ‘who benefits when someone is injured’ tools, check out Fantasy5x5, it’s awesome.

Now, check out the matchups.

What happened in past games when the two teams you’re researching have met on the field? Does one typically outperform the other? Or is there a deeply-rooted rivalry between the teams that increases the uncertainty of the game’s outcome?

Those are the basics.

They’re a starting point.

You’ll also want to research select stats based on the sport you’re betting on.

• Football

Pay attention to numbers like turnover differential, points per game, yards per game, sacks, tackles, interceptions, pass yards per attempt, and defensive points per 100 yards.

• Basketball

Focus on turnover percentage, field goal percentage, pace factor, free throw rate, and a team’s against-the-spread (ATS) record.

• Baseball

Watch the starting pitcher’s stats (ERA, WHIP, K/9, etc.). Then, drill down to the hitters’ numbers (on-base percentage, runs per game, BABIP, etc.).

The above is by no means an exhaustive list. But you get the idea: many of the stats you should track will depend on the sport.

Start with the basics. That alone will put you ahead of most hobbyist sports bettors.

Where To Find Reliable, Actionable Information

So you know you need information to make intelligent bets. The question is, where do you find it? The data needs to be reliable. You’re not looking for opinions. You’re looking for solid, actionable intel.

The good news is that you can find such information at a myriad of places online. Start at the official websites for whatever sport you’re betting on.

Examples include NFL.com, NBA.com, MLB.com, and NHL.com.

You’ll find basic stats as well as details about scheduling changes, injuries, and suspensions. But keep your expectations in check. These sites are useful, but won’t deliver the hardcore data you need to complete your research.

Next, visit sites like ESPN.com that offer data on all of the popular sports. They’re great for keeping abreast of breaking news items. Fair warning: these sites employ a lot of columnists; the level of insight varies wildly between them.

Next, visit sites that specialize in providing sports statistics.

Examples include Baseball-Reference.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com, and Basketball-Reference.com. Whichever sites you use, just make sure their numbers are accurate and regularly updated.

Fan sites often deliver surprisingly good intel. Some of these sites are run by folks who live and breathe their favorite teams. They follow everything these teams and their respective players do.

Oftentimes, these folks are more knowledgeable about their favorite teams and athletes than the columnists at places like ESPN.com.

I have mixed feelings about social media. It can be useful in terms of finding good, actionable intel. But there’s such a low signal-to-noise ratio that finding such intel can be time-consuming and tedious. Proceed with caution.

How To Create A Sports Betting Research PLAN

In my opinion, it’s just as important to have a plan for researching a game/bet as it is to know where to find good intel. Your plan is your blueprint. It’s your map. It guides your actions, ensuring that you take the necessary steps to obtain the info you need to make smart bets.

Without a plan, you risk forgetting steps. And that’s a recipe for disaster.

We covered the basics in the previous sections. You now know the type of research you need to do, and you’ll eventually come up with a list of places to source the data. Let’s now put it all together into a simple procedure you can follow each time you intend to bet.

First, create a folder in your browser.

• Store your bookmarks

Store bookmarks for every site you use for intel, from ESPN.com to Pro-Football-Reference.com (if you decide to use the latter). If you follow a particular columnist, add a bookmark for his column to this folder.

You want everything in one place. That’ll alleviate the need to search for stuff later.

• Commit to prioritizing data over opinions.

It’s easy to become an information junkie, reading column after column with little to show for your time. Decide upfront that numbers will always trump opinions.

• Commit to spending a certain amount of time researching games.

If you know in advance that your research will take two hours to complete, you’ll be less inclined to rush things and cut corners. The time expectation is already set.

• Lastly, create a cheat sheet.

Write down easy-to-follow steps. For example, your cheat sheet for football betting might look like the following:

1. Review each team’s long-term track record
2. Review short-term performance trends
3. Check the injury report
4. Note recent suspensions
5. Visit select sites to obtain relevant stats
6. Crunch data to yield key data
7. Watch each team’s most recent games
8. Shop for the best lines

This cheat sheet will ensure you don’t forget a step. Eventually, you’ll memorize the research and analysis process, and won’t need this aid. But until that happens, it’s useful.

Warning: Be Careful Not To Misinterpret The Data!

One of the most common blunders made by sports bettors is to perceive insight where none exists. This misstep often leads to poor decisions that end up costing a lot of money.

For example, suppose you notice that the Steelers tend to win whenever Ben Roethlisberger starts as QB and Antonio Brown is one of his receivers. While both players are excellent performers, the fact that both are on the field doesn’t mean the Steelers are going to win.

That might sound obvious to you. But you’d be surprised by how often bets are made based on this type of correlation. It’s as misguided as thinking a Subaru Outback is a superb vehicle just because you see a bunch of them on the road.

Your research will yield a lot of useful data. Just be careful not to mistakenly assign causation to variables that seem related.

All Online Betting Sites

How To Use Your Past Betting Performance For Intel

In addition to the data you obtain via research, you’ll also want to review your past betting records. You may find that you excel at some types of wagers and consistently stumble making other types.

We’ve talked about how to track your betting activity in the past, so I won’t belabor that point here. The most important thing to remember is that your past performance will reveal your strengths along with areas you need to improve.

For example, you might find that you have difficulty making prop bets work regardless of the amount of research you do.

The point is that you should keep a betting log and use it to inform your decisions. It’s a different type of research than we’ve focused on in the majority of this guide. But it’s just as crucial. Or you may discover that you excel at parlays and over/unders. Incidentally, maybe you tend to perform better betting on certain teams than others.

The Hunt For Value: Finding The Best Opportunities

It’s important to identify bets that also offer good value. That’s one of the ways you can maximize your chances of winning. Finding good-value bets is a matter of looking at the odds.

The odds for a wager reflect the probability that a particular outcome will occur. Your job is to decide whether the odds are acceptable given the potential payoff.

Finding value isn’t about winning bets. It’s about identifying bets where the probability of winning is greater than the odds imply.

Another way to think of it is that you’re seeking potential rewards that outweigh the accompanying risks.

The process of identifying good-value bets involves a fair bit of math, and thus lies beyond the scope of this guide. Suffice to say, it’s a skill worth learning.

Value betting is an effective tactic shared by professional sports bettors.

The Most Important Step: Choosing Legitimate Sportsbooks

All the research in the world won’t help you if you risk your money placing bets at dubious sportsbooks in the first place.

Above all, this point can’t be overstated. It does little good to win bets and then get stiffed by the sport betting site.

Gambling In Sports Articles

This is the reason I strongly advise sticking to legitimate sportsbooks. The gambling sites you frequent should be trustworthy, offer easy and convenient banking options, and provide responsive customer support.

Sports Betting Research Sites

Lastly, if you’re not sure where to start, I encourage you to check out my list of top-rated betting sites. Read the comprehensive reviews for each one. They’ll give you the information you need to choose reputable sportsbooks where you can place bets with the comfort of knowing your money is safe.

Free Sports Betting Contest

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