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Best social betting apps 2023

Ramona Depares Last updated on September 21, 2023

Checked by Lorella F.Melanie H.

Social betting apps are the latest trend that’s taking US gamblers by storm. It allows players in different states to enjoy a spot of sports wagering without the need of putting down a bankroll.

Because it’s not classified as gambling, these social sportsbooks are perfectly legal in the majority of states, even those that haven’t greenlit online sports betting.

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Our experts have taken a deep dive into this relatively new world. Let’s kick off with our list of the best social betting apps.

1
SugarHouse sportsbook review
96/100 Platform rating by Ramona D. 89% Playscore based on Second Chance Bet of up to $500
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Good to know

  • High number of markets
  • User-friendly interface
  • Available in CT, NJ, PA

10 payment methods

ACH Network
Cash at Casino Cage
Play+
PayNearMe
American Express
MasterCard
Visa
e-Check
Check
VIP Preferred
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2
ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay sportsbook review
90/100 Platform rating by Anna M. 86% Playscore based on 100% match up to $100 + $5 Promo Pick
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Good to know

  • Mix of DFS with sports betting
  • Members Club rewards
  • Available in 27 states

4 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
Discover
ACH Network
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3
BetMGM sportsbook review
89/100 Platform rating by Anna M. 91% Playscore based on Up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets
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Good to know

  • Strong odds on football
  • Stellar customer support
  • Live streaming and live data

14 payment methods

VIP Preferred
Visa
MasterCard
TAPPP
PayNearMe
PayPal
Skrill
Play+
Bank Transfer
American Express
Discover
Cash at Casino Cage
Check
e-Check
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4
betsafe-logo
Betsafe sportsbook review
89/100 Platform rating by Melanie H. 78% Playscore based on Second Chance Bet up to $500
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Good to know

  • Unique sports to bet on
  • Wide range of payment methods
  • Great app design

10 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Express
PayPal
Bank Transfer
Skrill
ACH Network
PayNearMe
Paysafecard
Play now
5
Caesars sportsbook review
88/100 Platform rating by Ian Z. 94% Playscore based on Up to $1,250 Stakeback + 2,000 loyalty credits
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Good to know

  • Excellent rewards program
  • Fast payouts
  • Bet on 20 different sports

9 payment methods

PayPal
Visa
Discover
MasterCard
VIP Preferred
Bank Transfer
Skrill
PayNearMe
Play+
Play now
6
Unibet sportsbook review
88/100 Platform rating by Anna M. 85% Playscore based on Match four bets up to $100
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Good to know

  • Award-winning sportsbook
  • Unibet community hub
  • Available in IN, NJ, PA, WV

8 payment methods

MasterCard
Visa
PayNearMe
PayPal
VIP Preferred
ACH Network
Cash at Casino Cage
Bank Transfer
Play now
7
Fliff logo
Fliff social sportsbook review
86/100 Platform rating by Ramona D. 83% Playscore based on 100% up to $100 FC
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Good to know

  • Good sport selection
  • Offers college sports
  • Available in 41 states

5 payment methods

PayPal
Visa
Bank Transfer
MasterCard
Skrill
Play now
8
Borgata sportsbook review
85/100 Platform rating by Ian Z. 85% Playscore based on Bet $20 get $100 in Free Bets
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Good to know

  • Great odds on football
  • Regular parlay boosts
  • Bet on 22 different sports

13 payment methods

Visa
VIP Preferred
Skrill
Play+
PayPal
MasterCard
Discover
Cash at Casino Cage
Bank Transfer
American Express
PayNearMe
Check
e-Check
Play now
9
BetRivers sportsbook review
84/100 Platform rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on Second Chance Bet of up to $500
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Good to know

  • Many regular promotions
  • Huge number of sports
  • Trusted by many state licensors

6 payment methods

PayNearMe
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
Discover
Visa
Play now
10
ownersbox logo
OwnersBox sportsbook review
81/100 Platform rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on 100% match up to $500
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Good to know

  • Twist on the traditional
  • User-friendly DFS platform
  • Available in 37 states

7 payment methods

Bank Transfer
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Express
ACH Network
Check
Play now

What makes these the best social betting apps

Our experts will only recommend tried and trusted social betting apps that actually offer sports wagering. You may find more social sportsbooks recommended at our competitors, but reality is that these don’t always focus on sports betting, and aren’t all legally accessible in the US.

As things stand now, Fliff and SBK are the only two social betting platforms we can recommend without any reservations. However, there are plenty of top sweepstakes betting casino apps offering social casino games. If you’re up for some real money wagers, our sports betting apps page will also refer you to the best sites.

Fliff social sportsbook and sweepstakes — a US favorite

In terms of social betting apps, Fliff ticks all the right boxes with a comprehensive social sportsbook experience for those who want to dip a toe into the world of social betting. The mobile app is highly rated by users and includes a wide-range of sports to bet on, including e-sports and the popular college sports options, like the college football playoffs.

Fluff is available in 40 US states, so you won’t find any hassle accessing the app even if you’re located in a state that hasn’t yet legalized sports betting. The brand enjoys a solid reputation thanks to its stellar customer service and high security.

Screenshot main page Fliff

How to choose the best

Finding the best social betting apps can end up eating precious time that you could spend chilling and playing instead. Especially because social sportsbooks are a relatively new phenomenon, there isn’t much knowledge on who you can trust. Here we’ll let you in on a few of our secrets to help you choose a social betting app that will deliver a great experience all-round.

  • computer-screen

    Device compatibility

    When testing the best social betting apps, we put great importance on whether the site offers an experience that can be enjoyed across various devices. We’re not all lucky enough to splurge on the latest smartphone, so it’s important for a social sportsbook to ensure that it is compatible not only with the higher-tier devices, but also with the mid- and low-tier models that us common mortals at Time2play use.

  • Ios Device

    Mobile exclusive offers

    The majority of social betting apps are geared towards use on a mobile device, so it makes sense that players are rewarded for playing on the go. If a social sportsbook offers an exclusive bonus to mobile users, then that’s certainly extra brownie points from us. The practice is as yet not very common, however, sites like Fliff tend to offer these exclusive mobile bonuses via their social platforms.

  • Scratch Card

    Social betting options

    A well-rounded social sportsbook offering is necessary to make it to our toplist. Fliff ranks so high because it makes available all the most popular sports and markets, including esports and college sport betting. This places it a cut above the competition when it comes to picking the best social betting apps.

  • monitor-and-camera

    Live streaming and other betting features

    If you’re into sports and betting, the likelihood is that you’re also into live bets. Few experiences beat the thrill of placing a wager in real-time, as you watch the action unfold in front of you. This is why we love social betting sites like Fliff because their stable of betting features can rival even top real-money sports betting sites.

  • credit-cards

    Payment options

    We expect the best social betting apps to make a decent variety of payment options available to players. If the most popular online payment platforms like PayPal, VISA or eCheck aren’t an option, then we have to ask ourselves why. No one wants to have to subscribe to some obscure online payment method just to be able to access a social betting website.

  • Loading

    Overall offering

    The best social betting apps are those that bring a well-rounded experience to the table. A strong reputation, impeccable security, fast and reliable customer support –  these are the mainstays of any social sportsbook worth its salt. Our top votes go to the sites that can offer all the above and more.

Popular devices

Most of us access a wide variety of devices throughout the day, from smartphones for quick texting and browsing to tablets and iPad for when we want a fuller visual experience. Likewise, we’re likely to use different devices to access our favorite social betting apps. Let’s go into some more detail.

Apple phone screen apps
1

iPhone

Apple still carries the torch for cutting-edge software and hardware, with the cherry on the cake being the lifelike visuals. This is why iPhones remain some of the most popular devices with players keen on enjoying an immersive social betting experience on the go. Maintaining regular updates is important for a smooth gameplay, so if you find any glitches on your iPhone make sure to check for updates.

Android phone screen apps
2

Android

Android phones tend to be favored by those who prefer a thorough in-browser experience without the need to download any apps. This is thanks to the HTML5 technology, which makes the web app experience impeccable. Needless to say, brands like Samsung have taken the visuals to another level, but nowadays even cheaper Android smartphones have caught up and offer very sharp and immersive visuals.

iPad screen apps
3

iPad

Looking for the ultimate immersive experience on your mobile device? Enter the iPad, offering the best of both worlds in terms of social betting apps – a huge screen to inspire the imagination and full mobility. Being an Apple brand, usability and software is very similar to that of the iPhone, but obviously there’s no comparison in terms of screen aesthetic.

Tablet screen apps
5

Android tablets

Gone are the days when those looking for a high-performing tablet automatically gravitate towards the iPad. Android tablets nowadays are just as lean and mean, with amazing visuals, high software and hardware performance and long battery life. Most social betting apps still lack a dedicated Android tablet app, but the good news is that in-browser playing is just as efficient.

Social sportsbooks with no native apps — do they exist?

The social betting multiverse is such that most social betting apps tend to favor native apps. Fliff, for example, comes with a dedicated app both for Apple and Android users. In fact, it’s only available to play from your mobile device, and you won’t find a normal desktop version.  SBK follows the same format – you’ll find dedicated iOS and Android apps, as well as an APK download for those who want to play on an Android tablet.  To summarize:

  • Social betting tends to be more popular on mobile devices
  • The majority of social bettings apps offer a native app
  • Some social betting sites offer an APK download
  • Most social sportsbooks don’t have a desktop website equivalent

Features exclusive to social betting platforms

So what makes social betting apps different from regular online sportsbooks? For starters, you don’t need to put down any money to enjoy a flutter on the races, or on your favorite football team. There are other features that makes social sportsbooks unique. Let’s delve into some of them.

  1.  Chat features — It’s called a social betting app for a reason because most of them actually do offer a social element that we don’t find on regular betting sites. You can chat with your connections while on the app, exchanging tips and updates. Never forget that the normal rules of etiquette apply. Rudeness or aggression is not tolerated on apps like Fliff and may very well get you banned.
  2. Friend-to-friend betting —That’s right, the best social betting apps will allow you to indulge in a spot of friend-to-friend betting, laying down a wager directly against your friend. Think of it as not too unlike parimutuel betting in horse racing, where a wager is taken against other players.
  3. Referral promos — Never has it been easier to enjoy a special bonus or three than on a good social sportsbook. Social betting revolves around promos and free gifts that go beyond the normal sign-up bonuses. With sites like Fliff, it pays to use a referral code from a site like Time2play as you’re more likely to get a better deal.
  4. Sweepstakes — Sweepstakes tournaments are unarguably one of the biggest attractions on the best social betting apps. Put simply, sweepstakes are like big leaderboard-style competitions that take place on social betting apps. Think of it as a massive lottery, but instead of waiting for numbers to come up you actually lay down wagers on sporting events. The player with the most wins is awarded a special prize, and usually, even runner-ups will benefit from the collective pot.

Tips for social betting on the go

How to best maximize your social betting experience? Besides choosing the best social betting apps, there are some tips and tricks to keep in mind. Here are some of our top hacks.

Finger pointing at a device screen
1

Start simple

If you’re not an old hand at sports betting, don’t kick off with overly-complicated stuff as this can ruin your overall experience. Stick to simpler bets like moneyline bets. Once you’ve mastered those, you can expand your betting and even build parlay-type bets with more complicated wagers.

Tag with percentage on it
2

Look for promos

We’ve already mentioned that social sportsbooks tend to focus heavily on good promotions. Hunt around on the web for promo codes and the like – we regularly update ours so always keep an eye out for our ranking lists.

Phone screen with football and basketball at different ends
3

Don’t be scared of live betting

This is one of the most thrilling aspects of sports betting, so don’t be put off by the fact that you’re relatively new. Keep your bets simple and join in the fray. Before you know it, you’ll be a pro.

Hand with dollar bill and a bulb on top of it
4

Watch who you socialize with

Like with everything else, don’t get carried away by what other players are doing. Just because someone else laid down a money wager that you can’t quite afford, doesn’t mean you need to follow suit.

Should you even use social betting apps? Pros and cons

So now you have a clearer picture of what is social betting. But you might be asking yourself why you should bother becoming familiar with a social betting app. As with everything else, there are pros and cons to social sportsbooks. Let’s take a better look.

  • Check Round Green

    Good training for real betting

    If this is your first time exploring the world of sports betting, a social betting app offers the perfect training ground as your mistakes won’t be expensive.

  • Check Round Green

    Strong social aspect

    It’s in the name! Social betting was created with the idea of actually socialising with friends while you enjoy the sport.

  • Check Round Green

    Mobile first approach

    The best social betting apps take a mobile-first approach, with dedicated apps that sync up to your different devices.

  • Check Round Green

    Easy to use even for newbies

    Not sure of the difference between a money line bet and players props? A few bets that don’t involve a bankroll will change all that. Sometimes it’s better to learn by doing.

  • Cancel Round Red

    No real money betting

    Social betting is still very far from the realm of regular, real-money betting, so don’t expect the same, full experience of real-money sports betting.

  • Cancel Round Red

    Less sport selection

    Even the best social sportsbooks tend to offer a smaller selection of markets and bets than normal betting sites. Sports like tennis, golf, MMA and NASCAR aren’t available.

FAQs

What are the best social betting apps?

In the past year, the number of such sites has increased dramatically, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you’re unsure which sites work for you, check out our experts’ selection of best social betting apps.

How can I find the best social sportsbooks?

On this page, we offer tips and advice about how to choose the right app for you. There are many criteria to look out for, and our experts have identified the overall top social sportsbook that performs highly across all fronts.

How do I download a social betting app?

Most apps are very simple to download. Simply head on to your Apple Store or the Google Play Store, find the relevant app and follow the steps to download. Some sites will offer dedicated apps on different devices.

Are all social betting sites on mobile?

Most social sportsbooks are accessible only on your mobile device via an app download. Some others also offer the option of an APK download.

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