Pointsbet general overview
If you haven’t ever heard of pointsbetting or seek a truly legal sportsbook available in the USA, this Pointsbet review is a must-read for you! One of the newest and already the largest US bookmakers welcomes web and mobile sports betting fans from only seven states but has ambitious plans for emerging.
Our Pointsbet review will embrace all essential details about its sportsbook and casino products. We will highlight literally everything you need to know about a bookie: from available payment methods and betting lines to licenses, user experience, and casino games.
Pointsbet website
To start, we will consider some basics. There’s no use in joining a bookie if you can’t deposit with the methods you want if it is insecure or simply unavailable in your state. Thus, before we get down to the most exciting part about odds, bets, props, parlays, and bonuses, let’s overview the essentials.
Pros and Cons
Good line on American sports
High betting limits
Active bonus program
The bookmaker does not accept players from states where its activities are prohibited
Points Bet security and license
Points Bet is one of the few online sportsbooks that operate as local US bookmakers and casinos. We mean, it has nothing to do with offshore online gambling, which even sounds more trustworthy.
As a bit of a tangent: every American state is eligible to determine its laws regarding sports betting and casino games.
It means that every state that legalized gambling has its own gambling commission.
An online sportsbook must get approval from a commission of the particular region to enter one or another state. As you might have guessed, PointsBet is registered by seven gambling commissions, for instance, New Jersey Gambling Enforcement Division, etc.
We will enlist all states where Pointsbet is legal further in the review; what you must know for now is that it is a legal and secure platform.
When we say ‘secure’, we mean that all your transactions and personal information will be collected and stored privately. With the help of HTTPS protocol and SSL certificates, PointsBet protects all users’ data and won’t let any third party get and use it.
Is Pointsbet Legit in USA?
PointsBet is legal in the United States: it works only in states that approve sports betting, so it is not some offshore bookmaker. It works strictly according to local laws and does not accept bettors from everywhere. Overall, you can be 100% sure you won’t get into any trouble with the law if you wager with PointsBet, and will have the right to resolve any issues with your local authorities. Still, it’s hardly possible that PointsBet will force you to complain about it, but we’ll discuss its customer support and overall approach to customers later.
State Selection Panel
What States can you bet online with PointsBet?
At the moment, PointsBet is live in the following states:
- Colorado: only sports betting;
- New Jersey: sports betting and casino;
- Indiana: only sports betting;
- Illinois: online and retail sports betting; to register at the online sportsbook, visit Hawthorne Race Course;
- Iowa: only sports betting;
- Michigan: sports betting and casino;
- West Virginia: sports betting and casino.
PointsBet has a separate license for every state.
Although it is a pretty niche online sportsbook at the moment and accepts a comparatively limited customer pool, it has ambitious plans to expand and open its doors in the other states where online sports betting is legal.
Pointsbet Banking Options
Although Pointsbet can not be proud of a huge variety of payment methods, it is not a con: it has all the top popular options for the US players, including cash deposits, available in some states. The full list looks the following:
- Online banking;
- PayNearMe;
- PayPal;
- ACH/eCheck;
- Credit and debit cards (only debit cards in Iowa);
- Cash options for particular states: Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino and ) and Meadowlands Racetrack (New Jersey), Hawthorne Race Course (Illinois), and Catfish Bend Casino (Iowa).
All the same options, excluding PayNearMe and bank cards, are available for withdrawals. Obviously, some more methods like Neteller, Skrill, or prepaid cards would not hurt, but at least the ones you can use always work smoothly. There are no crypto deposits and withdrawals.
Limits and fees
Although you won’t find any specific limits on the cashier page, there are maximum amounts you can win. They are pretty big for a recreational sportsbook: for instance, you can win a maximum of $500,000 from bets on NFL per day. The other limits vary depending on sports, markets, and events.
Overall, PointsBet’s policies are very mild: you don’t have to pay deposit or withdrawal fees with the only exception: a re-deposit fee of $30, which you can successfully avoid, though.
| Payment method | Minimum deposit | Maximum payout | Commission fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online banking | $5 | No Limit | None |
| PayNearMe | $5 | No Limit | None |
| ACH/eCheck | $5 | No Limit | None |
| Credit and debit cards | $5 | No Limit | None |
| Cash | $5 | No Limit | None |
Usability: PointsBet Sportsbook Review
A modern website in black-and-red colour scheme: this is how we can describe the overall view of the Pointsbet sportsbook. Its layout is traditional, so if you have ever dealt with other betting sites, you won’t find anything confusing. The PointsBet website is available in two languages, English and Spanish, and allows you to switch between American, decimal, and fractional odds formats.
Sportsbook section
All basic sections (casino, sports, promotions, etc.) are conveniently located in the site’s header. Besides, you can use hot links to get quick access to various extra features: Bet Builder, Boosted Odds markets, and more.
The site works fine: at least, we did not witness any failures or lags and haven’t come across any relevant complaints about it. Our verdict: the Pointsbet site web version is a high-quality product, so let’s see if we can say the same about the mobile experience.
Devices & App: Android and iOS Support
Before you download the PointsBet mobile betting app (yes, it is available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets), make sure you allow tracking your geolocation. The PointsBet app is exclusively available for the states we mentioned above, so your location is essential to find and download the right version for your state.
So, what about the app experience? To start, we must mention that it works flawlessly and doesn’t crash even during peak hours. Another thing to notice is the layout: like in the web version, PointsBet mobile app has a perfect UX/UI design which makes it highly intuitive and overall user-friendly.
Besides, you can opt for a mobile website version, too: it has almost the same layout as the app, so you will have the full experience even if your phone does not support modern applications.
Customer Support
It’s time to speak about the PointsBet customer service, and it seems they managed to be on top here, too. First, there is a high chance you can find a reply to all your questions before you even contact a support manager.
The help centre has a very comprehensive FAQ separated into several sections and containing very detailed instructions with screenshots.
Thus, if you have any deposit, withdrawal, betting, or account issues, a reply is most likely there. What if it’s not, or you don’t want to navigate the help centre? Fortunately, PointsBet works 24/7 and allows you to contact agents via all convenient methods:
- Local phone number;
- Live Chat;
- Email;
- Social Networks.
Our personal experience and the other customers’ feedback proved that PointsBet managed to create a team of dedicated professionals, ready to give you quick and polite replies to all questions and solve any issues.
Pointsbet Sportsbook Overview
Now it’s time to see what PointsBet is like as a sports betting site. In the very beginning, we mentioned it had some peculiar wagering option called ‘Pointsbetting’, but it’s not everything. Besides extra betting services you will hardly find at the other US legal bookies, it is full of promotions and provides bettors with a massive number of betting markets.
Let’s look at the PointsBet sports betting offer in more detail: it seems like it’s the main reason why this Australian sportsbook became so demanded in the USA.
Betting line
Available betting markets
Many US bookies involve a very limited number of sports betting markets in their offer. The reason is the very low popularity of most sports, but the ones played within the major US leagues: NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL. While you can usually barely opt for at least ten disciplines at top American sportsbooks, Pointsbet offers you a whopping twenty options. It’s still a modest offer compared to European or British giants but becomes very competitive if we speak about the US market.
What’s in the line? No niche sports: it’s still a rarity for such a place.
However, you can wager on top popular disciplines like basketball, soccer, football, baseball, and ice hockey, or opt for Australian rules, cricket, cycling, tennis, eSports, MMA, motor racing, golf, and more.
The offer is not limited to the hottest leagues. For instance, you can wager on NBA and NCAAB if you opt for the basketball section, but you will also find Israeli, European, Russian, and British tournaments. American football options involve Canadian leagues, and enlisting soccer events would take forever: it seems like the coverage includes all existing events literally worldwide.
Types of bets you can make
A nice selection of sporting events is half the battle, and we need to make sure that we can get the most out of every matchup in the line. Luckily, PointsBet allows us to do so: just a look at the main page with the upcoming events shows that a matchup between major teams may involve from two to five hundred markets, not counting special betting options that we’ll mention further.
Before we consider a line example, it’s time to reveal the main PointsBet feature: besides fixed odds, parlays, and teasers, it also has a Pointsbetting option. What’s that? Let’s look at a simple example:
Unlike a standard bet, where your profit depends on your stake and the odds, points betting means your wager can either win or lose depending on points.
For instance, if your bet wins by ten points, your winning equals your stake multiplied by ten.
However, if your bet loses by, for instance, three points, you lose three times your stake amount. Before you bet, you receive a maximum win and loss points, and you can set your limits to avoid many losses. Such a betting option might be very lucrative but requires larger investments.
Betting markets
Getting back to the same old fixed odds betting, there is much to choose from. Thus, if you are not into alternative wagering, you can select from a decent amount of bet types. Let’s just look at the NBA game line example: we randomly selected a match between Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns.
- Point Spread, Money lines, Total;
- Alternate Totals;
- Game Props;
- Moneyline 3 Ways;
- Player Points;
- Player Assists;
- Player Rebounds;
- 1st Half bets;
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Quarter bets;
- Alternate Spread.
Besides traditional wagers, there are more options for more experienced bettors: they are ‘Pick your own spread’, ‘Pick your own total’, and Same Game Parlays. However, if you are not satisfied with what you see, you have one more option on hand: it is Name Your Bet. When you ‘name your bet,’ you suggest an outcome that is not in the line and proposes your odds for it.
The coverage remains on the same level when it comes to most NFL, MLB, and NHL games. Still, the other games do not involve so many markets: for instance, eSports disciplines or tennis matches usually have no more than ten bet types.
Competitive odds and lines at PointsBet
PointsBet is not only superior in terms of rare bet types and special offers but also have pretty competitive odds.
Most major events have an approximately 4,5% margin, which can be reduced to 3% or less if there is an Odds Booster promotion.
The overall average margin is 6%: not too impressive, but still not sky-high, especially for an American sportsbook.
PointsBet Bonuses and FreeBets
There is much to do in the PointsBet promotions section: from a generous welcome bonus to various weekly offers that give you free bets, early payouts, and reward points.
Latest Bonuses
Besides a classical rewards program and regular promotions, you have a chance to become a part of the premium club. In fact, there are two of them at PointsBet: the Platinum and Diamond Club. Both of them are available upon special invitations and give access to special offers and events and a personal manager. Most bonuses do not require any promo code and you activate them just making particular actions. Like most bookies, PointsBet doesn’t reveal the amounts you must spend to be a part of the VIP program, but everyone has their chance!
| Bonus Type | Bonus Amount | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Welcome Bonus | Up to $2,000 in two risk-free bets | Make a first deposit and get up to a $500 refund if your first fixed odds bet loses, and up to a $1,500 refund if the same happens to your first pointsbetting wager. |
| Live Free Bet | $10 | Bet on live football markets on Sunday with a risk-free bet |
| Premier League Bonus | Up to $50 | Bet on any EPL game, if your team leads by 2 goals anytime, you will cash out your winnings with half of an hour |
| Rewards Program | n/a | Make sports bets and collect points; exchange them for free bets |
| Referral Program | $100 | Invite your friend; if they place a bet of $20, you will both receive $100 in risk-free bets |
PointsBet Live Betting Section
The live betting section is much more modest than the pre-match one. While you can find hundreds of events and thousands of markets in the pre-game section, there is hardly anything when it comes to in-play betting. For instance, at the moment of reviewing the PointsBet sportsbook, we found only fifteen matches: volleyball, tennis, basketball, and soccer tournaments. Still, all major games, including eSports, will definitely go live at PointsBet.
The coverage didn’t impress us, too: the selection of bets is mainly limited by a couple of the most traditional ones.
Still, you can enjoy some additional features: live streaming by Genius Sports Group or cash-out service for selected markets.
PointsBet Casino Overview
Just a reminder: PointsBet Casino is exclusively available in New Jersey, West Virginia, and Michigan, so you can join it via an app or a web version of the site when you are physically in these states. Unlike the sportsbook with its wide selection of options, the casino is much more modest. Powered by IGT and Evolution Gaming, it features several slots, table and card games.
To play casino, you need to download an app
Available Casino Games
The casino may seem ridiculously modest: it contains only twelve slots by IGT, three table games, and two video poker titles. Probably, things may change if PointsBet signs with more providers, but at the moment, you will not find much. Let’s just enlist the titles from the portfolio:
- Video Poker: Game King Video Poker, Triple Play;
- Table Games: Blackjack, Roulette Classic, Baccarat;
- Slots: Electric Tiger, Lucky Larry’s Lobsters, Irish Magic, Cleopatra, and more.
Live Dealer Casino at PointsBet
At the moment, PointsBet doesn’t have any live dealer tables in the New Jersey and West Virginia players. They might be yet to come: we must keep in mind that the platform is relatively new. Still, live dealer games enthusiasts are not welcome at the moment and will have to look for entertainment elsewhere.
Still, Michigan gamblers can make the most of their casino experience with several Evolution live dealer titles: Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat.
PointsBet Casino Bonuses
We suppose you won’t be surprised to hear PointsBet doesn’t offer any bonuses or promotions for the casino games. Sounds legit: there is almost nothing to promote in this section, and we made sure that the main offer of the whole platform is sports betting, at least for now.
Conclusion
We found PointsBet an exciting alternative to the giants like DraftKings or FanDuel. Although PointsBet is yet to come to all states where sports betting is legal, it has already made its way to huge popularity in the United States.
Among the main cons are the pre-match coverage of the major leagues and competitive odds. Moreover, sports bonuses are also on top. Live betting section and casino leave much to be desired, though, but PointsBet knows its key audience and totally lives up to its expectations. The main point we need to highlight is that the platform is stable, reliable, and reputable: isn’t it the essential thing about a sportsbook?
FAQ
Yes, PointsBet is legal online sports betting site: it accepts players from the USA and operates in states that approved it as a bookmaker and casino. It is verified by seven states, so when you join PointsBet, you are into an absolutely legal experience.
PointsBet offers the most popular payment methods for withdrawals: online banking, PayPal, cash payments, and checks.
PointsBet went live in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
No, PointsBet doesn’t offer alternative payment methods and accepts only US dollars via standard methods like credit or debit cards, PayPal, online banking, or cash.
Last updated on 25 Mar 2023 - 16:22
