If you’re not a resident of a state that allows sports betting or near a sportsbook but still want to consistently wager, you’re probably going to need to find an online book. As of late 2018, online sports betting has increased nearly 30% in the previous six years. It’s estimated that online sports gambling is currently at its peak of over $24 billion dollars. That’s billion, with a “B”. Shopping online sites when looking for favorable point spreads or juice prices will help your long-term success. Whether you’re an experienced handicapper or just getting started, we’re sharing our ratings of what we believe are the best of the bunch of offshore online sportsbooks. The five online sportsbooks we’ve reviewed have all been active for a minimum of five years and are in good standing with players.
This is not an endorsement of any specific book, although BetCrushers team members may have accounts at one or more of these establishments.
1. Bovada
Founded in 2011, it’s very difficult to find things you won’t like about Bovada’s online sportsbook. The site is designed with the user experience in the forefront and it doesn’t disappoint. Their incorporation of a mobile friendly platform solidified it as a leader in offshore online sports entertainment. Additionally, their customer service rates at the top of the food chain in this space. Player reviews, including our own, are markedly positive and their staff is available 365 days a year 24 hours a day through phone, email or live chat support in English and Spanish. Bovada offers great options in regards to their free plays, referrals and welcome bonuses. Their live betting feature is fast and offers prospectively attractive juice options. If you truly want to nitpick, there are two areas where you could possibly ding Bovada. During peak events (ie: Sunday NFL football) their site can be slow and you may receive error messages. Bovada can also be generally slower than some of the other sites to release their lines. When it’s all said and done however, Bovada claims our top spot and rating.
BetCrushers Rating: 9.5
2. Bookmaker
Based in Costa Rica, Bookmaker is one of the oldest offshore sportsbooks but has innovated it’s product and is one of the most important players in the market. Many “sharp” players and high-dollar gamblers prefer Bookmaker due to not having winning or limit restrictions that many other sites have. If you’re looking to place a large wager on an event, Bookmaker is the place for you. The site itself is relatively easy to use and overall has good reliability even during peak betting times. Their recently revamped loyalty program makes the site appealing for everyone, including new or amatuer bettors. Bookmaker often is one of the first to set lines, so if you like to jump on the action early, you can check their site out. Customer service reviews are mostly positive although there are some complaints regarding the difficulties depositing and withdrawing. If you’re shopping online sportsbooks, you’ll definitely want to make sure to check out Bookmaker.
BetCrushers Rating: 9.2
3. 5Dimes
After the top two spots on our list there is a bit of a falloff when we get to our number three sportsbook, 5dimes. That’s not to say that it’s not a quality site and experience because we absolutely are still fans and use the site regularly. Founded in early 2000 and also based in Costa Rica, they have worked hard to continually develop and improve their site and user experience. One of the most appealing features of 5dimes is there abundance of events and topics you can wager on. While many of the other sites are focused on the major sporting events, you can find futures and props on everything from hot dog eating contests to pop culture and politics with odds and reasonable juice. If you’re a fan of the underdog as many seasoned bettors are, 5dimes tends to favor them with their lines. Even if you’re faithful to one of the other sites, it’s good to check them out if you’re looking to bet an underdog. They’ve also got some great welcome bonuses and reloading bonuses so if you’re thinking about opening a new account there’s a lot of reasons to get started with them. While they do have full customer service support, reviews are not as favorable when dealing with 5d as they are with some of the other sites. As a general statement, the site reliability tends to be a little bit hit or miss, but adding them into your rotation is still highly advised.
BetCrushers Rating: 8.6
4. BetOnline
BetOnline was revamped in 2006 after starting as BestLineSports years earlier. During that revamp it moved to Panama (after acquiring BetOnline) and moved its name and identity. BetOnline has a core that is focused on amazing customer service and great treatment of it’s bettors. If they lack anything in terms of site experience or options, they make up for it by providing service that could be called the Ritz-Carlton type service of offshore sportsbooks. While they have a variety of bettors on their site, it’s this reason along with high-limits that attracts many heavy-hitters to BetOnline. They have an extensive list of bonuses and loyalty programs that are based on amount of play, but that actually may work against them as it seems they’re often difficult to fully understand and process. The same can be said with their various options in regards to parlays, teasers, etc. There are a lot of options for the bettor, but it can be a little overwhelming, particularly for a novice player. A lot of site shoppers might have BetOnline higher on their list, and we wouldn’t put too much of an argument up against that.
BetCrushers Rating: 8.5
5. Heritage
Everything about Heritage feels different than your typical offshore gambling website. It tends to combine a unique professional feel with a fun and stress-free look. (If there is a such thing as stress-free when it comes to betting). Heritage has worked hard to establish itself as one of the top choices in the market and we wouldn’t be shocked if they continued to climb this list for years to come. The feature that many find most appealing about Heritage is their reduced juice pricing model. If you’re playing for the long haul in an NBA or MLB season this can really amount to a great savings for you. Playing on that theme of professional but fun, they are constantly developing different promos and incentives for both loyalty and new bettors. Our favorite winner with this is the free birthday parlay play. Hey anything free is good, right?
Keep an eye on Heritage if you aren’t already with them, as their following continues to grow.
