Legal sports betting apps are blooming across the US. With new states legalizing and launching mobile betting, and existing states expanding their offering, there are a lot of options. Here are our recommendations on how to find the best sports betting apps in the US, including the best bonus offers, promo codes, and mobile betting odds.

Sports betting is continuing to spread across the United States, with new states continuing to legalize and launch apps throughout 2021. Moreover, existing markets are expanding sports betting, too, by launching new apps or easing up on restrictions to expand betting options.

• Sports betting is now legal in the state, and the first Sportsbooks launched online and via mobile apps on January 22nd, 2021. Michigan casino apps and sites also went live on the same day. Colorado sports betting went live on May 1, 2020, when the first legal sports bet was placed.
• We actively monitor local sportsbooks for the best promotional offers & odds As of May 1, 2020, Colorado sports betting apps are now legal as long as bets are placed with licensed sports betting operators and within the Colorado border.

Some states, like New York, are working to allow sports betting apps into the market. Betting on mobile apps increases sports betting participation, making it one of the most important new trends to watch in 2021.

Apps that offer real money gaming (e.g. Sports betting, poker, casino games, horse racing) or lotteries must have necessary licensing and permissions in the locations where the App is used, must be geo-restricted to those locations, and must be free on the App Store.

Best US Online Sports Betting Apps: How We Rank Them

Bettors may be overwhelmed by the number of sportsbooks offered in their state. Telling one app for sports betting from another may be challenging when there are over a dozen to choose from. Colorado hadseventeen online sports betting licenses issued by the beginning of 2021. That’s a list of sportsbooks that rivals New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.

Many of those states host the same sportsbook companies. Big brands like DraftKings and FanDuel pop up in most sportsbook markets. However, some states have their own homegrown sportsbooks. Colorado has local sportsbooks like Bet Monarch, Sky Ute Sportsbook, and Bet Wildwood. Bettors will likely find a mixture of big brands and local companies in their states–especially states that allow many sportsbooks.

Ranking The Best Betting Apps

Gaming Today ranks these sportsbooks for bettors by examining the factors most important to bettors. We compare sportsbook odds to help bettors find the best value for their wagers. Sportsbooks balance expected profit and risk differently, so bettors can find better odds on different parts of the line.

Welcome bonuses are important too. Some bettors want to know how many free credits they can get upfront. They may stick with a sportsbook that offers a generous bonus in the beginning. Reviewing any online sports betting app takes the app itself into account, too. Some apps are easier to navigate than others, and that can affect a new bettor’s chance of using it.

10 Best Apps For US Sports Betting

Depending on where bettors live, most if not all of these apps may be at bettors’ disposals. Here are the top ten apps bettors will likely encounter, regardless of where they live.

FanDuel Sportsbook

Visit: FanDuel Sportsbook and claim a $1,000 risk-free bet

Bettors may recognize FanDuel as a daily fantasy sports site. However, FanDuel capitalized on sports betting legalization and offered a sportsbook, too. In some states, FanDuel also offers an online casino, which seems to partner with its sportsbook and daily fantasy sites.

FanDuel considered one of the largest and most trustworthy sports betting brands. The brand is older than its sportsbook, so it’s had time to cement its reputation as a legitimate operator. The FanDuel app is available in these states:

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Tennessee
• West Virginia
• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• Virginia

FanDuel also operates a retail sportsbook in both Mississippi and New York but doesn’t offer sports betting online in these states as online gaming is not legal.

Wherever FanDuel is available, bettors may be drawn to its competitive underdog odds. FanDuel doesn’t have the best odds on every underdog, but that’s the side of the line it tends to favor. FanDuel’s app is also available on iOS and Android, making it accessible to all smartphones in states with mobile sports betting.

FanDuel offers a $1,000 risk-free bet as a welcome bonus.

BetMGM Sportsbook App

Visit: BetMGM and claim a $600 risk-free bet

BetMGM is owned by Roar Digital, a joint venture between MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings. It brands itself as a luxury sportsbook, and bettors who’ve seen its billboards and commercials have a sense of its luxury already.

Between BetMGM’s iconic golden lion and Jamie Fox’s sponsorship, BetMGM pushes its Vegas-style sportsbook hard. It seems to be working. Where it’s licensed, BetMGM positions itself with other states’ big brands. Bettors can find their apps for sports betting in:

• New Jersey
• Colorado
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Bettors who choose BetMGM will be able to contribute to their MGM Grand loyalty accounts. Anyone who plans to hit Vegas or any other city with an MGM Grand Resort should think about a BetMGM account. It’s available on iOS and Android, so bettors who want to contribute to these loyalty accounts have convenient outlets to do it.

BetMGM’s welcome bonus is a $600 risk-free bet.

William Hill Sportsbook

Visit: William Hill and claim up to a $500 risk-free bet

William Hill is the oldest sportsbook company on this list. It was founded in 1934 and has grown into a premier sportsbook company. It’s a UK sportsbook company that has found a home in the United States. William Hill came to Nevada in 2012, where it became known for its betting kiosks. But as states legalized sports betting, William Hill expanded into new markets. William Hill’s app for sports betting can be found in:

• Colorado
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Nevada
• Virginia
• Washington, DC

Bettors who are intimidated by cluttered sportsbook apps will find relief at William Hill. Its app is one of the most straightforward to navigate. Apps for sports betting can become crowded with ads for bonuses and promotions. Bettors can download the William Hill app on iOS and Android too see what we mean.

William Hill offers a $500 risk-free bet as its welcome bonus in most states.

PointsBet Sportsbook

Visit: PointsBet and claim up to $2000 in two risk free bets with code BIGBONUS

PointsBet is an Australian startup founded in 2019. Seemingly overnight, it has grown into one of the most recognizable sportsbook brands in the United States. PointsBet has won awardsfor top sportsbook operator and most socially responsible operator.

Despite its novelty, PointsBet has established itself as a major player in an American industry that’s only a year older than PointsBet. PointsBet’s app is available in:

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Michigan
• New Jersey

PointsBet is a great app for advanced bettors with the uncanny ability to make accurate game predictions. These bettors can try PointsBetting, which allows bettors to adjust point spreads and point totals predicted during a game. If bettors are right, their stakes are rewarded exponentially. But there’s no partial credit. They’re risky wagers reserved for the most>Colorado

DraftKings’ New Hampshire presence is unique. The New Hampshire lottery chose DraftKings to be the only sports betting operator in New Hampshire.

Bettors can download the DraftKings app on Android or iOS. Anyone interested in competitive odds on a line’s favorite should consider creating a DraftKings account. When DraftKings has the best odds on a line, it tends to be on the favorite to win. That should give bettors who bet conservatively something to think about.

DraftKings offers a $1,000 deposit bonus at a 20% match rate as a welcome bonus.

BetRivers Sportsbook

Visit: BetRivers Sportsbook and claim a $250 deposit bonus

BetRivers is owned by Rush Street Interactive, an online gaming company. After it started its Pennsylvania website, PlaySugarHouse.com, Rush Street Interactive launched BetRivers. It’s been one of the first few sportsbooks in several states, so it’s established itself as a staple in the sports betting industry. Its states of operation include:

• Colorado
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Virginia
• New Jersey (under the SugarHouse brand)
• Pennsylvania

Bettors in these states may be drawn to BetRivers’ rewards program. Bettors who wager consistently could unlock new bonuses and even expedited withdrawals. But BetRivers’ odds are often identical to DraftKings, so they may not stand out from other sportsbooks like the other sportsbooks on this list.

Interested bettors can download their state’s BetRivers app on iOS or Android. BetRivers is one of the few sportsbook brands that creates separate apps for sports betting in each legal state. The BetRivers iOS app is not available in all states in which they operate, but new states are added to the Apple iOS store regularly.

BetRivers offers a $250 deposit bonus at a 100% match rate as its welcome bonus.

Golden Nugget Sportsbook App

Golden Nugget Sportsbook is available in Nevada, New Jersey, and now Michigan. So, bettors may be more familiar with the hotel and casino than its sportsbook app.

However, it’s a hidden gem among the top sportsbook apps. It launched on January 19, 2017, becoming the first independent sportsbook on the Vegas Strip. It set its own lines and offered them on their own events. It’s retained its reputation as a casino sportsbook – especially because it’s exclusively offered in states with Golden Nugget casinos. But this app for sports betting also offers features that bettors may not find as easily at other sportsbooks.

Every sportsbook app shows bettors their wagers’ results. Some even have statistics sections that show each team’s past performance. Golden Nugget has its own spin on this feature. It shows the results of many different games and leagues. It’s a quick reference guide for bettors with “what-if” questions swirling in the back of their minds after placing their wagers. In its two states, bettors can download the app for iOS and Android.

Golden Nugget offers a $100 risk-free bet as its welcome bonus.

FOX Bet Sportsbook

Some big sportsbook brands have found success by incorporating their sportsbook with a sports media base. FOX Bet is one of the most prominent sportsbook brands to do so. Its partnership with Fox Sports gives it an audience ready to take Fox Sports hosts’ advice and turn it into sports wagers.

But it comes into its own with its social media outreach. FOX Bet has many bet boosts. But bettors can request bet boosts through Twitter. It’s one of the most unique ways FOX Bet engages its bettors. Bettors can find the FOX Bet app in:

• Colorado
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania

Social media-savvy bettors may find FOX Bet more engaging than other apps for sports betting. FOX Bet’s many bet boosts are worth checking for bettors looking for the best value for their money. Anyone who wants to try FOX Bet can download its app on iOS and Android.

FOX Bet offers a $500 risk-free bet.

Caesars

Caesars sportsbook is another casino sportsbook available in only a few states. Bettors in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New Jersey can download the Caesars sportsbook app on iOS and Android. It is also anticipated that Caesars will launch in Michigan in 2021.

Bettors can enjoy a sportsbook that carries the weight and reputation of the Caesars casino brand. Bettors will recognize the same opulent design in Caesars Sportsbook as Caesars Hotel in Vegas.

But Caesars Sportsbooks’ attraction is its link to Caesars Rewards. Bettors can wager on Caesars sportsbook and earn points toward free entertainment, shopping, and dining. Like BetMGM, Caesars is a good option for bettors with an existing loyalty account or interest in creating one.

Caesars offers a $500 risk-free bet as its welcome bonus.

Unibet

Like the Beatles before them, Unibet is part of the British invasion of a popular American industry. Unibet was founded in London in 1997, headquartered in New York in 2018, and released its first app for US sports betting in New Jersey in 2019. Even though it’s new in the industry, Unibet has a good reputation. (Being licensed by Gaming Commissions in multiple countries certainly helps.) Like Caesars, Unibet is only available in three states:

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Indiana

Bettors who want to commune with other bettors will find value in Unibet’s community section. It’s a blog and forum wrapped together where bettors can read advice from Unibet bloggers and other Unibet users. If bettors want a virtual gathering – or a place to dispense their sports betting wisdom – Unibet may be their go-to app for sports betting.

Unibet offers a $600 risk-free bet as its welcome bonus.

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Full table with US sports betting apps availability and app store reviews

Mobile Sports Betting Basics

Mobile sports apps are convenient ways for sportsbooks to reach bettors. But newbies only need a few basics to get started. All they have to do is create an account, deposit money, then select the odds they want to bet on. Once they have all their bets, they can send them in and see how they did.

The mechanics of mobile sports betting are easy. Bettors can find popular sports like football and other sports like darts. Bets on who’ll win, point spreads, and point totals are common, too.

Many apps also have live betting available, so bettors can cash in on the best odds in real-time during gameplay.

States With Legal Mobile Sports Betting Apps

Currently, online sports betting is legal in the following US states. These states include:

• New Hampshire

Additionally, sports betting legislation is under consideration in more than 20 US states including Connecticut and Massachusetts. Even more conservative states, like Texas, are considering the legalization of sports betting. With the current momentum, it’s likely that more states will legalize online sports betting in the coming years.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best Sports Betting Apps

The best online betting apps have a few things in common. They’re obviously available in states with favorable sports betting laws. But some online betting apps can get a boost from neighboring states, too. (A fifth of New Jersey’s sports betting handle came from New York. Many New Yorkers find it easier to place mobile bets in New Jersey than retail bets in northern New York.)

Are Sports Betting Apps Legal Betting

But the best sportsbook apps also have some of the best odds. Sportsbooks balance expected profit against great bettor odds. Each one strikes this balance differently, so bettors should do a little research on sportsbook odds before committing to one. Some sportsbooks, like DraftKings, have a large catalog of sports available to bet on. Smaller local sportsbooks may not have that same selection, limiting bettor choices.

Finally, bettors may be swayed by how easy sportsbook apps are to navigate. Some are covered in promotions for their ongoing bonuses. Others use the space for betting lines and little else. There’s more to sportsbook apps than these few factors, but this will get new bettors started as they judge sportsbooks for themselves.

Mobile Sports Betting Apps Versus Online Sportsbook Sites

Since most sportsbook apps have their website counterparts, bettors may be wondering what the differences between them are. If bettors are just placing bets and using the app’s core functions, the website differences will be cosmetic. Online sports betting apps offer a less immersive experience than a retail sportsbook. But that shouldn’t be surprising. Take away the TV’s, lounge, and bar, and suddenly sports betting feels more strategic than social.

Bettors should watch whether sportsbook apps are offered on iOS and Android. Most major sportsbook brands do. Some smaller brands do not.

Download Apple iOS Sports Betting Apps

Getting an app for sports betting onto the App Store requires operators to jump through a few hoops. For example, sportsbook operators had to change their code from HTML5 to iOS. (That’s the least technical way to explain it, anyway.)

Gambling apps must also come with a 17+ rating, which is a much smaller obstacle than a new expensive coding requirement. That’s bad news for apps like BetRivers that have separate apps for each state they’re allowed to operate in. It was unsustainable before that requirement, but this new policy could push them to eventually adopt a single app.

The highest-rated apps for sports betting are sportsbooks with complementary media presences. Barstool Sportsbook has the best fans because they rate Barstool Sportsbook at a 4.7 on the app store.

Download Android Sports Betting Apps

Google doesn’t allow sportsbook apps on the Google Play store. That may seem like an insurmountable obstacle. However, sportsbooks provide convenient workarounds. Bettors can download the Android app from sportsbook sites.

Most major sportsbook brands will offer Android apps, but smaller brands may not. The Apple Store has fewer barriers to entry than the Google Play Store. Consequently, some of the best Android betting apps will come from big brands like DraftKings and FanDuel.

How To Download And Use A Mobile Sportsbook

Getting setup with a new sportsbook is usually a quick and painless procedure. Here are the steps bettors need to go through to place their first bets on a sportsbook app.

1. Download the sportsbook app from the App Store or the Android link on the sportsbook’s website.
2. Select “Register” and complete the registration process. Usually, this consists of creating a username and password, then providing an email, social security number, and a few other pieces of identifying information. But sometimes sportsbook apps will ask for more verification steps, like sending a utility bill. (Something to research before selecting a sportsbook.)
3. Deposit funds by going to the account section, selecting ‘Deposit’, then a payment method and amount.
4. Place a wager, but pay attention to bonus terms. Risk-free bets are often only good for the first bet. Deposit bonuses can come with funky terms, too. Check the fine print before trying to use a bonus.
5. Withdraw winnings, bet again, or take a break as appropriate.

Best Bonus Offers On Online Sports Betting Apps

Bettors will encounter two main types of bonuses: deposit bonuses and risk-free bets. Deposit bonuses award site credits proportional to bettor deposits and wagers. Risk-free bets refund lost wagers up to a certain amount in site credits.

Bettors shouldn’t rely on redeeming these bonuses at retail sportsbooks, though. Bonuses are tied to individual accounts. So, if a retail sportsbook doesn’t let a bettor sign in to an account, there’s no reason to think a bettor would be able to use an online bonus at a retail sportsbook.

Online sportsbooks offer ongoing bets that award free credits for (often) risky wagers in certain popular leagues. Bettors will also find bet boosts that either offer better odds on (usually) risky wagers. They’re smaller than welcome bonuses, so don’t expect to rake in thousands of dollars on them.

Pros & Cons Of Sports Betting On Mobile Devices

Mobile sports betting is the most convenient way to place a sports bet. Bettors can make wagers from their phones during post-pandemic get-togethers to make Sunday night football more interesting.

But wagering on a phone can limit how many lines bettors can view at once. It’s easier to take in the vast amount of information on a desktop. The bigger screen clears the layout to move around the sportsbook more efficiently. But it’s hard to beat mobile sports betting’s convenience. That outweighs the clarity that a larger screen can bring to a sportsbook app.

States With Retail Sportsbooks

Generally, sports betting can be broken into two categories: online and retail. When a state legalizes sports betting, it may choose to legalize both categories or only one category. With the exception of Tennessee (which allows only online sports betting), it’s by far more common to see states legalize retail sports betting without online options.

Typically, a retail sportsbook is a brick-and-mortar location inside of a casino where bettors can place bets in-person on sports games and events. While the idea behind an online sports betting app is essentially the same, it allows you to place bets remotely from anywhere within state lines.

Here are the states in which retail sports betting is legal:

• Oregon
• Nevada
• Colorado
• Montona
• New Mexico
• Arkansas
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Mississippi
• West Virginia
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• New Jersey
• Washington, DC
• Delaware
• Rhode Island
• New Hampshire
• Washington State
• South Dakota
• Louisiana
• North Carolina
• Virginia (although none have launched yet)
• Maryland

FAQs: Best Sports Betting Apps In The US

Yes. All states have been allowed to regulate sports betting since the US Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutionalin 2018. Now states can choose whether to legalize sports betting. Consequently, mobile gambling apps are legal in states where mobile gambling is allowed. As long as bettors are eligible to use them, there’s no legal issue.

Partially. Bettors cannot place wagers in a state where online sports betting is illegal. However, bettors can create accounts, deposit and withdraw funds, and perform other administrative tasks. Bettors just won’t be able to bet until they’re within a legal state’s borders. It’s generally legal for a bettor to register with a betting app and then travel to a state with legal betting to officially place that bet.

Security. Licensed sportsbooks are subject to strict industry rules that protect bettors. For example, some state Gaming Commissions set required cash reserves for sportsbooks so they never run out of money to pay bettors. Illegal sportsbooks have no regulatory body. So, if they run out of money, bettors aren’t entitled to compensation. (And that’s assuming illegal sportsbooks feel obligated to pay bettors who win.)

It depends. The best odds will come from either bet boosts or betting exchanges. That could be sportsbooks like FOX Bet or SBK, which gets its odds from a betting exchange in London. DraftKings and FanDuel offer some of the best bonuses. Bettors have to decide what’s important to them, then choose accordingly.

DraftKings, which has a statistics hub where bettors can see team performance histories. These insights could help strategic bettors decide how to place the most promising bets. (It should go without saying, but betting on a team because they’re your favorite team is a poor strategy.) DraftKings has a reputation for being one of the best football betting apps.

Yes. Sportsbooks make plenty of money off bettor losses. Charging bettors to download an app would create a barrier between bettors and the vig. Sportsbook lines have “house advantages” built into them, so if the favorite comes through, the sportsbooks make money. They’re more than happy to invite bettors in for free and entice them to spend money later.

If you want to bet, then yes. Bettors can create accounts and browse sportsbook lines without making a single deposit. But bettors can’t place bets for free. If you want to reap the rewards of an underdog win, then you need to put some skin in the game.

Infrequently. If you’re like most people, you won’t even know when your apps update. Sportsbooks and smartphone companies are staggeringly unlikely to require bettors to manually update apps. (What is this? 2007?) But sportsbooks can update one to four times a month. Debugging is a never-ending process, after all.

Virginia sports betting is now live. The first online sports betting app in Virginia launched on January 21, 2021. FanDuel Virginia announced its presence in Virginia as the first sportsbook to debut.BetMGM, BetRivers, and DraftKings followed within days after. One week after that, William Hill launched in Virginia.

State lawmakers passed a package of bills legalizing sports betting in the Old Dominion in July 2020. Governor Ralph Northam’s signature on those bills capped off several years of efforts from legal gambling advocates in the state.

Virginia’s sports betting laws allow for up to 12 online sports betting operator licenses. These licenses to offer mobile sports betting will go to brands approved by the Virginia Lottery.

At least four of those licenses will function as strictly mobile sportsbooks, not tied into a partnership with a land-based casino.

The other licenses could see Virginia’s planned land-based casinos launch online sports betting. A November public vote approved the construction of casinos in four Virginia cities.

Virginia’s sports betting launch drew some of the industry’s biggest brands to the state and in the first 9 days did over $58.9 million in handle

Virginia Online Sports Betting – Live Now

William Hill Virginia

Visit: William Hill Sportsbook Virginia – Get up to a $2,021 risk free bet

Another sports betting brand with a natural tie-in to the Virginia market, William Hill operates as one of the most recognizable names in the industry. William Hill US offers both retail and mobile sports betting in many US states.

Caesars Entertainment, the parent company to William Hill, is expected to construct a land-based casino in one of Virginia’s four voter-approved cities. That property is a virtual lock to include a land-based version of William Hill Sportsbook. For online bettors that means a William Hill sportsbook app that can be used anywhere in the Commonwealth.

FanDuel Virginia Sportsbook

Visit: FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia – Get up to $1000 risk free bet

Like its biggest rival, DraftKings, FanDuel is one of the brands leading the charge in the US mobile sports betting boom. The company expanded from fantasy sports into sports betting and online casino gaming over the last two years, becoming one of the biggest sports wagering brands in the US in the process.

FanDuel operates an online sportsbook in almost a dozen states. The FanDuel launch in Virginia happened just a day before its launch in Michigan.

FanDuel teams with land-based casinos to offer online sports betting in most states. Virginia laws allow FanDuel Sportsbook to operate with a casino license partner, or as an online-only app. In the end, FanDuel partnered with the Washington Football Team, which plays in Maryland but is headquartered in Virginia. This partnership allowed it a leg up in launch order over other sportsbooks who will most likely have online-only licenses.

Regardless of licensing, the first bet was placed on FanDuel Virginia on January 21, 2021, a momentous day for Virginia bettors.

BetMGM Virginia Sportsbook

Visit: BetMGM Virginia – Claim up to $600 risk free bet

BetMGM is one of the top online gambling apps in the country. With its online casino app launched in a few states, the BetMGM Sportsbook app is available in even more states. Backed by the world-renown gaming brand BetMGM, the sportsbook app offers strong odds and a wide variety of sports for Virginia bettors. The app is strong, with good reviews for being relatively glitch-free.

BetMGM was one of the first sportsbook apps to launch in Virginia. It also announced a partnership with hometown favorites the Washington Nationals and will eventually open a retail sportsbook at Nationals Park in DC.

BetRivers Virginia Sportsbook

Visit: BetRivers Virginia – Claim a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250

The BetRivers name comes from the Rivers Casino brand, owned by Rush Street Interactive. BetRivers isn’t just limited to states that host a land-based Rivers Casino property, however.

The BetRivers online sportsbook and casino app operates in several states. Within a week they launched in both Virginia and Michigan. Rush Street Interactive is expected to open a land-based casino in Virginia, but the BetRivers online sportsbook beat it to market.

BetRivers has proven a worthy competitor in the legal online sports betting market across the US and could be one of the most popular platforms in the Virginia market.

DraftKings Sportsbook Virginia

Visit: Draftkings Sportsbook Virginia – Get a $1,000 deposit bonus (20% up to $1,000)

DraftKings Sportsbook launched its mobile app in Virginia on January 24, 2021. Since expanding into sports betting in 2018, DraftKings has emerged as one of the biggest brands in the legal US sports wagering market.

DraftKings Sportsbook offers legal wagering in eleven states. The platform offers one of the most robust menus of sports and ways to bet on any mobile sportsbook in the US market. They also offer one of the strongest apps for both Apple and Android devices.

Virginia’s Online Sportsbooks: What Brands Are On The Way?

Virginia received 25 license applications in 2020, with only 12 online-only licenses available. The Virginia Lottery was tight-lipped about who applied. Local news has reported that some of the potential Virginia sports betting apps could be from BetMGM, WynnBet, or Barstool.

In the end, the first four apps to launch in Virginia were FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, and BetMGM. William Hill followed a week later. Moreover, both WynnBet and Barstoool Sportsbook don’t have the same kind of history of being the first to launch in various states, but were among the first apps to launch in Michigan on January 22, 2021, the day after the Virginia launch. It is possible we will see both brands in Virginia in the future as both have strong growth plans for the US betting market.

Guide To Online Sports Betting In Virginia

Bonuses Available At Online Sportsbooks

The launch of online sports betting in Virginia marks the start of an industry that should offer a dozen different online sportsbooks at some point.

Each of the different platforms on the way to Virginia will offer welcome bonuses for new players. Some of the most common welcome offers seen at legal online sportsbooks include the following:

Deposit Match Bonuses

A deposit match bonus takes your first deposit at an online sportsbook and matches a percentage of it with bonus betting credits.

At BetRivers, for example, new players get a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250. With this bonus, you’ll earn bonus betting credits equal to the amount of your first deposit, up to $250.

What Sports Betting Apps Are Legal In Illinois

Risk-Free Bets

A risk-free bet offers a rebate on your first bet (or sometimes multiple bets) made at a mobile sportsbook. The rebate is only awarded if the bet you apply the bonus to results in a loss.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, for instance, new players can enjoy a risk-free bet up to $1,000 after making an initial deposit. That offer allows you to make your first bet, up to $1,000, with no risk of losing.

No-Deposit Bonuses

A no-deposit bonus represents the most player-friendly offer of any welcome promotion on this list. This kind of bonus simply puts free betting credits in your player balance, just for signing up at a sportsbook.

Virginia’s Local Sports Teams

Virginia doesn’t host any teams from the four major US sports leagues, but it’s proximity to Washington DC makes the Old Dominion State one of the most passionate professional sports fan bases in the US.

All major domestic sports are open for betting at Virginia’s online sportsbooks. This includes professional sports teams in both Washington DC and Maryland, such as the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles.

Wagering on Virginia’s college programs, however, isn’t permitted under Virginia’s sports betting laws. College programs like the Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies will not appear on the menus of Virginia’s mobile sportsbooks.

Even without having local in-state teams, Virginia bettors are able to bet on all major domestic and international sporting events, including the Super Bowl, World Series, and March Madness. Although Virginia bettors are prohibited from betting on Virginia college teams playing in March Madness, they can bet on the Hoyas and the Terrapins. The same goes for NCAA championship games.

Washington DC Pro Sports Teams

Football represents the most popular sport for wagering in the US. The Washington Football Team enjoys a rabid fanbase in Virginia, backed up by three Super Bowl Championships and 24 playoff appearances in its nearly century-long history.

FanDuel partnered with the Washington Football team to launch the FanDuel Virginia app. It is expected the Washington Football Team will promote the FanDuel site. It is also rumored that this partnership was a sign of goodwill on behalf of the team as they consider a potential move to Virginia.

The Washington Nationals of MLB brought a World Series championship to Washington DC in 2019. Since moving to the District of Colombia from Montreal in 2005, the Nationals stand as one of Virginia’s favorite sports franchises. The Nationals partnered with BetMGM, who will eventually open a retail sportsbook at the Nationals Stadium in DC.

The NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals round out the lineup of Washington DC sports franchises. The nation’s capital is one of the few cities in the US with a team in all four major sports leagues.

Is Esports Betting Legal In Virginia?

The legal status of betting on esports varies significantly from state to state. Several states with legalized sports wagering don’t offer specific language on esports wagering in their sports betting bills.

Virginia’s sports betting laws, however, do permit betting on esports. Esports are rapidly growing in popularity for both spectators and bettors, and Virginia’s legal mobile sportsbooks are permitted to offer wagering on esports contests.

Sports Betting: Legal Versus Illegal

With up to a dozen legal online sportsbooks set to enter the Virginia market, illegal bookies and offshore gambling sites now take a backseat to their regulated, legal counterparts.

Virginia’s online sportsbooks operate under the regulation of the Virginia Lottery, a state-level government agency. The Virginia Lottery’s role in the state’s sports wagering industry is to ensure fair practice, prompt payouts, and a secure player experience from Virginia’s mobile sports betting products.

All approved online sportsbooks in Virginia bear the seal of approval from the Virginia Lottery. The sure way to tell that you’re playing at a state-regulated, legal sportsbook is to look for this mark on the homepage of a mobile sports betting website.

Drawbacks Of Illegal Bookmakers

Best Apps For Sports Betting

Offshore betting platforms, on the other hand, won’t display the seal of approval from the Virginia Lottery or any other US gaming regulation agency. Offshore sites often function without having to answer to any gaming regulatory body.

With this in mind, it’s important to understand that offshore betting sites have no legal obligation to pay your winning when you try to cash out. When you deposit at an offshore sportsbook, you might never see that money again.

Legal sportsbooks, on the other hand, must provide prompt and fair payouts under Virginia law. In states with legal online sports betting, wagering at mobile sportsbooks provided the same level of security as playing at a legal land-based casino.

How Do I Know That Online Sportsbooks Are Fair?

Regulated By The Virginia Lottery

All states with legalized gambling operate with one or more government regulatory agencies in place. Virginia’s upcoming sportsbooks will fall under the oversight of the Virginia Lottery.

Virginia becomes one of several states in which the state lottery regulates all aspects of legal gambling within the state. Other states using this setup include West Virginia and Delaware.

The Virginia Lottery launched in 1988, and functions as a state-level government gaming agency. When sports betting eventually goes live in Virginia, players can wager knowing that state-regulated sportsbooks are overseen and regularly audited by the Virginia Lottery.

Why Can I Trust Legal Online Sportsbooks?

The launch of legal sports betting brings the world’s top sportsbook brands to the Virginia market. Multi-billion-dollar companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM will all compete for a piece of what will likely become a flourishing mobile sports betting market.

Colorado Sports Betting Apps

Other brands likely to operate in Virginia include William Hill, PointsBet, FOX Bet, and several others. All of these companies operate in multiple states and in some cases overseas.

As such, these legal sports betting brands conduct business as some of the most trusted companies in the legal gambling industry. Brands like DraftKings and FanDuel function with a keen interest in upholding their reputations as the world’s most trusted sports betting brands.

Virginia’s legal mobile sportsbooks use the highest level of security measures to protect player funds and personal information. Anything less could result in a major loss of trust for these giants in the legal gambling sphere.

How Do Online Sportsbooks Pay Me If I Win?

Virginia’s online sports betting platforms offer several convenient ways to cash out from your account. Registering for an account, depositing funds, wagering on sports, and withdrawing after you win can all be accomplished remotely.

Withdrawal methods include options like ACH/eCheck and online bank transfer, each of which involves a direct transaction from your player balance to your bank account. Most major banks facilitate transactions to and from legal sportsbooks.

PayPal presents one of the most secure options for both deposits and withdrawals. Many online sportsbooks offer a house-branded version of the Play+ Prepaid card, which links directly to your mobile sportsbook account.

Other withdrawal options include Skrill, wire transfer, and even (as a last resort) check by mail. Most of these options take 2-5 business days for the money to appear in your bank account.

Virginia Mobile Sports Betting FAQ

Are Sports Betting Apps Legal Sites

All major domestic and international professional sports can legally be wagered on from Virginia’s legal online sportsbooks. The selection of leagues might vary across different brands, but Virginia law allows mobile sportsbooks to offer all professional sports leagues.

Betting on Virginia-based college programs, however, is prohibited. State laws restrict wagering on programs like the Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies.

Sports Betting Apps Legal In Ny

Yes, but betting on Virginia’s college programs is illegal. You won’t find any available betting markets for in-state programs at Virginia’s legal mobile sportsbooks.

Betting on all other college sports teams is legal, however. The only exceptions to this are in-game betting and player prop bets on college contests, which are illegal under state law.

Yes. The package of bills outlining Virginia’s sports betting regulations contain language allowing esports wagering.

Virginia’s sportsbooks can choose whether or not to include esports as available betting markets. The undeniable popularity of esports makes it highly likely that Virginia’s sportsbooks will offer esports markets.

15%. All Virginia sportsbooks, both online and land-based, will have revenue taxed at 15% from the state. Potential operators will also pay a $250,000 licensing fee every three years. These tax rates only apply to sportsbook operators. Sports bettors also need to pay both Federal and state tax on any winnings, in accordance with tax laws.

The Virginia Lottery will approve up to 12 sportsbook operators. Four of those licenses will go to online-only operators, not connected to any land-based casino.

All other licenses can be applied for by land-based casinos and racetracks, or by other online-only operators. This is how several sports betting apps launched prior to any casino opening in Virginia.

Yes. DraftKings was the second sportsbook app to launch in Virginia. It is licensed by the Virginia lottery to operate mobile apps for both Apple and Android and a web browser.

Yes. FanDuel was the first Virginia sportsbook to announce its debut in the Commonwealth. FanDuel Sportsbook maintains a presence in virtually every legal mobile sports betting market in the US. Virginia was the next logical step in FanDuel’s expansion efforts.