The United States Open Golf Championship is one of the marquee events on the sports calendar.
The third major on the pro-golf calendar always ends on Father’s Day, barring an 18-home playoff the Monday after. Although it is often the highest-scoring major, it is annually played at some of the most scenic and legendary courses in the country and provides drama almost every year as well.
Because of its traditionally long rough, and the fact inconsistent weather can wreak havoc on courses, the U.S. Open is one of the hardest golf events to successfully bet.
But if you’re brave enough to give it a shot, we’re here to help.
Benefits of Betting on the US Open Online
The US Open is arguably the most anticipated golf tournament each year as the greatest players get challenged by the hardest course to see who will emerge victorious.
Wagering on the US Open used to be confined to Las Vegas, but with legal, online sports betting available in dozens of states, now is the best time to get in on the action and bet on the Open online.
The best part of betting on the US Open online is how convenient it is. Users can place their bets in the car (though please not while driving), in bed, on the couch or even in the bathroom.
Plus, with apps available essentially on every mobile device, it has never been easier to place live bets and other wagers while you’re running errands or checking things off your to-do list.
Plus, online sportsbooks give new users terrific welcome offers and even offer promos as odds boosts just for the US Open, which maxes out profits on those successful wagers.
Best US Open Betting Sites
There are no shortage of legal online betting sites to choose from, but here our favorite sportsbooks for betting on the PGA Tour.
BetMGM
BetMGM is a partner with the PGA Tour and has one of the best and most robust number of available markets for online betting on golf.
The site offers year-round odds for each of golf’s four majors, as well as events like the Ryder Cup, and provides a slew of boosts and bonuses for bettors interested specifically in wagering on the US Open.
The app offers trends and tips for bettors to make informed decisions and has a helpful live stream for certain marquee sporting events so users can watch the events on which they wager.
Plus, BetMGM has a great rewards program where bettors can cash in their points, which they receive just for placing bets in the app, for hotel credits at MGM Resorts worldwide.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook has a terrific user interface and an even better rewards program where users can earn loyalty points just by using the Caesars website and app, which each have the backing of popular British-based sportsbook William Hill.
Bettors can choose from a vast assortment of props and other markets, like whether there will be an albatross, hole-in-one or which player from a certain country will finish with the lowest score.
Plus, Caesars will curate boosted props and even offer cross-sport parlays, like a combination between the US Open and NBA Finals or MLB regular season, for bettors that are interested in monitoring both.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is the No. 1 operator in the United States and has a partnership with the PGA Tour, which makes it one of the best options for golf bettors nationwide.
It also gives bettors a wealth of prop options and is constantly innovating with features like Same-Game Parlays, where bettors can combine markets to get better odds, which are perfect for major sporting events like the US Open.
Enjoy a diverse selection of betting markets within a user-friendly interface at FanDuel.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook has an extremely accessible platform, offers hundreds of betting markets on every golf event — including the US Open — and allows bettors to develop their own same-game parlays with the easy toggle of a button.
Plus, it is the most widely available option in the U.S., where it’s legal in several states. Additionally, DraftKings regularly gives new users terrific welcome offers, like bet-and-gets, that center around marquee sporting events like the US Open, which makes them more lucrative and fun to bet on.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook is probably the most informative sportsbook, which makes it an awesome option for new and novice bettors.
Users can search by name to determine how each player has performed at the US Open course, which in 2023 is The Country Club in Los Angeles, California, while also assessing each player’s play in tournaments leading up to the Open.
BetRivers has competitive odds and a slew of markets but also has a helpful glossary that explains terms that new bettors might not know but are too intimidated to ask.
How To Pick the Best US Open Betting Sites
Any of the sites listed above are great for betting on the US Open. But here are a few ways to further narrow down the field while trying to choose your preferred sportsbook.
- Welcome Bonuses: For new bettors, a welcome bonus is the gift that keeps on giving. Great welcome bonuses enable bettors some time to play on each app and website before needing to deposit a second time. We’ll discuss the best offers below, but be sure to choose one that is most conducive to your playing style.
- Odds: The best odds give bettors the largest payout. We bet on sports to try and win money, and sometimes the best sites are simply the ones that offer the best odds.
- Boosts: Same as odds-shopping, odds boosts are a way sportsbooks distinguish themselves. Each sportsbook will boost a prop or individual player’s odds at executing an event — like if Rory McIlroy’s odds to finish top-2o are -110 then they might be +100 or longer at one sportsbook. Boosts are typically one-shot deals confined to one sportsbook, so if you love a bet and the odds are boosted it’s super-important to take advantage.
- Functionality: We want a sportsbook that can make our bets happen quickly. Odds change at a rapid pace, especially while the action is happening, which is why having a sportsbook that enables you to log in and place your bet with lightning-quick speed is essential.
- Banking Methods: If we want to win money while betting we want to be able to get our money as soon as possible too, right? Find a sportsbook that lets you transfer your money in minutes, not days.
Best US Open Bets You Can Make
Because the US Open is so unpredictable along with the fact that online sportsbooks offer hundreds of markets for major golf tournaments, betting on the event can be overwhelming. But here are some bets to target.
- Cut Specials: Sportsbooks will give odds on any or all of three players to advance to the weekend. If each player qualifies your bet hits. Some sportsbooks will even provide a bet-and-get that gives playable funds to new users who opt in and bet a certain amount on any of three players to finish above the cutline.
- Finishing Positions: Do you want to root for Scottie Scheffler to play well but aren’t sure he can win? Bet on him, or any of the other players you prefer, to finish among the top-10 or top-20 with plus-money odds that aren’t as long as betting them to win.
- Multiple Players to Win: Suppose you want to cash in on the tournament winner. Make sure to wager on a few players to win since if any of them do you’ll more than make up the amount lost on the others.
Live Betting on the US Open
Because strange things can happen, especially at the US Open, I can completely understand wanting to assess the tournament landscape before wagering. That’s why Live betting, or in-game wagering, is crucial, especially at golf events that go on for four days.
Live betting is a smart way to get better odds, either longer or shorter, on an event than at the outset. But make sure to bet quickly as those odds change fast.
Betting Site Offers to Keep in Mind
The US Open attracts golf bettors from around the country. If you’re interested in getting out from behind the ropes and into the action here are some offers to be aware of.
No-Deposit Bonus/Free Bet
No-deposit bonuses are basically free money sportsbooks offer just for signing up. They are typically reserved for the online casino space, but online sportsbooks have been known to throw a small amount of funds (usually between $5-$20) to users just for signing up.
Free bets are typically reserved for players who have signed up, deposited and continued to play with an individual sportsbook. But they are also helpful promos to take advantage of since there is no stake put up and bettors still profit if their free bet wins.
First-Deposit Bonus
The first-deposit bonus is my personal favorite new-user promo since it essentially doubles a player’s funds without forcing them to put out more money than he/she wants.
Many sportsbooks offer some form of deposit bonus — the best is a 100% match — during various points of the sports calendar, including during marquee events like the US Open. These promos are worth taking advantage of every time since they enhance a player’s bankroll.
The only caveat is bettors must wager through the bonus a certain number of times before they withdraw and often a bettor must use the bonus funds in a certain amount of time, usually up to 30 days.
Second-Chance Bet
Risk-free bets, also known as First Bet Insurance or No Sweat First Bet, are essentially wagers that are reimbursed if they fail, and they are among the most popular new-signup promos that sportsbooks offer.
There are two types of second-chance bets: those that reimburse with site credit and bets that pay back in a second bet the same amount as the first. The best type of second-chance bet is that which reimburses with site credit since it enables you as a bettor more time to play on the site instead of potentially losing all of your money on two bets.
Bet & Get
Bet and gets are relatively new but are becoming more widely available every day. Sportsbooks will usually roll out some bet and get around marquee sporting events like the US Open.
This is where they invite bettors to spend a small amount, typically between $1-$10, on a likely outcome that will pay out site credit, usually about $200, whether the initial wager wins or loses.
Bet and gets will usually either pay in site credit or in free bets, like five free $40 bets or 10 free $20 wagers. New users usually need to deposit at least $10 for the bet and get to be activated, but these offers are great options for new bettors hoping to raise their playable funds without putting much money.
Where Can I Legally Bet on the US Open Online?
Here is a list of states where you can bet on the US Open, and golf in general, in the US.
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Why You Should Avoid Illegal Betting Sites
There once was a time where unregulated, illegal sports betting sites were the only way to bet on sports from anywhere other than Las Vegas. But those days are behind us. As legal and regulated online sportsbooks become more ubiquitous, it has never been easier or more convenient to get in the game.
So why use an offshore betting site and its bad odds, small number of deposit/withdraw options and virtually no customer service when you can get boosts, dozens of markets and a terrific welcome offer that boosts your playable funds?
Steer clear of these sites because they don’t offer the same types of benefits as regulated operators, such as DraftKings.
Choose More Than One US Open Betting Site
As referenced above, it’s always important to have money in multiple sports betting sites. Some online sportsbooks aren’t legal and available in every state, meaning if you travel across state lines your preferred betting site may not be active.
Plus, with money in multiple accounts you can shop for odds and peruse boosts and other promos that each book offers to max out your profit on your US Open betting.
You’re also able to take advantage of multiple welcome bonuses by having accounts across different sites. This is a great way to build your bankroll.
