Legal MLB Betting in the USA

Online MLB betting is legal in more than two dozen states.

In states with legal online sportsbooks, fans can bet on individual baseball games, the World Series, and various awards throughout the year. Most baseball betting sites also offer in-play MLB betting and instant betting, allowing bettors to wager on every inning right down to the result of the next pitch.

On this page, BettingUSA provides a detailed guide to in-person and online MLB betting. It begins with a look at the best MLB betting sites and apps, followed by information about which states have legal MLB betting, and wraps with information on various types of MLB bets and baseball betting strategies.

MLB Betting Sites

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Best MLB Betting Apps

Any MLB betting app recommended by BettingUSA is legal, licensed, and has undergone a vigorous vetting process based on the criteria outlined on this page.

Here’s a look at the baseball betting apps that provide the best user experiences:

FanDuel MLB Betting

To little surprise, the best MLB betting app is also the industry’s market share leader.

FanDuel Sportsbook really only goes above and beyond in a few key areas, but it doesn’t do anything poorly. Its main strength for baseball bettors is posting MLB lines earlier than most other sportsbooks and is usually the first online sportsbook to post props.

FanDuel MLB pregame lines are solid. The juice on moneyline wagers is often less than 4%, and run line vigorish is just a tad higher. Prop pricing is also respectable, with Yes/No props taxed at roughly 5.5%.

There are also a ton of baseball props at FanDuel, nearly more than any other sportsbook. FanDuel MLB player props cover nearly every facet of the game, including player home runs, hits, and strikeouts. There are also dozens of broader game props like run lines, total runs, and correct score for every inning.

• Prop categories: ~60
• Instant betting: Yes, pitch-by-pitch and at-bat results
• Special features: Alternative lines, Same Game Parlays (pregame and in-play), Game View, Game Stats, Line/Total Parlays
• In-play moneyline vigorish: ~5%

In-play MLB wagers at FanDuel are also plentiful, and they’re taxed at a fair rate. A random sample showed that the in-play vigorish on two-way bets is about 5%, maybe a tick more. That’s better than industry norms, if only by a half-percent or so.

FanDuel Sportsbook also provides a computerized Game View along with some basic stats to help players follow along. Other books do more in this arena, but it’s better than nothing.

The FanDuel app will occasionally toss out MLB betting promotions, including “bet & get offers,” sweepstakes, and odds boosts. The MLB betting promotions at FanDuel really ramp up during the playoffs. Unfortunately, they’re not complemented by the greatest of loyalty programs, but FanDuel does provide some minor benefits to VIP players.

DraftKings MLB Betting

DraftKings Sportsbook supports one of the best MLB betting interfaces of all legal US sportsbooks. Categorizing hundreds of MLB bets in a way that’s intuitive and doesn’t feel overly stuffed is a tough task, but DraftKings pulls it off almost perfectly.

Alternative run lines and totals are displayed on a slider, and support a wide range of options. MLB props at DraftKings are divided into neat categories such as Batter, Pitcher, Innings, and Game Props, and each category contains bets that you’d more or less expect to see. The Same Game Parlay and Quick SGP sections are listed prominently on the main game page but don’t feel intrusive.

If there’s one major flaw with DraftKings MLB betting it’s that the interface is prone to occasional lag, especially when switching categories. The other problem is that DraftKings Sportsbook doesn’t really provide many useful in-play baseball stats beyond injury reports. Instead, it shows things like betting trends and popular MLB prop bets, which some baseball bettors might find fun, but provide little real-world value.

• Prop categories: ~60
• Instant betting: Yes, pitch-by-pitch and at-bat results
• Special features: Alterative lines, Same Game Parlays (pregame and in-play), Quick SGPs, SGP profit boosts,
• In-play moneyline vigorish: ~6%

The pregame pricing on DraftKings moneyline wagers, run lines, and totals are solid. Sometimes DraftKings MLB lines are better than FanDuel’s, sometimes worse, but overall it’s practically a dead heat.

MLB prop pricing at DraftKings Sportsbook is actually slightly below average (~6.5% on Yes/No), as is in-play vigorish. However, DraftKings probably provides respectable lines on instant bets. The house edge on pitch results is roughly 8%, and on exact at-bat results, it’s around 11%. That may seem high, but for such an uncertain market it’s nearly a bargain.

DraftKings Sportsbook also excels when it comes to MLB promotions. Profit boosts are offered regularly, and the DraftKings loyalty program (Dynasty Rewards) provides an abundance of extra promos to players who reach beyond the first annual tier. These promos only get better as bettors move up the ranks.

Caesars Sportsbook MLB Betting

Caesars Sportsbook will appeal to a few select niches of MLB bettors. For everyone else, it’s merely above average.

The Caesars Sportsbook app offers tons of MLB odds boosts with high limits, some of which offer significant value. Other Caesars MLB odds boosts are duds, so it’s really up to players to determine the overall value.

Caesars Sportsbook also prices its instant bets extremely well. For example, MLB in-play bets on whether a runner will reach base have less than a 7% house edge. Really, Caesars Sportsbook is an ideal destination for pure in-play baseball bettors because it supports a wide variety of live props, and the average house edge on in-play moneylines and totals is under 5%.

• Prop categories: ~70
• Instant betting: Yes, pitch-by-pitch and at-bat result
• Special features: High-limit odds boosts, instant betting, Same Game Parlays
• In-play moneyline vigorish: <5%

Pregame MLB betting lines at Caesars Sportsbook vary in quality. Popular bets like moneylines and run lines are well-priced, but props are considerably more expensive. As a result, bettors who build Same Game Parlays at Caesars Sportsbook around props will be at a severe disadvantage. Unfortunately, it’s these kinds of action bets that Caesars pushes the most. It’s best to fight the temptation.

Oddly, Caesars Sportsbook doesn’t offer many traditional derivatives. There are no alternative MLB run lines or totals, and innings derivatives are limited to the first three innings. Caesars does support an extensive innings menu, but these wagers are closer to prop bets than derivatives.

MLB betting promos at Caesars Sportsbook are scarce but new customers are welcomed with a bonus bet signup offer and automatic entrance into the Caesars Rewards program.

BetRivers MLB Betting

When it comes to MLB betting, BetRivers Sportsbook is a decidedly mixed bag. The biggest upside is the pregame pricing, which is quite favorable across the board. Moneylines have an average house edge of just 3.5%, and Yes/No props are taxed at 5%. Even futures pricing is respectable, with the house edge on divisional and World Series winners clocking in below 20%.

BetRivers Sportsbook also incorporates a terrific in-play set-up that displays advanced stats, injuries, and play-by-play action. It also provides exceptional value to players through its iRush Rewards program and its recurrent promotional offers, which are plentiful.

• Prop categories: ~40
• Instant betting: Yes, pitch-by-pitch and at-bat result
• Special features: VIP Calendar promotions, alternative lines, Same Game Parlays (pregame and live), Quick Picks, advanced in-play layout
• In-play moneyline vigorish: ~6.5%

The problem is that once the game starts, the vigorish shoots through the roof. It’s a big enough difference that bettors are highly encouraged not to place in-play wagers during the first few innings. In-play MLB moneylines at BetRivers are juiced at nearly 7%, and props are taxed even more.

The BetRivers live MLB betting menu is smaller than other online sportsbooks and lacks nuance. That may be a good thing, considering the in-play pricing.

Lastly, BetRivers is one of the last sportsbooks to post MLB betting lines, making it unappealing to savvy bettors looking to lock in early bets before the sharps get their hooks in. There’s just not much of a MLB betting menu at BetRivers until the game draws close.

Other Baseball Betting Apps

What To Look For In MLB Betting Sites

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn PASPA cleared the way for well-financed and highly experienced sports betting operators to launch mobile sportsbooks for fans across the US.

As a result, most Americans now have access to sportsbooks that are legal, licensed, and safe. Unlike offshore sportsbooks run by anonymous people with questionable security standards, legal betting sites in the United States operate in a strict regulatory environment with consumer protections in place.

In fact, state gaming regulators are so selective that even if a bettor’s sole criteria for choosing where to bet is whether a sportsbook is licensed, they will have made a sound decision regarding security, betting options, and overall experience.

There are two ways to find licensed betting sites in one’s state:

1. Visit BettingUSA’s state pages to see which online sportsbooks and daily fantasy sports sites are legal in each state
2. Bettors can also visit their state regulator’s website for a license of sportsbooks that hold active licenses. For example, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement maintains a list of all licensees here

That being said, not all legal MLB betting sites are on equal footing, with some offering significantly more betting options, customer conveniences, and value than others. Here are some other variables to consider before stepping up to the bettor’s box.

MLB Banking Options

MLB betting apps aren’t much use if it’s nearly impossible to deposit and withdraw funds. Fortunately, state laws mandate legal online sportsbooks to provide at least a few viable depositing options and to honor all cashout requests in an expedited fashion.

At a minimum, expect to be able to deposit with a linked checking account via a secure portal or a trusted third-party service like VIP Preferred. Credit and debit card deposits are also universally offered, although some sites only accept Visa/MasterCard while others accept those two and Discover and/or American Express.

PayPal was initially hesitant to allow online betting transactions but is now offered by nearly all top-tier MLB betting sites. Branded prepaid debit cards via Play+ have also risen greatly in popularity and provide an attractive alternative to players having trouble conducting credit card and checking account deposits directly.

Some baseball betting sites go the extra mile and support all the aforementioned depositing methods plus wire transfers, Skrill, and cash via PayNearMe or at a local casino cage.

When it comes to withdrawals, MLB betting sites are constantly improving. At this juncture, it’s practically unacceptable for an online sportsbook to offer fewer than 3-4 payout methods. Some industry leaders have taken things a step further, and now offer instant payouts to checking accounts and PayPal. A good example is BetRivers, through its RushPay service.

MLB Betting Odds

Due to its popularity among bettors, MLB is an extremely efficient sport. Frontline odds are hammered into place well before the first pitch and don’t deviate too much from book to book.

That’s not to say there’s no deviation, especially when it comes to the amount of vigorish that books charge. The best baseball betting apps juice their MLB moneylines, run lines, and totals by 4% or less. There’s a bit more leeway with MLB props because these markets are less efficient, but anything over a 6% house edge on a Yes/No prop is a raw deal.

Since so much MLB betting is done after the first batter has come to the plate, players should be keenly aware of in-play pricing. Generally speaking, the juice on in-play wagers is going to be higher compared to their pregame counterparts. Yet, it shouldn’t be that much higher. If a pregame moneyline has a 4% house edge and the same in-play line is 7%, that may not be a book you’ll want to give live action to.

The most reliable sportsbooks are also transparent with their odds. If they offer odds on a “Yes” prop, then they’ll also show and allow bets on the other side. Furthermore, if there’s an odds boost, the original odds and the new odds will be displayed. And most importantly, if they offer Same Game Parlays, then the odds for each eligible wager will be displayed.

Variety of MLB Wagers Offered

Home to some of the world’s largest gambling operators and a highly competitive industry, the US sports betting market is a hotbed of innovation. Most licensed sportsbooks provide ample MLB coverage, including pregame wagers and in-play betting.

However, some stand out for offering unique types of wagers.

More recently, sportsbooks have gained the technological capacity to update in-play lines at breakneck speed. This led to a phenomenon called instant betting, enabling bettors to wager on the next at-bat or even the result of the next pitch. These bets are highly volatile and subject to uncertainty, so sportsbooks juice them up, but they do provide a level of engagement previously unfathomable.

The best MLB betting apps offer a full menu of traditional prop bets and derivatives, spanning everything from which team will score first, to alternative run totals and the odds a player will hit a home run. Typically, the more props offered, the better.

Capable MLB Betting Platforms

Since in-play and instant betting have become such crucial parts of MLB betting culture, it is imperative that baseball betting sites provide capable and easy-to-navigate software platforms.

If betting menus are slow to populate, or if the in-play lines are constantly locked, then bettors will have a hard time getting wagers down at their preferred odds and may seek greener pastures. Spinning wheels do not make for a pleasurable betting experience.

Even worse is if sportsbooks do not provide adequate real-time game views, box scores, and other pertinent information, like game timelines.

Tip: Some sportsbooks provide detailed betting stats. This is mostly fluff and shouldn’t encourage how you place wagers.

In addition, it’s important for sportsbooks to apply smart sorting and filtering options to their MLB betting menus. Nothing is worse than knowing exactly what you want to bet, yet not having the faintest clue about where to find it. At a minimum, the best baseball betting apps break down MLB bet types into sensible categories and use sliders for bets that are known to have a lot of different options, like alternative totals.

Lastly, the most competent sportsbooks cater to a variety of users by offering their product on desktop and Android- and iOS-powered devices. The mobile and desktop experiences should be similar, and there should really only be one universal app for all state markets.

MLB Betting Bonuses and Promotions

One of the easiest ways to generate consistent value is by taking advantage of MLB betting bonuses, promotions, and loyalty rewards programs.

New customer bonuses usually aren’t specific to the MLB, but they provide the most upfront value and should take priority when signing up for a new sportsbook account. Meanwhile, ongoing promotions are more targeted and short-term but are open to existing customers.

Baseball betting promotions peak near the start of the MLB season and again around the Playoffs and World Series. However, fans should be on the lookout for special offers all season long because there is almost always something worth snagging at each of the nation’s best MLB betting sites.

New Customer MLB Betting Bonuses

The biggest freebies most bettors will ever receive come in the form of sportsbook welcome bonuses.

Seek out MLB betting sites that offer large bonuses with modest wagering requirements. For bettors on a budget, it’s perfectly fine to opt for smaller MLB betting bonuses as long as they can be claimed for even smaller upfront deposits or wagers.

Understanding your financial situation and knowing how you plan to bet on the MLB are also essential for finding the right baseball betting bonuses. For example, bettors on budgets should consider claiming smaller welcome bonuses early since they’re one-time-only offers. That way, bettors can try to build their bankrolls before taking on larger MLB bonuses that require bigger deposits to max out.

For the most part, online sportsbooks stick with several tried-and-true types of welcome offers. Understanding how the main types of new customer MLB betting bonuses work makes it easier for bettors to compare offers and spot unfavorable bonus terms.

• Second Chance MLB Bets: Second chance bet bonuses offer refunds to new customers who place a first wager that loses. First wager refund promos invariably pay refunds as bonus bets or site credit, which isn’t as valuable as cash but is good enough to take a second shot at placing a winning wager.
• MLB Bet & Get Bonuses: Another popular type of MLB welcome promo gives new customers a bonus bet when they place their first wager. In many cases, the bonus bets significantly outsize the initial wager. For example, it’s not uncommon for MLB betting sites to offer around $200 in bonus bets to new users who place a first wager of $20 or more.
• MLB Betting Deposit Bonuses: Although it’s somewhat rare today, some MLB betting apps welcome new customers with bonuses sized according to their first deposit. For example, a sportsbook with a 50% deposit bonus would give $100 in bonus bets to a new customer who makes a $200 first deposit.
• MLB No-Deposit Bonuses: No-deposit bonuses are so rare that it’s not worth holding out for them in lieu of other types of MLB betting promos. Additionally, no-deposit bonuses usually max out at a relatively low number (around $20) and almost always require a deposit before bettors can withdraw their winnings. In other words, bettors get the bonus funds upfront immediately after depositing, but they still have to deposit to yield a tangible benefit.

Short-Term MLB Betting Promotions for Existing Customers

The best baseball sportsbooks also offer a plethora of recurrent MLB betting promotions. Bonus bets, “bet and get” offers, sweepstakes, and insurance can all be viable money-makers, but the best MLB betting bonuses award larger sums and don’t hide their promotional caveats behind fine print.

• MLB Bonus Bets: Various short-term MLB betting promotions award modest bonus bets to existing customers in return for depositing funds, following their official social media accounts, answering trivia questions, and sometimes randomly to encourage inactive customers to return.
• MLB Bet & Get Promos: Bet and get promotions give bonus bets to existing customers for placing wagers on specific games, athletes, or props. Sportsbooks often launch regional bet and get promos related to hometown teams. For example, a licensed betting site may offer all Colorado customers a $20 bonus bet if they place a wager on the next Rockies game.
• MLB Odds Boosts: Many baseball betting sites also offer odds boosts. MLB odds boosts can be hit or miss, as often enough, the increased odds are no better than the regular odds at competing sites. Be wary of MLB betting apps that take this approach, and stick to the ones that provide legitimate value through their boosted odds.
• Insurance on MLB Parlays: Insurance promos vary in their details, but a typical offer issues refunds paid as bonus bets to customers who place MLB parlays that lose by just one leg.
• Insurance on MLB Same Game Parlays: Insurance on same game parlays (SGPs) refunds customers who place MLB SGPs that lose by one leg. Like insurance on regular parlays, SGP promos usually pay refunds as bonus bets.

MLB Betting Rewards Programs

Finally, MLB betting apps that reward customers for their loyalty are almost always better than ones that don’t.

Some sportsbook loyalty programs are integrated between companies’ land-based and online operations, and those are terrific for bettors who frequent retail sportsbooks and casinos.

The best sportsbook loyalty programs provide significant value to customers by giving bettors regular bonus bets, exclusive promotions, comped hotel rooms, invitations to exclusive events, priority customer support, and more.

However, MLB fans shouldn’t rule out online-only rewards programs because sometimes they offer even better overall value. A good example is DraftKings Dynasty Rewards.

Fans who bet on the MLB online regularly should consider the following loyalty programs when choosing where to take their action.

BetMGM Rewards

• Online and in-person loyalty points and benefits
• Earn points for betting on MLB games online, placing wagers at MGM Resorts properties, and shopping with MGM partners
• Slightly above-average cashback rate
• Can exchange points for MLB betting bonuses
• Discounts and other benefits while traveling with MGM-affiliated cruise lines

DraftKings Dynasty Rewards

• Online-only
• Favorable cashback rate
• Excellent rewards store with high-value items
• Valuable passive benefits at each loyalty tier
• Can exchange DK Crowns for MLB betting bonuses

Caesars Rewards

• Online and in-person benefits
• Earn points for betting on MLB games online and spending money at Caesars Entertainment destinations
• Members receive regular MLB bonus bets
• Average cashback rate for points earned by betting on the MLB online

BetRivers iRush Rewards

• Online-only rewards program
• Land-based Rivers Casino locations operate a similar but separate loyalty program
• Members receive exclusive VIP MLB betting promotions
• Exchange points for MLB bonus bets
• Moving up through VIP tiers unlocks higher deposit limits, dedicated VIP managers, improved bonus store gifts, enhanced MLB betting promos, and more

MLB Betting Odds

States With Legal MLB Betting

Many states have now legalized online sports betting, and more are in the process of following suit.

The following map is updated with the latest overview of where it is legal to bet on baseball online via licensed sports betting sites and in-person at retail sportsbooks.

Map Key

• Blue: Online baseball betting is legal
• Green: Land-based sportsbooks only (no online betting)
• Red: MLB betting coming soon; legislation fully passed but waiting for implementation

Note: BettingUSA strongly urges readers who live in states without legal sports betting to stay away from offshore sportsbooks. Many states are considering legalizing sports betting, and for most readers, it is just a matter of time before they have access to legal, licensed, and reputable providers.

The next-best alternative for fans who live in states without legal MLB betting online is daily fantasy sports (DFS). Some fantasy baseball sites provide a traditional DFS experience, with large contests that issue millions of dollars in prize money. Other DFS sites operate on a predictions model that closely resembles sports betting.

Fans can read more about daily fantasy sports and view recommendations here:

• Best DFS Sites

Types Of MLB Wagers Explained

Learning how to bet on baseball online begins with understanding how to read the moneyline format. Once bettors understand moneyline odds, they will have no trouble getting a handle on them any types of MLB wagers they will encounter moving forward.

MLB Post Season Betting

The World Series provides ample opportunities for fans to bet on baseball’s biggest event, starting with futures posted at the beginning of the season and continuing through to the final pitch of the year.

Most sportsbooks open their World Series futures at the start of the season, and baseball bettors can claim juicy MLB futures odds on their favorite teams.

In addition, the best-of-seven format expands World Series betting options well beyond who will win the series outright. Fans can also bet on the outcomes of each World Series game, predict how many games the series will last, place World Series player prop bets, and more.

• World Series Betting

In-Play MLB Betting Sites

Traditionally, one of the more annoying aspects of baseball betting was that all the action stopped at the start of the game. As a result, bettors who were late to place their wagers and missed the first pitch were out of luck, with all markets closed for action.

By contrast, in-play betting allows customers to continue betting after the game begins. In-play baseball betting allows fans to watch the first few pitches (or even the first few innings) before deciding how to bet. The best in-play MLB betting sites keep their in-play lines open until the bottom of the ninth.

Basic in-play wagers mirror standard baseball bets such as moneylines, run lines, and totals, with the key difference being that live MLB odds are updated in real-time. Thus, bettors can get a feel for the momentum of the game and place wagers based on the most recent information possible: what has happened on the field up to this point.

The best in-play MLB betting sites also offer shorter-term wagers such as which team will be next to score a run, which team will win the next inning, and much more. Recent technology advances are even allowing sportsbooks to offer “instant bets” where they can bet on outcomes that are going to be decided in mere seconds, like the result of the next at-bat or whether the next pitch will be a ball or strike.

Baseball is especially fitting for in-play betting because the pace of the game affords bettors enough time to make reasonable decisions while still moving quickly enough to keep things interesting.

Even a tame meeting between two teams the bettor doesn’t particularly care for takes on new meaning when they can potentially bet on the outcome of every at-bat and play from the first inning on down to the final pitch of the game.

In-play MLB betting is a fun way to enhance the viewing experience, but some caution is warranted. The sheer number of in-play wagers available during a single game makes it easy for bettors to risk more than they intended. Bettors should consider setting a cap on how much they will wager during a game and stick to it no matter what happens.

Also, keep in mind sportsbooks impose higher taxes on lines that they’re not as confident about, and how confident can they be when game conditions change with every pitch?

In addition to being a fun way to take in a game, in-play baseball betting also provides opportunities for fans to hedge pregame wagers or pounce on opportunities where they perceive an edge. Bettors must think quickly and be ready to strike on a moment’s notice, but the opportunities are they if they keep their eyes open.

When choosing the best in-play baseball betting sites, it pays to note which operators have signed official data agreements with the MLB. Online sportsbooks that can draw on timely, accurate, and unique information straight from the MLB can provide many more baseball betting markets than average.

MLB Betting Tips And Strategies

For sports bettors, the MLB is a particularly tough nut to crack. MLB betting lines are incredibly efficient, and MLB props and in-play bets have a high enough house edge that bettors will need significant intel to overcome them.

However, by following a few simple baseball betting tips and adjusting your strategy, even the most casual bettor can trim their losses down to a negligible amount. With some further study, they may even be able to flip the odds in their favor.

Start with these pointers, and take it from there:

MLB Line shopping

A casual bettor with just one or two MLB betting apps is a losing player. In most states where online sports betting has been legalized, there are a wealth of reputable sports betting apps to choose from.

You don’t have to download them all, as that can be too overwhelming, but at least start with 3 or 4 of the MLB betting apps recommended by BettingUSA.

Line shopping is a critical component of lowering the house edge. On the most basic level, players will find the best available lines for a particular bet. For instance, if three books have the New York Mets at +230 and another at +220, the choice is obvious.

Taking it a step further, line shopping allows baseball bettors to create better effective lines. If DraftKings has the Phillies vs. Braves games at -180/+155 and FanDuel has the same game at -170/+145, bettors can create a new effective line of -170/+155 across the two books. This technique alone lowers the VIG from about 3.5% to 2.1%.

More advanced bettors will line shop alternative odds and be able to use the value of a half-run to calculate value across multiple alternative run lines and totals.

In short, the more MLB betting apps the better.

Claim MLB Betting Bonuses And Promotions

The first thing a bettor should do when signing up for a new MLB betting app is to claim the current welcome bonus. Some online sportsbooks require new users to enter a promo code before claiming their bonus, while others do not.

In either case, use the links on BettingUSA to ensure that you’re getting the best possible MLB betting bonus offers.

Most MLB betting bonuses will give you an edge for the duration of the bonus. For instance, consider a sportsbook welcome offer that invites new customers to place a $20 wager get $200 in baseball bonus bets regardless of whether the initial bet wins or loses. It’s pretty obvious that this is a positive expectation scenario.

Other online sportsbooks have more complicated terms, and bettors will have to adapt a betting strategy to maximize their expected return. A good example is second chance promotions, where bettors who lose their initial wager get a full refund as a bonus bet.

For this promotional structure, bettors will generate more value from placing their first wager on an appealing longshot. If they win, they get paid handsomely, and when they lose — which will happen quite often — they’ll get a second lease on life. Contrarily, if they bet a heavy favorite, they’ll probably win, but will only receive a small payout and absolutely no benefit from the welcome bonus.

In other words, don’t just blindly claim every baseball betting bonus under the sun. Forge a betting strategy first.

Ignore Public Baseball Betting Trends

The sports media, and especially MLB baseball “analysts” have become obsessed with public betting trends. Terms like “fading the public” and “betting with the public” are thrown around aimlessly. Let’s be clear: These stats are designed to encourage more action, not to actually help bettors make intelligent wagers.

There’s this myth that online sportsbooks are obsessed with getting equal action on each side, which is why bettors believe that fading the public will get them better odds. After all, wouldn’t bookmakers move the line to make the side with less betting volume more attractive?

Sportsbooks do care about getting even action, it’s just that they care about it over the long run. Individual game results don’t matter. So no, they do not shift the odds just because the public is betting on one side. There have been plenty of instances where a line opened at -200/+160, 80% of wagers came in on the favorite, and the line didn’t budge an inch.

However, if sharp bettors or syndicates pound a line, the books will respect their opinion and use to it shape their odds. If 20% of all wagers and 60% of the money is on one side, that indicates the sharps like the bet.

Yet, even this information is usually useless, because the sharps took the bet at better odds. The only time it has value for MLB bettors is when sportsbooks are slow to react to sharp betting. In these cases, bettors will see that the line is stale and should jump on it.

Know What’s Been Priced In

Many newer bettors think that by paying attention to certain variables like the weather, starting lineups, pitching rotations, and umpires, they can generate an edge.

This isn’t a bad approach, but it’s problematic. All of the aforementioned angles have already been baked into the line, and anything that was missed was hammered into place by sharps.

However, just by knowing what goes into an MLB betting line, you can begin to explore variables that might be missing.

Find New Angles

The game of baseball is evolving faster than ever before. In just the past few years, the MLB instituted new rules concerning extra innings, pitch timers, defensive shifts, and base size.

Every time a new rule is instituted, it’s going to take time for the sportsbooks to adjust. These are the angles bettors should explore when trying to generate value.

Just know that in a few years, these angles will also be built into the betting lines. However, new angles will keep popping up.

Use The Wealth Of Available Resources

Modern baseball is a game primarily driven by “moneyball” style data analytics. There are a wealth of stats that are openly available to the public, and new stats are seemingly created every year.

Use this wealth of information to your advantage. There might be something deep within that the books haven’t accounted for yet.

Just don’t necessarily use this info to find edges on frontline bets like moneylines and totals. They’re too efficient. Instead, try to find sportsbooks that offer a lot of props and alternative lines at reasonable prices, and use the available resources to see where they might be making mistakes.

Shorten The Game

MLB games have a lot of variables to account for, far too many for the average bettor. The good news is that the books break many of their bets down into smaller, digestible chunks.

It used to be that MLB bettors could bet on the full game or the first five innings. Now, there are wagers on the first three innings, individual innings, and even half-innings. When making the transition from casual to more serious bettor, start by focusing on just the performance of one team in just the first inning. It’ll make things a lot easier.

Another approach is to focus on just a handful of props. Start by identifying obscure baseball prop bets where the odds vary wildly from sportsbook to sportsbook, then try to find out why. Once you have an answer, you just found a profitable angle.

Caution: If you hit the same prop too many times in a row, sportsbooks will adjust the line and may even limit your betting action.

MLB Stance On Baseball Betting

The MLB’s official stance on sports betting evolved over the years in tandem with legal changes on the ground. In 2012, the MLB joined the NFL, NHL, NBA, and NCAA in opposition to New Jersey over the state’s effort to legalize sports betting.

Considering that professional baseball has suffered some high-profile gambling scandals, the initial resistance towards betting may have been understandable.

However, the league began to change its stance as it became clear that effort to overturn federal sports betting prohibition would succeed.

In anticipation of the inevitable MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league was “reexamining our stance on gambling.” Initially, the MLB came out in support of federal regulation, but as states began to legalize sports betting the MLB was able to convince several states to pass laws requiring operators to pay the leagues for official betting data.

The MLB now fully embraces betting, the league has official partnerships with sports betting operators, fans have odds integrated into broadcasts and there are even sportsbooks in some baseball stadiums. The MLBPA even agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement in 2022 that included several sports betting provisions benefitting players. Most notably, the CBA authorizes players to sign sponsorship agreements with sports betting companies to act as brand ambassadors. In addition, the new CBA prohibits teams from selling players’ biometric data and requires teams to implement safety measures to mitigate threats made to players related to sports betting.

The Impact of Legal Sports Wagering on the MLB

The legalization of sports betting impacted Major League Baseball in a big way. In fact, the MLB at one time feared the impact of legal sports betting so much that it initially actively resisted the concept.

According to a Nielsen study commissioned by the American Gaming Association, the MLB stands to see annual revenue grow by more than $1 billion due to the Supreme Court decision. The study estimated that the impact of legal sports betting will help the MLB see more than $950 million in increased annual revenue due to enhanced fan engagement alone.

Nielsen arrived at the $950 million figure by surveying gamblers and sports fans concerning their viewing habits. As one would expect, people who bet on sports tend to watch more sports and stay tuned to sports websites, social media accounts, and so on.

Nielsen estimated another $154 million would flow to the MLB via gambling sponsorships and advertising opportunities. Major sports betting operators such as BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, and FanDuel are spending massive amounts of money to access engaged baseball fans.

Official MLB Betting Partnerships

The MLB signed MGM Resorts International as its “Official Gaming Partner” and “Official Entertainment Partner” in its first deal with a sports betting operator. That deal gave MGM Resorts advertising space on MLB broadcasts and social media in addition to allowing MGM properties to host MLB-themed events.

The deal also gives MGM Resorts sportsbooks such as BetMGM access to proprietary league data such as game results and statistics for settling wagers and operating in-play betting markets.

In 2019, the league signed a similar deal with FanDuel Sportsbook establishing the latter as an “Authorized Gaming Operator of MLB.”

The deal gives FanDuel Sportsbook the right to use certain MLB trademarks and access to official league data. As the press release noted, the portion of the agreement relating to data “allows FanDuel to enhance the in-play and overall sports wagering experience.” That last point is critical because in-play betting accounts for more than half of FanDuel’s total sports betting handle.

Official MLB Betting Data

Official MLB data such as Statcast technology provides highly detailed data and statistics to betting operators that cannot be gleaned by simply watching the game.

Statcast metrics such as catch probability, base-to-base speed, and pitching velocity collected over time assist the oddsmakers in creating more efficient betting lines and unique in-play wagers.

For example, MLB betting sites can use that data to create bets such as the fastest time any runner achieves between two bases, the speed of the fastest pitch in the game, and the highest speed in MPH any outfielder will achieve when throwing the ball to an infielder.

The revenue potential for the MLB in connection with legal sports betting is in the billions. As Forbes contributor Andrew Zimbalist noted in 2021, the “MLB is promoting these relationships.”

“If more people are betting, more people are watching, and that raises TV revenue.”

MLB Betting FAQ