21+ · Must be in a legal state · Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

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Best Sportsbook Apps: Promos, Legal States and How to Choose

The best sportsbook apps rated: welcome promos explained with dollar examples, which books are legal in your state, odds, bet types and payouts. 21+.

Legal sports betting reaches most of the country, but the app you can open depends on where you’re standing. A bettor in Miami has one choice. A bettor in Columbus has dozens. And every one of those apps leads with a welcome offer whose headline number tells you less than the small print.

We read the terms of every offer here, checked each sportsbook’s state licenses and app ratings, and worked through the bonuses in dollars. Four full-service sportsbooks and one horse racing specialist made the cut, followed by a state-by-state table and a guide to odds, bet types and the bonus mechanics that catch new bettors out.

21+ (18+ in a few jurisdictions at some books). Must be physically present in a legal state. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Sportsbook apps at a glance: our picks

  • Best overall: FanDuel, for Same Game Parlay+, a polished app and up to $350 in Bonus Bets from $5 a day
  • Best state coverage: DraftKings, live in 26 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, with $200 in Bonus Bets from one $5 bet
  • Best for live betting and streaming: bet365, with Early Payout specials and $200 in Bonus Bets that you can split
  • Best for Florida and daily bettors: Hard Rock Bet, the only legal online sportsbook in Florida, with ten days of No Sweat Bets
  • Best for horse racing: AmWager, with more than 490 tracks, free streaming and cash rewards on every wager

The best sportsbook apps, ranked

1. FanDuel Sportsbook

Rating: 4.6/5
Best for: same game parlays, a polished app and a low-stakes welcome offer
Headline offer: Bet $5 a day for 7 days, get up to $350 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: No promo code needed
Offer states: every FanDuel jurisdiction: AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, PR, TN, VT, VA, WV, WY
License: state-licensed by each jurisdiction’s regulator, including the New York State Gaming Commission and New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement; part of Flutter Entertainment

  • $50 in Bonus Bets for each day you place a $5 cash bet, credited daily
  • Same Game Parlay and Same Game Parlay+, plus frequent profit boosts
  • 4.8 on the US App Store from 2.1 million ratings, 4.6 on Google Play, and 24/7 live chat

Drawback: the seven days must be consecutive, so one missed day ends the run, and each day’s Bonus Bets expire after 7 days.

Read our FanDuel Sportsbook review

Claim offer

New customers only, physically present in AZ, AR, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA (excluding nine parishes), MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA or WV at 21+, or DC, KY, PR or WY at 18+. Min. $5 deposit. Opt in, then place one cash wager of $5 or more per day, 3 AM to 11:59 PM ET, on 7 consecutive days to get $50 in Bonus Bets each day, up to $350. Bonus Bets are nonwithdrawable, expire 7 days after they are issued and return winnings only (stake not included). Bets placed with bonus funds or profit boost tokens, and cashed-out bets, do not qualify. One promotional bonus per person. Terms apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

2. DraftKings Sportsbook

Rating: 4.5/5
Best for: the widest state coverage, a one-bet welcome offer and live betting
Headline offer: Bet $5, get $200 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: No promo code needed
Offer states: AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, WY; New Hampshire, Oregon and Puerto Rico run their own promotions
License: state-licensed in 26 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, often with a casino or tribal partner for market access; DraftKings Inc., Boston

  • One $5 cash bet unlocks eight $25 Bonus Bets, win or lose
  • SGPx and cash out on many Same Game Parlays
  • 4.8 on the US App Store from 1.3 million ratings, and no withdrawal fees

Drawback: the $200 arrives as eight fixed $25 Bonus Bets that can’t be split, and the Trustpilot score is poor, driven by account restriction complaints.

Read our DraftKings Sportsbook review

Claim offer

New customers only, 21+ (18+ in DC and WY), physically present in AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, DC or WY. First bet of $5 or more from your cash balance on any eligible market. $200 paid as eight $25 Bonus Bets, win or lose, valid for 7 days (168 hours) from crediting; Bonus Bet winnings exclude the stake. One offer per customer. A per-wager fee may apply in Illinois. Terms apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

3. bet365 Sportsbook

Rating: 4.4/5
Best for: live betting, soccer and international sports, streaming
Headline offer: Bet $10, Unlock $200 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: No promo code needed
Offer states: AZ, CO, IA, KY, LA (select parishes), MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, VA; not available in DC, IL, TN or WV
License: NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, Casino Service Industry Enterprise license 488-50 (Hillside New Jersey LLC, trading as bet365 NJ); licensed by the regulator in each of its 16 states plus DC

  • $200 in Bonus Bets after a $10 bet settles, win or lose, and you can split them
  • In-app live streaming, Early Payout and Super Boost specials
  • 4.8 on the US App Store from about 353,000 ratings

Drawback: not licensed in New York or Florida, the welcome offer skips four of its markets, and app reviews flag geolocation hiccups during live games.

Read our bet365 Sportsbook review

Visit bet365

New customers only, 21+, physically located in AZ, CO, IA, KY, LA (select parishes), MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA or VA; excludes DC, IL, TN and WV. Min. $10 deposit ($30 by PayPal or Venmo) and $10 qualifying bet. $200 in Bonus Bets released once the qualifying bet settles, win or lose. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable, can be split across several wagers, expire after 7 days, and the Bonus Bet stake is not included in returns. Terms apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

4. Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook

Rating: 4.3/5
Best for: Florida residents, daily bettors and parlay players who want a cushion
Headline offer: Bet $5 and Get Up to $500 in No Sweat Bets
Promo Code: No promo code needed
Offer states: AZ, CO, IL, IN, MI, NJ, OH, TN, VA; Florida runs its own version with separate terms
License: Arizona Department of Gaming, Colorado Division of Gaming, Illinois Gaming Board, Indiana Gaming Commission, Michigan Gaming Control Board, NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, Ohio Casino Control Commission, Tennessee Sports Wagering Council and Virginia Lottery; in Florida, the Seminole Tribe of Florida under its state gaming compact

  • Ten daily No Sweat Bet tokens worth up to $50 each
  • Flex Parlay pays a reduced return when a leg misses
  • 4.9 on the US App Store from about 357,000 ratings

Drawback: only ten states, with no New York or Pennsylvania, and the $500 ceiling is reached only by losing ten $50 bets.

Read our Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook review

Claim offer

New customers, or existing account holders who have never placed a bet, 21+ and physically located in AZ, CO, IL, IN, MI, NJ, OH, TN or VA; Florida runs a separate version offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Opt in and place a first cash bet of $5 or more at odds of -500 or longer; round robins, boosted bets and bets placed with bonus funds do not qualify, and early cash out voids eligibility. Then 10 No Sweat Bet tokens, one per day, each expiring at 11:59pm on the day it lands; each covers one cash bet of up to $50, refunded as a Bonus Bet equal to the stake if it loses. Bonus Bets expire after 7 days and their stake is not returned. Promotion runs through December 31, 2026. Terms apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

5. AmWager (horse racing)

Rating: 4.2/5
Best for: horseplayers who bet exotics, track variety and cash rewards
Headline offer: Up to $50 first deposit match bonus
Promo Code: No promo code needed
Offer states: every AmWager state except Idaho, whose residents are excluded from promotions
License: Oregon Racing Commission multi-jurisdictional account wagering license, plus state licenses including the California Horse Racing Board, New York State Gaming Commission, Colorado Division of Racing Events (201601575), Montana Board of Horse Racing (2022-001) and West Virginia Racing Commission (ADW-2022-05)

  • More than 490 Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Quarter Horse and Greyhound tracks
  • Free live streaming on every race, and daily cash rewards with no minimum play
  • ABC, Dutch, Rank and PowerBox tools for exotic tickets

Drawback: the $50 cap is small, show bets don’t count toward the bonus, there’s no native app, and phone support runs noon to 8pm ET.

Read our AmWager review

Claim offer

New account holders 21+ only, residents of an AmWager-eligible state; Idaho residents excluded from promotions; one account and one sign-up offer per person and per household. 100% match of your first deposit up to $50, paid as promotional wagering credit. Total wagers must equal or exceed your first deposit within 30 days of sign-up; show bets and cancelled or refunded wagers do not count. Credit paid within 7 business days of meeting the requirement, cannot be withdrawn and expires after 30 days; winnings from it are paid as cash. Terms apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Sportsbook apps compared: offers, states and apps

SportsbookRatingWelcome offerQualifying stakeBonus formStatesiOS ratingSignature feature
FanDuel4.6/5Up to $350 in Bonus Bets$5 a day for 7 days$50 a day, splittable24 + DC, PR4.8 (2.1M)Same Game Parlay+
DraftKings4.5/5$200 in Bonus BetsOne $5 betEight $25 Bonus Bets26 + DC, PR4.8 (1.3M)SGPx, cash out
bet3654.4/5$200 in Bonus BetsOne $10 betSplittable balance16 + DC4.8 (353K)Streaming, Early Payout
Hard Rock Bet4.3/5Up to $500 in No Sweat Bets$5 at -500 or longerTen daily tokens up to $50104.9 (357K)Flex Parlay
AmWager4.2/5Up to $50 deposit matchWager your deposit in 30 daysOne credit, paid in 7 business days30 (racing)Browser only490+ tracks, free video

None of these offers needs a promo code, and all pay in bonus credit rather than cash.

Online sports betting is live in 31 states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, though in some of them a single operator holds the market. You must be physically inside a legal state to place a bet, not just live there; the apps use geolocation to check. Here’s which of our sportsbooks you can use in each, and whether AmWager takes horse racing bets from residents.

JurisdictionOur sportsbooks availableAmWager (racing)
ArizonaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetNo
ArkansasFanDuelNo
ColoradoFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetYes
ConnecticutFanDuel, DraftKingsYes
DelawareNone of ours (one lottery-run operator)Yes
District of ColumbiaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365No
FloridaHard Rock Bet (the only legal online sportsbook)Yes
IllinoisFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetYes
IndianaFanDuel, DraftKings, Hard Rock BetYes
IowaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365No
KansasFanDuel, DraftKingsYes
KentuckyFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365Yes
Louisiana (approved parishes)FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365Yes
MaineDraftKingsNo
MarylandFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365No
MassachusettsFanDuel, DraftKingsYes
MichiganFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetYes
MissouriFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365No
NevadaNone of ours (accounts need in-person registration)No
New HampshireDraftKings (the only online sportsbook)Yes
New JerseyFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetNo
New YorkFanDuel, DraftKingsYes
North CarolinaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365No
OhioFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetYes
OregonDraftKingsYes
PennsylvaniaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365Yes
Puerto RicoFanDuel, DraftKingsNo
Rhode IslandNone of ours (one lottery-run operator)Yes
TennesseeFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetYes
VermontFanDuel, DraftKingsYes
VirginiaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Hard Rock BetNo
West VirginiaFanDuel, DraftKings, bet365Yes
WyomingFanDuel, DraftKingsNo

Retail-only states. Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin allow sports betting only in person or on premises, so none of our sportsbook apps works there statewide. AmWager does accept racing bets from residents of Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

No legal sports betting. Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah have no legal sports betting. Horse racing is a different legal category, though: AmWager is licensed for residents of Alabama, California, Idaho and Oklahoma, with some track restrictions.

Advance deposit wagering (ADW) on horse racing rests on decades-old racing law, so a Californian who can’t bet a Dodgers moneyline can legally bet the Breeders’ Cup from his couch.

Traveling, geolocation and VPNs

You can usually open an account at home and bet in any other state where the same sportsbook is licensed, as long as you’re physically there when you place the wager. A Chicago resident on a work trip to Detroit can bet on FanDuel in Michigan; on a trip to Los Angeles, he can’t bet at all.

A VPN won’t help. Sportsbooks detect and block them, and using one to bet from outside a legal state breaks their terms and can void the bet or close the account. A VPN is worth having for privacy on public Wi-Fi, as our VPN guide explains, but it must not be used to bypass geolocation. Turn it off before you open a betting app.

How to read American odds

US sportsbooks quote American odds, built around $100.

A minus sign marks the favorite and shows how much you stake to win $100. At -150, you bet $150 to win $100. Scale it down and a $30 bet on the Chiefs at -150 returns $50: your $30 back plus $20 profit.

A plus sign marks the underdog and shows what a $100 bet wins. At +200, $100 wins $200, so a $10 bet returns $30.

-110 is the standard price on spreads and totals. You stake $110 to win $100, or $11 to win $10. If both sides of a game are priced at -110, the sportsbook keeps a margin, often called the vig or juice.

Implied probability converts odds into a percentage. For a favorite, divide the minus number by itself plus 100: -150 is 150 divided by 250, or 60%. For an underdog, divide 100 by the plus number plus 100: +200 is 100 divided by 300, or about 33%. Two -110 prices each imply 52.4%, which adds up to 104.8%. That extra 4.8% is the book’s edge, and it’s why comparing prices between sportsbooks pays off over a season.

Bet types explained

Moneyline. Pick the winner.

Point spread. The favorite has to win by more than the line. Eagles -3.5 means the Eagles must win by four or more; Cowboys +3.5 wins if Dallas loses by three or fewer, or wins outright. Baseball’s version is the run line, hockey’s is the puck line.

Totals (over/under). Bet on the combined score. If a Bills game total is 47.5, the over needs 48 points or more.

Parlays. Join several selections into one bet. The odds multiply and every leg must win. A three-leg parlay at -110 per leg pays about +596, so $10 returns roughly $69.58. Miss one leg and the ticket loses. Hard Rock Bet’s Flex Parlay is the exception: it still pays a reduced return if a leg misses, at shorter odds than a standard parlay.

Same game parlays. A parlay built from one game, such as a quarterback’s passing yards, a receiver’s touchdown and the game total. FanDuel’s Same Game Parlay+ and DraftKings’ SGPx let you combine same game parlays from several games. Because the legs are linked, the odds won’t simply multiply.

Player props. Bets on individual performance, such as a pitcher’s strikeouts or an NBA guard’s points.

Futures. Long-range bets, such as the Super Bowl winner or the NBA MVP.

Live betting. Prices that move during the game. bet365’s in-play menu and streaming are its standout features, and it pays out early on some soccer and basketball bets through Early Payout specials.

Cash out. Settle a bet early for a price the book offers, with its margin built in.

Horse racing bets and pari-mutuel pools

Racing works differently. At AmWager, you bet into the host track’s pari-mutuel pool, so you’re betting against other horseplayers, not the house, and the final payout isn’t set until the race goes off. Win, place and show pay if your horse finishes first, first or second, or in the top three. Exotics such as the exacta (first two in order), trifecta (first three) and superfecta (first four) pay more because they’re harder to hit. Payouts are quoted for a $2 bet, so if a winner pays $8.40, a $10 win bet returns $42.

Sportsbook promos explained, with dollar examples

Every welcome offer on this page pays in bonus credit, and three rules govern its value.

The stake isn’t returned. A $25 cash bet at +200 returns $75. A $25 Bonus Bet at the same price returns $50, because the book keeps the bonus stake.

Odds change the value. That same $25 Bonus Bet on a -300 favorite returns only $8.33 if it wins. Bonus Bets go further at plus-money prices, though the higher payout comes with a lower chance of winning.

Expiry is short. Seven days is standard at FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365 and Hard Rock Bet. AmWager allows 30.

Here’s how each offer works in practice.

Bet and get: DraftKings and bet365

A bettor in Philadelphia opens a DraftKings account, deposits $20 and bets $5 on the Eagles moneyline. Win or lose, eight $25 Bonus Bets land. He puts each on a different +200 underdog over the following week. If three of the eight win, he collects $150 in withdrawable cash; if none wins, he’s out only the original $5.

bet365 asks for a $10 bet and pays $200 in Bonus Bets once it settles, as a balance you can split: twenty $10 bets, one $200 bet or anything between.

Daily drip: FanDuel

A bettor in Columbus signs up on a Sunday, deposits $40 and places a $5 cash bet every day for seven days. Each day brings $50 in Bonus Bets: $35 staked, $350 received. A $50 Bonus Bet at +200 that wins pays $100 in cash. Miss a day and the run ends.

No Sweat Bets: Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock’s offer is insurance rather than a giveaway. After a $5 qualifying bet at -500 or longer, a token arrives each day for ten days. Each covers one cash bet up to $50. Say a bettor in Ohio puts $50 on a Thursday night favorite at -110. If it wins, he keeps the $45.45 profit and no bonus is issued. If it loses, he gets a $50 Bonus Bet. He uses that on a +150 price, and if it wins, he collects $75 in cash. The $500 headline is reached only if all ten token bets lose, and tokens expire at 11:59pm on the day they land.

Deposit match: AmWager

A horseplayer in Kentucky deposits $50. Within 30 days she wagers at least $50, avoiding show bets, which don’t count. Within seven business days of meeting the target, AmWager pays a $50 credit. That credit must be wagered and expires after 30 days, but winnings from it are cash. If she uses it on a $2 exacta box with three horses, which costs $12, she can fund four such boxes from the credit with $2 to spare.

How to pick a sportsbook app

Start with your state. Use the table above. In Florida, Hard Rock Bet is the only option; in New Hampshire and Oregon, DraftKings is. In New York, it’s FanDuel or DraftKings from our list.

Match the offer to your habits. If you bet once a week, a single-bet offer such as DraftKings’ or bet365’s suits you. If you bet small most days, FanDuel’s daily drip or Hard Rock’s No Sweat tokens fit better.

Think about what you bet. Parlays point to FanDuel and DraftKings, soccer and live betting to bet365, racing to AmWager.

Check the cashier. PayPal and Venmo are usually the fastest withdrawal routes at FanDuel, bet365 and Hard Rock Bet. FanDuel’s PayPal cash-outs often arrive within 48 hours. DraftKings says most methods take 3 to 5 business days, with wires in 24 to 48 hours. AmWager’s ACH withdrawals usually reach a bank one to three business days after processing. Every first withdrawal is slower while ID checks finish.

Signing up: ID checks and geolocation

Every licensed sportsbook verifies your age and identity before you can bet or withdraw, usually with your Social Security number and sometimes a photo ID, and checks your location each time you bet. AmWager also checks residence, because racing eligibility depends on your home address.

Sports betting taxes

Winnings are taxable income under federal law, and many states tax them too, whether or not the sportsbook sends you a tax form. Keep records and ask a tax professional how the rules apply to you.

Sportsbooks, online casinos and prediction markets

Most of these sportsbooks also run online casinos where states allow them; our online casinos hub covers those. Prediction market platforms offer event contracts on sports under federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight. They describe these as trades rather than bets, and several states dispute whether they should be allowed. Our prediction markets hub explains how they work and where the legal arguments stand.

Responsible betting

Set a budget before you open an app and treat it as the cost of entertainment. Every sportsbook here offers deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. Offers that ask you to bet daily are built to form a habit; skip them if that worries you.

If betting stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER, or the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. State lines listed by our sportsbooks include:

  • New York: 1-877-8-HOPENY, or text HOPENY (467369)
  • Ohio and Virginia: 1-800-MY-RESET
  • Arizona: 1-800-NEXT-STEP
  • Florida: 1-833-PLAYWISE
  • Indiana: 1-800-9-WITH-IT
  • Tennessee: 1-800-889-9789
  • Connecticut: 1-888-789-7777
  • Iowa: 1-800-BETSOFF
  • Massachusetts: 1-800-327-5050
  • North Carolina: 1-877-718-5543
  • Louisiana: 1-877-770-7867
  • Maryland: mdgamblinghelp.org

How we rate sportsbooks

We read each sportsbook’s offer terms and license pages and recorded its store ratings. Scores weigh the real cash value of the welcome offer, state coverage, market depth and live betting, app quality, payment speed and patterns in verified user reviews, not the headline number alone.

Sportsbook FAQs

What is the best sportsbook app?

FanDuel is our top pick for its Same Game Parlay+, polished app and low-cost welcome offer. DraftKings is close behind and covers more states. bet365 is best for live betting, Hard Rock Bet is the only choice in Florida, and AmWager is our horse racing pick.

Which sportsbook has the best sign-up bonus?

It depends on how you bet. FanDuel offers up to $350 in Bonus Bets for $5 a day over a week. DraftKings and bet365 pay $200 from a single bet. Hard Rock Bet offers up to $500 in No Sweat Bets, but you reach that only by losing ten $50 bets.

Do I need a promo code for sportsbook offers?

Not at any of our five. Each welcome offer is applied automatically when you register through our link.

How do Bonus Bets work?

They’re bet credits. You can place them like cash, but when one wins you receive the profit only, not the Bonus Bet stake. They usually expire after seven days.

Are Bonus Bets withdrawable?

No. Bonus Bets themselves can’t be withdrawn, but winnings from a successful Bonus Bet are paid as withdrawable cash.

What is a No Sweat Bet?

It’s a refund if a bet loses. At Hard Rock Bet, a losing token bet returns a Bonus Bet equal to your stake, up to $50. If the bet wins, you keep the cash winnings.

In 31 states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Eight more states allow only in-person betting, and eleven, including California and Texas, have no legal sports betting.

Yes, through one operator. Hard Rock Bet, run in Florida by the Seminole Tribe of Florida under its gaming compact, is the only legal online sportsbook in the state.

No. But horse racing ADW is: AmWager is licensed by the California Horse Racing Board.

Can I bet on sports in another state?

Yes, if your sportsbook is licensed there and you’re physically inside the state when you bet. Your home address doesn’t matter for most sportsbooks.

How old do you have to be to bet on sports?

21 in most states. Some books accept 18-year-olds in a few jurisdictions, including Washington, DC, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.

Which sportsbook pays out fastest?

E-wallets are usually quickest. FanDuel’s PayPal withdrawals often arrive within 48 hours, and PayPal and Venmo are the fastest routes at bet365 and Hard Rock Bet.

Can I use a VPN for sports betting?

No. Sportsbooks block VPNs, and using one to bet from outside a legal state breaks their terms and can void bets or close your account.

21+ (18+ in a few jurisdictions at some books). Must be physically present in a legal state. New customers only. Terms apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.