From Opening Day in March to the World Series in October, baseball gives bettors more games to choose from than any other sport. With MLB Vegas odds available on 2,430 regular season games and action almost every day for seven months, there’s always a game to bet on.
But fans of nine MLB teams live in states without legal US sportsbooks, including California, Texas, and Georgia. That’s why so many baseball bettors use offshore sportsbooks, which accept players from all 50 states and cover every game, every day.
Below, we’ll show you the best MLB betting sites, how to sign up, and exactly how to bet on baseball, from moneylines and run lines to totals and parlays.
Best MLB Betting Sites
To bet on baseball, you need a sportsbook that covers every game and accepts players from your state. These are our top five MLB betting sites, all of which offer fully functional mobile sites, so you can bet from your phone without downloading an app:
Sportsbook ratings
BetOnline
RegionsAustraliaCanadaUnited States
No Strings Welcome Offer50% up to $250
Minimum deposit$10 Crypto
BetUS
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Welcome Bonus125% up to $2500
Minimum deposit$100
Lucky Rebel
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Welcome Bonus125% Free + 50 Free Spins
Minimum deposit$50
BetWhale
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Crypto Bonus200% up to $6000
Minimum deposit$20
BetAnything
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Free Play100% up to $500
Minimum deposit$20
How to Bet on MLB Games Online
With games almost every day during the season, it pays to have your account ready before you need it. Signing up only takes a few minutes.
Choose a sportsbook from our top five and click “claim now.” Fill in your details, create your login, and check the welcome offer while you’re there, since many bonuses need to be claimed with your first deposit.
Then fund your account through the cashier. Offshore books accept cards and crypto, and crypto is usually the fastest way to get money in and out.
PRO TIP: Starting lineups are usually posted a few hours before first pitch. If you’ve got funds ready in your account, you can bet the moment they’re confirmed, before the line moves.
How to Place a Bet on an MLB Game
Once your account is funded, it’s time to learn how to bet on baseball. Head to the baseball section and select MLB. Every game comes with three main betting options.
For this example, we’ve used the odds for a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves:
Moneyline
The moneyline is the most popular way to bet on baseball. You simply pick which team will win the game, including extra innings.
Here, the Phillies are slight favorites at -110, while the Braves are at +100, known as even money and making them slight underdogs. A $100 wager would win:
Phillies (-110): $90.91
Braves (+100): $100
Your stake is returned on top of your winnings, so a winning $100 bet on the Braves would pay back $200 in total.
Baseball moneylines are often this close. Over a 162-game season, even the best teams lose plenty of games, so you’ll rarely see the huge favorites you get in football.
Run Line
The run line is baseball’s version of the point spread, and it’s almost always set at 1.5 runs. Instead of moving the line, the sportsbook adjusts the odds.
Phillies (-1.5, +159): Your bet wins if the Phillies win by two runs or more. A $100 bet would win $159.
Braves (+1.5, -182): Your bet wins if the Braves win or lose by one run. A $100 bet would win $54.95.
So many baseball games are decided by a single run that backing the favorite on the run line usually pays plus money, even when they’re favored on the moneyline.
So if the Phillies win 4-3, the moneyline bet on Philadelphia wins, but so does the run line bet on Atlanta.
Total (Over/Under)
Totals betting is about how many runs both teams score combined, including extra innings. Here, the total is set at 7.5 runs.
Over 7.5 (+100): Your bet wins if there are eight runs or more. A $100 bet would win $100.
Under 7.5 (-120): Your bet wins if there are seven runs or fewer. A $100 bet would win $83.33.
Because the line ends in .5, there’s no chance of a push. In our 4-3 example, the seven total runs would make the under a winner.
Listed Pitchers: What You Need to Know
This is the one thing that catches out new baseball bettors. The odds on every MLB game are built around the two starting pitchers, and many sportsbooks tie your bet to them.
When you place a bet, you’ll often see the probable starters named alongside the odds. If one of those pitchers is scratched before the game, your bet may be voided, and your stake returned, because the odds would have been completely different with another pitcher on the mound.
Some sportsbooks let you choose “action” instead, which means your bet stands no matter who starts, at whatever the odds were when you placed it. Check your sportsbook’s settings or house rules before you bet.
How to Place an MLB Parlay Bet
If you want to bet on more than one game, you can combine your picks into a parlay. The odds multiply with every leg you add, so a small stake can return a big payout. The catch is that every pick has to win, or the whole bet loses.
To build one, click the odds for each pick you want, and they’ll be added to your bet slip. Then select the parlay option and enter your stake.
For example, if you combined three picks priced at -110 each, a $100 parlay would win around $596. If any one of those picks loses, though, the full $100 is gone.
If you split the same $100 into three $33.33 straight bets instead, you’d win $90.91 if all three came in. But if only two win, you’d still make a profit of $27.27. That’s the trade-off: straight bets give you a safety net, while a parlay gives you a much bigger payout for taking on more risk.
When to Bet on the MLB
Baseball odds move for a few key reasons, so timing your bet can get you a better price.
- The day before: Lines usually go up once the probable pitchers are announced. If you like a side early, this is often when you’ll get the best number.
- When lineups are posted: Starting lineups come out a few hours before first pitch. If a star hitter is resting, the line can move.
- Weather: Wind and temperature have a big effect on totals. Wind blowing out at an open-air ballpark can push the total up, while cold nights tend to favor the under.
If a game is delayed by rain, it usually needs to go at least five innings for moneyline bets to stand, while totals and run lines generally need the full game to be played. Check your sportsbook’s rules for the exact details.
Why Use Offshore Sites to Bet on Baseball?
Fans of nine MLB teams live in states where US sportsbooks aren’t an option at all.
California is home to five teams: the Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Angels, and Athletics. Texas has the Rangers and Astros, Georgia has the Braves, and Minnesota has the Twins. None of those states have legal US sportsbooks.
In Florida, home of the Marlins and the Rays, bettors can use only one legal sportsbook, which means one set of odds and no way to compare prices.
Offshore sportsbooks accept players from all 50 states and cover every MLB game. With games almost every day, having accounts at a couple of sites also means you can shop around for the best price every time.
MLB Betting FAQs
How do I bet on baseball?
Sign up with an online sportsbook, fund your account, then head to the baseball section and pick a game. From there, you can bet on the moneyline, run line, or total, or combine picks into a parlay.
What’s the best site to bet on the MLB?
BetOnline is our top pick, with lines on every game and a strong range of markets. BetUS, MyBookie, Lucky Rebel, and BetWhale are all strong alternatives, and all five accept players from every state.
Can I bet on the MLB from any state?
Yes, with offshore sportsbooks. All five of our recommended sites accept players from all 50 states, including California, Texas, and Georgia, where US sportsbooks aren’t available.