Online betting for Major League Baseball (MLB) fans has never been so easy or popular, thanks to the vast variety of betting sites available. With so many choices, it can be somewhat of a minefield to determine which site is best suited to meet all your sports betting needs. Read on to explore the legality of online MLB betting and what to look out for when choosing a suitable sportsbook for yourself.
Is MLB online betting legal in the US?
Fortunately, since changes in legislation by the Supreme Court were introduced in 2018, all US states are now personally responsible for legalizing sports betting within their jurisdiction. New Jersey was the first to embrace this welcome change and many soon followed. In fact, around 30 states have joined the sports betting market. Fans will find multiple MLB betting sites available with competitive odds and numerous betting markets. MLB bettors will typically discover special promotions and boosters for sportsbooks that originate from a state with its own home team.
Betting markets
Looking back through history, America’s much-loved pastime has seen its fair share of betting scandals ranging from the antics of the “Black Sox” to the renowned investigations into Pete Rose, three times World Series winner and holder of numerous sporting accolades. However, popularity for the MLB remains solid, with the American Gaming Association (AGA) estimating revenue of $1.1bn since the introduction of online sports betting.
Whether it’s wagering a prop bet on your favorite player or predicting the future winners of the World Series, top online MLB betting sites offer a huge variety of markets to choose from. Let’s take a look at the most common bets you can expect to find:
- Moneylines: The simplest of bet types, choose the team you think will win an MLB game
- Parlays: Combine two or more MLB picks, such as predicting that the Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox will all win their games
- Run lines: Also referred to as a spread bet, wager on the predicted margin of victory or loss of a particular team in a specific MLB game
- Totals: Also known as an over/under bet, predict how many runs will be scored by both teams in one MLB game
- Futures: A long-term bet, such as predicting which team will win their Division, League or the World Series
- Player props: Wager on an individual player’s performance, such as total hits, scoring a home run, stolen bases or strikeouts
- Team props: Wager on the performance of one of the two opposing teams, such as total runs, home runs or total hits
The best online MLB sportsbooks offer live in-game betting. This allows bettors to wager on a game while the game is underway, right down to which team will win the next inning, what the next batter will do with the next pitch and so forth. Most US sportsbooks also offer a mobile betting app to make your bets on the move. The app also enables you to track any live changes, both on the diamond and in the betting odds.
How to choose the best MLB online betting site
When it comes to deciding which MLB betting sites you should use, there are certain key factors that you should look out for. Before making a bet at one site, it’s always advised to have a good look around at the other popular MLB sportsbooks to check for the latest odds and any helpful bonuses or promotions.
Here are some important factors to consider when choosing the best online MLB betting site:
Licensed and regulated: All reputable MLB sites will be licensed by the individual state and based in the US. Check the sportsbook’s main page footer or the terms and conditions for relevant information.
Safety and security: Top US sports betting sites will use SSL encryption technology to protect all sensitive data. Bettors should also have access to safer gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs.
Betting markets: The best MLB sites will have a wide variety of betting options available ranging from moneylines through to complex parlays.
Competitive odds: It’s worth shopping around, as many of the top MLB sportsbooks offer competitive odds in an attempt to attract new bettors away from their competitors.
Live streaming: Top sports betting sites will offer in-play live betting, which enables you to bet while the action unfolds based on up-to-the-minute information.
Bonuses and promotions: The best MLB betting sites will have great bonuses and promotions to offer, such as free bets and deposit match reloads.
Sports markets: Great sports betting sites will not only offer your favorite MLB teams to wager on, but also a wide choice of alternative sporting events such as horse racing, football and golf.
Payment methods: All reputable online betting sites will only offer trusted payment options. These typically include reliable methods, such as PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and Skrill.
Mobile compatibility: For MLB fans on the move, most online sports betting sites offer fully optimized mobile platforms for ease of access. Some may also offer a mobile app for added convenience.
Customer support: The best MLB betting sites will offer 24/7 customer support that is responsive, friendly and knowledgeable which can be contacted via live chat and email.
