SI Sportsbook

In March 2024, 888 Holdings decided to break its license with Sports Illustrated, which means the SI Sportsbook will be ceasing operations in Colorado, Michigan, and Virginia. The company said it would take around 30 months for the sportsbook to officially shut down, but it has already left the market in VA and is strictly in online casino form in MI until October. The official closing date for CO has not been announced, but once it leaves Colorado, the sportsbook will be inactive.

SI Sportsbook Old Review

Sports Illustrated has been intertwined with sports culture for decades, but since 2021 and their partnership with 888sports, the company is looking to intertwine themselves in the mobile sports betting market as well with the SI Sportsbook app. The sportsbook has yet to fully lay claim to the market as it is only available right now in Colorado, Michigan, and Virginia. Full expansion isn’t far of as more states are expected to be added in the not-too-distant future.

In the three current states, the app and website are available new customers can win $200 dollars in free bets if their first wager of at least $20 on +120 or more odds wins. In order to be eligible for this promo, this needs to be the customer's first wager on the sportsbook, and they need to use the promo code “SI200”.

SI Sportsbook - Review

For decades, sports fans have been able to find the name Sports Illustrated in their mailboxes, in stores, and on posters, well, since 2021, sports fans have seen the name when looking for a mobile sports betting app. Through the company's partnership with 888sport, the SI Sportsbook is now active in just Colorado, Michigan, and Virginia, however, more states are expected to offer it very soon.

Due to the products' limited time on the market and lack of available states, it hasn’t quite reached the similar noteworthy status of the magazine. This app does have the foundation and services that could make it a top name in the market once it can branch out into more states.

The app itself can be found on the App Store and Google Play Store and features a wide range of betting options and existing customer promotions. Compared to the top sportsbooks on the market, this product does stack up in terms of payment options and betting options. Customers can find a wide range of sports to wager on, along with daily boosted odds that give customers an excellent chance to increase their winnings.

The app's design is simple to navigate and makes it easy for customers to find the top games on a specific day or weekend. Whether a customer is new to sports betting or an experienced bettor, they can find noteworthy functions of this app.

Sports Betting Markets & Lines

Whether you're looking to bet on something as popular as the NFL or want to try betting on snooker, the SI Sportsbook is the place to do it. This product gives customers the chance to bet on sports and leagues from all over the world alongside the popular US leagues we know and love.

The MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and both NCAA football and basketball can all be found easily within the app. If those leagues are not enough, customers can also find international sports leagues, like the Spain Basketball League or the German Bundesliga for soccer. A few of the other sports offered include golf, tennis, motor racing, MMA, rugby, volleyball, and eSports.

This product is designed specifically for sports betting, so entertainment events or award shows are not available to wager on. Bettors have the option to wager on international handball if they so please, but they are unable to bet on the Oscars or Grammy Awards.

Bets & Odds

There's no shortage of betting possibilities on the SI Sportsbook app. Customers can place wagers on common bet types like point spread, point totals, moneylines, futures, parlays, teasers, and prop bets. Users also have the opportunity to put together same game parlays or wager on one of the pre-made “SI Sportsboosts” bets that offer boosted odds on different games or events happening that day.

As far as the actual odds go, this is an area of the product that can still be improved upon, as there are still times when better odds can be found elsewhere. If customers have multiple sportsbook accounts and are looking for the best price on a game, this product can hold its own but might not stand out amongst the rest.

Live Betting

Live betting is a great way to hedge bets or take advantage of better in-game lines, and the SI Sportsbook offers a simple and easy way for customers to do so. The “Live Now” tab on the app or website takes users to a page filled with every sport and event going on live, whether it be an NBA game or cricket match. Users can find updating odds right there in the tab and can easily find a specific game they might be looking for.

Customers only have the option to wager on these events, they can not watch or live stream them within the app.

SI Sportsbook Payment And Withdrawal Options

Regarding payment options, it’s ideal when sportsbooks offer a wide range that can simplify the process for customers. The SI Sportsbook may not offer the same laundry list of payment options as some of the top-tier sportsbooks, but the options they do have are very suitable for all types of customers.

Offering online banking as a payment method can make the deposit/withdrawal process quick and makes it so some users don’t have to create an e-wallet account to link their debit card to the sportsbook app. If customers prefer to have a gap between their online banking information and the app, they can use a PayPal or Play+ account. The minimum deposit for all methods is $10, and the product only accepts USD.

Withdrawal time can vary depending on the method, but PayPal and Play+ withdrawals are done instantly. Online banking withdrawals take one day to be completed, and ACH/e-Check withdrawals can take up to two days for the transaction to be completed. It’s worth noting that credit and debit cards are considered different than online banking, and a customer cannot perform a withdrawal with this option they can only deposit.

Deposit Methods

• Online banking

• Play+

• PayPal

• Bank Transfer

• PayNearMe

• ACH/e-Check

Withdraw Options

• Bank Transfer (ACH)

• PayPal

• Online Banking

• Play+

Accepted Currencies

• USD

Customer Service And Support

It’s not uncommon to run into some questions or problems when using a mobile sports betting app, so the customer service options provided by a sportsbook do make a difference. The SI Sportsbook does not have the strongest customer service system in place and lacks some important options that many of the top sportsbooks offer.

If customers run into an issue with the app or website, they have two options: either email the customer support team or find the answer to their question in the FAQ section. Unlike most apps, this product does not offer a hotline or chat function that can help expedite the process.

The FAQ page is extensive and features a wide range of questions and answers in eight different sub-sections. Those sections include deposits, registration, technical issues, games, promotions, and a few others that encapsulate almost any issue a customer could run into. If customers don’t mind finding the answers themselves, then the FAQ page is perfect for them, but if they still need help, then that is where this product falls short.

Responsible Gaming Tools

An area of sports betting apps that often gets overlooked but is a vital function is responsible gaming tools. The SI Sportsbook offers customers a solid range of these tools, including deposit limits, wager limits, playing time limits, and extended period of time or permanent self-exclusion. These tools offer a wide range of times or options to ensure all users can set up these helpful tools however they see fit.

If customers feel they need extra help, the app and website provide customers with direct website links and phone numbers to gambling problem hotlines and sites. These sites can be visited from the product in just one click.

Mobile Betting With SI Sportsbook

Standing out from other sportsbook apps while also maintaining an easy-to-navigate design could be considered a tall task, but the SI Sportsbook was able to accomplish it. The overall appearance does not overwhelm users but simply helps guide them to different features or sports without causing confusion.

Features like the “SI Sportsboosts” or “Made For You” tabs offer customers exciting new ways to wager on events and have larger payouts than they might be able to find on competing sportsbook apps. One feature that was particularly different was the “BetFeed” tab which allows users to see other bets that are being made on the app, and if compelled, the person could wager on the exact same bet right there in the tab.

As for the responsiveness and speed of the app, we sometimes ran into occasional glitches that made switching to a different tab take much longer than it should. The responsiveness didn’t take away from the overall experience, but it did happen enough to where it was noticeable. Improving the speed and responsiveness when trying to access different things within the app could make this a tough app to compete with when it expands.

Downloading The SI Sportsbook App

The SI Sportsbook app can be found on any IOS or Android operating devices. A customer can search for and download the product on either the App Store or Google Play Store. Once downloaded, customers need to create an account by providing some personal information and coming up with a strong password.

This product has a 4 out of 5-star rating on the App Store, and on the Google Play Store, it has a 4.2 out of 5-star rating. Both of these ratings could be considered amongst the best when it comes to sportsbook app ratings.

Web Platform

The website version of the SI Sportsbook could best be described as the spitting image of the app layout and design. The platform is very easy to navigate and runs even faster than the app version.

Every function that can be found on the app can also be found on the website version as well. Aside from a wider layout on the website, the two platforms were created equally and offer the same great betting options.