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US Gambling Sites / Sportsbet.io Review

Sportsbet.io review: Scam or legal? [BLACKLISTED]

Sportsbet scam or not: More details on this blacklisted operator

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Sportsbet.io
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0.0/5
  • Not legal in America
  • Dodgy bonuses
  • Poor sports odds
Sportsbet.io Promo
Details
User Reviews

WARNING: You should not play at Sportsbet. Take a look below to see some big reasons why you should skip Sportbet and play at a legit US sportsbook instead.

Sportsbet opened for business in 1998 and it's been duping customers since then. It holds no US license to operate and cannot be trusted with your cash. Plus its odds are poor, the bonuses lame, and overall it's just a bad online sportsbook. So stick with us as we tear Sportsbet apart!

Sportsbet.io might not be the right choice, but we've got plenty of other great (and fully licensed) recommendations!

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Sportsbet: Pros & Cons
  • Illegal in the States
  • Lack of encryption technology
  • No fair gaming policy
Payment Methods
License
Curacao
Award
SBC - Sponsorship of the Year (2020)
Withdrawal
0 – 7 Days
Company
mBet Solutions N.V.
Founded
2016
Website
sportsbet.io
Available Languages
EN
ES
+
Customer Support
Live Chat, Email Support
Email
support@sportsbet.io
Phone
020 7347 5883
Verified by
GamCare
No review posted yet.
User Rating
0/5
5 Stars
0%
4 Stars
0%
3 Stars
0%
2 Stars
0%
1 Star
0%
Last Updated on 29/01/2025
Fact checked by: Drew the DFS Guy

Bonus: Lame deposit bonus

The pathetic Sportsbet bonus requires players to make an initial deposit and place a qualifying bet to get a free bet. When looking further into the terms and conditions, our experts found that player props or virtual sports bets don’t qualify for the bonus, nor do odds of under 1.50. There are also other conditions attached which we caution you to be wary of.

The free bet is only available for seven days before expiring, and in the case of a winning bet, the initial bonus is deducted from the overall winnings to get your reward. Unfortunately, our search has uncovered plenty of occasions where Sportsbet has refused to credit bonus funds and, on occasion, closed player accounts with little to no explanation. Just a couple of reasons we suggest avoiding offshore accounts and opening yourself up an account with a well-respected legal provider.

User interface / usability: Strange design for a bookie

The Sportsbet user interface is just as bad as the ones found at most other illegal offshore sportsbooks.

We also thought it rather odd that the website does not have the feel of an online bookmaker, rather more like an investment broker website in fact.

This is not a site where we felt comfortable and the fact that Sportsbet has no US license just added to our overall discomfort.

Payment methods: Devoted to untrustworthy methods

Sportsbet only supports dangerous and volatile payment methods. This means that we cannot trust Sportsbet with our cash.

In addition, there have been reports that players at Sportsbet can't withdraw their funds in a timely fashion or at all, which adds to our premise lacking proper regulatory bodies is a serious problem, and further cements our feelings towards avoiding Sportsbet at all costs.

Customer support: Expect a long wait

Sportsbet offers a fairly bland FAQ section that provides vague answers to only a few general queries new customers may have. Players could try their luck in contacting customer support with issues via two channels, either by email or via the Live Chat feature. However we didn't get a response from either.

When compiling our research on Sportsbet, we found many reviews stating that email queries were left unanswered and the live chat was rarely 'live'. Our best bit of advice would be to avoid the site entirely!

Licensing - Is Sportsbet legit? Why you should avoid this site

Sportsbet online betting is illegal, unregulated and holds no license to work in the United States.

The US government is about to come down hard on the offshore online casinos and is doing more to encourage legitimate sportsbooks to apply for licenses and legally offer their services to US players.

The fact that Sportsbet has chosen to ignore operating legitimately highlights its inability to guarantee fair play and ensure that players are safe and secure on its site.

All state-licensed bookies have minimum standards to conform to in every respect. That is why we urge you to sign up with one of these and enjoy a gambling experience you can be certain is fair and safe.

Captain Gambling has blacklisted Sportbet on the basis of multiple irregularities across the site and we highly recommend that you take our advice and do not sign up there.

 

Rewards and loyalty: Stay away from the Clubhouse

There isn’t any sort of reward program here, and the Clubhouse is definitely a VIP program to avoid.

It appears players are still finding problems with the Clubhouse not honoring rewards and promotions based on their deposits. Another box checked on the long list of reasons we do not recommend Sportsbet.

Betting offer: Poor number of bets

Sportsbet offers a poor range of sports that fails to satisfy most bettors – all we'd expect from an illegal, non-US licensed operator.

So you should avoid Sportsbet whether you're into MLB, MLS, NHL, and NFL or are looking for bets for Aussie Rules, Olympics, European soccer leagues, and so on.

Odds: Dismal odds here

The odds at Sportsbet offer nothing special. There have been customer reviews indicating many major events lack such odds, which would point towards a worrying strategy on the company’s end.

Of course, it is also worth noting odds provided by legit companies will naturally be of better value, as they will actually pay you your winnings – unlike Sportsbet.

Limits: Not to be trusted

The limits at Sportsbet are not worth talking about as you shouldn't put your money anywhere near this site. Even if you win, there's a high chance you will never, ever be able to withdraw from your account.

Conclusion: Find a legal alternative

The Sportsbet site gives you some lame odds on all major US sports. Plus, it has a barely functional live betting platform and some bleak bet limits.

Plus, there is nothing at Sportsbet that you can't find at the best US sportsbooks, and you will eradicate all that unnecessary risk too!

Is Sportsbet legal: Top 5 FAQ asked by players

Is Sportsbet legal in the United States already?

Players from the United States are not allowed to play at Sportsbet as it is an unlicensed and unregulated sportsbook. This makes it illegal and you could be prosecuted for playing here.

Are the odds at Sportsbet better than with legal operators?

No, the odds with legal US bookmakers are always better than they are with illegal offshore sites.

Do I have to pay the taxes on my winnings?

All US players have to pay taxes on gambling winnings regardless of where they came from.

Does the minimum age of 21 apply to offshore betting operators?

No, Sportsbet allows players of at least 18 years of age to join and play. This is not legal anywhere in the US. Moreover, the whole Sportsbet site is illegal in the US – so players of all ages should avoid it!

Am I liable to prosecution if I play at offshore bookies?

There are laws that allow it in many states but the government mainly focuses on companies and service providers.  

Sportsbet Legal Issues: Avoid this site!

Sportsbet fails to comply with US regulation and still offers US players illegal gambling services due to a 'gap' that currently exists in the US laws. This means that you should avoid Sportsbet like the plague!

No proper license usually means no immediate control over the operator and this brings on the question who will help players in a case of unresolved issues with the bookie. Operators thus get complete control over the process and also get to protect their interests in any way they find suitable.

However, the changing US laws have now allowed more renowned bookies and casinos to enter the market with proper licenses, which offers players fully legal options to enjoy online gambling. This could have two negative effects on offshore operators:

One, players will obviously enjoy safe and state-licensed bookies, which could see the overall popularity drop and would ultimately see the operators unable to produce the same sort of service they are at this moment.

Two, the unhealthy competition from offshore companies in the sense they are able to offer an edge primarily because they don’t pay expensive licenses or fees to leagues and teams. This has already seen great criticism and could force the government into more strict measures to ensure a solid market.

Verdict: Stay Safe and Away

Although there is no immediate danger of legal action against you, we strongly advise US players to avoid Sportsbet. There are way too many dangers entailing if you do so, from data to fund safety and everything in between, which just makes it too risky to try your luck.

Indeed, we suggest you take a look at some of the state-licensed and regulated bookmakers, who offer a unified standard of quality and have to guarantee it in cooperation with the Division of Gaming Enforcement. This means staying on the safe side and is surely the pillar of any online experience.

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