The state-licensed sportsbooks worth an account, ranked on odds, esports coverage, live betting and payout speed. Only operators licensed in your state are shown; pick your state and the list updates.
Legal US sports betting is a state-by-state product. A sportsbook is licensed in the states where it has applied and been approved, nowhere else, and the app will not let you bet outside those borders. That shapes this page in two ways: the list of sites you can actually use depends on where you are, and the markets on offer, esports especially, vary by state because some regulators do not allow betting on esports at all. Every site below is a state-licensed operator; offshore books are not listed.
EsportNow's angle is esports, so the ranking gives extra weight to which books price CS2, League of Legends, VALORANT and Dota 2 in the states that allow it, and how deep those markets go. For everything else, odds, live betting and payout speed decide the order.
How US sports betting works by state
Each state regulates its own market. In most legal states you must be 21, physically inside the state when you bet, and verified by ID. Operators pay state taxes and follow state rules on promotions, so a "bet and get" offer differs between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and some states ban promotional language altogether. Esports betting is permitted in some states, restricted to specific events in others, and prohibited in a few; the state selector on this page filters the operator set and notes esports availability for the state you choose.
How we rank the best sports betting sites
Odds are 30% of the score, measured as the average margin on the main markets across the same ten events on every site. Markets are 25%, with esports depth counted where the state allows it. Offers are 20%, scored on their value after terms rather than the headline figure. Live betting is 15%: suspension time, streams and cash-out. Payouts are 10%, tested by withdrawing to a bank account and timing it.
Site reviews
1. FanDuel: Best for in-play and parlays
Score
★ 5.0/5
Welcome offer
$150 in bonus bets
Min deposit
$10
Payout
Usually within 24h
FanDuel is the biggest US sportsbook and the product explains it: the app is fast, live markets reopen quicker than anyone's, the same-game parlay builder is the standard the rest copy, and payouts are quick. For most people comparing sports betting sites it is the first account to open. Esports is offered in the states that permit it, with match winners and some map markets on the big CS2 and LoL events, though not the depth bet365 brings. The main-market odds sit mid-pack; FanDuel competes on product rather than price.
Pros
Fast live markets and a same-game parlay builder
Licensed in the most states
PayPal and bank withdrawals, typically within a day (our timing test is pending)
DraftKings runs the widest market menu of the US books, with props on everything and esports coverage that goes beyond match winners in the states that allow it. The promotions calendar is the busiest in the market. Live betting is good rather than best, and the main-market odds are average. If you want one wallet across sportsbook, casino and DFS, DraftKings is the obvious choice.
Pros
Deepest market list among the US books
Daily odds boosts and promotions
Strong esports coverage in permitted states
Casino and DFS on the same wallet
Cons
App is heavier than FanDuel
Main-market margins are average
3. BetMGM: Best rewards programme
Score
★ 4.7/5
Welcome offer
Welcome offer to be confirmed
Min deposit
$10
Payout
Usually within 24h
BetMGM pairs a solid sportsbook with the MGM Rewards programme, which is a real advantage if you visit MGM properties. Market coverage is broad, promotions are frequent and the app is stable. Live betting lags FanDuel and DraftKings on reopening speed, and esports markets are limited to match winners on major events in most permitted states.
Pros
MGM Rewards across sportsbook, casino and resorts
Regular parlay boosts
Broad state coverage
Cons
Live betting suspends longer than FanDuel
Esports markets are thinner
4. Caesars Sportsbook: Best for Caesars Rewards
Score
★ 4.5/5
Welcome offer
Welcome offer to be confirmed
Min deposit
$10
Payout
Within 72h
Caesars Sportsbook leans on its rewards programme and a steady supply of odds boosts. Futures markets are competitive and the app has improved. Esports is thin, which costs it on this page, and live betting is a step behind FanDuel. A good second account for the boosts.
Pros
Caesars Rewards tie-in
Daily odds boosts across sports
Competitive futures markets
Cons
Esports coverage is limited
App performance behind the top two
5. bet365 US: Best for price shoppers
Score
★ 4.3/5
Welcome offer
Welcome offer to be confirmed
Min deposit
$10
Payout
Usually within 24h
bet365 brings its global esports book to the US states where it is licensed, and nothing else on this page comes close for CS2, LoL, VALORANT and Dota 2 depth: maps, rounds, totals and player props where the state permits them. Its main-market odds are consistently among the sharpest of the books we compared. The limits are geography, with fewer states than FanDuel or DraftKings, and payouts that took a day longer. If it is licensed in your state and you bet esports, open the account.
Pros
Deepest esports markets of any US book: maps, rounds, props
Sharp main-market odds
Early payout offers and strong live coverage
Cons
Licensed in fewer states than the big four
Withdrawals can run slower than FanDuel (our timing test is pending)
6. Fanatics Sportsbook: Rewards you can spend
Score
★ 4.1/5
Welcome offer
Welcome offer to be confirmed
Min deposit
$10
Payout
24–48h
Fanatics is the newest of the major books and competes on its rewards: FanCash on every bet, spendable on merchandise. The app is quick and the state footprint is growing. Market depth and esports coverage are behind the leaders, so it ranks as a strong secondary account rather than a first.
Pros
FanCash back on bets, redeemable for Fanatics gear
Clean, quick app
Expanding state footprint
Cons
Market depth behind DraftKings
Esports coverage is basic
7. ESPN Bet: Best for ESPN fans
Score
★ 4.0/5
Welcome offer
Welcome offer to be confirmed
Min deposit
tbc
Payout
1–36 hours
ESPN Bet's strength is integration: odds inside ESPN's apps and a short path from reading to betting. Promotions are competitive and the platform is stable. Odds and market depth are mid-pack and esports is limited, which keeps it in the lower half here.
Pros
Integration with ESPN's apps and fantasy products
Competitive promotions
Stable platform
Cons
Odds are mid-pack
Esports markets limited
8. BetRivers: Fast Play+ payouts
Score
★ 3.8/5
Welcome offer
Welcome offer to be confirmed
Min deposit
$10
Payout
Instant–24h
BetRivers is a solid, plain sportsbook with a loyalty programme that rewards regular play and a live cash-out that triggers quickly. The market menu is smaller and the app is functional rather than polished. Its promotional terms are among the clearest, and that is what puts it on the list.
Pros
iRush Rewards loyalty tiers
Fast cash-out in live betting
Clear promotional terms
Cons
Smaller market menu
App is plainer than the leaders
Our top picks compared
Casino
Score
Best for
Welcome offer
Min deposit
Payout
FanDuel
5.0/5
Best for in-play and parlays
$150 in bonus bets
$10
Usually within 24h
DraftKings
4.8/5
Widest market list
Welcome offer to be confirmed
$5
Usually within 24h
BetMGM
4.7/5
Best rewards programme
Welcome offer to be confirmed
$10
Usually within 24h
Caesars Sportsbook
4.5/5
Best for Caesars Rewards
Welcome offer to be confirmed
$10
Within 72h
bet365 US
4.3/5
Best for price shoppers
Welcome offer to be confirmed
$10
Usually within 24h
Fanatics Sportsbook
4.1/5
Rewards you can spend
Welcome offer to be confirmed
$10
24–48h
ESPN Bet
4.0/5
Best for ESPN fans
Welcome offer to be confirmed
tbc
1–36 hours
BetRivers
3.8/5
Fast Play+ payouts
Welcome offer to be confirmed
$10
Instant–24h
Esports betting by state
Esports is where the US books diverge most. In states that allow it broadly, bet365 and DraftKings offer map and round markets on the top events; FanDuel and BetMGM offer match winners and some props; the rest offer little. In states that restrict esports to specific sanctioned events, only the big tournaments appear. In states that prohibit esports betting, no licensed book offers it, whatever the app shows elsewhere. Our state notes on each card are checked monthly.
Payouts
All eight pay to bank accounts and most to PayPal. FanDuel and DraftKings advertise the fastest payouts, with PayPal withdrawals often same-day; our timed withdrawal tests are pending. bet365 and Caesars took a day longer. Every book requires identity verification before the first withdrawal.
Sportsbooks compared
Sportsbook
Best for
Esports depth (where permitted)
Live betting
Rewards
FanDuel
Same-game parlays, live betting
Match winners, some maps
Fastest reopening
Profit boosts
DraftKings
Market depth, daily boosts
Beyond match winners
Good
Dynasty Rewards
BetMGM
Parlay boosts
Match winners on majors
Slower suspensions
MGM Rewards
Caesars Sportsbook
Odds boosts, futures
Limited
Good
Caesars Rewards
bet365 US
Sharp prices, esports
Maps, rounds, props
Strong
Early payouts
Fanatics Sportsbook
Merchandise rewards
Basic
Good
FanCash
ESPN Bet
ESPN integration
Limited
Good
Promotions
BetRivers
Loyalty tiers, quick cash out
Limited
Good
iRush Rewards
Reading American odds
US sportsbooks show American odds by default. Negative numbers show how much you stake to win $100; positive numbers show how much a $100 stake wins.
American
Decimal
Implied probability
$100 stake returns
-200
1.50
66.7%
$150
-110
1.91
52.4%
$191
+100
2.00
50.0%
$200
+150
2.50
40.0%
$250
+300
4.00
25.0%
$400
The standard -110 on both sides of a spread means the book keeps about 4.5% of the money it takes. Books that offer reduced-juice lines (-105) cut that in half, which matters more over a season than any welcome offer.
Esports betting markets explained
Market
What you bet on
Where it's offered
Match winner
Who wins the series
Every book that offers esports
Map handicap
A team wins with a map head start or deficit
bet365, DraftKings, some others
Total maps
Over or under a number of maps
The deeper books
Map winner
Winner of a specific map
bet365, DraftKings
Round totals and handicaps
CS2 and VALORANT rounds
bet365 mostly
Player props
Kills, headshots, first blood
Limited; DFS apps carry more
Outrights
Tournament winner
Most books on majors
How to sign up and verify
1. Download the app or open the site while physically in a legal state.
2. Register with your name, date of birth, address and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
3. Allow location services; every book geolocates you before each bet.
4. Make a first deposit; some states require a photo ID upload if automated checks fail.
5. Set deposit, wager and time limits in the account settings.
Deposits and withdrawals
Method
Deposit
Withdrawal
Notes
Debit card
Instant
Varies, often 1–3 days
Credit cards are banned in some states
PayPal / Venmo
Instant
Often same day
Fastest at FanDuel and DraftKings
Online banking (ACH)
Instant to 1 day
1–3 days
Most common withdrawal route
Play+ prepaid card
Instant
Fast
Book-branded card
Cash at a casino cage
Instant
Same day
Where the book has a partner casino
Taxes on sports betting winnings
Gambling winnings are taxable income in the US. Sportsbooks issue a W-2G for large wins and report them to the IRS, and some states tax winnings on top of federal tax. Losses are only deductible if you itemize, within limits that changed for the 2026 tax year; check the IRS rules or a tax adviser.
Responsible betting
Every licensed book offers deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and most states run a statewide self-exclusion list that covers all licensed operators. 1-800-GAMBLER is free and confidential.
FanDuel scored highest overall in November 2026 for live betting, parlays and payouts. For esports, bet365 is the best choice where it is licensed; for market depth, DraftKings.
Can I bet on esports in the US?
It depends on the state. Some allow it broadly, some restrict it to sanctioned events, and some prohibit it. The state selector on this page shows what is available where you are.
How old do you have to be?
21 in nearly every legal state. You must also be physically inside the state when you bet; the app checks your location.
Do you earn money from these links?
Yes. EsportNow earns a commission when you open an account through a link on this page. The ranking follows the published scoring method and the commission has no part in it.
What does -110 mean?
Stake $110 to win $100. It's the standard price on spreads and totals, with the book keeping about 4.5%.
Are sports betting winnings taxed in the US?
Yes, as income. Books issue a W-2G for large wins, and some states add state income tax.
Do I need to be in the state to bet?
Yes. Every licensed book confirms your location before each bet.
About the author
TA
Tim Allen
Sportsbooks, prediction markets and DFS writer
Tim Allen covers US betting for EsportNow, from state-licensed sportsbooks and their promos to CFTC-regulated prediction markets, DFS pick'em apps and sweepstakes casinos, plus betting in Canada and Australia. Tim's guides explain how each product is regulated where you live, what the odds and offers are really worth, and how esports fits into each market.
US sportsbooks
Prediction markets
DFS pick'em
Sweepstakes casinos
Odds and promo value
25 guides on EsportNowWrites in: EnglishPage updated 2 Nov 2026