With more than 20 online sportsbook apps coming to the Buckeye State, some carry more brand recognition than others. Bet365 is among the names Ohio bettors may not have heard of before and wonder if it’s a legit sports betting app they should be considering.
Let’s take a look at the UK-based sportsbook and what it has to offer.
International Flair
Although bet365 may not be a household name among US sports bettors, those living outside of the states are certainly aware of the app. Bet365 is one of the largest international sportsbook operators, if not the largest, with 80 million customers worldwide.
Because of its reputation as one of the biggest sportsbooks, many in the industry have questioned why bet365 hasn’t taken a more aggressive approach to expanding in the US.
As of this writing, bet365 is legal in just two states: New Jersey and Colorado. Applying for a spot in Ohio is looked at as a strong move, however, and securing a partnership with the Cleveland Guardians goes a long way.
Being that bet365 has built its brand internationally, users can expect more depth and variety when it comes to non-US sports. This is the biggest differentiator when it comes to comparing bet365 to its top competition such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
Competitive Odds
Speaking of the competition for bet365, let’s compare the moneyline and futures odds there to four sportsbooks that tend to dominate the states where they are available: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars.
Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns Week 5 Moneyline Odds
Moneyline bets are among the most popular offerings at any sportsbook because they are the most straightforward wager you can place. Betting the moneyline simply requires choosing the winner of a given contest.
Here’s how bet365’s moneyline odds stacked up.
| Team | bet365 Odds | BetMGM Odds | Caesars Odds | FanDuel Odds | DraftKings Odds |
| Chargers | -135 | -135 | -135 | -138 | -130 |
| Browns | +115 | +110 | +115 | +114 | +110 |
As we can see, bet365 is on par or better compared to the top US online sportsbooks. In this example, you would want to place a bet on the Chargers’ moneyline with DraftKings, but bet365 and Caesars offer the best price on the Browns.
Cleveland Cavaliers 2023 NBA Finals Odds
| bet365 | DraftKings | FanDuel | |
| Cavs Finals Odds | +2800 | +3000 | +3300 |
When it comes to futures, you’re simply looking for the longest odds so you can get the highest potential payout. At the time of this writing, FanDuel is where you’d want to go as it beats out both bet365 and DraftKings.
Both of these examples go to show the importance of line shopping and not relying on a single sportsbook when you want to place a wager. This is one of the most important tips when it comes to being a profitable sports bettor.
Where bet365 Falls Short
Most sportsbooks can always improve on some aspect of their platform and bet365 is no exception.
Promos and Bonuses
In both Colorado and New Jersey bet365 offers a ‘Bet and Get’ promo. New users who place a $1 bet are eligible for $200 in free bets. While this offer is simple to obtain, its value falls well short of other sportsbook bonuses that will be coming to Ohio.
The sportsbooks mentioned above have welcome offers ranging between $1,000 and $1,250. On top of that, most if not all of those sportsbooks are expected to have free bet pre-launch offers for signing up before betting goes live. FanDuel, for example, already has a pre-launch offer of $100 in free bets.
It remains to be seen if bet365 will have a pre-launch offer or if its current new user promo will be replaced in favor of a higher-value bonus.
Overall App Experience
Bet365 is by no means a bad app, but when put up against industry favorites like DraftKings and FanDuel, there’s no comparison.
The layout and interface aren’t as visually pleasing compared to the other sportsbooks mentioned above and even some other apps like BetRivers and PointsBet. The home page seems jumbled and disorganized and it can be difficult to read the odds and know which event you’re looking at.
On the plus side, navigating the app and finding specific bets is simple and intuitive.
The Bottom Line
In answering the question ‘Is bet365 legit?’ the answer is yes. Although only available in two states, its long-standing reputation abroad and 80 million global users lend credence to the safety and security of using the app. If bet365 wants to secure a higher market share in Ohio, however, improvements need to be made to its app and bonus offers.
For the time being, we would recommend the apps mentioned throughout this article. The one caveat would be for international sports fans in which bet365 has a clear edge.
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