A complete guide to legally betting the NFL online

Welcome to the modern sports era, a place that not only encourages digital engagement at every turn but, in many states across America, also emphasizes the ability to wager on the games in a number of ways.

Once PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018, each individual state was given the ability to determine if and when it would ultimately usher in legal online sports betting. States such as New Jersey (2018) and Pennsylvania (2019) were quick to begin operations, while others like Kentucky and Massachusetts (2023) have launched only more recently — or not at all.

In states where operations are up and running, both casual and intent gamblers know that professional football reigns supreme when it comes to legal online sports betting.

In this guide, follow along for full details on how to currently bet the NFL online.

Location matters. Currently, 38 states offer some form of legal sports wagering, while 26 total states allow sports fans the ability to place wagers from computers and mobile devices.

Here’s a list of the states that currently offer legal online sports betting capabilities:

It’s important to note that a prospective bettor need not be a state resident to participate. A user must simply be of legal age and physically located within a live state’s borders. In other words, an individual is not required to live in a specific state when betting in a legal and live state. It instead boils down to one’s physical location at the time of wagering---which is accurately confirmed by a sportsbook’s geolocation technology.

One the reasons a number of sports fans remain sidelined in the online sportsbook world boils down to uncertainty about this evolving industry. Although television networks and media entities have increasingly normalized sports betting, questions remain regarding legitimacy, app security, and responsible gaming enforcement.

In short, it’s important to know that while legal in many states, online sports betting is not for everybody. For those who do participate, gaining as much information as possible is key. It’s important to set goals, set limits and have a plan in assessing risk tolerance.

While there is true risk that a user may mismanage the sports betting experiences, whether that be in the form of chasing losses or betting beyond an established risk tolerance, there are a number of measures in place to mitigate potential issues.

Sportsbook operators allow bettors to establish “cool down” periods in which users are restricted from placing bets in a given timeframe, while bettors also possess the ability to set financial limits that will restrict a player from going beyond predetermined limits.

From the operator standpoint, legal online sportbook users can be reasonably confident in the overall security and legitimacy of the experience. Given these are regulated markets, state governments have a variety of measures in place to ensure sportsbooks meet the highest standards of security when it comes to storing personal information and holding funds.

To begin, here’s a quick at-a-glance checklist en route to jumping into the legal online sports gambling world:

Although selecting an online sportsbook feels like a fairly easy task, there are some key considerations to assess:

It’s worth noting that some states have more selection in operating sportsbooks than others, but the following operators grade out as market leaders and are generally accessible:

Selecting any of the above sportsbook does not limit future flexibility in playing with a competitor. Since no rule limits a bettor’s sportsbook volume, multiple (or all) of the legal books available in a given state may be utilized. In fact, signing up with at least two sportsbooks is recommended, as it allows a bettor to compare odds.

For instance, one operator may offer “Team A” as a 3.5-point favorite over “Team B”, while another may make the same “Team A” a four-point favorite. In this case, it’s wise for the bettor to use the operator offering the more advantageous spread.

The most commonly understood line is a game’s point spread. This is the number that’s set en route to awarding favorite and underdog status for a single game.

For instance, Joe Namath’s 1968 New York Jets squad stunned the mighty Baltimore Colts en route to taking the first step to creating today’s modern league (post-merger). New York pulled off the 16-7 upset as 18.5-point underdogs.

Therefore, in the point spread realm, New York was the underdog at +18.5, whereas Baltimore represented the favorites at -18.5.

A sports bettor choosing New York would have needed Namath’s team to either win the game outright or lose by fewer than 19 points to win the wager. On the other side, a bettor who took Baltimore’s point spread would need the Colts to defeat the Jets by 19 or more points.

Moreover, odds accompany the point spread letting the bettor know what a possible payout may be. For example, -110 odds are a common one in professional football.

Speaking of the odds, moneylines are all about the odds.

What moneylines do is completely strip the point spread from the equation. Whether betting on the favorite or the underdog, wagering on the moneyline is akin to selecting the winner of the actual game.

What that means is each team’s moneyline will most likely greatly contrast with the other.

Ahead of Super Bowl 58, the Chiefs have been installed in the neighborhood of a +120 moneyline favorite over the 49ers. Betting on and winning with the Chiefs would fetch the sports bettor a $120 payout on a $100 bet.

Perhaps the easiest pro football line to understand is the over-under point total.

A fun alternative way to wager on the action comes in the form of prop bets.

Whether it’s player-specific outcomes like how many yards Patrick Mahomes will throw for in a game or how many receptions Deebo Samuel will finish with, the versatility and overall variety and scope of props continues to grow.

One of the most popular player props these days revolves around touchdown scorers. Some sportsbooks go as far as to allow bettors to wager on a game’s first touchdown, final touchdown, and even have odds on a player scoring a touchdown at any point in the game (anytime touchdown).

Gaining steam more than any other bet type, parlays (particularly same-game parlays) allow bettors to fetch a massive payday in a chainlike matter of events.

Parlays allow online sports gamblers to string together several bets, all of which must win to get to end-result payout. Such payouts are generally much higher due to the lesser odds of completing and winning the parlay.

While parlays typically string together outcomes across multiple games, same-game parlays consist of several outcomes tied together within a single contest. A bettor can select from markets like point spreads, moneylines, point totals and game/player props from a single contest.

Futures markets allow a bettor to wager on longterm outcomes like a team to win a division, conference or championship. Futures markets also apply to outcomes like player awards (MVP, rookie of the year, defensive player of the year, etc.).

No matter the futures category, the appeal is always “value” due to the longer-term nature of the bet. Imagine selecting Houston to make the playoffs last year offseason. The odds that you would have locked in would have been astronomical, thus increasing your payout amazingly.

One of the most popular futures categories is awards. For example, locking in a bet on Lamar Jackson to win the MVP would have been wise, as the Ravens’ signal-caller appears poised to win the award for a second time.

And yes, there are also plenty of player future categories that deal in the statistical columns, such as season passing yards, rushing touchdowns, and receptions.

Win totals are a bit different. Although win totals should be shoved into the futures category, this bucket deals in the over-under game.

Before the season begins, each team is given a win-total projection per over-under variety. So, bettors can bet the over or under on their team’s projected win total, which yet again allows legal online gamblers a chance to lock in much better value.

No matter the online sportsbook or sports betting app that’s chosen, the technology (or platform) is set up in a way that features a “bet slip.”

The bet slip is a digital section of the app or website that allows online sports bettors to organize their online wagers. This way, each wager is neatly stored in one designated area, for safekeeping and total organization.

Of course, actually placing the bet happens after the online sports bettor chooses a sportsbook, signs up with a new account (perhaps with a promo code that provides an early edge on the competition), and makes a first-time deposit. Deposits and withdrawals are organized in the sportsbook’s online cashier part of the website or app.

Legitimacy, convenience, etc.: Although the reasons why online sports betting is extremely popular these days are many, the backbone of its growth is represented in pure legitimacy. Thanks to the PASPA overturn in 2018, sports betting’s reputation morphed from an uncertain and shadowy figure into a burgeoning industry that oozes legality and legitimacy. Due to its legislative and legal nature, each licensed online sportsbook ensures that all bettor information is kept safe and secure, with all financial items (deposit and withdrawal) wholly guaranteed.

Professional football: With neither questioning nor argument, the NFL is the sports betting king. Although it’s been this way for quite some time — predating the historic PASPA strike-down in 2018 — the legalization of sports gambling over the last several years has made it abundantly clear that pro football tops the list.

Betting against the spread: Despite the plethora of existing options, betting against the spread is the most popular professional football wager. Therefore, the point spread is still the most talked about and highlighted pro football betting line in today’s sportsbook industry.

Parlay and/or same-game parlay: Not limited to just pro football, the parlay bet is the trendiest online sports wager today. Technically, although a parlay is considered just a singular wager, it consists of multiple separate bets in combination. Furthermore, the same idea can be applied to just a single game.

The Super Bowl: Without question, professional football’s championship, which results in an outright champion, is by far the most wagered-on sporting event in today’s world. Not only does the big game have the most eyeballs on it, it also has the most money riding on it.

Moreover, these are the books that reign supreme in the online sports betting industry today. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars are also official sportsbook partners of the league.