The rise of legal NFL betting in the US has been a remarkable story. For decades, the NFL organization appeared to be firmly against the idea of bettors being able to wager legally on their games, but that all changed in 2018, when the Supreme Court cleared the way for legalization.
As states across the nation legalized sports betting, the NFL changed its position and began to embrace sports betting. And as one of the world’s premier sports competitions, the NFL has proved to be incredibly popular with US sports bettors. The total number of people wagering on the NFL is likely to pass the 70 million mark by the end of the 2023-24 season.
Not surprisingly, there is huge competition among the sportsbooks of the US to get a share of that NFL betting market. This is great news for sports bettors, as the best NFL betting sites try to outdo one another with player-friendly features, bonuses and competitive odds.
Just as with NFL teams, some sportsbook sites have proved to be more successful and popular than others. Here is our list of which we believe to be the best NFL sportsbooks, ranked by popularity.
DraftKings
One of the big names in US sports betting, DraftKings originally rose to prominence as a leading provider of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) competitions, in the days before legal sports betting. While the DraftKings site still offers DFS opportunities to its bettors, it is also now one of the leading NFL betting sites in the US. In fact, in a survey conducted by Statista in July 2023, it was found to be the most popular sports betting site, preferred by 56% of betting respondents.
It also claims a significant chunk of the US sports betting market, at around 25%, and is active across an impressive 19 states. While it covers all of the main US and international sports events, the NFL is the focus of much of its betting activity, and it offers one of the biggest ranges of NFL betting markets that you will find, along with regular promotions linked to the NFL.
DraftKings is particularly well known for its excellent prop betting and live betting markets, including its coverage of Sunday night football games, and for regularly being the first sportsbook site to offer prices on the big futures markets. The sportsbook has also shown its commitment to the NFL by signing sponsorship deals with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants.
BetMGM
BetMGM has been able to leverage its recognizable casino brand name and become a significant player in the sport betting sector, extending its reach beyond even the likes of DraftKings to provide NFL and other sports betting services in 24 states.
This is a sportsbook operator that has gone “all-in” on the NFL, not only by signing promotional deals with no fewer than four NFL franchises – the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions – but also by offering NFL fans a unique, tailored betting service that allows a bettor to personalize NFL betting by choosing a team to follow.
Like DraftKings, BetMGM provides an excellent range of NFL bonus offers and a huge selection of NFL betting markets. It is particularly notable for the high quality of its mobile platform, which runs smoothly across all operating systems and offers full access to all BetMGM’s betting features.
BetRivers
BetRivers may not have quite the same name recognition as the previous two sportsbooks on this list but it has earned its place as one of the top NFL betting sites in the US, offering NFL wagers across 16 states, from Arizona to West Virginia – not to mention its partnership with the Chicago Bears.
Two aspects of the BetRivers NFL betting site really stand out. The first is the user-friendly layout and design that makes it easy for NFL bettors of any level of experience to find the markets and the betting features that they are looking for.
The other aspect worth noting is the competitive nature of the site’s NFL odds – you will often find that BetRivers provides the best odds on several NFL markets. With a range of unique, NFL-focused betting promotions available to BetRivers customers, this is one of the best NFL sites around.
Unibet
Part of the Kindred Group, the Unibet NFL site is an international sports betting brand that is fast establishing itself as one of the major players in US sports betting.
Unibet has signed promotional deals with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, and it provides one of the most comprehensive NFL betting platforms you will find in the US. Every betting angle is covered for all of the season’s games, and it offers some of the most popular in-play betting markets, supported by excellent live streaming.
The site shines particularly strongly around the time of the Super Bowl, with a big selection of NFL-related promotions, including price boosts and other offers.
Desert Diamond Sports
Desert Diamond Sports does not compete on a national stage and is a far smaller betting operation than those mentioned above, but it is a perfect example of a smaller NFL operator delivering a high-quality, unique NFL betting experience.
This site is only available to sports bettors based in Arizona, so obviously has a limited appeal, but if you are able to use the site, you will be able to enjoy an impressive array of NFL-related promotions. Thanks to its partnership with the Arizona Cardinals, this includes tickets to Cardinals games.
It provides extremely competitive odds across all of the main NFL betting markets for all games, and it is particularly notable for the high quality of customer support that it offers, with multiple contact methods and 24/7 customer service.
Conclusion
Choosing the right NFL betting site is a matter of personal preference but we have highlighted above five of the very best NFL sportsbooks that set the standard for NFL betting in the US. Whichever site you choose, however, remember to only ever wager with licensed sportsbooks and bet within your limits at all times, so that you can ensure you are betting safely.