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The Action Network ranks the best legal Sports Betting Sites in the USA. Find out how we selected and ranked the best online sportsbooks in our comprehensive guide.
The best sports betting sites 2024
- TN, CO, OH, KY, MA, MD, WV Only.
- New users only, 21 or older. Full T&Cs apply.
- AZ, NJ, IN, CO, IA, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY only.
- New customers only. Must be 21+. Welcome offer not available in NY & DC. Full T&C apply.
- CO, OH, LA, NJ, IA, KY, VA, only.
- New customers only. 18+ in KY, must be 21+ in all other states. Full T&C apply.
- AZ, CO, IA, IN, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, PA, OH, TN, VA, WV, WY Only.
- New users only, 21 or older. Full T&Cs apply.
- AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WY, WV
- New customers only. Must be 21+. Full T&C apply.
More on the top USA Sports Betting Sites
Online sportsbook of the week
FanDuel
Bet $5 Get $150
FanDuel has become one of the nation’s top online sportsbooks, and it’s easy to see why. They have a multitude of markets for users to bet into that ranges from the four major sports to darts and horseracing.
Fortunately, FanDuel has partnered with many sports personalities to help bring user many profitable opportunities. Some of those partnerships feature Pitching Ninja, Colin Cowherd, Pat McAfee.
Aside from the markets, FanDuel also has the on their app design. The FanDuel sportsbook app is very user friendly as it is easy to navigate through different markets, access promo, and contact customer support. Be sure to sign up for FanDuel today and take advantage of their tremendous offers.
How we rank the best sports betting sites
- Welcome offers
- Live betting
- User interface and experience
- Live-streaming
- Existing customer promos
- Support for parlays and same game parlays
- Range of markets
- Range of sports covered
- State availability
- Payment options
- Refer a friend bonus
Welcome offers
In the ultra-competitive U.S. sports betting market, pitching the right welcome offer is crucial.
Players are faced with a swelling choice of sportsbooks, thus an extra $100 incentive could make all the difference when it comes to attracting sign-ups.
Sports bounses generally talk the loudest. There are also different varieties to choose from. The most regularly offered is the First Bet Offer format.
Some online sportsbooks will even give your money back as sports bonuses, should your first bet lose.
With matched deposit bonuses, if you were to make a first deposit of $150, you would then receive an additional $150 with which to be.
Deposit bonus offers will usually see amounts of between $500 and $1,500 offered with most sportsbooks, allowing you to claim a large sum of bonus funds by making a deposit.
Sports bonuses are slightly different again. Here, a first bet offer is, most of the time, offered without any wagering requirements.
New customers just get a betting credit to use as they please. The bonus bets or sports bonusesare relatively low in value compared to most first bet offers.
Live betting
This feature has become integral to the best online sportsbooks across America. Sports fans just love the thrill of betting on any given event or game after the action has begun.
The odds will obviously change as teams or individuals gain advantage in any given contest as the game progresses.
This fluctuation means that many players with a shrewd eye on proceedings, can benefit from their own interpretation of how they see things unfolding.
Live betting goes hand in hand with live-streaming options which are often dependent on minimum wagering requirements to allow viewing.
User interface/experience
You can display every sports event and market under the sun, but that’s not much use if your customers can’t easily locate them!
Sportsbook navigation and the user experience are pivotal to success. Customers don’t want to be searching endlessly to find the right game or market for them, no matter how obscure.
Similarly, users will want easy access to the most popular sports and events, accompanied by some juicy promotions of course.
This ease of site navigation is emphasized when it comes to mobile apps.
Live-streaming
Briefly touched upon in the Live Betting section above, live-streaming is a neat feature for bettors and one that is increasingly available.
Whenever sports fans have wagered on any given game or event, nine times out of 10 they will want to take in some of the action.
Not every sport, game or team makes it onto ESPN or FOX Sports, thus live-streaming via your sportsbook provides a great alternative to tuning in.
For instance, if you are a big basketball fan you may wish to take in some European b-ball with a wager, while the NBA and NCAA are in the off season.
Cesars Sportsbook and BetMGM now offer live-streaming of sporting events on their platforms.
Existing customer promos
Once customers have successfully signed-up and redeemed their welcome bonuses, the next challenge is to keep them on board. What better way than offering more promotions.
The variety, number and focus of these customer promotions are all key factors. Clearly most promotions center on price boosts on certain outcomes or prop bets on a specified athlete.
However, thankfully for the customers, these promotions are constantly evolving as the onus to innovate is with the sportsbooks.
This means many sportsbooks devising repeated “always on” type promotions, often focusing on in-season sports, big games, and holidays.
A great current example is the current FanDuel MLB-focused offer titled ‘Dinger Tuesdays’.
With this promo, players can place a Pre-Live, Straight, $25+ “To Hit a Home Run” Wager on any Tuesday MLB Game and get a $5 bonus in bonus bets or sports bonuses for each home run both teams hit in the game (max $25), win, or lose.
Support for parlays and same same parlays
Parlays are those sports bets made up by a series of potential outcomes. They are one of the favorite types of bets among US sports fans, as the more outcomes wagered on, the greater the potential winnings!
Of course, the flip side is that the probability of success is decreased. But the main point is that any sportsbooks who do not cater for this type of multiple outcome bet, are onto a loser!
The demand for Same Game parlays has led to a greater prevalence of these features and promotions.
For example, a football fan may bet on several markets such as the moneyline, a touchdown scorer, a team to be winning at HT and Over/Under on sacks.
Ground can be made on the competition by lowering the threshold of minimum bets within the parlay, starting with two. These are often set higher.
Range of sports
Any pickleball fans out there?
While pickleball may take a bit more time to appear regularly on sportsbooks, there are certainly plenty more niche-ish sports that folks will want the opportunity to bet on.
From lacrosse to darts, it really does matter that the less popular sports outside the major leagues are covered.
Naturally, as these sports will ultimately provide less revenue for operators compared to NFL and NBA for example, they are unlikely to feature anything like the number of markets on each event.
Range of markets
This is one of the more obvious battlegrounds for the top online sportsbooks in the USA. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
Although it’s important to cover all bases with sports offered, the selection of available markets is perhaps a more defining factor in judging the merits of online sportsbooks.
This is where the operators must get creative to fashion an advantage. It’s a chance to add some fun as well,
For many sports such as tennis for example, there are the most obvious and popular markets that you wouldn’t dare miss off.
Predicting the score in sets or the over/under total games in the match spring to mind.
Then again, by offering something more unusual — such as a player covering the games spread or most aces in a tie-break under live betting — online sportsbooks can elevate their offerings above the competition.
Multistate availability
With more states lowering the drawbridge to legal sports betting month by month in 2024, managing to secure operational licenses is huge for sportsbooks.
Naturally, those with the best rep’s and deepest pockets will likely be fronting up most lines. This is only to be expected.
Often the potential market size, tribal governance and other legislative nuances will see the smaller operators target those states that allow a significant number of licenses such as Pennsylvania.
Sportsbooks will sometimes offer a promotion prior to the official launch of online betting that is commonly referred to as a soft launch. The promotion will be different from the live promo and in some specific instances, players will not able to claim the live offer after using the pre-registration promo, as was the case during the Maryland soft launch.
Payment options
In the era of crypto and PayPal, flexibility with payment options has become a greater focus. The top online sportsbooks will try very hard to make this as inclusive as possible.
On top of the standard bank and credit card deposit/withdrawal methods players have got used to being offered a broad spectrum of options.
Those include crypto currencies such as Bitcoin, as well as Skrill and other digital payment methods.
Refer a friend bonus
This is one of those nice touches that isn’t a game changer but actually in principle should be given more kudos than it generally gets in the industry.
It makes total sense that those customers should be rewarded for bringing in new business!
There may be those sportsbooks who justifiably feel their marketing and products are the only tools they need.
However, the inclusion of these bonuses is definitely a tiebreak settler! Especially if that bonus is $100.
Top Illinois online sportsbooks
Fanatics
Fanatics Sportsbook is relatively new to the online sports betting realm but is expected to be a major player in the industry once fully live. The site is available in Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio and Tennessee, and the mobile app itself allows users to wager the same way they would on any other sportsbook.
Currently, users can get up to $200 in bonus bets over the first five days of registering their account. The bonus bets will be distributed daily so new players will earn $40 in bonus bets a day with any $10 cash wager.
The process to claim this promotion is a bit different from other sportsbooks.
After submitting the survey and receiving an approval email from the team at Fanatics Sportsbook, all eligible first-time players will be able to register and claim their offer. Once that $10+ promotional wager is settled, users can expect to receive their $200 in bonus bets within 72 hours.
Fanatics has recently added live NFL streaming to their platform, so you can bet, watch, and maybe win all from the same app!
bet365 sportsbook
The international sports betting giant continues to garner acclaim and users in the U.S. due, in no small part, to the generous Bet and Get offer they have for new customers.
Currently, bet365 has two potential promotions available for new users. One is a first bet insurance offer, the other is a bet and get.
The First Bet Safety Net promotion gives new users their complete stake back in bonus bets — with a cap of $1,000 — if their first wager doesn’t hit.
The bet and get will give new users $150 in bonus bets when they place a cash wager of at least $5.
First Bet Safety Net
New users who are interested in either promotion can click the module above and use the bonus code TRIBUNE to sign up for an account with the international betting giant.
Both promotions have the same landing page so players can choose which promotion their prefer when they use the module above.
As is the case with all first bet insurance offers, a user’s initial wager must settle as a loss for them to get any bonus bets.
Caesars Sportsbook
Getting the “Full Caesar” has become a preferred treatment for new sportsbook users. Caesars sportsbook has one of the best welcome offers on the market and is noted for their wide selection daily odds boost.
Caesars has quickly raced to the upper echelon of online sportsbooks as they are widely available around the US. They offer a multitude of markets from the four major sports all the way to darts and handball.
They are built for new sports bettors as their interface is easy to use and runs very smoothly. However, for those looking to dig deep into markets and find an edge, it can be difficult as alternative lines and props can sometimes be disorganized.
Overall, Caesars is a great option and should definitely be a part of you sports betting arsenal as they offer you the chance to make extra money like no other.
Pros | Cons |
Top tier welcome offer | Live betting stats could be improved |
Tremndous odds boosts | Menu navigation could be improved |
Excellent specials markets |
BetMGM
Sitting pretty near the top of the pile are BetMGM. As we’ve mentioned already on this page, it’s easy to see why BetMGM is one of the USA’s most popular and trusted sportsbooks and gambling brands.
Currently, this exclusive 20 percent $1,600 deposit match offer can be claimed by any new bettor in virtually any BetMGM state, using the bonus code TRIB1600. To claim this offer, new users will need to meet a 10x wagering requirement within the first 30 days of registering their account, meaning that they need to bet 10 times the amount of sports bounses received within the first 30 days of registering their account.
Critically, the offer above is not available in Kentucky New York or Washington D.C.
In the Bluegrass State, bettors can still claim a $1,500 first bet insurance offer when they sign up with the code TRIBUNEMGM.
In addition to those offers, new players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia can claim a bet $10 get $200 in sports bounses with the BetMGM bonus code TRIBUNEGET.
From the moment users have redeemed their hefty sign-up offer, they know they’ve arrived in a quality lobby. The navigation easily leads you to a bonanza of markets and promotions.
Among the best of these is the One-Game Parlay. Here BetMGM players get the opportunity to pick from the decisive athletes, plays and stats that they think will shape the game.
Additionally, the innovative “Edit My Bet” feature is a super neat addition to their already-impressive sportsbook.
This is where BetMGM goes beyond the early cash-out option to let you adjust existing wagers. The others are playing catch-up on this one.
When it comes to the variety of sports and markets available under their live sports betting tab, you’d be hard pressed to find a better offering out there in the market.
Pros | Cons |
Generous welcome offer | Live betting stats could be better |
Strong same-game parlay markets | Customer support section could be easier to find |
Strong Odds and Variety of Markets | |
Easy to use One Game Parlay Builder |
FanDuel Sportsbook
As we arrive in the top two of our list, the margins of excellence are narrowed. FanDuel has become one of the most powerful forces in the regulated US sports betting market and it’s a true online specialist.
Its mobile app is a testament to this. The app is arguably the strongest of the lot. Intuitive design offers a clear and appealing user interface that gives its customers a seamless journey to navigate the enormous range of sports and markets.
The user-friendly style is very evident on the desktop site as well — uncluttered and crisp, it oozes quality and simplicity.
All menus are well ordered, while the featured section covers the most popular and live sports, with simple things like the running alphabetical order under the “all sports” tab, just easy navigation.
Although the overall number of promotions is maybe down on some of the other top online betting sites, the same-game parlay menu is top class. There’s something for everyone.
Customer service is both readily available and friendly, while the list of payment options caters for a very high ratio of options compared to some operators.
Odds boosts could be more player friendly, but this online sports betting site deserves a top-two finish in this list.
Pros | Cons |
Brilliant same-game parlay section | No rewards programme |
Strong current customer offers | Limited withdrawal options |
Excellent live streaming offerings | |
Very trustworthy brand |
Recently launched mobile operators
Penn Entertainment launched a new partnership with ESPN to create its new sportsbook, ESPN BET. This app is a one-stop shop for sports fans and bettors alike. They can watch all the games they wagered on with one, easy to use app.
Part of the deal includes a rebrand of PENN’s existing online sportsbook, which is available in 17 states currently. As of Nov. 14, ESPN BET is available in all 17 states.
The current ESPN BET promo code TRIBUNE will unlock a generous offer bet and get. If you bet any amount, you can get $150 in bonus bets, broken down into five $20 increments and one $50 bonus bet, equaling $150 in total.
Betting sites vs betting apps
We tend to spend more time online than off it these days, given the numerous devices that connect us to the web. This means betting on sports is easier than ever before.
The necessity to visit a physical sportsbook just to place a bet is decreasing all the time.
What could beat placing a bet on the go? Probably only topped by the option to place a bet at the big game itself when at the stadium. No need for live-streaming then!
With many of us working remotely at least some of the time now as well, the merits of using a mobile app over an online betting site are more debatable.
Until recently, the simple fact of accessibility would have made the mobile app the clear winner.
Perhaps that’s less clear-cut in the post-COVID pandemic world. Mobile apps usually do a good job of presenting the most popular sports and markets. For the majority of sports bettors, that is probably sufficient and welcome.
Then again, given the more limited screen space, that can lead to being pushed down the immediately obvious route, especially if dominated by highlighted promotions fighting for that smaller space.
The majority of home users will be seeing a laptop-sized desktop at least, meaning that they immediately have eyes open to more promotions and betting opportunities.
While we can only marvel at the convenience of reaching in our pockets to set up a parlay, there is also that dreaded connectivity issue back of mind.
That extended loading time when we’re not connected to Wi-Fi can be the difference between seizing a certain price on an in-play event, before one later that price shrinks.
If we’re happily plugged into the Wi-Fi at home or work, why would you squint to pick through the offers on the smaller device?
Most of the big betting companies have developed mobile apps for obvious convenience.
However, in a post pandemic world, the more palatial surroundings and ease of navigation on desktop have made a big comeback.
Is Online Sports betting legal in my state?
Back in 2018, legal sports betting was made possible for the first time in United States history. The repealing of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, cleared the runway to fully legalized and regulated markets.
Within the space of just six months, no fewer than seven states had passed legislation to legalize sports betting and it snowballed from there.
Now, just over four years on from PASPA, 23 of 30 live states offer online sports wagering from at least one operator.
State | Legal? |
Arizona | Yes |
Arkansas | No |
Colorado | Yes |
Connecticut | Yes |
Delaware | Yes |
Florida | No |
Illinois | Yes |
Indiana | Yes |
Iowa | Yes |
Kansas | Yes |
Louisiana | Yes |
Maryland | Yes |
Maine | Yes |
Michigan | Yes |
Mississippi | No |
Montana | No |
Nebraska | No |
Nevada | No |
New Hampshire | Yes |
New Jersey | Yes |
New Mexico | No |
New York | Yes |
Ohio | Yes |
Oregon | Yes |
Pennsylvania | Yes |
Rhode Island | Yes |
Tennessee | Yes |
Virginia | Yes |
West Virginia | Yes |
Washington DC | Yes |
Wisconsin | No |
Wyoming | Yes |
The next legal online sports betting states
With many states having already taken the plunge, we look at those that have either passed legislation, but are yet to go live or where legislation seems likely to be passed before full legalization.
State | Current Situation |
California | There has not yet been the same kind of legislative breakthrough in CA. In the most recent election, a bill for online sports betting was voted down. |
Florida | The Sunshine State is yet to shine favorably on the legalization of online sports betting amid complex tribal compact conditions. The Hard Rock sports betting app was pulled just a month after launching due to legal wrangling which continues. |
Online Sports Betting Regulations You Should Know
If you’re thinking about placing a legal online wager in the US, then first and foremost you must be old enough.
If that box is ticked, then the next factor to consider is location. There are those states that place restrictions around betting on certain events or athletes, often related to college sports.
Regulation, e.g. Age limit
Age Limit
The minimum legal age requirement for any state permitting legal gambling is 18. Although, many state gaming regulators and authorities choose to bring that limit up to 21.
Location
If you happen to be a New Jersey resident and you’re over in NYC, you still cannot bet on any NJ licensed sports sites or apps.
Because each state needs to collect their own taxes from the sports betting revenues, the operators are now obliged to run location checks on devices to verify you’re within state limits when placing wagers.
Restricted betting
If you’re a fan of the NCAA and wild about your in-state teams then you could be in for some disappointment.
In a handful of states, you cannot bet on college teams based in that state, even if they’re playing elsewhere.
Some states have slightly different rules — like in NJ, you cannot bet on any college game played in the state or any team from the state at all.
However, in the Empire State you can bet on games being played in the state as long as it doesn’t involve an in-state team.
USA Legal vs Offshore Betting Sites
Online sports betting is legal in many states, although offshore betting sites provide an alternative way to place wagers where sports betting is prohibited.
Despite the fact that offshore betting sites are illegal, there are still offshore betting sites in operation, with many US bettors choosing to use them.
Clearly, the big advantage of using a legal sportsbook is the extra customer protection afforded to those in the regulated markets.
In order to obtain a license in any given legal sports betting state, the sportsbooks have to undergo a rigorous selection process.
This will include verification of payment methods and the protection of customer money.
Sportsbooks in these states must stay compliant within the states that they operate and follow strict protocols.
The offshore sports betting sites will not necessarily adhere to the same high standards.
Places like Curacao, Costa Rica, the Isle of Man, Malta, and Costa Rica, are among the most notable places that these offshore betting sites are run from.
The most popular of those offshore betting sites are listed below.
- BetOnline
- XBet
- Bovada
- MyBookie
- BetUS
- SportsBetting
- BUSR
- BetNow
- GTBets
Online sports betting bonuses explained
What are the benefits of betting on sports online?
- Accessibility - Online sports betting can be done from anywhere
- Promotions and Bonuses - Fantastic offers to take advantage of
- Variety - More markets and props than retail sportsbooks
- Best odds - Regularly updated odds providing the best lines
- Livestreaming - Live sports with many online sportsbooks
- Payment Choices - Many choices to choose from, suiting everyone’s needs.
Accessibility
Whether it’s whipping your mobile from your pocket, grabbing the tablet, or flipping open the laptop, betting on sports is at everyone’s fingertips these days.
This is greatly advantageous. Bettors may not be able to easily travel (if at all) to a retail sportsbook to place a far more inconvenient wager.
Promotions and bonuses
The greatest pulling power for online sports betting are the array of brilliant bonuses and promotions.
New customer offers from online sportsbooks give customers the potential to earn thousands of dollars in bonus cash or bonus bets.
Naturally, new customer sign-up offers, and welcome bonuses are the most lucrative. Crucially, you are not limited to one sportsbook.
This allows you to make the most of the welcome bonuses for as many sites as you please.
Variety
Online sports betting gives you the opportunity to bet on myriad sports, promotions, tournaments, games, and markets.
Everything you need is packed all in one place, and all on the same site.
You’ll find more types of bets online than you ever would at a retail sportsbook, and you’ll also be able to bet on live sports events with live video streaming options as well.
Best odds
Whether it’s covering the spread or going big on the moneyline, the great advantage of online is that the different sportsbooks are all clambering over each other for your custom.
The really neat part is that you can easily open a new tab to check who is giving you the best deal.
Live-streaming
When CNBC or FOX don’t cover your favorite team or tournament on their schedule, then the ability to watch live through your sportsbook account is huge.
This feature has become fairly typical between the best sportsbooks. Nevertheless, it’s worth checking that this is included when signing up. It’s not yet universal.
Payment choices
How you wish to deposit money into your account is one of the most important aspects of online sports betting.
All of the best betting sites mentioned on this page provide numerous ways in which you can deposit funds into your account, thereby allowing you to choose the method of payment which best suits your needs.
Retail sportsbooks in the USA
The first state to offer retail sportsbooks to its residents was, rather obviously, Nevada.
The world’s most famous gambling hub of Las Vegas, saw retail sportsbooks spring up even as Casinos took center stage.
However, the PASPA ruling was specifically designed to halt any further development of sports betting.
Fast-forward to 2018 and with PASPA overturned, the floodgates opened. Although New Jersey made the breakthrough with this, it was actually Delaware that won the race to go live with retail sports betting in 2018.
NJ quickly followed, seeing its first legal sports bets placed at Monmouth Park and Borgata in Atlantic City.
From that point the gravy train has rolled on, with the likes of West Virginia, Mississippi and even New Mexico launching regulated retail sports betting by the end of 2018.
Often located on the same premises as casinos or sports stadiums and venues, those who still like to wave that slip around in their hands as OT looms, are still very much able to.
The states which have legal retail sportsbooks are:
AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, IL, IN, IO, LA, MD, MI, MS, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, WA, DC, WV, WI.
Daily fantasy sports betting: An alternative way to wager
As sports fans, we all think we could do a better job than our favorite team’s head coach from time to time.
We believe we could pick the right personnel to make the right plays. Come on, you know!
Luckily, that itch can be comprehensively scratched with Daily Fantasy Sports betting.
Whereas traditional sports betting is a competition between player and bookmaker, DFS is a tussle between multiple players.
This chance of pitting wits against other players, in some cases to make much bigger winnings, is a fantastic avenue to show off our inner coach.
Without doubt, the two best exponents of this form of betting are DraftKings and FanDuel.
Both of these huge names in US online sports betting started life as DFS providers and have continued to dominate the space with their innovative, fans focused offerings.
Best sports betting sites FAQs
What betting sites can I use in the USA?
There are numerous betting sites that can be used in the USA, with more states opening the door to legal sports betting year on year since 2018.
Some of the most popular betting sites include BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and DraftKings.
Can I bet online in the USA?
There are currently 24 states in which those of a legal age in any of those states, can place wagers online.
Sports betting is the most prevalent form of legal betting, although many of those states also allow bets on online casino games as well.
Which online betting site is the best?
There are so many to choose from now, and so many determining factors that it’s still fairly subjective.
However, looking at the site’s market share and popularity are often good indicators of the best performing sites.
What is the best sportsbook in the US?
This is a subjective question but using a series of different variables we’ve laid out a top 10 of online sportsbooks on this page.
The conclusion we have drawn is that when considering all the variables the best aggregate rating is currently BetMGM.
Is it safe to bet online?
As long as the market is regulated, like it is now in 30 US states (and Washington DC) then there is no reason why betting should be considered unsafe.
Nevertheless, there are also many offshore betting sites that operate in far fewer rigid conditions and could even leave users exposed to fraudulent practices.
Depending on personality type and circumstances, gambling responsibly and within financial limits should always be priority.
What sports can you bet on online in the USA?
You can bet on all the most popular major league sports of basketball, baseball, hockey, football, and soccer.
In addition to these hugely popular US sports, there are many, many other less heralded sports that people can bet on across the range of Sportsbooks.
We hope you enjoy the companies that we recommend! Just to be clear, please note that we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the company links provided on this Website. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us or reference our terms and conditions.
If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234