Gaming
November 2024

Why Low Minimum Deposits Are the Latest Craze in Betting 

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It’s an interesting time for the betting industry.

The statistics tell us that more people are betting than ever before — with approximately 4.2 billion people gambling at least once a year — but betting behaviors have changed a lot. 

One of the biggest changes has been the shift towards betting less. The average person is now much stricter with the amount of money they’re willing to wager on casino games, sports, and even the lottery, which shouldn’t come as too much of a shock. 

  • 20.9% of US sports bettors wager less than $50 a month (Statista) 
  • The most common wager size is under $10 (Ace Per Head)
  • 90% of bettors have a budget for betting and 97% of bettors are now aware of responsible gambling resources (Optimove) 

Naturally, because bettors have become much more money-conscious, one of the key things they look for when searching for betting sites are low minimum deposits. It’s become something of a craze in the sports betting world, with many betting sites now competing with each other to see who can offer the lowest possible deposit rate without harming their profitability. 

The main reason why low minimum deposits are important across all types of betting sites, from sportsbooks to online casinos, is because they provide a way for casual bettors to enjoy the excitement of betting without having to bet huge amounts of money. For example, if you’re someone who only wants to place a couple of bets a year, like on the NFL Super Bowl and other big events, then this will be right up your street. 

Of course, minimum deposits betting sites have also skyrocketed in popularity due to a struggling economy. Ever since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and rising inflation have all meant that the average person now has significantly less disposable income than they had 10 years ago. As a result, they can’t bet as much either, so they specifically target sites that don’t require them to deposit more money than they’re financially comfortable with. If one of today’s online casinos or sportsbooks decides to set their minimum deposit at $50 or higher, almost nobody would join the site, as it’s an off-putting amount for both casual and die-hard bettors. 

Betting Sites with Low Minimum Deposits

Because betting operators are now aware that the minimum deposit amount they ask for is one of the biggest factors behind gaining new customers, they’re in hot competition with each other to see who can offer the lowest minimum deposit possible. Typically, the best deal you can get will range from $5 to $15, although some sportsbooks and casinos will occasionally drop their minimum deposits below $5 as part of a special promotion. To give you a greater idea, the expert team at Minimum Deposit Betting Sites has provided an updated list that takes a closer look at the current betting sites with the lowest minimum deposits. This way, you can easily make your pick. 

💰 DraftKings: $5 

Excellent daily fantasy sports • 300+ casino games • Dynasty Rewards Program 

Launched over a decade ago in 2012, DraftKings has fast become the second-most popular betting site in the US, combining Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), sports betting, and online casinos games into one single platform. With a market share of 32%, DraftKings used to have its minimum deposit amount set at $10. However, the brand has realized that in order to keep its market share high while maintaining a wide appeal, the best thing to do was to drop its minimum deposit asking amount to $5 in 2024. It’s one of the lowest offers around, which is why you might want to consider joining if you’re a budget-conscious gambler or first-time player. 

💰 FanDuel: $5 

Competitive sports betting odds • Slots, blackjack, and live dealer games • Profit boost tokens

FanDuel is currently the market leader in the US when it comes to total number of users. Just like DraftKings, FanDuel has also decided to reduce its minimum deposit amount — also to $5 — in response to growing competition and bettors experiencing a tighter squeeze on their wallets. And what’s great about FanDuel’s minimum deposit offer is that if you then place your first bet of $5 or higher, you can then get your hands on up to $150 in Bonus Bets. It’s an excellent way to boost your bankroll and have some extra funds to play with, so FanDuel remains the crowd-favorite betting site and app in America. 

💰 Bet365: $10 

Wide range of betting markets • 850+ casino games • Loyalty Club 

Bet365 has always been a popular sportsbook throughout Europe, especially in the UK. And because the brand is so successful, it’s enabled it to expand to the US, which it first did back in 2023. Since then, Bet365 has successfully entered 10 US states — including Arizona and Kentucky — and become a popular option with betting fans who want something different from the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel. With Bet365, though, the slight downside is that the minimum deposit is $10. However, the good news is that the operator matches qualifying deposits up to $500 in Bet Credits, so depositing $10 gets you an extra $10 in credits to use. 

💰 BetMGM: $10 

Regular promotions and special offers • 3,000+ casino games • BetMGM Rewards 

BetMGM is a hugely popular US betting site, offering great sports betting markets and an incredible catalog of over 3,000 casino games. The current minimum deposit is $10, which is double what DraftKings and FanDuel ask for. However, BetMGM has a really interesting promotion where if you place your first wager of $10 or higher and it loses, you can then receive up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets. It’s an amazing safety net that budget-conscious gamblers and beginners definitely appreciate, as it pretty much means that you can place your first bet with the ultimate confidence knowing that you’ll recoup any losses in the form of Bonus Bets. 

💰 BetUS: $10 

Live sports betting • eSports betting • Loyalty program 

BetUS is one of the longest serving sportsbooks and casinos, having been in operation since 1994. It has well over 1 million active users and is about as reliable as it gets when it comes to an online betting site, offering a 125% sign-up bonus and 200% crypto currency sign-up bonus. The minimum deposit is $10, so any first-time deposit amount above this will be boosted by 125%, giving you some much-needed extra funds to play with. This site is also a huge hit with experienced and professional gamblers, which is worth considering if you’re someone who likes to bet on a regular basis. 

How Do Minimum Deposits Work In Betting? 

A minimum deposit is exactly what it sounds like — it’s the minimum amount of money you need to deposit after creating an account with a betting site. Once you’ve made the minimum deposit, you’ll then gain access to the sports betting markets, casino games, and anything else that your specific chosen site offers. If you attempt to deposit below the minimum asking amount, then it will likely be rejected by the operator. 

Most of today’s modern betting sites will allow you to make your first deposit using a variety of different deposit methods, which typically include: 

  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay 
  • Google Pay 

Because a lot of younger generations are now signing up with gambling sites, including Gen Z and Millenials, it’s led to a significant increase in Apple Pay and Google Pay being used for deposits. It makes perfect sense, too, as these particular payment methods are much more convenient and faster, which is why sportsbooks and casinos have worked hard to add them as options to their sites. 

Are There Any $1 Minimum Deposit Sportsbooks? 

The really budget-conscious gamblers out there spend a lot of time searching for $1 minimum deposit sportsbooks. After all, who wouldn’t want to deposit as little as $1? It’s a great deal. However, the vast majority of sportsbooks and online casinos have now stopped offering deposits as low as this due to the simple fact that some players were abusing the system. In a nutshell, they would join the sites, bet their $1, and then never play again. This is why $1 minimum deposits are now extremely rare, with no betting sites currently offering this deal. However, it’s not unheard of for some operators to drastically cut their minimum deposits during specific points of the year — such as the festive period or during Super Bowl week — which is why it’s always a good strategy to keep your eyes open for any exciting deals. 

Summary 

As the global economy continues to struggle and more bettors become conscious of the amount of money they wager, you can expect the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM to keep their minimum deposit asking amounts extremely low. This way, they will avoid pushing customers away while also maintaining as wider appeal as possible. So, whatever your current level of betting experience is, it’s highly advised that you stick with online sportsbooks and casinos that offer a minimum deposit that ranges anywhere from $5 to $10, as this is typically the best deal you’re going to get on today’s market. Good luck!

JRZY

JRZY provides unparalleled data, insights and analysis to identify and activate the best economic opportunities for athletes, brands and consumers.

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