BataviaBets offers secure online horse wagering and allows you to earn monthly rewards when you wager on all your favorite tracks online or by phone from your home, office, or anywhere you are. Visa and Mastercard are 2 of the most popular choices, however individual bookmakers may differ. Skrill – Skrill is a great option if you are looking for an e-wallet to fund your betting account.

Reviewing The Most Reputable Online Sportsbooks In 2020

Established in 2014, FortuneJack is a hybrid crypto casino and bitcoin betting site. Betting site features - If you’re searching for a site with a particular feature, like a poker room to play a few hands while watching the game, we can help you with that. In addition, when rookie gamblers evolve into more seasoned sports-betting aficionados, they may or may not outgrow their original sports betting site.

What constitutes legitimate sports betting on the web? Regardless where you are in the world, as a sports bettor, you should be ensuring certain criteria are met before you plunk down your hard-earned money in any virtual sportsbook. This guide will cover both legitimate USA online sports betting as well as the trusted options for UK sports bettors.

While there are no guarantees that your friendly neighborhood bookie will operate in a trustworthy manner, the Internet is home to a few reputable sports betting operations that deliver everything the demanding sports gambler is looking for. This includes regulation and oversight, a wide variety of major and minor sports offered, new innovations like live in-game wagering, respectable and dependable banking suites, and competitive lines, sides and totals.

If you are looking to play with one of the most trusted sportsbooks in the industry, then Bovada is a fantastic choice. Their parent company 'Bodog' has been in the online gaming industry since the mid 1990s, and they have been delivering a top shelf betting platform to millions of players from all over the world for over 20 years now. New players can take advantage of a 50% matching bonus up to $250 as well as generous ongoing promotions and loyalty perks. Their sportsbook is one of the most trustworthy in the industry, featuring wagering options on every sport, live betting, mobile play, poker + casino games, and so much more. And they pay out like clockwork which is very important to the avid player.

How to Bet on the Belmont Stakes Online. For racing fans unable to attend in person, horse racing betting sites and mobile racebook apps provides the most convenient and widely available access to parimutuel wagering pools for the Belmont Stakes and all other major horse races. Fans 18 or older in most US states can bet.

Most Trusted And SecureOnline Sports Betting Sites For 2020

Just a quick note to my visitors: I know it seems weird that every site is highly rated on legitimatesportsbetting.com. This isn't because we are lazy or cavalier with our site rankings. It's simply because we really do recommend only the most trusted online sportsbooks in the industry, which leaves out all the bad apples that would normally bring in a 2 or 3 star rating.

The Review Process We Use to Identify Honest Sports Betting Sites

As mentioned above, there are some benefits to placing your sports wagers online as opposed to in the 'real world'. You can first and foremost investigate licensing quickly, and thereby only place bets with legally certified and regulated online bookmaking operations. Also, your local illegal bookmaker, or legally licensed casino accepting sports wagers, would never think of offering you a welcome bonus just for doing business. However, in the online gambling industry, deposit matching welcome bonuses, refer-a-friend incentives and other player rewards are consistently and frequently offered when you open and fund a real money sports betting account. Let's take an in-depth look at exactly how to identify a legitimate sports wagering website where you can grab your generous welcome bonus money and begin betting immediately.

Licensing And Certification

Governments like Curacao, Gibraltar and Panama, and the Internet gambling regulatory body located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, Canada, are all considered reputable and responsible license providers for online wagering. A thorough investigation of the licensing and certification owned by any online sports betting enterprise is your first step towards choosing legitimate sports betting sites over less than reputable operators. There are other factors to keep in mind, to be sure, but for an honest and 'above board' experience, make sure your sportsbook's licensing is legal, respected and maintained.

Competitive Lines, Sides and Totals

After legitimate licensing, even the beginning gambler knows enough to expect competitive lines, sides and totals from any website that considers itself as a provider of an honest and legitimate sports betting experience. If physical sportsbooks and most sports betting websites show the Seattle Seahawks as a 3.5 point favorite, and your bookmaker will only give you Seattle -3, and this consistently happens with NFL favorites, you need to move on down the road. That one half of a point can be the difference between winning and pushing, and if your current gambling site is consistently providing money lines, parlay and teaser payouts, side, line and total numbers which are not competitive with the rest of the industry, suffice it to say that you are not enjoying one of the legitimate wagering destinations we have reviewed and recommend here on our website.

A Wide Variety of Minor and Major Sports Offerings

We are Internet gambling industry consultants, but we are first and foremost Internet casino, poker room and sportsbook enthusiasts. As such, we understand that casual, intermediate and veteran gamblers all tend to prefer one type of bet and one particular sport over the rest. You may prefer betting on the Super Bowl over betting on football games during National Football League regular-season. Or perhaps you make bank predominantly on NCAA March Madness by betting multi-team parlays and teasers of by betting on legitimate Basketball games. We also have our favorite sports and wagers, but it is nice to have access to an extremely wide range of betting options.

There are many times when your favorite games are not offered, or you come across an especially sensitive piece of information which makes wagering on a particular sporting contest extremely attractive. Guarantee your gambling destination offers a wide variety of minor and major sports, and you will always be able to place an intelligent wager. (We have even uncovered a few legit sportsbook operations which allow wagering on entertainment options, political situations and reality television shows.)

Speedy and Dependable Betting Confirmation

Legitimate licensing and attractive betting lines are super important when choosing an Internet gambling site. But so is speed of betting confirmation. Some less than reputable Internet bookmakers offer ridiculously attractive parlay and teaser pay tables and betting lines, but are slow to confirm your bet. While not all of these operations do this purposefully, this can be a way to straddle certain sports bets and manipulate your wager. Before opening an account at any virtual gaming destination, carry out a thorough investigation of the legitimacy and reputation that particular institution enjoys in the Internet gambling industry. Then after opening your account, place some very small wagers to test betting confirmation speed. Contact the customer support team and voice your concerns. Legitimate operations are happy to discuss such issues with you, and will always place your bets and send you confirmation in a speedy fashion.

Banking and Payout Choices

Governments like Curacao, Gibraltar and Panama, and the Internet gambling regulatory body located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, Canada, are all considered reputable and responsible license providers for online wagering. A thorough investigation of the licensing and certification owned by any online sports betting enterprise is your first step towards choosing legitimate sports betting sites over less than reputable operators. There are other factors to keep in mind, to be sure, but for an honest and 'above board' experience, make sure your sportsbook's licensing is legal, respected and maintained.

Secure Software

One thing I personally pay close attention to is the security of the website. For example if the sportsbook offers live chat, and the first thing they do is ask you for your username and password, you had better make sure it says https:// in the browser which demonstrates your using a secure connection. If it's not a secure connection I would definitely look for another bookmaker who takes keeping your login credentials a little more secure. Generally this isn't a concern at any of the websites we recommend, but certainly something to pay close attention to if your playing elsewhere.

Other Important Considerations

The above considerations are the most important in identifying legitimate sports betting options. But there are always the intangibles to take into account as well. If you find two legitimately licensed and dependable operations offering great lines and speedy betting confirmations, then you will want to compare the overall user experience. How does the display look when you switch from your laptop to your smartphone?

Are there certain benefits and bonuses offered at one of the legitimate brands you are considering, but not at the other? Many times, the most dependable and reliable Internet sportsbooks will compete against each other for your business by offering sport-specific wagers and other site-specific incentives. Ensure that a review of the above five traits delivers favorable answers, then consider the intangibles. Only then will you guarantee that you are receiving a legitimate sports betting experience provided by one of the top operators on the Internet.

We have to additional websites in the legitimate family of sites which include legitimate online casinos and legitimate poker sites. Our goal is to review and offer recommendations on the most reputable sites in every genre of online gambling.

With so many US states legally authorizing domestic sportsbooks, Americans have more opportunities than ever to safely bet on sports. But most United States residents still don’t have convenient access to online betting through state-based channels. Fortunately, the offshore betting market has been a safe haven for US bettors for over a decade, and that industry is growing faster than ever.

If you want to join a secure and reputable betting site that delivers legally licensed and legitimate sports betting to millions of responsible adults (18+), our recommended offshore books are trustworthy and time-tested. To learn exactly what we look for when choosing the most trusted sportsbooks for American players, read our following brief guide.

Most Secure And HonestOnline Sports Betting Sites For US Players

Identifying Legitimate USA Sports Betting Sites – What To Look For

There are lots of different aspects to consider when picking a legitimate online casino to call home, and each bettor will have to decide for themselves what is most important. At the very least, all reputable books should include the following standard features:

• A license to operate from a legitimate and recognized gambling jurisdiction
• Multiple reliable banking methods including Bitcoin
• Guaranteed timely payouts
• Competitive betting lines
• Support for all major US and international sports
• Valuable bonus options
• Audited, fair play certified betting software
• Secure SSL and TLS encryption technology
• Secure browser-based mobile betting
• Secure live betting options

Selection Of Sports And Odds At Legit USA Sportsbooks

The most trusted online sportsbooks cover all the major US and international sports leagues as a matter of course, with thousands of daily odds and lines to choose from. You will see the same standard implemented on our legitimate football betting guide and in our legitimate basketball betting guide. We simply won’t recommend a licensed sportsbook unless it offers all of the following betting markets:

• NFL
• NBA
• MLB
• NHL
• College football (NCAAF)
• College basketball (NCAAM)
• Auto racing (NASCAR, Formula 1)
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Golf
• International basketball
• International hockey
• MMA
• UFC
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Rugby
• Olympics
• Political betting
• eSports
• Entertainment betting
• +More

• Spread bets
• Straight moneylines
• Totals (over/unders)
• Alternate lines
• Player props
• Team props
• Game props
• Futures
• Parlays
• Live betting
• +More

Legitimate Sportsbook Banking Options

Any reputable USA sportsbook needs to have a selection of accessible, legitimate banking options for both deposits and withdrawals. These should include some combination of the following:

Deposit Options:

• Bitcoin
• Altcoin (Ethereum, Litecoin, etc.)
• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Gift cards (international)
• Cashier’s Check
• Money Order
• Person-to-Person (MoneyGram, Western Union)
• Zelle
• Bank Wire

Payout Options:

• Bitcoin
• Altcoin (Ethereum, Litecoin, etc.)
• Courier check
• Money Order
• Person-to-Person (MoneyGram, Western Union)
• Bank Wire

For the best mix of speed and efficiency, we recommend Bitcoin or another supported cryptocurrency. This is the only way to get same-day withdrawals, but you must deposit using crypto in order to request Bitcoin or altcoin payouts. Bear in mind that international banking methods vary, so European players should check out our legitimate UK sports betting guide for international payment and withdrawal methods.

Understanding Bonus Selection And Rollover

One of the main ways that reputable offshore sportsbooks differentiate themselves is in their bonuses. Still, bonuses can be a double-edged sword: While they offer a tremendous value for frequent bettors, low-volume gamblers may not benefit as much.

As a rule, the bigger the bonus, the lower its rollover requirements should be. If a book offers a hefty bonus with a 15-20X rollover, you know they’re just out for your money. Unscrupulous books use big bonuses with high rollovers to lock bettors out of payout requests for lengthy periods of time. Meanwhile, upstanding books offer sports betting bonuses with 5-10X rollovers at most.

Legitimate USA Mobile Betting

Any reputable online sportsbook knows that the majority of its customers bets on the go, which is why they’ve all built responsive, mobile-optimized interfaces to make browsing odds and placing wagers as easy as possible.

Best of all, there are no apps to download, as the top sites offer browser-based solutions for iPhone, iPad, and Android (among other smartphone and tablet makes and models). Offshore sportsbooks aren’t geofenced like domestic operators, either, making convenient nationwide betting a reality.

Live Betting Options At Reputable US Sportsbooks

Live betting is the most popular way to wager on sports, allowing you to bet on dynamic odds all game long. If a sportsbook doesn’t offer live betting, you know they aren’t legit.

Always go with an operator that emphasizes their live, in-game wagering selection, as this shows a dedication to both customer service and reinvestment in their own infrastructure. A betting site that isn’t interested in live betting isn’t interested in your business.

What Else To Look For In A Trusted Sportsbook Site

While we think the above criteria are the most crucial for any legitimate US sportsbook, they aren’t the only things that matter. Other important individual aspects to consider include:

• Low wagering limits – Some legit betting sites allow wagers starting at just $0.50, while others have minimums of $2.00. Depending on your needs, you may favor the former over the latter.
• Low deposit fees – Most reliable offshore betting sites have deposit fees for anything other than Bitcoin, but credit and bank wire fees may also be waived at certain times.
• Low withdrawal fees – As with deposits, only Bitcoin offers totally free withdrawals. Other payout methods will incur processing and transfer fees, though these vary site to site (and may also be waived at certain times).
• Rewards programs – The most highly-rated online books all have rewards programs. However, each site’s model is different, and you should check multiple operators to see what perks they offer to frequent bettors.
• Other gambling options – Most of the best online sportsbooks also offer casino gaming, live dealer games, tournament poker, and racebooks. If you want a one-stop-shop for all your gambling needs, the casino and poker selection could make one site stand out above another.
• Player ratings – While we’re confident that you can trust our betting site ratings, many bettors will find extra peace of mind by browsing online forums for sportsbook reviews. Our recommended sites score highly with players, but you may have specific questions you’ll find answered by others in the community.

Legitimate USA Sportsbooks FAQs

Secure Betting Sites

Are online sportsbooks safe to use?

Yes, but not all of them. In fact, the vast majority of Internet betting sites are unsafe sportsbooks or outright scams. There are thousands of operators online, and most of them are here-today-gone-tomorrow types, doing business without any licenses and often offering bonus schemes that effectively lock players out of receiving their winnings.

If you want to ensure a safe sports betting experience, you’ll need to pick an industry-leading service that has withstood the test of time. The sites listed here meet that standard, and they’re the books where we regularly wager our own money!

Are domestic brick-and-mortar sportsbooks better than online options?

This is a matter of preference, as physical retail sportsbook locations offer a social element that online sportsbooks lack. If you want to go out and watch the games of the day on big screens while you have drinks and gamble with your friends in a festive environment, nothing beats a real sports betting lounge.

However, if you just want to place a few bets and get on with your day, you’ll be much better served by using an online book. Four out of five USA bettors prefer wagering online to betting at physical venues.

Are offshore sportsbooks better than domestic online sportsbooks?

Usually, but not always. The best online sportsbook for USA players is going to be the one where you get the best combination of sports, odds, and value, as well as the book that you can access most regularly.

Domestic sportsbooks have the benefit of offering more funding options, and for those who live in the few states with legal online sports betting, there’s very little learning curve required to sign up and start wagering.

Of course, offshore sportsbooks have benefits, too. Namely, such books accept Bitcoin/crypto, allow frequent travelers to wager while out of state, and usually offer online casino, poker, and horse racing betting. Additionally, most offshore books set their membership ages to just 18 years old, allowing more Americans in more states to gamble and win real money.

Is mobile betting safer than wagering with a desktop or laptop computer?

Modern mobile devices are inherently safer than the typical desktop or laptop computer, though these latter platforms are not unsafe. If you want to maximize your security, though, it makes sense to stick to iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

The only rule here is to make sure that you update your mobile device’s operating system any time new revisions are launched, as these often include bug patches and security fixes. A safe bet is always your best bet!

Can I use a VPN to bet on sports at legitimate offshore books?

Nfl Betting Sites

Using a VPN for sports betting is largely frowned upon and can get your account suspended or banned at most reputable gambling sites. If you live in New Jersey, for example, you are going to be precluded from accessing sites like Bovada and BetOnline. But don’t use a VPN to spoof your sportsbook into thinking you live elsewhere, as these sites have mechanisms in place to detect this, and it’s a violation of their terms of service.

What site has the best sportsbook software?

No major site’s betting software is superior or inferior to any other top site’s platform. All the books listed here offer fresh odds updated in real time, and while most operators use proprietary software to set and tweak their lines as wagers come in, they are all current and timely.

That said, not all books have the same actual betting lines, which means that you’d do well to join multiple sites and shop lines for your best bets before every contest.

Secure Online Horse Racing Betting Sites

What is the most secure sports betting site?

Legal Online Betting Sites

You won’t have any security issues with sports betting online, provided you choose one of the reputable brands recommended here. Of these, no book is better or worse than any other when it comes to player safety. Secure online sports betting ultimately comes down to technology and reputation, and the most reputable books use the best, most cutting-edge tech as a matter of course.

Best Online Betting Sites

With state-of-the-art SSL/TLS encryption and data privacy best practices, you can rest assured that your online betting transactions are safe and that your personal information will never be sold to third parties.