Safest Online Sportsbook

The trusted name in online sports betting since 2000. Expert sports-betting guides, sports news and reviews of the top online bookmakers and bonuses. There are many sportsbooks with unreliable banking, payouts, and withdrawals, and hundreds of online sportsbooks have encountered bankruptcy and solvency issues in the past (which was one of the motivating factors behind this site, to begin with). There are four main reasons why you should use a safe Bitcoin sportsbook. Top online sportsbooks are far and few between but here is a review of the top online sportsboo.

  • Clearly, the safest sports betting sites for players in the United States are sites that are licensed by states that have legalized Internet-based sports gaming. New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have approved legal online sportsbooks at the time of this.
  • Safe Sports Betting Sites in 2021. If you are looking for the safest betting sites in 2021, you’ve found what you need. Our experienced team of sports betting experts are constantly analyzing online sportsbooks to determine which are the most trusted options for your real money bets.

For residents in many states, the days when the only online betting options involved shady offshore operators have come to an end. With more states at various stages of regulating online gambling, safe online sportsbooks will soon be widely available via mobile and desktop devices.

A significant advantage to legal, state-licensed online sportsbooks is that they are under the jurisdiction of state governments, usually via the local gaming commission.

Safest Online Sportsbook

Terms of licensing involve protection for problem gamblers and a demonstration of fair, safe and tested platforms. If there is an issue or dispute, you, therefore, have an avenue for complaints.

We cover all you need to know to bet at online sportsbooks in the US safely.

List of the safest sports betting sites in the US

First, we examine states that are already live along with the appropriate laws. Then, we discuss how to securely deposit and withdraw your winnings, along with responsible gambling.

What makes an online sportsbook safe and trusted?

Online betting, at least in regulated states and markets around the world, is extremely safe.

Two key drivers are the requirements and oversight of licensing bodies and the reputation of the big gambling brands.

In regulated states such as Indiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the local gaming commissions work on behalf of the government to license and oversee sports betting sites. More states are coming online. Here’s a partial list of the states with online sports betting:

The books are licensed to local brick-and-mortar casinos. As part of this license, the local gaming commission tests the platforms, and responsible gambling and protection for minors are in place. Also, secure banking methods need to be available.

State sportsbooks are partnerships with some of the biggest gambling brands. These apps and websites are often the results of years of development.

Keep in mind that these operators have long-standing reputations to protect. The competition between them ensures that the betting odds and promotions offered also need to be fair.

Bonus offers and customer service are the final areas to consider.

These include fair terms and conditions for welcome bonusesand any ongoing offers. A sportsbook that treats players unfairly by voiding bonuses for spurious reasons will not last for long.

While the gaming control boards oversee the safest (state-regulated) books, their service should be at a level where any disputes can be resolved quickly and easily.

Once you select the trusted legal sportsbook of your choice, check our full guide to sports betting basics.

Trusted New Jersey online sportsbooks

The Garden State was the first to offer online sports betting.

New Jersey drove the legal challenges to PASPA, a federal bill that prevented states from deciding on their sports betting laws. The US Supreme Court then overturned PASPA in 2018, thus paving the way for both live and online sportsbooks.

New Jersey already had the legislation in place via bill A2578. PASPA being overturned subsequently triggered a clause allowing sports betting. Many operators already had casinos and poker rooms online; therefore, the transition to NJ online sports betting was smooth.

Licensing for New Jersey online sportsbooks is handled by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).

An existing brick-and-mortar casino holds each license. These casinos then are partners with some of the biggest and best-known sports betting brands. These include DraftKings, FoxBet, 888 and WilliamHill.

Early online gambling sites in New Jersey did have some geolocation issues; however, they were false-negatives.

Access to real money games and deposits were denied close to state lines because the software was unable to confirm the user as being inside the state. Issues were quickly ironed out, though, with the experience ensuring that other states avoided these problems.

List of the top sportsbooks in New Jersey

Trusted Pennsylvania online sportsbooks

The authorities in Pennsylvania explicitly stated that they would make a move from retail to online sports betting slowly to ensure that everything ran smoothly before going live.

True to their word, there was a long gap between the legislation being passed (H 271, in October 2017) and the first PA online sportsbooks going live in the summer of 2019.

These were made possible by the Supreme Court decision to overturn PASPA in 2018. Like in New Jersey, Pennsylvania sports betting has licensing for casino and poker online in addition to sports betting.

Big brand names have once again partnered with the local (license-holding) casinos. They have global reputations to protect, built up over many years and, in some cases, decades.

With proven platforms and innovations like live and cash-out betting, these new online sportsbooks have made a smooth debut in the Keystone State.

List of the top Pennsylvania sportsbooks

More online betting sites will likely join these as the market matures.

Trusted Indiana sportsbooks

Unlike NJ and PA, Indiana passed legislation for online sports betting, though not for casinos or poker rooms.

The Hoosier State saw its first retail sportsbooks go live just before NFL season kickoff this year. Indiana online sportsbooks are expected to follow soon, with the first ones going live by the end of the year. Bill H 1015 became law on May 8.

Indiana has 14 land-based, riverboat and tribalcasinos, which can apply for sports betting licenses. These are under the jurisdiction of the Indiana Gaming Commission. Restrictions to ensure the safety of IN bettors include a ban on esports betting and betting on any non-pro event where the participants are younger than 18.

Other states: DFS and horse racing sites

In the meantime, there are ways to enjoy betting online safely from non-regulated states.

The first is to enter daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests.

Operators, including FanDuel and DraftKings, are active in the majority of states. They run real-money contests where you pick lineups of players for gamedays. You can challenge others, or enter bigger tournaments, where your lineups compete with others from around the country.

Second, you can bet safely online on horse races. There are national sites which allow bets via the pari-mutuel pools, such as TwinSpires, BetAmerica and TVG. These sites also welcome credit card payments. You’ll be betting under advance deposit wagering rules.

Avoid unsafe operators

Safest Online Sportsbook

Just how safe the new state-regulated sportsbooks are becoming clear when you compare these to the alternative: the offshore and illegal sportsbooks.

For many years, gambling sites have operated from sovereign states in the Caribbean and CentralAmerica. These sites are “licensed” by Curacao, Panama or Antigua (and others). This licensing is light touch, with no oversight on the finances, fairness or safety of the sportsbook operations.

Most importantly, if you have a dispute, for example, a refusal to pay out winnings, then there is nobody to contact. Some sites have closed, simply disappearing along with player’s bankrolls. Others have delayed payouts for spurious reasons, citing “bonus abuse,” though never specifying what is meant by it.

Using them is risky, and where there is a legal and reputable alternative, this makes little sense.

Is my data secure if I use my bank or credit cards?

An area of concern for many is whether it is safe to use your bank cards to make deposits at an online betting site.

With the new state-regulated betting sites, the answer is yes; however, plenty of alternative deposit options are available.

Sportsbook

If you are comfortable using debit or credit cards to deposit, then this is fast and easy. Making the deposit follows the same process you would use for any online purchase. As long as you are within the state lines where the online sportsbook is licensed, your balance will be available to bet with almost instantly.

If you are not comfortable with this process or do not want to see gambling deposits on your bank statement, then there are many safealternatives.

You can deposit with cash in many states.

First, you can make a trip to the casinocage of the license holding casino or sportsbook.

Some sites welcome PayNearMe deposits. With this, you take cash to your local 7-Eleven store, along with a barcode from the sportsbook.

Third-party wallet systems are another way to feel secure while making an online sportsbook deposit.

These services include PayPal (Skrill and Neteller are alternatives). Here, you use an online wallet account as a secure bridge between your bank and the sports betting sites.

More prominent online sportsbooks will offer branded debit cards. You will need to apply for these separately from your main account registration. You can fund your card using your regular credit or debit cards, then use the branded debit card for deposits and withdrawals.

There are also bank transfer options, including billpay, ACH (e-checks) or even wires available.

As long as the sports betting site is licensed and legal in your state, then deposits and withdrawals will be safe.

Compare bonus offers at safe online sportsbooks

Even among the reputable, safe online sports betting sites, there are significant differences in the quality of their bonus offers and promotions.

You’ll find deposit bonuses look similar at first. When you dig into the terms, though, these can look different. Checking those terms, and finding the best bonus deals, only takes a few minutes.

Here are some things to look out for:

  • Matched Deposit Bonuses: Compare the number of times you need to bet (playthrough) the bonus before it can release into your cash balance. The best books offer 1x, while between 5x and 20x is common.
  • Risk-Free First Bets: Some sportsbooks return losing first bets in cash, while more common is having this returned in betting credits. If you need to wager again to clear this bonus, then it is not 100% risk-free.
  • Restrictions on Bonus Bets: Bonuses often specify minimum odds (for example, -200 or better) and have time limits, which mean futures bets are not possible.

With so much competition in regulated states, most bonus offers are easy to clear. It always pays to familiarize yourself with the fine print before you sign up.

Stay secure at online sportsbooks: Responsible gambling

A significant difference between secure, regulated sports betting sites and offshore ones is a real commitment to responsiblegambling.

This process involves protectingminors and those bettors who may have gambling problems.

The usual format for state-regulated books is to have a badge or link at the top (and usually in the footer, too) of the site. The link takes you to an informationpage, which contains advice, information and tools.

You will need to be 21 years or older to bet in the state-regulated sportsbooks. Sportsbooks verify this by requiring the last four digits of your Social Security number as part of the registration process. Additional security or verification may be needed later on.

Here are the key elements of an excellent responsible gambling policy:

  • Self-Assessment: This is for anyone that thinks they or someone they know may have a gambling problem. It involves a series of questions about gambling behavior and thinking.
  • Links and Phone Numbers: National and local charities can assist with advice or counseling for anyone with gambling issues. Trusted online betting sites make sure they list contact details.
  • Betting Limit Tools: You can set up betting limits, deposit limits and even limit the time on reputable sportsbooks.
  • Timeout: Short term timeouts are useful if someone feels they need a break, for example, from chasing losses.
  • Self-Exclusion: This capability is for bettors who need a more extended break. You’ll be able to exclude yourself for one to five years. In some cases, you need to opt back in after the self-exclusion period is up.

While most people can bet responsibly, these measures should be welcomed by everyone. By protecting those people that may develop gambling problems, the sports betting sites can stay safe and legal for all.

Always pick a safe betting site

With regulated, legal online sportsbooks rolling out in multiple states, the need to stray to the offshore, gray market is gone. This is good news for sports betting fans for many reasons.

First, the risk of non-payment of your winnings (or a site disappearing completely) has gone.

Second, you’ll be able to use a range of mainstream banking options for deposits and withdrawals.

Third, if you do have an issue with a safe online sportsbook, you have the opportunity to complain to your local gaming commission office.

Add to this that the biggest and best gambling software powers the state books, and you’ll see that choosing a legit betting site is a win-win situation.

Is online betting safe?

We get asked this question a lot, and we always give the same answer. Online betting IS safe, so long as you know how to avoid the risks involved.

There’s no denying that betting online for real money involves some level of risk. There are steps you can take to ensure your safety, though, and we’re going to explain all about them right here.

One of the most important steps you can take towards safely betting on sports online is to join a trusted betting site.

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You can read more about these safe sports betting sites and why we recommend them if you wish. If you’re in a hurry to place some wagers, rest assured that you can join any one of these sites right now and be assured of safe online betting experience.

Should you wish to learn more about the risks involved in online sports betting, and how you can avoid them, we suggest reading through the rest of this page.

Please note that there is ALWAYS going to be a risk of losing money on your wagers. That’s part and parcel of any form of gambling, and not what we’re discussing here. We’re talking about the risk of getting ripped off or cheated in some way, or even the risk of getting into legal trouble.

These risks, among others, are why people worry about the safety of online betting. But, although it’s not a bad thing to be wary of the risks involved, the fact is that there’s not actually much to worry about.

Very few people who bet online have to face any real safety issues, and there’s no reason why you should either. Avoiding the risks and protecting yourself is actually pretty easy.

Not convinced? Then this article is just what you need. We look at each of the most common safety concerns relating to online sports betting, and explain the steps you can take to ensure those concerns don’t become a reality.

This is THE most common safety concern we hear about. Lots of people worry that online betting sites simply can’t be trusted, and we understand why. Over the years there have been several betting sites guilty of some or all of the following.

  • Disappearing with customer funds
  • Not honoring winning wagers
  • Not paying withdrawals, or paying very late
  • Offering unfair terms and conditions

The fact that these things have happened at all reflects badly on the online betting industry. It shouldn’t even be possible for sites to rip their customers off or to treat them unfairly.

Unfortunately it IS possible though, and we’re not even shocked that it happens. There are always going to be people in this world who try to scam or cheat others rather than make an honest living. And in some ways the internet has made it easier than ever to get away with it.

Sadly, it’s not really surprising that some people don’t like the idea of betting online for real money. They’re just not comfortable with the risk of being ripped off or cheated, and who can blame them? We live in a world where these kind of things happen all the time.

The good news is that the chances of being scammed by an online betting sites are actually pretty low.

People do get ripped off and cheated by online betting sites. We’d be lying if we said otherwise. That doesn’t mean that online betting is fundamentally unsafe though.

Actually, we would even go as far as to say that the opposite is true!

While there are SOME shady sites that operate unethically, they’re the exception and not the rule. Most betting sites are perfectly safe to use, and can be trusted to treat their customers in the right way.

A key step towards staying safe when betting online is simply to avoid the shady sites and stick with the legitimate ones. Now, we say “simply,” but how do you do that? How do you know which sites can definitely be trusted?

Safest online sports betting sites

This is easier than you might think, if you’re prepared to do a little research. Before you join a betting site or online sportsbook, you should look in to them and see if they meet the following criteria.

  • Licensed and regulated by a reputable gambling authority
  • Established history and proven track record
  • Lack of negative reports and complaints (at least recent ones)
  • Positive online comments from bettors and expert reviewers

The first item on the above list is especially important. Any site that’s not licensed and regulated should be avoided at all costs, as it’s not obliged to adhere to any kind of guidelines or fair practices. Even though that doesn’t mean for certain that it is a shady site, there’s no point taking the risk.

Licensed sites have to comply with the rules and regulations laid down by their licensor, so they’re typically going to be much safe to use.

Note that we said typically. Unfortunately, even a gambling license doesn’t 100% guarantee that a site is legit. Some licenses are so easy to get that they’re hardly even credible. That’s why you need to check where a license comes from, and how reputable the licensor is.

To learn more about the licensing and regulation of real money gambling sites, including online sportsbooks, please see the following page.

Safest Online Betting Sites In India

Having an established history is also a very good measure of legitimacy for betting sites. The shady ones don’t generally last too long, as they are constantly getting shut down for one reason or another. So if a site has been around for many years, it’s likely to be one you can trust. That’s not to say that newer sites definitely can’t, but they have more to prove.

If your research turns up a ton of negative reports and complaints about a site, then that’s obviously a red flag. It is worth nothing, though, that sites do change ownership and/or clean up their act. So if the complaints and bad reports are from years ago, and there’s nothing recent, that’s a positive sign.

Positive comments are, of course, also a positive sign. Especially when they come from people who are actively using a site. Genuine user reviews usually paint the most accurate picture. It’s similar with reviews from legitimate experts, too, but you do need to be a little wary of reviews.

Lots of websites review online gambling sites, but they’re not all 100% honest. Some get paid to post positive reviews, so you won’t get unbiased opinions. Be especially wary when EVERY review seems to be positive.

We have our own review section here at GamblingSites.com. Our reviews ARE honest, and based on a combination of our own experiences and additional research. We write about the good and the bad, providing our readers with balanced views and the information they really need to know.

When a betting site does engage in unethical behavior, it’s very likely that the people affected will openly express their concerns for everyone to see. That’s why we recommend searching for negative reports and complaints. Just do a Google search with the site name and “scam,” “complaint,” or something similar. If there’s anything bad you should know, you’ll probably find it. If you don’t find anything, then that’s a good sign.

Please note that none of the individual criteria we’ve discussed here GUARANTEES that a site is a trustworthy. If you put them all together you can be pretty confident that a site is legit, but you still need to proceed with caution if you want to protect yourself. We advise testing a site out with small deposits until you’re absolutely certain they can be trusted.

Of course, we realize that most people who bet online, or want to, would prefer to just sign up with a site and start placing their wagers right away. Researching various different sites and testing them out is just too much hassle. They still want to stay safe though. That’s why we provide rankings of the top betting sites, making sure that ALL of our recommendations are legitimate, trustworthy, and safe.

Our rankings cover various different categories. For all the details, please visit our page on the best online sports betting sites.

Why would anyone be worried about breaking the law when betting online? Anyone who lives in a country where online betting is fully legalized or regulated may be wondering this. Unfortunately, in other countries around the world, there are people who completely understand why breaking the law is in question.

These people genuinely don’t know whether it’s legal for them to place wagers online, because the online betting laws in their countries are either outdated, confusing or both. It’s simply not clear what’s legal and what’s not, so people naturally worry that placing an online bet MIGHT be breaking the law.

Now, we’re not lawyers. We HAVE studied the laws relating to online gambling extensively though, and we’ve come to two very clear conclusions. The first is that most online gambling legislation is aimed at those who provide online gambling services and operate gambling sites. The second is that there are no laws that explicitly make it illegal for an individual to place a sports wager online.

Safest Online Sportsbook

Well, in our opinion it means that there’s very little risk of getting into legal trouble for betting online. We can’t say for certain that you’re 100% safe from breaking the law, but we really don’t think this is an issue.

Which Online Sportsbook Is The Best

It’s important that you stay away from betting sites that might be operating illegally though. The people operating an illegal site are far more likely to face prosecution than the customers, but why risk it? Even if you don’t get arrested (and you probably won’t), guess what happens when an illegal betting site gets busted? All their assets get seized, which means you’ll probably lose any funds you have at the site.

There are plenty of betting sites that operate legally within the jurisdictions where they’re based. This includes ALL the sites that we recommend. Stick with these and you should never have to worry about any legal issues.

Personal Details Being Sold or Stolen

These are two separate risks really. The risk of your personal details being sold is easily avoided, as you just need to use one of our recommended betting sites. These are legit sites that simply don’t engage in this kind of behavior. They won’t sell your email address to other companies that will spam you to death. Nor will they sell your banking information to fraudsters.

They’ll keep your personal details private, because your safety is important to them.

Using reputable and trustworthy sites will also reduce the chances of your personal details being stolen. These sites use the latest security and encryption technology to ensure that your data is as safe as it can be. There’s still SOME risk unfortunately, as even the most reputable companies in the world are ultimately susceptible to hackers. Just ask Microsoft, Sony or Amazon. These companies have all been hacked and had customer details stolen.

Realistically, there’s only a tiny chance that your personal information will ever be stolen from an online betting site. Tiny enough that it’s not even worth worrying about it. What’s more likely is that the information will be stolen from YOU when you’re accessing and using betting sites.

Most Secure Online Sports Betting

Here are some security tips that will help you to keep your details safe, and also prevent unauthorized access to your betting accounts. We strongly recommend you follow them.

Whats the best online sportsbook
  • Install anti-virus and anti-malware software on all your devices, and KEEP IT UPDATED.
  • Use strong passwords. Ideally with a combination of upper case and lower case letters, numbers and other symbols.
  • Use different passwords at different sites.
  • Don’t give your usernames or passwords to ANYONE.
  • Change your passwords regularly.
  • Use unusual security questions/answers.
  • Don’t send banking information via email, live chat or Skype. Only enter it directly at a betting site, where everything will be encrypted and protected.

This is a different type of risk to the others discussed so far. It’s a very real risk though, and one you should definitely be aware of. A small percentage of people do get addicted to online betting, or at least experience some form of problem gambling. If you want to stay safe from these dangers, it’s VITAL that you gamble responsibly.

Your first step should be to set a budget based on how much you’re prepared to deposit online. This should ideally be a weekly budget or a monthly budget. It should be money that you can afford to lose, and that isn’t needed for anything more important.

You then need to be very strict about sticking to your budget. Don’t justify overspending by saying “just this once” or “I’ll win it back.” That’s how problem gambling starts, and things can soon get out of control. Don’t ever borrow money to bet with either. If you don’t have the money yourself, then you shouldn’t be betting. It’s that simple.

Be aware that most online betting sites allow you to set your own deposit limits. Please take advantage of this if you think overspending is going to be something you struggle with. It’s an extra layer of protection that you might be thankful for later.

We also recommend learning about bankroll management and staking plans. This will help you stay in control, and it can even improve your overall chances of winning money.

Please note that it’s best to avoid gambling all together if you have an addictive personality. You might be able to stay in control, but you might not. It’s just not worth the risk.

There’s no real reason why online betting shouldn’t be a completely safe experience. There are some risks involved for sure, but most of these risks could easily be avoided. You just need to take a few simple precautions.

If you only remember one thing from this article, let it be this; which sites you choose to use CAN and WILL make a difference. By sticking to legitimate and legal sites that can be trusted, you’ll be able to eliminate many of the common safety concerns. If you also gamble responsibly, and take some security measures to protect yourself, you WILL be safe.

Safe Online Betting

Then you can concentrate on having fun and trying to win some money, which is EXACTLY what online sports betting is all about.