How to open a sportsbook account

Setting up a sports betting account with a US-based sportsbook shouldn’t be too difficult. As long as you are in a state where online sports betting is legal it shouldn’t take you longer than a few minutes.

Setting up a sports betting account by state

First things first, you need to know if you are actually in a state where online sports betting is legal. This might sound obvious but states are legalizing sports betting faster than Bo Jackson in the 40-yard-dash. Currently, the following states have legalized sports betting and have sportsbooks already set up:

Now, in NJ and PA, all you need to do is have a valid ID and the internet and you are good to go. However, in Nevada, you will need to register and deposit money in person at the sportsbook or a partner.

Frequently asked questions when setting up an account

What ID do I need to register with a sportsbook?

This varies by state and by the sportsbook. In Nevada, you will need to present yourself at a physical location. In NJ and PA you will usually be able to sign up with a valid address and cell number. The sportsbook will read your IP address to geolocate you and see if you are in the right state.

Do I have to be in a certain state to create a sportsbook account?

Yes! You have to be in a state where online sports betting is legal. The Sportsbook should be able to geolocate you and send you to the right site if you are in a state where sports betting is legal.

Can I set up a sports betting account online in NJ?

Yes. Online sports betting has been legal in NJ since 2018.

Can I set up a sports betting account online in PA?

Yes. Online sports betting is now legal in PA

Can I set up a sports betting account online in Nevada?

You can bet online in Nevada, but to set up a sports account you will need to register at the sportsbook or a partner in person.

Registering with a sportsbook in the US

The first part of the process is not that different from signing up to anything online. You will need to provide basic information such as:

Your name
Your address
Your cell phone number
Your date of birth
An e-mail address

You won’t need to prove you are in the state because the sportsbook will geolocate you to prove you are physically in the state.

Once you have completed this process you can move onto creating a login:

Enter a username
Chose a password

Ok, so not exactly rocket science, but the next stage does get a little more complicated.

Registering a payment method

Unlike e-commerce sites, you will need to actually place money into your sportsbook account, which you can then bet with. This means to complete the registration process you will need to have successfully deposited money into your account. This will also allow you to collect your sign up bonus.

In Nevada, you will need to deposit money into your account in person. Although this might be a pain in the butt, it also means that once you are there things should go pretty smoothly. It also allows you to remain more in control of how much you are spending on a sports bet. Remember once the money is in, you can bet online like normal.

In other states, the methods of payment can vary between sportsbooks. At this point is essential to check if your bank allows transfers to sportsbooks. If it does not, then this rules out the following payment methods:

Visa
Mastercard
Bank transfer

If you can’t deposit money using these methods then you can look at other payment services. Each sportsbook will display what payment methods they accept. These can include:

PayPal
Neteller
ACH/e-check

At the registration stage, you should also check if you can withdraw by the same method as you deposit. Although you will not be withdrawing at this stage, you need to know that you can get your money out in the future. Some sportsbooks can, for example, offer PayPal as a deposit method but not as a withdrawal method.

Collecting your welcome bonus

Now, you have reached the fun part, collecting your bonus! Every sportsbook in the US are offering welcome, or sign-up bonuses as a way to lure the millions of potential customers. This means that once you are registered and you have deposited your first amount of money, you will receive your bonus.

The welcome bonuses can come in a number of different forms:

No Deposit Bonus: This sounds too good to be true, and it often is. A no deposit bonus means that before you even deposit money, the sportsbook you have registered with will give you bonus bets just for registering. We have not seen a no-deposit bonus above $20.

There is no doubt that these deposits can be of great value. However, they often require you to turn over the bonus a certain number of times, before the money is really yours. This means that if you win with the bonus bets, you then need to win again and again with that money until you have fulfilled the turnover requirement. Some sportsbooks require you to turn over the bonus more than 15 times!

Second Chance bet: This is effectively insurance for your first bet. It allows you to place a wager and get your original stake back if it loses. This will be in the form of a bonus bet. But usually, with these bets, there is only a 1x turnover requirement.

Matched deposit bonus: This means that your sportsbook will match the amount you first deposit in the form of bonus bets. So, if you were to deposit $20, they will give you a $20 bonus bet. There is, of course, a cap on the amount you place as a first deposit, but they can go as high as $200!