PointsBet
Online Sports Book Review
PointsBet was founded in Australia in 2017 before moving to the United States in 2019. The site partnered with the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey and Catfish Bend Casino in Iowa to create an online sportsbook. All iOS and Android users over the age of 21 can access the mobile app version of PointsBet. There is a mobile and desktop browser version of the site available as well to all Mac and PC users.
Pros:
- Extensive menu of sports to bet on
- Great promotions and rewards program
- Clean and crisp site interface
Cons:
- Limited deposit withdrawal options
FAQs
The first step for new users will be to sign up for an account. The account requires users to input some basic information including their email, password, name, gender, address, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. PointsBet then runs a geolocation search to ensure that the user is in New Jersey or Iowa.
To deposit money onto PointsBet, users have a few different options. They can choose a direct online bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard, ACH/eCheck, or a PointsBet prepaid card. In order to use a prepaid card, users must load money onto the card before depositing into the account. There is no minimum deposit.
Once the signup process is complete, a free bet of $50 is placed into the user’s account. This bet cannot be withdrawn, but it can be placed on any sporting event with all of the winnings going back into the user’s account.The first deposit has a first bet, free play bonus up to $500. There is also a referral bonus of a $50 free play if a user’s referral leads to a sign up and a $50 deposit.
To withdraw money from the account, users can choose either an online bank transfer, PointsBet prepaid card, or a check in the mail. The prepaid card is immediate, the bank transfer can take two to five business days, and the check in the mail can take up to three weeks.
All online casino winnings must be reported to the IRS when you complete your annual federal tax return. This is done on Form 1044. You will tally up your total winnings and report them under the “other income” section. The winnings must also be added to your state tax return and are taxed according to your tax bracket.
Pros
Since PointsBet began in Australia, the company knew that having an extensive amount of sports, aside from just the major North American sports, to place wagers on is a big key to success. PointsBet offers betting options on sports like Australian Rules Football, cycling, cricket, and even darts. This is a big positive for gambling fans of European sports. The site has constant promotions running which is a great feature for all users. These promotions can sometimes be seasonal depending on the sport, but they have daily parlay and odds boosting promotions too. Not only do they have great promotions, PointsBet also has an excellent rewards program for their customers. Every single bet placed on the site earns rewards. Customers can receive one rewards point for every $5 wagered on fixed-odds, every $1 wagered on a parlay, and every dollar won or lost while points betting. These points can then translate into free bets and other rewards on the site. The site even gives out a $50 free bonus bet just for creating a PointsBet account. Users can place this wager on any sporting event before they’ve deposited money into the account. PointsBet has one of the best looking sites online, and this translates to their mobile app as well. It is very easy to use and makes placing wagers as simple as possible for all users.
Cons
There really are not many negative things to say about the PointsBet app, and certainly none that should discourage users from choosing it, but there are a limited number of ways in which a user can deposit and withdraw money on the site which can be a little frustrating. PointsBet does not currently offer options for PayPal, PayNearMe, Skrill.
How To Place A Bet
In order to place a bet, the bettor must determine what they want to gamble on. If the bettor decides to place a bet on the Kansas City Chiefs moneyline against the San Francisco 49ers, they simply have to click the moneyline option for that game. Once clicked, the bet will appear on the betslip on the right side of the page. The betslip can hold multiple bets, so a player can choose up to 10 different betting options and place money on them individually or in a parlay, round robin, or teaser bet. Once the bets are placed, the betslip is cleared and the player can place more wagers if they choose to.
How To Deposit and Withdraw
The first step for new users will be to sign up for an account. The account requires users to input some basic information including their email, password, name, gender, address, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. PointsBet then runs a geolocation search to ensure that the user is in New Jersey or Iowa. Once the signup is complete, a free bet of $50 is placed into the user’s account. This bet cannot be withdrawn, but it can be placed on any sporting event with all of the winnings going back into the user’s account.
To deposit money onto PointsBet, users have a few different options. They can choose a direct online bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard, ACH/eCheck, or a PointsBet prepaid card. In order to use a prepaid card, users must load money onto the card before depositing into the account. There is a first-time deposit bonus of a risk-free bet up to $500 on a new user’s first wager. There is no deposit minimum. There is also a referral bonus of a $50 free play if a user’s referral leads to a sign up and a $50 deposit. To withdraw money from the account, users can choose either an online bank transfer, PointsBet prepaid card, or a check in the mail. The prepaid card is immediate, the bank transfer can take two to five business days, and the check in the mail can take up to three weeks.
Conclusion
PointsBet is a fantastic sports betting site that is recommended for all users. With their wide variety of sports and constant promotions, there likely will never be betting fatigue for any customer. Despite having limited deposit and withdrawal options, the site still thrives with its easy to user interface and vast betting options.
- Reputation and Licensing: 5/5
- Game Variety: 5/5
- Game Quality: 5/5
- Bonuses and Promotions: 5/5
- Deposits and Withdrawals: 4/5
- User Experience: 5/5