You have two clear choices when you decide to place a bet on a sporting event: visit a retail sportsbook or use an online betting site.

It can be fun to visit a retail sportsbook, as you can watch games on a big screen, soak up the atmosphere and share picks with fellow bettors. However, there are many more clear advantages to betting online as opposed to visiting a retail venue:

• Convenience | You often have to travel a long distance to reach a retail sportsbook. In many states, there are no retail sportsbooks, so you will have to drive for several hours to reach your nearest venue. By contrast, online sportsbooks allow you to simply grab your phone or turn on your computer, click a couple of buttons and place your bets in seconds. That level of convenience make online sports betting vastly superior. You do not have to wait in line, and you never have to worrying about missing the opportunity to place a bet because you were stuck in traffic.
• Value | It is a lot more cost-effective to bet online. You do not need to spend money on gas and parking, or on bus fare. At a retail sportsbook, you are also tempted to spend on expensive food and beverages too, and there are always people to tip, so the costs can rack up quickly. That will all erode any winning margins you earn, or exacerbate any losses you suffer. Stick to online betting instead to avoid all of those costs.
• Bonuses | Online sportsbooks offer bonuses. They are often very juicy bonuses, such as risk-free wagers, deposit match offers worth thousands of dollars, reloads, loyalty programs, massive odds boosts, parlay boosts, multimillion-dollar pools, squares and contests, and much more besides. You won’t find anything like that at a retail sportsbook, because they have a captive audience and they do not need to fight for your attention. Claiming bonuses at online bookies eats away at the house edge on wagering lines, which increases a bettor’s chances of walking away in profit at the end of the day.
• Focus | You can focus properly on devising a winning pick when betting online. There are no distractions, and you can pore over detailed stats and analysis when trying to arrive at a perfect play. Sure, you will receive picks from some fellow sports fans at a retail sportsbook, but how reliable are they? They can actually be detrimental, as they may encourage you to place bets you would not normally be interested in, which end up losing. It’s better to take the advice of professional handicappers online that you trust.
• Choice | You will have much greater choice when betting online. For example, you can sign up for accounts with a few different bookies. That allows you to shop around for the best lines and betting odds on every game you’re planning to bet on. At a retail sportsbook, you cannot enjoy that luxury. You are also limited to the sports and markets offered by that company. When betting online, you can access a broader choice by signing up with different bookies and considering all the different options they have when coming up with your perfect pick. 
• Security | Betting online is secure. You will receive a quick payment using your chosen method if you sign up with a recommended sportsbook that we have featured. At a retail sportsbook, you may end up walking around with a large wad of cash, making you vulnerable, or someone could try to steal your card if they see you heading to the pay window. You can avoid security risks by betting online.

Now you know why it makes sense to bet online, it is time for you to find the sports betting site that works for you. The Online Betting 101 team has reviewed the most prominent sportsbooks in the USA to help you make up your mind.

You can read our reviews and learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each bookie, as that will help you make an informed decision. And remember that you can sign up with more than one sportsbook to benefit from greater choice and more promotions.