Online Sports Betting Real Money

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Real money sports betting can be a little tricky to find if you don’t know where to look. With a few federal laws keeping land-based sports betting out of pretty much every state in the US, American bettors are turning to online options. That’s where we come in – we know where to find the best real money sports betting sites that are both legal and safe for American players. In addition to giving you recommendations for the best online sports betting sites, we also lay out the best ways to fund those accounts. Real money sports betting is the best way to get the most out of a game. Just make sure you’re using a safe, reputable book, and you’ll be golden.

Play Online Roulette (Top 10 casinos - updated 2021) - Enjoy the best roulette online casinos right here. Discover top games for FREE or Real Money play! Yes, it is 100% legal to bet on sports with real money online. While many states now have domestic sports betting available over the Internet, most states still haven’t formally set up their state based. Online sports betting in Pennsylvania began on May 28, 2019 when SugarHouse Casino launched an online sports betting app. Other casinos have followed in offering online sports betting. On November 21, 2018, Rhode Island became the eighth state to legalize sports betting, with Twin River Casino in Lincoln opening the first sportsbook in the state.

Currently, there are only four states that can offer state-licensed real money sports betting, but only two that choose to do so. Delaware can offer 3 or more team parlay cards during the NFL regular season. Nevada is the only state that can provide single-game real money sports betting on every sport there is, though. All other states are prevented from being able to offer sports betting because of the federal law PASPA.

  • Pennsylvania sports betting is now legal and regulated, with a growing and robust industry that first launched in 2018 and expanded online in 2019. With a variety of companies operating platforms for legal sports betting in PA, bettors continue to benefit from competition to acquire customers in the form of introductory promo offers.
  • Online sports betting is a considerable branch of the real money gaming industry, rivaled only by online casinos and internet poker in terms of popularity and reach. There are two reasons so many people are.
The Best Online Real Money Sports Betting Sites That Take U.S. Bettors

SportsBettingStates.com knows the best online real money sports betting sites that take US bettors all have a few things in common. They’ve got a wide selection of events to wager on, a good selection of different wager types, and extra features that help you make informed bets. Bonuses, promotions, and seasonal perks are also important features to look for. Finally, the best online real money sports betting sites are all well established, they’ve got excellent reputations and great customer reviews. Take a look at our picks for the best online sports betting sites that are available in your area.

Bovada Sportsbook - Accepts Bettors From 45 States

Bovada sportsbook is one of the greatest online sports betting sites because they have so much to offer. Their book’s website has a sleek design, one that is easy to navigate and keeps everything in place for you. Their hovering bet slip allows you to keep track of everything, calculating your total payout based on risk, and giving you an easy way to create your parlays. Everything on their website is mirrored on their mobile site, which is compatible with all major operating systems and allows you to do everything you would on your computer directly from your phone or tablet.

Bovada is one of the most comprehensive sports betting sites around, catering exclusively to American bettors. Located in Canada, the book is owned by the Mohawk Morris Gaming Group, a leader in online gambling. Residents from nearly every state in the US can create an account with Bovada. Right now, players in New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, and Delaware are unable to create an account. Sign up today and win up to $500 when you make your first deposit using bitcoin.

SportsBetting.ag Sportsbook - Takes Bets From All 50 States

Whether you live in Hawaii or Maine, you can bet on every single sporting event you’ve ever imagined at SportsBetting.ag. This online sportsbook has one of the largest selections of professional and collegiate sports around, as well as a ton of international events just waiting for players to bet on. From football to handball, there’s something for everyone at SportsBetting. When you make your first deposit, the book will match it by 75% up to $1,000.

SportsBetting is a safe, licensed gambling site. They’ve been operating since the early 90s, providing American bettors with the opportunities they are denied at land-based gambling establishments. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert punter or a complete rookie, SportsBetting is the place for you. Their in-depth how to bet on sports section is so detailed, it could make a sharp out of even the dullest person. Their stats center helps experts hone their information so that they can make the most informed wagers possible. There’s no place like SportsBetting, so what are you waiting for?

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The real money sports betting sites that we recommend don’t have apps. Instead, they have a mobile betting site that can be accessed through your browser. These browser-based sites are compatible with both Apple and Android devices and can be used on smartphones, tablets, basically any sort of mobile device with a reliable internet connection.

Using Your Bank Account To Directly Fund Your Real Money Sportsbook Account

Some real money sportsbooks will allow you to directly transfer funds from your bank account to your sports betting account, using a wire transfer. This is a great way to deposit large sums in a single transaction, as wire transfers generally have very high limits. These do take a bit of time, and you’ll need to contact the sportsbook for all of the pertinent information you’ll have to give to the bank.

Debit card deposits can get a little tricky when you’re trying to fund your online sports betting account. They are processed the same way that credit cards are, but they are the most likely to be flagged by the federal banking regulation UIGEA. Banks have to process every transaction you make with your debit card, and they are authorized to deny any transactions made to online gambling sites. Debit card deposits are almost too inconsistent for us to recommend as a reliable deposit method.

Checks And Bank Wires Take Time

Checks and bank wires are a reliable way to make sportsbook deposits, but they take quite a bit of time to be credited to your account. Because you have to mail the check in, you’re waiting for the book to receive it and cash it before you see the funds in your account. If it gets lost in the mail or the book is having any sort of trouble processing it, it can take even longer. Bank wires require a lot of information and take up to a week to be processed. In addition to this, they can also end up getting declined under the UIGEA.

Credit Cards Are The Most Popular Option But Are They The Best?

Credit cards are extremely easy to use and perhaps the most convenient method of depositing funds into your account, but sometimes they’re not the best option for American sports bettors. Unfortunately, most credit cards will get flagged by the UIGEA, a federal banking regulation that allows banks to decline transactions. Because of this, your deposit goes from convenience to a hassle. If you still want to use a card, it might be better to use a prepaid card instead of a credit or debit. These won’t be processed through the bank because they have already had the funds loaded. There are also other deposit methods that are just as fast and convenient.

Converting Dollars & Euros Into Cryptocurrency, Ewallets, And Other Online Friendly Money

If you decide you want to try something different from a card, we recommend a digital currency. This method is just as fast as using a card and even more secure. The best part is that it will never get flagged by any US regulations. Cryptocurrencies are able to be used by people all over the world for sports betting, but American players will not be able to use eWallets for sports betting.

Converting Paper Money Into Bitcoin

If you’ve never used Bitcoin before, there are a couple of steps you need to take in order to get paper money converted into the digital currency. First, you’ll need to create a bitcoin wallet. There are a couple of different types, but we recommend a hardware wallet because it is the least susceptible to malware and spyware. Once you’ve got your wallet, you can go to a bitcoin exchange or a bitcoin dealer and purchase some of the digital currency. The currency you purchase will then be transferred into your bitcoin wallet. From there, you just use your public bitcoin wallet address to make transactions.

Funding your eWallet is a snap. All you have to do is connect your checking or savings account to your eWallet, and send the funds. It takes seconds, and then your eWallet is able to send the funds to your sports betting account. There’s really never been an easier or safer way to fund your account.

Using A Prepaid Card Is Simple

Using a prepaid card is extremely simple. Everything works exactly the same as when you’re using a credit card, but there’s no chance of the deposit getting declined because the funds are already loaded onto the card. With funds already loaded onto the card, there’s no need for a bank to process the transaction, so you won’t ever have to deal with the UIGEA. Prepaid cards also add an extra level of anonymity to your transactions, because there’s no personal information on the card itself. Prepaid cards are fast, convenient, and reloadable, so you’ve got a great deposit method available to you.

Real Money Sportsbook Deposit Bonuses

Real money sportsbooks will usually offer some form of deposit bonus. Generally, the book will offer to match a set percentage of whatever you deposit, crediting it directly to your account. Some books will do this just for your first deposit, while others will have deposit bonuses that match every single deposit you’d like to make.

Now That My Account Is Funded, What Sports Can I Bet On?

The books that we recommend on this page allow you to bet on a lot of events, including all of the major professional American sports, college sports, and more. In addition to this, you’ll find betting lines on events taking place across the world, like eSports, motor racing, and even darts. Real money sports betting sites will also have lines on political events and entertainment, like awards shows.

Do Real Money Online Sportsbooks Offer Parlays And Prop Bets?

Yes, the real money online sportsbooks that we recommend on this page do offer parlays and prop bets. One of the many reasons we recommend these books is because of the variety of wager types they have available. Prop bets can be found for most major sports at these online sports betting sites, and parlays can be created involving just two bets or all the way up to twenty, and sometimes higher. Our online sportsbooks allow you to bet however you’d like.

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Is It Legal To Bet Real Money On Sports?

It is legal to bet real money on sports so long as you are using an online, offshore sportsbook. If the book is located in another country, then it can legally provide real money sports betting to American players without breaking any federal laws because it falls outside of their jurisdiction. Offshore sportsbooks are licensed and regulated by gaming commissions in the countries they are located in. They are completely safe to use and provide a legal real money sports betting opportunity to everyone interested in one.

The Sunshine State has seen a ton of growth in the gambling realm over the past handful of years with the expansion of brick and mortar casino and poker action all the way from down south in the 305 through the Mickey Mouse corridor and up to the panhandle that feels it deserves its own time zone. We love you panhandle.

The one area that still is lacking, though, are brick and mortar sportsbooks. Current count = 0. But if you’re looking for a way to bet on sports in Florida, you have options, thanks to the best online Florida sports betting sites and Florida betting apps.

Our team has researched and narrowed down the safest and most reliable online bookies for Florida residents. Here are our top picks to get you into the real money Florida sports betting action right away:

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The Top 3 Florida Sportsbooks Online

1. MyBookie – Best Overall Florida Sports Betting Site

  • Welcome bonuses often come with free bets
  • Live in-play betting on all major sports
  • Casino and racebook action available through one account
  • Unique sports betting contests like survivor pools and squares


2. BetNow – Best Florida Sportsbook for In-Play Betting Options

  • One of the most robust in-game betting platforms on the market
  • Variable sign-up bonuses with rollover requirements from 5x-10x
  • Annual $1,00,000 college basketball bracket challenge
  • Weekly NBA, NFL, and MLB contests


3. Bovada – Best for Multiple Ways to Bet (Poker, Casino, Racebook, and Sports)

  • Options to bet sports in Florida, as well as action on casino games, a racebook, and poker
  • Rewards and loyalty program where you can redeem points for cash
  • Great track record with customer care since founding in 2011
  • Deposits available in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay, Zelle, and through transfer vouchers


Feature Comparison – MyBookie vs. BetNow vs. Bovada

MyBookieBetNowBovada
Year Established201420162011
Welcome BonusUp to $1,000Up to $500Up to $750
Bonus Rollover10x5x – 10x5x
U.S. Players?YesYesYes
In-Play Betting?YesYesYes
Bitcoin?YesYesYes
Casino Options?YesYesYes
Live Chat Support?YesNoYes
Phone Support?YesYesNo
Sign Up Now!Visit MyBookieVisit BetNowVisit Bovada

How to Bet On Sports in Florida – 3 Options

Use Florida Sports Betting Sites Online

The easiest and most straightforward method to bet on sports online in Florida is using FL sports betting sites. You can also download Florida sports betting apps right to your phone. Super convenient!

You can make bets in real-time from your phone without ever leaving the beach, the theme parks, or the mile-long line to get a Publix sub.

Heck, if you don’t want to leave the house, you don’t even have to put your flip flops on if you don’t want to. The best Florida online sportsbooks are the premier option for real money sports betting in the state.

Take a Sports Betting Cruise

Before land-based casinos started popping up in the state of Florida, casino cruises were your only in-person betting option. And while you now have an option for casino action, the cruises still hold one leg up over the brick and mortar establishments—sports betting.

If you’re dead-set on in-person Florida sports gambling, a casino or sports betting cruise could be an option. Typically, these cruises sail from the major ports in the state and go into international waters for a few hours to let people gamble. As long as you don’t get seasick and are able to get a spot (they get busy), it can be fun.

Still not as convenient as using a Florida sports betting site, but an option none the less.

Victory Casino Cruise Line – Port Canaveral, FL

Located across the bridge just north of Melbourne Beach and Patrick Air Force Base is Port Canaveral. This is where the Victory cruise line docks and sails out with its regularly scheduled casino cruises. If you happen to live in one of the neighboring areas, you may be able to snag a free shuttle ride from the company.

In addition to regular sports betting, there are special events in the Victory Casino Cruises Sportsbook Lounge, like Super Bowl parties and tailgates.

Drive to Mississippi

The validity of this solution depends on where you live in Florida and how much you can stand I-10, I-95, and I-75. They’re not as terrible as I-4, but they’re not always the most relaxing of driving. Now that we’ve gotten the Florida road bashing out of the way, let’s talk about this option.

Currently, there are no brick and mortar sportsbooks in the state of Florida, Georgia, or Alabama. The closest option you have is to drive to Biloxi, Mississippi. If you live in the panhandle, that’s not that bad.

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However, the farther east and farther south you get in the state of Florida, the farther that drive gets.

  • Tallahassee to Biloxi is 304.3 miles via I-10 (4 hours and 25 minutes)
  • Gainesville to Biloxi is 450.8 miles via I-10 (6 hours and 47 minutes)
  • Orlando to Biloxi is 557.6 miles via I-10 (7 hours and 53 minutes)
  • Tampa Bay to Biloxi is 575.7 miles via I-75 and I-10 (8 hours and 2 minutes)
  • West Palm Beach to Biloxi is 717.7 miles via the Turnpike and I-10 (10 hours and 5 minutes)
  • Miami to Biloxi is 783.4 miles via the Turnpike and I-10 (10 hours and 59 minutes)

Is Betting Online in Florida Legal?

Yes, Florida sports betting sites are legal to use, but there are still some grey areas to maneuver.

At the close of last year, Florida introduced several pieces of legislature to begin regulating sports betting through the state’s lottery program. S968, S970, and S972 aim to set out the parameters and guidelines for betting in the state as well as the requirements to earn a license. Licenses would cost $100,000 for providers, and holders would be responsible for a 15% revenue tax. Online betting is included in the legislation.

In 2018, the federal government passed legislation removing roadblocks for states to lay out their own guidelines and frameworks for regulated sports betting within their state limits.

Additionally, in the most recent election, Florida voters moved the power to fully legalize and regulate Florida online sports betting out of the hands of legislators and into the hands of the state’s residents.

Because of Amendment 3, Florida voters now control “casino gambling” within the state. We put the exact wording in quotes because there is the debate on whether sports betting falls under the heading of casino gambling, as many would argue it’s a game of skill.

In other words, the legality of online betting in Florida is a gray area. We’d hope to get more clarity in the coming months or years from the state legislature, but nothing is guaranteed.

Are these sites legal? Again, it’s a gray area and two separate discussions—the legality for the site operators and the legality for the bettors. While you’ll need to contact a gaming attorney for a full breakdown (their opinion) of the situation, we can provide this information for color. To date, zero Florida residents or visitors have been in any legal trouble for using Florida online betting sites to our knowledge.

What Parts of Florida Are Most Interested in Sports Betting?

According to Google Trends, the metro in Florida with the most search traffic for information about sports betting is the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

Coming in second, with about 80% of the volume of the Tampa area, is Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. And rounding out the podium finishers is the Orlando-Daytona Beach area with about half the search volume as the Tampa area.

Here’s the top 10 list over the past 12 months in the state of Florida:

Make Money Betting Sports

Public money sports betting
  1. Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota) FL
  2. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale FL
  3. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne FL
  4. Gainesville FL
  5. West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce FL
  6. Myers-Naples FL
  7. Tallahassee FL-Thomasville GA
  8. Jacksonville FL
  9. Mobile AL-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach) FL
  10. Panama City FL

Professional Sports in Florida – Teams and Popularity Data

While you aren’t required only to bet on Florida teams at these Florida betting sites, it tends to be one of the more popular pastimes, especially with recreational bettors. Additionally, what we have found is that states with more prevalent professional sports markets have a much more flourishing and exciting sports betting community.

Currently, Florida has 10 professional sports teams. The state did have a few more MLS teams a few years back, but lack of interest forced some of those teams to fold.

Online Sports Betting Real Money Bills

Speaking of interest, what are the most popular sports to bet on in Florida? What are the most popular sports? While there’s limited data available about what people are betting on, there are some ways we can determine which professional sports in FL are the most popular.

One of the ways we like to do this is by looking at how well professional sports teams in the state can fill their stadiums or arenas. Based on average attendance numbers aggregated for each professional sporting league over a recent season, here are the most popular sports in the state of Florida in order:

Here are some other key takeaways from the data study:

  • The Miami Dolphins had the best average attendance capacity percentage over the studied season at 101.20%.
  • The Miami Marlins didn’t fare as well. The team had the lowest average attendance capacity percentage over the studied season at 26.70%.
  • In the NFL, average capacity percentages ranked the teams in order—the Dolphins first, the Jags second, and the Buccaneers third. However, this may change with all the new talent the Bucs have brought to the Tampa area.

For those interested, here is the raw data:

TeamLeague# of Games Average Attendance Total Attendance % of Capacity
Miami MarlinsMLB8110,013811,10426.70%
Tampa Bay Devil RaysMLB8114,2581,154,97341.80%
Miami HeatNBA4119,631785,250100.20%
Orlando MagicNBA4117,893715,72894.90%
Jacksonville JaguarsNFL766,674466,71998.30%
Miami DolphinsNFL865,560524,480101.20%
Tampa Bay BuccaneersNFL854,356434,85582.80%
Florida PanthersNHL4113,261543,73478.20%
Tampa Bay LightningNHL4119,092787,772100.00%
Orlando City SCMLS3422,761773,87489.26%
Chart: Created by TheSportsGeek.com
LeagueAvg Capacity %Total Attendance
MLB34.25%1,966,077
MLS89.26%773,874
NBA97.55%1,500,978
NFL94.10%1,426,054
NHL89.10%1,331,506
Chart: Created by TheSportsGeek.com

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FAQs About Online Sports Betting in Florida

While you can stay in a guitar-shaped hotel, you can't bet on sports at any of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino locations in the state of Florida.
None of the Indian casinos (or any casinos) in the state of Florida offer any form of sports betting. Check out the best Florida betting sites above to place your bets!
When it comes to betting on sports in Florida, your top option is using Florida betting sites. This gives you the convenience to place sports bets in Florida without ever needing to step foot outside of your home (or leave the beach). You also have the convenience of downloading Florida online betting apps. Two other options you have in the state of FL are using one of the casino cruises or driving to the state of Mississippi (Biloxi is the closest brick and mortar book).
Yes, you can bet on sports by taking a casino cruise in the state of Florida. However, the only option currently available is the Victory Casino Cruise sailing out of Port Canaveral (Atlantic Ocean side of the state). If playing casino games is more your thing, check out our list of the best online casinos in Florida.
Of course! All the best Florida online sportsbooks have apps or at least extremely mobile friendly interfaces. You'll never have any trouble betting on sports in Florida whether you're using a laptop, tablet, cell phone, or whatever else you may have. With technology today, real money betting in Florida has never been easier.
For the most part, you'll be able to use your Florida sports betting apps in any state in the country. This is true for MyBookie and BetNow. The only exception from our list of the best online Florida sportsbooks is Bovada, which can't be used in the states of Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, or Maryland. If you have an existing account and are traveling, though, you may be able to bypass this restriction through the site.
The banking options you have available to fund your Florida betting apps vary based on the site you choose. The most common options available for Florida sports bettors include credit cards, cryptocurrency, bank transfers, and e-wallets (sometimes).
If you still have questions about what online sportsbooks are best and why we recommend checking out our detailed betting sites page. It highlights the pros and cons of many of the top sports betting apps and gives insight into why some online bookies are better than others in specific areas.