Online Sportsbooks to Avoid in 2025

The online sportsbooks on this page are unlicensed, unregulated, and unapologetic. We strongly recommend avoiding these offshore operators and sticking with legal, regulated betting sites.

There are several warning signs that may indicate a website is worthy of placement on our list of sportsbooks to avoid in 2025. We consider the following issues “offside” and raise an eyebrow when we hear rumblings of such activity. 

🚫 Operating without a license

You should not do business with online sportsbooks operating without legitimate licenses from reputable gaming regulators. If you can’t spot licensing and regulatory information in the footer of a sports betting website, you should move on. 

🚫 Flagged by state regulators

While some unregulated websites simply do business without sports betting operator licenses, others break additional state laws while running illegal gambling schemes. These violations of regulations garner the full attention of local gaming commissions.

States like Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey have gone as far as issuing cease and desist letters to illegal operators in an attempt to put an end to unlawful activity. 

🚫 Unsecure website

Online sportsbooks should, at a minimum, use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to protect your data. The absence of encryption can make online sportsbooks susceptible to cyber-attacks and leave your personal information and bankroll unprotected.

🚫 Payment issues 

Accessing your winnings should be painless. We firmly believe that bettors with verified accounts should receive payouts promptly without having to jump through multiple hoops. 

When we receive reports of consistently late payments or refusals to pay out winnings, we do not hesitate to place the sportsbook in question on our list of sportsbooks to avoid. 

🚫 Unfair grading of bets 

All online sportsbooks have house rules, and it’s up to bettors to review these terms and conditions (T&Cs) before placing wagers. However, when these betting sites move the goalposts without warning or unjustly grade winners as losers, we take notice. 

🚫 Misleading promotional terms 

We’ve read thousands of T&Cs, so it doesn’t take long for us to recognize red flags. 

While it’s common to find clunky terms and conditions for sportsbook promos, these details should always fully explain the offers. An operator should never mislead customers or omit relevant information relating to a bonus.

🚫 Poor customer support 

Reliable customer service is critical in any industry. We expect online sportsbooks to offer multiple support channels — including email, phone, live chat, and social media — and provide prompt, helpful responses. Several sportsbooks on this page have histories of ignoring user requests or taking multiple days — and even weeks — to give unhelpful responses. 

Before committing to a full review of a betting site, we ensure the platform is fully licensed and regulated by a state gaming commission in the U.S. or a reputable authority when operating in another region. 

Our analysis involves gathering user feedback, internal investigations, and deciding whether or not a sportsbook has earned a spot on our list of sportsbooks to avoid. 

🗣️ Gathering and reviewing user feedback 

We scour App Store and Google Play reviews, Reddit, and other social platforms to see what you are saying about the online sportsbook. Your experiences guide our research as we look to verify claims of illegal practices. 

🕵🏼‍♂️ Conducting internal investigations to corroborate claims 

When we find multiple reports of the same issue, we’ll always dig deeper. We leave no stone unturned as we look to verify the legitimacy of the accused sportsbook. 

 📓 Placing the site on our list of sportsbooks to avoid  

If we conclude a betting site is operating illegally or treating bettors like you unfairly, it will land here on our list of sportsbooks to avoid. 

Before creating a new account with an online sportsbook, you must confirm the company operating the website or app is licensed and regulated in your region. This step is vital, as your local gaming commission is responsible for overseeing all licensed sportsbooks and enforcing non-negotiable rules and regulations. 

Here are some other tips to ensure you’re steering clear of untrustworthy sports betting sites. 

📜 Find the sportsbook's license

All legal, licensed betting sites will clearly display their credentials in website footers and list eligible states in App Store descriptions. If you can't link your local gaming commission to the sports betting operator, we strongly advise you to move on.

🔒 Confirm the site is secure

Click or tap the padlock icon next to the betting site's URL to confirm the connection is secure and the SSL certificate is valid. A secure URL should also begin with "https" — with "s" representing a secure connection.

💬 Gauge customer support responsiveness 

Reach out to inquire about a welcome bonus, banking option, betting market, or anything you would expect a knowledgeable, trained support member to be able to handle. Vague, unhelpful, or late responses should serve as warning signs. 

🏛️ Confirm supported payment options 

If possible, identify the accepted deposit and withdrawal methods at an online sportsbook. If the website is crypto-only, exclusively accepts major credit cards, or has fewer than three deposit options, it may be time to move on to another platform.

📱 Assess social media presence

Is the betting site in question active on social media? Does its customer support team address user concerns? Is there negative feedback from sports bettors? Check X (Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to answer these questions and inform your research.

📝 Read third-party reviews 

If you have questions about a sportsbook, chances are others have validated those same concerns. Check out third-party review websites and social platforms to read about the experiences of other bettors. Multiple reports of malpractice should serve as a clear signal to avoid an online sportsbook.

Our SI betting experts have over 40 years of combined sports betting experience, and over 750,000 bettors like you trust our analysis every month. 

That's why we shoulder the responsibility of providing you with detailed, transparent coverage of not only legal, regulated online sportsbooks and sports betting apps but dangerous websites masquerading as legitimate operators.

We don't solely rely on our first-hand experience — we value your feedback and the experiences of bettors nationwide. Our extensive sportsbook review process filters out the bad players in the industry, underscoring our commitment to player safety and providing best-in-class sportsbook reviews. 

Learn more about how we rate and review sportsbooks today and meet our expert analysts and sportsbook reviewers below.

Jeff Watters, Senior Betting Analyst 

🏆 Years of betting experience: 18+
🔎 As seen in: Covers, Newsweek

Jeff leads a talented team of expert betting analysts and sportsbook reviewers focused on delivering industry-best experiences to North American bettors. With his inventive mindset and relentless pursuit of "best-in-class" content, Jeff ensures SI readers have access to unparalleled betting analysis that’s comprehensive, unbiased, and well-researched. Jeff’s primary goal is to give new and casual bettors the confidence they need to come to their own conclusions when deciding how and where to bet online.

Ryan Hagen, Betting Analyst

🏆 Years of betting experience: 20+
🔎 As seen in: Calgary Herald, Vancouver Magazine

Ryan's goal is to impart his unbiased betting knowledge to prospective bettors, allowing them to make informed decisions. He has written and edited hundreds of sportsbook reviews for some of the most prominent companies in the sports betting world.

Kyle Collis, Betting Analyst

🏆 Years of betting experience: 6+
🔎 As seen in: Dodgers Way, Hardwood Houdini, Predominantly Orange

Kyle approaches sportsbook review content with accuracy, balance, and attention to detail. He leans on his strong editorial background to ensure every SI reader has the tools they need to enjoy a more confident and rewarding sports betting experience.

Geoff Ulrich, Betting Analyst

🏆 Years of betting experience: 10+
🔎 As seen in: DraftKings, Fantasy Life

Geoff loves providing actionable content, and his goal is to always find an original or underappreciated piece of information that gives his readers an edge. His knowledge of betting and industry experience enable him to create reliable betting content and sportsbook reviews that readers can trust when choosing which site to deploy their bankrolls.

Ideally, you’ll never find yourself in a financial dispute with an unregulated betting site. In most cases there is no legal recourse, and it can be next to impossible to recoup any lost funds. 

However, if you’ve had a poor experience with a sportsbook claiming to be a legal site in your state, we strongly suggest trying to resolve the issue with customer support. If the support team is unresponsive or unhelpful, do not hesitate to reach out to your local gaming regulator to file a formal complaint. 

Visit the websites below for more resources and contact information: