The inaugural season of the USFL is about to begin! This new league will play a 10-week season along with two weeks for the playoffs. It’s a great way to satisfy our hunger for football in the spring.
Since it’s a brand new league, it’s a terrific opportunity for you to gain an edge with sports betting because the market won’t be as sharp as it is for the NFL. With that in mind, let’s dive in to explore what you need to look for when choosing a USFL betting site.
Benefits of Betting on Football Online
Betting on football online optimizes the experience because of its convenience. You’re able to place your wager from the comfort of your own home on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device. You can even put in a bet while watching the game with friends at your favorite sports bar. All it takes is the click of a few buttons.
Choosing a betting site also helps build your bankroll because online sportsbooks offer lucrative welcome bonuses along with weekly promotions to put you in the best position to succeed in this venture. These pages are organized in a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to place a wager.
Going the online route works perfectly with live betting, where you’re required to make a quick decision because the odds continuously update in real-time. This is something that can’t be done with in-person betting.
If you want the perfect sports betting experience, betting on football online is the way to go.
What is the USFL?
The USFL stands for the United States Football League, unrelated to the league of the same name that operated from 1983 to 1985. However, they do own the trademarks, so each team has similar or identical branding to its original. It’s the latest spring league that looks to capitalize on a market full of fans starving for some football.
The league consists of eight teams that will compete in a 10-week season that will run from April 16 to June 19. There will also be playoffs that consist of two divisional matchups and one championship game.
FOX Sports has a minority stake in the USFL, which will be one of its televised stations. There are a few familiar faces involved, such as former NFL coaches Jeff Fisher and Todd Haley, who will be head coaches of their respective teams.
Former XFL star quarterback Jordan Ta’amu headlines the notable players, along former NFL prospects like wide receivers Taywan Taylor and Eli Rogers, as well as quarterbacks Kyle Lauletta and Kyle Sloter. Perhaps one of these players will shine in the USFL and earn a new NFL contract.
It’ll be nice to have some football to watch to tie us over before the NFL season resumes in the fall.
USFL Teams
There are eight teams in the USFL:
- Birmingham Stallions
- Houston Gamblers
- Michigan Panthers
- New Jersey Generals
- New Orleans Breakers
- Philadelphia Stars
- Pittsburgh Maulers
- Tampa Bay Bandits
Best USFL Betting Sites
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook started out as a daily fantasy sports platform before emerging into one of the most successful betting sites in the country. It is often one of the first operators to set up shop in new markets.
You’ll find a user-friendly experience with an abundance of bet types, including several player props. There are also helpful promos such as odds boosts, giving you more value on your bets.
The site has a separate section for USFL that includes point spread, moneyline, totals, and futures bets. We can project an inclusion of player props as the season progresses and more data becomes available on players.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook began as a pioneer in the daily fantasy sports space, but it’s now considered as the most popular operator in the United States. Renowned for its functionality, FanDuel is a great choice for USFL betting.
The site created Same Game Parlays, which allows users to combine several bet types from the same event for higher payouts. This is a market that has spread like wildfire throughout the industry.
You can currently only place USFL bets on traditional markets, but you can be assured that FanDuel will eventually offer single-game parlays for you to enjoy.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook carries a reputable brand that became a giant in the iGaming industry following the purchase of popular European operator William Hill in 2021. Users can feel at ease depositing funds into their account at such a trusted sportsbook.
You’ll enjoy some of the most lucrative welcome bonuses in the industry at Caesars, including multiple weekly promotions to get you more bang for your buck on your wagers.
The site’s USFL section features each game and futures bets. We can likely expect odds boosts and promos as the USFL season progresses.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook was created out of a partnership between MGM Resorts and Entain Holdings, forming one of the most trusted operators in the country.
The site has an organized layout and sleek aesthetic that optimizes the user experience. There is a detailed live-betting platform that provides live streaming on selected events, allowing you to sweat your bet as you watch.
The traditional betting markets are all available for USFL at BetMGM, so you’ll have everything you’ll need to enjoy this experience.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet Sportsbook was created in Australia but has been able to establish a foothold in the United States because of its innovative platform.
The site has its own bet type, known as PointsBetting. This is where users can potentially win more if their selection has a higher winning margin and vice versa if it loses. It’s an intense form of betting that provides even more excitement for its high-risk, greater reward approach.
You could gain an edge betting USFL on PointsBetting, as the markets won’t be as sharp, especially in the early going, when there isn’t any data on the teams involved.
How To Pick the Best USFL Betting Sites
Remember to establish criteria to help guide you in your choice for USFL betting sites, such as the following:
User Interface
It’s important that the site is easily accessible with an organized layout. You want it to be easy to find your desired betting market. There shouldn’t be any issues with crashing or lagging. Having a site with a functional platform is integral to an enjoyable betting experience.
Odds
The site should have fair odds that align with the rest of the industry. You don’t want to be paying extra on the moneyline. For example, some sites might charge -115 instead of the standard -110 on point spreads. While this may seem like a small number, it adds up in the long run.
Promotions
Promotions help put you in a better position to succeed because they give you more value on your wagers. For example, odds boosts can enhance the moneyline from -140 to +100. That extra 40 cents is a $40 difference on a $100 bet, which can be extremely helpful for your bankroll.
Signup Bonuses
Signup bonuses add bet credits into your account, which can be used for more winnings. The best are first-deposit offers, which only require you to put funds into your balance for the bonus, or second-chance bets, which refund your initial bet if it loses. Each offer is matched or covered up to a maximum, so you’ll want to prioritize sites that are capped at a larger number. For example, you could have a 100% deposit bonus up to $500 or second-chance bet with a maximum of $1,000.
Bet Types
It’s good to have a site that has an expansive selection of bet types for the USFL. You’ll want point spreads, moneylines, totals, and futures. As the season goes on, player props will emerge, which is an area where you can gain an edge because of the minimal data that is currently available. Be sure to check in on your sportsbook to see if they add USFL props.
Payment Methods
You want the payment process to be as convenient as possible, so choosing a site with multiple payment methods is imperative. Check in to make sure that there are plenty of options for you, whether with deposits or withdrawals.
Customer Support
Customer support needs to be helpful and accessible. It should be easy to find their ‘Help’ section and it needs to be available on multiple platforms. Live chat is preferred because it allows for an immediate resolution to any potential issues.
Why You Should Avoid Illegal Betting Sites
You need to avoid illegal betting sites because of the following reasons:
Payment Methods
Offshore sportsbooks usually have limited payment methods with longer processing times for withdrawals. This makes it a much more inconvenient process. You may even see that the payment comes up under a different identity on your bank statement, which makes it feel shady.
Odds and Promotions
A common problem with offshore sites is that their odds don’t align with the rest of the betting market. You’ll often see inflated moneylines, which gives you less value on your wager. There is also a limited selection of promos, such as odds boosts and welcome bonuses.
User Interface
Illegal betting sites often do not feature a mobile app, which makes them less functional. You want your site to operate at a high speed and that simply is not the case with offshore sites.
Customer Support
You won’t find as expansive of a customer support team on offshore sites. Live chats often have longer wait times if they are even available. This makes it difficult to resolve any issue. You may even find that your bets take longer to be settled, waiting hours after the game has finished. It’s a frustrating experience, especially if you want to use those winnings on another wager.
Where Can I Legally Bet on the USFL Online?
You can bet on online on the USFL in the following states:
Current Legal Online Betting Locations
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington D.C
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
USFL Betting Site Welcome Offers to Keep in Mind
Keep the following welcome bonuses in mind, as they are helpful for your bankroll. Remember to check in on the terms and conditions because each offer comes with wagering requirements.
No Deposit Bonus
This is a bonus that you receive after signing up for an account. There is no need to deposit any funds. It’s good to use as a trial run before you decide whether you want to proceed with that sportsbook. No-deposit bonuses are usually in smaller figures, ranging from $5 to $20.
First-Deposit Match
A new-player offer where the sportsbook matches your first deposit up to a maximum amount in bet credits. For example, if the first deposit bonus is capped at $1,000 and you put that into your balance, you’ll receive an additional $1,000. This is the best welcome bonus available on the market.
Second-Chance Bet
This is where your first bet is insured up to a maximum number if it loses. For example, if your second-chance bet is up to $500 and your initial wager is $500, you’ll get back $500 in bet credits if your bet doesn’t win. The bet credits are dispersed either as one bet in the same amount or in smaller denominations, depending on the site. It’s a great because it eliminates the financial risk from your wager.
Bet & Get
A bonus where new users are provided with bet credits just for placing a wager on an assigned market. This is done to generate interest into a specific marquee event or new league, like the USFL. An example of a Bet & Get promo can be, “Bet at least $25 on a USFL moneyline game and receive $100 in bet credits."
Choose More Than One USFL Betting Site
It’s important to choose more than one USFL betting site so that you can take full advantage of the perks that each sportsbook has to offer.
For one, you can obtain several welcome bonuses, inflating your bankroll with bet credits that can be used for more potential winnings. Remember, these are one-time offers, so try your best to come as close to the maximum as possible with deposit bonuses and second-chance bets.
You can also compare odds when you’re with more than one site. For example, FanDuel might have the Houston Gamblers at +4.5, but they could be +3.5 at BetMGM. In that case, you’d get more value in choosing FanDuel for that specific bet.
Some sites might be better in certain areas, like live-betting, which also makes them good to use. They often even have odds boosts on different events. For example, one team might be boosted to +130 at one site, but remain at regular odds at another. Always take advantage of these discrepancies.
Signing up for multiple sites is a great start in your USFL betting venture.
