Sports Betting On The Go
As betting laws have eased across the United States, hosts of sites have popped up that turn your phone or laptop into a mobile sports book. Each site has its geographic and other limitations, and given the new excitement over the genre and the rush to get customers, many have deals for first-timers (with restrictions, note the fine print on each site). This is a rapidly changing world, so check sites for current promotional offers.
FanDuel Sportsbook
Fanduel.com
FanDuel’s Irish parent company Flutter PLC claims a 40 percent share of the $12.2 billion U.S. sportsbook market. Most of its revenues come from FanDuel, considered the No. 1 sportsbook in the United States, with some 13 million customers. It’s active in 15 states.
Deal: Open an account with a minimum $10 and bet $5, and you’ll receive $150 in site credits.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Draftkings.com
Boston’s DraftKings Inc. has 1.5 million customers, and its revenues more than doubled in 2021, to $1.3 billion. Available in 17 states, the company is considered one of the leaders in the field. It also has an online casino.
Deal: Offers a 20 percent bonus (up to $1,000) for deposits in a new account.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars.com
You can’t miss the ads for this combination sportsbook and casino—they are virtually everywhere. Anchored by the sprawling Vegas casino of the same name, Caesars’ mobile app is available in 15 states, offers hundreds of ways to bet and comes with a rewards program.
Deal: They’ll credit you up to $1,100 if you lose your first bet.
Barstool Sportsbook
Barstoolsportsbook.com
Launched in 2020, this is the betting sidearm of the irreverent and very popular Barstool Sports media site, which is partially owned by Penn National Gaming. It’s available in 12 states.
Deal: New customers who lose their first bet receive up to $1,000 to make additional bets.
Bet MGM
Betmgm.com
A partnership between MGM Resorts International and Britain’s Entain Holdings PLC, this site is active in 18 states, plus Washington, D.C.
Deal: Credits of up to $1,000 for a lost bet, bonuses for NBA bets, MGM reward points.
WynnBet
Wynnbet.com
Wynn Resorts of Las Vegas owns 74 percent of WynnBet, which can be used in nine states. The company is reportedly looking for a buyer, with an asking price of around $500 million.
Deal: New customers betting $10 (odds -1.20 or greater) get $200 in free bets.
Tipico Sportsbook
Tipico.com
Founded in Europe in 2004, this is one of the world’s largest global gaming operators. It offers in-game live betting on every play, and its odds are featured daily in USA Today.
Deal: Up to $750 in a risk-free first bet.
Fox Bet
Foxbet.com
Limited to four states (Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan). Affiliated with Fox Sports, and owned by Flutter.
Deal: Offers a risk-free deposit first bet, up to $500. Lose and you get to place another $500 free bet.
SISportsbook
Sisportsbook.com
An extension of the Sports Illustrated brand, this launched in September. At press time it was only available in Colorado, with a planned expansion to several more states.
Deal: Bet $20, get $300.
Sheridan’s Online Betting Tips
Sports books are in an arms race for customer acquisition, which is not sustainable. Sign up for every sports book bonus offer in your state, as only the strong, well-funded books will survive. Another plus is having multiple sports books to shop around for the best line on a game. A half-point can be the difference between a win, a loss or a push, which is huge. Also make sure that each sports book has 24/7 client support. I recommend Don Best Sports (donbest.com), the sports gaming gold standard. They’ve been an invaluable tool for me.
