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The 6 Best Real Money Sports Betting Apps: May 2025
By Adam Spencer
Last Updated:
The best sports betting apps can be had in all live and legal U.S. sports betting markets. With many valid options available to sports fans and bettors, how do you choose which app is best for you?
Our team of sports betting experts have been involved in this space since PASPA was overturned in May of 2018, paving the way for regulated, online sportsbooks for typical sports fans. We know not every sports bettor is a professional or a sharp, but may simply want a reliable app and experience in order to place wagers on sporting events for entertainment value. However you plan on moving forward, we’ve got you covered.
Best Sports Betting Apps Available Now
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Sportsbook App Promos
Most mobile sports betting apps are available on both the Apple App Store as well as the Google Play store. Above, you can find some of the ratings for the best available sportsbook apps according to Saturday Down South as of April 2025.
Best New Sports Betting App: Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics Sportsbook is the newest sports betting app on the scene (available on both iOS and Android) and Fanatics brings both an excellent app as well as a very unique rewards program for regular sports bettors. Fanatics’ FanCash program means you can earn something akin to a “cash back” program you might be used to with regards to credit card spending. FanCash earned as a percentage of each wager can be transferred into bonus bets on the sportsbook app or into merchandise credit on Fanatics.com. Yep, that means you can exchange your FanCash for bonus bets or maybe a new jersey from your favorite team.
Fanatics is now offering a welcome bonus of up to $1,000 in value. The welcome bonus offers users a $100 Bet Match for 10 straight days, check out more information below.
Must be 21 . GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, KY ,MD, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV); (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelpline.org (MA), mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1800gambler.net (WV)
CLAIM OFFERBest Overall Sports Betting App: DraftKings
What started out as a daily fantasy monster, DraftKings has become one of the top sportsbooks in the U.S. through brand awareness, excellence around product and user experience, valuable offers and promotions and a strong loyalty program.
New users can currently unlock a Bet $5, Get $200 bonus when they sign up for DraftKings.
21+ and present in NY, NJ, PA, CT, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NH, OH, OR, TN, VA, WV, WY. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
CLAIM OFFERWhat our team says about DraftKings: “I think DraftKings does the best job in terms of player loyalty rewards. They’re good at giving you something each day that lines up with the sports calendar. Profit boosts that usually range between 50 and 100 on primetime NFL games, Sunday NFL, daily MLB action, and college football weekends has basically made it a must-play.” Read more from our real user app recommendations.
Sportsbook Apps in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and More
Hard Rock Bet is now live in the following states: AZ, NJ, TN, VA. New users can bet $5 on any game and get $100 back in bonus bets win or lose.
Sports Betting App Reviews
To help serve our users, the Saturday Down South team has provided the following details about each sportsbook app to help users choose the best app for their needs.
Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics is one of the newest sports betting apps that have been made available to sports fans and sports bettors in a number of legal sports betting states. Fanatics is a powerhouse brand mostly known to sports fans via the merchandise world, but Fanatics has quickly made its mark on the sports betting landscape.
What do we like about Fanatics Sportsbook?
Fanatics Sportsbook offers a very unique FanCash rewards program where users can earn back 1% of straight bet wagers, 3% of parlays and 5% of same game parlays in the form of FanCash. FanCash can be converted to either more bonus bets via the Fanatics sports betting app, or it can be converted into merchandise credit via the Fanatics sports merchandise and gear platforms.
Availability
CO, IN, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV
App Stores
iOS / Apple • 4.7
across 11,000+ reviews
Fanatics Sportsbook Welcome Offer
$100 Bet Match for 10 Straight Days
The Fanatics Sportsbook welcome offer brings up to $1,000 in value for new users.
- With Fanatics you can match up to $100 in bonus bets, 10 days in a row, for a total of up to $1,000.
- Must be 21+ and only new users are eligible.
- GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO/KY/MD/OH/MI/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV) or (888) 789-7777 or http://ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), (800)-327-5050 or http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or http://1800gambler.net (WV)
bet365 Sportsbook
bet365 Sportsbook App
bet365 is unique in that it isn’t available in all markets currently in the U.S., but if you live in one of the states where it’s available, it’s absolutely one of the best sportsbook apps available right now. bet365 brings its global resources, expertise and trading desk to bring and outstanding app experience and very competitive odds and lines to the user.
What do we like about bet365?
We appreciate the methodical nature in which bet365 has rolled out into U.S. markets. Currently live in six states, bet365 doesn’t feel the competitive pressures that other operators might feel. It has the resources and the experience to know how and when it aims to execute. The app will be excellent and the offers competitive. Users should also keep an eye out for interesting live streaming opportunities within the app. The interface combination of live streaming along with betting information and data is something bet365 has really had tremendous success with globally.
bet365’s early payout offers
I’m a huge fan of bet365’s early payout offers where you can essentially lock in a bet as “won” if the side you bet on goes up on its opponent by a certain margin. For example, in the NFL, your straight bet will be paid out if the team you back goes up by 17 points. Similarly, in MLB bets, if your team goes up by 5 runs, you’ll get paid out. Very cool.
Availability
CO, IA, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, VA, IN, AZ
App Stores
iOS / Apple • 4.8
across 9,000+ reviews
bet365 Welcome Offer
Bet $5, Get $150.
Bet365 has been incredibly active in 2025 with excellent welcome bonuses for willing sports bettors.
- All other users can take advantage of the standard, but excellent, Bet $5, Get $150 offer.
- Must be 21+ and only new users are eligible.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook App
DraftKings has been a household name in the United States since Jason Robins and his crew founded the app with fierce determination to win the daily fantasy space. Since the overturning of PASPA legislation in 2018, DraftKings has leveraged its brand and user base to become one of the dominant players in the online sports betting space.
American made, DraftKings continues to thrive
Since its beginnings in 2012 as a daily fantasy operator, DraftKings has worked hard to secure discerning sports fans. Through an excellent app and outstanding betting options, DraftKings drives an exceptionally loyal user base. Withdrawals are easy and fast.
Availability
All U.S. Online Sports Betting Markets
App Stores
iOS / Apple • 4.8
across 600,000+ reviews
DraftKings Welcome Offer
Bet $5, Get $200
New DraftKings users can lock in a fantastic offer in all eligible jurisdictions and states in the U.S. Here’s how the offer works:
- Create your new account and deposit at least $5.
- If your first bet wins, great. You’ll collect your winnings as normal. Win or lose, you’ll also receive $200 in bonus bets to your account. You’ll have seven days to use the bonus bets.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook App
Like DraftKings, FanDuel cut its teeth in the daily fantasy world. Similarly, FanDuel is also a market leader in the U.S. sports betting market (see a trend?). FanDuel is known for a world class app and betting experience. Being early paired with some outstanding marketing over the years has seen FanDuel really capitalize on the U.S. sports betting opportunity. But it’s no fools gold, FanDuel really is an outstanding app and user experience.
Why is FanDuel no. 1 in the U.S.?
FanDuel had the advantage of being a top dog in the fantasy sports space, but they did not squander the opportunity. They have backed up the early advantages with an app that is simply outstanding. Whether you’re betting on NFL, NBA, college sports or MLB, FanDuel’s user experience is very, very good.
Availability
All U.S. Online Sports Betting Markets
App Stores
iOS / Apple • 4.8
across 1,200,000+ reviews
FanDuel Welcome Offer
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if your first bet wins
New FanDuel users can gain access to a Bet $5, Get $200 if your first bet wins welcome offer. Follow these steps:
- Create your new account and deposit at least $10. Place a wager of at least $5 on any eligible sporting event.
- FanDuel will provide $200 in bonus bets available to use in wagers on other events should your initial bet win.
- Your $200 in bonus bets are non-withdrawable (must be wagered) and expire after seven days.
ESPNBet Sportsbook
ESPNBet Sportsbook
PENN Entertainment made huge news in August 2023 with the announcement that the Barstool Sportsbook app would be rebranded and relaunched as ESPN BET on the heels of striking a major, long-term partnership with Disney’s ESPN brand. ESPN BET launched in November 2023 in all states where Barstool Sportsbook previously operated.
What happened to the Barstool Sportsbook app?
Clearly dissatisfied with its market share penetration in the online sports betting market, PENN Entertainment launched a hard pivot away from the Barstool brand and toward what many see as one of the biggest brands in sports, ESPN. Users in the Barstool Sportsbook app and platform will likely remain with ESPN Bet when the new app launches.
It’s possible that users will need to download a new app (as opposed to simply updating the previous Barstool Sportsbook app). We anticipate existing user accounts and details will migrate over to the new ESPN Bet app, but we will share these details as they become more clear.
Availability
U.S. Online Sports Betting Markets
App Stores
iOS / Apple • 3.8
across 166,000+ reviews
ESPNBet Welcome Offer
Bet Anything, Get $150 in Bonuses
ESPN Bet has officially launched and features an enticing “Bet Anything, Get $150 in Bonus Bets” signup offer. Simply download the app, create an account (you’ll have to provide some personal information to verify your identity), place a bet on any market and your new account will be credited with 6 $50 bonus bets.
- NOTE: You must manually enter ESPN BET Promo Code “SOUTH” in order to claim your bonus bets offer.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM leverages its historic brand in the gaming space to bring a top notch sportsbook and online casino offering to users in the U.S. BetMGM now has years under its belt in iterating on its product and learning what its users want from its app. BetMGM has a wide range of markets for wagering on all U.S. sports.
Availability
U.S. Online Sports Betting Markets
App Stores
iOS / Apple • 4.8
across 220,000+ reviews
BetMGM Welcome Offer
First Bet $1,500 Offer
New BetMGM users can unlock a First Bet offer up to $1,500 in value. Join the platform and BetMGM will give you a second crack after your first wager, up to $1,500 in value.
Real App Recommendations From Real Sports Bettors
Bob Wankel (@Bob_Wankel)
Die-hard sports fan, serious sports bettor
Bob’s Favorite: DraftKings Sportsbook
I’m located in New Jersey, which was the first state to legalize online sports betting, so I’ve had plenty of time to try all of the different sports betting apps — try them a lot.
I’ve given PoinstBet, FanDuel, and Caesars some play at different points, but I always come back to DraftKings. I love the FaceID feature because I bounce back and forth from texts, to X (Twitter), and Safari a lot. I’m constantly looking at live odds and cash outs, and I just find DraftKings gets me into and out of the app the easiest.
I also think DraftKings does the best job in terms of player loyalty rewards. They’re good at giving you something each day that lines up with the sports calendar. Profit boosts that usually range between 50 and 100 on primetime NFL games, Sunday NFL, daily MLB action, and college football weekends has basically made it a must-play. The big difference here is that it’s not always about about Same-Game Parlays, which I don’t seem to like as much as everybody else. There’s a lot of single market stuff that I take advantage.
The other part though is beyond the daily stuff available to all players, they will provide a few different exclusive rewards with higher bet limits (usually $100) to more loyal customers. For instance, I’m what they call a Silver Tier player, which is a pretty aggressive bettor, but not a whale or anything like that. So to reward my activity, they drop additional incentives right on the app home page next to all the other offers.
This weekend, they gave me three 3 separate 33 percent NHL profit boosts, 3 separate MLB SGP boosts, and a chance to claim $600 for NFL bets through placing live tennis wagers.
For me, I like the look and feel of the app — and when you pair those things up with the bonuses, DraftKings gets my business.
2025 Update
As sports betting continues to evolve in 2025, there continues to be an intense focus of crafting rewards tailored to each player’s individual user experience, and as the the focus in long-established markets shifts from acquisition to retention, premiums are being placed on ways to incentivize and cultivate loyalty. From a personal perspective, I’ve used different sportsbooks heavily over the past three years, often focusing on one specific app for prolonged periods. I’ll typically follow the flow of where I think the best odds boosts and no-sweat bets are. That said, when I exit an app for a period of time, I’m often incentivized with deposit reload bonuses, and in the case of one operator, I’ve received direct communication (text message and email) from a human representative about player rewards in an effort to re-earn my business
DraftKings Sportsbook Promo
Bet $5, Get $200
Die-hard sports fan, serious sports bettor
Matt’s Favorite: bet365 Sportsbook
I use a lot of sportsbook apps, but I’m also very into line shopping. Historically, the book I’ve used the most is DraftKings for the following reasons. DK has truly valuable all-user bonuses out every day. Their sportsbook is organized the best. I don’t have to waste a bunch of time scrolling through to find the bet I want.
They are one of the best when it comes to offering safe alternate lines (sometimes referred to as “milestones”) to use in SGPs. For example, I can take Mahomes to throw for 225+ to boost up my SGP odds with a pretty safe bet. Also, they don’t charge too much vig.
I have also used the following books often:
FanDuel. They are the best for offering ladder opportunities. When you think a player is going to have a huge game, FanDuel will provide you more opportunities to bet that versus most of the competition.
Bet365. They give out a 30% SGP boost for a specific game every day that doesn’t have overly strict conditions to be met. They also have some of the lowest vig on many of their markets.
2025 Update
Heading into 2025, I have found myself drifting more and more towards bet365. Their organization of betting markets could still be better, but they are pretty consistently offering the best odds on the bets I want to make. They have also improved their milestones option for NFL, moving from multiples of 25 for rushing and receiving yards to multiples of 10, while passing yards went from multiples of 50 to multiples of 25. This has made bet365 into arguably the best sportsbook for playing alt lines.
bet365 Sportsbook Promo
Bet $5, Get $150
How You Should Choose The Right Sportsbook App
What really matters when choosing a sportsbook app? Aren’t all of them kind of the same? These are common questions from users, and our experience will help guide you here.
The app experience
What matters in terms of the user experience with the app itself? You can take our word for what apps are well built and have a good user experience, but here are some things to consider and test yourself:
- How is the onboarding process? Was it a nightmare getting from the point of first beginning your registration process and actually getting money in your account so you can place a wager? The major operators work hard to remove friction and make this a pleasant experience.
- Is the app “snappy”? For me, this is a big one. If I’m going to use an app every day for sports betting, I want the thing to be fast and responsive. There’s nothing worse than using an app daily where you have to wait a second every time you tap an action on the app interface.
- How is the navigation? Can you find your favorite bets quickly and easily? Or do you have to do 5-6 taps just to find a bet you already know you want to make? The best apps will have easy ways to jump to key areas of the app. Finding the balance between a wide breadth of options while maintaining navigational ease and simplicity can be tough, but the best sportsbooks shine here.
Withdrawal Methods and Speed
Most major U.S. sportsbook apps now have a wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods as well as withdrawal speeds within 24-48 hours. Online methods such as PayPal and Play+ accounts can be the faster options. Moreover withdrawing to a debit card can often take less than 24 hours.
Note that there can be a difference between the posted withdrawal times and what users often experience. For example, many users on the major sportsbooks report receiving funds on PayPal withdrawals within a few hours.
Sportsbook Loyalty Programs
As you can read in our app recommendations below, many of our experts really enjoy the rewards that they obtain through regular use on sportsbooks such as DraftKings.
With the launch of Fanatics Sportsbook, loyalty programs now have yet another interesting wrinkle. Through Fanatics, you can now earn FanCash which can be redeemed for sports betting merchandise via Fanatics.com. Will sports fans prefer this loyalty program to, say, Caesars Sportsbook which has a more traditional brick-and-mortar rewards program? Time will tell.
Here are some comparisons across the various sportsbook loyalty programs:
The 2025 Betting Apps Landscape
While much of the industry talk in recent years was that of discussing the dominance by the big two players DraftKings and FanDuel and whether newer, well resourced companies such as Fanatics and ESPNBet could put a dent in the market share of the largest betting apps, it’s possible that the competitive pressure might be coming from a different direction. That direction are the new crop of dfs apps that have become wildly popular around the country.
Companies such as Sleeper, Underdog, PrizePicks and others have built large businesses mostly out of users that don’t have access to the legal real money betting apps that we mention on this page. The fantasy betting apps seem hyper focused on the non-legal betting states for multiple reasons. First, this is the obvious bucket of customers for these apps, as “daily fantasy” is legal in these states and “sports betting” is not. Second, some of the DFS players have long-term sports betting ambitions (see Underdog below) and by building up large customer bases in future legal states, they can penetrate these markets and have a foothold for when betting legalizes.
So is daily fantasy sports betting? That’s a topic that is a hot one and won’t go away any time soon. The daily fantasy picks component of the daily fantasy apps indeed will remind you of prop bets and parlays, but these apps are able to exploit rules that permit this. It’s picks, not bets. Sure? Either way, these operators absolutely have the attention of the big players like DraftKings (who launched a Pick6 product not too long ago). Not only are these fantasy apps possibly eating into the sports betting market share, but they might hamper future growth in future legal states because of the user bases they are building up in the meantime.
It’s not crazy to speculate that future competitive pressures for FanDuel and DraftKings will mostly come from players like Underdog, Sleeper and PrizePicks. These companies are building huge user bases that indeed crossover into the sports betting demographic, are well resourced and laser focused on building products and apps that delight their users.
We already have a glimpse into how these platforms can transition into sports betting…
Underdog Sports launched its sportsbook app on March 11, 2024 in the state of North Carolina. As expected, Underdog built an app with a full tech stack built in-house and introduced a user-friendly interface much more akin to fantasy apps than you might see in traditional sportsbook apps. The North Carolina launch was a quiet one and Underdog has since pulled back a bit. Rather than enter new sports betting markets, the company seems content to move into new state launches (such as Missouri) along with other major sportsbooks (similar to what occurred in North Carolina). Underdog has also indicated that they play to have a single app for both fantasy contents and sports betting, rather than the North Carolina approach which required a separate app. We think this makes a ton of sense.
We have high hopes for the Underdog sports betting app for multiple reasons. First, the company has proven to be an excellent product-focused company. The Underdog Fantasy app has long been one of the best. Secondly, Underdog’s CEO has a clear vision on what he thinks will differentiate the company and its product from the “European-inspired” sportsbooks that dominated U.S. sports betting thus far. Are there really enough ways to differentiate a sports betting interface? Is it enough to make people leave their trusted DraftKings app and jump over to Underdog? Time will tell.
How to Download a Mobile Betting App?
The best way to win real money with the thousands of bets available on all sites listed above is by downloading their mobile betting app for on-the-go access.
Apple
For Apple Products such as an iPhone or iPad, simply navigate to the App Store and type your sportsbook of choice. Once you’ve found the app, click “Get”.
You can check out reviews and screenshots for each app on the app store. In addition, it’ll show you the last update the app received and the version of the app in its section.
Google Play (Android)
The Google Play Store is similar to the Apple App Store. Simply look up your desired sportsbook and click “install.” Similar to the App Store, you can check out reviews, screenshots for the App and the number of downloads.
Sports Betting Industry
Sports betting is currently legal in 38 U.S. states in some form or fashion. States such as Nebraska and Wisconsin have legalized betting in retail locations, but not online. Others allow it on tribal lands only while some don’t allow it at all.
Moreover, every sportsbook listed above is not available in all 38 states where betting is legal. DraftKings is only available in 25 of those 38 states while bet365 is available in 10 states. Fanatics, to drive the point home, is legal in 21 U.S. states.
Legalization of mobile betting and online betting apps for sports betting started in 2018 with the Supreme Court striking down PASPA, the law that made sports betting illegal in the United States. New Jersey and Pennsylvania legalized sports betting soon after and year after year, legality of online betting increased.
The legalization of sports betting is up to the states to decide, and you’d be surprised to find that a lot of lawmakers on either side of the aisle would rather accept it than shun it. The tax implications alone provide great revenue for states looking to legalize online betting apps, and legalization has garnered bi-partisan support across a number of states still campaigning for legalization today.
In some states, such as Minnesota, lawmakers simply cannot agree on how to implement online betting, which kills any attempted bill from reaching the voting public. As you can imagine it’s a highly complicated process that requires compliance with the DGE and CCC (Division of Gaming Enforcement and Casino Control Commission), tax rate and number of licenses allowed in the state.
States such as Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Minnesota could be next in line to legalize sports betting. But for now, it’s all a waiting game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best sports betting app?
The best sportsbook app is likely going to be determined by personal preference. All of the major sportsbooks listed on this page have achieved a certain level of quality and reliability. DraftKings and FanDuel are the two most widely used online sportsbooks in the U.S. currently. However, many new sportsbook users enjoy the simple and clean interface of ESPN BET, Underdog and even Hard Rock Bet.
What states are betting apps legal in?
Online sports betting is available in the following U.S. states: 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, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
The major sportsbooks are live in all or most of the above states, while other sportsbooks are live in a select group of states.
Can I download a mobile betting app from the Apple app store and Google Play store?
Most sportsbooks are available on both app stores. Underdog Sportsbook is a new app and is only available on iOS currently.
How many sportsbook apps should I install and use?
This will depend on your sports betting style. Some users like to “line shop” across multiple apps. Others enjoy taking advantage of promos and bonuses across multiple sportsbooks.
What security features do sports betting apps offer?
Major sportsbooks, such as those listed on this page, take measures to ensure your date stays safe, including encryption, firewalls and password-protected servers. Rest assured, your personal info is safe with these sportsbooks.
How do live betting and streaming work on sports betting apps?
Sportsbooks offer live odds that adjust and change with every passing minute in an ongoing sporting event. In sports such as basketball where the tide can turn very quickly, a line can shift dramatically after any given run.
Do sports betting apps offer casino games too?
Some sports betting apps, such as DraftKings, offer casino games right on the app in states where it is legal to do so. However, this is not a universal option for all sportsbooks.
How easy is it to deposit and withdraw funds on sports betting apps?
It depends on the sportsbook, but it’s almost always a simple process. Most sportsbooks take debit/credit cards for withdrawing winnings and depositing funds, which is the most popular among active bettors. Other options include PayPal, Play+ and online banking.
Do sports betting apps send notifications and alerts?
You can set up alerts and notifications with most major sportsbooks, which can alert you to specials being run that day, injury reports and more.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
