Your Guide to Minimum Deposit Betting Sites in the US

Having a wager on your team this weekend doesn’t need to cost you your paycheck with these minimum deposit sportsbooks.

If you feel like that, you need a legal online sportsbook that will accept small deposits. Fortunately, some of the biggest and best names in sports betting will welcome small bettors by requiring between $5 and $25 in minimum deposits. Whether you are new to sports betting or just want to put a little on Sunday’s match, plenty of great sportsbooks will open their doors to you and may even give you a little welcome bonus code for joining.

Lowest Deposit Betting Sites: Top 5

1. DraftKings Sportsbook
2. PointsBet Sportsbook
3. BetMGM Sportsbook
4. Caesars Sportsbook
5. FanDuel Sportsbook

Legal US Betting Sites with Low Minimum Deposits

🏈 Sportsbook	✅ Visit	💵 Minimum Deposit	🎁 Welcome Bonus*	💳 Banking Methods
DraftKings	Sign Up	$5	20% Up To $1,000 Deposit Bonus	Cash at Cage Pay+ Credit/Debit Card PayPal
FanDuel	Sign Up	$10	No Sweat First Bet – Get Up To $1,000 in free bets if your first bet doesn’t win.	Cash at Cage Pay+ Credit/Debit Card PayPal
Caesars	Sign Up	$10	Up To $1,250 in bet credits.	Cash at Cage Pay+ Credit/Debit Card PayPal
PointsBet	Sign Up	$5	Up to $100 in free bets back if your first bet each day for the first five days doesn’t win	Cash at Cage Pay+ Credit/Debit Card PayPal
BetMGM	Sign Up	$10	$1,000 Bonus Bet	Cash at Cage Pay+ Credit/Debit Card PayPal

*Welcome bonuses can vary from state to state, so check on the operator’s site to see which offer you can claim before registering.

America loves its sport like few other nations in the world. From the Super Bowl, which drew in almost 100 million football fans in 2022, to baseball, which is so popular it’s known as “the national pastime”, through basketball and hockey; the competitive drive of the American people is a fundamental part of their cultural identity.

And no question putting a wager on a game you care about adds a little thrill and makes you feel like you’re part of the action. Becoming more invested in the outcome. But most of us just want to spice up our viewing pleasure a little. We’re not looking to risk serious money. Hundreds of dollars riding on the outcome would make watching more of an anxiety-inducing experience than a pleasure.

All you need to do is ensure you pick the right sportsbook before registering. Not all sports betting operators allow low deposit thresholds. And many of those who do are illegal offshore sportsbooks. These sites may offer tiny deposit options but are not subject to any regulation. Any information you give to them may get sold on, and you should not expect these businesses to treat players fairly.

And that’s why you’re a smart player already because you’ve found your way to our site first. We will guide you to safe, legal gambling operators who allow low deposits: no need to risk your money and personal information playing with offshore crooks. We can help you find the most reputable operators happy to take small bets.

Best Small Betting Sites in the US

Now, let’s head into our reviews of small betting sites with deposits as low as $5.

1.🥇DraftKings Sportsbook: $5 Minimum Deposit

DraftKings was an internationally renowned brand long before it moved into the sportsbook market. They are one of two brands that have come to dominate the Daily Fantasy Sports market. DraftKings Sportsbook has become such a significant player in this market that few other fantasy sports brands have gained any traction or public recognition.

DraftKings has drawn on that experience when entering the legal US sports betting market. They are licensed in more states than any other minimum deposit sportsbook app that we are looking at. They offer the lowest minimum deposit limits of any of the most popular online sportsbooks we list at only $5. So if you’re looking to stretch a buck and get some action on today’s game but want to ensure that you are only gambling what you can afford, DraftKings online sportsbook offers one of the best available options.

Alongside sports betting and daily fantasy sports competitions, DraftKings also holds online casino licenses in 4 of the 6 states regulating online casino gambling. This means that DraftKings offers players the flexibility to access different types of gambling that few other providers can offer. If you’re a horse racing fan and want to get into micro bets or pool betting, you can also check out the DK Horse Racebook app.

2. 🥈FanDuel Sportsbook: $10 Minimum Deposit

FanDuel is the other Daily Fantasy Sports operator. FanDuel and DraftKings account for more than 90% of the US daily fantasy sports market, leaving less than 10% of the market to be divided between all other DFS operators. With that kind of pedigree behind them, it’s little surprise that FanDuel was quick to enter the legal online sportsbook market when it opened up.

With sports betting licenses in over 16 states, FanDuel Sportsbook is already available in most states that have licensed online betting. They are one of the dominant brands in the market, and their profile is only likely to grow as more states license.

FanDuel offers a slightly higher limit of 10 dollar minimum deposit. This minimum is a little higher than some of the sportsbooks we list here but is still likely low enough that most players will be comfortable with this limitation.

FanDuel also offers a well-respected online casino option, available in 4 of the 6 states that offer legal online casinos. So if you are lucky enough to live in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, or West Virginia, you’ll also have the option to try your favorite casino games at the same time as betting on your favorite sports teams.

3. 🥉Caesars Sportsbook: $10 Minimum Deposit

Caesars is one of the most recognizable brands in gambling. Full stop. Caesars Entertainment is one of the most recognizable brands in gambling and can fairly be described as a household name. Few other operators can claim the level of prestige and standing that Caesars has. With nearly 50 offline casinos and resorts spread across the US, Canada, and the UK, very few online sportsbooks have the history and market experience that Caesars brings to the table.

Caesars Sportsbook and its dedicated sports betting app are already licensed in over 15 states, allowing millions of Americans to access a legal and regulated online betting site any time of the day or night, straight from their mobile phone. packed full of features like cash out, in-game wagering, and hundreds of betting markets, it’s not hard to see why the book is so popular with US bettors.

With a minimum deposit of $10, the Caesars app is a little more expensive than a couple of the sportsbooks on our list but is still well within the affordability range for most sports fans.

It’s also worth remembering that the Caesars Reward program allows you to earn comp points not only for your play online but in any of their resorts as well. So any play you engage in online could help cover the cost of your hotel on your next holiday.

4. PointsBet Sportsbook: $5 Minimum Deposit

Originally founded in Australia in 2015, PointsBet is unique in our list, having made a name for themselves purely in the online sports betting marketplaces. The Pointsbet app offers players a unique betting system where rather than just a win or a loss, wagers are paid out based on how close their prediction was to accurate.

This unique wagering system has allowed PointsBet to grow into a unique position in the market. This is a high-risk form of betting, if the results deviate substantially from your selected guess, you can win or lose far more than your actual bet, but it certainly seems to have captured the interest of lots of US sports bettors and has successfully allowed PointsBet to secure a significant market share in amongst some huge and very well established brands.

PointsBet Sportsbook offers a minimum deposit value of $5. This is the joint lowest minimum deposit sportsbook we have looked at on this page and ensures that whoever you are, you can play at a level that you are comfortable with. Not only that, they are one of the fastest payout sportsbooks available, so they are ideal for those who want to bet small, and get their winnings back quickly.

5. BetMGM Sportsbook: $10 Minimum Deposit

Alongside Caesars, BetMGM represents one of the megabrands of the gambling industry. Not quite as old as Caesars, MGM Resorts International still has 35+ years of experience, employs almost 75k people, has annual revenue in the tens of billions range, and operates some of the biggest and best-known casino resorts in the world. They are unquestionably one of the best-established gambling operators in the market today.

The BetMGM sportsbook app already holds licenses to accept players from 16 states and has also picked up a license for the first state in Canada to regulate Ontario. So a legal online betting site can be accessed from states all over the US quickly and easily from iOS or Android mobile phones.

BetMGM sportsbook has a $10 minimum deposit amount. This isn’t the lowest amount on our list, but it is competitively low. Feel free to deposit only what you are comfortable with when playing with BetMGM.

Alongside this, the MGM Rewards program allows players to earn rewards for playing online on their mobile app or offline at their resorts and casinos. So your play online could help you get discounted or free hotel rooms next time you take a trip to one of their many offline locations.

What is Considered a Low Minimum Deposit for Betting?

What constitutes a low minimum deposit sportsbook will vary from player to player, depending on what you feel is an affordable betting level. But certain standard levels across the industry define some sportsbooks as having low minimum deposits. These sportsbooks are more friendly to small bettors, facilitating all betting levels rather than dismissing players who only want to place a small wager on Sunday’s match.

Generally, it is typical for betting apps to require a minimum deposit of $20 but minimum deposit amounts vary. As such, we’ve looked to find sportsbooks that will allow you a smaller deposit than this, but we didn’t spot any $1 minimum deposit sportsbook. We view any sportsbook that allows a minimum deposit of $10 or less to be a considered minimum deposit sportsbook site and a great place to start for anyone who is just starting out wagering on sports. Why risk more money than you have to before you’ve even figured out how you want to play?

Why You Can Trust Minimum Deposit Betting Sites We Recommend

We’ve gone to great lengths to recommend some of the minimum deposit sportsbook sites. But why should you trust the opinions that we give? There are hundreds of sites out there recommending gambling operators to players, many giving terrible advice and sending players through to sportsbooks that will not treat them well. What makes us different?

We only promote licensed small betting sites

The black market has been thriving in the US ever since the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act was enacted in 2006. This illegalized online gambling in the United States of America. In response, a criminal market developed, full of gambling businesses subject to no regulation whatsoever. You can guess what happened next; these gambling operators started to cheat players and exploit gambling addiction.

Since then, many states have legalized various forms of online gambling. Sports betting, lotteries, online casinos, and even daily fantasy sports leagues – the availability of licensed and regulated online gambling is rapidly growing. However, the black market still exists and is still a severe threat to players.

We only work with licensed online betting sites. No exceptions. Any sportsbook you see discussed on this site will be fully licensed and has to answer to the regulatory authorities in the states they accept players from. They are subject to strict regulation and can face serious financial consequences if they fail to keep your personal information secure or do not take appropriate measures to protect vulnerable players. They have to cooperate with industry bodies to ensure that the sports events they allow bets on are fair and uncompromised. They have to be open and transparent with the agencies that oversee the financial integrity of their business practices.

The black market is the single biggest threat to any player. We only work with or recommend licensed betting operators. You should not trust any site willing to recommend unlicensed operators to players.

We ensure there is a variety of low minimum deposit banking methods

When we choose an online sportsbook to recommend, we ensure that the operator offers plenty of different options for depositing and withdrawing. Everyone has their preferences, and different situations will make one payment option or another more convenient. By ensuring that the operator offers lots of deposit options, we ensure that you can find one that best suits you.

We only recommend platforms with over 18 betting markets

If you’re going to join a sportsbook, you want to know that its coverage of the sports markets is comprehensive. It would be frustrating to sign up only to find that your favorite sport or team isn’t available to bet on. That’s why we select sportsbooks that cover a lot of different betting markets: to give you the options you are looking for. To ensure that you can get your bet out on your team and feel the thrill of winning with them.

And a range of betting options

The best sportsbooks offer a range of different betting options, allowing you to customize your bet. You should be able to choose a handicap bet or a specific score. Who scores first, or how long the match will take. Total points scored, or any of dozens of other options. Variety is the spice of life, and any sportsbook we recommend will offer you plenty of variety.

Our team secures free bets to boost your bankroll

Our team is constantly working on trying and getting you better promotions and offers from the book we work with. We work hard to get the online sportsbooks to offer our visitors something extra. So it’s always worth checking back with us to see what new deals are on offer, and often you will be able to get a better bonus by signing up through us than you will going directly to the sportsbook. Things like free bets come in handy in pretty much every situation, and especially so if you’re subscribed to a matched betting strategy.

Can I Bet Online without a Minimum Deposit?

It is very unusual for any legal online sportsbook in the US to allow players to place any bet without first making a deposit. Plenty will offer you free bets if you meet specific criteria, for instance, once you have wagered a certain amount or lost your first bet. But by and large, you must have placed some real money bets before gaining access to these types of offers.

This is not an absolute rule. Every once in a while, one of the sportsbooks will offer a no deposit free bet offer, so you should keep your eyes open for them, but we wouldn’t recommend waiting for one to turn up. You could be waiting for quite some time.

Betting Offers for Low Minimum Deposits

Even with low minimum deposits, it’s possible to get exciting small minimum deposit promotional offers that will help you get more entertainment out of your money.

The most common type of bonus offered by online sportsbooks in the US are bonus bets after a loss. It works like this; You deposit and place your first bet. If your bet loses, the sportsbook gives you a free bet to wager on another event of equal value. So if your first bet is $5, and you lose, you get a second chance with another $5 bet. Making your first bet a bonus bet.

Another common type of bonus is the deposit match. This means that the sportsbooks will add a bonus to your account when you make a deposit amounting to a specific percentage of your deposit. So if the bonus is 20% and you deposit $10, you’ll receive a bonus of $2 to play with.

Remember that all promotions will come with associated terms and conditions. Make sure you read the terms and conditions and follow them! You don’t want to be disappointed later when you don’t get paid because you didn’t follow the terms!

How to Start Betting with a Limited Bankroll

It’s really easy to start playing at a sports betting site with a small bankroll. Just follow these simple steps:

1) Select one of the sportsbooks in our list.

2) Click our link to move through to the sportsbook site.

3) You can play onsite via your web browser or download the sportsbook app. Whichever you prefer.

4) Click the register or join now button.

5) Fill out your account information.

6) The sportsbook will send a verification email to your email address. Be sure to check your spam folder!

7) Select your preferred deposit method. The one that’s most convenient for you.

8) Claim your sportsbook bonus. You may have to enter a bonus code, or the bonus may be awarded automatically.

Legal Banking Methods with Low Deposit Thresholds

So how do you deposit to the sportsbook now that you’ve selected one? For obvious reasons, online gambling operators look to make depositing funds to your account as quick and easy as possible, but there are still many banks that don’t accept betting transactions. Their business is you playing, so they want you to be able to get started immediately.

Below you can find brief descriptions of some of the banking options that are commonly available at legal US sportsbooks:

Cash at Cage: Legal online gambling operators must be partnered with an offline gambling retail operator in the state in which they are licensed. That means that you can go into the offline casino or sportsbook and make a deposit to your online account quickly and securely at their cash cage. You can also withdraw funds in the same way.

eChecks: An increasing number of sportsbooks have started accepting electronic checks or eChecks as a payment method. Through eChecks, you fund your sportsbook account directly from your checking account, with the main advantages of this payment method being security and convenience.

Credit or Debit Cards: Generally, you can deposit at the sportsbook’s cashier system using your credit or debit card. This is just the same as buying anything else online. You should note that American Express does not support payments to gambling businesses.

Play+: These are prepaid cards that you can get at the retail location associated with the sportsbook. Just load up the card, and you should be able to use them in your online account. Be aware that Play+ cards are tagged to one operator. You need a different Play+ card for each sportsbook.

PayPal: With almost 60% of Americans already holding a PayPal account, the gambling industry quickly embraced this payment method. Quick and secure, PayPal is the most popular of the ewallet services and allows you to deposit from your bank account or debit card without giving over your banking information to the sportsbook.

Wire Transfer: Most sportsbooks will facilitate an online bank transfer straight from your bank account. This quick and easy deposit method will also ensure you can cash out your winnings directly to your bank account.

Betting Tips and Strategies for Budget Betting on Small Betting Sites

1) Know before you play how much you are happy to spend.

2) Stick to that budget. Never dip into other funds to play.

3) Keep your gambling money separate from other money.

4) Bet small amounts – your money will last longer.

5) Try to keep your bets the same size. If you place larger bets on some events, you will likely experience more variance. You might win bigger, but you also risk depleting your bankroll quicker.

6) Avoid combination bets. Stick to straightforward one team/player to win or lose. Accumulator-type bets, where several teams have to win or several different events have to happen for you to win, not only increase the variance of the wager, they generally increase the advantage the sportsbook has over you.

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