PointsBet is a fairly new betting site. It was founded in Melbourne, Australia, as recently as 2017 but has picked up tremendous speed over the last several years.
In 2018, PointsBet started growing and eventually broke into the US sports betting market when they partnered with Meadowlands Racetrack to launch Pointsbet NJ. The company has since expanded into other US states and, as of 2020, has launched PointsBet Iowa, PointsBet Indiana, and PointsBet Denver in the state of Colorado.
This Pointsbet review will cover the bookmaker website, mobile app, sports and race betting features, and what makes them one of the most comprehensive bookmakers on the market.
PointsBet Registration
PointsBet has a simple and easy two-step sign up process. To create your free account you will need to provide the following personal information:
- First name
- Middle name
- Last name
- Email address
You will also be given a welcome promo code that allows new users to take advantage of exclusive bonuses upon sign up.
The second step will require you to provide additional personal information:
- Title (Mr, Mrs, Ms or Unspecified)
- Date of birth (DD/MM/YY)
- Cellphone number
- Home Address
The final step is providing your account information:
- Username
- Password
- Password confirmation
You will be required to check a box that confirms your agreement to have your personal information verified with the issuer or official record holder before you’re able to officially join PointsBet.
Interface
Compared to other betting sites that tend to be cluttered with too much information, the PointsBet homepage is very polished and has a stylish, minimalist look to it. The choice of red and white text on a black background makes the text jump out and ultimately makes the site easy to navigate.
The main menu is on the top left of the screen where you’ll find the home button, the most current promos, what’s next in sports and racing, in-play betting, quick multiple bets, and the Pointsbet Sportsbook. You’ll also be able to view the most popular sports to bet, which are always in the featured section.
The bottom of the home page is the information section where you will find info on how to contact PointsBet, their affiliates and investors, what spread betting is as well as terms and conditions, responsible gambling statement, and privacy policy.
PointsBet Pros
- Simple signup
- Easy deposit and withdrawal
- Offers spread betting
- App available for both Android and iOs
PointsBet Cons
- Potentially losing more than you bet
- Subpar live-betting feature
PointsBet Sportsbook
Australia’s PointsBet launched their first US Sportsbook in 2019 in the state of New Jersey following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the sports betting ban in the US. The sportsbook also launched in Indiana and Colorado as recently as May 2020. In addition to traditional fixed-odds betting and pre-game bets, much like its competitors like the Fanduel Sportsbook, the PointsBet Sportsbook also offers live betting on many of the sports markets.
Players can bet on 17 different sports markets, including all the popular US sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB) and Australian sports leagues (AFL, Rugby AU, NRL, FFA, Cricket Australia, and Tennis Australia). The Sportsbook offers more bet types on the NFL and NBA than any other bookmaker in the world. The platform also lets players bet on combat sports (boxing and MMA), motor racing (Formula 1 and NASCAR), and soccer from all around the world.
PointsBet offers a unique spread betting product called PointsBetting that’s based on how right you are rather than just being right. In the words of the company the more right, the more you win.
Let’s say you bet on an NBA game and you stake $10 on the game going over 200 total points between both teams, you’ll win x1 of your stake for every point over 200. If the game ends with 220 points then you’ll have won x20 of your stake (i.e $10×20= $200).
On the flip side, the more you’re wrong, the more you lose. If the game ends with 180 points then you’ll lose x1 of your stake on every point below 200 meaning you’d owe $200. It’s a high-risk, high-reward wager.
PointsBet Racing
In addition to traditional horse racing, PointsBet also offers greyhound racing and Australian harness racing. The platform covers every major race in Australia and New Zealand plus some terrific action from other countries like the US, UK, France, Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Africa, among others.
People that are big on horseracing won’t be disappointed either, with players getting access to betting tips and guides for every race along with weekly promotions. For all metro racing, players will get the best tote price or starting price for all tote bets.
Players will also get access to early speed and full speed maps for every participant in the race, this feature provides valuable insight into each horse and how well they might perform. PointsBet, unfortunately, doesn’t offer live streaming of any of their races, unlike many of their competitors.
PointsBet Mobile App
The platform’s mobile app is available for both Android and iOs users. Logging into the app immediately brings you straight to a list of featured betting markets. Despite the vast selection of wagers the front page only shows the most popular games, while its sleek and easy-to-use interface makes it perfect for betting on the go.
The app makes it easy to place traditional and spread bets and take a look at upcoming games and races. The sports menu is divided into three subsections to help you find your bet easier and in the racing section you will find your choice of Australian bet markets or International horse, greyhound, and harness racing.
Not only will you be able to watch every Australian race and select International race on the app, you can now Watch & Bet in the app too. The app features a selection of sports, from all the popular Australian and American leagues to niche and novelty type sports markets.
Deposits & Withdrawals
PointsBet offers four different deposit methods:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- eCheck
- PayNearMe
- Online banking
- EML cards
PointsBet also offers a card that functions as a prepaid debit card that you can top up with your debit or credit card. Customers will be able to use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including ATMs. The card can also be topped up with Paypal, which is a huge plus.
Withdrawals can be made with a lot of the same methods as deposits. That said, due to state and federal laws, players need to meet specific requirements before making their first withdrawal. These include identity and payment verification.
PointsBet doesn’t offer as many deposit and withdrawal options as some of its competitors, probably because of its high-risk betting options. Players making PointBetting wagers cannot withdraw all their funds before settling all outstanding bets. This is to account for the risk of loss exceeding the initial wager amount.
Bonuses
One of the best things PointsBet has to offer, besides some truly high-stakes wagering, is enticing bonuses. New players can use the PointsBet promo code PLAYNJ to receive two risk-free bets worth up to $200 in total upon sign-up. This will ensure any losing bet will instantly be credited back to their account as site credit of up to $100 each.
There are multiple bonuses and PointsBet promo offers running at the same time — players can find these on their ‘Promotions’ page. Those include:
- Seasonal promotions: these can vary from odds booster to cash-back and many more.
- Daily parlay and player odds booster: these vary every day, the maximum wager to redeem this promotion is $100.
- Refer-a-friend: this promo gives players a $50 free bet for every friend they refer to sign up. It’s important that the person deposits $50 or more so both parties can take advantage of the PointsBet deposit promo.
Players need to remember to check the terms and conditions of every bonus offer to avoid any surprises, most of these bonus offers are made to enhance a player’s betting experience and ultimately make them bet more.
Support
Upon signing up, your account will be assigned a Personal Account Manager for professional advice and all-round hands-on service. The account manager will contact you within 48 hours of joining PointsBet to take you through the system, the markets, the promotions available to you, and any other betting query you might have. The account manager can be reached at any point, which sets the bar pretty high for customer service.
The customer service team is available 24/7 via phone on the PointsBet contact number 13-BET (13 72 38), email [email protected] or the live chat feature on the website. Players can cancel a bet within 15 minutes of placing it by calling 833-338-PBET. Cancellation, however, is at the discretion of PointsBet.
If social media is more your thing then you can get in touch with PointsBet on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Regulations
Online gambling has been strictly regulated in the US but those regulations have been eased over the last couple of years. The launch of PointsBet in New Jersey 2018 was the first step in the company’s plans to expand further into the US online betting market.
The platform struck a partnership agreement with Penn National Gaming and launched in the state of Indiana in March 2020. The laws in Iowa are a little more complicated, requiring customers to visit the land-based partner of each mobile sportsbook to register an account.
PointsBet reached a partnership agreement with Catfish Bend Casino in April 2019, so that means if customers in the state of Iowa wish to place bets through the PointsBet website or app then they’ll have to visit Catfish Bend Casino to open an account.
PointsBet is currently licensed to operate in New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, and Colorado but has already secured partnership agreements with casinos to launch PointsBet Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Kansas.
Verdict
In the crowded online wagering space, especially now when regulations are being relaxed more, it’s important to distinguish yourself from the competition and PointsBet does exactly that.
One of their many strengths is their sheer number of unique and innovative betting markets. They offer more markets on AFL, NBA, and NRL than any other online bookmaker in the world.
Their PointsBetting bonus offer makes them a disruptor in the industry and the only online bookmaker to offer players this unique high risk/high reward experience. The platform is also known to offer some of the strongest racing promotions over key race events throughout the year, couple this with their strong season-long promotions across sports and it’s easy to see why they are growing so rapidly.
Gamble for Fun. Be Responsible
Gambling should always be responsible and fun. Please stop gambling, if you’re not having fun and if you’re starting to suffer physical and/or psychological damage as a result of it.
Apsportseditors.org does not promote or endorse any form of wagering or gambling to users under the age of 18. This site only encourages responsible gambling. If you believe you have a gambling problem, please visit BeGambleAware or GamCare for more information and professional help.
FAQ
Q: What is PointsBet?
A: A betting platform founded in 2017 in Australia which subsequently expanded in the United States.
Q: How do you use PointsBet?
A: Players have the option of using either the browser or app version of PointsBet and they can place bets on sports and racing from around the world.
Q: Where is PointsBet located?
A: The PointsBet headquarters are in Denver, Colorado, and Melbourne, Australia. They currently operate in four US states; New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, and Colorado.
Q: Can you use PointsBet outside of New Jersey?
A: Yes, you can. PointsBet is currently licensed to operate in Iowa, Indiana, and Colorado. They are expanding even further into the US online betting market and are planning on launching their service in Illinois, Kansas, and Michigan.
