Bovada
What to Look for in a Good Online Sportsbook
There are many US states, where you can use a sportsbook to wager on your favorite sports and teams legally. As dozens of different betting sites are available, it can be challenging to choose which one is best.
Fortunately, that’s where we come in. Our experts have decades of sports betting experience, so read our list of top things to look out for when choosing an online sportsbook.
Differences between Sportsbooks
You’ll notice that there are a lot of similarities between sportsbooks, with most sites choosing to have the same layout. You’ll find a list of sports on the left, your bet slip on the right, and markets in the middle. However, the similarities tend to end there.
Every betting site has different welcome bonuses, promotions, markets, bet types, odds, and more. By choosing one sportsbook, you may get an excellent welcome bonus but be unable to wager on your favorite sports. Likewise, you could choose a betting site with tons of markets to bet on but a terrible mobile app. However, there are some things to look out for when choosing a sportsbook that will help you get the best quality platform.
Welcome Bonuses
Some online sportsbooks like Bovada offer a welcome bonus exclusive to new players. A welcome bonus gives you a boost when you register an account, such as a chance to play for free or make a profit. You usually need to fulfill terms and conditions like minimum deposits or minimum odds.
Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular types of welcome bonuses:
Deposit Match Bonus
With a deposit match bonus, a sportsbook will match your qualifying deposit up to a percentage with bonus funds. Many betting sites will provide deposit match bonuses as high as 100%, letting you effectively double your money. However, every deposit match bonus will have a limit. You can use your bonus funds like cash to wager on markets like moneylines, point spreads, and totals. Good sportsbooks will offer deposit match bonuses with high percentages.
Most deposit match bonuses will have wagering requirements, which tell you how many times you need to use your bonus funds before you can withdraw. The best online sportsbooks will provide these promotions with low wagering requirements, giving you a good chance of making a profit.
Risk-Free Bet
Rather than giving you funds for depositing, a risk-free bet will cover the losses of your qualifying bet. The sportsbook will set limits on this, such as a maximum bet and minimum odds, and if you meet the requirements, your wager will be protected.
If your bet wins, you will get your stake and profit back. However, the betting site will give you free bets equal to your stake if it loses. You can use these free bets for wagering and withdraw any profits. However, this does not include the value of the free bets.
No Deposit Bonus
Some sportsbooks will provide you with welcome bonuses you can use without needing a deposit. You just need to create an account or opt in and claim the promotion. You can get free bets and bonus funds, which you can use for betting. While there isn’t a minimum deposit, there may be other terms and conditions like minimum odds and time limits.
Markets Offered
The best online sportsbooks will provide markets for a wide variety of sports. Most operators will offer betting lines on the major leagues like the NFL and NBA, but you’ll also find smaller competitions like the NCAAF and NCAAB. In addition, sportsbooks will also cover niche sports like MMA and NASCAR.
Most sportsbooks provide between ten and 20 different sports and more competitions within those sports. You should look for a sportsbook near the top end of this scale to give yourself more options while wagering. However, if you are only interested in betting on popular sports, claiming a generous welcome bonus or having a great mobile platform may be more important.
Mobile Betting
There are many advantages of mobile betting, and plenty of sportsbooks provide mobile apps you can download from the iOS and Android app stores. You can use these mobile apps to access a sportsbook’s full range of features, including all its pre-game and in-play odds and customer support. You can bring your betting on the move as you can use betting apps anywhere you have a connection.
Good sportsbooks will either provide a fully optimized mobile app or a mobile browser site that uses HTML5 technology to work on any screen size.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) has taken action against an overseas gaming company in Curaçao that is allegedly operating illegal online gaming sites, Bovada.com and Bovada.lv (Bovada), accessible to Arizona residents. Following an investigation into the matter, the ADG sent a cease-and-desist letter to Harp Media B.V., which operates Bovada, on November 8, 2024.
The operation of Bovada in Arizona is alleged to be a felony criminal enterprise and Bovada has been directed to desist from any future illegal gambling operations or activities of any type in Arizona. Due to the unregulated and illegal online gaming offerings on Bovada, Harp Media B.V. is claimed to be in violation of Arizona gaming laws, including:
- Promotion of Gambling (Felony) — Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-3303.
- Illegal Control of an Enterprise (Felony) — Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-2312.
- Money Laundering (Felony) — Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-2317.
Harp Media B.V. has been directed to immediately cease all online (or other) gambling operations and activities in Arizona, and take the necessary steps to immediately prevent and exclude Arizona residents from gambling on their websites.
“We are actively monitoring the evolving landscape of online gaming and taking proactive steps like this helps us protect Arizona’s communities and economy from illegal activities,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “Our enforcement team is committed to preventing unauthorized operations from establishing a foothold here. Arizona will not be a safe haven for unlicensed or unlawful gaming, nor will we allow unlawful entities to compromise the integrity of gaming within our state.”
In light of these developments, the Arizona Department of Gaming urges residents to exercise caution with online gaming activities. Only legal, regulated operations provide important consumer protections not found in the illegal market, helping ensure a safer experience for participants. Certain online event wagering is legal in Arizona. A list of all licensed and regulated event wagering operators legally taking bets in Arizona can be found on the Department’s website at gaming.az.gov.
LeanBackPlayer announces the release of the 2021 rankings of the best online gambling sites. The rankings are based on expert opinions about the quality of each operator and specific ranking criteria. The surveys were sent to professional gamblers and industry insiders in fall 2020 and early 2021.
So which are the best online gambling sites? The answer will change depending on which games you like to play. There are gambling websites that offer great casino games, while others excel in their sports betting offerings. Or perhaps you are looking for a great poker site.
We evaluated some of the best gambling websites out there, weighed their features, game offerings, and reputations to come up with a list of the top 25 gambling websites and which type of wagering game they are best at.
Best online gambling sites ranked by category:
- Best for poker: Ignition
- Best for slots – Slots.lv
- Best for sports betting – Bovada
- Best for live dealer games – Cafe Casino
- Best for UFC bets – MyBookie
- Best for free games: Red Dog Casino
- Best bitcoin gambling site: Bitstarz
- Best for DFS – Monkey Knife Fight
- Best for CSGO gambling – CSGO Empire
- Best mobile gaming experience: Super Slots
- Best loyalty bonuses: Intertops
- Best variety of games: Wild Casino
- Best for unique games: Las Atlantis
- Best for tournaments: Black Chip Poker
- Best VIP program: Americas Cardroom
Runner-ups for the best online gambling sites:
- Jackpot City
- Royal Vegas
- 888 Casino
- Ruby Fortune
- BigSpinCasino
- Juicy Stakes Casino
- mFortune Casino
- Casino.com
- CasinoRex
- Ladbrokes
- Mr Spin Casino
Before we’ll take an in-depth review at each site individually, let’s look at how we ranked the gambling sites.
Ranking Methodology: How We Found the Best Gambling Sites
When choosing your next gambling site for a little online betting action, we put together a list of the 5 most important criterias.
As all of these criterias are very crucial factors that make safe and fair online gambling possible, we asked our 136 survey participants to evaluate and rank all the gambling operators accordingly.
Is the Gambling Site Licensed?
The online gambling site you choose should be licensed or have obtained certification. To be licensed, a gambling site must meet certain requirements including the offering of fair gameplay and securing your sensitive data. Choosing an unlicensed gambling site gives you little to no protection against unfair practices, lost money, or theft of your banking account and other personal information. Therefore, all the gambling operators without an online gambling license were excluded.
Depositing and Withdrawal Options
Is your preferred method of depositing funds bitcoin or PayPal? Take a look at the deposit options the gambling site offers to make sure your chosen method is supported. While you are looking at deposit options, also be sure to check out the withdrawal options. Sometimes these options are more limited or they come with a transaction delay of a few days to a week or more.
Reviews and Complaints
Much like reading the reviews before choosing a restaurant, this is an important step when selecting an online gambling site. Scouring the reviews can tell you a lot about the site, how well or poorly they treat their players, the reliability of the site operation, and much more. Are there a lot of negative reviews and complaints? Then you might want to skip this site and check out another one.
Bonus and Promotion Offers
When making that first deposit, you definitely want to check out any bonus offers. You may find that by simply using a different deposit method, or depositing a higher amount, you may net a higher bonus. You also want to watch out for the reverse and ensure what the dollar limit on a bonus is. Also, consider if there are bonuses and promotions offered after the initial deposit.
Features & Games Available
Last, but certainly not least, take a look at the games and features offered. Does the gambling site offer the games you like to play? Do they offer progressive slots, or anonymous poker play, or any other gameplay feature that you require? If the online gambling site does not have the games or features that you are looking for, then why waste your time joining?
Top Online Gambling Sites Reviewed
1. Ignition Casino – Best for Poker
While Ignition Casino offers a variety of games ranging from slots to blackjack, their focus is on poker. They offer sit ‘n’ gos, tournaments, and if you are looking for fast gameplay they offer a type of game called zone poker that allows you to quickly hop between tables as each hand concludes.
If tournament action is what you are after, they offer daily tournaments, weekly tournaments, and special events with unique prizes. And to help protect newer players, Ignition Casino offers anonymous gameplay to prevent being preyed upon by seasoned players.
Ratings:
- Banking: 9/10
- Reputation: 10/10
- Bonuses: 10/10
- Features: 9.5/10
Pros:
- Customize table and deck display
- Play from your mobile device
- View your hand history
Bonus:
- 100% match up to $1000 (150% match up to $1500 for BTC)
2. Slots.lv – Best for Slots
Slots.lv is the ultimate resource for online slot play with a library of over 5000 slots to choose from. Choose from classic 3-reel slots to more modern themed slots like Jurassic Park and Monopoly. Each of these slot games is hosted by other gambling websites but are offered here for quick, easy, cost-free playing.
And when you are ready to move on to betting real money, Slots.lv lists out the details on their trusted gambling sites so you can choose the best one for your money.
Ratings:
- Banking: 9/10
- Reputation: 8.5/10
- Bonuses: 10/10
- Features: 8.5/10
Pros:
- Play 1000s of slots for free
- Review important facts for gambling sites
- Spin the slots from a mobile device
Bonus:
- 200% match bonus up to $1000
3. Bovada – Best for Sports Betting
Bovada offers a range of popular casino games including some live dealer action as well as non-casino favorites like horse racing and online sportsbook. The array of sporting events that you can bet on is extensive. Bet on popular sports such as basketball, football, hockey, and other events such as political elections.
Search for an event by date or competitor and view all event info along with real-time odds. Bovada also offers a range of prop (proposition) bets giving you a chance of winning even if your favorite team/competitor loses.
Ratings:
- Banking: 9.5/10
- Reputation: 10/10
- Bonuses: 9.5/10
- Features: 9/10
Pros:
- Bet on a variety of sports
- View real-time odds
- Wide range of prop bets
Bonus:
- 50% match up to $250 (75% match up to $750 for BTC)
4. Cafe Casino – Best Live Dealer Games
If you are looking for an experience that is as engaging as in-person play, then you might be interested in Cafe Casino’s live dealer games. They feature blackjack, roulette (U.S. and European varieties), baccarat, and super 6.
Not only can you watch the dealers live on-camera, but you can also chat with them, other players and even tip the dealer at the end of your hand. These games are optimized for mobile play so you can take them with you wherever you go.
Ratings:
- Banking: 8.5/10
- Reputation: 10/10
- Bonuses: 10/10
- Features: 9/10
Pros:
- Engaging action with live dealers
- 99.5% return on strategic blackjack play
- Full range of casino games
Bonus:
- 250% match up to $1500 (350% match up to $2500 for BTC)
5. My Bookie – Best for UFC Bets
My Bookie offers a full range of casino games and sports betting but the one area where they particularly excel is UFC betting. For those looking to gamble on UFC and other MMA fights, My Bookie offers detailed match information, sports/event news, and real-time odds. You can bet on the outcome of the match and enter a range of prop bets to boost your potential winnings.
If the event is live, My Bookie still allows you to enter your bets. And the site is optimized for mobile devices so you can keep track of and modify your bets on the go.
Ratings:
- Banking: 10/10
- Reputation: 10/10
- Bonuses: 9/10
- Features: 9/10
Pros:
- Bet on live events
- Printable prop bet sheets
- View sports news
Bonus:
- 50% match up to $1000 deposit
6. Monkey Knife Fight – Best for DFS
Fantasy sports are a newer addition to the online gambling arena. One of the best sites for DFS betting, and the one purported to have “the coolest logo”, Monkey Knife Fight offers sports enthusiasts the freedom of building their own fantasy team and winning money based on game stats.
For a quick thrill, you can bet on a partial game, i.e. the first half of a basketball game. If you are looking for a long-term commitment, Monkey Knife Fight offers full-season betting pools.
Ratings:
- Banking: 9.5/10
- Reputation: 10/10
- Bonuses: 7/10
- Features: 10/10
Pros:
- Bet per game half
- Bet for a full season
- Optimized for mobile play
Bonus:
- Free $5 game when you sign-up
7. CSGO Empire – Best for CSGO Gambling
The self-purported first and still best skin-betting site, CSGO Empire offers a gambling platform for video gameplay. Bet on matches for popular games such as Counter-Strike and Call of Duty. Many of the matches offer a live stream so you watch as the action unfolds. To pass the time between matches, you can win some quick coins playing their coin-flip or roulette games.
For true game enthusiasts, in addition to the usual deposits of bitcoin and credit cards, you can also deposit and withdraw CSGO skins.
Ratings:
- Banking: 8.5/10
- Reputation: 10/10
- Bonuses: 9/10
- Features: 9/10
Pros:
- View live streams
- Deposit and withdraw skins
- Play a quick coin-flip or roulette
Bonus:
- Free case with a referral
Online Gambling Laws in the USA
Nevada was the first state to legalize gambling way back in 1931. Throughout the years many legal battles have been fought and laws are written to regulate gambling in all forms. And it is only recently that these battles and laws have reached the realm of online gambling.
The Federal Wire Act of 1961
Passed well before the invention of the internet, the Federal Wire Act limited interstate betting on sporting events. As online gambling got its start, many attempted to apply this law to gambling websites and many court battles have resulted.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIEGA)
The first law passed that put a big dent in the online casino business was the passage of UIEGA. This law didn’t prohibit online gambling, instead, it took aim at the financial transactions involved. The law made it illegal to accept payments for bets or wagers from U.S. players via the internet.
The Federal Law on Sports Betting (PASPA)
PASPA was passed in 1992 and essentially made it illegal to bet on sporting events outside of betting in Nevada. Initially enacted at the behest of the professional sports leagues to protect the “integrity of the game,” the law was later repealed in 2018 for being unconstitutional.
Delaware Legalizes Online Gambling
Delaware became the first state to legalize online gambling in 2012 with more states soon following.
Illinois, Virginia, Oregon, Colorado, Tennesee, Iowa, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Montana, and Indiana have all legalized online sports betting while Nevada has legalized online sports betting and online poker.
The states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia have all legalized online sports betting, online poker, and online casinos.
The Future of Online Gambling
Several states already have legal on-site sportsbooks including New York, Arkansas, New Mexico, and others. We can likely expect bills to be introduced in these states in the near future to expand this sports betting to the online realm.
With the recent repeal of PASPA, bills have been introduced or are expected to be introduced in several states this year including California, Kentucky, and Kansas to legalize on-site sports betting.
Online Gambling Types and Games
The best gambling sites offer a range of games because they know that bored players will quickly leave their site. Many of these games are ones that you would find in a traditional casino while others you probably wouldn’t.
Most Common Ways to Gamble
Slots
For slot players, online slot play will not be much different than casino slot play. From classic to modern slot games, these online versions feature the same reel-spinning actions, brand names, sounds, paylines, progressives, and often payout percentages as an actual physical slot machine.
Roulette
The major difference in online roulette play versus in-person roulette play will often be the absence of a physical dealer and a physical roulette wheel and ball. Otherwise, all of the betting actions will be the same. Online gambling sites often offer two versions of this popular game; a U.S. version and a European version.
Blackjack
Playing blackjack on a gambling website will be much like playing a video blackjack machine. The key difference is online blackjack playing maintains the interaction between players through the use of a chat feature. The betting actions will be the same as the real casino version, and by implementing a good strategy you can often experience the same level of success.
Live Casino
To give players an experience that is as close to the real thing as possible, many online gambling sites have started offering live games. Most often implemented using popular casino games such as blackjack and roulette, live game rooms offer an on-camera dealer performing live actions and interacting with the players.
Poker
There are many dedicated online poker sites that offer an array of features like an odds display and a viewable hand history that can give players an edge over traditional poker gameplay. The one downside to online poker play is the lack of being able to strategically read other players and identify their tells.
Sports Betting
Online sports betting is a growing industry that is rapidly replacing local bookies. Sports betting websites offer players the ability to bet on a wide range of sporting events, from boxing and basketball to golf and rugby. Online sportsbooks also offer a centralized resource for odds, stats, event info, sports news, and more.
Bingo
While bingo is often thought of as your Grandmother’s game, online gambling has brought this game to a wider audience. Gameplay online is often much quicker than an in-person game while still offering the best of real bingo features like multi-card play and customized daubers.
Lottery
While many people will continue lining up at the gas station to pick their lucky numbers, online lottery play is available in several states and is quickly growing. Not all lottery games are offered, and only a handful of states currently let you purchase your tickets online.
Scratch Cards
Online scratch card games are similar to their physical counterparts, with straightforward rules on matching symbols/numbers to win a prize, but the prizes is where online play differs. Online gambling sites use scratch cards to offers prizes that range from deposit bonuses, to gift cards, to actual cash. The odds of winning on these scratch cards will vary from site to site.
Online Gambling FAQ
Are online gambling sites legal in the USA?
Yes. Several states have legalized online gambling and it is perfectly legal to run online gambling sites from those states.
Can I gamble for free?
You can play or demo many casinos and other betting games for free. And there are often no fees associated with online gambling. In general though, to win money you will need to wager money.
How fair is online gambling?
This can depend on the site. Many reputable sites publish the odds for the various games they offer. Playing on these trusted sites will often give you the same gameplay odds as a real casino.
Is there a limit to how much I can bet?
Yes, there is a limit to how much you can bet on any one spin, hand, or sporting event. This limit is set by the gambling site.
Can I gamble from my mobile phone or tablet?
Many gambling websites have optimized gameplay for mobile devices. While the display and/or features may differ from desktop play, the betting action and odds will be the same.
You probably don’t need us to tell you that any form of gambling comes with risks and should not be undertaken as a solution to solve your financial troubles. It’s worth remembering the phrase…the house always wins!
If you suffer from a gambling problem or suspect somebody you know does, then we strongly suggest that you call Gambler’s Anonymous at 1-626-960-3500 to talk with an advisor for help and to make gambling safer for you or your loved ones.
Leanbackplayer is committed to responsible gambling. Underage gambling is an offense, all sites are 18+ ONLY. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly and only bet what you can afford. Gambling sites listed on our site may not be available in your region. Check your local laws to ensure an online gambling site is available and legal where you live. Leanbackplayer is an independent and reader-supported review site and may receive commissions through links made in their website’s guides, this does not affect the ranking methodology or position of the top picks.
Visit these organizations for free gambling addiction resources:
- http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/
- http://www.ncpgambling.org/
- http://www.gamblingtherapy.org/
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