Complete Sports Betting Guide for May, 2024

Author: Taylor Smith | Last Updated: March 2024

This sports betting guide arms you with all the information you need to thrive in the sports wagering scene. We highlight the best sports betting sites and help you find one that fits your budget and preferences. Plus, our team curated a list of some of the most profitable wagers, tips for success as a sports bettor, and all the info you need to start winning money at a sportsbook today.

Best Sports Betting Site in 2024 – BetUS

BetUS is the best overall sports betting site on the market right now. This sportsbook was established in 1994, and has built up a very trustworthy reputation over the past three decades.

The flagship sign-up offer is a 200% crypto bonus worth up to $5,000, which includes $3,750 for the sportsbook and $1,250 for the casino. There are lots of alternative sign-up bonuses too, including a cash bonus with a very low rollover requirement, and it is great to have this level of flexibility. The reload bonuses are huge, and it offers a competitive rewards program.

The sportsbook is perfect for beginners and advanced bettors alike. It is very accessible, and navigation is quick and simple. You can also benefit from a variety of features, including a blog, contests, live esports streaming, and BetUS TV, which sees professional handicappers give out picks on video shows.

BetUS takes bets on more than 20 sports, from football, basketball, and baseball to alpine skiing, darts, and table tennis. You can also bet on politics, entertainment, novelty and financials. It offers a solid range of props, and the odds are competitive, so this is a great all-round sportsbook.

• Year Opened: 1994
• Welcome Bonus: 200% up to $5,000
• License: Curaçao eGaming Authority
• Payout Speed: Up to 24 Hours

Our List of the Top Online Sportsbooks

Even though BetUS takes the cake as the top sportsbook, there are still plenty of other sites that have great betting options. Here are some of the best sportsbooks that our team has reviewed:

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Comparing the Top Sportsbooks

This chart allows you to quickly compare the sign-up bonuses and banking options on offer at the top five online sportsbooks. You can check out our detailed reviews of each site to learn more about them.

Sportsbook	Sports Welcome Bonus	Most Popular Sport	Banking Options	Read Review
	150% up to $3,750 (plus 50% up to $1,250 for the casino	Football	Visa, MasterCard, Cash Transfer, Card2Wallet, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum	BetUS Review
	75% up to $750	Football	MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, USDT, Voucher, MatchPay, Zelle	Bovada Review
	50% up to $1,000	Football	Visa, MasterCard, P2P Transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, BNB, SOL, ADA, USDT, SHIB, DOGE	MyBookie Review
	270% up to $20,000	Soccer	More Than 150 Cryptocurrencies	BC.Game Review
	200% up to $200	Football	Visa, MasterCard, P2P Transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash	BetNow Review

How We Evaluate Online Sports Betting Sites

We sign up for an account with each sports betting site, make a deposit, and place a series of bets to test it out. Our reviews focus on lots of important criteria, including banking options, withdrawal speeds, customer service, security, reputation and the all-round experience. However, these are the four most important metrics when reviewing sportsbooks:

How Can You Choose the Right Sportsbook for Your Betting Needs?

When you’re trying to find a sportsbook to fit your needs, there are a few questions you should be asking yourself. Thinking critically about the criteria you want in a sportsbook can help you make the best decision for your betting habits. Always ask yourself if a particular site:

How to Bet on Sports Online

User-friendly sportsbooks make it easy for you to bet on sports online in just a few minutes. Follow this step-by-step guide to make your first wager:

1. Choosing the Right Sportsbook for You

Select one of the reputable sportsbooks featured on this page and click the “Visit Site” button.

2. Fill in The Registration Form

You will land on the sportsbook’s homepage, and you can then open the registration and enter some basic personal details. Most sportsbooks ask for your name, address, phone number, email address, and date of birth. You will also need to set up a password. Some sportsbooks will require you to click a link sent to your inbox or mobile phone to verify your account.

3. Make a Deposit & Claim a Bonus

When the sportsbook has approved your account, you can make your first deposit and claim a sign-up bonus. Visit the online cashier, choose a payment method, enter a deposit amount, provide your payment details, and confirm.

4. Pick a Wager

Select a sport from the main menu. Choose a league and then find a game or futures market you would like to bet on. Click on any pick shown to add it to the betslip.

5. Place Your Bet

Your selection will pop up on the slip. Type in the amount you would like to risk, and it will highlight the potential profit on offer if the bet wins. Click to confirm your first bet.

6. Cash Out Your Winnings

You will be paid out after the game if your pick was correct. If you would like to withdraw your winnings, head back to the cashier, select “Withdraw” and choose a method. Enter the amount you would like to cash out and confirm the transfer.

Types of Sports Bets

Elite online sportsbooks offer a very large range of betting options, some of which hold more risk than others. These are the most common bet types:

Moneyline

The moneyline, or straight bet, is a simple wager on the outcome of a game. The sportsbooks release moneyline odds on each possible result, and you can bet on the team that you expect to win. In the example below, BetUS is offering moneyline odds of -120 on the Phillies to beat the Marlins (bet $120 to win $100), and +110 on the Marlins to win the game (bet $100 to win $110).

Over/Under

This bet requires you to predict the total points, runs or goals that will be scored in a game. The sportsbooks will set an over/under line, such as 53.5 points, and you can bet “over” or “under” according to the number of points you expect both teams have.

Point Spread

The point spread is formed after the sports betting sites give the stronger team a handicap. You can then bet on either team to cover it. In the example below, you could bet on the Bears if you felt they would win by at least 3 points, or bet on the Packers if you expected them to win or lose by no more than 2 points.

Parlays

A parlay is a bet that features at least two picks on separate sporting events. You combine them to form a single wager, often with large accumulative odds. Each of your picks need to win for the parlay to succeed.

Futures

Futures are long-term wagers that play out over the course of a season or a tournament. For example, you can bet on an NFL team to win the Super Bowl, an NBA team to make the playoffs, or a player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Props

Prop bets are special wagers that allow you to make predictions on a player’s performance, a team’s performance, or events taking place during a game. For example, you can bet on a football player to score a touchdown, a team to win the coin toss, the number of first downs (over/under) a team will earn, or the highest scoring quarter in a game.

Most Popular Sports to Wager On

Football, basketball and baseball are undoubtedly the most popular sports to wager on at U.S. betting sites. Hockey, soccer, MMA, tennis, golf, boxing, and motorsports are also popular. On a global basis, soccer is the most popular sport to bet on. Horse racing is also very popular, but sites like BetUS, Bovada, and MyBookie have separate racebook sections for that.

Sports Betting Strategy

An effective sports betting strategy will increase your chances of earning a profit. It will help you figure out which sporting events to bet on, how much to risk and when to place your wagers. You can learn to manage your bankroll with care, keep your emotions in check, and pounce on exciting opportunities when they arise. Some basic sports betting tips include:

• Stick to betting on a handful of sports or leagues that you are very familiar with. Watch as many games as you can and stay on top of roster changes.
• Conduct thorough research before placing a bet. Browse detailed stats on either team, which will help you figure out how they will fare against one another.
• Set aside a bankroll, which you will use over the course of a season or a year. Assign a percentage of that bankroll as your base unit. For example, if you have a $1,000 bankroll and your base unit is 2%, start out by betting $20 on each pick you make.
• Shop for the best odds and lines on any bets you place. It is helpful to register with multiple sportsbooks, as that makes line shopping quick and easy.
• Try to place most wagers on markets that carry a low house edge, such as the spread, moneyline, and total. Use props and parlays sparingly. If you place futures, seek opportunities to hedge your bets later in the season.

If you are new to this game, our beginners’ guide to sports betting can help you make sense of it.

Advanced bettors can use our sports betting strategy guide to learn more about sophisticated strategies, from arbitrage betting and hedging to fading the public and using the Kelly Criterion.

Responsible Sports Betting

Sports betting should be viewed as a form of entertainment. Do not bet with money you cannot afford to lose. The best sportsbooks allow you to set bet limits and deposit limits on your account, which helps you regulate your play. Seek help if you are concerned that you may be at risk of developing a gambling problem. These are some organizations that can provide support:

• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline