Football Betting for Beginners: How to Place Your First Bet Online

Placing your first football bet online takes about ten minutes once you have a licensed sportsbook account. Pick a team, enter a dollar amount, hit confirm — that's the short version. Here's the full walkthrough.

Do I need to do anything before I can bet?

Yes. You need an account at a licensed sportsbook that operates in your state. Online sports betting is legal in states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado, among others. If you're not sure whether your state is covered, check whether football betting is legal where you live before you create an account anywhere.

Most states require bettors to be 21+. A handful allow 18+ at specific facilities — verify with your state's gaming control board. Must be 21+ in most states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

How do I place my first football bet, step by step?

1. Create an account. The step-by-step sportsbook sign-up guide covers every field — name, address, last four of your SSN for identity verification. Have a government-issued ID handy; KYC checks are required before any withdrawal.
2. Deposit funds. Most licensed apps accept Visa/Mastercard debit, PayPal, ACH bank transfer, Venmo (select operators), and PayNearMe cash at retail locations. Minimums and fees vary by operator — confirm on the banking help page before you deposit.
3. Find the football market. Tap the NFL or college football tab. Pick a game. You'll see three standard market columns: spread, moneyline, and total (over/under).
4. Select your bet type. Tap a line and it drops into your bet slip on the right side of the screen.
5. Enter your stake. Type in how much you want to wager. The slip shows your potential payout instantly.
6. Confirm. Review everything — team, line, stake — then tap "Place Bet." You'll get a confirmation number.

What are the numbers next to each team?

Those are American odds. A line reading -110 means you wager $110 to profit $100. A line of +150 means a $100 bet returns $150 profit. The full breakdown is in the guide to how football betting odds work.

Which bet type should a beginner start with?

The moneyline bet is the easiest entry point — you just pick which team wins outright. No margin to cover, no spread math. Once you're comfortable, look at the point spread, which adds a handicap that levels the betting field between a heavy favorite and an underdog.

Avoid parlays on your first few tickets. Combining multiple legs compounds the sportsbook's built-in commission across every selection. Read up on how football parlays work before you build one.

How do I know the sportsbook is legitimate?

Check the state regulator's public license registry. Operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and ESPN Bet are frequently cited as licensed across multiple states, but you should confirm directly with your state's gaming control board. If a site isn't on that list, don't deposit. Our sportsbook license verification guide walks you through exactly where to look.

Will I owe taxes on what I win?

Yes. All gambling winnings are taxable as ordinary income under federal law, per IRS Publication 525. Sportsbooks issue a W-2G when a single winning bet pays $600 or more and is at least 300× the wager. The full picture is at our guide to taxes on football betting winnings.

What if the game gets cancelled?

Most sportsbooks void the bet and return your stake. But "most" isn't "all" — confirm the operator's specific house rules before you wager. See what happens to your bet if the game is cancelled or postponed for the details.

That's the whole process. Start with a moneyline, keep the stake small while you're learning, and always verify you're betting on a licensed platform. If you ever feel like it's getting out of hand, the National Council on Problem Gambling has free, confidential support available around the clock.