How to Bet on Football: Your Complete US Guide

Football betting in the US works by choosing an outcome — a winner, a margin of victory, a total score — and placing a real-money wager at a licensed sportsbook that operates in your state. Get those two things right (understand the bet type, use a legal app) and you're ready to put money on a game.

What does "how to bet on football" actually mean?

It means picking a market, reading the odds, and submitting a bet slip. Simple in theory. The confusion usually comes from the odds format and the terminology — spread, moneyline, vig, parlay. Once those click, everything else follows. This guide walks through each piece in plain language.

What are the main football bet types?

Every major licensed sportsbook offers at least these five markets on NFL and college games:

• Moneyline — Pick the winner outright. If you back the Chiefs at -150, you bet $150 to profit $100. Back the underdog at +200 and a $100 bet returns $200 profit. No spread, no math beyond the price itself. If you're just starting out, read our full breakdown of what a moneyline bet is and why beginners start there.
• Point spread — The favorite must win by more than the posted margin; the underdog can lose by less and still "cover." Both sides are usually priced at -110. Get a deeper explanation at our point spread guide for beginners.
• Over/Under (total) — Bet on whether the combined final score goes over or under the number the sportsbook sets. The score itself doesn't matter — only the total does.
• Parlay — Combine two or more bets on one ticket for higher potential payout. Every leg must win. Miss one, the whole ticket loses. The vig compounds with every added leg. See how football parlays work before you start stringing them together.
• Futures — Bet on a season-long outcome, like Super Bowl winner or division champion, usually well before the games that decide it. These carry higher vig than standard game-lines because the book holds your stake for weeks or months.

How do football betting odds work?

US sportsbooks use American odds. A minus number (-110) shows how much you must risk to win $100. A plus number (+150) shows how much a $100 bet wins. The -110 standard on spread and totals bets is where the sportsbook's built-in commission (vig) lives — it's roughly a 4.55% edge on a two-sided market. For the full picture, visit our page on how football betting odds work.

How to bet on football step by step

1. Confirm online sports betting is legal where you live (more on that below).
2. Choose a licensed sportsbook — FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and ESPN Bet all operate across multiple legal states.
3. Create an account and verify your identity. Have a government-issued ID ready; the KYC check is required before you can withdraw anything.
4. Make a deposit via debit card, PayPal, ACH, or another accepted method.
5. Navigate to the NFL or college football section, find the game and market you want.
6. Tap the odds to add a selection to your bet slip, enter your stake, and confirm.

The full walkthrough — with tips on what to watch for at each step — lives in our football betting for beginners guide.

Is football betting legal in your state?

Sports betting is legal and online in states including New Jersey (regulated by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement), Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board), Michigan (Michigan Gaming Control Board), and Colorado (Colorado Division of Gaming), among others. Several states still prohibit online wagering entirely. Minimum age is 21 in most legal states, though some states allow 18+ at specific facilities — always confirm for your state before signing up.

Our state-by-state page on whether football betting is legal where you live covers current status and links to each regulator. Always cross-check your state gaming control board's public license registry to verify any operator before depositing.

How do you pick the right sportsbook?

Stick to licensed operators. If an app isn't on your state gaming control board's active-license list, don't use it — offshore and unlicensed sites have no consumer protections and withdrawal disputes have no regulatory remedy. Among licensed books, compare the markets offered, deposit and withdrawal options (PayPal and Venmo move faster than ACH, which can take several business days), and welcome offers. Just read the T&C on any bonus carefully; rollover requirements and expiry windows vary by operator. Our rankings of the best sportsbooks for football betting break down the top options side by side.

Not sure if the app you're looking at is actually licensed? Our sportsbook license verification guide shows exactly how to check.

Do you pay taxes on football betting winnings?

Yes. All gambling winnings are federally taxable as ordinary income. Sportsbooks issue a W-2G when a single winning bet pays $600 or more and is at least 300× the wager, per IRS Publication 525. Losses can only offset winnings, and only if you itemize deductions. Get the full breakdown on our football betting taxes page.

A few things to watch out for when you bet on football

Parlays look attractive because the payouts are big. They're also where most casual bettors lose money fastest — the vig compounds with each leg you add. Start with single-game bets while you're learning how lines move. Also check the age requirements for your state on our minimum age to bet on football page before you sign up anywhere.

If a game gets postponed or cancelled, most sportsbooks void the bet and return your stake — but house rules differ. Confirm your operator's policy before wagering; our page on what happens to your bet if a game is cancelled covers the details.

Must be 21+ in most states (18+ in some). Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER — the National Council on Problem Gambling offers 24/7 support by call, text, and chat.