Best sports betting apps: Check out top mobile sportsbooks for April | Sporting News

Best sports betting apps: Check out top mobile sportsbooks for April | Sporting News

April 9, 2024

After extensive review by our team of experts, we have selected the best sports betting apps for wagering during the month of April, whether you’re at home or on the go using a mobile device.

These are the best mobile sportsbook apps available. All are licensed and regulated, which means they provide safe and secure ways to bet on your favorite sports and leagues, including the NBA, NHL, MLB, golf, soccer and more.

Having tried all of the different options out there, we recommend these sports betting apps for their market coverage, range of betting options, competitive odds, design and functionality, banking options, customer service and other features. They are all great options for getting in on the March Madness betting action.

Read on to learn more about them, including the sports betting sites’ welcome offers and top sportsbook promo codes you can use to help you get started.

Top mobile sports betting apps for April 2024

Mobile sports betting is legal and live in over half of US states – North Carolina the most recent state to join the party.

Most sports wagering in the US is conducted online, and most online betting happens on sports betting apps. All of the best online sports betting sites have downloadable betting apps, in most cases for both iOS (Apple) and Android devices.

Here’s a detailed look at the best sports betting apps available, along with information about how to download them. 

BetMGM Sportsbook app

The BetMGM Sportsbook app contains all the same features and betting opportunities as the website. The app has the same attractive black-and-gold color scheme and is expertly designed for easy use. Featured games appear in the main window, and you can easily scroll through the different live markets and games. 

Click on bets to add them to your bet slip at the bottom of the screen. Then, open your bet slip to make any adjustments before submitting. You can access the cashier, promotions, customer support, and everything else you need directly from the app. That includes calling up all of the games with live betting and being able to make those in-play wagers as games play out. 

  iOS App Android App
Download Size 101.8 MB 68.1 MB
Requirements iOS 14.0 or later Android 5.0 and up
App Rating 4.8 (177K reviews) 4.3 (24K reviews)

 

States where the BetMGM Sportsbook app is available: Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi (on-site only), Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

Caesars Sportsbook app

The Caesars Sportsbook betting app has become especially popular of late thanks to its availability in so many states and nationwide promotion. The app is a good one, with an intuitive design making it simple to find different markets, games, and bet types.

The main screen features ongoing promotions plus a scrollable selection of “Quick Picks” to get you started, and there are also hotlinks to live betting and daily odds boosts.

You add bets to bet slip and submit as you do with other apps, and you can also always easily look at your open and settled bets. Accessing the cashier is easy and you can perform all the same banking operations from your device as you can on the main site. Meanwhile, scrolling to the bottom gets you to buttons linking to rules, terms of service, live chat support, and more. 

  iOS App Android App
Download Size 277.2 MB 140.7 MB
Requirements iOS 15.0 or later Android 7.0 and up
App Rating 4.6 (51K reviews) 4.3 (23K reviews)

 

States where the Caesars Sportsbook app is available: Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

FanDuel Sportsbook app

The FanDuel Sportsbook has also become a top online sports betting app in the many states where it is offered. The main screen highlights links to individual sports, ongoing promotions, and an invitation to check out current popular same-game parlay bets (a popular FanDuel feature). Scrolling down shows the currently popular games. There are hotlinks up top for taking you to particular sports, live betting options, promos, and boosts.

The app is smartly organized, making it easy to build your bets and submit them on a bet slip. A fun “Explore” section also provides extra background info on the day’s games and available wagers, plus lots of “Bet 101” articles to help educate you about sports betting. You can read the latest sports news and watch video highlights right in the app.  

  iOS App Android App
Download Size 147.2 MB 87.5 MB
Requirements iOS 14.0 or later Android 5.0 and up
App Rating 4.8 (1.28M reviews) 4.7 (254K reviews)

 

 

States where the FanDuel Sportsbook app is available: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

BetRivers Sportsbook app

The BetRivers Sportsbook is another top-notch app now available in more than a dozen states. The app features a clean, inviting look with the day’s most popular games and live betting opportunities prominently displayed on the home screen. From there, you can access markets to see all the available games and futures. Meanwhile, click the slide-in menu to check out the latest promotions, see your rewards, and reach the Help Center.

When you’ve chosen a bet, click on it, enter your wager amount, and place your bet right away. Or you can add multiple bets to your bet slip first to review and then submit later. You can check your bets as well and, in many cases, cash out bets early, if you wish. Look also for other fun sections like Streaming Live, Prop Central, House Specials, and more. 

  iOS App Android App
Download Size 92.2 MB 63.8 MB
Requirements iOS 14.0 or later Android 9.0 and up
App Rating 4.4 (2.4K reviews) 3.3 (1.1K reviews)

 

States where the BetRivers Sportsbook app is available: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Bet365 Sportsbook app

The Bet365 Sportsbook app can be found in several states and will soon be expanding further. The app is organized much like other top online sports betting apps with quick access to individual sports, current promos, daily “Bet Boosts,” plus popular games, futures, and live betting options from the home screen. Scroll down for more links to support, live scores, results, stats, and live audio commentaries for select sports.

Along the bottom of the Bet365 app, you can jump to different sports, look at live in-game markets, check your bets, and search the app for whatever you need. For live betting, you can click an icon to review pertinent up-to-the-second stats and help inform your wagering decisions. In some cases, you can even stream certain games with live betting. 

  iOS App Android App
Download Size 49.2 MB 42.4 MB
Requirements iOS 12.0 or later Android 5.0 and up
App Rating 4.8 (9.2K reviews) 4.5 (6.8K reviews)

 

 

States where the Bet365 Sportsbook app is available: Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia

DraftKings Sportsbook app

The DraftKings Sportsbook is many bettors’ top choice when it comes to online wagering. Sporting the same green-and-black scheme as DraftKings’ other offerings, the sportsbook app features an extensive home screen with all the current sports and games, promos and popular parlays, and hotlinks to everything you need. 

DraftKings is especially known for its live betting options, and you can access those easily and place your wagers quickly via the app. You can also check your account, monitor your Dynasty Rewards and progress toward missions, access DK Social and DraftKings’ many pools, make “Flash Bets,” and more. 

  iOS App Android App
Download Size 310.1 MB 90.3 MB
Requirements iOS 14.0 or later Android 5.0 and up
App Rating 4.9 (510K reviews) 4.6 (117K reviews)

 

 

States where the DraftKings Sportsbook app is available: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

Rating the best online sports betting apps

Here is a table listing users’ ratings for the best online sports betting apps. Note that the most used apps such as FanDuel and DraftKings have an especially large number of reviews, and high ratings as well.  

Sports Betting App Apple Store Ratings (iOS) Google Play Ratings (Android)
Bet365 4.8 out of 5 (9.2K reviews) 4.5 out of 5 (6.8K reviews)
BetMGM 4.8 out of 5 (177K reviews) 4.3 out of 5 (24K reviews)
BetRivers 4.4 out of 5 (2.4K reviews) 3.3 out of 5 (1.1K reviews)
Caesars 4.6 out of 5 (51K reviews) 4.3 out of 5 (23K reviews)
DraftKings 4.9 out of 5 (510K reviews) 4.6 out of 5 (117K reviews)
FanDuel 4.8 out of 5 (1.28M reviews) 4.7 out of 5 (254K reviews)

Pros and cons of mobile sports betting apps vs. websites

Being able to place sports bet on your phone or iPad is great both for casual and more seasoned bettors. That said, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using sports betting apps. Here are a few of each.

Sports betting app pros

  • Convenience: Being able to place your bet from anywhere lends enormous flexibility, especially when compared to visiting a retail sportsbook in person. 
  • Live betting: Relatedly, live betting works especially well on sports betting apps. Mobile apps are built for speed, and live betting requires quick response times from online sportsbooks.
  • Live streaming and other added features: Some sports betting apps offer live streaming of games and/or other added features not included on the sports betting websites.

Sports betting app cons

  • Limited screen size: While sports betting apps are all optimized for mobile devices, sometimes the smaller screen size makes navigating a little tricky. Also, some apps lack the features available on their website counterparts. 
  • Need to find a secure connection: With sports betting apps, you are making online financial transactions, which means you need to ensure your connectivity is entirely secure. That’s usually easy enough at home, but not always as simple when you’re on the go.
  • Makes betting too easy: Having such ready access to sports betting can potentially encourage some recklessness or a lack of selectivity with your betting. Don’t let the ease of access lead you into bad habits.

Exclusive online sports betting app bonuses

In many cases, online sportsbook bonuses and promotions are the same for app users and bettors on the online sportsbook. That said, you will occasionally find promos available only to app users, so it is worth keeping an eye out. New sports betting sites in particular like to push new bonuses and promos to gain traction.

These exclusive offers might include special odds boosts, free bets, or cashback bonuses. Special same-game parlays with boosted odds can pop up on your mobile device, too, so stay aware.

Best sports betting apps by device

All of the apps listed above tested well for us in terms of their smoothness and functionality, but a few stand out from the pack for particular devices. 

Best iPhone & IPad sports betting apps

From our selection of top sports betting apps, iOS (Apple) users favor FanDuel and Caesars. FanDuel has the edge in terms of taking up less space on your device, but both apps run especially well on Apple phones and tablets. Live bettors will surely enjoy these options. 

Best Android sports betting apps

Both DraftKings and BetMGM rate particularly high when it comes to Android users. The download sizes of both are reasonable and, even more importantly, the functionality and speed of the apps are very high. Both are great for their wide range of in-play betting options and smooth functionality.

Sports betting apps vs. desktop experience

It’s worth noting other differences between sports betting on a mobile app and on a computer’s web browser. 

For some bettors, being on a desktop is generally preferable. You can open countless tabs and conduct research more easily before placing bets. The larger screen also makes it easier to see more available betting options on the site all at once. This can be advantageous as you try to find the best wagering opportunities. 

In many cases, the information and different categories on online sportsbooks are easier to reach when using a desktop. At DraftKings Sportsbook, for example, the website has a convenient alphabetical list of all sports running down the left-hand column. But on the app, you either have to scroll through several rows of items or click through to the “All Sports” page to see a similar list. 

Also, many sites such as FanDuel Sportsbook let you see your bet slip at all times on the screen as you navigate, whereas the mobile app will hide it for spatial reasons.

How to find the best sports betting app

When evaluating different sports betting apps and deciding which one to use, there are a number of criteria worth considering.

  • Speed: With sports betting apps, speed can refer to how quickly the app loads and responds to your inputs, especially when live betting. This is a significant factor that can make some apps more attractive than others. It can also refer to payout speeds when withdrawing your winnings, something the sites will indicate in FAQ sections regarding withdrawal policies. 
  • App-only promos: As noted above, some sportsbook apps will offer app-exclusive promotions that only mobile users can receive. If you’re someone who will primarily use the app and not the website, that can be a nice perk.
  • Usability: It is imperative that a sports betting app features a user-friendly design. It should be easy to find your favorite sports and bet types. You shouldn’t run into problems when filling out bet slips and submitting your wagers. All of the sites recommended above feature smart, intuitive layouts that make them highly usable. 
  • Convenience: Being able to launch and use an app quickly without delays or extra steps is important. The convenience of being able to bet instantly and from anywhere is a chief attraction of online sportsbook apps.
  • Live streaming: Some sportsbook apps enable opportunities to watch live streams of games directly on the app. It’s a great way to follow games on which you have wagered. This isn’t a feature at every mobile sports betting app, so if that is important to you, check to see if a sportsbook offers it.
  • Deposit options: Most online sportsbooks offer many methods to fund your account, and typically the corresponding apps will include all of the available deposit methods. Some sites have more options than others, which makes this another factor you’ll want to consider when contemplating which online sports betting app you want to use. 

Related Pages:

States with legal mobile sports betting

More than half of the US has legal online sports betting. In most legal states, there are several sports betting apps available. Here is a list of states where mobile sports betting is currently allowed:

Note that Mississippi and Montana have legal online sports betting, but it is only allowed at restricted locations and not statewide.

See more:

Best sportsbook apps by sport

Some sports bettors focus on a particular sport when wagering. In turn, users have found some sports betting apps to be especially good for certain sports. Here are some recommendations of apps by sport.

Best football betting apps

Football is the most popular sport for US bettors. The NFL is the most wagered-upon league while college football also attracts copious attention throughout the season. Top football betting apps include:

See more:

Best basketball betting apps

Basketball is also popular, with bettors enjoying the many ways to bet on NBA and NCAA games, including via live betting. Our favorite basketball betting apps include:

See more:

Best hockey betting apps

As with pro basketball, the NHL season is a long one, providing hockey fans many opportunities to bet on their favorite sport. Our recommended NHL betting apps for hockey include: 

  • BetRivers — lots of NHL betting promos & odds markets and a weekly NHL “boost token,” plus “Hometown Discounts” for hockey
  • DraftKings — features competitive NHL game lines and offers a wide selection of hockey prop bets, including the fun “Grand Salami” bet on total goals across all a day’s games 
  • Caesars — stands out for hockey odds boosts and wide selection of NHL futures odds including Stanley Cup odds

Best baseball betting apps

Major League Baseball features the longest regular season of all the major professional sports, and there are many bettors who focus exclusively on MLB wagering. For us, the best baseball betting apps include: 

  • FanDuel — offers many MLB betting promos, boosts, specials, and streaming of MLB games
  • BetMGM — known for competitive MLB betting lines and many baseball-related promos throughout the season along with competitive World Series odds.
  • DraftKings — huge variety of bets on each game, including numerous props, “Quick Same-Game Parlays,” and more

Note that all three of the above-named sports betting apps have partnerships with Major League Baseball and individual teams.

Best soccer betting apps

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and several US sports betting apps provide ways to bet on matches worldwide. The best soccer betting apps include: 

  • Bet365 — largest selection of international markets and leagues with frequent bet boosts and enhanced odds, soccer parlay boosts, and other promos
  • BetMGM — covers lots of markets, often features favorable odds and lines, plus soccer-related specials and promos
  • Caesars — also features many leagues while offering extensive live betting options for soccer

See more:

How to download a sports betting app

Once you’ve picked a sports betting app, downloading it to your device is a quick, easy process. The apps are free to download and install.

For iOS (Apple) devices:

  1. Open the Apple Store. Be sure you are signed in with your Apple ID.
  2. Search for the sports betting app by name. In most cases, a single app works for all states, but do make a note if you need to download a state-specific app.
  3. Click “Get” and then “Install” when the pop-up appears to confirm the download.
  4. Wait for the download to complete, then open the app and create your account.

For Android devices:

  1. Open Google Play using the Play Store app. Be sure you are signed into your Google account.
  2. Search for the sports betting app by name. Again, typically one app works for every state, but make sure and if necessary download your state-specific version of the app.
  3. Click “Install.” Free apps (as sports betting apps usually are) won’t have a price listed. If asked to accept permissions, click “Accept.”
  4. Wait for the download to complete, then open the app and create your account.

Sometimes, a particular online sports betting app might not be available in either the Apple Store or Google Play. In that case, you might have to visit the online sportsbook’s website and download the app directly from there. That might require a couple of extra steps to accomplish, so follow the instructions on the site for direct downloading of the app.  

Legal US online sports betting apps FAQ

Which online sportsbook apps are available in the US?

There are literally dozens of legal online sportsbook apps currently operating in the US. These include Bally Bet, Bet365, BetFred, Betr, Betly, BetMGM, BetParx, BetRivers, Betway, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock Bet, PlayUp, PointsBet, SI Sportsbook, SuperBook, Tipico, Unibet, WynnBET, and others. 

See more: What is line shopping in sports betting?

Who is in charge of regulating legal sports betting apps?

Each US state has its own regulatory body. When it comes to online sports betting and sports betting apps, the state’s regulators oversee the companies that operate and provide the apps. For example, in New Jersey, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement oversees all NJ online sports betting apps. Each state’s regulatory body issues licenses to the companies, which then must abide by the state’s rules or risk losing their right to offer their apps. 

Can a credit card be used to play legal online sportsbook apps?

Yes, most online sportsbooks accept the use of credit cards to deposit funds into your account, which you can then use to place wagers. 

See more: Top 7 fastest paying sports betting sites

How do I install sports betting apps on my Android smartphone?

Open Google Play by visiting the Play Store where you can search for and find sports betting apps. Click “Install,” and the app will automatically download and install itself onto your mobile Android device.

Does the Apple Store offer legal online sports betting apps?

Yes, the Apple Store does offer legal and licensed sports betting apps. 

Which is the best betting app for football?

There are several great ones, but we especially like the FanDuel sports betting app both for wagering on the NFL and college football. 

Which states have legal online sports betting apps?

Currently, you can wager on sports using online sports betting apps in approximately 30 US states as well as the District of Columbia. See the section above “States with legal mobile sports betting” for a full, up-to-date list of all the states where you can use sports betting apps.