Finding the best football betting sites
For plenty of football fans, placing a bet can add more excitement to the whole experience. Whether you’re cheering on your team in the NFL on a Sunday night or catching the latest college game, placing a smart bet at a safe, legal sportsbook just makes it more fun. As you might already know, finding the right betting sites is not always straightforward.
The biggest challenge is choice, or rather too much of it. You might have a choice between a dozen or more sportsbooks, all of which to the untrained eye look the same as each other. Not just that, not every sportsbook will be legal in every state, so if you don’t know what you are looking for you could easily spend hours searching, instead of doing what you wanted to do, which is to place a bet.
Which are the best football betting sites?
That’s where this guide comes in. Instead of overwhelming you with so many options that you never get around to taking that next step, we’ll show you exactly what to look for in a top quality sports betting platform. We've even tasked our review team with finding the best 5 around which you can use as a starting point, and these are bet365, BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars and DraftKings. These stood out from the crowd when it comes to reputation, usability, depth of football markets and, where available, bonuses and benefits.
We’ve got full reviews of all these top rated platforms elsewhere on betting.net™, but we’ve also put together a brief overview of each so you can see what each has to offer football bettors.
| Sportsbook | Welcome bonus (where available) |
| bet365 | Bet $5 & get $150 in bonus bets |
| BetMGM | Up to $1500 in bonus bets, if your first bet loses |
| FanDuel | Bet $5 & get $250 in bonus bets, if your bet wins |
| Caesars | Get Your First Bet Matched Up to $250 |
| DraftKings | Bet $5 & get $300 in Bonus Bets, if your bet wins |
BetMGM - a big name with a big reputation
- Comprehensive sports betting markets
- Regular bonuses and promotions
- Dedicated mobile betting apps
- Not available in all US states
BetMGM is one of the most recognisable names in the sportsbook world having a multinational presence and licensed to operate in several states in the US. This is of course partly due to the high profile MGM resorts brand.
The platform’s football coverage is second to none, with extensive NFL and college football markets where allowed, as well as competitive odds and a highly rated mobile app so you can bet on football on the move as well. There’s a slick process for live and pre-game bets, whether you're placing moneyline, spread or parlay bets.
While they vary between states, there’s no ignoring BetMGM’s bonuses for new bettors, as well as some attractive ongoing promotions. This can consist of up to $1500 in bonus bets for new sign-ups, whereas existing bettors can claim odds boosts for their football bets. However, note that the bonuses might vary based on where you are. Our review team also praised strong customer support making it a reliable choice for newbie bettors.
bet365 - Get started easily with this global giant
- Generous welcome bonus
- 24/7 live chat
- Intuitive site interface
- Dedicated mobile app
- No VIP program
bet365 comes close to the scale of BetMGM, having a global presence and equally long pedigree that should set any sport bettor's mind at rest. The betting market selection is massive here, and could easily feature any list of the best baseball, basketball or even rugby betting platforms as well as football.
The real head turner here is live betting with a fast interface that keeps up with constantly updating, competitive odds. You can’t forget about the bet builder feature either which makes creating parlays a breeze, even if you’re very new to sports betting.
New bettors can, if state laws allow, claim a “bet and get” offer of “Bet $5 & Get $150 in bonus bets” which is a great start for newbies. The whole platform is also based around intuitive design, whether you are using the desktop version or the mobile app. bet365 another football betting site praised by our review team for usability and a great starting point for anyone looking for a safe and secure platform to place NFL or college football wagers.
FanDuel - bet and get bonuses for new players
- Wide range of sports and bet types
- Includes deep prop markets
- Fast withdrawals with PayPal and Venmo
- Reliable app with quick loading and stable live betting
- Some prop markets can be buried under extra clicks
FanDuel may not be as big a name as BetMGM or bet365, but it built its reputation via fantasy sports before providing bettors with one of the best sportsbooks around. If you dive into FanDuel, the whole experience will be stats driven.
You can be sure you’ll get plenty of depth in the NFL markets with player stats and prop bets. The slick betting process on the FanDuel app is tailor made for live betting. If you want to place pre-game parlays there’s betting tools to help with that too, making it simple to get started.
New players can get started with FanDuel’s welcome offer, bet $5 and get up to $250 in bonus bets if your first wager wins (bonuses might depend on your location). On top of that, the platform runs regular odds boosts and fun promotions. With its clean, easy-to-use interface, FanDuel is a solid pick for both newbies and seasoned bettors, our team gives it a thumbs-up.
Caesars - Get your first bet matched when you sign up
- Generous welcome offer
- Licensed and regulated
- Competitive odds on popular sports
- Live betting with integrated streaming
- Not legal in all US states
Caesars might seem like an old-school name, but there’s nothing lacking in the experience here with an extensive range of football markets across the NFL and college games as well. You see competitive odds and a smooth, intuitive betting experience that means you can place wagers quickly and simply, especially where action is fast moving.
This all starts with a match for your first bet up to $250. If you bet $10, you get a $10 bonus bet, $20 gets you $20 in bonus bets and so on. The bonus and promotions, where available, suits all bankroll sizes.
DraftKings - up to $300 in bonus bets for new bettors
- Legal in 26 US states
- Long A-Z list of sports markets
- Awesome promos
- Limited list of legal states
Equally famous as Caesars and FanDuel, DraftKings has built a strong reputation while becoming a firm favorite among football fans. While DraftKings might not make the top of the list for cycling or cricket betting sites, the platform offers one of the widest football betting ranges you’ll see.
DraftKings covers everything from just picking a winner to in-depth player and game props as well as futures. Looking for stats and tools to help with your bets? They’re all here, and bet builders let you create same-game parlays as easily as a simple moneyline wager.
A starting bet of just $5, if successful, will get you $300 in bonus bets, if allowed in your state. For bettors who like big bonuses, and love a stats-driven approach, DraftKings could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win
+10
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
up to 100€ Bet Credits
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
+8
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
Getting started with football betting online
We picked these platforms because they cover pretty much everything a football bettor could want. You can check out any of them using the links on this page. If none are available in your state, don’t worry. We’ve also included some top alternatives. And if you want to do a little extra digging yourself, we’ve got you covered there too, since all the best sportsbooks share a few key features.
Football betting sites pros and cons
Let’s see what makes football betting sites awesome and where they can fall short:
- Plenty of markets available
- Bonuses available to football bettors
- Pre-game and live wagers supported
- Not available in every state
What do all the best NFL betting sites have in common?
It doesn’t matter if you are looking for the best football, baseball, basketball or soccer betting sites, the same golden rules apply. Look for these key factors when making that final decision about which is the best platform for you:
- Legality - Is the site regulated and is operating legally?
- Bonuses - What do you get for signing up and does it fit your betting style?
- Football markets - Do the markets go deep enough for your wagers, or do you need to look elsewhere?
- Payment options - Is your preferred payment option supported, and how long do withdrawals take?
- Support - Is the customer support reliable and responsive?
- Ongoing promotions - Are the big days of the season supported with extra promotions for football fans?
- VIP and loyalty - Are regular bettors rewarded with extra bonuses that grow the higher they climb the ranks?
Weighing up all these factors isn’t always easy, but you’ll also find reviews for every legit sportsbook on this platform too, so you can cover any gaps in your knowledge by checking those out.
Conclusion - quick way to find the best online football betting sites
Football is arguably the most popular sport, so as you might expect, and where the law allows, there is no shortage of sportsbook options. The problem is, unless you know exactly what to look for, you could spend too long trying to find the right one for you.
This guide helps you cut through all of that and get straight to where you want to go, whether it's bet365, BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars, DraftKings, or one you found using our checklist. Whatever you decide, you can get there with just a single click from this page, turning what could have been a long and drawn out search into a much shorter and successful one.
Claim the best sports betting bonuses of 2026
Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win
+10
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
up to 100€ Bet Credits
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
+8
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
+8
- Bet on 40+ different sports
- Dynamic odds on live, in-play fixtures
- Deposit and bet $5 to receive up to $300 in bonus bets
10 x $100 bet match
+4
- 15+ sports categories
- An extensive range of betting markets
- Supports in-play betting and live streaming
Football betting sites FAQs
Which are the best sites for NFL betting?
At first glance most sportsbooks can look the same but look closer and you’ll see that’s not the case. They vary in market range, availability, usability, and bonuses offered to players. Our review team came up with a top 5 of bet365, BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars and DraftKings which any bettor, new or experienced could use as a shortlist.
️ Is betting on football online legal in all states?
That’s a no. The legality of online sports betting varies by state, so availability depends on local legislation, and the licensing of each platform. That means reading the T&Cs before trying to sign up to make sure you’re not wasting your time, and that you are joining a legit sportsbook.
Do NFL sports betting sites have bonuses for new players?
Welcome bonuses and their availability will vary between sportsbooks and locations. When available, bonuses can give you bonus bet matches, or “bet and get” offers. So you know exactly what to expect, read the T&Cs of any offer before signing up.
