Sports fans listen up: if you’re still placing bets in a browser, it’s time to make the switch to one of the web’s best sports betting apps. Sure, I was sceptical too, but I promise it’ll be worth your while.
Sports betting apps are all the rage right now, with some big-name bookies doing the majority of their biz through them. They’re not a novelty, come-and-go solution, either, but instead have the potential to change how you bet for good. This guide will cover all the things you need to know – including the best sportsbook apps as chosen by me.
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Come on – really? Unless you’ve been living under a big ol’ rock for the past, I don’t know, decade or so, then you should be familiar with the concept of mobile betting apps. Still nothing? OK, OK, then let me spell it out for you.
Before I do that, though, it’s worth touching on the astronomic rise and rise of mobile sports betting in recent years, which goes some way to explaining why the best sports betting apps have racked up literally billions of downloads between them.
Recognising the freedom that comes from having a full list of fixtures and betting markets at their fingertips, it’s safe to say that sports fans have taken to mobile sportsbooks like ducks to water. There are, of course, myriad benefits to backing your fave teams, players, and fighters via a mobile betting platform, with sheer convenience being the prime advantage here.
Sports betting brands know this, and so have been quick to capitalise on the emergence of smartphone tech as a means of targeting prospective and existing customers. Hell, some of the biggest sportsbook brands had dropped a dedicated app within the first few months of global smartphone proliferation – such was their confidence that mobile betting apps would be the next big thing.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the emergence of smartphone betting apps changed the game in the world of sports gambling. For the first time, sports fans could place their bets in just a few quick taps, and all in the palm of their hand from anywhere in the world.
Now, the vast majority of reputable sports betting sites have added an app to their offering, leaving bettors with a decision to make about the best sports betting apps for them. Happily, that’s something I can definitely help with because lord knows I’ve spent enough time testing and reviewing sports betting apps to be able to recognise the good from the bad.
The first thing I’d say on this question is: how long have you got?
Sportsbook apps aren’t made equal. Sure, you could say that some are better than others, but really, it’s more a case of comparing the different features and functions they offer to decide which is right for you.
Sorry if that sounds a little ambiguous. But with so many excellent mobile sports betting apps out there, it’s almost impossible to single out a favourite.
Instead, I’ve opted for the cheater’s way out by selecting several brands which offer excellent mobile betting apps. You can check out my top picks in the banners around this page, along with some of the latest welcome bonuses from the brands in question.
In the meantime, let’s turn our attention to some of the features, services, and functionality that I typically look for from the best sports betting apps.
A sportsbook app’s built-in features can make or break your betting experience. After all, what’s the point in downloading a smartphone app – taking up precious data on your device in the process – if it doesn’t offer a comprehensive experience that’s comparable to the full desktop version?
With that in mind, here are some of the features I look for from mobile sports betting apps, along with where they sit on my mobile sportsbook priority list.
| Sports betting app feature | Key details | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| New customer registration | Having the ability to sign up with a new betting brand via their app is surprisingly convenient. It’s frustrating having to visit a website to go form-filling – I for one would much rather do it straight from the app’s welcome screen. | Nice to have |
| Bonuses and promotions | Redeeming bonuses is a fundamental part of what makes online sports betting so darn exciting. So, I think it’s essential that the best sports betting apps provide this functionality, without the need to dip into your browser and claim promos in a roundabout way. | Essential |
| Security and safety protocols | One of the main benefits of using mobile apps vs standard web browsers is the additional layer of security they offer. For instance, some apps require a password or biometrics at login, which helps to keep your data and account safe. Thus, I place security pretty high on my priority list. | Essential |
| Wide range of betting markets | What good is a mobile betting app if it doesn’t offer a complete range of bet markets in the palm of your hand? For me, this is the ultimate mobile sportsbook wishlist item, and something I’d encourage you to check out before joining a particular brand. | Essential |
| Live bet functionality | One of the principal perks of having a sports betting emporium at your fingertips is to place on-the-fly wagers – possibly even during live games and matches. That’s right, some sports betting apps give you the chance to place live in-play bets, with odds reflective of the current state of play in a given match. I wouldn’t say this is a betting app must-have per se, but it’s definitely a nice feature to look out for. | Nice to have |
| In-app customer support | Strong customer support is a non-negotiable for me when selecting my favourite online sportsbooks; you never know when you might need to ask a question or make a request. The best sports betting apps are those that integrate customer service into their offering, preferably in the form of an in-built live chat feature. | Nice to have |
| Choice of mobile-friendly payment options | I don’t know about you but I tend to turn to a handful of mobile-friendly payment facilities when making purchases on my smartphone – particularly the likes of Apple Pay and Google Pay. Plenty of betting apps support these kind of mobile-centric banking options, so you can be assured of stress-free deposits without reaching for your credit or debit card every time. | Essential |
| Intuitive functionality and ease of use | The whole point of using a mobile sports betting app is to enjoy an improved gambling experience. So ease of use and general functionality should sit high at the top of your priority list. A clunky app is a bad app, so don’t waste time downloading any duffers. I tested all the apps in the banners on this page, so you can be sure they offer respectable all-around usability. | Essential |
| Push notifications | Often find yourself forgetting important fixtures? Maybe you’re tired of missing out on the best sportsbook promotions? By downloading a sports betting app, you should be able to enable push notifications, so you’re kept informed about the things that matter to you. | Nice to have |
Generally, I take app reviews posted on the likes of Google Play and Apple Store with a hefty pinch of salt. Why? Well, for a few reasons…
In my opinion, it’s much better to lean on genuine and more comprehensive betting app reviews than those featured in big-name app stores. I, for instance, take a holistic approach to reviewing sportsbook apps, coming at them from the point of view of a regular online sportsbook bettor as well as a new app user.
Before we dive into the ins and outs of downloading and using the world’s best sports betting apps, I think it’s worth covering the good and bad of these handheld gambling platforms. With that in mind, here are the pros and cons you need to consider.
Getting started with new betting sites and apps isn’t difficult by any means. But if you want to enjoy the best possible experience of mobile gambling on Android and Apple devices, I think I can help steer you towards the best apps for your needs.
While most of the best Android sports betting apps are featured in the Google Play Store, I’d recommend downloading them directly from individual brand sites where possible. This typically ensures that you’re downloading the very latest version of an app; it may also make linking your account to a new app simpler, with a QR code or two-factor authentication steps allowing you to connect the two in a few short steps.
It may surprise you to learn that Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store have only recently started allowing online betting brands to list their apps on their services. And this isn’t universal either; they still bar brands from listing their apps in some cases, particularly in regions where strict anti-gambling regulations apply. As such, if you’re struggling to find an app for a brand you like, I’d recommend searching for it in your web browser too.
If you download a sports betting app directly from an app store without registering with the brand first, you need to do some due diligence to make sure it’s legal and fully licensed where you live. Unlike standard betting sites which can feature regional blockers, this isn’t always the case with apps, so pay close attention to any wording and T&Cs that will reveal if you’re permitted to access the app or not.
This tip should go without saying, but it’s worth reiterating in any case. Before downloading any betting app from the web or an app store, make sure it’s actually affiliated with a reputable sports betting brand. I’m sorry to say that there are plenty of bogus apps out there, so I’d hate for you to get stung by downloading dodgy software onto your device.
Sometimes, live betting sites and bookies don’t advertise their best bonuses all that well, whereas other times, you might miss out on the most competitive deals inadvertently. Both these points definitely ring true when using betting apps, where it’s much easier to miss the vital steps needed to claim a welcome bonus. As such, be sure to double-check what your bookie’s latest bonus is or, of course, stop by SportsGambler.
While I’m a big fan of downloadable sportsbook apps, mobile gambling doesn’t begin and end with them. Indeed, it’s absolutely possible to enjoy an immersive sports betting experience in a standard mobile browser, with the likes of Google Chrome, Safari, and alternative providers offering a rock-solid platform through which to place your bets on the move.
In recent times, big-name bookmakers have given their websites a serious overhaul to make sure they work just as well on small screens as they do on desktops. And this is important in the context of online sportsbooks, where users need to navigate reams of information in an intuitive, sensical way.
This new mobile-first approach to online sports betting means that downloading a dedicated sports betting app is scarcely necessary. You can do everything you need right in your default mobile browser, whether that’s redeeming bonuses, making deposits, or withdrawing winnings from betting sites with cash out.
Of course, I’m not saying you shouldn’t use the best sports betting apps, as they still offer some excellent benefits vs their mobile browser counterparts. But if you’re tight on space or reluctant to download any third-party betting apps onto your device, rest assured that it is perfectly possible to place your bets without one.
Following neatly on from the previous section; did you know you can create a shortcut to your favourite mobile betting site and add it to your device’s homescreen? This is a great tip if you want the speed and convenience of an app without downloading one, as it means you can get straight through to your favourite bookmaker in a single tap. Nice!
The process of creating a shortcut to an online betting site couldn’t be simpler, either. Here’s a quick look at what to do on both Safari and Google Chrome mobile browsers…
With this simple hack, you can circumvent the need to download a mobile sports betting app – perfect if you’re short on space or simply don’t see the need for a full standalone version.
Judging by the last 500 words or so, you might suspect that I was actively trying to steer you away from downloading a dedicated sportsbook mobile app, but that’s not the case at all. On the contrary, I can see the value in these lean, future-proof gambling platforms, which on the whole offer a faster and more streamlined experience than their browser-based counterparts.
For me, mobile sports betting is all about speed, convenience, and reliability, and this is what the best sports betting apps offer in abundance. They tend to be more secure than standard mobile browsers, utilising the biometric functionality of your device to keep your bookmaker account on lockdown. And they offer a distraction-free place to play and bet, free from the tabs, pop-ups, and URL bar that can tarnish the experience on the likes of Safari and Chrome.
Sure, sportsbook apps aren’t perfect by any means, and there are plenty of duffers and dodgers out there that I would actively avoid. But if you’re looking to get serious about sports betting and enjoy on-the-go wagering in all its forms, for me, a mobile app is a great way to go.
For a list of recommended betting apps for Android and Apple devices, check out the brands featured in the banners around this page.
Sports betting apps are, of course, free to download from app stores like Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, but you will need to make a deposit to use them – just like you would a regular online sportsbook. Of course, if you qualify to receive a no-deposit bonus as a new sportsbook user, you can redeem this type of bonus and take a sports betting app for what is essentially a free test drive.
There are literally hundreds of sports betting apps available, not all of which are good. The brands featured in the banners on this page offer some of the best apps I’ve encountered, thanks in part to their watertight security, flexible range of betting markets and odds, and general usability.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed a new betting app, the process is exactly the same as it is on a standard web browser. First, you’ll need to register for a new sportsbook account and make a deposit, before browsing the different betting markets and odds available. From there it’s just a case of choosing the odds you like and forming your perfect betting slip.
I’d like to say yes, but that wouldn’t be telling the whole story. While there are dozens of top-rated bookmaker apps available – some of which are featured in the banners on this page – there are plenty of others that are of poor quality, if not downright fraudulent. That’s why a little due diligence and research can go a long way when choosing your favourite mobile betting apps.
Go to BetMGM
Go to BetMGM
