The Best US Football Betting Sites - 2022

Football Betting in the US

Football is one of America’s favorite sports and a staple of American culture. There are several recognized football federations across the globe, but the US is home to the two most popular leagues: the National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, American football fans can now bet on their favourite US sport.

As legal US sports football betting is so new, it can be difficult to know where to start – but it doesn’t have to be. Compare.bet has everything you need to know about football betting, including betting markets and where you can make your wagers.

Compare our expert reviews, scores and the bonuses on offer to pick out the bookie that suits you best. All of our featured sportsbooks are legal and regulated in the US, but please be sure to get that the site is also authorized to offer sportsbook betting in your state.

Once that’s out of the way, all that’s left for you to do is make your pick, sign up, and place your bets!

How We Review Football Betting Sites

The NFL is the most popular sport in the United States, and bettors love to have action on it. There are a bunch of different football sportsbook options to choose from, and it is important to find an operator that is trustworthy, reliable and easy to use.

Safety

First and foremost, new NFL bettors want to find a sportsbook that is licensed, because that ensures it will be properly governed and there will be oversight. If issues arise with unlicensed sportsbooks, it can be hard for bettors to have recourse.

Bonus Offers

Legal sports betting is only a few years old in the United States, and the sportsbooks are still jockeying to be the go-to place for gamblers. That’s a good thing for the customers, because the bonus offers right now are very attractive for signing up.

Odds

The standard bets — spread, moneyline and over/under — on the big sports generally have pretty similar odds across the board at sportsbooks, but they begin to vary on props, futures and other wagers. The smaller sports can also have a substantial divergence in odds, which can really help bettors get the best payout when they are signed up at multiple sportsbooks.

Mobile Experience

The sportsbook apps can vary in design and ease of use. It’s important to find a mobile experience that is player-friendly, because that tends to be where most of the wagers are placed. If the odds are similar, bettors will gravitate to the superior mobile betting experience.

Betting Markets

While every operator is going to have lines on game results, there is a whole subsection of prop bets that bettors can take advantage of in the game within the game. If a sportsbook has a wide variety of prop bet options, it gets a thumbs-up from us.

Payment Options

There is no longer just one or two ways for customers to request payouts. The sportsbooks with the wider variety of options will be more attractive to users, and fast payouts are always an important facet of our rankings.

Customer Support

The best NFL betting sites are serious about customer service. This means they provide round-the-clock support via their live chat facility, as well as email and phone support for less urgent issues. As standard, we also like to see a helpful FAQs page in this part of our review, and extra marks go to the sportsbooks that also make use of social media as part of their customer support services. 

US States with Legal Football Betting

While football betting isn’t yet legal in all US states, there are a number of states that allow residents and visitors to place wagers on professional and college football games. These states are:

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Delaware
• Rhode Island
• Mississippi
• West Virginia
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut 
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Ohio – coming in January 2023
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Wyoming

Each of these states has separate regulation outlining where punters can bet on sports. While some allow residents to bet on football at legal betting sites, others only permit football betting at sportsbooks at commercial and tribal casinos.

History of the NFL

The NFL began life in 1920, when ten founding teams formed the American Professional Football Association in Canton, Ohio. This became known as the National Football League in 1922. Decatur Staleys and the Racine Cardinals, now the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, are the only original NFL teams that remain in the league. 

While the first NFL Championship game saw the Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants at Wrigley Field in 1933, it was Baltimore Colts’ defeat of the New York Giants at the 1958 NFL Championship Game in Yankee Stadium — the first NFL playoff game where sudden death decided the outcome — that’s remembered as ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’.

A landmark moment came in 1966, when a merger agreement was forged between the NFL and the rival American Football League. As part of the merger, they agreed to create a new championship game pitting the winners of the two leagues against each other. What would become known as the Super Bowl first took place in 1967, when the Green Bay Packers overcame the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A particularly memorable Super Bowl came early on, in 1969. This was when the underdog New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7 at Super Bowl III, which still stands as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game.

It goes without saying the Super Bowl has long since been one of the most celebrated days in the US calendar — sporting or otherwise. The 2022 installment saw over 100 million fans watch Los Angeles Rams overrun the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium to claim their second Super Bowl title. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots share the top spot for the most Super Bowl wins at six victories each. However, with four Super Bowl titles and nine of the original pre-Super Bowl NFL Championships, it’s Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers that have claimed the most silverware of all. The Browns, Jaguars, Texans, and Lions are the only four NFL teams to have never appeared in the Super Bowl.

NFL teams need amazing players to progress on the road to the Super Bowl, and the league has seen some pretty epic athletes appear in its ranks. The full list of legendary NFL players is a long read, but it’s safe to say you’ll often see three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice and six-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady at the front of the field.

Major Football Events

Between professional football and college football leagues, there are plenty of different football events for punters to bet on, but none are more popular than NFL games. Many top NFL betting sites offer promotions such as free bets bonuses to promote these events, so it’s always a great time to get involved. Stick with us while we run through some of the biggest events in the football calendar. 

NFL Regular Season 

The NFL consists of 32 teams — 16 each from the American and National Football Conferences. The two conferences organize their 16 teams into four divisions of four teams each. Each team plays 17 regular season matchups over 18 weeks between September and January, so you’ll encounter many betting options on the road to the NFL Playoffs. 

NFL Playoffs 

Held after the NFL’s regular season, the NFL playoffs are an elimination tournament in which 14 teams — four division winners and three wild cards from each conference — compete in what are often some of the most exciting NFL games. The final round determines the conference champions, and which two teams will go on to compete in the Super Bowl. 

The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl sees the two surviving teams from the NFL Playoffs face off for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. This is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, attracting spectators from all corners of the globe, and American football fans can now join in on Super Bowl betting action.

NCAA Football Season

NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision is the highest tier of college football and features 131 schools spread across ten conferences. Most teams play 12 games in a regular season that runs between August and December — that’s over 1,500 matchups to bet on. After all the regular season games are done, you can look forward to the postseason College Football Playoff, with the overall victors determined by the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The postseason period is a good time to watch out for draft potential, formulate your betting strategy, and head to a college football betting site to back the first pick early. 

NFL Draft

The annual NFL Draft takes place each spring and gives teams the chance to add some new talent to their roster. Currently, there are seven rounds in the draft, with each team able to choose one player in each of the rounds. There are no perks for the NFL champions here, since selections are made in reverse order. The lowest ranking team of the previous season picks first, while the Super Bowl winner goes last. 

NFL Preseason

Before the new season kicks off, there’s the small matter of the preseason games in August. These NFL football games are off the record and are used to evaluate new talent and help get players ready for the new NFL season. The kickoff of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game starts the preseason activities and marks the arrival of yet more ways to wager at NFL betting sites.

NFL Insider Betting Tips

Here are some betting tips from Kyle Odegard, who was an NFL beat writer for the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 through 2021.

Jump The Lines

NFL betting lines are usually all available soon after the previous week’s action has wrapped up. The oddsmakers often have a good grasp on spreads, but some lines will be a tad off and shift based on betting behavior throughout the week. In order to take advantage of the odds before they move, bettors need to identify the misplaced spreads and bet them early, because it won’t be long before the oddsmakers adjust if a certain side is getting too much action.

Watch The News

If a line looks too good to be true, there may have been some recent news that forced a shift. A quarterback injury can result in a major swing in spread, moneyline and over/under odds. Other players don’t have as outsized of an effect on the odds, but several injuries at the same position or the absence of a superstar player can move the line on a game. It’s always important to have the most up-to-date information when placing a bet.

Don’t Count Out The Underdog

The favorites win most of the time. That’s why they are called the favorites. However, choosing the moneyline on a team expected to win may result in being right more often, but it’s not always the best choice for profitability. Underdog victories are more impactful, and it’s important not to be scared away by the prospect of losing.

Check The Weather

In 2021, the Bills and Patriots played a regular season game with wind gusts as high as 60mph. When the weather report came out during the week, the scoring total line dropped precipitously. Those who didn’t check the weather may have bet the ‘over’ thinking it was easy money. New England won the game, 14-10, which was the latest reminder to always know if teams are playing in tough conditions.

Parlays Are Fun, But Not Generally Profitable

For casual bettors, there is nothing wrong with stringing together a five-leg parlay and hoping to strike it rich. But if you’re going to be wagering consistently, parlays are not going to pay out as well as regular bets. It’s a fun feature and many bettors have majorly cashed in, but just know going in, the odds are against you.

NCAA Football

College Football is often described as second tier to the NFL, but with 130 member teams in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Football Bowl Subdivision 1, there is nothing second-rate about the wealth of betting opportunities on offer! With so many options to choose from, the thought of building a college football bet slip can be daunting, but with our beginner’s guide you’ll get to grips with it in no time.

But before you start looking into various NCAA betting markets, you should know that legality around wagers on college football differs to that at the professional level. For example, some states only allow college betting activity to take place on interstate games, or on major leagues such as basketball’s March Madness event. Other states prohibit NCAA football betting altogether, so availability in this market will be dictated by where you’re betting from.

Let’s run through how the college football season is structured. 

College Football Divisions 

The vast majority of the 130 teams in the Division I Football Subdivision (FBS) are grouped together in 10 separate conferences. A handful of teams – such as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Indiana – aren’t affiliated with a conference and are instead classified as independents.

The conferences are:

• American Athletic Conference
• Atlantic Coast Conference
• Big 12 Conference
• Big 10 Conference
• Conference USA
• Mid-American Conference
• Mountain West Conference
• Pac-12 Conference
• Southeastern Conference
• Sun Belt Conference

Season Structure

The regular FBS season kicks off in August, with teams typically playing 12 games each. Most take place against other teams in the same conference, though some non-conference games will also be on the agenda. The regular season concludes in December after each conference has crowned its winner. Next up in the NCAAF calendar comes the thrill of the College Football Playoff. This postseason invitational tournament sees the league’s top four teams, each selected and seeded by a 13-member committee, go head-to-head in two semi-final games.

The winners of the semis get a chance at lifting the final prize at the College Football Playoff National Championship game in January. This final game of the American college football season has taken place at venues such as the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and the then-University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Past winners of the college playoffs include the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, and South Carolina’s Clemson Tigers.

Picking a Winner

As with any other sport, picking a winner for an upcoming football game is easier said than done. There are plenty of football betting tipsters out there, but no advice can guarantee you a winning bet. While you might take advice from betting tipsters, it is essential that you do your own research to make an educated bet.

When deciding which team to bet on, we suggest looking at the latest statistics and figures. Football stats for NFL teams can typically be found on the official NFL statistics page, where the league breaks down a variety of stats for teams and individual players.  A quick look at different stats, such as points per game, number of successful passes and tackles and the team’s recent performance can indicate which team is stronger.

Whether it’s a defensive showdown between the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State’s Nittany Lions, or a high-scoring blowout between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos, there are a number of ways bettors can wager on the action. 

Football Betting Markets

US sportsbooks offer a variety of football betting markets on which football fans can make their bets. As the US sports betting market grows, we can expect to see an increase in the variety of markets on offer. In states with legal sports betting, you can place wagers on popular markets such as:

Moneyline Bets

A moneyline bet is a straightforward wager on who you think will win a football game. For example, if you’re betting on the Buffalo Bills to triumph in their NFL matchup, or have your money on the NCAA’s Nebraska Cornhuskers beating the Oregon Ducks. It’s fuss-free, with no point spreads or other complications to consider. You simply back the team of your choice at one of the best NFL sites, and wait to see what happens. 

Futures 

Sometimes referred to as an outright winner bet, a futures bet is another straight-up wager on a winner. With futures, however, you’ll be browsing NFL odds on events taking place further into the future, such as which team will reign supreme in a tournament or league. An obvious futures bet for NFL betting is the winner of the Super Bowl, but you can also find NFL futures markets for conference winners, the season’s MVP, and more. In the NCAA, you might bet on individual conference winners or back your favorite player to take this year’s Heisman Trophy, the award given to the most outstanding college football player. Then there’s the most exciting futures bet of all: which team will win the College Football Playoff National Championship game

Over/Under Bets

Over/ Under bets are straightforward. These common bet types involve wagering on whether a football team will score more, or fewer, points than the sportsbook has predicted. With over/under bets, football betting sites set the total number of points expected to be scored by both teams combined. A bettor must decide whether the final amount will be above or below that total, and bet over or under accordingly. Occasionally, the final score matches the expected score. This is known as a push and sees the bet refunded.

Spread Betting

Also known as handicap betting and points spread betting, you’re putting money on a team to win and either maintain a points advantage or overcome a disadvantage. These advantages and disadvantages will be displayed with plus (+) and minus (-) symbols, meaning your team must win, or lose, according to this margin.

Proposition Bets

Proposition bets, or prop bets, focus more on the outcome of a certain event during a football game. These bets might include, “which team will score the first touchdown?” or “how many field goals will team x score?” You might bet that a certain player will score a field goal, for example, or rush for over 50 yards. Be aware that, depending on your state, college props may not be permitted.

Parlays

A parlay wager is a single bet that is linked with two or more wagers. In order to win a parlay bet, a bettor must win every wager in it; losing just one wager means you’ll lose the entire bet.

Football betting markets will vary between sportsbooks and betting sites, with some online sportsbooks offering in-play betting opportunities on live football events. It’s up to you to compare football betting odds between operators. Even so-called ‘safer’ bets carry an element of risk, so you should never bet more than you can afford to lose.

You might bundle a Wisconsin Badgers vs Iowa Hawkeyes moneyline bet with a point spread for the Kentucky Wildcats vs Oklahoma Thunder game, along with an over/under bet for the Florida State Seminoles vs Tennessee Titans game. All wagers must win for the overall bet to win, but a big potential payout is on the cards if they do. If you claim parlay insurance, however, then you can claim your stake back if just one leg lets you down, usually as a free bet. 

Teasers

Teasers are a twist on parlays, where the multiple bets come with point spreads that are adjusted to give you a better chance of winning each leg. A popular type is the two-team, six-point teaser, where you have to correctly back two teams – say, the Texas Longhorns and the Colorado Buffaloes – with the allowable margins of victory or defeat skewed in your favour by six points. 

Live Betting

The start of an NFL or college football game doesn’t have to mean the end of the betting. Depending on the specific regulations of the state you’re located in, you may be able to place in-play wagers as the action unfolds. The odds can shift dramatically depending on the momentum of the game. If, for example, the all-conquering Georgia Bulldogs start to unexpectedly struggle in a matchup, you may suddenly get more lucrative odds for backing them to live up to pre-game expectations.

The live betting market brings a new level of excitement to college football games, allowing bettors to make decisions based on the momentum of the game. The best football betting sites offer live betting, including the option to cash out a bet early. Some will live stream the game on their website, though you may need to have placed a recent bet or have a funded account in order to access the stream.

Football Betting Odds

Before you bet on football, it’s important to understand how betting odds work. While US sportsbooks and betting sites mostly use the American odds format, you might see them displayed in decimal or fractional format. You can read more about betting odds with our how to read odds guide.

Odds are used to demonstrate the sportsbooks’ prediction of what’s likely to happen in a football game. These can be a good indication of what would make a winning bet, but betting on the bookies’ favourite doesn’t, by any means, guarantee you a profit. Football betting odds can vary between sportsbooks, so we’d advise comparing operators to find the best price.

There are three standard wagers for each NFL game: the spread, the moneyline and the scoring total. The favored team has to not only win, but do so by a certain number of points, to cover the spread. For example, if the home team is a 2.5-point favorite, it would need to win the game by a field goal or more to cover. An underdog can lose a game but still cover the spread.

A moneyline wager simply consists of a win or loss, but the odds are different. If the aforementioned 2.5-point favorite is -140 on the moneyline, it would take a $140 wager to profit $100, for a total return of $240.

The scoring total, alternately called the over/under, is the number of combined points/goals/runs in a game set by the oddsmakers. Bettors then must determine if they believe the total will be ‘over’ or ‘under’ the predetermined amount.

The vigorish, or the juice, is something to watch closely in sports betting. The sportsbooks make their money by generally placing the vig at -110 for both sides of a bet, which means a $110 wager would result in $100 of profit if chosen correctly. If the wagers are even on each side, the sportsbook will pocket the 10% juice. However, some player prop bets will be listed at -120 on both sides. It is hard to make money consistently on these type of wagers, so bettors must be very confident in their choices.

Betting terms can be foreign concepts to those who are just signing up, but don’t worry, it’s easy to familiarize yourself quickly. By clicking on a bet within one of the sportsbook apps, it will show the potential payout before the wager is placed, so there won’t be any surprises. 

Sports betting is intuitive after awhile, as understanding the betting odds will soon be second nature.

Let’s look at a real-world example of how odds work:

In an NFL game between the Chargers and the Patriots, a sportsbook sets odds of +170 for the Chargers to win. A $100 bet could give you a $270 return if Chargers won. You will win back your initial $100 stake and the $170 for the successful wager. When it comes to negative odds, a successful bet on the Patriots winning, at odds of -190,  your $100 would see a return of $152.65- a more modest, $52.65 profit.

Mobile Football Betting

A handful of states also offer online and mobile sports betting, giving bettors the chance to make their wagers anywhere within state lines. The US states that currently offer mobile sports betting are:

• Arizona – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Colorado – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Illinois – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Indiana – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Iowa – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Michigan – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Nevada – Online betting is only available via mobile apps.
• New Jersey – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• New Hampshire – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Oregon – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Pennsylvania – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Rhode Island – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• South Dakota – Mobile betting is allowed on casino premises only.
• Tennessee – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Washington – Mobile betting is allowed when on licensed tribal casino premises.
• Washington D.C. – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• West Virginia – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites
• Wyoming – Online betting is available via apps and browser sites

In these states, you can place your NFL bets via mobile apps and websites from anywhere within state lines; unless you are wagering in South Dakota and Washington, where you will need to be on licensed casino premises to place a mobile wager. Native mobile betting apps are usually available for both Android and iOS devices and are free to download.

It’s important to understand state-specific gambling laws before you choose your sportsbook, as the sign-up process for online accounts can differ. For example, in Nevada, you can bet online via mobile apps, but you will need to visit a land-based sportsbook to verify your identity and complete the setup.

Nevertheless, wagering on your mobile phone comes with a lot of benefits. First and foremost, being able to place a bet on the NFL from wherever you are in your state is incredibly convenient. What’s more, you can enable push notifications to keep you up to date about the latest bonuses and promotions offered by that betting site. Finally, you can save personal data to your mobile app, such as login and bank details, making it easier for you to sign in and pay for your wagers. 

Check out our mobile sports betting apps guide for more information when it comes to picking the sports betting app that’s right for you.

NFL Betting Apps

Here’s a quick overview of some of our favorite legal NFL betting apps. Just bear in mind the availability of these mobile apps can vary between states, as might app features and the types of new customer offers available.

BetMGM

BetMGM’s stylish black and gold mobile betting app offers all the same great features as you’ll find on the main sportsbook site, such as 24/7 access to NFL wagers and the chance to claim the BetMGM welcome offer — currently a risk-free bet up to $1,000. Customers can also earn BetMGM Rewards and opt into promos like Parlay Plus, which offers a 40% profit boost on winning parlays containing between four and seven legs. You’ll likely want to place yours on the NFL, and you’ll certainly find plenty of markets to choose from, including NFL prop bets and localized wagers on homegrown teams. Rounding off the slick NFL betting experience from BetMGM is the option to sign up for a branded Play+ card for quick and easy banking.

DraftKings

Once best known for daily fantasy sports betting, DraftKings evolved to become one of the country’s top NFL betting sites. The DraftKings app is available in several states and, like MGM, comes with the option of a branded Play+ card. DraftKings’ current welcome bonus is a 20% up to $1,000 deposit bonus, which is plenty to give some of the app’s huge variety of NFL betting markets a whirl. And if you like what you find on the DraftKings mobile betting app and decide to stick around, you can dive into the DraftKings NFL pools for regular bettors. Both the Pro Football Millionaire Survivor and Pick ’Em Pools offered a cool $1 million to the winning bettor in the 2021–2022 NFL season. 

FanDuel

Any list of top NFL sports betting apps must include FanDuel. Available for Android and iOS, the FanDuel betting app gets off to a great start for NFL fans with its No Sweat First Bet welcome bonus that will cover an initial losing stake up to the value of $1,000. The NFL betting options here are plentiful, with the action ranging from player prop bets for every NFL game to exciting season specials like which team will claim the best regular season record. In other words, there’s always something for NFL bettors to sink their teeth into. Be sure to check our betting app reviews to see if NFL betting with FanDuel is available in your state.  

NCAA Betting Apps

The best college football betting sites have apps that make it easy to wager on NCAAF clashes. Here are some that have caught our eye in offering the ideal blend of functionality and market depth.  

PointsBet

One of the fastest growing mobile betting apps in the US, PointsBet offers NFL bettors the chance to try a new style of wagering called PointsBetting. With this type of bet, the profit or loss from a wager is not determined until the end of an event. The better your margin of victory, the more you’ll win, but the reverse also applies. You can claim a $1,500 risk-free bet to try this unique wagering style for yourself, along with a $500 risk-free bet on a regular fixed odds pick like a point spread. PointsBet also has a huge variety of futures and real-time college football markets available, but if you can’t see the wager you want, you can request custom odds from within the app using the exclusive Name a Bet feature. 

BetRivers

Available in numerous states, the BetRivers mobile betting app is a top pick among eligible sports bettors. A promo code will unlock a 100% deposit match up to $250 on your first real money deposit on the site. You can then use your credits to wager on a variety of college football markets. These include an exciting line-up of live betting options on in-play college football games (if live betting on college games is permitted in your state). The BetRivers mobile app also offers an excellent choice of futures betting, including on the outright winner of the NCAAF Championship and on things like the division and conference champions, and the season’s Heisman Trophy winner.

FOX Bet

From August’s opening games to January’s playoff championships, FOX Bet’s sports celebrity-packed mobile app offers college football fans betting options right through the season. There are plenty of betting markets available on the different events too, ranging from straight-up moneylines to numerous game-related props — something for just about every style of sports bettor. Legal college football betting on the FOX Bet mobile app is currently available in a smaller number of states compared to some other operators, but eligible users can claim a $500 risk-free bet on college football or any other sport directly from their mobile phone or tablet. 

Bonuses at Football Betting Sites

Online betting sites may not roll out a literal red carpet for new customers, but it’s a safe bet that there’s a solid welcome bonus coming your way when you sign up at one of the top NFL sportsbooks. And, if you stick around, you’ll want to swing by the betting offers page where you should find a few promos for returning bettors. Here are some of the promos, from sign-up bonuses to regular deals, that you can look out for. 

Free Bets

Signing up at new NFL sports betting websites will often put you in line to receive free bets, though you’ll usually need to deposit and place your first real money wager to get hold of them. There will be a few T&Cs to satisfy too, like using an eligible payment method and placing your qualifying bet within a certain number of days of opening your account. Meanwhile, existing customers may enjoy extra value from their online sports bets thanks to weekly promotions like ‘Bet $25 on the NFL, Get a Free $10 Live Bet on College Football.’ 

Risk-Free Bets

Some online betting sites and mobile apps will cover a newcomer’s first bet with a risk-free bonus. Participating in this kind of offer is usually very simple — just sign up, make your first deposit using a qualifying payment method, and place a bet. If your wager wins, you can cash out your profits as usual. However, if your first bet loses, you’ll get some or all of your stake back as a free bet credit to go again. This gives you a chance to check out some football betting tips, brush up on your football stats, and hopefully get luckier the second time around. 

Match Deposit Bonuses

Matched deposit bonus offers are a simple way to boost your bankroll on a football betting website. These bonuses, sometimes offered on sign up, work by matching your real money deposit with bonus funds. So, a simple example might be ‘100% up to $100’. In this case, depositing $50 would give you an extra $50 to play with. The percentage match and the max bonus funds on offer vary, but even lower value offers serve up a great chance to grab a free football bet.

Money-Back Welcome Bonuses 

A money-back welcome bonus is effectively an insurance bonus that will give you a portion of your stake back should your bet lose. Some NFL betting sites will give you this money back as cash, while others will allow you to claim the funds as a free bet. Bear in mind that if your stake is returned as a free bet that there may be terms and conditions to meet in order to claim your winnings.

Existing Player Promotions

As well as sign-up bonuses, the best NFL betting sites often have a range of promotions available to existing customers. As the NFL is so popular, you can often find event-specific promotions such as free bets for NFL games, particularly for the biggest events like the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

Bonus Terms and Conditions 

Whenever you’re browsing for the best football betting bonuses, it’s important to pay close attention to the terms and conditions. Bonuses are a great way to familiarize yourself with a new sportsbook, but stipulations like wagering requirements, minimum odds, and winning caps all impact your ability to win real money using bonus funds. That’s why it’s essential that you read the small print in full before committing to a bonus, so that you know what’s expected of you to make it a success. Here are some of the T&Cs you’ll come across at an NFL betting site.

Wagering Requirements

First up is wagering requirements. Now, these are more of an issue with casino bonuses than sportsbook offers, but they may still be a hindrance so it’s good to know what they’re all about.

Bonuses with wagering requirements draw bettors into spending further money at their NFL gambling site by blocking withdrawals of bonus cash before they’ve fulfilled the requirements. The requirements are given as a multiple, signifying the amount that needs to be wagered before a bonus can begin to turn a profit. 

Here’s an example. Let’s say you were offered a matched deposit bonus that came with a wagering requirement of 5x, and you claimed it using a $15 deposit. You’d need to wager a total of $75 ($15 x 5) before you could request a withdrawal of bonus funds. 

It’s important to note that wagering requirements only block withdrawals of bonus money. Your real money deposits will be kept in a separate pot from any bonus cash, and you’ll be able to make withdrawals as you please, in line with the site’s minimum withdrawal limits.

Market Restrictions

Some football betting sites will restrict their bonuses from being used on certain markets. This kind of condition is more noticeable in the build-up to a major sporting contest like the Super Bowl, where NFL sportsbooks look to capitalize on abnormal levels of interest and betting activity by targeting their offers at specific events. Other market restrictions will apply to the type of bet that’s being made; for instance, you may find that your bonus can’t be used to place a parlay bet. 

Minimum Odds

As a way of mitigating against bettors selecting low-risk wagers with their bonuses, sports betting sites will apply a minimum odds condition to their offers. The number is usually fairly lenient though — you’ll often see minimum odds quoted at 1.5 or higher. 

Winning Caps

Your bonus will come with an overall winning cap which you won’t be able to exceed, no matter how much money you win. If you reach the cap, any remaining winnings will be forfeited. It’s easy to feel disgruntled about winning caps, but if you view them instead as enforced on-site limiters, they’re actually a fairly useful way of guaranteeing a payout if you manage to hit the cap. 

Time Limits

Your bonus could come with as many as three different time limits. The first begins as soon as you register an account at the sportsbook, counting down the time you have to claim the welcome bonus. If you decide to do so, you might set off a further two time limits: one to make use of the overall bonus, and another within which you must complete any wagering requirements, if they apply. If one of these clocks strikes zero, you’ll lose any remaining bonus funds. 

Payment Exclusions

The best NFL betting sites will offer a range of payment methods, but it’s likely that some of them won’t be eligible for picking up bonuses. Deposits made with bank cards will always qualify, but more modern banking technologies like e-wallets tend to be excluded. Make sure you check before you’ve made your deposit. 

Stake Not Returned

When you make a successful wager at a football betting site, you’ll receive both the winnings from the bet, plus the original stake you put down. This isn’t the case with betting bonuses however — if your bonus bet is successful, you’ll just receive the winnings, not the stake as well.

Payment Options at Football Betting Sites

While no deposit welcome bonuses aren’t unheard of, chances are you’ll need to add funds to your account if you want to wager at NFL betting sites. Here are some of the most popular payment methods available right now.

Bank Cards

Bank cards like Visa, American Express, and Mastercard often take the top spot among the payment options on betting site cashier pages, not least because they’re already used by the majority of bettors in their everyday lives. Bank cards also offer instant deposits and will pretty much always be on the list of eligible payment options for sportsbook bonuses. There are a couple of drawbacks, though. Withdrawals to debit and credit cards aren’t possible, and you’ll need to feel comfortable about entering card details at betting sites. 

e-Wallets

PayPal is still the world’s best-known e-wallet, and it’s the one you’ll see most often at online football betting sites. Digital wallets are really secure and do away with the need for you to share financial details with sportsbooks. Better still is that you can add multiple cards and accounts to your e-wallet account, and deposit from any one of them. With e-wallets also offering some of the fastest payouts of all betting site payment options, the only real downside is that they don’t always qualify for bonuses. 

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are ideal for bettors who prefer to keep gambling transactions separate from day-to-day finances. Several top sportsbooks offer their own branded Play+ card, which you can top up whenever you need to. As well as providing a handy way to manage your betting funds, prepaid Play+ cards are ideal for withdrawals. That’s because payout processing times tend to be rapid, or even instant in some cases. All in all, it’s easy to see why these cards are a hugely popular option for NFL bettors and fans of other sports alike.

Cryptocurrencies

Finding an NFL betting site that accepts cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin won’t usually prove too difficult. However, finding one that’s licensed and regulated in your state may be a trickier proposition. Despite the benefits of using cryptocurrencies, such as the security and anonymity they offer, the vast majority of reputable, legal operators in the country have yet to support this banking method. Indeed, at the time of writing, Barstool Sportsbook is the only licensed betting site in the US that accepts crypto deposits, and that’s only in Virginia and Colorado. 

Responsible Gambling - Football Betting Tips

For many players, the NCAA football season represents the road to making it as a pro in the NFL. In the NFL itself, players are laser-focused on adding a Super Bowl to their accolades.

With so much on the line, you can be sure that every player and team gives their all every time they take to the field. This makes for great viewing, but can make things a little tricky when betting.

A motivated underdog could cause a serious upset. In the NCAA, this is made even tougher when you consider how often a team’s roster changes with college players leaving to join the NFL every year.

To help you along, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Increase Your Knowledge

Beginner’s luck will only get you so far, so it’s worth investing some time to understand the teams properly. Look into how individual teams play, the specific roles each player brings to the squad and who is taking the most form into an upcoming game. This is really the best way to properly engage with NFL and NCAA betting, but before long you’ll know the various conferences and who the stars are.

Check Out the Stats

Checking out team stats can get you off to a flying start when it comes to picking a winner. Knowledge of recent form and head-to-head stats will almost always keep you better informed when it’s time to fill in your bet slips. Luckily football, even at college level, is dominated by stats so accessing the latest figures shouldn’t be difficult at all.

Gamble Responsibly

Responsible gambling is about more than sticking to your budget and never chasing losses. It’s about being responsible from the start. Carefully checking the terms and conditions for your chosen betting site, setting out deposit limits and making sure gambling time doesn’t intrude on work and family commitments are all important. What is crucial, however, is that you get help from a registered gambling charity if you feel your habit is starting to get out of control.

States Breakdown

Online Football Betting in New Jersey

Online Football Betting in Nevada

Bet on Football Online in West Virginia

With the rapid expansion of sports betting in the US, there’s an increasing number of ways for punters to bet on football. You can count on Compare.bet to keep you updated with the latest on US sports betting legislation, as well as the sportsbooks and betting sites available to American sports bettors.

Compare the Best NFL and NCAA Betting Sites in the US

Now you’re up to speed with football betting in the US, you’re ready to settle on where to place your bets.

With so many teams competing in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision 1 alone, working out where to start with US football betting can seem a little tricky. With our in-depth guide to the leagues, tournament formats, market depth, bonuses and more, you should have everything you need to get started. The next step is to find the football betting site that is right for you, sign up and claim your welcome bonus.

Browse the list at the top of this page to find your best options, read our expert reviews to help you make your decision, and click the link to sign up to your new football betting site, and place your bets!

References

• Wikipedia – NFL History
• Wikipedia – NFL Championships
• Wikipedia – NFL Super Bowl
• Colts.com – Colts vs Giants 1958
• NFL – Original Towns
• Statista – Super Bowl Winners
• Sporting News – Teams with No Super Bowl Wins
• USA Today – Greatest NFL Players of All Time
• NFL – Audience Figures
• Print Your Brackets – Playoffs Explained
• NFL – Draft Rules
• NFL – Preseason Details
• BetMGM – Promo Details
• BetMGM – Loyalty System
• App Store – BetMGM Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook App
• DraftKings – Survivor Contests
• FanDuel
• FanDuel – Promotions
• FanDuel – NFL
• PointsBet – Points Betting
• PointsBet – NCAA Futures
• PointsBet – Promos
• FoxBet – NCAA
• FoxBet – App