Quick verdict: How legit is the BetMGM sportsbook?
Thinking of giving BetMGM a try? Well, this has been my go-to sportsbook for years, and I’m always happy to help newcomers get the hang of this amazing platform.
In this BetMGM review, I’ll focus on what I know best — their sports betting services. Keep reading to find out what sports you can bet on, the amazing welcome bonuses you can get, and much more. I’ll also cover licensing, security, payment methods, and more.
BetMGM is a top-tier sportsbook backed by strong licensing, a broad sports lineup, and highly rated mobile apps for both iOS and Android. New users can get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if their first wager loses, and there's no promo code required.
With 20+ supported sports, Same Game Parlays, live betting, and regular bet boosts, there’s something for all types of bettors. Payments are fast and flexible, and the platform’s interface is easy to use across devices.
Add in strong customer support and built-in responsible gaming tools, and BetMGM easily stands out as one of the most reliable, legitimate sportsbooks in the US.
My thoughts on the BetMGM welcome bonuses
To kick off this BetMGM review, I want to start by looking at some of the bonuses and promotions you can get. You don’t need a BetMGM promo code for any of them, but the first thing you can get is the welcome bonus, where you can get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses.
When I created my BetMGM login all that time ago, I went with the sportsbook bonus for NBA betting. These are easily some of the most competitive US gambling welcome bonuses you will find, and I loved the way that it worked as a kind of safety net so that my early mistakes didn't sting as much.
Here's one solid example from MetMGM Missouri. Players from the state can take advantage of the 'Get up to $1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bet If You Don’t Win Your First Bet' offer. Missouri customers can claim this offer if they are at least 21 years old, new customers, and are presently located in Missouri. Take note that bonus bets are non-withdrawable. For full terms and conditions, visit BetMGM.com. Other eligibility requirements also apply. For gambling-related problems, dial 1-800-GAMBLER. Please be a responsible gambler.
Not only can you get a welcome bonus, but this operator is bursting with other promos for existing customers:
- MGM rewards program.
- Referral scheme with a $100 bonus per referral.
- Bet boosts tokens.
- Same Game Parlay boost tokens.
- No-sweat bet tokens.
I always make use of the various free bet tokens and boosts I can get here, and the MGM rewards program can also unlock some real-life benefits, such as discounts at the MGM resorts. When you open the sportsbook, make sure you check the scrolling header bar below the main header image, as this is where I usually find all the bet boosts and tokens.
| Vertical | Bonus | Min. Deposit | Cashable | Bonus Code | Claim Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win | $5 | No! | not required |
BetMGM core features reviewed
With the welcome bonus explained, like with my FanDuel review, let’s now turn to the core features, as these will answer the question - is BetMGM legit? I’m confident that it is, and that it will give you a smooth and secure sportsbook experience.
Licensing - Is BetMGM legit?
BetMGM is a legitimate online sportsbook. It has a gambling license in all the states it operates in. For example, the Michigan version of the site is licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and the NJ version has a license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. In terms of accessibility, I’ve given you a state breakdown below:
| BetMGM section | Legal States |
| Online Sportsbook | Arizona, Colorado, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming. |
Payments
You should be able to make deposits using the following methods:
- VIP preferred e-check.
- Visa.
- MasterCard.
- PayNearMe.
- Play+.
- PayPal.
- Bank Transfer.
- Discover.
- Apple Pay.
- MGM Gift Cards.
- Venmo.
I personally only ever use Visa, but the other payment methods all look at work fine and have reasonable limits. From my experiences, there is a minimum deposit and withdrawal limit of $10, and no payment fees. My deposits have always been processed instantly, and my withdrawals are typically processed and in my account within a few hours max.
| Payment Method | Minimum Deposit | Maximum Withdrawal | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | - | N/A | instant |
| Visa | - | N/A | instant |
| Mastercard | - | N/A | instant |
| Apple Pay | - | N/A | N/A |
| Bank Transfer | - | N/A | instant |
| American Express | - | N/A | N/A |
| Skrill | - | N/A | N/A |
| PayNearMe | - | N/A | N/A |
| VIP Preferred | - | N/A | instant |
| Play+ | - | N/A | instant |
| Discover | - | N/A | N/A |
| Wire Transfer | - | N/A | N/A |
| Cash | - | N/A | instant |
| Venmo | - | N/A | instant |
Security
For security, BetMGM offers HTTPS connectivity, and whenever I’ve used the site or app, there’s always been SSL encryption. When I wrote this BetMGM sportsbook review, there was an active SSL certificate provided by E7/Let’s Encrypt.
The site also includes all the expected documentation, including banking info, general terms of service, a privacy policy, customer rights documents, and bonus terms and conditions.
Customer support
BetMGM offers live chat, email, and telephone support, plus a help center. I mainly stick with the live chat as this is where you can get the quickest replies, however, I think the telephone and help center support options are great too.
Many times I’ve been stuck on something and headed to the help center - it’s fully searchable and has loads of great advice. I do think they could make the live chat more accessible though, as you have to open the contact page to find it.
Responsible gambling
I advocate for responsible gambling, and I want you all to stay safe and in control. So, for this BetMGM review, I looked at the tools they offer. I’ve used them on my own account, and I know that you’ve got deposit limits, reality checks, time outs, and self-exclusion periods.
I always have daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits set, and I think this is arguably one of the best ways to stay in control. The reality checks are also really helpful, as it is easy to zone out when you’re making bets.
Did BetMGM give me a smooth user experience?
As with my Caesars review, I want to share with you my experiences of the usability at the BetMGM sportsbook. Overall, I think the desktop website is excellent, and the mobile apps are among the best I’ve ever tried.
The desktop website works flawlessly
The desktop website uses the classic black, gold, and white MGM color scheme, and I think this is good for text readability. The theme isn’t the most stylish, but it does the job, and it's great to see that the site prioritizes user experience. You can switch between the live and prematch bets using the top menu links, and then depending on which section of the site you’re using, the sub categories are listed in a scrollable horizontal menu below that.
For instance, on the BetMGM sportsbook, it shows the list of sports in that menu. The layout of the sportsbook works great, and if you’ve used any type of online betting site before, you should be able to understand the flow. On the left, you have popular bets and sports categories, in the middle is the main betting content, and on the right is your bet slip.
It’s just easy to use and navigate. I think sometimes the page speeds could be improved, and I have had some issues with lag, but these are only minor and certainly don’t negatively impact your experience too much. I’ve never seen any technical issues though like 404 errors, and I think they’ve done a good job of organizing the large amount of sports betting information.
There’s apps for both Android and iOS devices
Premium betting on the go with BetMGM
Bet the easy way with BetMGM mobile app
I'd recommend that you download the BetMGM betting app, either for Android or iOS devices.
To give you an idea of the quality, I checked out the ratings for the apps. The Google Play Store version has a 4.2 star rating from over 37,000 reviews, and it’s one of the top-ranked apps on the store for sportsbooks. The reviews generally point towards the good betting selection and the superb welcome bonus.
Similarly, the iOS app has a 4.8 star rating, from over 244,000 reviews! I was shocked at this and it’s easily one of the highest-rated betting apps I’ve seen. I personally use the Android app on my Samsung Galaxy, and I’ve always enjoyed using it. The menus load quickly, you can browse through the sports easily, and I love the mobile in-play betting experience.
How I rate the BetMGM sportsbook
Enjoy Seamless betting with BetMGM.
Track and bet live with BetMGM
Like with my DraftKings review, I spent the most time looking at the actual MGM betting setup to see what sports fans have to look forward to. Let’s start by looking at the support sports, which at the time of creating this BetMGM sportsbook review, include the following:
Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Biathlon, Boxing, Chess, Cricket, Cross Country, Cycling, Darts, Football, Formula 1, Gaelic Games, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Lacrosse, MMA, Motorsport, NASCAR, Olympics, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Ski Jumping, Snooker, Soccer, Specials, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball.
This is a great list, and even if you’re focused on just a few sports, it’s great to have this variety. In terms of leagues, events, and tournaments within those sports, I’ve always been impressed by the variety too. For example, soccer fans can bet on some of the following competitions:
- EPL.
- The Championship.
- La Liga.
- La Liga 2.
- Bundesliga.
- Champions League.
- FIFA World Cup.
- Ligue 1.
- Coppa America.
You’ve basically got all the main leagues and events, plus plenty of 2nd and 3rd-tier competitions. You’ve then got the actual betting options, and in a broad generalization, you can make single picks, parlays, and same game parlays for most events. There’s also pre-match and in-play betting for all sports.
Drilling down to the individual matches, I’m a big fan of their player and team props bets, especially for the NBA. I often like to make Same Game Parlay picks on NBA games and pick stars like Doncic, Giannis, and Shai for their main stats categories. To give you an example, for the Warriors vs Lakers season opener that was upcoming when I wrote this BetMGM review, you had the following props options:
- Luka Doncic over/under 31.5 points.
- Steph Curry over/under 25.5 points.
- Austin Reaves over/under 5.5 assists.
- Draymond Green over/under 4.5 assists.
There really is a great selection, and that’s just an example from the NBA. Most of the other major sports all have solid props options.
Lastly, I wanted to point out the excellent live betting setup BetMGM has. You’ve got live betting for all the supported sports, and each game has loads of stats and tracking information to help with making your picks.
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Conclusion - how does BetMGM rank against the competition?
That wraps up this BetMGM sportsbook review, and I hope you’ve found it useful. As you can see, whether you’re into football, basketball, hockey or baseball, this operator has something for everyone. I think the sportsbook particularly shines due to its fantastic range of support sports, frequent bet boost tokens, and extensive in-play setup, and it’s certainly one of the better options for US bettors.
In terms of improvements, there’s a few minor things like some page speeds and usability, BUT, they will not take away from your experience whether you’re using the BetMGM desktop sites or apps. If you’re ready to give this standout sportsbook a try for yourself, you can use any of the banners or links on this page to get signed up and get your $1,000 risk-free first bet welcome bonus.
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BetMGM FAQs
Is BetMGM legit?
Yes! I’ve got no doubts about the legitimacy of this online sportsbook and I’ve been a customer here for years. It’s licensed in the states it operates in and has competitive sportsbook odds compared with other top sites.
Where is BetMGM available?
The BetMGM sportsbook is available in 24 states which are as follows: Arizona, Colorado, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Can you win real money at the BetMGM sportsbook?
Of course. You have to make winning bets, but there is the chance to get real money payouts, by doing so.
Is there a BetMGM betting app?
Yes. You can get a BetMGM app for Android or iOS devices. Both apps have high ratings from their relevant stores and will give you a reliable betting experience.
