We know that college football games play a huge part in the lives of folk right across the US and it’s not difficult to understand why you want to bet on them. Unfortunately, the reality is that your options for legal NCAAF sportsbooks are rather limited.
Since PASPA was overturned back in 2018 and control over gambling became a state-level responsibility, almost thirty US states have since opted to legalize sports betting. Of those states, eighteen also permit online sportsbooks to operate under license.
However, the bad news is that just seven US states currently allow you to bet legally on college sports like the NCAAF:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Michigan
Residents of all other US states are sadly out of luck for the moment.
The good news is that gambling laws in the US can literally change overnight. There are already several bills up for consideration, including petitions from Ohio and California, together with numerous constitutional amendment requests. That means there’s hope for an increased number of NCAAF sportsbooks in the future.
Although that might all look a bit bleak to some of you, for those who reside in one of the seven states listed above, we can help you to track down the best NCAAF sportsbooks right away.
Operator checklist: 5 things we look for when rating operators – the fundamental five
Here at TheGruelingTruth.com we have developed our own tried and trusted format for rating the top betting sites. Of the many features we include in our reviews, there are five standout aspects that are crucial to the safety and enjoyment of our readers.
Licensing
Any sports betting site that is situated outside of the US, or that does not have a current US state-issued license, is illegal. If you were to use one, you would be committing a criminal offense.
That’s why our first task is checking each operator’s license for authenticity. You can usually do this for yourself, as most reputable sportsbooks will display their licensing credentials in a prominent position on their website.
Security
Using an insecure website or mobile app is dangerous. By doing so, you lay yourself open to many potential threats ranging from damaging viruses to identity theft, it really is that serious. The operators we review will only get high ratings if everything is completely up to scratch in this section, and we are very thorough.
Our initial checks will ensure that all web pages have https:// verification, which means you can establish a secure connection between your device and the sportsbook. We also expect to find evidence of high-level SSL encryption for all sensitive data transmissions and financial transactions.
Terms and Conditions
A part of our review includes a close examination of the operator’s full T&Cs. We know that only a few bettors will take the time to read through them and we fully understand why – they are long, boring and often written in legalese.
Our ratings here reflect the outcome of our scrutiny and will only be high if we don’t find any unpleasant surprises buried deep in a ream of text. Of course, we always recommend you do look for yourself as well, as sportsbooks often make amendments to their T&Cs without notice.
Payment methods
It’s something that few potential sportsbook customers consider in advance. But with the best will in the world, if there’s no option available for your preferred method, or using it will incur fees, then you need to know about it at the outset.
The top US sportsbooks usually get this part right in fairness and give you lots of different ways to fund your sportsbook account. The ideal scenario is a cross-section of payment options that include credit or debit cards, a selection of reliable ewallets and some alternatives you could use without needing a bank account.
Customer support
Even at the best betting sites, things can occasionally go wrong, and if that happens, you’re going to need a way to resolve them effectively. We usually start this part of our review by visiting the operator’s FAQs. In our experience a well-populated self-help section saves you the stress of making a call or composing an email.
That said, a good team of support staff who are available 24/7 are worth their weight in gold. We like to find different ways to contact them such as a toll-free phone line, or live chat for urgent issues, but also an email address for less pressing queries. We also rate customer support highly when our tests show fast response times and a good level of knowledge.
Editor’s recommendation – the best NCAAF sportsbook
Looking for low deposit betting sites with great promotions? Taking into consideration that there are only seven US states where betting on college sports is legal, you might think we’ve struggled to come up with a recommendation, but that would be far from the truth. There are some fantastic NCAAF sportsbooks operating out of those states and one is our standout favorite – it’s DraftKings.
The DraftKings sportsbook operates out of sixteen US states in total, including all of the seven states where you can bet on college sports. But that’s not the only reason for our choice. DraftKings is highly respected throughout the gambling industry and by its customers alike.
You’ll find the DraftKings platform incredibly easy to use and you can place even the most complex wagers without getting frustrated, a factor that makes it stand out clearly from other NCAAF sportsbooks. You’ll also have no trouble finding NCAAF betting markets here, DraftKings reigns supreme when it comes to prop betting.
It almost goes without saying, but DraftKings is fully licensed and consistently adheres to the many regulations imposed on it by different US states. It has one of the safest websites we’ve reviewed and also one of the top five bonus offers across the entire US.
Finding the right operator for you – how we can help you
If you visit us over at TheGruelingTruth.com, you’re likely to get a very pleasant surprise. Our website is filled with a whole library-worth of valuable material that covers every aspect of gambling you can imagine.
For current or prospective NCAAF bettors, who are lucky enough to live in a US state that permits such activity, there are numerous sportsbook reviews available. Browsing through those makes light work of finding the very best NCAAF sportsbooks.
When you’re ready to move on, you might also find that our betting strategy guides and tips pages can give your betting a real boost.
5 ultimate tips for using the best operators – food for thought
Don’t use a sportsbook you don’t like
We know that NCAAF sportsbooks are a little thin on the ground, but don’t settle for anything less than ideal. A poor-quality website, or a betting platform you simply don’t like, will totally spoil your NCAAF betting experience.
Avoid dodgy apps
Be vigilant if you’re thinking of installing a betting app on your mobile device. Never accept the offer of a standalone app. At best they are illegal to use in the US. At worst, they are part of a scam intent on parting you from your cash. The only app you should consider is one that you can download directly from your NCAAF sportsbooks website.
What are the odds?
Should you be lucky enough to have several legal NCAAF sportsbooks operating in your state, it’s worth getting into the habit of comparing odds before you place any bets. Don’t forget that there’s nothing to stop you signing up with several NCAAF sportsbooks to gain a betting advantage.
Use your bankroll wisely
Rather than placing a single big bet on the outcome of an event, it’s better to spread your cash evenly with several smaller wagers. This will also allow you to use your NCAAF knowledge to take some prop bets, which usually have better odds than mainstream NCAAF betting options.
Never hesitate to ask questions
Don’t be afraid of putting NCAAF sportsbooks to the test by asking questions. Even if you are not registered with a betting site, you should still get the same polite and informed customer service. After all, they don’t want to miss out on adding another customer to their list.
Conclusion – tomorrow might be different
It’s tough negotiating the legal system in the US and the laws in place where NCAAF sportsbooks are concerned make it even trickier to select one than for other US sports. That said, we see changes being made to the laws in various US states, sometimes on a daily basis. The current trend indicates that they are relaxing gradually, but we can’t make promises.
However, there is some hope that more NCAAF sportsbooks will become accessible to US bettors very soon. It will bring a boost to college football, an increased revenue for the state that permits it and a whole load of pleasure to NCAAF fans.
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NCAAF sportsbooks FAQ
⛔ Is NCAAF betting legal in the USA?
We can tell you this much, if you want to bet on NCAAF games, then you’ll potentially have legal obstacles to overcome first. Here at TheGruelingTruth.com we’ve put together a unique guide to NCAAF sportsbooks that will help you work your way through the US legal minefield.
❓ What bets can I place on NCAAF games?
NCAAF betting does have some similarities to wagering on other team sports, but it doesn’t entirely fit the same in play patterns as, say, NFL matches. You’ll also need to find out if you can legally bet on NCAAF events from your location. Head over to TheGruelingTruth.com where all of those questions are answered in full in our NCAAF sportsbooks guide. We can even help you with other major sports, such as finding the best sports betting sites for basketball.
🌠 Which is the best NCAAF bookie?
Due to the complexities of the US laws surrounding betting on NCAAF games, it’s better to find out first if you can legally bet on college sports in your state. You can only start your search for NCAAF sportsbooks once you know the answer. Be sure to read our NCAAF betting guide here at TheGruelingTruth.com which will put you on the right track. We can even help you with finding CFL sportsbooks too!
