▌Top Stocks · SPORTS BETTING·Updated July 28, 2026
Sports Betting Stocks to Own in July 2026: 7 Names with Real Setup
Seven U.S.-listed sports betting stocks ranked by investment quality, balancing digital growth, profitability, valuation, earnings execution and direct wagering exposure.
Sports betting remains one of the clearest secular-growth opportunities in consumer internet and gaming. Legalization continues state by state, while bettors are moving from retail sportsbooks toward mobile platforms that can offer faster markets, live wagering and more personalized promotions. The opportunity is also broadening beyond the sportsbook itself. Operators can add iGaming, casino products, fantasy sports and adjacent digital services, creating more ways to monetize an existing customer relationship as online handle expands.
Investors should separate the theme into several layers. Consumer-facing operators such as DraftKings, Rush Street Interactive and Super Group own the customer interface; casino companies such as MGM Resorts, Caesars and PENN combine physical gaming with digital ventures; and wagering technology businesses can supply data, odds, integrity and managed services. Online betting generally offers greater scalability than brick-and-mortar gaming, but the payoff depends on brand strength, efficient customer acquisition and improving promotional discipline. Recent distribution developments, including ESPN’s new promotional services agreement with DraftKings effective December 1, 2025, underline the value of reach.
This ranking focuses on investment quality rather than simply the most obvious sportsbook brand. The countdown begins with the weakest-ranked name at No. 7 and moves to the best pick at No. 1. Along the way, the analysis weighs profitability, growth, valuation, earnings execution, balance-sheet signals, analyst support and the directness of each company’s sports-betting exposure.
The screen was limited to U.S.-listed companies with market capitalizations above $500 million and a direct connection to sports betting, online wagering, digital gaming or the infrastructure supporting those activities. Rankings use our composite quality grades alongside profitability, revenue and earnings growth, valuation ratios, earnings-surprise history and analyst consensus. The goal is to distinguish scalable digital operators from casino businesses with more limited online exposure, while still recognizing the value of diversified gaming assets. This is a countdown: the top-ranked pick is intentionally reserved for No. 1.
What they do. The company operates live and historical racing venues, regional casinos and online wagering businesses. Its Wagering Services and Solutions segment includes TwinSpires, retail and online sports betting, pari-mutuel wagering systems, racing data and technology services for third parties, giving Churchill Downs a broader wagering ecosystem than a standalone sportsbook.
Why it fits. Churchill Downs has direct exposure through its retail and online sports-betting operations, while TwinSpires adds an established online wagering channel. The combination of racing content, wagering technology and casino assets provides theme exposure without relying entirely on promotional spending in mainstream online sports betting.
Numbers that matter. Revenue was $2.9459 billion, with a 33.8% gross margin, 21.72% operating margin and 13.21% net margin. Revenue growth was 3.1% year over year, while earnings growth was 13.4%, showing a more mature growth profile than the faster-expanding digital operators in this list. Churchill Downs carried a trailing P/E of 15.93 and a forward P/E of 22.9358, alongside an EPS estimate of $7.2803 for next year.
Recent momentum. The company beat its EPS estimate in five of the last seven reported quarters. On April 22, 2026, EPS was $1.21 versus a $1.00 estimate, a 21.0% surprise. The available analyst breakdown shows three Buy ratings and no reported Hold or Sell ratings, with an average target of $135.5833. Its principal limitation in this ranking is that sports betting remains one part of a diversified racing and gaming portfolio.
What they do.MGM Resorts operates casino resorts, hotels, conventions, dining and entertainment properties across the United States, China and international markets. Its MGM Digital segment provides online games through platforms that include BetMGM, which offers live-dealer games, online sports betting and iGaming alongside the company’s large physical casino base.
Why it fits. BetMGM gives investors a named sports-betting and iGaming operation attached to a major casino brand. That structure can support cross-selling between physical resorts and digital products, although the stock’s overall results remain heavily influenced by Las Vegas Strip, regional operations and MGM China rather than digital wagering alone.
Numbers that matter.MGM generated $17.7153 billion of revenue, but its 1.03% net margin and 6.86% operating margin are modest relative to the more focused digital names. Revenue grew 4.2% year over year, while earnings declined 5.9%, highlighting the cyclicality and operating complexity of the resort model. The trailing P/E was 62.3836 and the forward P/E was 22.779, with next-year EPS estimated at $2.2069.
Recent momentum.MGM has beaten EPS estimates in five of the last seven reported quarters. EPS of $0.49 on April 29, 2026, exceeded the $0.48 estimate by 2.1%, while the February 5 report produced EPS of $1.60 against a $0.55 estimate. Analysts show three Buy ratings and four Holds, with an average target of $49.7944. The mixed quality signals reflect a business with valuable digital exposure but thin consolidated profitability.
What they do. Caesars operates casinos, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and gaming properties across North America. It also conducts retail and online sports wagering across 42 jurisdictions in North America, operates iGaming in five jurisdictions and offers sports betting through retail and online sportsbooks.
Why it fits. Caesars has unusually broad direct exposure to the theme because its wagering offering spans both physical and digital sportsbooks. Its online casino and iGaming activities add additional wallet share, but the company still carries the capital intensity and debt burden associated with a large casino and hospitality footprint.
Numbers that matter. Revenue reached $11.5620 billion, with a 49.9% gross margin and 17.56% operating margin. However, the company reported a negative 4.2% net margin, negative 10.72% ROE and trailing EPS of negative $2.36. Revenue growth was 2.7% year over year and earnings growth was 41.7%, but the forward P/E of 39.3701 still reflects a business whose current earnings base remains unsettled.
Recent momentum. Caesars has not beaten its EPS estimate in any of the last seven reported quarters. On April 28, 2026, it reported a loss of $0.40 per share versus an expected loss of $0.13, a 207.7% negative surprise; the February report was also materially below expectations. Analysts list two Buys and three Holds, with an average target of $31.2667. The direct wagering footprint is compelling, but execution consistency keeps Caesars below the more profitable operators.
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What they do.PENN Entertainment operates casinos, racetracks and online gaming products in the United States and internationally. Its Interactive segment includes theScore Bet online sportsbook, theScore Casino, Hollywood Casino iCasino, PENN Game Studios and the PENN Play loyalty program, while its physical portfolio spans regional gaming properties.
Why it fits. The company’s sports-betting exposure is direct through theScore Bet and its broader online sports-betting operations. PENN also illustrates the importance of distribution partnerships: ESPN terminated its sportsbook relationship with PENN and entered a promotional services agreement with DraftKings effective December 1, 2025, making customer acquisition and brand reach central issues for the investment case.
Numbers that matter.PENN produced $7.0676 billion in revenue, with a 34.5% gross margin and 5.46% operating margin. Its net margin was negative 13.54%, ROE was negative 40.06% and trailing EPS was negative $6.58, despite 6.4% revenue growth and 208.9% earnings growth year over year. The forward P/E was 12.4069, but that multiple depends on an expected recovery toward next-year EPS of $1.4898.
Recent momentum.PENN has beaten estimates in three of the last seven reported quarters. The April 23, 2026 report showed EPS of $0.11 versus a $0.01 loss estimate, while the February report also beat expectations with EPS of $0.07 against a $0.23 loss estimate. Analysts list three Buys and 11 Holds, with an average target of $23.4474. Improving recent results offer a recovery angle, but the negative margin and uneven earnings record justify the No. 4 ranking.
What they do.SGHC operates Betway, an online sports-betting and casino offering, and Spin, a multi-brand online casino. The company serves customers across Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and South and Latin America, giving it a geographically diversified digital wagering model rather than a business tied to one legalization timetable.
Why it fits. Betway is a direct online sports-betting platform with exposure across multiple international markets, while Spin provides a second digital monetization channel. That combination gives Super Group meaningful sports-betting relevance and helps explain why its growth and profitability profile compares favorably with several casino-heavy names.
Numbers that matter. Revenue was $2.3260 billion, with a 30.4% gross margin, 20.10% operating margin and 10.53% net margin. Revenue increased 18.4% year over year and earnings rose 46.1%, while ROE was 35.87% and ROA was 24.81%. The trailing P/E of 29.9167 was above the forward P/E of 17.094, with next-year EPS estimated at $0.8942.
Recent momentum.SGHC has beaten EPS estimates in three of the last seven reported quarters. On May 11, 2026, EPS was $0.17 versus a $0.16 estimate, a 6.3% surprise; the November report delivered a larger 46.2% beat. The analyst breakdown shows one Buy and no reported Hold or Sell ratings, with an average target of $18.875. The main trade-off is valuation and international-market complexity rather than a lack of direct theme exposure.
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The ranking combines the supplied composite quality grade with business-model relevance, profitability, revenue growth, earnings growth, valuation, earnings-surprise history and analyst consensus. The eligible universe was limited to U.S.-listed companies with market capitalizations above $500 million and a direct sports-betting, online-wagering or wagering-technology connection. Consumer operators were considered alongside casino owners with digital ventures because both can benefit from legalization and online migration, but direct revenue exposure received particular emphasis. The article is refreshed monthly, so spot prices are excluded from the evergreen comparison line while market capitalization, quality grade and analyst targets provide the snapshot used for this ranking.
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