Best US Sportsbooks for Baseball in 2023

With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and the rapid legalization of sports betting across the country, Americans can now bet on one of the nation’s most popular past times, baseball. Although baseball is enjoyed across the world, Major League Baseball (MLB), reigns supreme in the US. The league is made up of 30 teams: 15 from the National League and 15 from the American League. But with such variety, you might not know where to begin with baseball betting. Here at Compare.bet, we have everything you need to know about betting on baseball, from the biggest events to where you can place your bets.

Most Popular Baseball Betting Events

The MLB’s regular season runs from late March to late September with each team playing 162 games. The 2022 season is scheduled to begin on April 7 2022 after it was delayed a week due to a player lockout. But it’s not just the regular MLB season that you can bet on — here are some of the best betting opportunities for baseball fans.

Division Series

The Division Series is the quarter-final round of the MLB playoffs. It comprises four different series: two of these take place between members of the American League, and another two between members of the National League. The winners of their series go on to compete in the next round of the playoffs, the League Championship Series. 

Six of the eight participating teams in the Division Series are awarded their place in the postseason as a result of their success during the main season. The remaining two spots are won by teams through a wild-card series, which represents the first round of the MLB postseason.

2021’s National League Division Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 in a best of five contest, while the Atlanta Brewers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1. 

The corresponding American League Division Series took place between the Tampa Bay Rays versus Boston Red Sox, and the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox and the Astros both won their series 3-1.

League Championship Series

The winners of their respective Division Series qualify to play in the League Championship Series. These two series determine the best side from each league, who then go on to compete for the World Series. At this stage of the playoffs, the series expands to a best of seven format. 

2021’s American League Championship Series took place between the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros, with Houston winning the series 4-2. It was the Astros’ fifth consecutive appearance in the ALCS, the first time a team had achieved this since the 90s. 

In the National League Championship Series, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in another 4-2 result, despite having the worst record of all the postseason teams.

The World Series

The World Series is MLB’s annual championship series and sees the winners of the ALCS and the NLCS square off in a best-of-seven playoff, with the World Series winner awarded the Commissioner’s Trophy. There certainly isn’t a shortage of betting opportunities in the World Series, with several games played across the period.

2021’s World Series took place between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros, with the Braves winning the series 4-2.

The 2022 edition takes place in October and November. 

Online Betting Baseball Teams to Watch

Two baseball leagues compete in Major League Baseball in the US: the American and National Leagues. You can find a handy reference guide to the two MLB leagues in the sections below, along with a few key facts to serve up some inspiration after you sign up at a top sportsbook to bet on baseball online. 

American League

Here’s a roundup of the 15 teams that make up the three divisions of the American League:

• New York Yankees (AL East) – there’s no team quite like the Yankees when it comes to baseball’s annual championship. The Yankees have won the World Series a record 27 times and are the only team to claim the title at least four times in a row. Incredibly, the Yanks have achieved this astonishing feat twice. 
  
• Detroit Tigers (AL Central) – the American League’s oldest continuously operated ‘one name one city’ franchise is the Detroit Tigers. The team played their first major league game in 1901 at Bennett Park, having played at the now redeveloped grounds since 1896. 
  
• Houston Astros (AL West) – to the delight of Stros’ fans, the Houston Astros claimed their second championship title at the 2022 World Series, defeating wild card Phillies in six games. Notably, the 118th edition of the World Series featured the first no-hitter since 1956. 

National League

Here are the 15 teams that participate in the National League:

• Atlanta Braves (NL East) – founded in 1871, the Atlanta Braves are thought to be the oldest team in Major League Baseball. The Bravos are known for winning division titles a record 14 times on the bounce between 1991 and 2005, and, in 2021, won the World Series for the fourth time.
• Chicago Cubs (NL Central) – playing out of Illinois’ Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs have appeared in 11 World Series championships, and have reigned supreme three times, including in back-to-back victories in 1907 and 1908, and, more recently, at the 2016 World Series against the American League’s Cleveland Indians. 
  
• San Francisco Giants (NL West) – as the 2010s ended, the MLB named the SF Giants the Team of the Decade. The team won three World Series in that period and have now won eight championship titles. The Giants also count 23 National League pennants among their achievements.

Online Betting Baseball Top Players

There’s no shortage of interesting stats when it comes to MLB players. Here are five who stand out in the current roster:

• Jeremy Peña – Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña was crowned the Most Valuable Player for the 2022 World Series, marking the first time a position player has won the MVP as a rookie.
• Michael Harris II – when Michael Harris II was called up by the Braves in May 2022, he entered the MLB as the youngest player in baseball. The outfielder knocked Wander Franco from the spot by virtue of being just six days younger. 
• Paul Goldschmidt – St Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt won the NL MVP for 2022, beating out the Padres’ Manny Machado, as well as teammate Nolan Arenado. The first baseman also won the Hank Aaron Award and was a Golden Glove finalist.
• Aaron Judge – the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge the American League’s MVP 2022. The title came after Judge racked up 62 home runs to claim a new AL single-season record. 
• Max Scherzer – when Max Scherzer signed a three-year deal for the New York Mets in November 2021, worth $130m, he became MLB’s highest paid player in history. The pitcher will pocket a $100k bonus for every year he’s named as an All-Star.

How We Rank Baseball Betting Sites

In order for any bookmaker to earn our recommendation, it needs to meet our criteria for quality. These are some of the key factors our reviewers take into consideration when selecting the very best MLB betting sites.

• Licensing – using unregulated, offshore betting sites, you’ll have little legal recourse if the operator doesn’t pay out fairly or on time. That’s why we’ll only ever recommend sportsbooks that are licensed to operate in US states;
• Deposit Options – the best baseball betting sites will put your convenience at the forefront by offering a range of banking options. This should mean you’ll be able to deposit and withdraw funds in a way you’re comfortable with, with popular options including debit/credit cards, PayPal and Play+ cards;
• Betting Lines – not only do we look for wide coverage of different sports, but we’re also after great market depth, with plenty of ways to wager. Moneylines, parlays, spreads and highly specific props should all be on the menu;
• Odds – betting should be about fun rather than chasing profits. That said, we expect bookmakers to offer odds that reflect the market average, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on significantly better deals elsewhere;
• Bonuses – a baseball betting site should ideally roll out the red carpet by offering a sign-up bonus for new members. This may be a matched deposit deal, or perhaps a risk-free bet. On top of that, we like to see sportsbooks provide regular promos for returning customers;
• Payout Speed – if you’ve made a successful bet on the baseball, you’ll want to know how soon your winnings will arrive in your account. You’ll need to request a withdrawal first, the speed of which is largely determined by your use of payment method. The best baseball betting sites will offer a range of fast withdrawal options such as e-wallets and other modern banking technologies;
• Site Design – how well you’re able to interact with a sportsbook is one of the key considerations in our reviews. When so many sports and betting markets are available, smooth navigation across the site is imperative. Site design also extends to the basic aesthetic of the page — if a baseball betting site nails both of these aspects, they’ll receive top marks from us in this section of the review.

Picking a Winner

With baseball betting, as with any kind of betting, there are no guarantees. But here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re placing wagers.

Keep Up to Date

Take time to check out the statistics and figures featured on the official MLB statistics page before placing a wager. These stats provide baseball bettors with statistical breakdowns in various areas, covering information on overall team performance and individual players’ hitting, pitching and fielding performance over a period of time. These statistics can be particularly helpful when it comes to placing prop bets.

Take Tipsters with a Pinch of Salt

There are hundreds of tipsters out there offering baseball betting tips and advice. While their insights can be useful, remember that opinions are just that: opinions. To make the most educated bet, we recommend doing your own research too. 

Bet with a Clear Head

Drinking and betting is never a good idea, as alcohol can impair your judgment and prevent you from making objective, informed decisions. The same is true if you’re in a highly emotional state. So, if you’re feeling angry or anxious, or don’t have a cool head for whatever reason, it’s a good idea to put sports betting on pause.

How to Sign Up at a Baseball Betting Site

Keen to get started at one of our top MLB betting sites? The good news is that signing up is a pretty straightforward process. Just follow these steps below.

1. Follow Our Link 
   Once you’ve picked out the sportsbook you’d like to join, click or tap our link which will take you straight over to the registration page. You should see a button or tab for getting the sign-up process started.
2. Enter Your Details
   You’ll then be prompted to enter personal details like your name, home address, email address, date of birth and social security number. You can do this safe in the knowledge that a licensed sportsbook will use industry-standard encryption to keep your details safe. Don’t forget to enter the promo code for the welcome bonus, if there is one.
3. Registration Confirmation
   Once your details have been submitted, you’ll be taken through to a screen confirming your account has been created. You should also receive an email acknowledging your membership.
4. Get Betting!
   If you’ve been given a no-deposit bonus, you may now be able to head to the baseball markets and place your first bet. Otherwise, you’ll need to navigate to the cashier page and make your first deposit before you can get started.

Boost Your Bankroll with a Baseball Bonus

Both new sign-ups and existing customers get access to a range of bonuses at baseball betting sites. Here’s a quick explanation of a couple of potential offers you’ll see and some important terms and conditions to keep in mind.

First Deposit Bonuses

Available to new bettors only, a baseball first deposit bonus usually takes the form of a matched deposit — that’s where the betting site literally ‘matches’ the value of your first deposit with bonus credit you can wager at the sportsbook. Here’s an example offer:

• 100% First Deposit Match up to $500 with No Wagering Requirements when you deposit at least $20

In this scenario, you’re effectively doubling your bankroll. Say you deposit the maximum amount of $500; the sportsbook gives you another $500 in bonus credit so you’ll have a total of $1,000 to wager. In this example, the bonus credit has no wagering requirements so you can immediately withdraw any winnings — more details on that shortly. 

Free Bets

Another bonus handed out frequently at baseball betting sites is a free bet, a kind of token you can use to place a wager on eligible markets at zero cost to yourself. You don’t usually get the stake back if you win, keeping only the profit — subject to any wagering requirements. To receive the free bets, you might need to make a deposit, but no deposit free bets exist too and are given as soon as you sign up.

Here’s an example:

• $20 in Free Bets with 5x Wagering Requirements when you Sign Up

The $20 might be one free bet of the full value or several smaller bets, say four free bets worth $5 each. In this example, you’d need to wager $100 (5 x $20) of your own real money before you can withdraw the winnings.

Bet Refunds

Bet refund bonuses see a lost wager at the site returned to you in the form of a free bet. These bonuses mean MLB bettors might feel encouraged to be a little more adventurous in their selections, or may just be used as a way of easing into a new sportsbook. Watch out for time limits and minimum odds restrictions on these.

As a new customer, an example of a bet refund bonus could be:

• Money back as a free bet up to $50 if your first baseball wager loses

With this offer, any first wager up to $50 you place on a baseball event will be returned in full in the form of free bets. It’s likely that you’ll receive multiple free bet tokens here, as opposed to one lump sum in the amount of $50.

Risk-Free Bets

Similarly, risk-free bets act as a decent insurance policy on your first wager. These are often used as hefty welcome bonuses at online baseball betting sportsbooks, sometimes reaching sums beyond $1,000. Here’s an example:

• Risk-free bet up to $1,250 on your first wager

Although an offer this size looks appealing, remember that the insurance policy doesn’t promise your money back as real cash, but as free bet tokens only. So, although you’ll get a second chance if your first bet loses, you still need to be prepared to part with whatever you stake as a qualifying wager, since the free bets will only be eligible on-site. 

Baseball Promotions for Existing Players

We all like receiving regular, high-quality bonuses, and that’s exactly what the best baseball betting sites will give you. Here are some of the types of offers that might be thrown your way.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses is a term used in the online betting industry to describe any bonus that requires a monetary deposit into your betting account. The word reload signifies a “reloading” of funds, which will be rewarded with some kind of bonus. Reload bonuses are perhaps the most effective way in which sportsbooks stimulate loyalty among their existing customers. 

Cashbacks

Cashback bonuses are applied to a period of time, returning a percentage of either your lost wagers or net losses within that time frame. The best baseball betting sites might offer cashback on a weekly basis, meaning you’ll receive a portion of your lost bets from the previous week. Cashback amounts tend to be set at around the 10% mark. 

Loyalty Programs

Many sports betting sites run their own loyalty programs, meaning customers can accrue points at the site through their deposits and wagers. These points can then be redeemed for betting-related bonuses such as free bets. 

Free Bet Clubs

Free bet clubs give bettors conditions to meet in order to qualify for free bets. The great thing about these free bet clubs is that they aren’t one-off offers — they represent recurring bonus opportunities across a range of sports. For instance, you might be rewarded with two $10 free bets when you opt in and wager $25 of your own, every single week.

Parlay Insurance

For parlay bettors, there’s no situation in online baseball betting quite so frustrating as when a single selection lets a whole parlay down. Parlay insurance offers soften the blow by returning your stake if one of your picks loses. You’ll often get your stake back as a free bet or as bonus funds, so you can have another shot. However, top online sportsbooks may return stakes from bust baseball parlays as cash, and these offers are often the best bets. 

Understanding the Bonus Terms and Conditions

Before accepting a bonus, it’s essential you check the T&Cs to be sure it’s right for you. Here are some common stipulations to watch out for:

Wagering Requirements

You need to meet these before any bonus winnings can be withdrawn. Sportsbook offers usually come with much lower wagering requirements — 1x–10x or even none — than casino bonuses. 

By way of example, if you received a $10 free bet that came with a wagering requirement of 2x, you’d need to wager a total of $20 ($10 x 2) in real money bets before you could claim any winnings from the free bet.

Minimum Odds

The free bet or bonus credit can only be used to make bets that meet the minimum odds requirements, usually around -120. This condition is to prevent punters making an easy profit on a low-risk bet, but you’ll find that minimum odds are often pretty favorable to bettors.

Eligible Markets

Sometimes the bonus can’t be used on certain sports or bet types like parlays. Conditions on eligible markets are usually more prevalent in the build-up to a major sporting event like the World Series, where bookies look to capitalize on heightened interest and target their bonuses accordingly. If you want to use your bonus on MLB, make sure it’s included. 

Excluded Payment Methods

You’ll come across a wide range of available payment methods at the best baseball betting sites, but not all of them will be eligible for collecting bonuses. Before you make a deposit, make sure the method you’re using will qualify you for the offer. Deposits made with e-wallets like PayPal are often excluded.

Time Limits

You’ll need to use your bonus before the time limit has elapsed. How long you have to do this depends on the size of the bonus, but there should be plenty of time. If you’re a new customer, you might also have a time limit within which you have to activate the welcome bonus.

Maximum Win Limits

Every single bonus you come across at a baseball betting site will have a winning cap attached to it. This restriction means that even if you make an outstanding MLB betting call, your winnings will be limited to a specific amount. The size of the cap depends on the size of the bonus and on the generosity of the sportsbook, but don’t be disheartened if you hit it — at least it’s a way of guaranteeing a payout from a successful wager.

How to Find the Right MLB Betting Site

All our top baseball betting sites have been through our rigorous review process, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all right for you. Here are some factors to keep in mind when you’re picking an MLB betting site.

Licensing

You should only play at a site licensed to operate in your jurisdiction as these sportsbooks adhere to regulatory requirements around player safety. 

Deposit Options

If you have a preferred payment method you’d like to use, make sure it’s supported by the sportsbook before you sign up.

Betting Lines

Think about the bets you want to place; the best baseball betting sites will offer a wide range of betting lines, whether it’s props, futures, parlays, or anything else that takes your fancy.

Odds

Competitive odds are a must — you want to get the best deal when you bet on baseball as it means a bigger profit if you win. 

Bonuses

Top MLB betting sites will offer player-friendly welcome bonuses and reload offers. Whether it’s a free bet or bonus credit, be sure the deal suits your needs.

User-Friendly Design

The best baseball betting sites will take care over both the functionality and aesthetics of their site. The former is more important here, particularly at sportsbooks that offer great depth in their market coverage, as it’s essential that users are able to find the sport and betting type they’re looking for at speed, particularly when in-game betting comes into play. Aesthetics are secondary in this part of our review, but we still want to see attractive sites that are pleasing on the eye, as this adds to the overall experience.

Baseball Betting Markets

There are plenty of markets on offer when it comes to baseball. Below, we’ve run through the types of bets you’re likely to see when wagering on MLB.

Head-to-Head

Also known as a money line bet, a head-to-head wager is a straight bet placed on one of two outcomes — in MLB, that’s usually on the team you think will win an individual baseball game.

Futures

A futures bet is a longer-term wager on the outcome of an event, for example, the LA Dodgers to win the MLB World Series. You can also bet on things like the winner of a division, and which league (American or National) or division will win the World Series. Futures bets usually have longer odds and are higher risk, although that obviously means a higher pay-off if the bet comes good. 

Over/Under

Over/under baseball bets involve putting money on a team finishing a game with more or fewer runs than the bookmaker has predicted.

Run Line

Run line bets are baseball’s equivalent to spread betting and involve 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. The baseball run line is usually set at 1.5, which means that your team will need to win by 2 or more runs, or the underdog must lose by 1 run or win the game for your bet to pay out.

Parlays

A parlay wager is a single bet that is linked with two or more other bets. In order to win a parlay bet, you must win every wager on the bet slip. Some sportsbooks allow up to 20 bets in a parlay, though the maximum does vary between betting sites. Parlays offer the possibility of some massive payouts as hitting every bet is much less likely, and they often appeal to punters with a higher risk appetite.

Prop Betting

Proposition bets, or prop bets, focus on the likelihood of a certain event taking place during a baseball game. An example of a prop bet would be ‘Aaron Judge hitting a home run and the opposing team winning’ or ‘Which team will lead in the first 5 innings?’. These bets are usually set by the sportsbook and, while they can be more interesting than straight bets, their specificity means they carry much higher risk.

Final Score

At baseball online betting sites, a final score wager requires you to predict the exact score of a baseball game at the end of the nine innings. This is much harder to predict than a simple head-to-head bet on the team you think will win, and this additional difficulty will be reflected in bet prices. For example, the odds on a correct final score bet will be far bigger than the moneyline odds on the winner.

In-Play Betting

You might enjoy placing your bets in the midst of the action. Maybe the favorite’s star player has just been injured, turning the tide for the underdog — with live betting, you can respond to such changes in the game by placing a bet while the baseball match is in play. The bookies adjust their odds as the game unfolds, so your potential pay-off might differ from if you’d placed the bet before the first pitch. 

Another aspect of live betting is cash out, where you can secure an early win, albeit smaller, while the match is going in your favor. Or, cut your losses and keep some of your stake if things haven’t panned out as you’d hoped.

Wagering Options

With so many different markets to choose from, online baseball betting offers some real depth for sports fans. Below, we’ve run through some of the different types of real money bets you can place at MLB betting sites.  

Moneyline 

The most basic wager of all, and one of the most popular among newbies and old hands alike, a moneyline bet is a simple head-to-head wager on the outright winner of a game. You might back the Houston Astros against the Toronto Blue Jays, or vice versa. Since MLB baseball games very rarely end in a tie — the last one being at a Pirates-Cubs game in 2016 — this option is usually excluded. That’s not the case for all sports, though, with three-way moneylines readily available on sports like soccer and MMA.

Totals

Totals bets require you to predict whether the total number of runs scored in a game by both teams combined will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook. This is why totals bets are also known as over/under bets. MLB oddsmakers might, for example, set the bar for the total runs scored in a game between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins at 7.5. If the game features eight runs or more, over-bettors win, but if it ends with seven runs or fewer, the under-bettors win. A total strikeouts bet is another good example. Here, you bet whether a starting pitcher will throw over or under a given number of strikeouts, with the twist being that the pitcher must throw the opening pitch for the bet to be live. 

First Five Innings Bet

The first five innings or F5 bet is an exciting additional betting option at MLB betting sites. F5 bets ask which side will be ahead after the first five innings, or whether the result will be a tie. Let’s look at a hypothetical Los Angeles Dodgers matchup with the Atlanta Braves as an example. The first five innings point spread is set at +/- 1.5 with the Dodgers listed as the favorite. This means the Dodgers must lead by at least two runs for bettors to win an F5 wager. The Braves’ underdog status means that a lead or a tie will suffice. 

Other US Sports to Bet On

In addition to a wealth of MLB odds, the best online betting sites offer a wide range of different sports to bet on. In fact, the selection of sports available at some of the top bookies can number 30 or more, but here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular categories for US bettors.

Football

Football is the most popular sport in the US, so it naturally throws up a ton of betting opportunities, from outright season predictions to in-play selections and everything in between. The NFL is the premier league in football, culminating in the world-renowned Super Bowl at the end of the season. Sports betting sites will also run markets on college football and other lower leagues.

Basketball

US sportsbooks are packed full of basketball betting markets. You’ll find no end of betting opportunities for the NBA, as well as fixtures from other basketball-playing nations around the world. Market excitement really ramps up around the All-Star Game and postseason playoffs, so keep an eye out for any potential betting bonuses in the run up to these events. 

Ice Hockey

The US and Canada are comfortably the biggest ice hockey nations in the world, and teams from these countries constitute the NHL — the sport’s most prestigious league. The Stanley Cup — awarded to the NHL champions every year — is famous for being the oldest sports trophy in North America. Outside the continent, ice hockey is also popular in Russia and Scandinavia, and you’ll be able to place bets on leagues in these countries too at the top sportsbooks. 

Tennis 

There’s usually plenty of different tennis markets to choose from at the best online betting sites, and it’s not just about the big Grand Slam tournaments. In fact, the sheer number of men’s, women’s, doubles, and singles matches taking place around the world means that online tennis betting can be a year-round pastime for keen followers of the action on the courts. In-play tennis betting can be particularly exciting, with new lines with different windows of opportunity popping up all the time. You might, for example, get the chance to bet on whether John Isner will win the next point, game, or set. 

NASCAR

The Daytona 500 is the big one in the NASCAR calendar, but with dozens of tracks across the US and Canada, it’s far from the only place to back your favorite stock car drivers. Online sportsbooks and apps offer race fans the chance to bet on all the high-speed action from the tracks, including on major national racing series like the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Infinity Series. Remember to check out our sportsbook reviews to see which sites offer the best betting options throughout the NASCAR schedule. 

Formula 1

If you thought NASCAR betting was fun, wait until you try Formula 1. The F1 season typically kicks off in March and lasts for eight to nine months. Locations for the 2022 Formula 1 Season, which features a record 23 Grand Prix, include locations such as Montreal and the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna. You’ll find F1 bonuses and promos at many of the best sportsbooks, but the best offers for US bettors are likely to pop up when Formula 1 heads to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in October.

Horse Racing

Americans have enjoyed a flutter on the races since pre-Revolutionary times, when British settlers established racetracks in the New York area. Today, the US is home to some of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world, including the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, and the Kentucky Derby — dubbed the “most exciting two minutes in sport”. The best baseball betting sites also offer betting opportunities on smaller horse racing events here at home, as well as all the major races from other countries. The UK, Australia, and the Middle East host many of these.

Golf

The US can stake a claim to being the home of golf, with three of the sport’s four major events taking place on American shores: the PGA Championship, the US Open, and the Masters. You can be sure that baseball betting sites will offer up plenty of bonus opportunities in the build-up and during these tournaments, and the same can be said for the Ryder Cup — a biannual competition between the best American and European players of the moment. The British Open, usually hosted at St Andrews course in Scotland, is golf’s other major tournament. 

MMA

The UFC — mixed martial arts’ premier promotion — has exploded in popularity since its inception in the ‘90s. It’s too brutal for many, but the mutual respect between fighters and their exceptional athletic and technical skills has endeared the sport to millions of people around the world. As a testament to MMA’s popularity in all corners of the globe, UFC events move from country to country, often hosted in the home nation of the fighter defending their belt. There’s usually only one UFC event per month, so betting sites will ramp up promotions in the build-up to fight night.

Deposits and Withdrawals at MLB Betting Sites

One element integral to a sportsbook experience is the ease with which you can transfer funds to and from your account. The best baseball betting sites offer players a multitude of options for deposits and withdrawals — here are a few popular payment methods you might find.

Debit and Credit Cards

The default option in the minds of many bettors, debit and credit cards from issuers like Visa and Mastercard are supported pretty much everywhere and most punters have access to one. They’re generally always eligible for sign-up bonuses, but withdrawal times can be a little slower — up to a week. That is unless you’re able to make use of Visa Fast Funds — a service with the ability to cut down withdrawal times to 30 minutes in the best cases.

e-Wallets

A top choice for those wanting an extra layer of security is an e-wallet. The e-wallet of choice for most licensed sportsbooks in the US is PayPal, although you might also see Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz and MuchBetter on the payment method menus of betting sites. With PayPal, you won’t have to share your banking details with the sportsbook and will also get the fastest withdrawal speeds. The main drawback is that players using this method may sometimes be ineligible for certain bonuses, depending on which sportsbook you choose.

Prepaid Cards

Another highly secure method well-suited to those on a strict budget is a prepaid card such as Paysafecard. These vouchers can be bought in a physical store and used to top up your sportsbook wallet with the 16-digit PIN. However, you’ll need to cash out with another method; it’s rare for a sportsbook to support withdrawals to prepaid cards.

Trustly

If your banking institution subscribes to the Trustly payment portal, you can make deposits and withdrawals with this method without having to create a new payment account. This is due to the ingenuity of the open banking technology on which Trustly runs. This technology allows banks to automatically share payee details with merchants, providing users with quick transactions at baseball betting sites without the need to share any additional information. Availability is growing, but just watch out for the site’s bonus T&Cs, which may exclude Trustly deposits from picking up rewards. 

Cryptocurrencies

Another option for US bettors is to pay for their bets with a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum. You’re less likely to see crypto listed as an accepted payment method compared to others we’ve discussed here, but they might suit those looking for fast deposits and withdrawals with high limits on both. If those perks interest you, make sure you conduct plenty of research into cryptocurrencies before you start using them. Cryptocurrency values are highly volatile, so trading with them is in itself like a form of gambling. 

Baseball Betting Odds

Before you bet on a baseball game, you need to know how betting odds work. Odds are a sportsbook’s prediction of what could happen during a baseball game. Although they can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook, most MLB betting sites price their markets competitively so you won’t find too much variation. That said, there’s no harm in shopping around to find the best odds for the market you want to bet on.

Most US sportsbooks display their odds in the American format, with a negative number representing how much you need to stake to win $100, and a positive number representing the profit from a $100 stake. Some bookies display odds in a fractional format (2/1 or 5/11) or as a decimal (2.0 or 3.5) — there’s usually a setting if you want them shown in a particular format. 

Here’s a real-world example of baseball odds:

• In a standard season game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, a sportsbook has set odds of +110 for the Red Sox to win. 
• Making a successful $100 bet on the Red Sox winning would land you a return of $210 — that’s $110 in profit plus your $100 stake.
• The New York Yankees are the favourite to win, with the sportsbook offering odds of -110.
• If the bet comes good, you’ll win $190.91 — that’s your initial $100 wager alongside a modest $90.91 profit for winning the bet.

You can check out our how to read odds guide for a detailed breakdown of exactly how betting odds work.

Mobile Baseball Betting

As legal sports betting markets open up across America, several US states have legalized online and mobile sports betting. This means residents and visitors can legally wager on the outcome of a sporting event using their handheld device form wherever they are in the world.

Each state has different laws when it comes to online and mobile betting, meaning that sports betting apps can vary from state to state. For instance, in New Jersey bettors can create a sportsbook account with a sportsbook remotely from anywhere within the state. Nevada, on the other hand, requires punters to register the account in person before betting via a mobile app.

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

Best Baseball Betting App

There are several options on the market today for betting on baseball via your mobile, but our top pick is FanDuel. The free app comes with the following features:

• Compatible with Android and iOS – just install from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and you’re good to go.
• Bet on the go – you’ll get access to all the markets available on the desktop FanDuel site.
• Place in-play bets – betting with your mobile means you won’t have to miss any of the action.
• Deposit and withdraw – you’ll get the same banking functionality as on desktop devices, and you can browse promotions and bonuses too.

Is Betting on Baseball Legal?

Following the PASPA repeal in 2018, legal sports betting has slowly rolled out across the United States. Unfortunately, that means it’s not always clear whether you can bet on baseball legally — so we’ve put together a handy list of the availability of sports betting across the USA. Don’t forget you’ll need to check if a site is licensed to operate in your jurisdiction too.

Responsible Gambling

When you bet on baseball and other popular sports online, it’s important to gamble responsibly. Here are some safe gambling tips to help you do just that:

• Set and stick to a budget. Only bet with money you have, steering clear of gambling on credit and never using cash intended for something else. Choose betting sites that offer safe gambling tools, such as deposit limits. 
• Set time limits for online gambling and take frequent breaks. This is especially important if you’re playing slots or casino games, as time may fly. Top sites let you set reality checks to remind you when you have played for a certain length of time.  
• Don’t bet online when you feel anxious or stressed, nor to escape those feelings. Avoid excessive alcohol or drugs too; both can impair your judgment. 
• Gambling is not a guaranteed way to earn a regular income, so don’t think of it as such. Don’t chase losses and quit while you’re ahead sometimes.  
• Balance betting with other activities you enjoy, such as sports and social activities, or spending time with family members.

Problem gambling can lead to negative effects on other aspects of your life, so it’s important to recognize the signs that your gambling activities are getting out of control. Here are some of the red flags that can indicate there’s a problem:

• Feeling worried, guilty, frustrated, or other negative emotions about gambling, or gambling to escape feelings like these.
• Experiencing a preoccupation with gambling, thinking about gambling or talking about gambling to other people more than usual.
• Experiencing extreme mood swings when gambling; feeling elated when you win and feeling a sense of despair and emptiness when you don’t. 
• Shirking other commitments, perhaps missing work or failing to show up at planned social events in favor of gambling. 
• Chasing gambling losses, never walking away while your bankroll is up, always thinking that a big win is on its way. 
• Experiencing financial problems, such as having to borrow from friends and family, running up credit card bills and leaving essential bills unpaid. 

Responsible Gambling Organizations

Need some support? You can find out more about responsible gambling at Compare.bet and access professional help from the sources listed below:

• National Council on Problem Gambling
  Call/Text: 1-800-522-4700 
  Chat: ncpgambling.org/chat
  Access support by state
• Gambling Therapy from Gordon Moody
  Email: [email protected]
• Gamblers Anonymous – Find a meeting
• Gam-Anon – Find a meeting

Get Started at the Best Baseball Betting Sites

Want to place a bet on the baseball but not sure where to start? We’ve covered all the most important aspects right here on this page, so you can read our user-focused reviews and compare different sportsbooks. 

As a new customer, you’ll be eligible to pick up a welcome bonus, which you may be able to use on your favorite MLB franchise. Use our links to click through to the sign-up page, register your details, and place your first wager at a site that’s right for you.

References

https://theathletic.com/2514849/2022/01/25/moneyline-bets-in-sports-what-are-they-how-to-place-a-moneyline-bet-odds-payouts-favorites-vs-underdogs-and-examples/  
https://mashable.com/article/mlb-tie-game-cubs 
https://www.thebaseballcube.com/page.asp?PT=conference_list&view=d1 
https://www.si.com/college/louisville/othersports/explaining-the-ncaa-tournament-format 
https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/college-baseball-top-25/ 
https://eu.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2022/06/07/ole-miss-baseball-betting-odds-win-2022-cws-national-championship/7546696001/
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-announces-23-race-calendar-for-2022.2HcIP34fK3Zznx7YZfWL6P.html