Welcome to the Props.com guide to finding Sites Like Bovada. For those who don’t know, Bovada is a popular online betting site that serves American sports bettors despite being located outside of the US. It doesn’t hold an online gambling license in any American state and operates as an unregulated entity.
Bovada does not have to adhere to any laws or regulations within the US sports betting industry. You can only expect safe mobile betting at legal sites like Bovada that possess state licensing.
What are the main differences between Bovada and legal sports betting sites? Bovada holds a license in Curaçao, a constituent country of the Netherlands. But again, Bovada is not operating under any US jurisdiction—state or federal. According to TrustPilot, Curaçao doesn’t have a reputation for being tough on rogue online gambling sites.
Therefore, the Bovada casino and sportsbook operation doesn’t have to worry about strict regulations. It can experience issues with timely payouts and not deal with any consequences. This gambling site is also the judge and juror regarding disputes with players, with no third-party involvement.
Best Legal Sportsbooks & DFS Sites In Your State
Top Sportsbooks in All States
How Legal Online Sportsbooks Differ from Sites Like Bovada
Legal online sportsbooks operate under state gambling boards and are pursuant to local laws and regulations. They must treat sports bettors fairly, properly handle customer funds, and make timely payouts. Otherwise, they risk losing their license in one or more states.
The best solution is to place bets with legal sites like Bovada, rather than Bovada itself. But which licensed online betting sites should you choose? We will discuss the 5 best legal US online sportsbooks, including their bonuses, availability, features, and more. This guide also covers daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites, which are great Bovada alternatives in states without legal online sports betting.
Best Legal Sports Betting Sites
The federal government gives every state the right to legalize sports gambling. Thirty-nine states have legalized online and/or retail sportsbooks to date. Any betting site that wishes to operate legally must obtain licensing from one or more of these states.
Bovada has not gained licensing from a single state and doesn’t need to follow any US laws. It could potentially stiff players out of withdrawals and face no recourse. This unpleasant scenario is why you should consider sites like Bovada that are actually legal. Speaking of which, here are the 5 licensed sports gambling sites that we’ll discuss:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- BetRivers
Best Online Sports Betting Bonuses
The sports gambling site reviews below will cover sign-up bonuses (a.k.a., welcome bonuses). A sign-up bonus offers you a reward for registering and placing your first deposit. For example, you might get $200 in bonus bets as a first deposit bonus. You may need to use a promo code when registering to qualify for certain welcome bonuses. Check our site regularly to find relevant and updated promo codes for the best US sports betting bonuses.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Originating in daily fantasy sports, DraftKings has become one of the best legal sports betting sites. It stands out thanks to its features and promotions.
The DraftKings Sportsbook features are among the industry’s most unique, including beginner tutorials, betting pools, and social elements. The latter let you network with friends, share picks, and win or lose together. Promos include no sweat bets, reload bonuses, parlay boosts, odds boosts, and more.
If you are into gaming sites, you’ll also find one of the best online casinos at DK. The DraftKings online casino provides many slot games and live dealer games.
DraftKings Sportsbook States
DraftKings offers legal sports wagering and online casino games in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (betting & casino)
- Mississippi (retail only)
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey (betting & casino)
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania (betting & casino)
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington (retail only)
- Washington DC
- West Virginia (betting & casino)
- Wisconsin (retail only)
- Wyoming
Learn more about which states DraftKings is legal in with this DraftKings Sportsbook States guide.
How Do I Get The DraftKings Welcome Bonus?
The steps to claiming the DraftKings welcome offer are as follows:
- Visit DraftKings through a “Claim Offer” link on this page.
- Select the “Sign Up” option.
- Fill in your username, password, and email.
- Enter your name, email, phone number, etc. to compete the account.
- Visit the cashier and deposit at least $5.
- Place your first bet worth $5 or more.
Why DraftKings
DraftKings is one of the most well-rounded betting sites on the market. It offers competitive odds, plenty of markets, several promos, and unique features. The latter is what truly sets DraftKings apart thanks to betting pools and social networking. As covered earlier, you can also enjoy one of the top online casinos here.
Be sure to check out the full roster of DraftKings bonus offers in our DraftKings Promo guide, and also take a look at our DraftKings Sportsbook Review.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel shares multiple similarities with DraftKings. It too started in the DFS industry before rising to prominence in online sports gambling.
This online bookmaker has built a betting dynasty through inventive promotions and an easy-to-use app. FanDuel typically runs multiple promos at at time, including odds boosts and a referral bonus. Its app has few peers thanks to a user-friendly setup and clearly defined sections.
FanDuel features other types of online gambling too, including a casino, racebook, and DFS. That said, you won’t be at a loss regarding betting options here.
FanDuel Sportsbook States
You can enjoy the FanDuel experience in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (betting & casino)
- Mississippi (retail only)
- Missouri
- New Jersey (betting & casino)
- Nevada (retail only)
- New York
- North Carolina
- Puerto Rico
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania (betting & casino)
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington (retail only)
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia (betting & casino)
- Wyoming
Is FanDuel legal in your state? Find out with this Legal FanDuel States guide.
How Do I Get The FanDuel Welcome Bonus?
Here are the steps to getting the FanDuel welcome offer:
- Select a Claim Offer link on this page.
- Choose “Join Now” on FanDuel’s landing page.
- Pick your state from the available options.
- Register by entering all requested info (e.g., email, name, password, address).
- Deposit $10 or more.
- Place your first bet worth at least $5.
Why FanDuel
FanDuel is one of the top mobile sportsbooks regarding promotions. It starts you off with a Bet $5, Get $300 if your bet wins offer, then proceeds to offer no-sweat bets, odds boosts, profit boosts, and sports TV subscriptions. This betting site also provides one of the most user-friendly apps. You can quickly find your way around the FanDuel app, locating betting lines, promos, and deposit methods in no time.
Take a look at our FanDuel Sportsbook Review.
BetMGM
BetMGM is the most available betting site, running in many states plus D.C, Ontario, and Puerto Rico. Therefore, you’ll have the best chance of finding this bookmaker in your jurisdiction.
You can qualify for a massive “$1,500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your first bet doesn’t win” welcome bonus when signing up at BetMGM. This offer provides a second chance bet worth up to $1,500. Other common promos here include bonus bets, prize pools, and odds boosts. The BetMGM Rewards program is another perk to wagering here.
This sportsbook has a nice combination of live betting and live streaming. You can watch games through BetMGM’s streams and place live wagers accordingly.
BetMGM Sportsbook States
You will find BetMGM available in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (betting & casino)
- Mississippi (retail only)
- New Jersey (betting & casino)
- Nevada
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania (betting & casino)
- Puerto Rico
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia (betting & casino)
- Wyoming
How Do I Get The BetMGM Welcome Bonus?
You can pick up the BetMGM welcome offer as follows:
- Choose a “Claim Offer” prompt on this page.
- Select the Register option.
- Enter your email (or sign in through PayPal or Yahoo).
- Fill out the registration form.
- Provide answers to two security questions.
- Deposit at least $10.
- Place your first bet worth $10 or more.
- You’ll collect a bonus bet matching in value if you lose.
Why BetMGM
BetMGM has grown faster than any other US betting site and is available in 20 states. Its growth hinges on a well-rounded experience that includes plenty of markets and live betting opportunities. You’ll never be at a loss when looking for wagering options here. You can also expect regular promotions and loyalty rewards at BetMGM. This bookmaker even has a poker room where you can play poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Take a look at our BetMGM Promo Code Guide and BetMGM Sportsbook Review.
Caesars Sportsbook
Backed by the famed Caesars Entertainment, this betting site needs little introduction. The Caesars online sportsbook is one of the best sites like Bovada for multiple reasons.
Caesars also stands out for its features, including live betting, live streaming, a top-notch loyalty program, and many banking options.
Aside from betting, you can also play many casino games at Caesars. The Caesars online casino offers more slots and live dealer tables than most other casinos.
Caesars Sportsbook States
As seen below, Caesars online is available in 18 states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (betting & casino)
- Nevada
- New Jersey (betting & casino)
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania (betting & casino)
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington (retail only)
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia (betting & casino)
- Wyoming
How Do I Get The Caesars Sportsbook Welcome Bonus?
You can start gambling and qualify for the Caesars welcome promo as follows:
- Visit this sportsbook via one of our Claim Offer links.
- Select “Get Started” to begin registration.
- Enter your email (the promo code should automatically be in place).
- Complete the rest of the sign-up process.
- Choose one of the banking methods and make a deposit.
- Make your first bet.
Why Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars is a prestigious online sportsbook with a great brand backing it. You can have complete confidence when depositing and wagering here. Caesars also provides plenty of quality features, bonuses, generous betting limits, and VIP rewards. Regarding the latter, the Caesars Rewards program is one of the best in the business.
For more on this book, check out our Caesars Sportsbook Review.
BetRivers
Owned by Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers has experienced a steady climb to becoming one of the best sites like Bovada. It offers a large selection of markets, typically featuring 18-20 sports at any given time.
This betting site also boasts more promotions than other US online sportsbooks. We count a dozen promos at the time of writing. By comparison, other sites only offer 2-4 promotions on average. Some deals here include parlay insurance, 50% matched bets, Soccer Bet & Get, and weekly win specials.
BetRivers has an online casino where you can play live dealer games, slots, blackjack, etc. Therefore, you can look forward to more beyond just sports wagering.
BetRivers States
You’ll find BetRivers licensed and legal in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan (betting & casino)
- New Jersey (betting & casino)
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania (betting & casino)
- Virginia
- West Virginia (betting & casino)
How Do I Get The BetRivers Welcome Bonus?
You can get the BetRivers bonus through the following steps:
- Select a Claim Offer link on this page.
- Hit the “Join Now” promo at BetRivers.
- Fill in all required info (e.g., name, state, password) on the sign-up form.
- Enter the promo code Sports.
- Deposit $10 or more.
- Place your first bet worth at least $10.
Why BetRivers
BetRivers stands out thanks to its wide selection of markets and many promos. It features 18-20 sports and covers everything from the pros to the minor leagues. Regarding promos, it typically provides around a dozen deals—far more than the average sportsbook. Additionally, this site offers some of the best odds, a loyalty program, and something for casino players.
For more on this book, check out our BetRivers Sportsbook Review.