SI Sportsbook

The sports betting industry in the United States continues to grow, and several new companies have decided to get involved. Sports Illustrated is one of those companies, and they needed some help to get into the industry and up and running.    Sports Illustrated formed a partnership with 888Sport to develop a sportsbook that could go live in the United States. 888Sport is a major name in the international sports betting market and was chosen to provide the technological base and support for the SI Sportsbook in the United States.   When news broke that Sports Illustrated was getting into sports betting, it generated plenty of excitement in the United States. Sports betting was new to Sports Illustrated, but that is a company with plenty of knowledge about sports.    Sports Illustrated has taken some time to get things cranked up in the U.S. sports betting industry, but things should start to ramp up in 2023. This sports betting operator will only improve over time and should become available for more customers over time with the increased legalization of sports betting.   

States Where SI Sportsbook is Offered

The biggest reason that SI Sportsbook hasn’t emerged as a leader in the U.S. sports betting market is that it’s only been able to acquire a license in three states. SI Sportsbook has entered three big sports betting markets, but more expansion is needed.    The first state to license the SI Sportsbook was Colorado, and that launch happened in 2021. Colorado is a state with a long list of mobile sports betting options, and SI Sportsbook hasn’t been able to put up impressive numbers amidst the competition.    SI Sportsbook was then able to go live in Virginia in May 2022, and it took a while for SI Sportsbook to expand again. Virginia has started to emerge as a major sports betting market, and SI Sportsbook has put up some decent numbers.    Michigan was the third and final state that licensed the SI Sportsbook to go live in September 2022. Michigan has all of the biggest names in online sportsbooks available, but it’s also a state that continues to see new sportsbooks go live, increasing the competition in the state.   A number of states that have legal sports betting have already handed out all of the available sports betting licenses. Some markets still have some licenses available, but it’s unclear which markets SI Sportsbook will expand to next.    There will be a couple more states looking to legalize sports betting in 2023, and those states could be targets for SI Sportsbook’s expansion. Even though SI Sportsbook does provide a great sports betting offering, it hasn’t been able to compete with the biggest names that have been around for a few years.   

SI Sportsbook Promo Offers

It’s very rare to find an online sportsbook that doesn’t have some sort of welcome bonus available for new customers, and SI Sportsbook does have a decent offer available. At first glance, it’s not as valuable as some other sportsbooks, but it can still be a great way to get some free cash.    The welcome bonus applies to the first wager placed at SI Sportsbook, and it’s a chance to get $200 in free bets. The first wager must be $20, which is also the minimum deposit that SI Sportsbook requires to get the welcome bonus.   If that first wager wins at SI Sportsbook, then you will receive $200 additional dollars, which is awarded to you in the form of free bets. If that first wager loses, then the welcome bonus is going to go away, and you won’t get any welcome offer.    This is a unique welcome bonus, as you have to make a successful wager to unlock the bonus. It’s common to see a risk-free bet as a welcome bonus, but this is sort of the opposite of what a traditional welcome bonus is.    This welcome bonus is only available in the states where SI Sportsbook operates, and that’s just three markets as of publication. This is also available to bettors at least 21 years of age and who have had their identification verified by SI Sportsbook.    There is a 1x playthrough requirement on this welcome bonus, meaning that all free bets have to be wagered before a withdrawal can be requested.   

SI Sportsbook Registration and Verification

Before placing a wager at the SI Sportsbook, the registration process must be completed. This registration process is not going to take you a ton of time, but there are a few steps you will have to go through.    This is a three-step process from SI Sportsbook, and the order you have to provide your information is a bit different than what you will see from other sportsbooks. In the first step, you will be required to enter your name, date of birth, and email address.    During the second step of the process, you will create a username and password, and then you will have to enter a security question. This is the information you will use when you want to log into your account.    Finally, you will have to enter your address and the last four digits of your social security number. SI Sportsbook will then work behind the scenes to verify your identity and allow you to start wagering on sports.    There will also be a verification process that takes place every time you log into your account moving forward. This will be SI Sportsbook working to verify your location to ensure that you are physically in a state where sports betting is legal.    If you run into trouble creating a sports betting account at SI Sportsbook, you will have to wait before you get some help. Since SI Sportsbook doesn’t have a live chat available with customer support, it can take some time before you can get some assistance.   

SI Sportsbook App Layout

The mobile sportsbook app is a nice feature of SI Sportsbook, and it will look very similar to others in the industry. When 888Sport began working on this mobile app for SI Sportsbook, it basically replaced its branding with that of Sports Illustrated.    As with most mobile sportsbook apps, all of your account information can be found in the top right corner of the mobile app. That is where you will go if you need to create a new sports betting account or where you go when you want to log in each time.    The biggest sporting events of the day are going to show up right away when you access the site, and that includes live betting options as well. You can scroll through and see if you want to bet on those big events, or you can search for a specific game.    Just under the area where you are going to find your account information is where you will see icons for all of the biggest sports. You can simply click on one of those icons to find the best odds, or you can click on the search bar to find something specific.    The bottom right corner of the mobile app is where you will find a button labeled “promotions,” where you will find the latest offers. Everything is laid out in a pretty organized fashion on the mobile app, but there is also a lot going on.    One unique feature of the SI Sportsbook app is that you will also see some of the biggest news stories on the mobile app. All of these stories are going to come from Sports Illustrated, but those new stories can help you out when betting on sports.   

SI Sportsbook Strengths and Weaknesses

If Sports Illustrated had tried to launch a sports betting platform on its own, there likely would have been several major issues. Partnering with 888Sport was a great decision, giving it the backing of a company that was established in the online sports betting industry and knew what it was doing on the technical side.   There are still some things that can improve from SI Sportsbook, but there are some great features as well. One of the biggest areas that could improve is when it comes to customer support that is offered.    The only way to get in touch with customer support is to email, as live chat or phone are not available options. This can create some issues for customers that are needing assistance in a timely manner.    SI Sportsbook is an operator with early cash out as an option, a huge bonus for sports bettors. The promotions and bonuses you will find within the SI Sportsbook are pretty impressive, which has clearly been a focus with this company.    Having the knowledge and experience from 888Sports is also a huge advantage for SI Sportsbook as it gains the trust of sports bettors. SI Sportsbook also offers a wide range of sports to bet on, including more international options than other sportsbooks.   

SI Sportsbook Rewards Programs

The top sports betting operators in the United States offer some sort of loyalty rewards program, but that is not going to be an option from SI Sportsbook. Loyalty rewards programs are not big in the international market, so 888Sport hasn’t added that to the SI Sportsbook.   The lack of a rewards program is a knock on the SI Sportsbook, but there are other features that make up for this. SI Sportsbook has a wide range of bonuses and promotions on the site, and you will see some great options for every game.    SI Sportsbook offers daily odds boosts on the website, which is a great way to get extra winnings on all of your wagers. You can also find some parlay boosts or bet insurance on certain sporting events that are taking place.    You will need to check out the complete list of bonuses and promotions each day to ensure that you are getting the best offers that are out there. You won’t be racking up loyalty rewards points from SI Sportsbook, but you will still get a reward of some kind.   

SI Sportsbook FAQs

Does SI Sportsbook Have a Mobile App?

Yes, you will find a SI Sportsbook mobile app available in all states where it holds a sports betting license. The mobile app from SI Sportsbook is highly rated as it is basically the same as the old 888Sport app.   

Can I Watch Live Sporting Events on SI Sportsbook?

No, SI Sportsbook has not yet added live streaming to its online sportsbook or on the mobile app. This is something that other sportsbooks in the U.S. are now offering, but SI Sportsbook is not at a place where that is an offer for its customers.   

Does SI Sportsbook Have a Welcome Offer?

Yes, all new customers at SI Sportsbook are eligible to receive up to $200 in free bets after making at least $20 in wagers during the first seven days. Those free bets will show up in an account after the wagering requirements have been met.   

Can you bet on College Sporting Events at SI Sportsbook?

Yes, you will find some betting opportunities on college sporting events at SI Sportsbook. SI Sportsbook has to follow each state’s rules and regulations, and some markets don’t allow betting on college sporting events.   

Does SI Sportsbook Offer Live Chat Through Customer Support?

No. Live chat is not an available customer support option at SI Sportsbook, and that’s one knock on the operator. The only way to get in touch with SI Sportsbook is to email them.