Online gambling continues to grow and grow as more sports fans look to add a bit of extra excitement to their favourite events by placing money on the outcome. According to Statista, it is estimated that in 2016 the online betting market grew to be worth $45.86 billion with a forecast of $56.05 billion for 2018. That means that a lot of bets were placed at a lot of online bookmakers across the world.
With so many betting businesses operating on the internet, it can be a daunting task finding the best online sportsbooks. There are so many factors to take into consideration from matters of safety and security to betting value and bonus rewards.
If you’re one of those indecisive types who is new to the world of sports punting, then we understand that you might need a bit of guidance when it comes to choosing the right online bookmakers. So, instead of using the “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” tactic or simply choosing on the basis of whether the brand uses a nice colour scheme, here are some tips on how to vet a bookmaker for yourself.
License and Registration
Before you do anything else, it is of paramount importance that you check that the online bookies site is licensed by a respectable licensing authority. Gambling in any official capacity is a highly serious business and, just as there are trading standards in place to regulate consumer sales, there are standards in place to regulate gambling activity.
These rules and regulations are designed to protect both the bookmaker and the player with an aim to guarantee impartial and fair handling of disputes between the two parties involved. Since the laws surrounding online gambling differ depending on the country, players will notice that they come across different licensing bodies from different countries. Here are some of the most respected:
- UK Gambling Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Alderney Gaming Control Commission
- Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
- Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority
If a gambling website has a badge from one of these regulators, then you can be reasonably sure that you are going to get a decent level of legal coverage if something was to go wrong. Sometimes, however, it’s worth double checking the license number provided by the sportsbook with the licensing authority’s website since some dodgy sites will show a fake badge to give off a false sense of security.
Reputation is Everything
Sometimes the best way to tell if a sports betting site is trustworthy and reliable is to judge from the brands reputation. Have you heard of the company before? How long has the brand been around in the business? Have you seen the betting site advertised in high-profile contexts such as on TV or at football games?
We’re not saying that every new sportsbook is out to con you and there are loads of up and coming bookmakers who are worth checking out. However, there is a reason that the most successful and long-standing sites draw in millions of punters every year; because they offer a safe and enjoyable online gambling service.
Having said that, not every big name in the business is squeaky clean and some of the top brands have been involved in some scandals over the years. Betfred’s boss, for example, was discovered to have offered high interest loans to minimum wage employees while Bet365 has also been involved in some controversial scenarios including accepting illegal wagers from Chinese citizens.
Customer Support is a Must Have
If an online betting service is serious about providing a professional gambling service, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t provide an easily accessible customer support network. If there isn’t any live chat option, telephone number or email address available, then you should think twice about creating an account and depositing money.
It’s always a good idea to talk to a representative from the casino before joining up just to get a feeler for the kind of treatment that you might receive if things were to get sticky. If the chat agent takes too long to respond to a simple question then it could set alarm bells ringing. If they do their job correctly, then they should give you the low-down regarding the bonus rewards that you are entitled to when you sign up.
It’s All About Value
Once you have discerned that a bookmaker is trustworthy, reliable and responsible, you can start to look for the things that affect how entertaining your betting experience will be. Obviously, the main reason that people bet is to hopefully make some money as they watch their favourite sports. In order to give yourself the best chance to end up with more money than you wager, you will have to find the best value odds on the market.
This can be done using a trusted odds comparison site like oddschecker.com or oddsportal.com, both of which compile a range of odds on major sporting events from the most popular bookmakers online. Just remember that good value odds doesn’t necessarily equate to reputable management and good customer service.
What Else Do They Offer?
When it comes to vetting an sportsbook provider, it is important to make sure that the websites in question have a valid license, a strong reputation, a good customer service and valuable odds. After that there are many other factors which will alter the amount of entertainment you have while betting but which aren’t absolutely essential. In fact, it really depends on what you are looking for when it comes to things like:
- Sports coverage: if you want to bet on the usual things like football, horse racing, tennis and rugby union, then you wouldn’t need to worry too much since these sports are pretty much covered everywhere. However, if you’re a specialist in an obscure sport like the Scandinavian winter sport of Bandy then you are obviously going to want to find a respectable betting site that offers these markets.
- Betting markets: as well as finding the right sports coverage to suit your needs, it is worth ensuring that there is a good range of betting markets within your favoured game. Can you bet in-play? Are there Asian handicaps offered? Is it possible to make combination bets like a Lucky 15?
- TV coverage: with the rising popularity of in-play betting, online bookmakers are starting to offer live television coverage of events, sometimes offering some pretty big fixtures in fact. This can not only help you when it comes to your live in-play betting strategy, but it also allows to legally watch sport which isn’t covered on TV.
- Payment methods: will you be able to make deposits with your preferred payment method and currency? You should also check the deposit limits and withdrawal limits since some bookmakers are more tailored towards high rollers than others.
- Bonuses: are you looking to boost your bankroll with a welcome bonus or do you want to make the most of free bets within a particular sporting event. This could be a very big sway for many online bettors although it is important to make sure you understand the terms and conditions and wagering requirements tied to the promotions. Also, don’t let a big bonus bamboozle your overall judgement of the betting service.
Read Reviews
While it is always a good idea to have your own checks and balances in place when vetting an online sports betting site, there are plenty of trustworthy review sites out there who can do most of the legwork for you. A site like ours https://www.online-betting.me.uk/ provides impartial and in-depth analysis of the top sports betting sites as well as a helpful glossary, match previews and interesting sports betting strategies for you to try out.
