Whether you’re an avid bettor or just curious, the best online sportsbooks make it easy to place bets. They offer a variety of markets, including player and game props, same-game parlay combos and alternate lines. They also allow you to place bets using a mobile app or desktop website. All online betting sites take a house edge, known as juice or vigorish, but the top sites minimize this and provide reduced-juice lines.
New Jersey, which took its case all the way to the Supreme Court and subsequently passed a law allowing sports gambling, has been one of the top states for sports wagering. The Garden State has more than 21 online sportsbooks, with room for more. It also leads all US states in total sports wagering handle. Its success prompted many other states to legalize, and its market has a lot of potential for growth.
Ohio jumped into the game in 2022 and now boasts over a dozen operators, including DraftKings and FanDuel. The state also has some of the most competitive wagering odds, which makes it an attractive place for bettors.
Tennessee used to be the only state with a 10% hold rule, meaning that sportsbooks had to keep 10 cents of every dollar that came in. But the state changed that law in April 2023 and now has a 1.85% tax on betting handle, or total wagering volume.
Michigan launched in-person sports wagering in March 2020 and now has 15 retail and online sportsbooks. BetMGM and DraftKings are both live, and the state regularly finishes among the top ten in handle. It also has a reputation for being a safe environment for bettors.
West Virginia, which launched in September following the Supreme Court ruling, also had some hiccups in its early days, but has now been stable since August. The state’s retail sportsbooks have a strong presence, with a mix of established and up-and-coming operators. And its mobile app, which is available only in a geofenced area around the Capital One Arena, offers an excellent user experience.
A popular type of bet at online sportsbooks is the over/under. This is a bet on the number of points, goals or runs scored in a particular game. It’s possible to win big money if you can correctly predict the correct number of points, but the odds are usually longer than standard bets. Some sportsbooks even offer alternative totals for halves and quarters of games.
Regardless of the sport you’re betting on, you should always shop for the best odds and the most competitive lines. You can use a sportsbook’s vigorish calculator to see how much you’ll lose on any bet if you don’t get the right numbers. Then, you can compare the odds at different sportsbooks to find the best ones for your budget. Keep in mind that any profits from betting on sports are taxable income, so track your winnings carefully. You’ll be given a form called a 1099-G by the sportsbook that documents how much you won.