Sports betting is an ever-growing industry, and every new year brings new betting adventures to embark on. Whether you’re a new bettor trying to decide where to start betting or an established punter looking to switch up the action, there are lots of sportsbooks out there waiting to onboard you. All you need to do is take your pick.
This article is a detailed guide to finding the best betting sites in 2025, as it covers 10 different factors to look out for and how to assess a sportsbook using these criteria.
Table of Contents
Sports & betting markets
Having extensive coverage of various sports is a great feature, but don’t simply judge sportsbooks based on the quantity of sports. A more laser-focused site may provide better quality than a jack of all trades. What you should be concerned with is whether or not the sportsbook offers the sports you enjoy betting on, and how deep the lines provided on the said sport are.
Mobile usability
The mobile betting trend is going to continue on in 2025, and any sportsbook worth its salt must have a well-developed service available for mobile users. Whether it’s a mobile app or mobile site, the best sportsbooks must have a friendly and intuitive user interface on mobile devices.
Customer support
If you don’t want to get stranded when you have an inquiry or a technical issue, then make sure your chosen sportsbook has multiple contact channels and a team that’s always on standby to provide prompt and efficient assistance. If a sportsbook doesn’t have fast and reliable customer support, it’s a sign they don’t value customers as they should.
Odds
The difference between odds at sportsbooks is often very small, but in the long run, better prices will rake in much larger profit margins. So, it’s essential to go for sites that have the best odds. Based on the American odds format, you’ll want the values to be lower for odds with the negative coefficient and higher for those with the positive coefficient.
Bonuses
Bonuses like free bets, deposit match offers and bet insurance all help to boost your betting experience at online sportsbooks. So you should look for sites that provide many of these offers both for new players and existing customers. To find the best bonuses, watch for promo codes such as the BetMGM bonus code provided by SportyTrader. This unlocks a BetMGM welcome bonus of up to $1,500 in refunded bets, claimable on Sportytrader using the promo code STYVIP.
When assessing bonuses, it’s also important to check the wagering requirements and other associated terms and conditions. Make sure the terms are reasonable enough for you and offer you fair chances of successfully claiming the reward.
Payment methods
It’s crucial to have reliable payment methods for depositing and withdrawing safely at the sportsbook. The best methods should be well-known brands that are safe and preferably fast (so that payouts are cleared in the shortest possible time). The accessibility of the methods is paramount since you want payment methods that are not restricted where you live and that are easy to access.
Live betting
Live betting has become a vital part of today’s sports betting experience. The live betting coverage should be extensive, and there should be high-quality live odds. Also, check how responsive the live sportsbook. If the real-time delivery of odds is smooth and seamless or if it’s glitchy and difficult to lock in live odds. Live streaming is a welcome plus.
Cash-out
Modern sportsbooks offer lots of features, and not all features are available at all sites. However, one feature that should not be lacking is the cashout feature. Cashout is very advantageous for bettors because it allows you to cut losses on a losing bet and lock in your wins while the game is still in play.
Reputation & reviews
Find out what real bettors have to say about any sportsbook you wish to join. If the majority are happy with the experience, you’ll likely have a similar experience and vice versa. If it’s a new sportsbook, sites like SportyTrader are always quick to bring the latest sportsbook reviews (after they’ve been tested by the experts) to help you in making the best decisions.
License and regulation
Only sportsbooks with a valid license and regulated by a reputable authority are worth your time and money. So, the first thing to look out for is whether there’s a licensing logo and who oversees the operations of the sportsbook from a legal standpoint. One of the benefits of a valid license is that the sportsbook is obligated to provide top-notch security and responsible gambling tools, among other player-centric efforts.
The best sportsbook for you may not be the best for another bettor. Everyone has their needs and preferences, and you’ll get what feels like a personalized betting experience if you join those sites that cater to yours.
