Best US Golf Betting Sites

Thanks to the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and the legalization of sports betting in some US states, residents across the country can now bet on golf. Although there are over twenty professional golf tours, the PGA Tour is perhaps the most recognizable in the US and overseas. With so many golf betting options out there, finding the ideal bookie can be a little tricky. Here at Compare.bet, we have everything you need to know about betting on golf, from where you can legally bet on it to the biggest golfing events of the year.

Looking to bet on golf in New Jersey? We’ve got a line up of the best sports betting sites available to punters in the Garden State. 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 state of New Jersey. All that’s left for you to do is make your pick, sign up and start betting.

How to Find the Right Golf Betting Site

Although all our recommendations have been vetted by our expert team, not every site is going to check yours. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting your next online golf betting site.

Most Popular Golf Betting Events

The most popular events on the golf calendar are the four majors: the Open Championship (British Open), the US Open, the Masters, and the PGA Championship. 

• The Masters
  Date: April 7–10, 2022
  Location: Augusta, Georgia
  2021 Champion: Hideki Matsuyama
• PGA Championship
  Date: May 19–22, 2022
  Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
  2021 Champion: Phil Mickelson
  
• The US Open
  Date: June 13–19, 2022
  Location: Brookline, Massachusetts
  2021 Champion: Jon Rahm
  
• The Open Championship (British Open)
  Date: July 14–17, 2022
  Location: Fife, Scotland
  2021 Champion: Collin Morikawa

Although there are just four major events, there’s no shortage of online golf betting opportunities. As well as the majors, there are also international events such as the Ryder Cup and the Four World Golf Championship.

On top of this, there are over 20 professional golf tours, each with an incredible number of tournaments you can bet on. The PGA Tour is the biggest and most popular golf tour and features some of the best players in the world like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Rose.

Golf Tournaments Calendar

Picking a Winner

As with any kind of sports betting, there is no such thing as a guaranteed winner when it comes to golf. Although the odds set by a bookie can give you an indication who is the favorite to win, there is no guarantee that this prediction will be right. Although there are hundreds of tipsters out there offering golf betting tips and advice, anything can happen in a golf game so we recommend doing your own research as this will help you make an educated and informed bet.

Take time to check out a player’s stats on the official PGA Tour statistics page. Here you can view an individual golfers’ cup standing as well as performance in a number of areas such as driving distance, scoring average and accuracy. Golf is an incredibly unpredictable sport, so making an educated wager is your best bet.

Betting Options

In states where it’s legal to bet on golf, sportsbooks offer a wide selection of golf betting markets. In the US, golf fans can place the following bets:

Head-to-Head

In golf betting, a head-to-head bet is where you’re betting on which of two players will post the better score. If the match-up is relatively even, the players may have similar odds. If not, it’s easy to tell which is the favorite as they’ll have the shorter odds.

Futures

Futures are bets that are placed on events that have yet to happen. For instance, you could place a wager on the outcome of next year’s Open Championship, or upcoming tournaments such as The Masters. As so much can happen during an event, it is wise to let the action play out a little before placing your bet to see who is carrying the best form. 

Prop Betting

Proposition bets, or prop bets, focus more on the likelihood of a certain event taking place during a game. When it comes to golf, there are a variety of proposition bets on offer. 

A few examples include:

• The winner being decided by a playoff.
• Whether the winner will birdie the last hole.
• If a player will shoot less than 59 in any round.

To Make the Cut

Some bookies offer odds on which player will make the cut. In golf, the ‘cut’ refers to the number of points that splits the players that progress from those that are eliminated from the tournament after a certain round. These bets allow you to wager on whether a player will make it to the next stage of a tournament or who will be going home.

Top Point Scorer

During some tournaments, you can bet on which player will score the highest total number of points.

Live Betting

Plenty of US golf betting sites let punters make in-play bets — that’s where you place a wager while the round is in play. If you’re not sure who to bet on, you can wait to see who’s at the top of their game and bet accordingly. Of course, the bookies will adjust their odds in real-time, so your potential returns are likely to differ if you’d placed the bet pre-match.

Bonuses

All the best golf betting sites offer some form of bonus to punters, whether it’s for signing up or returning to the site. Here’s a quick primer on what to watch out for and how you can claim a promotion for yourself. 

First Deposit Bonuses

Sometimes called matched deposits, first deposit bonuses are handed out when you sign up at a new site and add funds to your account for the first time. A typical offer might look like this:

• 100% Match up to $300 on Your First Deposit of At Least $20

In this instance, when you deposit at least $20 with a qualifying payment method, the sportsbook doubles your money with bonus credits. If you deposit the full $300, you’d get another $300 for $600 in total to wager. 

Free Bets

With a free bet, the bookie gives you a token that can be used to bet on specified markets. It might be given as part of a sign-up bonus or as part of an existing player promotion. They can be claimed by making a qualifying bet, or in the case of no deposit promotions, you can get your hands on one for free. 

• Deposit $20 and get $50 in Free Bets

Another popular format is a risk-free first bet which is where you receive a refund in the form of a free stake if your qualifying bet fails to come in. 

Bonus Terms and Conditions

As with many things in life, sportsbook bonuses will always come with strings attached. Here are the main terms and conditions to keep your eyes out for:

• Eligible markets – It is common for the use of bonus funds to be tied to specific markets. So if you want to use a promotion on any golf markets, make sure they are included in the bonus terms. Some bet types, such as parlays, may also be excluded from some bonuses too. 
• Wagering requirements – Wagering requirements are the number of times you must wager the value of your deposit, bonus, or indeed both before you can withdraw any of your bonus winnings. They’re usually fairly low, between 1x and 10x, but they can still impact how you use a bonus.
• Minimum odds – Sportsbooks want to avoid players making an easy return on a low odds bet, which is why they are restricted to wagers above the minimum odds.Typical minimum odds will often be around the 100 mark.
• Time limits – It is very common for betting sites to set a limit on how long you can use your bonus funds after claiming them. Make sure you understand these terms before your bonus credit expires.
• Excluded deposit methods – You need to use an eligible deposit method in order to qualify for the bonus.Commonly excluded methods are e-wallets such as PayPal or Skrill.

Betting Odds

Before you place a golf bet, it’s essential that you understand how golf betting odds work. Some of the biggest events in golf can see over 140 players competing so it’s not uncommon to see a lot of odds fluctuating at a regular rate.  

At US golf betting sites, odds are usually represented in the American format, where more likely outcomes get a negative number and less likely outcomes get a positive number. Positive odds reflect how much you must wager in order to claim $100 should your bet win, while negative odds demonstrate your payout should you wager $100. 

You’ll see pretty similar odds at all the largest sportsbooks as each site have a prerogative to set competitive prices. That said, discrepancies aren’t out of the question, so you might get a better deal if you shop around.

Here’s a real-world example of golf betting odds:

• During the US Open, Tiger Woods may be the favorite to win with odds of -200. That means to win $100, you need to stake $200. If the bet comes good, you’ll get $300 in total — that’s your stake and profit.
• The bookies think Jon Rahm is less likely to snatch the title, and his odds of winning are +400. If you bet $100 on him and he does win, you’ll get $400 profit plus your stake, so $500 in total.

Check out our how to read odds guide for a more detailed breakdown of exactly how betting odds work.

Betting on the Move Wherever You Are

Several states have moved to legalize online and mobile sports betting. This means that residents and visitors in these states can place legal bets on the outcome of a sporting event using a device connected to the internet. Sports betting odds are usually the same between online and land-based offerings, but you should always keep an eye out just in case the odds differ.

Remember, each state has different laws and regulations in place when it comes to online and mobile betting. This means that sports betting apps may vary from state to state. For instance, the regulations in New Jersey allow punters to create an account on a sports betting app remotely from anywhere within the state. Nevada, on the other hand, requires bettors to set up an account in person before a bet can be placed on a mobile app.

For more information on picking the right sports betting app for you, check out our mobile betting apps guide.

Best Golf Betting App

Many of our recommended online golf betting sites offer players a dedicated smartphone app which can be used to wager on golf. One of our favorites, however, is FanDuel which originally made its name on fantasy sports betting. The FanDuel betting app offers the following features:

• iOS and Android compatible – Whatever handset you’ve got, it’s easy to install the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.
• Wide selection of markets – Whether you’re betting on the winner of a golf major or who will make the cut, you’ll get full access to the same great range of bets available at the FanDuel desktop site, including in-plays and parlays.
• Access to bonuses –  You can take advantage of FanDuel’s ongoing promotions, including odds boosters, parlay insurance, and risk-free bets.

Deposits and Withdrawals at Golf Betting Sites

Once you’re signed up at one of our top golf betting sites, you’ll need to make a deposit so you can place some bets. Let’s dive into a few popular choices among punters.

Debit and Credit Cards

Widely accepted and easy to use, it’s hard to go wrong with debit or credit cards. The latest encryption standards make them highly secure, and you’ll get decent transaction speeds with deposits often instant. Withdrawals, however, can be a little slower, typically taking between one to five working days. Nonetheless, these methods are generally always eligible for bonuses. 

e-Wallets

PayPal, Skrill, and other e-wallets come with a whole host of benefits. You won’t have to share your bank details with the sportsbook, and you’ll get access to the quickest withdrawals which can process in as little as 24 hours in some cases. One drawback, however, is that e-wallets can often be disqualified from bonus offers.

Online Banking

Another quick and easy way to transact at a sportsbook is with online banking. Just log in to your bank’s portal with your usual credentials to make the deposit or withdrawal. The payout times for this method are some of the slowest around, however, taking a minimum of five working days in most instances. 

Prepaid Cards

A great option for those who want to control their spending, prepaid cards like Paysafecard can be bought at retail stores and used to top up your casino account. They come in denominations from $10 to $100 and allow you to keep your banking details private when depositing your funds. Unfortunately, however, there are no withdrawals possible with prepaid cards like Paysafecard.

Is Betting on Golf Legal?

Although the Supreme Court of the United States repealed the federal ban on sports betting, it is not legal in every state. However, the following states have legalized sports betting and offer golf betting.

Remember, each state has different rules and regulations in place when it comes to sports betting. Some of these states limit sports betting to land-based casinos, as is the case in Mississippi, where as other states such as new Jersey offer full scale sports betting across online and mobile platforms.