Best MLB sportsbooks: Major League Baseball betting promos in 2024
BETTING on baseball has never been easier and more accessible to fans, with a variety of MLB betting sites available.
Ever since 2018, a steady stream of states have introduced new laws to legalize sports betting within their borders.
The MLB has sponsorship deals with DraftKings and BetMGM, so they clearly see betting as being a big part of the sport in the future.
Sports betting is transforming how we watch sports in general and is only going in one direction in the US and it’s bringing a newer audience to the MLB and plenty of other sports.
There's a variety of bets and betting lines baseball fans can choose from. You can bet who’s going to win Divisions, the National or American league, and the World Series Champion overall.
You can also bet on teams outright on the money line, the spread or run line, and the total number of runs possible for that game. We’re covering all that and everything else you need to know about betting on the MLB on this page.
Top US sportsbooks with the best MLB betting offers
Check out the best sportsbooks to use to bet on the MLB below. Each of them has different promotions up for grabs too, including welcome bonuses for all new players.
- DraftKings (Available in: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, VT and WY)
- BetMGM (Available in: AZ, CO, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, NV, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR, TN, VA, WA, WV, and WY)
- BetRivers (Available in: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, and WY)
Is online betting on MLB legal in the US?
Legal online sports gambling is becoming more widely available across the United States after the Supreme Court made it legal for states to allow it, by removing a piece of federal legislation in 2018. New Jersey was one of the first states to embrace sports betting, but more soon followed. Legal sports betting has grown each year from state to state since 2018, and by 2023 well over half of the states in the country had introduced bills to legalize sports betting. The majority of bets are now made online and every major US sportsbook has an MLB section.
Generally speaking, each state that has an MLB team will also have promotions and boosts available that revolve around their home teams. Online gambling in the US is only going to keep growing. It makes sense that the MLB is moving to embrace the new industry via sponsorships and promotions since they know it will ultimately help them get more eyes on their product. Sports gambling is the future and legal online betting is the priority for the MLB and every other major sports league.
Which US states allow MLB betting online?
Most states that allow sports betting have the majority of their bets made online. Upwards of 70% of all sports bets are made online in the United States, and that number will only grow when more states legalize sports betting. 30 states have legalized gambling right now, with more coming.
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington DC
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
What to look for in an MLB betting offer
Let's explore key factors for customers to consider when evaluating operators in the sports betting industry besides those such as brand recognition, user interface, bonus code, bet calculator, and customer support.
Legal sportsbooks and trustworthiness
Your first priority should be to make sure the sportsbook you choose is legal and trustworthy. The biggest indicator is that the sportsbook is based in the United States because “off-shore” sportsbooks exist and don’t need to operate under the betting regulations in the US.
These books are unregulated and are not to be trusted. Only trust the books based in the US with a valid gambling licence from each state - that’s the number one thing to look for with MLB betting.
Off-shore books aren’t always willing to pay out winnings and in some cases just disappear.
Banking options
Normally, the banking options with a good and trustworthy sportsbook are associated with an actual bank or legitimate financial institution, rather than some shady third-party service.
Popular methods include credit cards/debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets like PayPal, Play+ Cards, cash at the casino cage, PayNearMe, or other cash payment services, etc.
Off-shore books usually only use third-party ways like Venmo or Cashapp, or prepaid gift cards, which are much less reliable.
Odds
To put it simply, we always want to be betting on the MLB at the best possible odds.
Sometimes off-shore books have unfavorable odds that are completely unfair to the bettor, but people have no option but to choose to bet with them anyway. Fair odds should be a priority no matter what sport you’re betting on.
Specialized MLB promo codes
Promo codes are like passwords you can use to claim a welcome bonus, which you can then use to bet on MLB if you want. You can find specialized promo codes with most sportsbooks.
That said, many sportsbooks also let you claim certain bonuses without a code, like MLB odds boosts for instance.
A good idea is to look at which sportsbooks have a relationship with the MLB, and those are more likely to have solid MLB wagering options and promotions.
Is NFL more of your thing? Check out what the best NFL betting websites have to offer.
What types of bets can you make with a MLB free bet?
There are lots of good sportsbooks for MLB betting in the US, but we’ve chosen to showcase three of our favorites in the reviews below:
- Moneyline bet: Pick what team will win an MLB game.
- Futures bets: Pick what MLB team will win their Division, their League, and the World Series. Futures odds will vary greatly depending on when you place your bet.
- Props bets: Bet on individual player stats like how many hits they’ll get, singles, doubles, who will hit a home run, total hits by a player, total strikeouts, and a lot of other stats. There are also team slots, which let you bet on the same statistics but for the team as a whole. There are tons of different MLB prop bets out there, and they let you get really specific in your betting.
- Runline: It's also referred to as an MLB point spread bet and involves wagering on the anticipated margin of victory or defeat for a specific team in a baseball game.
- Over/Under: Pick how many total runs will be scored in a game.
- Parlays: Parlay options allow you to pick multiple games together, and combine money lines, run lines, over/under, and prop bets too.
Do all baseball betting sites have specialized MLB betting offers?
Most baseball betting sites do have specialized MLB offers. The offers depend on the site and which sportsbook you are looking at. The best time of year for specialized MLB offers is the baseball postseason, and most sportsbooks will have different offers based around the playoffs. For example, you might find an offer like "get your money back in the form of a bonus bet if player X hits a home run."
Most books will have offers throughout the season, as well. For example, the offers will center on how many runs a team combines for, how many home runs a team or player can hit, or how many strikeouts a pitcher can get. The following sportsbooks stand out the most for baseball: BetMGM, DraftKings, and BetRivers.
Where do I find the best MLB betting promos?
There are lots of good sportsbooks for MLB betting in the US, but we’ve chosen three of our favorites below:
1. BetMGM
BetMGM has the best range of baseball wagers and markets and also has great future odds. They offer MLB-specific betting offers and are the best betting site to bet on baseball in general. The MLB has a partnership with them and they’ve taken it and used it very well for baseball bettors to get the best experience possible. If you’re a bettor in the market for a baseball betting offer, BetMGM is one of the top sports betting sites in the US.
2. DraftKings
DraftKings is a great baseball betting site that, as part of its partnership with MLB, now offers live streaming for MLB games with the most up-to-date stats provided in real-time as you bet. If you’re interested in live betting on the MLB and you are looking for online betting sites or a mobile app, you won't make a mistake with DraftKings.
3. BetRivers
BetRivers is one of the biggest sportsbooks in the United States and has some great offers surrounding the MLB. Currently, new users can find a welcome offer where you get up to a $500 bet if your first wager loses. There’s also an MLB parlay insurance.
BetRivers offers excellent future markets in the MLB on top of great up-to-date odds for individual games and player props. BetRivers is one of the major sportsbooks with a variety of other betting markets.
How to claim an MLB betting offer:
The way to claim an MLB offer can vary a little depending on both the type of offer and the sportsbook.
- Sign up for any legal sportsbook in the US. To sign up you need to have your state ID available to scan with your Driver’s License number. Also, have your social security number ready. These are both needed to verify your identity and age.
- For some welcome bonuses, you’ll need to type in a promo code during registration.
- Make a qualifying deposit. If you are claiming a deposit match bonus, your bonus cash or free bets should appear in your account as soon as you make a deposit.
- Placing a qualifying bet to trigger a risk-free bet bonus.
- Use the risk-free bet bonus if the bet loses.
Can I win real money from MLB betting promos?
The short answer is yes, you can win real money from MLB betting promos. They are just like any other special offer you can claim on a betting site.
That said, sports betting bonuses always come with terms and conditions you need to fulfill before you’ll be able to withdraw your winnings, For example, free bets normally need to be used at certain minimum odds, and you’ll only get to keep your winnings and not the value of the stake.
The MLB has deals with most of the bookmakers in the US for betting data and many of those books offer MLB betting promos. For example, "get your money back in the form of a free bet if player X has Y amount of strikeouts in an inning.
As long as you follow the instructions of the offer carefully, and fulfill the wagering requirements or other terms and conditions, you can win real money.
Interested in XFL betting? Here are the top sportsbooks for you.
Which betting site has the best MLB betting odds?
BetMGM has the best MLB betting odds even though it’s very close throughout the different sportsbooks. We’ve chosen BetMGM because of both the depth of their MLB market and the odds themselves. You can bet MLB at BetMGM in lots of ways - moneylines, futures, props - and they consistently have among the best lines in all of these markets.
BetMGM has a longstanding history of booking baseball, but the site is much more than that. In addition to the actual lines, they have plenty of other features that elevate the betting experience - a same-game parlay-building tool, MLB promos throughout the year, a rewards program, and more.
What’s the legal age limit for MLB betting?
This varies state by state, but in the vast majority of US states, you need to be at least 21 years old to bet on sports. Sportsbooks are legally required to verify your age and identity when you sign up for this very reason, which is why you need to include a copy of your Driver’s License or other form of ID.
What’s the best bet to make on MLB games?
Betting on the MLB and on baseball, in general, can be one of the more difficult sports to bet on because of all the variables involved in a single game. The fact is that it has the most games of any professional sport at 162. This means there are more variables to account for than most of the other leagues. Players picking up different injuries game-by-game, weather, and even umpires are all variables that can impact how a game pans out.
Run lines are difficult to predict because they usually start around the same number - anywhere from 1 to 3 runs being the difference. For us, the best bet to make on MLB games is the most simple: on the moneyline.
With so many games per season you have a lot of opportunities to bet, and keeping it simple on the moneyline makes a lot of sense. It means you theoretically don’t need to go too deep into the stats on every single game, and you can ride the wave of in-form teams while they rack up wins in the condensed schedule over a shorter time frame. Moneyline parlays make a lot of sense too, since there are so many games to choose from.
Our top 5 tips for making the most of MLB betting offers
- Avoid big favorites: Oddsmakers in baseball know that the public loves to back favorites, sometimes more than other sports. Avoid this because while you can win, the payout is small. But when they lose, bettors can lose a lot.
- Take plus-money favorites: If MLB bettors avoid big favorites and take plus-money underdogs, bettors will win below 50%, but can still end up with positive units because of the number of games. When you win the value is huge, but if you lose, you lose what you risked.
- Bet against the public: This goes hand in hand with tip #1. The public bets based on their gut. They bet on favorites, home teams, popular franchises ( Like the Yankees), and teams with star players ( like the Angels). By going contrarian, you put yourself on the side of the sportsbook, and more often than not the house always wins. The public is heavily in favor of recency bias as well.
- Focus on division underdogs: MLB teams in the same division play each other a lot and with that comes familiarity. Division underdogs perform even better if you factor in the road environment and games with a high total as well.
- Research the umpires: Umpires are human and will therefore make mistakes, whether it’s caving under pressure or being influenced by the crowd, which will favor the home team. However, some umpires thrive off the negativity of a crowd, which favors the road team. Another example is that some have tight strike zones which leads to more overs being hit, while others have big strike zones which leads to more unders.
Responsible gambling
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat
