The Best Sports Betting Apps for Beginners in the USA

Sports betting, like anything else, isn’t something you’re going to pick up and become an expert at immediately. When you’re just starting, you’ll need to find the perfect sports betting app for you that fits your needs as a beginner.

Luckily for you, you’ve come across the perfect guide for the best betting app for beginners in sports betting. I’ve gambled on sports online ever since it became legal in the United States in 2018 and just felt like I wasn’t a beginner about a year ago. I’ve used most sports betting apps available in my region, and I’ve developed the perfect list of the five best mobile sports betting apps for beginners to use.

I’ve taken a lot into consideration before recommending these betting apps as the best for those new to sports betting. I looked at how easy the apps are to use even for complete novices, the interface and design, how easy it is to find markets. I also looked at the exact process for placing a bet, and how easy it was to fund my account and withdraw any winnings.

All-around Easiest Betting App

Every online sports betting app on this list is straightforward and available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, BUT DraftKings is my clear-cut favorite for beginners. DraftKings is one of the largest mobile betting apps in the world and has evolved past daily fantasy sports to become the industry giant that it is today.

DraftKings has done this by making everything simple. Everything from accessing the app to registering for an account to making your first DraftKings deposit is effortless and quick. If any issues arise, there is a great help center in the account menu that features resources from responsible gambling material to wagering tutorials.

While bet365 presents the most extensive stats, DraftKings presents the stats most beginning bettors are looking for, and there are strategy guides available to teach users tips to play, although mine below is better. It has one of the cleanest mobile apps, a plethora of retail sports betting partners, and is the best sportsbook for live betting.

Aspects of a Betting App Suitable for Beginners

There are several things users should look at when picking online sportsbooks that benefit what they need. Beginners need a well-organized, user-friendly interface that’s quick and convenient and has plenty of resources to use if/when a question occurs.

Below are the nine factors I looked at in each of the online sports betting apps and which sportsbook app from the list leads in that subject.

📱User-Friendly Interface & Bet Slip

A user-friendly interface is essential for betting apps to attract new users to use their mobile betting app instead of the hundreds of other competitors on the app store. A user-friendly interface is well organized, has a stunning design, performs well at a high quality, and feels natural.

An essential aspect of that is the bet slip. Many mobile sports betting apps don’t have a good bet slip, leading to significant problems for beginners. Bet slips need to be clear, concise, and easily manipulated so that users can make bets effectively and change them how they need without dismantling the whole thing.

Below is a bet slip from DraftKings, the best user interface for a mobile sports betting app. The bet slip contains three separate picks, the availability to place individual bets for each, set all three wagers straight with the same amount of money on the line, and a DraftKings parlay and teaser menu at the bottom.

This is the perfect example of a bet slip for a sports gambling app because it allows users to place bets straight in a simple fashion or use their tools to form a more complex bet like a parlay, a teaser, or a round-robin. An easy-to-understand bet slip is critical for sports wagering apps because new users want to understand what they’re doing, and while the rest of the US sports betting apps in this review have a similar bet slip, DraftKings has the best. For direct comparisons on reduced vig, reliable sports services, peer to peer betting, etc., you can also have a look at our direct comparisons between the best beginners’ betting apps.

💳Convenient & Easy to Use Banking Methods

Another critical factor for a mobile sportsbook app is the various online banking methods offered to make deposits and withdrawals from your account. Online sportsbook apps focus on bringing you the most convenient ways to transfer money to and from your account online, and most sportsbooks listed above have some (if not all) of the following options.

• Online wire transfer
• Online banking
• Credit or debit cards
• e-Check
• PayPal and other eWallets like Skrill, Venmo, and Neteller
• Prepaid Card (provided by sportsbook apps, i.e. DraftKings prepaid card and FanDuel prepaid card)
• Cash at in-play betting sites

All of the sports gambling apps in this list are free of fees when making a deposit or withdrawal, and deposits will be posted instantly to your account. In contrast, withdrawals will vary by method but generally take 3-5 business days. Every online betting app here has a land-based retail partner where users can fund their account in person at casino cages in sportsbooks across the country.

The BetMGM sportsbook app is one of the best sportsbook apps for payment methods because of the large number of ways available and the considerable number of casinos nationwide.

Many new users wonder, “are sports betting apps safe?” I’m here to put your worry to rest because absolutely. If you’re using legal sportsbook apps in your area, your information and money are backed and insured by your local government’s gaming commission. Make sure that you’re using legal sports betting apps by checking their licensing on their FAQs page to know that your money is safe, and if you can’t find it, that’s a major red flag.

🖥️Tutorials and 101 Videos on Sports Betting

All of the best sports betting sites for new users have one thing in common: resources to help beginners understand mobile sportsbooks’ massive platform. There are numerous help and FAQ pages on these sportsbook apps with information on each type of bet available, how to read lines and odds, and how to place bets, including adding them to your bet slip.

The FanDuel Sportsbook has a phenomenal betting guide for new users that explains everything about sports gambling. It also has video breakdowns to visualize what they’re describing. Users can use these resources to assist in navigating around the sportsbook app, making deposits or FanDuel withdrawals, reading the odds and lines, and learning how each bet type works.

🍀Stats and Odds to Guide Your Betting

Understanding the matchup in front of you is essential for placing a sports bet. Stats and odds are vital when placing bets because they can help you better understand the bet you’re about to make. These sports betting apps have highly competitive odds, and reading them correctly is vital for beginners.

Odds may seem confusing, but they are pretty simple once you realize how to read them. Odds are displayed in a three-digit number with a plus or a minus in front of it that reads somewhat confusing compared to European odds, which are just decimals. If the number has a plus in front of it, like +125, for example, when you bet $100, you’ll get $125 if you win. Inversely, if the number has a minus, -125, you’ll need to bet $125 to win $100. This means that the favorites are always harmful while underdogs are almost always positive numbers or a smaller negative number than others.

Each of these sports betting apps has what’s known as a juice. This juice is an extra -10 added onto each line, meaning that the book takes an additional -10 cut in their odds on each bet. If you use a sportsbook as an NBA betting app to bet on spreads, an utterly even bet, the odds are -110 rather than +100. Some mobile betting apps even run promotions where they forgo their juice for individual bets, giving users better odds!

The best online sports betting app for stats and odds is the bet365 Sportsbook, which gives both previous and live stats and stats on where the money is being placed by the public. Reading this can give an insight into where casual bettors are putting their money and the handicappers who do it for a living.

👑Simple to Download/Install App with Neat Organization

These mobile sports betting apps iOS and Android are elementary to download in either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and can be used on most current operating systems. Like most mobile apps, all you’ll need to do is search the name in the app store to download, and it will add to your home screen for you to use when the download is finished.

Apple and Android sports betting apps sometimes require an extra geolocation software app; however, none of the ones above do. Nothing is worse than having to download two apps, and it just gets confusing having them all on your phone’s home screen, so having solid geolocation software embedded in the app is very important to make users happy.

💎Easy Bet Types

One of the most important aspects of online sportsbooks is the bet types available for users to make. The most accessible bets are straight bets placed on a spread, over-under, or moneyline that are only for the odds given by that single line.

Betting on spreads is betting on a team to win with points given or taken away based on the team’s likelihood of winning. This means that the favorites would be getting points taken away and would have to win by more than the spread to cover the bet. Users can only place these bets on a sport where points are counted throughout (not fighting sports on MMA betting apps).

Similarly, a basic over-under bet is a bet on whether or not the game will have over or under the line of points provided. Over-under bets and spread bets are typically even at -110 odds, while moneyline bets, a straight-up bet, will vary, as I mentioned before.

These sportsbook apps have these options that users can combine to become more complex bets at better odds in wagers like parlays or teasers. The best sports betting app for betting types on the list would have to be DraftKings because of the sheer number of prop bets that can be added to a same game parlay.

🏆Comprehensive Market Coverage

Everyone watches different sports and has diverse interests in sports betting in markets worldwide. Finding a sportsbook that has all of the markets you’re interested in is significant and can go well beyond the major sports of America.

Prominent sportsbooks will always offer popular sports like football, basketball, golf, baseball, boxing, hockey, and soccer. Still, some smaller niche sports like lacrosse, handball, or darts are only offered on certain US sports betting apps. Betting markets are expanding on these mobile sportsbooks every day, so check back regularly to see what’s new!

DraftKings takes the award for the best sports betting app in betting markets because of the number of events they offer. They also have tons of free-to-play pools, which gives users more opportunities to make money for free as their entries go head-to-head against other users who’ve opted in.

☎️24/7 Customer Support

Customer service is an essential aspect of any industry, especially when thousands of dollars could be on the line. While uncommon, apps are not perfect, so things such as DraftKings geolocation issues or FanDuel deposit problems may occur, which would result in the need for customer service.

As I mentioned above, BetMGM has the best customer support services in this list because of their interactive FAQ page that can help users answer any fundamental question they may have. When this fails, it offers a live chat, an email, or a phone number option to contact a customer service agent to help fix your problems. This is a common feature of mobile sports betting apps, but BetMGM is the quickest and easiest to access.

⭐Reddit & Mobile App Stores Reviews

If you’re looking for a new sportsbook and want to hear testimonials from real players and users of the sports betting apps, check the app store rating or reviews on Reddit for insight into the public’s opinion. Be sure to look at the total number of reviews and look at a couple of testimonials before making your mind up.

Each of these sportsbook apps has glowing testimonials on both Reddit and the app store and has a minimum of 4.6-stars or higher with a minimum of 19,000 reviews. Some of the reviews were negative, but it seemed as if the people who did not enjoy them had rare issues with their app and did not use the customer support services that could have solved their problems.

🔥Signup Bonuses

Bonuses are a huge factor when a new customer is choosing any betting site. Whether it is a bonus bet or a 100% matched betting offer, beginners should always seek out the best welcome bonuses to give them a good kick-start. The best sports betting site will provide new bettors with an attractive welcome package to give them a boost before they start betting.

Beginners should do some shopping and scour the market for attractive offers. Of course, make sure they also provide the betting options you want, but take advantage of any kind offers. Some sites may require a sportsbook promo code to claim the offer. If this is the case, you can enter your code during in the sign-up process and the bonus money will instantly be credited to your account.

Betting Apps with Special Offers for Beginners

Bonus offers have become a massive part of sportsbooks today because of their use in attracting new users to their platform. When trying to use or obtain bonus cash with no deposit, it is essential always to understand the specific stipulations to use, such as the minimum or maximum amount that can be wagered, how to opt-in, what type of bet you have to place, and what kind of event to your bonus bet applies to.

Unfortunately, some apps try to trick users into signing up and depositing into their sportsbooks with promotions that seem great until you read the fine print. The first time I ever signed up for a sportsbook account in the US in 2018, I signed up for a book with the max bonus, not realizing that I had to place eight times the amount of the bonus in wagers before I could make a withdrawal. Pretty crappy, right?

That’s a perfect example of why it’s crucial to find $500 bonus bets or higher with easy-to-understand terms and conditions when deciding on a new sportsbook.

Easy to Understand Terms and Conditions

When you see bonus bet promotions on a sportsbook, look into the terms and conditions for the following information before opting in.

• How to claim the offer
• Minimum/maximum bet
• Which sports are allowed to be bet on with the bonus
• Which types of bets are permitted (straight bets only, parlays, live betting, etc.)
• How the bonus money will be awarded to you if you win

Some promotions are for existing customers and others for new players. Likewise, you should read details on whether a bonus is cashable or how to use a referral link to invite your friends for special bonuses. All the info lie in the ts and cs of betting apps, so read carefully as a novice player should always do.

How to Begin with a Betting App

If you want to start using legal sportsbook apps, all you’ll need is a mobile device or a laptop, and to follow these five easy and quick steps.

Step 1: Download the Mobile Sportsbook on your Device

To download the mobile sports betting app that you’re looking for, go to the app store on your mobile device and search for the sportsbook name that you want to use. Next, have the available space on your device’s memory (generally under 200 megabytes) and press download. After it’s downloaded, you’ll be able to create an account and have full access to all of the features (or more) as the desktop website.

Our page banners can take you to your preferred site where you can follow the same process.

Step 2: Create a New Mobile Betting Account

Creating an account on mobile sportsbooks is a straightforward process and only takes a few minutes and personal information. This step will require some of (if not all) of the following information;

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Phone Number
• Email
• Address
• Last Four Digits of SSN

Step 3: Deposit Funds

After you’ve registered for an account and signed in, you’ll be prompted to the cashier’s page of the mobile sportsbook app to make your first deposit, which is where you’ll get your new player bonus if you sign-up using our links. Depositing money into your account only takes a few minutes and has several safe and easy options for instant deposits. The possibilities are generally;

• Credit and Debit Cards
• Online Bank Transfers
• Echecks
• Prepaid Cards
• PayPal
• Online Wire Transfers
• Cash

Bonus Step: Sports Promo Codes for New Players

As I mentioned above, you’ll be allowed to get your welcome bonus during your initial deposit, which can either be obtained by clicking on the links above or by clicking on the links and entering the promo code. Below are the links to the sportsbooks bonuses and the promo codes (if necessary) that go with them.

• DraftKings Sportsbook | Use the Link
• FanDuel Sportsbook | Use the Link
• Caesars Sportsbook | Promo Code: GUSAFULL
• BetMGM Sportsbook | Promo Code: GAMBLEUSA
• bet365 Sportsbook | Use the Link

Step 4: Placing Your First Bet

It’s now time to look through the plethora of events and find the one you want to bet on. When making your first bet, be responsible even if you have a bonus bet. Place a bet that you’re confident in and try to keep it as a singular bet, or a small parlay, for the best chances of winning. Keep in mind that your bets will still need to be likely to win to have the best chances, not just the total number of bets.

Step 5: Watch Live & Wait for the Outcome

For the best part, watching the event live with some extra fun at stake. Kick back and enjoy as your favorite sports just got a lot more interesting!

If you need more information as to how registration works or why sportsbooks need your personal information, be sure to check out our Sportsbook Registration Guide below.

Learn How to Sign Up

Easiest Sports Bets to Win

The most straightforward sports bets to win will always be the simplest ones and, analytically, the ones with the worst odds. Moneyline bets, for instance, are the most straightforward bet on whether or not a team/athlete will win or lose, which will give great odds for underdogs, but bad odds for favorites.

To counteract this, users can bet on spreads to get some of those odds back by effectively buying or selling points with the spread. If you know a basketball game will be a blowout and the moneyline is -150, but the spread is -3 at -110 odds, then hammer the spread!

Best Sports Betting Markets for Beginners

The best betting markets for new users will always be determined by the person’s knowledge of each sport. Bet on what you know! There’s no sense in betting on Korean baseball if you only watch the NBA, so find the market you learn best.

Definitive Guide to Online Betting

I’ve always been a football and basketball fan growing up, so when I started using sportsbook apps, I began by betting on the NBA and NFL. It’s great to learn the ins and outs of sports betting before you learn new sports to follow to bet on, which happens often!

3 Tips & Strategies for Beginners of Mobile Sports Betting

When you’re starting as a sports bettor, you’ll need to know a few things before diving in because that’s how you lose a lot of money.

• Keep it simple

Keep your first few bets simple; there’s no need to rush into a vast ten-team round-robin on your first go for $100. Start by placing a few moneyline, spread, or over-under bets straight or in small parlays before branching out into the more complex wagers.

• Keep it small

I know seeing a large win amount on your screen seems enticing; however, keep your parlay and wager amounts small when you’re starting. Stick to two and three team parlays and try betting in increments of $10 before upping it to $100 because you might not be as good as you think!

• Only bet with what you’re comfortable losing

Sports gambling is very unpredictable, and anything could happen! Only bet with what you’re comfortable losing, and be sure to limit yourself to a specific amount spent per week because it’s easy to overdo things without realizing it. Most apps have ways to limit your deposits per week, so find and set a limit that works for you before it’s too late!

Mobile Betting Apps VS Online Sportsbooks

Before searching for the best sports betting app for beginners, it is worth noting the differences between the app and the best online sportsbook site. First, when you download an app, you will have come across the operator’s main betting site, whether that be FanDuel Ohio, Barstool Sportsbook or the BetRivers sportsbook. This could lead you to wonder what difference, if any, there is, especially if you are new to the online sports betting world. Maximizing the opportunities presented to you by sports betting apps with all of their features and functions, ensures a smooth experience and more flexibility compared with betting on the sportsbook sites.

Betting apps perform better for advanced features like live streaming and in-play betting. An online sportsbook that is fully optimized is still a great option, but sports bettors may find there are more limits when using them.

The biggest difference between an app and using a main sportsbook site is the convenience offered with apps. The fact you can make a wager at any place at any time is hugely beneficial. Betting apps allow bettors to stream their sports live anywhere. Dedicated mobile wagering apps have added this feature to work in conjunction with their live betting sections. Additionally, most things can be done instantly when using an app. Whether you request a withdrawal, make a deposit or place a bet, everything is available at your fingertips.

Ultimately lots of things are done via mobile nowadays. If you are comfortable ordering groceries and using apps for other everyday things, you should have no trouble getting to grips with how a mobile betting app works.

US States with Legal Sports Betting Apps

Legal sportsbook apps have been available in several states nationwide since the change in national legislation in 2018. Be sure to check the availability of each app in your state before signing up because the geolocation software will stop you from betting from states where the book is not offered. Avoid all offshore betting apps, and the use of a VPN for sports betting, because they are unreliable and unsafe because a local gaming commission does not regulate them.

New locations such as the New York sports betting and Massachusetts sports betting markets have added another option for sports bettors.

As I said, check each specific app for its availability, but the states that offer mobile sports betting legally are;

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida (currently pending)
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Washington DC.
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Legal US Betting States

Summary

To summarize this deep dive into the best betting apps for beginners, finding a sportsbook that works for your needs is significant, and beginners should do their research before signing up. Any of these five sportsbooks are excellent choices, especially for beginners, and have all of the resources needed to become a better bettor!

When you’re starting, be sure to pay attention to sportsbooks available in your area, the ones with the best organization and the simplest ones. There’s no need to overcomplicate things and use a mobile betting app that’s too confusing. Use what you’re comfortable with and enjoy!