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Best Betting Sites in 2024

As you may have imagined, some betting sites are better than others due to their generous bonuses, various payment options, and competitive odds.

That’s where we come in. We are proud to be a team of experienced, and objective experts in the online betting world. We make sure to collaborate with the best online bookmakers, and only those are present on our website.

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Best Betting Sites

Our List of The Best Online Bookmakers

So, let’s get straight down to the point. Before we dissect our review process, we’ll walk you through the best sports betting sites. The table below is a great starting point for all punters in the online betting world.

Affiliate disclaimer

Our content includes affiliate links. While we may earn a commission on registrations and deposits made through these links, it is important to note that SiGMA Play only recommends licensed casinos that adhere to relevant regulations.
We will in no way endorse a site that has not undergone our thorough vetting and testing processes.

Why You Should Trust Our Recommended Online Betting Sites

If this is your first time on our site, you must be wondering, “Why would I even consider these recommended online betting sites?” Well, there are several reasons for it, with some of the most important ones being:

  • Our industry expertise. Our team consists of experienced professionals in the betting world. We always think as punters first, and we know exactly what users will be looking for in online sportsbooks.
  • Our strong relationship with operators. Only when bookmakers prove themselves to us do we recommend them. Longevity speaks for itself, and we have a long-standing and honest relationship with all bookies you find on our website.
  • We leave no stone unturned. Research is the key to our business. That’s why we always make sure to check customer complaints and see whether there are any negative aspects of a sportsbook you should know about. A website isn’t always as reliable as it seems.
  • We test operators ourselves. We wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t employ a strict testing process for every bookmaker on our site. We check its license, bonuses, payment methods, and betting markets.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our reviewing process, but we thought it would be helpful if you understood why we are so well-regarded in the online betting community.

How We Review and Rank Betting Sites

There’s no way an operator can end up on our list without passing our test with flying colors. Let’s go into more detail about our thorough review process.

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License – Is the Site Safe to Use?

This is the starting point for each of our reviews. We always make sure to check whether an operator has a valid license from a trusted regulator before we continue looking at the finer details.

A license is a crucial element, as it ensures that players always have a safe betting experience. Any legitimate operator must protect users’ personal and financial transactions with SSL encryption software.

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Betting Options – Do You Have Enough of Them?

After all, the main reason anyone would register at a sports betting site is its betting options. Experienced users won’t spend a minute on a website if there aren’t enough betting markets and types. All major sports and events have to be covered, along with betting types.

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Customer Support – Will You Get Instant Help When You Need It?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a new or experienced punter; you’re sure to encounter some problems or have questions during your betting journey. That’s why we always consider whether an operator has a responsive, friendly, and professional customer support team.

Moreover, sportsbooks online must have several means of contact:

– Email

– Live chat

– Phone

Along with these communication channels, a well-organized, detailed, and easy-to-understand FAQ page is essential.

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User Interface – Can You Navigate Without Any Hassles?

First impressions matter in the online betting world. So, site navigation and user-friendliness are vital when it comes to online bookies. The best betting sites always make sure that all content and options are easy to find, navigate, and understand.

Moreover, with the rise of mobile gambling, betting websites have to adapt and think mobile-first. It goes without saying that mobile-optimized betting sites are the bare minimum if operators want to be taken seriously.

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Bonuses and Promotions – Can You Boost Your Chances of Winning?

Bonuses and promotions are a staple of any reputable online betting site to attract new customers and retain existing ones.

So, this is one of the main pillars of a successful online betting site. Various bonuses and promotions are a must in our eyes for a bookie to even be considered reliable.

What to Consider Before Registering at Online Betting Sites

All new punters may feel that choosing the right bookie in this saturated online betting market is a complicated process. However, we at SiGMA Play are here to ease those concerns.

There are a few general factors that you need to consider before you decide to register at any sports betting site. Keep reading for more.

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First Things First: License

When you visit a sports betting site, make sure to scroll to its footer and see whether it contains any license information.

If it has a valid license from trusted and common regulators such as the UKGC, MGA, or Curaçao, you’re good to go.

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A Range of Betting Markets

Of course, you need to have a wide range of betting markets for your wagers. So, the next step would be to check whether bookies have popular betting markets. As mentioned above, the best betting sites have thousands of betting markets, so you’re always spoilt for choice.

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Don’t Forget About the Sports

Having a variety of betting markets is worth nothing if you can only use them in several sports. So, check whether there are enough sports and competitions for you to place your wagers.

Football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, cricket, handball, and others are just some of the sports you should be looking at. Or maybe you’re into a more niche sporting event, such as fencing, so your bookie should meet your specific needs.

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Various Payment Methods

Different punters have different preferences when it comes to their transactions. So, it’s important for bookies to present them with options.

Some prefer e-wallets, while others are more into credit and debit cards. Also, cryptocurrencies are on the rise, and operators should offer them as a payment method.

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Competitive Odds

Lastly, we always advise you to do research and check which bookmakers have the best and most competitive odds.

There are differences when it comes to odds, so choosing a bookmaker with higher odds means that you can boost your winnings.

Bonuses and Promotions at the Best Betting Sites

As briefly mentioned above, the best gambling sites frequently use bonuses and promotions to entice more players to sign up and continue placing real money bets. But what bonuses can you expect from reliable bookies?

Let’s check it out.

Welcome Bonus

Welcome bonuses are standard among good online sports betting sites. A welcome bonus is a thank-you note for all new punters who register on a site.

Sign-up promotions can come in many different forms, depending on the online bookie in question, but a couple of the most common are:

– Deposit match bonus

– Free bet

With these bonuses, you can start your betting journey under a lucky star.

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Free Bets

We already mentioned free bets that can come as part of a bookie’s welcome bonus, but they are more common later on in a punter’s betting journey.

With a free bet, you’ll place a bet without any real cash attached, and if you win, you’ll get your winnings without the free bet amount.

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Enhanced Odds

It’s not uncommon to see online betting sites offer daily enhanced odds for certain games.

There will usually be a separate section on the site where you’ll see all the enhanced odds offers.

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Cashback

Cashback incentives are popular among punters at online betting sites, and it’s easy to see why. Everyone can go through a rough patch, and some bookies allow you to amortize your losses by offering cashback incentives.

Usually, you can expect a weekly cashback offer with some requirements attached. You’ll need to make a minimum deposit amount during the week and lose a specific sum to be eligible for the promotion.

Reload Bonus

Bookies offer reload bonuses a bit later in a punter’s gaming journey as an incentive to keep on wagering real money.

Therefore, if you’re a regular punter, you can expect a reload bonus that will boost your deposit and potential winnings. 

Of course, the percentage and the sum covered will mainly depend on the bookie in question. As an example, you can expect to get a 100% deposit match bonus of up to $100, with the minimum deposit being $20.

Bet Insurance

If you’re not sure whether your bet will be a winning one, you can always use the bet insurance option at the best betting sites.

Some sites allow you to insure a bet at any time, while others offer it as a separate bonus. The cost of the insurance will depend on the odds of the particular outcome. You can insure the bet in full or partially, and if you lose the bet, you get back the insured part.

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VIP Program

Lastly, we talk about the VIP or Loyalty Program that sportsbooks offer to their most loyal punters. Once you complete the short registration process at any of our recommended online betting sites, you’ll be enrolled instantly in their VIP program.

The nature of the VIP program varies from one bookie to another. Usually, you can expect a multilevel VIP program where you advance as you make more real-money bets.

Some of the common perks of a VIP program at top betting sites include:

– Personal VIP Manager

– Faster payouts

– Birthday gifts

– Invitations to special events

– Better cashback percentages

Don’t Forget About Bonus T&Cs

A vital part of any bonus at our recommended bookies is the T&Cs. The terms and conditions explain the bonus rules, so you need to pay close attention. They contain vital information, such as:

– The minimum bet required to trigger the bonus

– Maximum winnings

– Eligible markets

– Eligible sports

– Wagering requirements

– Bonus duration time

By reading the terms and conditions, you’ll ensure that you’re always prepared when claiming the bonus. This way, you’ll know whether the promotion is right for you.

We’re always on the lookout for the best casino bonuses, and we update our recommendations regularly to ensure that our readers have access to the most generous and exciting promotions.

Most Popular Sports to Bet on the Best Betting Sites

By doing our research, we have noted that the most popular sports to bet on at our recommended online betting sites are:

Football

Football is mainly popular in Europe, where the strongest leagues are, but the US soccer market is making waves. Domestic competitions, the Champions League, the Europa League—you have plenty of options if you’re a football fan.

Basketball

When we think about basketball, the NBA comes to mind. But that’s not all that bookies have to offer. Various European and international championships are at your disposal.

American Football

It’s especially popular among US punters, and bookies allow you to bet on pro and college American football.

Horse Racing

Horse racing bets are as old as gambling itself. It’s one of the most recognized sports in the world, attracting punters worldwide.

Tennis

If you love individual sports, tennis is the right choice for you. US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open—you have all tournaments available.

Esports

Esports have risen in popularity in the past few years, so it’s only natural that the interest in betting has increased as well. Popular games such as Call of Duty, FIFA, LOL, Fortnite, and others provide you with countless betting options.

Cricket

This is arguably the most popular sport in India, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the world doesn’t follow it. Therefore, reliable bookies have tons of betting options if you’re a cricket fan.

This list can go on and on, with some honorable mentions being boxing, rugby, MMA, and golf. The bottom line is that all our recommended betting sites will keep you entertained.

Best Payment Methods to Fund Your Betting Account

We can now shift our focus to payment methods, an aspect that often makes or breaks an online sports betting site. Bettors have different preferences for their deposits and withdrawals, so it’s important that a bookie offers the most relevant ones.

Most bookmakers have limits on how much you can deposit and withdraw to control the money flow. These amounts can be different for each bookmaker and may depend on the payment method. Also, you usually have to verify your account before you initiate a withdrawal request. Account verification procedures often require proof of identification and address to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

You can use various payment methods at our recommended betting sites, but let’s check out the most common ones.

Credit/Debit Cards

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First off, we have credit and debit cards, which are arguably the most commonly used payment methods.

Cards such as Visa and Mastercard offer a safe way of depositing and withdrawing money, no matter which operator you choose for betting. Moreover, cards use the latest encryption technology, meaning they are one of the safest ways to make transactions online.

E-Wallets

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Up next, we have e-wallets that are getting more popular each day. They offer a safe way to make transactions at any online betting site.

At first glance, there may not be any obvious differences between them and credit or debit cards, but there’s one—e-wallets offer faster withdrawals.

Therefore, you can see why punters love them so much. Everyone wants instant access to their winnings, and e-wallets offer just that. Popular e-wallets include:

Prepaid Cards

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Prepaid cards such as Paysafecard are one of the safest and fastest ways you can make a deposit at any sports betting site.

You can purchase a prepaid card in retail stores, or you can order one online. However, be aware that prepaid cards are only available for deposits. For your withdrawals, you’ll need to choose a different payment method.

Cryptocurrencies

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Lastly, we have cryptocurrencies, which some characterize as the next big thing in the world of finance. Cryptocurrencies offer bettors safe, instant, and anonymous transactions, so they seem to have all the benefits of the above-mentioned payment methods.

Popular cryptocurrencies you can find at the best sportsbooks mentioned above are the following:

If you want to stay safe and anonymous during your betting journey, cryptocurrencies are your thing.

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UNDERSTANDING SPORTS BETTING

To understand sports betting better, you need to know some of the most common terms associated with it. Thankfully, you can find plenty of detailed sports betting guides on our site.

Without going into too much detail, let’s check out some of the most common terms you need to know if you’re new to the betting world.

Sports Betting Odds

Odds represent the likelihood of a certain event occurring in a given sports match. There are three types of odds you can encounter, depending on the site you choose to register on:

  • Fractional – also known as British odds, are written with a slash in between (7/2).
  • Decimal – known as European odds, they represent the amount you can win by wagering $1 (4.5).
  • Moneyline – known as American odds, they have a minus sign in front of the favorite and a plus sign in front of the underdog (350).

All these odds are different in their layout, but at the end of the day, they represent the same thing.

Live Betting/In-Play Betting

Live betting is one of the most popular aspects of online sports betting. It allows you to wager on an event while it’s happening, with various betting types at your disposal.

If you’re following a given match as it occurs, then live betting should be a great option for you. Odds change all the time, and you can land some nice wins along the way. As an example, you can wager on anything here, including:

  • Next goal
  • Next yellow card
  • No goal until the end
  • Number of corners

Following the event and, at the same time, wagering on it can spice up your betting activities.

Bet Builder/Accumulator Betting

Bet builders are exactly what the name suggests. They are very common and popular in the betting community. Bet builders allow you to build your bet with several predictions for a certain event.

Keep in mind that you need to guess them all correctly to secure a win. An example of a bet builder would be the following:

  • Liverpool to win the game against Manchester United
  • More than 2.5 goals in the game
  • Mohamed Salah to score first
  • More than 3 yellow cards in the game

Mobile Betting

Mobile betting is one of the next big things in the gambling community. Nowadays, the vast majority of people tend to spend more time on their mobile devices than on anything else.

So, the best betting sites always adopt a mobile-first approach. The bare minimum in today’s online gambling world is for an operator to have a mobile-friendly website. There are plenty of perks that come with mobile betting:

  • Convenience
  • Better user interface
  • Easy access to live betting
  • Live streaming services

Some online bookies go as far as creating mobile betting apps. You can download these apps for free and use the same username and password from your desktop version to log in and start betting at any time.

Responsible Gambling – Building Healthy Betting Habits

Responsible gambling is one of the vital pillars of any licensed online sports betting site. All reliable regulators in the gambling world require operators to have several responsible gambling measures that can help punters prevent gambling addiction.

Various benefits come with responsible gambling:

  • You will protect your finances.
  • It will lead to emotional well-being.
  • It prevents negative emotions (stress, anxiety, etc.).

Responsible gambling is very important, but you need to remember one thing—always set a budget for online sports betting and never go over it. That’s how you’ll ensure that online betting is just a nice pastime activity, nothing more.

Sports Betting Sites FAQ

If an online sports betting site holds the necessary licenses from trusted regulators, you have nothing to worry about. You can enjoy a smooth and safe online betting experience.

It depends on where you live. Certain countries allow online sports betting sites to operate within their territory, while others have a more restrictive approach.

Various regulatory bodies, such as the MGA and the UK Gambling Commission, issue licenses to operators. Betting sites need to apply for a license and satisfy a long list of requirements to obtain one.

Once you find a reliable bookmaker, there will be a “Register” or “Sign Up” button on the top right-hand corner of your screen. Click on it and fill out the required fields with personal information. This process doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes.

Yes, all of our recommended betting sites make sure to welcome new punters with a rewarding sign-up offer. Once you’re done with it, you can proceed with claiming various other promotions, such as free bets, cashback incentives, reload bonuses, etc.

Once again, this depends on the jurisdiction the operator is active in. Some countries require residents to be at least 18 years old to gamble, while others have a minimum gambling age of 21.

Online bookmakers use strict methodology when creating and calculating their odds. They use databases of information to set markets. All bookies have traders that analyze sports and information connected to a certain game. As an example, key injuries, recent form, the importance of the game for both teams, etc., are taken into account.

Moreover, bookies also check whether a game attracts plenty of bets. For instance, if there are plenty of bets on an underdog, the odds will be reduced.

No one can answer this question, as every player has specific needs and preferences. Thankfully, there are tons of reliable online betting sites you can find. Our list above has the ones we consider top-class, so check them out and choose the one you like.

This mainly depends on the payment method you choose and the operator. Most betting sites process withdrawals within 24 hours.

Yes, all reliable bookies put a strong emphasis on mobile-friendly websites and live betting options. That way, you can have instant access to all markets, regardless of your location.