With a lengthy history and a huge fanbase, Major League Baseball (MLB) is a mainstay of the sports betting landscape in the US. The size of the betting market in baseball’s biggest league makes it one of the most popular sports
MLB Betting – Top Five US Sportsbooks
The steady increase in the number of states legalizing sports betting has led to an ever-growing number of online sportsbooks looking to secure your business. Each state that permits online gambling then selects a number of locations that are allowed to receive a license, this is usually a process that requires an online casino to make tangible connections to a bricks-and-mortar facility within the state borders.
It’s therefore crucial for you to know where is best to sign-up in order to make sure that you select a trustworthy and reputable establishment that offers strong promotions and bonuses, as well as a good customer service network and a variety of payment methods.
We are here to help you make that informed decision and with that in mind, here are the top five US Sportsbooks you should consider when it comes to MLB betting.
Draftkings
DraftKings Sportsbook was at first synonymous with fantasy football but is now one of the largest sportsbooks in the country. The level of betting opportunities here is high and the odds and bets available are very wide and especially so when it comes to Major League Baseball.
BetMGM
If you are looking for a sportsbook that makes it easy for you to sign-up, deposit, and collect your winnings, BetMGM Sportsbook is the brand for you. They offer one of the widest range of payment methods around and their service in this regard is speedier than the rest.
PointsBet
When it comes to finding the sportsbook with the best odds, especially in MLB, then PointsBet is known to excel. They also supplement this with great promos for the big games that attract even more attention.
Bet365
For experienced members of the sports betting community, Bet365 Sportsbook has a lot to offer. Whether it’s the ability to bet on just about any baseball game you like (worldwide) to a great variety in the types of bets (props and futures in particular) then this could be the place for you.
888
If what you value in your sports betting journey is a smooth, fast, and easy-to-use interface that makes everything simple and effective, then 888 Sportsbook could be the right option to select. Also, you can take advantage of their superb bonuses.
Where is MLB Betting Legal?
The list of US states that allow sports betting increases almost every month and it can sometimes be hard to keep on top of where it’s currently legal to bet on Major League Baseball. To make things easier, here is a list of states you can currently legally bet on MLB, and this list will update on a regular basis to further aid your search.
Rhode Island
New Mexico
Arkansas
Iowa
New York
Oregon
Illinois
Montana
MLB Guide
Baseball has a rich and lengthy history in the United States, the first teams were formed in the late 1860s, and the MLB is the very pinnacle of the game, worldwide. It has an audience in the millions both in the US and beyond and is a huge part of the sports betting tradition as a result.
In 1901 the American and National Leagues were formed but were kept separate from each other, save for All-Star encounters and exhibition games.
Today’s MLB is made up of 30 teams, 29 of which are in the US and 1 (the Toronto Bluejays) based in Canada. Each team plays a massive 162 games in their regular season before the top five in each division make it into the postseason, with four clubs playing wildcard games to make it into the division series classes.
Regular season traditionally runs from March to late September with the postseason following that.
The season finale World Series sees the League championship winner play out a best of seven series, which is watched worldwide and is one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the sporting calendar.
As well as the MLB season you can look to make the most of the MLB All-Star game when it comes to your MLB betting plans, and this takes place in mid-July.
MLB World Series Winners
2010 San Francisco Giants
2011 St. Louis Cardinals
2012 San Francisco Giants
2013 Boston Red Sox
2014 San Francisco Giants
2015 Kansas City Royals
2016 Chicago Cubs
2017 Houston Astros
2018 Boston Red Sox
2019 Washington Nationals
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB Betting Types
Major League Baseball is a sporting division that is jam-packed with betting opportunities and there are several different popular types of bets. You’ll find important educational information on each of them below.
Moneyline Bets
This is the most common form of betting on MLB action and is essentially a bet on the outcome of a single game between two teams. One of the teams is deemed the favorite and is represented by a plus and the underdog by a minus, as in the example below.
Seattle Mariners (-150)
LA Dodgers (+130)
Here you are backing an outright winner for the game. It will take a bet of $150 on Seattle to return you $100 whereas a $100 bet on the Dodgers would net you $130. Moneyline betting is the bread and butter of pretty much all US sports betting and even more so for the MLB season due to the sheer number of games in an MLB season.
Runline Bets
A runline bet is effectively the baseball equivalent of a point spread and here you are backing a side to win by a certain amount of runs, depending on whether that side is the favorite or not. One side is handicapped by a runline and the other is aided. You’ll see an example below.
Red Sox +1.5 (-160)
Yankees -1.5 (+140)
Here you are betting on the likelihood of a side winning if they receive a 1.5 run (effectively meaning two run cushion) headstart and similarly if the favorite is so strong that you are willing to back them even though they start with a 1.5 run (two-run) disadvantage.
This type of bet is very useful in a match where there is a perceived favorite of sufficient stature to render a straight moneyline bet somewhat counter-productive.
Parlays
Parlay bets can prove to be hugely profitable but come at a very high risk of failure. A Parlay bet is essentially an accumulator bet that requires you to predict a series of bets and hoping they all come to fruition.
A parlay usually ranges from 2 to 13 bets and each successful bet carries its winnings on to the next and therefore the possibility of winning big is increased. However the chances of successfully predicting that many outcomes are very low and this is the type of bet that only experienced MLB bettors should attempt.
Prop Bets
Proposition bets, or prop bets, are a fun way to bet on a match in inventive ways that don’t necessarily require you to be hugely knowledgeable about the game. You are backing a one-off event, such as which team will hit the first run. Which specific player hit a home run.
The variety of prop bets varies wildly depending on the specific sportsbook and are very popular in massive games such as the World Series games.
MLB Futures
Futures betting is very big in MLB and is a type of long-term bet that can help retain your interest in a team, or player, across the entire season in some cases. These bets are popular with fans of a specific team as it could be your way of backing your team and are also simple and easy to lay.
In-Game Live Betting
A relatively new way of really making the most of your betting experience, ‘in-game’ betting is precisely as it sounds. Here you can bet as the game is being played and the types of bets you can place are numerous and relate, usually, to occurrences that are happening in real-time.
For instance, you might bet on the next batter being out in a certain manner or whether he’ll walk or hit a home run. When it comes to finding a good sportsbook for this type of betting you’ll have to make sure that the interface for live betting is a smooth and fast one, otherwise attempts to place a bet may be thwarted by the technology on offer.
MLB Betting FAQs
Is It Legal to Bet On MLB Online?
Yes, it is. If sports betting is legal in the state you are currently physically located in, then you can place an online bet on Major League Baseball.