Placing your first NFL bet online takes about ten minutes once your account is funded — the steps are the same whether you open at DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM. This guide walks through each stage so nothing surprises you on game day.
Step 1: Confirm You're in a Legal State
Before you download an app, check that online sports betting is legal where you physically are. As of 2025, legal states include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Colorado, and many others. You don't need to be a resident — you just need to be inside a legal state's borders when you wager, which the sportsbook verifies via geolocation technology.
The full picture is covered in the Legal NFL Betting by State: Where You Can Wager Online Right Now guide, which lists every state, its regulator, and the licensed operators available there.
Step 2: Choose a Licensed Sportsbook
Stick to licensed operators — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, ESPN Bet, and BetRivers are among the most widely available. Licensed books are legally required to guarantee payouts and maintain responsible-gaming tools; offshore, unlicensed sites carry none of those obligations.
Lines on the same NFL game can differ across books — one might post a team as a 1-point favorite while another does not — so I typically keep accounts at two or three to shop NFL bet lines across DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM before committing.
Step 3: Create Your Account
- Download the app or visit the desktop site.
- Enter personal details: legal name, address, date of birth, last four of your Social Security number (standard KYC verification).
- Verify your identity: most books confirm automatically; occasionally you'll upload a photo ID.
- Enable location services so geolocation can confirm you're inside a legal state.
Minimum age is 21 in most states; Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. permit wagering at 18, though individual sportsbooks may still require 21 regardless of state law.
Step 4: Deposit Funds
Common deposit methods at licensed US sportsbooks include online banking (ACH/e-check) and PayPal. The specific options and any minimums vary by operator, so check the cashier section of your chosen book after signup. I treat my deposit as an entertainment budget — money I'm prepared to spend, not money I need back.
Step 5: Claim a Welcome Bonus (Optional but Read the Fine Print)
Most sportsbooks surface a welcome offer during signup or on first deposit. Fanatics Sportsbook, for example, offered new Michigan bettors up to $1,000 in FanCash. Every welcome offer comes with rollover requirements, minimum-odds restrictions, and expiration dates that limit how easily you convert bonus funds to cash. The NFL Sportsbook Welcome Bonuses: Reading the Fine Print Before You Claim guide explains what each term means and how to evaluate whether an offer is genuinely valuable.
Step 6: Find Your Game and Read the Bet Line
Navigate to the NFL section and select a game. You'll see three core line types displayed side by side: the spread, the moneyline, and the over/under total. Standard spread and totals bets are typically priced at -110 on each side — meaning you stake $110 to profit $100 — which is how the sportsbook builds in its margin. At that price, you need to win roughly 52.4% of your bets just to break even, a threshold worth internalizing before you bet. For a deeper dive, see The Vig Explained: Why -110 Means You Must Win 52.4% to Break Even.
If you're unsure what the numbers mean, How to Read NFL Bet Lines: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough covers spreads, moneylines, and totals with examples.
Step 7: Add a Selection to Your Bet Slip and Confirm
- Tap the odds box for the outcome you want (e.g., the favorite's spread at -110). It populates your bet slip.
- Enter your stake — the amount you want to wager. The slip calculates your potential payout automatically.
- Review everything: team, line, stake, and projected return.
- Tap "Place Bet" to confirm. You'll receive a confirmation number — screenshot it.
If the line shifts between when you open the slip and when you confirm, most books will alert you and ask you to accept the new price or cancel.
What Happens After the Game
Winning bets are credited to your account balance shortly after the final whistle. If the margin of victory exactly matches a whole-number spread, the result is a push and your original stake is refunded. For context on why half-point hooks matter — especially around the key numbers 3 and 7 — see Key Numbers in NFL Betting: How a Half-Point Hook Changes Everything.
Once your balance builds, withdrawal methods mirror your deposit options; processing times and minimums vary by operator and are listed in each book's cashier section.
Must be 21+ (18+ in select states). If gambling becomes a problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. For further reading on NFL bet lines — from understanding American vs. decimal odds formats to tracking NFL line movement from open to kickoff — the rest of this site has you covered. You can also find answers to common questions at the NFL Bet Lines FAQ.
For responsible-gambling guidance, Responsible Gambling's NFL betting-lines guide is a trustworthy external resource.