Compare the best sportsbooks for NFL betting in the US, and read our comprehensive NFL betting guide below.
Football is, unarguably, America’s favorite sport, and its high number of bettors mean that it is the highest sport being wagered on. NFL events hold every week, creating an opportunity for bettors to make real money.
NFL betting is legal in some US states, as it is one of the most regulated games. The odds are continually reassessed and adjusted with the sportsbook operators who offer these products to Americans. The regulation is to maintain safe practices and only offer fair games where the bettors can win their stakes.
The NFL is top three leagues in the US gaming space. But not all states have legalized sports betting. Some states either have a House Bill in the legislature waiting for it to be passed into law or have it outrightly banned.
Here are some of the states where it is legal to bet on the NFL:
Colorado has the highest number of legal betting sportsbooks in the US. Close to 30 casinos are licensed to serve residents gambling products. There are over 20 sportsbook mobile apps in Colorado’s gambling space.
Among the premium sports being wagered on, NFL tops the list as more than half of bets placed on the sportsbooks every weekend are on the NFL.
Analysts project that the bets placed will only increase with new sportsbooks being welcomed every month.
Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019 and has the NFL among the top sports leagues being staked on. Although players must register at a retail casino for their signup properly, NFL betting is in full swing with the current season in motion and can be played online and offline at a casino.
The Chicago Bears are the most popular team in the State and are probably the most wagered on.
Indiana legalized sports betting in 2019 and followed with the legalization and regulation of online sportsbooks a month later. It currently has 13 casino locations, with only two not offering sports betting yet. The online sportsbook apps operating legally in the State also cater to the State’s rampant gambling population.
A good reason for Indiana’s swift signing of the sports bill into law was the revenue generated, especially with sports like the NFL. The State was not ready to miss out on the juice. At the moment, Indiana is still one of the top states to offer NFL betting odds to players.
Iowa currently boasts of close to 12 sportsbook apps and lots of its retail casinos offering sportsbooks too. Since 2019 when it signed the sports betting bill into law, the State has offered premium sports, including the NFL.
Initially, the State required all bettors to register at a retail casino before accessing online sportsbook services. This requirement is now void, and players can complete registration and start placing bets online.
The NFL has become popular in Iowa, with no special team as a favorite. However, different areas have the preferred teams they bet on. For instance, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have always been the top team being wagered on by residents in the South, and the north has always favored the Minnesota Vikings.
However, 2020 Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs, are now becoming the top team for the northerners.
Michigan is one of the largest states in the US that allows sports betting with no obstruction. Ten million residents can now enjoy placing wagers through the many sportsbook apps currently operating in the State.
The NFL was a deciding factor that led to the legalization so residents and visitors to the State could enjoy staking on their preferred teams while enjoying the opening event.
The Detroit Lions are the favored team in the State, with its popularity coming from winning the NFL championship four times.
Sports betting was live in 2018 in New Jersey and has become one of the best markets to gamble on. Sports betting is offered online and at retail casinos, with mobile sportsbook apps available for tech-savvy players. Some analysts claim NJ is currently the capital of sports betting in the US, as no other state receives as much wager as the Garden State does.
Currently, NJ residents have more stakes on the NFL, having many odds available with various outcomes to bet on.
Pennsylvania is the biggest online gambling state and one of the US's deciding states for sports betting. Currently, it is still at the top spot of states presently offering sports betting.
As a result of its large market, the State slammed a $10 million fee for licensing and mandates all sportsbook operators to remit 36% as gross revenue taxes.
The NFL is one of the top sports being wagered on in PA. However, only the NFL sporting events are legal, while the drafts and elections are outrightly banned from being wagered on. The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers pro football teams are the top teams from the State and play each other once in four years.
A good thing about betting on the NFL in this State is that bettors have many betting options to explore and get good cash prizes.
Tennesse allows sports betting online only. All the top sportsbook mobile operators, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, are present and cater to the population in Tennessee. The State continues to sway the sports betting market, despite the bumpy start in the first year of the legalization.
The NFL is the most popular sports event in the State, with a wide margin between it and the second most popular, basketball. The Tennessee Titans are the anointed team for this State and are currently competing in the championships.
Virginia is currently the State with lots of successful stories regarding the legalization of sports betting in April 2020, thanks to the influence of the NFL. It has ten sportsbooks offering betting options to the residents, with many offers expected to be received in the future. Only three states in the US provide such an online sports betting format because of the lack of a retail casino.
The NFL is one of the top sports being wagered on in the State, with the Super Bowl seeing many bets, increasing the State’s revenue. The Washington Football Team, Charlotte Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens currently ply their trade in the state championship leagues.
West Virginia offers both retail and online sportsbook betting to its residents. Since the legalization of sports betting in 2018, five retail casinos are currently available, with six mobile sportsbooks operating legally in the State.
The State granted licenses to FanDuel and Draftkings, two of the most popular sportsbook operators in the country, before the beginning of the 2019 NFL season so bettors can bet on their favorite Football teams.
Wyoming is another state that only offers online sports betting activities together with Virginia. The only retail casinos available in the form are owned and run by the two Native American tribes. Among the online operators offering sports betting to the residents, only Draftkings and BetMGM are active.
There are no professional football teams for the State, so there are favorites for the residents to wager on.
Other States that have legalized NFL sports betting include:
With its headquarters based in Boston, DraftKings has become a major contender in every online gambling space in the US. In addition to their online sportsbook operations, they also have a few retail casinos to their credit.
DraftKings is not the operator to shy away from offering great bonuses. They have a range of offers that cater to newbies and existing players. Because they want the best for their regular players, the promotions are updated regularly to meet standard demands to reward their loyal players. New players are not left out either as they are offered the best welcome bonuses that range from deposit cashback offers and other sign-up incentives.
A good feature about DraftKings is, while they have a promo code that you can use to claim bonuses, it is entirely optional. Not using the promo code will not stop you from claiming the juicy bonuses available for grabs when signing up.
Another consistent feature of this operator is their mobile sportsbook app which is consistently updated for convenience. On their app, you can see the “How to Bet” section that offers helpful guidance on how players can place a sports bet with their real money.
Placing a bet means you have decided on the type of bet you want to wager, and this operator has different options to make a pick from. Here are a few bet types that you can select:
The odds offered by DraftKings are one of a kind; not all the sportsbooks offering top sporting events, especially the NFL, can provide the same odds you can get on this sportsbook.
DraftKings payment channels are popular and secured brands. Although not all options are available, you are sure to get the best. Some include PayPal, Prepaid cards, Bank transfers, credit/debit cards, bank transfers, etc.
This sportsbook’s site and mobile app are protected with the best encryption protocol to protect against cyber theft. So, there’s no harm or risk if you play on this sportsbook.
FanDuel is another top-rated sportsbook in the US that offers the best bonus offers without a bonus code. Just sign up, get your welcome bonuses and enjoy the best odds from top games, including the NFL.
There are different types of bets you can wager on to get the best out of the enhanced odds. Some of the most popular wagering options include the following:
You can’t get enough with FanDuel's new and improved sportsbook mobile app known as the FanDuel Sportsbook V2. Everything you need to enjoy a betting session is available on the app. Talk of speed, and improved User interface, they have it all.
FanDuel ticked all the boxes to provide different means of payment and improved security to protect the player’s financial information when it comes to payment methods. Some of the best forms of payment seen on the FanDuel sportsbook include Online bank transfer, Credit and debit bank cards, PlayNearMe, PayPal, Prepaid Cards.
There are lots of markets to try out on the sportsbook. Popular markets include
The promotions offered by FanDuel for their existing players are many, with new offers added every day. Be sure to check out their promotions page regularly to keep up with their latest promotion offers routinely released.
Betway is an international sportsbook operator that offers different bonuses depending on the location of the players. Players from the US can enjoy more valuable bonuses provides when compared to their counterparts from other countries.
Betway has gone through the stress of ensuring that all top sporting events and minor sports niches are available for players to have lots of options to wager on in betting markets. Some of the most popular markets to wager on includes NFL, Boxing, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer (all types of leagues- local and international), etc.
You can find all types of bets you can use to wager with. The Futures, props galore, regular and off-the-wall staff are available to explore on your betting adventure. Besides, you can win daily coupons to make your bet slip look attractive with the best odds.
The operator also has many features to help you create an awesome betting experience. They include Live betting, cash out, match accumulator, and odds booster. What’s more, you can enjoy betting on their mobile app that is well optimized if you want betting while on the move. You can also enjoy a live stream of your favorite matches on the match too.
888sports is one of the top sports betting operators in the country, which was launched in 2008. The operator, a part of the sports gambling icon, 888, is a fine blend of sports entertainment and sportsbook that keeps rewarding its players with juicy bonuses and betting odds.
The operator is known for its high flexibility and versatility in accommodating all bettors, regardless of their financial strength. They offer a variety of bonuses, including risk-free bets, free bets, and promotions for their top existing players. Their welcome bonuses targeted at new players registering at the sportsbook are considered the best.
You can place wagers on top games in some of the top sporting events, including NFL, Basketball, Soccer, Rugby, Table Tennis, Hockey, Motorsports, and other popular sports.
Players at 888sports can place different wagers on the sportsbook. These include:
A significant feature that players can enjoy includes the live betting option, where players can place bets to predict a running sports event and cash out when they feel they have gotten enough wins. In addition, the operator has a dedicated mobile app that allows the players to enjoy placing bets on the go without logging on to the web version of the site.
One of the top sportsbooks available globally is Unibet, where you can access many sports events like the NFL. Unibet initially started receiving bets over the phone only before they created a website with language support in English and Swedish.
All new and existing players at this sportsbook can enjoy lots of bonus and promotion offers, showing their generosity towards the players. Some of the top bonuses include the welcome bonus, risk-free bets, and sign-up offers. They also have several promotions like the Unibet Refer–Friend Bonus, Free Bets, Boosted Odds, Sports Club, and Predictor Games.
You can use any of these bonuses and promotions to place wagers at their top sports events, including NFL, Hockey, Soccer, Boxing, Basketball. Golf, Cycling, Darts, Handball, Aussie, Cricket, and many other markets.
The sportsbook comes in a simple, user-friendly platform that makes it easy for players to wager on their favorite games with no issues. A new player can navigate through the sports events, get live matches through the “Live Right Now,” and enjoy the lie betting feature through the “In-Play” button located at the top right corner of the homepage.
In addition, players can enjoy different odds in different formats, including the Decimal, American, and Fractional formats, all within the sportsbook. All players can use different bet types to wager on the games available. The wager types include:
Signing up on the sportsbook is easy and can be done on the mobile app. The mobile app has the same unique UI design as the web version. It is available for Android and Apple users; Android users can get it directly from the Unibet website, while Apple users can get it from their app store.
There are many sportsbooks in the US struggling for your attention, which can cause lots of confusion concerning how the players can choose the one that has their best interests. This challenge is why we have curated this section to show our readers how we select the best NFL betting sites.
Before you begin selecting where to place bets, consider the legality of the sportsbook and which gaming authority is in charge of their regulation. Any NFL betting site that does not publicly display which gambling authority regulates them is probably not legal and should not be considered.
A regulated NFL betting site has a body that has oversight on its operations. They ensure they operate within accepted practices, not making it extremely impossible for users to win. Also, players betting at a licensed site can direct their grievances to the regulatory body if the site’s customer support does not resolve their complaints amicably.
The best NFL sites offer the best odds you can get. We’re not just talking about the special promotional packages like Odds Boost, but the regular odds you can get without any reward program. You’ll want the best odds for your real money deposited, and high odds are a sure means of getting those high cash prizes.
You should consider going only to the popular betting sites because many players trust them already. You can also go through our concise list of the top betting sites to place sports bets on. You can also search to see what odds other sportsbooks are offering to decide for yourself.
Over the years, sports betting has become more convenient for gamblers. Now, you can place bets on your favorite NFL team on the go. Mobile sportsbook apps have changed a lot. Every sportsbook should have a mobile app or a highly optimized mobile site for mobile browsers.
Even though a majority of the US sports betting sites have a mobile betting app, some of them still have issues due to the level of upgrades and features associated with the app. An excellent mobile sportsbook app should have a dedicated section for live streaming, so you can enjoy your favorite NFL match if you’re not able to sit in front of a TV.
A good feature of using the best NFL betting site should be the ease of depositing and withdrawing real money. Withdrawals are most important; you don’t want to wait for too long before your cash wins hit your account.
A reliable NFL betting site should provide different payment options to choose from. Ideally, the most common and secured payment gateways that should be available for players to choose from include:
Having different payment options is not just about the ease of making payments but also showing how dependable the betting site is.
The best NFL betting sites offer their new players the best welcome bonus offers. Whether a welcome offer or a sign-up bonus, they are similar and should be juicy enough. These offers could come in a free bet which is usually the top way offered on the first deposit.
The promotions and rewards are designed for the existing players. Before we review a site, we check out if they have different promotions and reward programs for their regular players. An active welcome bonus doesn’t make sense but does not enjoy perks for playing regularly at a betting site.
A top NFL betting site must have an active customer support team available 24/7. They should have different modes of communications, not just being active, such as email, live chat, comprehensive FAQs section, phone lines, etcetera.
This pointer is necessary because there are days as a bettor when there is an issue with the betting site, and you will need your complaints heard and resolved. Customer support is an integral part of the betting site, and we always ensure that the place we recommend must have an active means of communication.
There are different types of betting markets that should be on the list of every NFL betting site. This section gives you an idea of how each of them works so you can get the best out of your bets.
These types of bets can help you place season-long bets for your favorite sporting events. Betting on NFL futures implies wagering on a future event. Here players can choose a football team, predict the outcome of all their games for that season, and stake real money. It is always exciting to predict winners so early. However, understand that your stake will be tied up, so ensure you don’t put every penny in. Popular NFL future bet is wagering on the winner of the Super Bowl, AFC, and NFC Championships and who takes the MVP award.
A teaser bet contains at least two games. This type of bet allows bettors to quickly buy a point spread, which means that you can adjust the average point spread of the games between 6-10 points in your favor. A middle teaser point rests on six points so that you can bet on the underdogs and the players’ favorite. Other main NFL teasers are 6, 6.5, and 7 points teasers.
This type of bet is usually placed on the home team since most bettors generally play the home team to win. You can remove six points from the home team and add it to the away team, teasing the home team that they’re your favorites to lose.
NFL parlays are very popular among bettors who stake on NFL games. Here, multiple selections are put into a single wager. All selections must go through or win for a bet to be successful. The difficulty of having a win lies in the number of selections made. However, the parlay odds only increase with the number of selections. Moneyline, spreads, or totals are mostly used markets in NFL parlays.
A good side of NFL parlays is users get to wager less and stand a chance to win more.
Moneyline betting is a simple form of betting. Ideally, we can call it the simplest. Here, the bettor picks who would win the game. No twists, no turns, just the winner. As a negative number, the odds list the favorite in a game while the underdog is given a positive number.
The beauty of this form of betting is that there is never a tie. The odds range from -110 way up to -600. It is best to take advantage of the sportsbook welcome bonus for this. Usually, free bets, free money, and deposit bonus are offered to newbies.
Live betting is offered on all in-play NFL games. This is when bets are placed on ongoing NFL matches. Bettors get the chance to jump in on the game with live odds. Betting options include Moneyline, point spread, prop bet, and totals. It is best to predetermine your strategy, organize your bankroll, and forecast momentum swings.
The NFL is a top sport that requires understanding and a winning strategy to cash out regularly on the different games. Some of the top tips & NFL strategies you should consider before placing a bet include:
For any NFL game, the home team is always favorites to win, at least 55-60% of the time. Some of the reasons why they are favorites include:
In a typical NFL game, the game is usually decided by three points or less. It is usual for the entire bettor population to place their wagers on the favorite, which is why the betting odds for the underdogs are higher than the favorite.
A Moneyline bet for the underdog could be as high as +300 with a spread of 7. This game is usually decided by just one point. There’s no need to shy away from placing your wager on the underdog because anything could happen in a one-point decider.
Robert is responsible for all content on BettingGuide US. Robert previously worked as a poker dealer during his college years at MIT where he studied Computational Science and Engineering. With a great interest in gambling, Robert likes to go in-depth when writing so that you can make a wiser choice when choosing an operator.