Choosing the right sportsbook to place your bets can make a huge difference in your betting experience.
While promotions and features are great, the odds themselves are really the most important factor for the more serious bettors. A slight difference in a spread or moneyline odds can make a big impact on long-term profitability. It might not be too much for a single bet, but in the grand scheme of things, it adds up.
To find out which sportsbook offers the best odds, we compared 5 of the biggest and best names in the sports betting industry — bet365, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. We took a look at each of their odds and compared them to rank these sportsbooks based on how competitive their lines were.
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bet365 has built a reputation as one of the sharpest sportsbooks in the industry. It was no surprise to us when our comparison confirmed it. They consistently offer some of the best game odds across spread, moneyline, and total bets. They even come out on top for a lot of prop bets.
Let's take the San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics game as an example.
The spread is set at Boston -8.5 (-115) and San Antonio +8.5 (-115) for most books. However, bet365 had -112 and -110 respectively when we pulled the numbers.
For totals, bet365 often has slightly better numbers, which can be huge for bettors looking for a little extra value. In this game, the total is 233.5 (-110 on both sides), which is a solid line and beats out the other bookmakers.
Looking at another game — Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — bet365 had Miami +13.5 (-112) compared to some books offering it at worse odds like -115 or even -118 depending on which sportsbooks you went to.
One area we really love about bet365 is their live betting. If you’re someone who enjoys in-game action, they have some of the best live betting odds on the market as well as tons of live streams.
When looking at a huge pool of games, bet365 generally has the best overall odds and consistency. If you want the sharpest lines, bet365 is the go-to sportsbook.
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Caesars often provides some of the best moneyline odds among all sportsbooks. If you prefer betting on straight-up winners rather than spreads or even total, then this book is worth taking a chance on.
In the Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic game, for example, Caesars had Orlando at -650, which is slightly better than DraftKings and FanDuel, who had the odds pegged around -670.
When taking a look at the Indiana Pacers vs. Washington Wizards game, Caesars had Pacers -455 and Wizards +375, which was better than most of the other books. Of course, there are times when bet365 and DraftKings beat them out on the moneylines, but for the most part, they took the gold for these kinds of bets.
Something interesting we found was that Caesars also tends to offer competitive underdog odds. The Milwaukee Bucks were listed at +220 against the Timberwolves; however, this was slightly better than what DraftKings and FanDuel had at +200 each. That was one of the bigger differences we saw when it comes to odds.
Their spreads and totals aren’t always the best despite being the best odds on occasion, but if you’re looking to place some moneyline bets, Caesars is often a great choice.
Caesars is awesome for moneyline betting — especially for underdogs. However, spreads and totals seem to be average when it comes to odds.
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DraftKings is hands-down one of the best sportsbooks when it comes to features, promotions, and betting markets. They’re tough to beat. However, when it comes to odds, they tend to fall slightly behind bet365 and Caesars.
We took a look at the New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks game and found DraftKings offered the Knicks -8 at -110 and Hawks +8 at -110 — a standard line, but not better than the competition. Bet365 had these at -108, which doesn’t seem like a big jump at first, but it could mean a few extra bucks in your bankroll.
One of the biggest drawbacks with DraftKings is that they often have slightly worse vig on spreads and totals. For instance, in the Phoenix Suns vs. Houston Rockets game, the total was set at 225.5, but the odds were -113, slightly worse than the industry standard of -110. If you go with DraftKings for this bet, even if you win you’re leaving money on the table.
That being said, we can’t mention DraftKings without highlighting how they make up for this. They have frequent boosts, promos, and same-game parlays, which can sometimes offset the slightly worse odds. They’re definitely worth keeping an eye on as these bonuses can make a huge impact as well.
DraftKings is undoubtedly good for promos and variety, but pure odds bettors can easily find better value elsewhere.
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FanDuel has a sleek platform, and great features, and many bettors love it for these attributes, but when it comes to odds, we think that it’s hit or miss.
For spreads, FanDuel is usually in line with the industry standard of -110. They don’t consistently offer the best numbers and that can be a big turn-off for the more competitive bettors.
Take the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets game as an example. FanDuel had the 76ers -3 at -112 and the Nets +3 at -115. While we don’t think those odds are necessarily terrible, bet365 had slightly better odds at -110 a piece which made FanDuel the weaker choice for this game.
On moneylines, FanDuel can sometimes have a bit of value. For the Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans game, we noted that the Kings were -180, which was in line with Caesars and slightly better than BetMGM. So, they’re definitely competitive despite being inconsistent across the board.
One of FanDuel’s biggest strengths is its same-game parlay feature. It’s easy to see why many bettors love SGPs. However, if you’re purely looking for the best odds, you might want to shop elsewhere.
Sure, FanDuel has decent odds, but for the most part, they’re inconsistent. We think they’re good for parlays but not the best for straight bets like you’ll find at bet365 or Caesars.
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BetMGM is one of the most well-known sportsbooks in the industry. They have a well-designed app with tons of betting markets, but their odds usually lag behind the competition.
Take the Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls game. BetMGM had Bulls +215 on the moneyline, while bet365 and even FanDuel offered slightly better numbers at +210.
Their spreads tend to be standard, but the juice is often a little higher. In the Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers game, BetMGM had Nuggets -11.5 at -112, whereas bet365 had the same line at -110. This was consistent for most games as they always seemed to be a few points behind the rest.
While we have to admit that BetMGM is still a great sportsbook overall, the odds just aren’t as sharp as some of the other big names in the industry.
We won’t say that BetMGM’s odds are necessarily bad, but they’re usually not the best. This sportsbook is worth using if you like the interface and promotions, but serious bettors should look elsewhere for some better odds.
Shopping odds is a quick way to add a 3-5% boost to your overall betting game. It takes a bit more effort, but with the right tools and your accounts set up, you’ll be betting on games with the best odds in no time.
When it comes to getting the best odds, we find that bet365 stands out as the top choice for most bettors. They’re consistently offering sharp lines across spreads, moneylines, totals, and much more. Caesars is another strong option for moneyline bettors, especially those looking for some sharp value on the underdogs. DraftKings and FanDuel have competitive odds from time to time but are undoubtedly better known for their promos and features rather than pure betting value. Meanwhile, BetMGM, while we have to admit they’re a solid sportsbook overall, they tend to lag behind in odds compared to its competitors.
If maximizing long-term profitability is your goal, which it is for most of the more serious bettors, having multiple sportsbook accounts and shopping for the best odds is the smartest strategy by a long stretch.