Best Sports Betting Apps for 2023

Sportsbook App Store Ratings

States with Legal Mobile Sports Betting

Here's a look at which states offer legal online sports betting:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• DC
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maryland (pending)
• Maine (pending)
• Massachusetts (pending)
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio (pending)
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

Benefits of Betting Apps vs. Online Betting

Sports bettors have plenty of options when it comes to placing wagers in the U.S. – and we're not just referring to the number of sportsbooks now plying their trade.

Users can wager in person, of course – but for those who would rather not brave the brick-and-mortar sportsbook (and for those without that option), sports betting sites have made it possible for players to get in on the action on their computers, their mobile devices, and even their tablets.

That said, here are a few compelling reasons why using a betting app is the best option of all:

Portability

You carry your phone just about everywhere you go – and that means being able to take advantage of having a sportsbook account in just about any place imaginable (as long as you're in a state which allows mobile wagering, of course.)

Bet from your friend's house. Make a wager while you're waiting in line at the bank. Enhance your sports watching experience by placing a parlay right from the big game. The options are nearly limitless – and that counts for a lot in an era where portability is everything.

Ease of Use

The simple fact is that it's easier to navigate a sports betting app than it is a desktop or tablet version. Dragging your mouse or touchpad to make picks can be a bit cumbersome – and that simply won't do when it comes to live betting markets, where saving time is critical.

Compare the constant finger and mouse dragging with simple thumb clicks to enter or change bets, build multi-outcome cards and even navigate quickly from one menu to another, and there's no doubt that sportsbook apps have a huge edge over other betting methods.

Notifications

These days, it's so hard to keep track of everything going on in our lives. Notifications are a helpful way for apps to let us know what's happening, or if we're about to miss something – and that's especially helpful with sports betting apps.

Even if you normally decline notifications for your other apps, it's smart to allow your sports betting notifications through. Those of you who love NFL betting, for example, can receive notifications on weather, injuries, line moves and other important details that can help inform your wagers. You can also receive game start and finish notifications, so you know when your bets are live (or settled).

You simply can't tap into this option on desktop.

How to Download & Register For a Sportsbook App

Looking to enter the world of sports betting? Here's a breakdown of how to get started:

1. Consult our top list for the best sports betting options available to you in your region.

2. Once you find the app you would like to sign up for, visit the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and search for that app.

3. Once you find the sports betting app you're looking for, click "GET" (iOS) or "INSTALL" (Android) to add the app to your mobile device.

4. After the app is downloaded, select it by pressing on the icon.

5. Once inside, you'll either be taken to a default login screen with a link for registering a new account, or you'll find yourself directly on the registration screen. Registration requirements vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.

6. Either during or after the initial personal information request, you'll be asked to provide a user name and password. Be sure to make your password as secure as possible, and preferably unique from any other password you're using.

7. Before allowing you to complete your registration, most sports betting apps will require you to verify your identity. The sportsbook will likely ask you to provide at least one piece of government-issued ID, like a driver’s license, passport or military ID. As proof of address, you will also need something recent with your address on it, like a bill or a bank statement.

8. Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it’s time to make your initial deposit and claim whatever sign-up bonus your sportsbook provides. The majority of first-time offers in most states come in one of two forms:

• Risk-free Bets: This offer guarantees you a refund on your first wager if it is graded as a loss. The sportsbook will refund your initial bet amount (up to a specific limit) either as cash or as site credit.
• Deposit Match: This offer sees the sportsbook match your initial deposit dollar-for-dollar. The deposit match will come with a maximum limit, and in the majority of cases you will be required to “play through” your initial deposit by a certain multiple in order to earn the bonus.

9. Congratulations! You're ready to place a wager. Good luck!

How We Rate and Review Sports Betting Apps

We will never take shortcuts in our efforts to highlight the best sports betting apps in the business. We create accounts, interact with customer service, deposit money, navigate the app, place bets and make withdrawals. This allows us to gain first-hand experience of the customer experience offered by each app.

We are then careful to cross-check our findings with trusted colleagues and the community of nearly half a million sports bettors that use our Sportsbook Review Forum.

Only then will we assign a rating to a site based on the quality of its app. This is an ongoing process: a sportsbook can be downgraded if it starts to fall short of our strict standards. It can also be upgraded, but the sportsbook must demonstrate a significant improvement over a prolonged period of time if it is to do so.

The bottom line is that we stringently test the apps at the sites we recommend. We have also used the apps we do not recommend, and we can confidently warn you against using them. Those featured on our top sports betting apps list are all safe and reliable, and we vouch for them based on personal experience. Our stamp of approval gives you the utmost confidence when signing up with an online sportsbook.

For more on the standards we uphold in our content creation process, see our Editorial Policy.