Getting Started with Sports Betting and How to Bet in 2026
If you are new to the world of online sports betting, it can be a daunting place. So many sportsbooks to choose from and how will you even know if they’re legitimate? Sound like you? Then read on…
Our US sports betting guide has been written especially for those new to wagering and it will make it much easier for you to find a great sportsbook. We’d like you to think of it as your personal sports betting education reference.
Who should make use of the comparison? – anyone that needs help with choosing a sportsbook
If you’re feeling like you need a ‘sports betting for dummies’ guide, then you’ve definitely come to the right place. Here at Betastic we’ve created a whole library of information. You’ll find everything you need from sports betting how to guides, right through to our honest reviews of almost every legitimate sportsbook in the US states where gambling is legal.
New DraftKings Customer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES
T&Cs apply, 18+
Get Bonus
To be eligible for DraftKings Sportsbook and the Promotion, you must be physically located in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR (residents only), TN, VA, VT, WY, WV, CA-ONT or CA-AB (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/NH/PR/WY/CA-AB) (19+ in CA-ONT). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 18+
Get Bonus
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Top 5 steps for a secure & fair gambling experience – important matters for you to consider
In this section of our US sports betting guide, we’ll walk you through the five most important ‘sports betting how to’ essentials that will ensure your sportsbook experience is a happy and safe one.
1 Licensing
To make certain you will be betting legally and safely, you’ll first need to know if your bookmaker holds the correct licensing for your state. To make it a little more complicated, only certain US states permit bookmakers to offer online sports betting, so it will depend on your location. Here at Betastic, we’ve spent time collating information on the sportsbooks that are currently operating in all of the US states where sports betting is legal, so feel free to browse.
2 Security
When you check out sports betting, knowing the difference between a secure website and one that is not is an important skill. The first step is checking that the sportsbook website uses a URL that starts with https:// which indicates an encrypted connection between the site and your browser. Beyond browsing, every time you transmit personal data, or make a financial transaction, there should be additional SSL encryption in place, preferably with a two-factor authentication to add even more security. A good sportsbook will also have a robust data protection policy in place, which you should read.
3 Sports selection
It might seem really basic, but you should always check the range of sports available. You’ll almost always find NHL betting for example, but if your passion is Golf, you might be disappointed. In our US sports betting guide selection, we’ve reviewed all of the top sports and the sportsbooks that give them the best coverage, so our sports betting review section is the best place to find out which is right for you.
4 Great odds and markets
The most secure and highly-licensed sportsbook is not much good to you if it doesn’t offer at least competitive odds across the board, which is easy to see by making a quick visit to the operators website, but we cover them in much more depth in our operator reviews so you won’t have to do that. Also, lots of bettors enjoy prop betting and if you’re one of those, the more an operator has on offer, the more fun you’ll have. Great odds and a range of markets are both essential parts of the sports betting experience as a whole.
5 Customer support
Sports betting for beginners is all about learning, so it’s important that your sportsbook has plenty of sports betting how-to guides, especially relating to its individual rules for wagering. One size does not fit all in this department and checking things like maximum bets should be an easy task, not a test of your initiative. It also goes without saying that a fast and easy way to contact your sportsbook in the event you have a problem is a must.
Editor’s recommendation – hand-picked, the best operator for you
The US sports betting guide section of our website has plenty of operator reviews you can read, but not all sportsbooks offer an ideal environment where sports betting for beginners is concerned. That is why we have picked one out for you that we think ticks all of the boxes. Our choice is Unibet.
Unibet has a long-standing global reputation and it’s correctly licensed as a sportsbook for residents of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Not only does Unibet always have excellent welcome bonuses for new customers, our US sports betting guide reviewers selected it as being especially suited to new bettors due to its exceptionally intuitive betting platform.
You’ll find all of the best US sports featured on Unibet and not just the major leagues either. There is also great coverage of some rather niche sport as well, that you won’t find anywhere else. This sportsbook also offers live streaming of hundreds of events every day and plenty of in-play betting opportunities where you’ll be helped along with live stats. Every set of odds Unibet displays also comes complete with a long-list of prop bets aimed at providing entertainment.
Lastly, Unibet has a whole section full of sports betting how to articles which are invaluable for beginners, as well as a US sports betting guide detailing the wagering rules applicable for different sports or events. Everything is easy to locate, but if you have any questions you can’t find an answer to on the site, the Unibet customer support team is available to help 24/7 via live chat and phone.
Other great operators
1.
92/100
Rating
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
FanDuel Sports Bonus
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
Go to FanDuel
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Highlights
A generous welcome bonus to get you started
Most popular betting markets are displayed on the main screen
Live streaming allows users to watch their wagers unfold in real-time
To be eligible for DraftKings Sportsbook and the Promotion, you must be physically located in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR (residents only), TN, VA, VT, WY, WV, CA-ONT or CA-AB (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/NH/PR/WY/CA-AB) (19+ in CA-ONT). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
3.
90/100
Rating
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
BetMGM Sports Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
4.
89/100
Rating
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
Caesars Sports Bonus
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
Sportsbook is clean and concise, allowing for swift navigation
Odds can quickly be enhanced by regular sportsbook promotions
In-play betting is available to all Caesars Palace Online Casino customers
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
If your 1st bet loses, get an equal bonus bet up to $1,000
This is how our experts test operators – the data & criteria we cover in every review
Our team of expert reviewers works to the same list of criteria for every sportsbook they review. That means each of our operator reviews follow the same format and makes comparisons easy for our readers. Below is a very quick rundown of what you can expect to find covered in our sports betting guide USA reviews:
Usability
We’re looking for a fast-loading website that is easy on the eye and with all of the essential information clearly defined by logical menu choices. Furthermore it should be easy for you to navigate, with all web pages fully functional. We also like to see sportsbooks that are not full of intrusions such as pop-ups and moving images, which can easily distract you and ruin your betting experience.
Bonuses
Next we take a look at the bonuses or promotions the operator has available, from the perspective of new clients as well existing ones. A big welcome bonus is great, but it’s a one-off, whereas ongoing bonuses show evidence that the sportsbook is interested in retaining its customers for the long-term. We also examine the terms and conditions applied to
sports betting bonus
offers to ensure that you’ll find them fair and achievable.
License and security
We check that each operator is correctly licensed for the appropriate US state where it is doing business and seek confirmation that it has performed well under regulation. In terms of security, there are three main areas we address: https:// encryption for each page, the data security policy and the level of encryption and authentication used for sensitive data or financial transactions. If we find anything lacking, we’ll let you know about it.
Payment methods
In this section we check if there is a good range of options available to bettors for both depositing funds and withdrawing winnings. We always check if you are likely to pay any fees for transactions and determine the minimum and maximum amounts. Lastly, we confirm that the withdrawal options are reasonably fast and straightforward to use.
Customer support
This section covers all aspects, including the availability of the sportsbook’s terms and conditions, as well as plenty of self-service support, like an FAQ section. We check to see how many ways you can contact customer support personnel and the hours they are available. But we don’t leave it there; we test each method at different times to find out how quick and helpful their responses are as well.
Range of sports and betting markets
Finally, we move onto the fun part of our US sports betting guide review. This is where we check out exactly what each operator is able to offer you in terms of the range of sports, the leagues covered and the types of betting markets you will find available. The information is collated into a separate sports betting section, where we also review odds, live streaming and in-play betting on
new betting sites
as well.
Current Best Bonuses
1.
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customer Offer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES ($50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days for 21 days)*
To be eligible for DraftKings Sportsbook and the Promotion, you must be physically located in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR (residents only), TN, VA, VT, WY, WV, CA-ONT or CA-AB (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/NH/PR/WY/CA-AB) (19+ in CA-ONT). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
3.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
4.
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Finding the right operator for you – the more you can learn the better, knowledge is power
As you can see from the section above, our US sports betting guide reviews are very thorough and they are an excellent place to start when you are ready to select your sportsbook. In addition, our sports betting how to articles covering topics like betting strategies and betting apps will arm you with all of the knowledge you need to make the best use of your chosen operator.
Conclusion – you’re all good to go!
So there you have it, all of the knowledge you will need to feel confident enough to select the best
sports betting companies
for you. We hope that you’ve found our US sports betting how to guide useful and that it will inspire you to find out more.
On our Betastic website, as well as loads of sportsbook reviews, you will find many other useful resources. They feature all kinds of equally important topics like payment methods and how to find the best bonuses or offers. Lastly, just in case you fancy a bit of variety in your gambling life, there’s plenty to read about casinos, poker and lotteries too.
US sports betting guide FAQs
❓ For sports betting how to find a legitimate bookmaker?
Why not start by taking a look at our
Betastic sportsbook reviews? There you’ll find all of the information you need about licensing in your US state and a selection of the best sportsbooks covered by our in-depth reviews.
📚 Where can I find a US sports betting guide?
One really good place to look is on our Betastic website. There you’ll find numerous guides covering how to bet, planning your betting strategy and finding the best sportsbook for your location and your preferences.
⚽ Which is the best sports betting app?
Not all apps are created equal and we should know as we’ve reviewed hundreds of them. For advice on how to choose a sports betting app, or to find out which is the best app for your favorite sport, head straight over to our
Betastic app reviews
and find the right sports betting app for you.
New DraftKings Customer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES
T&Cs apply
9.1/10
To be eligible for DraftKings Sportsbook and the Promotion, you must be physically located in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR (residents only), TN, VA, VT, WY, WV, CA-ONT or CA-AB (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/NH/PR/WY/CA-AB) (19+ in CA-ONT). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
9/10
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
T&Cs apply
8.9/10
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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