There are few things in life that stir up emotions like sports. It pervades our culture and is part of our everyday existence. It makes sense then that sports fans are attracted to the idea of gambling on their favorite team. The chance to win a little bit of extra money on the side all while watching your team play seems to good to be true. Well is it?
Can I Bet on Sports Online? In the US, the legalisation of sports betting is now a state based decision. It is expected that the majority of states will legalise the practice very soon. More than 12 states have given it the green light with most of those approving online betting. Sports bets can be placed online or mobile phone via licensed sports betting apps.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal?
In May 2018 the Supreme Court of the USA struck down the Professional and Amatuer Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The 26 year old act had prevented states who had not previously legalising sports betting from doing so. The removal of the act meant that as of the day of the ruling, individual states were able to legalise sports betting if they desired.
The State of New Jersey jumped on board the sports betting train less than one month later. A steady procession of states followed the New Jersey lead and legalised sports betting. This brings us to today. Legalised sports betting is fast grabbing a foothold in the landscape of sports media and entertainment. Rest assured if it hasn’t already, it is coming to your state and it will be accessible both in mobile and online formats.
Can I Bet on Sports on My Phone?
The answer to this question is an emphatic yes! In fact, why would you bother with any other method? The future of sports betting is completely mobile and the future is now!
Mobile sports betting is not only full of ease and convenience, it allows bettors to bet more often and on markets that ordinarily they simply wouldn’t have. The numbers coming out of first mover states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania show that the public is voting with their tapping fingers. Mobile sports betting is overwhelmingly the largest means with which bettors choose to bet, claiming upwards of 80% of the market.
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life the average Joe (or Jane) does not have time to drive down to the nearest casino or dingy sportsbook to place a bet. Not only is the time commitment a royal pain the immediacy of hitting a market when the price is right becomes virtually unattainable. The days of bricks and mortar sportsbooks are, if not over, very much numbered. They are an old school solution to an old school problem.
Despite the talk from the so called betting experts who dominate sports media, the absolute vast majority of sports bettors wager on sports for recreation, for entertainment and for the enjoyment of having some action on a game they are about to watch. These potential bettors need mobile and the call has been answered. In fact if they didn’t have access to mobile sports betting they simply wouldn’t bet at all.
Already there are more than 14 seperate mobile sportsbooks brands active in the US and this number continues to grow at a phenomenal speed. Not only can you bet on your favorite sports on your mobile, you are flush with choice.
With choice comes competition and with competition comes innovation. Betting on your mobile has become not just a thing of convenience but a one stop shop for entertainment, news, statistics and in the not too distant future streaming.
Mobile sportsbooks deliver to their clients more than just a way to bet. They provide analysis, free competitions, huge promotions, free bets, rewards programs, simple payment options, live scores, market analysis tools, free sports viewing content and all direct to your couch!
How Do I Place an Online or Mobile Sports Bet ?
Placing a sports bet online is very straightforward and can be done in these 5 simple steps:
1. Choose a Sportsbook and Download The App
There are a number of exceptional sportsbooks on offer in the US market. You will not be able to find these in the Apple Store or Google’s Play store due to the restrictions on gambling related content. That is not a drama. Consult our list below, choose the one that suits and simply search for it.
2. Create an Account
Creating an account is reasonably straightforward. You will need to enter all your basic details such as name, email and physical address. In the US, you are required to enter your social security number to help with the identification process.
At some point you may be required to take a photo of your state issued driver’s license and send that through via the app to finalise the identity verification process. This whole process can be completed in a matter of minutes.
Never fear about the security of your personal information as due to regulations it will never be used for any other purposes than ensuring you are who you say you are.
3. Deposit Money and Grab Your Sign Up Bonus!
The major online sportsbooks offer a variety of safe and secure ways to deposit money into your new account. You can check these out on our sportsbook review pages listed below. Expect all the usual suspects such as bank transfer, e-checks, credit card transactions, paynearme, deposit in person and PayPal.
At this stage it is of critical importance that you grab your sign up promotion code (Check them out on this page!). At sign up you will be able to leverage the fight for your business and land yourself a juicy bonus. These vary from time to time but as a rule they are very generous. Why not start off your betting career with some free bets!
School Of Bets has you covered with the best sign-up deals in the business.
It is important to note that any deposit you make will be subject to turnover requirements. This means the amount deposited may have to be turned over (bet) up to two times before it can be withdrawn. The specific requirements vary depending on the sportsbook. Be sure to check these out before dropping a large sum of money into your account.
4. Choose Your the Market You Wish To Bet On
This part is entirely up to you. Finding a market to bet on is quite simple. Perhaps you have a favorite sport you wish to target or maybe you just want to get into the game as quickly as possible. Either way you can check out all the markets by navigating from the home page using the simple to use featured sports menu or alternatively you can jump on the ‘upcoming sports’ menu to see what sports are about to start.
For an indepth look at how to locate a market check out our YouTube video:
5. Now Place Your Bet!
Once you have located the market you wish to bet on you need to add the bet to your virtual bet slip. To do this simply click on the odds associated with the bet you wish to make. This will immediately add the bet to your slip.
Enter the dollar amount you wish to stake into the bet slip, double check the details and hit submit.
Now hold on for the ride!!
What Sports Betting Apps Can I Bet With?
It almost seems like there is a new sportsbook appearing in the marketplace every week. Of course you need to be betting with a sportsbook that is fully regulated and licensed by the state you are in at the time. For that reason we suggest you stick with some of the major sportsbooks to begin your betting career.
Fanduel
This is one of the most prominent sportsbooks in the US market. If you bet on sports for any length of time you will most likely open an account with these guys. The app is slick, offers excellent user experience and is constantly being developed to improve the product.
Fanduel offer the full slate of sports, good odds, great promotions and a heap of extra benefits. You can’t go too wrong signing up to Fanduel.
Click here for a complete rundown on everything Fanduel has to offer.
DraftKings
DraftKings made the successful jump from Daily Fantasy provider to sportsbook as soon as New Jersey regulated sports betting. This has given them time to develop and refine their product. They are now one of the leading sportsbooks in the marketplace. The DraftKings Sportsbook app offers a wonderful user experience and a ton of useful market analysis tools. Their live betting platform is excellent. It is worth your while using using DraftKings as your sportsbook of choice.
To learn more about what DraftKings have to offer check out our complete guide here.
PointsBet
PointsBet entered the US market after establishing themselves in the already mature sports mobile sports betting market in Australia. They have brought their best in business mobile platform to the US and are setting the place alite. Unquestionably they offer the best promotions in the industry. It is difficult to go past PointsBet your preferred mobile sportsbook.
Get the lowdown on the great things Pointsbet bring to market.
FOXBet
The newest and perhaps the most exciting addition to the US mobile sports betting market. A coming together of one of the worlds biggest sports media companies and the largest online gambling company on the planet. FOXBet is set to revolutionise the mobile and online sports betting marketplace.
Get the good oil on what the FOXBet sportsbook app right here!
Can I Open an Account with More Than One Sportsbook?
There is absolutely no law against owning an account with multiple sportsbooks. In fact many would say it makes absolute sense. Having access to more than one book means you can leverage the best promotions, hunt down the best odds and grab more than one sign up bonus.
There are a myriad of reasons as to why you should seriously consider having an account with more than one book. Perhaps waiting till you have established a solid knowledge base and some experience betting on sports. After that point adding more weapons to your repertoire makes total sense.
Check out our article on the pros and cons of betting with more than one sportsbook.
The Game Starts Now!
Betting on sports online is not just legal it really is the only way to do it. No longer does a busy life have to cost you the chance to get some action on your favorite sports. Mobile and online betting allows you to enjoy the convenience and ease of betting on the run. The game starts now!