SI Sportsbook Review

SI Sportsbook Review

Editor's Note:
SI Sportsbook will soon shut down it's U,S, operations after 888 Holdings terminated its contract with SI. SBR will have updates as they happen on this front as we learn more.

Sports Illustrated made its bones as the pre-eminent sports magazine of the 20th Century – but that brand recognition has only gone so far in the U.S. sports betting landscape.

SI Sportsbook is one of the newer notable entries in the sportsbook space, and is present in just three states to date. And that's not necessarily a bad thing for this sports betting site, which has some work to do in order to be mentioned among the industry's top-tier operators.

Here's a deeper look at SI Sportsbook, and why I'm hoping that its relationship with 888 Holdings will result in an improved product before long.

SI Sportsbook Quick Facts

SI Sportsbook Locations

SI Sportsbook is live and regulated in the following states: 

• Colorado
• Michigan
• Virginia

SI Sportsbook also has plans to launch in Indiana, New Jersey, Arizona, and Canada soon.

Sports Leagues to Bet On

SI Sportsbook offers wagering on standard North American sports leagues and events. It also provides markets for niche sporting events like snooker, rugby union, darts, and table tennis. 

SI Sportsbook's betting menu is satisfactory for casual bettors. Still, limited futures and exotic markets may deter more sophisticated bettors or those looking for more creative ways to bet. 

NFL Betting

SI Sportsbook offers a standard range of options for NFL wagers, including conference, divisional, and Super Bowl futures, moneylines, spreads, totals, in-game wagers, and player props during the season. I like that you can occasionally find 18-cent vig on certain lines, but the 40-to-45-cent juice on prop markets is a bit steeper than players would prefer.

NBA Betting

NBA bettors will find a nice selection of moneyline, spread, and total plays for every scheduled game. You can also wager on teasers, quarterly or halftime options, player props, and various alternative spreads and totals. SI has a strong NBA product, combining a bet builder with custom parlay options and a decent selection of player props betting opportunities.

College Football

SI Sportsbook provides moneyline, spread, and total plays for most FBS college football games during the season, along with futures markets for the National Championship, conferences, and divisions, among others. The college lines across the board have higher vig than the pro sports markets, which is a bit disappointing given that this isn't the case at top-rated sportsbooks.

College Basketball

SI is here for all of the NCAA basketball bettors, offering traditional markets throughout the regular season and conference tournaments with more focus once March Madness tips off. The sportsbook approaches college hoops similarly to its NCAA football offering: You'll find a decent number of markets, but you'll pay more in juice across the majority of betting opportunities.

NHL Betting

SI Sportsbook offers a standard NHL betting menu. In addition to moneyline, puckline, and total plays, bettors have access to team and player props, along with period-specific betting markets and futures. As with SI's college sports collections, the vig on standard NHL lines is closer to 30 cents than 20, which leaves this sportsbook below the top tier in terms of odds quality.

MLB Betting

SI provides comprehensive MLB markets. Apart from your standard moneyline, spread, and totals, bettors can wager on team and player props and futures. Players have access to a wealth of betting options here, including a nice bet builder, SI-specific parlay opportunities and plenty of team and player props with odds that are within the reasonable range industry-wide.

Other Sports Leagues

Sports Illustrated also offers betting markets for more eclectic sports like snooker, rugby union, darts, and table tennis. You'll find extensive markets for top international soccer leagues like Premier League and Bundesliga and significant events like the FIFA World Cup. Even secondary leagues like Chile Segunda Division will have nearly 40 markets for in-play betting, including team props like half-time/full-time results, next goal, and Asian Handicaps.

Online Betting Experience

Sports Illustrated offers a mobile betting app for iPhone and Android and a website accessible on laptops and desktop computers.

Website Experience

The Sports Illustrated could use a facelift: the design is dated, and the layout could be optimized to be more in line with the industry front-runners.

The top ribbon makes it easier to find some leagues like the MLB and NFL; otherwise, the user will need to look to the drop-down menu on the left to find the games they are looking for. And by lumping in all football and basketball markets into the same menu, users need to scroll below the pro games to find college betting opportunities. Separate NCAA menus would help.

That isn't the only concern. The promotional page isn't accentuated enough for users to find quickly and doesn't allow them to find sign-up bonuses or daily promotions with ease. 

On the plus side, the BetFeed is a nice touch that ranks players' most popular bets coming into the betting site. This is a great way to get insight into leagues you may not typically have action on and get into new sports with a little something on the line to keep things interesting.

SI's desktop option has promise, but further optimization would be a big boost to the site.

Mobile Betting and Betting App

The mobile app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. 

Much like the website, the design is subpar, though it is slightly easier to navigate than the website. 

The app is less cluttered, and the promotions ribbon is easier to find, along with a clearly marked icon that allows you to explore bonuses and promos further. But the betting slip is cumbersome and forces users to work a little harder to find the information they're looking for.

Like the website, the app is average at best and not overly intuitive compared to the industry standard.

Live Betting

Upon entering the website and app, the live betting markets are the first option on the menu.  This is ideal for live betting enthusiasts who need and want instant access to get the best line available.

Unfortunately, as is the case with non-NFL and non-NBA pre-game markets, SI's live lines are often at least a cent or two more than competitors, so they are likely not worth the investment unless you're just looking for action.

That said, the selection of live betting markets at SI Sportsbook is fantastic. The site has a Live Now feed and a Schedule so you can jump right into the action or see what's coming up throughout the day. Major sports leagues like NFL and MLB will feature more than 40 markets available for in-play betting. You can even find plenty of markets for lesser-known leagues, from international soccer to Venezuelan basketball leagues.

Overall, the selection is there for a fantastic live betting platform – but I need to see better odds and live streaming available before I would rank SI Sportsbook's live betting platform among the best betting sites.

Casino, Poker, & Other Gaming Options

Sports Illustrated offers no casino, poker, horse racing, or iGaming options at present – but its alignment with 888 Holdings likely precludes involvement in the online casino space at some point in the near future.

SI Sportsbook History

The Sports Illustrated brand has long been known for its editorial content, but in 2021 it officially launched its first sportsbook endeavor in Colorado. 

The launch came in conjunction with the partnership between 888 Holdings and Authentic Brands - the company that owns the intellectual rights to the Sports Illustrated brand. 

Very much in its infancy, the sportsbook is only live in Colorado, Michigan and Virginia but has plans to expand into Indiana, New Jersey, Arizona, and Canada soon.

Customer Ratings & Reputation

SI Sportsbook app has an average 3.7-star rating on the App Store and features plenty of lackluster customer reviews (as is the case with most App Store sportsbook reviews).

Most complaints center around the sports betting site's underwhelming user interface and design and slow withdrawal times. 

SI rates slightly better on Google Play at 3.9 stars; this is significant because most sportsbooks actually score lower on the Android platform's review section than on the App Store.

Customer Service

SI Sportsbook's customer service offering has improved dramatically in short order, to the point where it measures favorably against sports betting's heavy hitters like Caesars and FanDuel.

Players with immediate concerns can access SI Sportsbook's 24/7 live chat feature, which is only visible and accessible if you're logged in. I didn't have to wait long for an agent, and had my questions answered promptly and satisfactorily.

Those who prefer a phone resolution can call the number listed in the next section; agents are available 14 hours a day, seven days a week. There's also a "Contact Us" option on the Support page for those who prefer an email option; response time varies from 1-2 days there.

SI Sportsbook Contact

• 24/7 Live Chat (login required)
• Phone: 1-833-451-8003 (available daily from 6 am to 8 pm ET)
• Email: Via "Contact Us" button on Support page

SI Sportsbook Legal Betting

SI Sportsbook is regulated by the Colorado Department of Revenue: Gaming Division, the Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Virginia Lottery. 

Responsible Gambling

The legal age for sports betting in most states is 21+. This is subject to regional regulation. Please play responsibly. SI Sportsbook complies with the rules laid down by the respective gaming regulators in your state.

Here are a few resources to help ensure you are gambling responsibly or if you or someone you know needs help with a gambling problem.

• Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado: The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado's mission is to increase awareness, advocate treatment and promote research and education on problem gambling. Call 1-800-522-4700.
• The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline: The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline is open for crisis intervention and referral to treatment. Trained and experienced counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone or virtually to provide immediate help to address issues related to gambling disorder, including screening services and referrals to treatment or support groups. Call 1-800-270-7117.
• Virginia Council on Problem Gambling: The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VCPG) aims to increase public awareness of problem gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and encourage research and programs for prevention and education. Call 1-888-532-3500.
• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): The NCPG has over 50 years of experience assisting people and families affected by problem gambling. You can call or text them (1-800-522-4700) or join their 24/7 Live Chat.
• Center for Problem Gambling: The Center has been funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) since 1996. They are committed to serving anyone affected by a gambling addiction. Treatment is confidential and provided regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Their gambling counselors have significant experience working with problem gambling and include therapists who are Nationally Certified Gambling Counselors.
• BeGambleAware.org: Offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: A global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.

Why Choose SI Sportsbook?

Patience is the key for anyone thinking about giving SI Sportsbook a try.

For one thing, its footprint remains quite small, with only three states on its ledger. So for those of you in states where SI Sportsbook isn't present, you're going to have to wait (though residents of Arizona, Indiana and New Jersey might not be waiting long.)

Those players who can sign up for SI Sportsbook will find themselves patronizing an unfinished product. SI's interface needs some work, and the quality of odds on less-prominent pro markets and NCAA sports is not quite in line with the most highly-regarded sportsbooks in the U.S.

Expect SI Sportsbook to get more things right in the near future – but until then, I have this sports betting site as providing an average experience for both new and veteran wagerers.