If you’ve been alive for the 2010’s, you may have noticed the entire world walking around with their heads down, the soft glow of artificial light reflecting on their faces. It is difficult to argue that any single invention has altered society as quickly and dramatically as the emergence of smartphones.

These potent hand-held computers bring the entire world into the palm of your hands, including all knowledge acquired over the course of human history, social interactions, and even the ability to wager on sports.

When discussing mobile sports betting, there are two different approaches to accessing one’s bets. Some online sportsbooks offer a mobile-friendly version of their websites which customers can locate by using the web browser on their devices. Others have built dedicated downloadable apps to make navigating to the sportsbook that much more comfortable.

Whichever works best for you, the fact is, mobile betting is the way of the future when it comes to betting on sports. The sheer convenience of being able to make a wager at any time of day, from anywhere in the world has never existed before. But which bookmakers provide the best services for mobile bettors?

That’s precisely what we’ve worked to find out. The list of recommendations below has been thoroughly researched and vetted for mobile compliance as well as a series of other important factors we will discuss below.

Premier online sports betting at NorthBet Sportsbook. Live NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA college football odds, lines, and sports book wagering. Comparing this with a POS Volt is just plain stupid. And I’ll wager this is more reliable than the Volt. 40 miles to a charge (plugincars.com) for a $41,000 electric craptrap? My old grandfather stuck an electric motor in a Karman Ghia back in ’75, and got 50 miles. June 2nd, 2011 at 12:55 pm RBro Says. Mobile sports betting is simply wagering on your favorite sports events via mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. Since most sports betting sites are now mobile-friendly, more and more bettors are enjoying the convenience of wagering on sports on their mobile Android or iOS devices. Last year, mobile betting represented 29 percent of all sports wagering statewide, according to research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC, up from 13 percent in 2012.

These are the best online bookmakers for use with mobile betting:

What is Mobile Betting?

There is nothing notably different between traditional sports betting and the mobile version, aside from means of access. Traditionally, one would need to visit a bookmaker in person, pay their money by hand, and bring home a paper ticket with their wager on it if they wanted to bet on sports. Next came online sportsbooks, which gave gamblers the thrill of gambling on sports without needing to leave the house.

Mobile betting is the next step in this evolution. While not having to leave the house was a benefit in the past, now a gambler can place their bets from anywhere they wish — all that’s needed is a mobile device. How one chooses to interact with mobile betting sites is a matter of preference.

Some may prefer to use the web browser on their devices to find and access an online sports gambling website and utilize that method to place their bets. What is becoming increasingly more common are mobile applications that are built by the bookmakers as a dedicated method of placing wagers. It is really up to whatever the customer is most comfortable using.

Regardless of whether utilizing apps or mobile websites is more satisfying, the sports betting industry has never been more accessible. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the game or in church, you can put some action on the game with a few swipes of your hand.

Why We’ve Made the Above Recommendations

Functionality/Stability

For an online sportsbook to properly cater to customers who prefer to use their mobile devices to gamble, functionality is of utmost importance. When dealing with a website, it is important that the site is properly formatted to work well on mobile devices. Preferably, the bookie will have created a mobile version of their site in order to avoid any compatibility issues.

All of the same links, betting options, and informational pages need to be just as available as they would be on a computer. It’s also vital that the website doesn’t have a habit of crashing or freezing devices. There are instances when time is of the essence when placing a sports bet, and there’s no time for rebooting thanks to some poorly written code.

Mobile apps are held to the same standard. They are designed specifically for use with the mobile device that they are on, so everything should be scaled and designed correctly, but they still must be stable and consistent. Furthermore, it’s crucial that the app version of these sportsbooks provides the same betting options as their website counterpart.

Compatibility

We also rank mobile sports betting operations based on their compatibility across a range of devices. Under the umbrella of the terms “smartphone” and “tablet,” there are a plethora of operating systems and devices that one may own. The best mobile gaming sites work on them all.

A website won’t be blacklisted for only creating an application for the iPhone or for Android, but it is preferable to be available to both. If an app is only compatible with a single platform, the sportsbook should be available through the web browser instead.

Ease of Use

The easier it is for a willing sports bettor to find and place the exact wager that they are looking for, the better. No matter what list of recommendations we compile for you, ease of use is always one of our top priorities. We determine how comfortable a mobile sportsbook is to use based on two different criteria.

First, the mobile site or application must be simple and straightforward to navigate. Whether it’s customer service, account information, or odds, you need to be able to find what you are looking for without hassle. This is readily achievable when the company builds their sportsbook in a logical, well-organized way.

Second, placing the bets themselves should be easy. Whether you want to create a parlay card or a single play, it should all be clear and frustration free. Except for live betting, sportsbooks stop taking bets on games once they begin to play, which makes efficiency that much more critical for the gambler.

If you use our recommendations, you should be able to avoid that terrible feeling when you predicted the outcome correctly but didn’t get the bet in in time to profit. If it happens, at least it shouldn’t be because the app crashed or you couldn’t find the game.

History & Reputation

When ranking our picks for best mobile sports gambling sites, a company’s history and reputation play big roles in where they end up. We aren’t looking to provide you with sites that work great on mobile devices, but are in fact a scam.

There are countless numbers of websites offering to let you place wagers. Online gambling is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, and that kind of money naturally attracts scammers. So, creating a quality website or app is not enough. We also vet the safety and trustworthiness of all of the providers we recommend.

This is your hard-earned money that we are talking about, and it would be crazy to take any chances. Stick to the sportsbooks on our list to avoid a terrible experience.

Competitive Odds

One of the first rules any winning sports bettor will tell you is to shop around for the very best odds. A half-point here or there may not seem like much for any single bet, but over the course of a season or several years, it can be the difference between profitability and losing money.

Most games are decided by the slimmest of margins, and the bookmakers are so good at what they do, that the outcome is typically close to the line they set. Often times a half-point will be enough to make your bet a winner. When it doesn’t affect the outcome, better odds can still change the payout. Remember, the tiniest increase in earnings for your winning bets over time will be significant.

The mobile betting sites that we recommend all offer fair, competitive pricing on their odds.

Variety of Sports/Events to Bet On

Variety is the spice of life, and thus it is one of our priorities here. When vetting mobile sports betting options, we look for companies that provide a robust range of games, leagues, and events to wager on. Handicapping sporting events can be extraordinarily difficult, and most of us specialize in particular sports.

It’s not good enough for a mobile app to only offer football or basketball. Nearly every game that comes on should have betting options. And that includes fights and other events as well.

Mobile-Specific Bonuses and Promotions

Another important consideration is what the betting sites are offering you in return for your patronage. This list of recommendations takes into account whether the bookmaker provides special bonuses or promotions for their mobile customers. When it comes to mobile-specific rewards, these are most commonly found in the apps.

The Differences Between Mobile Apps and Websites

When determining whether to gamble through a website or application, it really is just a matter of preference. Both options will smoothly and efficiently solve the same problem. It just comes down to the individual gambler, and the bookmakers being utilized.

Some sportsbooks may offer more comprehensive applications than others, or maybe give greater bonuses for customers that use their apps instead of their sites. Other times, a bookmaker that can only provide a mobile-friendly website may be offering the better odds on the bet you’re interested in. It really comes down to what you prioritize.

When talking about using a dedicated app, you will have to initially download the app before you can use it. This can take up space on your device’s hard drive. But the positive is that once downloaded, you will have the most streamlined, simple method at your fingertips.

A mobile-friendly site is helpful for those of us without much hard drive left for additional downloads. Having to access the website adds a few steps to getting your bets in, but you save space. Again, it just becomes a matter of personal preference. Whichever you choose, there are numerous excellent options that will accommodate both.

Some Mobile Betting Tips

Now that you know which sports betting sites are safe and offer the best player experience, we’ll leave you with a few mobile betting tips for novices.

These remain valid no matter which mobile betting options you decide to use.

Mobile Go Wager Hub

Data Usage

Wagershack Customer Service

One thing you want to be cognizant of when betting on a mobile device is your data usage. This won’t be a concern when you’re on WiFi, but one of the allures of mobile gambling is the freedom to do so anywhere, including when you’re burning data. If you’re pressed for time and can’t get within WiFi range, try to get your picks in quickly. There are also options to limit how much data an app can use per month.

Battery Life

Similarly, you’ll want to monitor your battery life. If you have bets that you’re thinking about making but haven’t yet, this is particularly important.

Be mindful of how much battery you have left, so you aren’t stuck with a dead phone when you finally get around to placing your bets.

Password Security

This is the most essential mobile betting tip of all. Whether you use a website or app, do not save your password to the device. Should you lose your phone or tablet, you don’t want strangers to have access to your account bankroll. It’s unfortunate enough to lose your phone; you won’t want to have your money wiped out as well

The Wrap Up

These days, everything is being designed to be accessible and convenient to access on our mobile devices. This is as true for finding a date as it is balancing a budget or placing a bet on a game. Smartphones and tablets have revolutionized the world, putting more options at our fingertips in a day than previous generations would have in a lifetime.

With the ever-expanding mobile world, it only makes sense that sports betting would go the same direction. Gone are the days of traveling to a sportsbook or calling a bookie. Now you may skim through all of the various games and odds from any location and get your bet in before it’s too late.

We’ve scoured the internet for the online sportsbooks that are offering the most enjoyable mobile experience for bettors. After comparing and studying them all, we are confident that our list of recommendations will satisfy even the busiest gambler making their picks on the run.