Although traditionally overshadowed by other sports, soccer is rapidly gaining ground in the United States. Major League Soccer (MLS) has become an exciting league—not only for its growing competitiveness but also for the betting opportunities it offers. On this page, you’ll find all the essential information for betting on MLS, from how the league works to the best betting sites to use, summarized in the comparison table below.
Top 5 Online Betting Sites for Major League Soccer (MLS)
| Operator | Welcome Bonus | Rating ⭐ | Pros |
| Emirbet | 100% up to $200 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Great odds on MLS, fast payouts, user-friendly platform |
| Beteum | 100% up to $150 + Free Bets | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Modern interface, wide range of MLS markets, crypto-friendly |
| Kingmaker | 120% up to $250 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | High-value bonuses, strong live betting section, VIP program |
| Efbet | 100% up to $100 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Trusted brand, solid MLS coverage, quick registration process |
| Ivibet | 100% up to $150 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Excellent mobile app, competitive MLS odds, variety of payment methods |
What You Need to Know Before Betting on MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top-tier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and it follows a unique structure compared to most European tournaments. If you’re planning to bet on MLS, understanding the league’s format is crucial to make smart predictions and informed wagers.
Quick Facts About MLS
- Name: Major League Soccer (MLS)
- Founded: 1993
- Headquarters: New York City, USA
- Number of Teams: 26
- Competition Format: Regular Season + Playoffs
- Playoff Teams: 14
- CONCACAF Champions League Spots: 4 (USA only)
- Website: mlssoccer.com
- Main Sponsors: Adidas, AT&T, Audi, Coca-Cola, Allstate, Continental, Advocare
How the League Works
MLS is divided into two conferences: the Eastern and Western Conferences. Unlike many European leagues where every team plays each other twice, the MLS schedule varies. Each team plays 34 matches during the regular season, facing opponents more frequently within their own conference.
There are three Canadian clubs participating in the league: Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, and CF Montréal. The season runs entirely within a calendar year—from February or March to November—which differs from the typical European season format.
After the regular season, the top 7 teams from each conference advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs. The first-placed team in each conference skips the initial round and heads straight to the Conference Semifinals. Since 2019, all playoff rounds are single-elimination matches, hosted by the higher-seeded team.
There is no promotion or relegation system in MLS, just like in the NBA. The team with the best regular season record wins the Supporters’ Shield. Meanwhile, four U.S.-based clubs qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, while Canadian teams must earn their spot through the Canadian Championship.
Transfers and Salary Rules
MLS has a salary cap to control spending, a rule rarely seen in global football. However, each team is allowed to sign up to three Designated Players, whose salaries can exceed the cap—bringing star power to the league.
Some betting sites also allow wagers on player transfers, especially during the trade windows, which can be particularly active in MLS due to the league’s specific structure.
A Note on 2020’s Special Edition
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was adapted into the “MLS is Back” Tournament, a one-off format where 24 of the 26 teams were grouped into 6 clusters, followed by a single-elimination playoff starting from the Round of 16. The tournament ended with Portland Timbers lifting the trophy on August 11, 2020.
The Most Prestigious Teams in Major League Soccer
To bet successfully on MLS, it’s not just about having the best football betting tips—knowing the most prestigious and decorated teams in the league is equally important. Many of these clubs are based in some of the most famous cities in North America like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Chicago. Interestingly, New York, despite being home to one of the wealthiest and most talented teams, has yet to win a title. While American crowds may not be as fiery as European ones, fan loyalty runs deep, with impressive attendance figures reflecting the passion for their favorite clubs.
Most Successful Teams in MLS History
| Team | Titles Won | City | Stadium | Year Founded |
| LA Galaxy | 5 | Los Angeles | StubHub Center (27,000 seats) | 1995 |
| D.C. United | 4 | Washington, D.C. | Audi Field (20,000 seats) | 1995 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2 | San Jose | Avaya Stadium (18,000 seats) | 1974 |
| Houston Dynamo | 2 | Houston | BBVA Compass Stadium (22,000 seats) | 2005 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2 | Kansas City | Children’s Mercy Park (18,467 seats) | 1995 |
| Seattle Sounders | 2 | Seattle | CenturyLink Field (67,000 seats) | 1974 |
| Portland Timbers | 2 | Portland | Providence Park (20,323 seats) | 1975 |
| Chicago Fire | 1 | Chicago | Toyota Park (20,000 seats) | 1997 |
| Columbus Crew | 1 | Columbus | Mapfre Stadium (20,145 seats) | 1994 |
| Real Salt Lake | 1 | Salt Lake City | Rio Tinto Stadium (20,507 seats) | 2004 |
| Colorado Rapids | 1 | Denver | Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (18,713 seats) | 1995 |
| Toronto FC | 1 | Toronto | BMO Field (30,991 seats) | 2005 |
| Atlanta United | 1 | Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000 seats) | 2014 |
Major Records in the U.S. Soccer Championship
Some key stats and records from MLS history can be incredibly useful when planning your bets. These numbers, set by some of the league’s most iconic clubs, offer insights into the historical power balance of the tournament. Below you’ll find some of the most notable achievements in the league’s history, including point totals, winning streaks, unbeaten runs, and more.
Highest Point Total in a Season
In 2019, Los Angeles FC nearly had a perfect year, finishing the regular season with 72 points—a league record. However, their run came to an end in the Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Seattle Sounders.
Longest Winning Streak
In 1998, LA Galaxy set the record for most consecutive wins in a single MLS season with 15 straight victories. That same year, the Chicago Fire went on to win the championship.
Longest Unbeaten Run
Columbus Crew made history in 2005, going 19 matches without a single defeat, setting the all-time MLS record for the longest unbeaten streak in one season.
Most Goals in a Single Season
LA Galaxy set the tone in 1998 with a deadly offense, scoring 85 goals during the regular season. This record was equaled in 2019 by their city rivals, Los Angeles FC, showcasing the offensive evolution of the league.
Longest Losing Streak
Before becoming a competitive side, the New York Red Bulls (formerly known as the MetroStars) endured a tough year in 1999, suffering 12 consecutive defeats, a record that still stands today.
Betting Markets Available for Major League Soccer
Before placing bets on Major League Soccer, it’s essential to understand the main betting markets commonly available across top sportsbooks. In this section, we’ll break them down into single-match bets and futures markets, with a reference to our full football betting guide for more detailed explanations.
Single-Match Betting
MLS betting markets are not yet as extensive as those offered for top European leagues like the Premier League or Serie A. While the league features high-profile players and growing popularity, the number of markets per match is typically capped at around 50, depending on the bookmaker.
1X2 Market (Match Result)
One of the most popular markets is the classic 1X2:
- 1 = Home team win
- X = Draw
- 2 = Away team win
Interestingly, the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament showed that home advantage was not a decisive factor, unlike what’s often seen in European football. In fact, away wins outnumbered home wins, and both were more frequent than draws.
- Home wins: 17 matches (33.33%)
- Draws: 14 matches (27.45%)
- Away wins: 20 matches (39.22%)
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
The MLS is well known for its offensive style of play, and defenses often take a back seat. The BTTS market (Goal / No Goal) reflects this:
- Goal (Yes): 58.82%
- No Goal: 41.18%
This suggests that betting on both teams to score can often be a good strategy in MLS matches—especially when compared to more tactical leagues like La Liga.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Offensive tendencies in MLS are also visible in the Over/Under 2.5 goals market. While results are more balanced here, “Over 2.5” slightly edges out “Under”, confirming the league’s attack-minded nature.
- Over 2.5 Goals: 50.99%
- Under 2.5 Goals: 49.01%
Futures and Outright Betting
Most online sportsbooks offer outright bets on MLS, such as who will win the championship, who will finish top scorer, and who will win the Supporters’ Shield. These bets allow you to take a long-term view and are especially useful for strategic bettors. Let’s explore some of the most popular future markets.
Winner of the MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is awarded to the playoff champion, making this the most classic outright bet. In 2020, the title went to the Portland Timbers, who had a strong post-pandemic campaign. After topping their group, they beat Cincinnati, New York, and Philadelphia before winning the final.
Finalist Prediction (Other Team)
Betting on which other team will reach the final can offer excellent value, especially given the playoff format, where regular-season performance doesn’t always translate to postseason success. In 2020, Orlando City reached the final and gave Portland a tough match, ultimately falling 2–1.
Winner of the Supporters’ Shield
The Supporters’ Shield is awarded to the team that finishes first overall in the regular season, not just in one of the two conferences. While it reflects consistent high performance, it does not guarantee playoff success. In 2019, LAFC won the Shield but were knocked out in the Conference Finals by Seattle. Due to the 2020 format changes, the Shield was not awarded that year.
Top Scorer of the Season
Another popular outright market is betting on the league’s top scorer at the end of the regular season. This is a market for more advanced bettors, as it requires familiarity with MLS players—not just the well-known European imports. In 2020, Diego Rossi of LAFC claimed the Golden Boot, scoring seven goals during the MLS is Back Tournament.
Why We Chose These as the Best MLS Betting Sites
If you go back to the Top 5 MLS Betting Sites at the beginning of this page, you might be wondering: “Why these operators?” The answer lies in the four key criteria listed below. These factors guided our selection and will help you choose the right site for your bets on Major League Soccer.
The Criteria We Used to Select the Best Bookmakers
- Payout percentages and competitive odds
- Presence of special promotions for MLS
- Quality of live betting and streaming options
- Availability of pre-match and live markets (including in-app)
Each of these plays an important role. Excelling in all of them means a site offers a strong overall betting experience for MLS fans.
The Importance of High Payouts
Why do payouts matter? Let’s say you’re betting on a match between LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders. Bookmaker X offers you $80 in winnings for a bet, while Bookmaker Y offers $90. It’s clear which one you’d choose. The payout percentage is a direct indicator of how much you can expect to win. We’ve done the math for you—here are the minimum and maximum payout percentages offered by top sportsbooks for MLS betting:
| Betting Site | Payout Range (MLS) |
| SNAI | 93.1% – 93.6% |
| William Hill | 92.8% – 93.5% |
| Eurobet | 92.9% – 93.5% |
| Betway | 91.8% – 93.0% |
| bwin | 90.9% – 91.7% |
A higher payout percentage means better returns—an essential factor when betting frequently or on multiple matches.
Promotions for U.S. Soccer
While Major League Soccer is growing rapidly, it’s still relatively new in many international betting markets. For that reason, exclusive MLS promotions are rare. Occasionally, major matches—like playoff games—may be accompanied by boosted odds or combo bet bonuses. You can still apply general promotions (such as cashback offers or welcome bonuses) to MLS bets, but MLS-specific deals are typically harder to find.
Live Betting and Streaming Quality
Due to time zone differences, MLS games are often played at inconvenient hours for many bettors—especially in Europe. That makes live betting features even more important. The best sportsbooks offer:
- Real-time MLS stats and livescore
- A wide variety of in-play markets
- Live streaming of matches (when available)
If you’re betting on MLS, streaming access can make all the difference—not just for entertainment, but for making informed in-play decisions.
Market Depth and Mobile Experience
While MLS doesn’t offer as many betting markets as the top European leagues, around 80 markets per match is the norm among quality sportsbooks. That’s more than enough to enjoy betting on clubs like Atlanta United, Portland Timbers, or D.C. United.
One final tip: make sure the mobile app matches the desktop site in terms of market variety. The best betting apps should offer the same number of options, so you don’t lose flexibility when betting on the go.
The History of Major League Soccer and Its Connection to Sports Betting
Like many major sporting events in the United States, Major League Soccer is relatively young compared to Europe’s long-standing football traditions. The league was officially born out of a key turning point: in 1988, FIFA awarded the 1994 World Cup to the United States, with one essential condition—a professional soccer league must be created. That led to the birth of MLS in 1996.
From that moment on, soccer began to grow steadily in popularity, supported by strong performances from the U.S. national teams—especially the women’s team—and the arrival of international stars through the Designated Player Rule. This rule allowed clubs to sign high-profile players outside of the regular salary cap, bringing global attention to the league.
The betting scene in the U.S. changed dramatically after the repeal of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) in 2018, which had previously banned sports betting nationwide. This opened up new opportunities for MLS betting, not only for American bettors but also for international fans and punters exploring new markets.
Four Key Milestones in MLS History (and Betting)
- 1988 – FIFA awards the 1994 World Cup to the U.S., sparking the creation of MLS.
- 1996 – The first official season of MLS kicks off with ten founding teams.
- 2007 – David Beckham joins LA Galaxy under the new Designated Player Rule, boosting MLS visibility worldwide.
- 2018 – PASPA is repealed, legalizing sports betting in multiple U.S. states and making MLS a viable betting market globally.
Betting Tips for a Growing League
When it comes to emerging leagues like MLS or even the Chinese Super League, it’s important to bet with strategy, not luck. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want to improve your results when betting on American soccer.
Consider Betting Exchanges
Using betting exchanges allows you to both place and back bets, giving you more control over the odds. This flexibility can be especially useful in leagues like MLS, where line movements can vary significantly depending on the team or timing.
Pay Attention to Stats and Style of Play
As mentioned in earlier sections, MLS is characterized by a bold, fast-paced, and sometimes naïve style, compared to the tactical nature of European football. But with big-name players arriving from Europe and South America, the league is evolving. Matches are often closely contested, even outside the top-tier matchups. This means you should only include MLS games in accumulator bets or advanced systems like Heinz bets if you have a strong understanding of the teams involved.
Don’t Be Too Bold
To borrow a classic American metaphor, betting on MLS can feel like entering the “land of hopes and dreams”—or even a Wild West of football betting. The league is still under the radar in many markets, which makes it fun and full of potential, but also risky. That’s why we recommend sticking to the most reliable operators, like those in our Top 5 list. These bookmakers are experienced in offering solid coverage, good odds, and plenty of markets for MLS.
This doesn’t mean other sportsbooks like BetFlag are unsafe, but rather that they may offer fewer markets or less competitive odds due to limited MLS focus.
A Real-World Comparison
As an example, we tested Netwin, an operator slightly behind our top 5 in MLS coverage. We found average payouts of 91% and over 500 markets available for high-profile matches—solid performance, but not quite at the level of more established international sportsbooks.
