Soccer Betting in the USA
After a great run by Team USA in the 2014 World Cup the popularity of soccer has been on the rise in the country. MLS has also seen an increase in fans, as more talented players from Europe make the move to North America including the likes of Jermain Defoe.
Unfortunately, the number of betting sites that accept Americans shrinks daily. I’m here to make sure you make the right decision in choosing an online soccer sportsbook. I’ll ensure you get prompt payouts as well as a large selection of soccer markets to wager on including the very popular English Premier League.
Best Soccer Betting Sites in the USA
| Sportsbook | Visit | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Visit |
| 2 |  | Visit |
| 3 |  | Visit |
How to Choose the Perfect Soccer Sportsbook in America
In the US your choices are limited to begin with. When you add in the fact that a lot of shops have poor processing it leaves us with an even smaller number of qualified candidates. The most important factor when choosing a sportsbook is reputation.
Does the sportsbook have complaints online? That’s the easiest way to determine whether or not a sportsbook is having trouble, but if you don’t have time for that your other option is to trust another handicapper that has industry experience such as myself.
5Dimes and Bovada are our two highest ranked options. 5Dimes ranked #1 in banking and odds while Bovada has a better selection of live soccer betting markets. I’d recommend having an account at both betting sites, as they excel in different categories.
Bovada posts odds on soccer earlier for most leagues than competitors. It’s often possible to jump on poor lines released by Bovada and then arbing the bet later once 5Dimes releases their line on the match although profits will be small due to betting limits.
It’s important to realize that as an American it’s not possible to have the betting selection that UK punters have. US bettors will have the ability to bet on the 1X2 market, Asian handicaps, over/under markets and draw no bet (Shown as a PK spread).
There will also be various 1H markets and for big soccer matches you’ll also be able to bet on a selection of props, but don’t expect to be able to bet on goalscorer markets for most matches. US sportsbooks don’t cover as many soccer markets as UK bookmakers.
USA Sportsbook Deposit & Payout Methods
Depositing and receiving payouts has been difficult for American handicappers for years now. 5Dimes has the best processing in the industry for US bettors while Bovada has strong processing, but a limited number of banking methods to utilize.
A lot of US bettors still use a Visa branded credit card, debit card or prepaid card to fund their sportsbook account. You can deposit to your account for free using Visa. The best free method is with Bitcoin, you can purchase Bitcoin at Coinbase.
Prior to adding Bitcoin, Money Orders were the best method for depositing large amounts (Up to $10K), but now BTC is, as you can deposit up to $25K. Since BTC is a new option for betting on sports, at 5Dimes you can deposit and withdraw with BTC, it is becoming the most popular way for people to bet online, as you have no hassle with banks or credit card companies.
Many Americans have also gotten use to using person2person transfers such as Western Union, Money Gram and Rapid Transfer (Bovada Only). All three services allow you to visit a retail location near your residence and deposit cash directly to your account.
Obviously, you can’t say that the money is being sent for betting. Just say that you’re giving a friend some money and you’ll be fine at checkout. I’ve found some cashiers to be a lot nosier than others, but there really isn’t much they can do.
For payouts your best options is a check at Bovada ($3K Max) with one free check allowed per month. Rapid Transfer is available, but the maximum withdrawal is $800 ($60 Fee), which is brutal. 5Dimes has a lot more options with varying fees.
The best and most in demand payout option at 5Dimes is with Bitcoin, others include certified checks ($40-$80 Fee), money orders and Bank Wires. We do encourage you to look at Bitcoin for betting as it is instant and hassle free, the only problem with it is it is volatile, you could buy $100 today and in 20 minutes it is worth $80 but on the flip side it could easily change to $130 in a day. 5 Dimes use the Bid and Ask prices from www.bitstamp.net to convert BTC to USD and the minimum deposit is just $50 but you can deposit up to $10,000 using Bitcoin.
Is Sports Betting Legal in the United States?
I’m not a lawyer, but in the USA it isn’t illegal for a person to bet on sports online, however, it’s illegal for a betting site to willingly take action from American bettors. Laws are set-up at a state and federal level to prevent betting sites from operating.
Most bettors in the USA will have no problem joining 5Dimes and Bovada although some states won’t be allowed. If you live in NY, Maryland, Washington or a number of other states you may not be allowed to join any betting sites, as it’s illegal at the state level.
Taxes need to be paid on everything in the USA, so obviously you’ll need to claim the money if you’re receiving checks into your bank account all year. In conclusion, millions of Americans bet on sports including soccer online without a problem year-round.