Opening an account takes minutes, and most of the risk of a bad experience sits in the steps before the first bet. This page follows the order of a real first session and says what to check at each point.
1. Check that the app is legal where you are
Online sports betting is allowed state by state, and an app can only take a bet from inside a state where it is licensed. Look up your state regulator's list of licensed operators and confirm the app is on it. The apps by state section organizes the question around your state first.
2. Download from an official source
Get the app from the official app store, or from a link on the operator's own website. Avoid files sent in messages and lookalike pages. A real app asks for your location permission, since it must confirm you are inside the state before it accepts a bet.
3. Create the account and verify who you are
You will give your name, date of birth, address and the last digits of your Social Security number, so the operator can confirm your age and identity. You must be 21 in most states and 18 in a few. Use your real details, because a mismatch delays your first withdrawal. Choose a strong password and turn on two-step sign-in if the app offers it.
4. Set your limits before you deposit
Find the responsible gambling section in the account settings and set a deposit limit. It is easier to set a limit when you have not yet won or lost anything. The same section lists time-outs and self-exclusion, which you can use later if you need them.
5. Make a first deposit
Common methods include debit cards, online banking transfers and e-wallets, and the list differs by operator and by state. Check for a minimum deposit and for fees. If you are claiming a welcome offer, read its terms before you deposit, since the deposit amount and the odds of the first bet often decide whether you qualify. The bonus value calculator shows what the offer is worth under those terms.
6. Find a market and read the bet slip
Choose the sport, the game and the bet type, then tap the price to add it to the slip. Enter your stake. The slip shows the potential payout, and you can check it by hand with the sums on the American odds page. Confirm that the price on the slip is the one you intended, since prices change quickly in live markets.
7. Track the bet and understand settlement
Open bets appear in a bet history. A bet is settled after the event ends, and a win is credited to your balance. A push returns your stake. If the app offers cash out, treat the amount as a price that includes a margin, not as free money.
8. Withdraw
Request a withdrawal from the cashier, using a method the operator accepts for your account. First withdrawals may need extra identity documents, and processing times differ by method. The operator states its timings in its own terms. Keep records of your deposits and withdrawals, since winnings can be taxable income.
What to have ready for verification
Verification confirms that you are an adult and that you are who you say you are. Expect to give your full legal name, date of birth, home address and part of your Social Security number. Some operators ask for a photo of a government ID or a proof of address if the automatic check does not match. Use the same details everywhere. A mismatch between the name on your account and the name on your bank card is the most common reason for a delayed first withdrawal.
When the app cannot confirm your location
A bet is refused when the app cannot confirm that you are inside a state where it is licensed. If that happens, turn on your phone's location services and allow the app to use them, turn on Wi-Fi even if you are on mobile data, and make sure the app is up to date. A VPN usually breaks location checks, so switch it off before you bet. If you are close to a state line, the app may not be able to place you, and moving a short distance can fix it.
Deposits and withdrawals in practice
Deposits are usually instant. Withdrawals take longer, because the operator reviews the request and then sends the money by the method you pick. Some methods are quicker than others, and the time shown in the cashier is the operator's own estimate. Withdraw to the same method you used to deposit where you can, since many operators require it. Keep your balance under your own control: do not leave more in the app than you intend to bet.
Common problems and what to do
- The first withdrawal is delayed. Usually the identity check is incomplete. Upload the documents the app asks for and keep the name consistent.
- A bonus does not appear. Check whether you opted in, whether your first bet met the minimum odds and whether the offer has expired.
- A bet is voided. Read the house rules for the market. Postponed games and rule changes can void a bet, and the app shows the reason.
- You cannot log in. Use the app's password reset, and contact the operator's support. We cannot help with an operator's account.
- You want to stop. Use the time-out or self-exclusion tool in the account settings, or ask the operator.
Habits that keep it safe
- Bet only what you can afford to lose, and never money meant for bills or savings.
- Keep to the limit you set, and do not raise it in the middle of a losing run.
- Take a break if betting stops being fun. A time-out or self-exclusion takes a minute to set.
- If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER, or see ncpgambling.org.
Not sure how to read what you see on the screen? Start with how to read betting odds.
Before you open the app: four checks
Most of the trouble people run into can be avoided before the app is installed. First, check that online sports betting is allowed in the state you are in. Our state law table shows what we have verified against official pages, and the regulator is the final word. Second, check the minimum age for your state, which the regulator publishes. Third, check that the app is on the regulator's list of licensed operators. Fourth, decide on a limit and write it down, for example with the budget planner.
Take these in order. If the first or third check fails, there is nothing to compare, and the right move is not to continue.
What happens when you add a second bet to the slip
On most apps, adding a second selection to the slip changes what the slip is. Instead of two separate bets, you may be offered a parlay, which combines the selections into one bet that pays only if all of them win. The slip usually labels this clearly and shows the combined price. Read the label before you confirm, and check whether the app offers to place the selections as separate single bets instead. The article on parlays explains the arithmetic, and the parlay calculator prices a ticket before you place it.
After the bet: open bets, settled bets and your record
Every app keeps a list of your open bets and a history of settled ones. Find them before you need them. Open bets show the price you took, the stake and the amount you stand to win, and some apps offer cash out on them. Settled bets show the result and the amount credited. It helps to save or note the figures for each bet, because they decide what you can say about the year afterwards. Winnings are taxable income in the United States, and the page on how winnings are taxed sets out what the IRS says about reporting them and keeping records.
If you want to stop or slow down
Apps offer tools to limit deposits, to set time limits and to take a break, and states run self-exclusion programs. These sit in the account settings or in the responsible gambling section. The checklist on each state page we have verified links to the state's own self-exclusion program and help line. If betting stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER at any time, and read the responsible gambling page.
What to check on the first slip
The slip is where mistakes happen, because it is small and the buttons are close together. Before you confirm, read it line by line. Check the market, for example the moneyline or the spread. Check the side you picked, and check the line if there is one, because a spread of -3 and a spread of -3.5 are different bets. Check the price, check the stake and check the "to win" figure against your own arithmetic.
If the app shows that a price has changed, stop and read the new one. If you do place a first bet, keep the stake small and watch how the app records it, how it shows the open bet and how it settles. A small stake is the cheapest way to find out whether the app is easy to read. The guide to American odds explains the prices you will see on the slip.
Keeping the confirmation
After you place a bet, the app shows a confirmation with a bet number, the price and the stake. Save a copy of that screen, or write the figures down, until the bet settles. If the result on your account ever differs from what you expected, the confirmation is the first thing support will ask for, and it is also the record you need at tax time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sign-up take?
A few minutes when your details match. Verification can take longer if the operator needs documents.
Do I need to deposit to open an account?
You can usually register without depositing. You need funds to place a bet, and an offer may require a minimum deposit.
Why do I have to share part of my Social Security number?
Operators use it, with your name and address, to verify your identity and age, which licensed operators are required to do.
Can I have accounts at more than one app?
Yes. Many bettors use several apps to compare prices and offers. Keep each account in your own name and track your total spending.
What if I think I am betting too much?
Use the deposit limit, time-out or self-exclusion tools in the app, and talk to someone. In the United States you can call 1-800-GAMBLER at any time.