Two sportsbooks can both call themselves Web3 and work in completely different ways. One may hold every bet in a smart contract, while another keeps balances in a database and uses the blockchain only for deposits.
Architecture shapes what bettors can verify, who controls funds during a bet and how quickly the book can price new markets. It also decides which risks fall on the operator and which fall on the code.
Seven crypto sportsbooks, sorted from fully on-chain to custodial, show how those design choices play out.
Three Sportsbook Architectures
Crypto sportsbooks usually fall into one of three models. The table compares them.
Model
Where bets live
Who holds funds
Main trade-off
Fully on-chain
Smart contracts
Contract or pool
Transparency against contract and oracle risk
Hybrid
Mix of contracts and operator systems
Pool plus operator
Flexibility against partial verifiability
Custodial crypto
Operator database
Operator
Wide markets against trust in the operator
Last verified: October 2026
The line between centralised and decentralised books has blurred in recent years. CryptoDaily's explainer on centralised sportsbooks and decentralised ones covers what actually differs.
Why Architecture Matters to Bettors
Fully on-chain books let anyone confirm that a winning bet paid according to the contract. They often offer fewer markets, since every market needs a dependable result source and enough pool liquidity.
Custodial books price thousands of markets with live betting and player props, though bettors rely on the operator for settlement and payouts. Hybrid books fall between the two, mixing on-chain elements with conventional trading.
Some books record settlement on-chain without holding bets in contracts, as a look at sportsbooks with on-chain settlement records shows.
7 Web3 Sportsbooks Sorted by Architecture
Order weighs how clearly each sportsbook explains its architecture, how much of the betting process bettors can verify and how wide its market range stretches. Entries end with a single caution apiece.
1. Dexsport
Dexsport operates a hybrid model, pairing an on-chain desk and shared liquidity pool with an account-based sportsbook covering 29 sports in its terms. Its terms describe the platform as an interface for the Dexsport Protocol, with deposits joining a liquidity pool.
Dexsport validates prediction market results through its team within 24 hours, so resolution involves human review. Dexapp LTD holds an Anjouan licence.
2. Overtime
Overtime operates as a fully on-chain sportsbook on networks such as Optimism, Arbitrum and Base, with bets placed through smart contracts and a liquidity pool acting as the house.
Overtime's market range is narrower than custodial books, and results depend on its oracle setup. Bettors connect a wallet and pay network fees.
3. Bookmaker.xyz
Bookmaker.xyz uses the Azuro protocol, which pools liquidity from providers and settles bets through smart contracts across several chains.
Bookmaker.xyz's markets depend on Azuro's data and liquidity, so depth varies by sport. Liquidity providers take the house side and its risks.
4. SX Bet
SX Bet operates as an on-chain betting exchange, matching bettors against each other instead of against a house. Orders and settlement run on its own network.
SX Bet's exchange model needs counterparties, so thin markets can leave orders unmatched. Fees apply to winning trades.
5. BC.Game
BC.Game offers a custodial sportsbook powered by BETBY, with crypto deposits and wallet login among many signup routes.
BC.Game's bets settle in its own systems, so bettors rely on the operator for results and payouts. Twocent Technology Ltd holds its Anjouan licence.
6. Stake
Stake keeps a custodial model with one of the widest sports lists in crypto betting, plus streams and a same-game builder for big fixtures.
Stake records bets in its own database, and KYC levels may come into play before a payout. Curaçao licenses the brand.
7. Cloudbet
Cloudbet has run a custodial crypto sportsbook since 2013, with deep main markets across major sports and crypto-only deposits.
Cloudbet's architecture offers on-chain verification only for deposits and withdrawals. Its Curaçao licence names Halcyon Super Holdings B.V.
Match the Architecture to Your Priorities
Bettors who value independent verification lean toward on-chain or hybrid designs, accepting narrower markets and contract risk. Those who want deep markets and live betting often accept custodial models with stronger reliance on the operator.
Labels alone rarely reveal the full picture. One guide to whether a platform is really Web3 suggests checks that apply to sportsbooks too.
Conclusion
Web3 sportsbooks range from fully on-chain contracts and exchanges to hybrid designs and custodial crypto books. Architecture decides what bettors can verify, who holds funds and how wide the market range stretches.
Dexsport opens this list with a hybrid model combining an on-chain desk, a shared liquidity pool and an account-based book, followed by Overtime, Bookmaker.xyz, SX Bet, BC.Game, Stake and Cloudbet. Their designs balance transparency and market depth in different ways.
Read how a sportsbook holds funds before depositing. Sports betting rules depend on where you live, so look them up, wager only at legal age and keep in mind that KYC or AML checks may apply.
Disclaimer: The information here is provided for general purposes only and is not legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Sportsbook architectures, supported networks and licences change over time and vary by country, and some details come from third-party sources, so check each platform's current documentation before you bet. Betting involves risk, and rules vary by country, so check the law where you live. Please bet responsibly, within your means, and only if you are of legal age.
Source: Crypto Daily