Choosing a sportsbook is an important decision every sports bettor needs to make. Your bookie determines the sports you can bet on, the odds, bet types and bonuses.
It dictates your banking experience—both deposits and withdrawals. What’s more, your betting site also decides how to secure your data and funds. Owing to that backdrop, take time before you choose the right platform. Follow these tips to make an informed decision.
Perhaps you’re interested in crypto betting. In this case, you need to find a betting site that supports crypto payments. If you’re more interested in bonuses, find a bookie with amazing promotions.
This list of online bookmakers ranks sportsbooks by what they’re best known for—high odds, security, bonuses, betting exchange and the least number of restricted countries.
Use the guide to find the right betting site for you. Prioritize your interests. Let’s say you want a betting site with lots of bonuses so that you don’t spend a lot of your money. Focus on betting bonuses when making your decision.
First, they hold licenses from respected regulators—Malta Gaming Authority, the UKGC, Curacao, state-based licenses in the US or a license from Ontario in Canada. A license helps you separate genuine bookies from scammers.
For the most part, licensed bookies have secure websites. We’re talking about SSL encryption, password protection, Two-Factor Authentication and a data privacy policy.
When it comes to finding a trustworthy operator, you need to dig a bit deeper. Almost every trustworthy betting site is also secure. However, not every licensed website with a license can be trusted. Read online reviews to find trustworthy operators.
Reading odds can be challenging for many people. However, the concept is simple. Odds can be shown in decimals, fractions or American style. Fraction and decimal odds work in the same way. If a team has 2.00 odds (2/1), it means you win $2 for every $1 you bet.
American odds pit the favourites against the underdogs. If you wager $100 on an underdog with +200 odds, you win $200. You also receive your stake back. Odds for the favourites tend to succeed as a negative sign. For example, an MMA bet on Jon Bones (-150) beating Francis Ngannou (+120) means you must spend $150 to win $100 if Bones wins.
However, bonuses have rules. For example, you need to deposit $1000 to claim a 100% matched bonus. If you don’t have $1000 to spend on a betting bonus, you shouldn’t be quick to claim the offer.
Another common rule in every bonus is a rollover (wager requirements). A rollover is a multiple of your bonus amount. If your $10 bonus has a 5x rollover, you need to spend $50 at the betting site before you can cash out your profits.
Bonuses have other vital terms like withdrawal limit, validity time and qualifying odds you must follow. Learn what these rules mean so that you can choose bookies with the best bonuses.
If you would rather use a mobile wallet like PayPal, Bitcoin or bank transfer, you need to find the right sportsbook. PayPal might be the biggest digital wallet in the world. But not every bookie supports it.
In other words, find a sportsbook that covers your favourite payment method. Ensure you can use it for both deposits and withdrawals. Also, look at the minimum deposit, maximum withdrawal and fees you're likely to pay.
Another factor to consider is a bookie's payout speed. Winning money at a sportsbook can be exciting. In most cases, you want to cash out your profits immediately. Unfortunately, some betting sites take too long to process winnings.
Convenience features in betting apps include streaming services, casino games and early cashout. A streaming platform allows you to watch some matches on the betting app in real-time.
If you like to play slots and card games, you should consider choosing a bookie with a casino section. Then there’s early cashout. This feature usually applies to parlay betting.
If you have a 4-7 leg parlay, some bookies might give you the option to withdraw money won after the first four predictions. The feature gives you a safe way to make money in betting. You can secure some profits instead of risking a loss should the final match go against your prediction.
Another feature you need to have in a betting site is live betting. Although it can be daunting for a first-time bettor, it is highly exciting. It offers you a way to bet while also watching games. Live betting attracts quality odds. But they change by the minute.
It dictates your banking experience—both deposits and withdrawals. What’s more, your betting site also decides how to secure your data and funds. Owing to that backdrop, take time before you choose the right platform. Follow these tips to make an informed decision.
Determine Your Likes and Interests
You’ve decided you want to bet on sports. But what specific sport do you want to bet on? Some betting sites prioritize football (soccer) when creating odds and providing betting markets. Others are really great for betting on upcoming sports like MMA and eSports.Perhaps you’re interested in crypto betting. In this case, you need to find a betting site that supports crypto payments. If you’re more interested in bonuses, find a bookie with amazing promotions.
This list of online bookmakers ranks sportsbooks by what they’re best known for—high odds, security, bonuses, betting exchange and the least number of restricted countries.
Use the guide to find the right betting site for you. Prioritize your interests. Let’s say you want a betting site with lots of bonuses so that you don’t spend a lot of your money. Focus on betting bonuses when making your decision.
Security and Trustworthiness
Perhaps the biggest factor you should consider when choosing an online bookmaker is whether it’s secure and trustworthy. Secure betting sites are easy to identify.First, they hold licenses from respected regulators—Malta Gaming Authority, the UKGC, Curacao, state-based licenses in the US or a license from Ontario in Canada. A license helps you separate genuine bookies from scammers.
For the most part, licensed bookies have secure websites. We’re talking about SSL encryption, password protection, Two-Factor Authentication and a data privacy policy.
When it comes to finding a trustworthy operator, you need to dig a bit deeper. Almost every trustworthy betting site is also secure. However, not every licensed website with a license can be trusted. Read online reviews to find trustworthy operators.
Understand Bet Types and Odds
If you want to be a successful sports bettor, you must understand two concepts: how to choose bets and how to read odds. Bet types refer to the outcomes you can bet on in every match:- Match winner (money line)
- Spreads
- Parlays (ACCA)
- Props
- Totals
- Futures
Reading odds can be challenging for many people. However, the concept is simple. Odds can be shown in decimals, fractions or American style. Fraction and decimal odds work in the same way. If a team has 2.00 odds (2/1), it means you win $2 for every $1 you bet.
American odds pit the favourites against the underdogs. If you wager $100 on an underdog with +200 odds, you win $200. You also receive your stake back. Odds for the favourites tend to succeed as a negative sign. For example, an MMA bet on Jon Bones (-150) beating Francis Ngannou (+120) means you must spend $150 to win $100 if Bones wins.
Learn How to Choose Bonuses
Bonuses are a big reason why people choose specific betting websites. A bookie might entice you with a 100% welcome bonus worth up to $1000. On the surface, this looks irresistible.However, bonuses have rules. For example, you need to deposit $1000 to claim a 100% matched bonus. If you don’t have $1000 to spend on a betting bonus, you shouldn’t be quick to claim the offer.
Another common rule in every bonus is a rollover (wager requirements). A rollover is a multiple of your bonus amount. If your $10 bonus has a 5x rollover, you need to spend $50 at the betting site before you can cash out your profits.
Bonuses have other vital terms like withdrawal limit, validity time and qualifying odds you must follow. Learn what these rules mean so that you can choose bookies with the best bonuses.
Consider Banking and Payments
What’s your preferred way to move money online? If your answer is Visa or MasterCard, you’re a lucky person. Nearly every bookmaker supports these two card networks.If you would rather use a mobile wallet like PayPal, Bitcoin or bank transfer, you need to find the right sportsbook. PayPal might be the biggest digital wallet in the world. But not every bookie supports it.
In other words, find a sportsbook that covers your favourite payment method. Ensure you can use it for both deposits and withdrawals. Also, look at the minimum deposit, maximum withdrawal and fees you're likely to pay.
Another factor to consider is a bookie's payout speed. Winning money at a sportsbook can be exciting. In most cases, you want to cash out your profits immediately. Unfortunately, some betting sites take too long to process winnings.
Look at Convenience Features
Depending on your preferred betting device, a mobile app can be a convenience feature or a must-have feature. We live in an era of web apps, meaning operators don’t need to create separate apps.Convenience features in betting apps include streaming services, casino games and early cashout. A streaming platform allows you to watch some matches on the betting app in real-time.
If you like to play slots and card games, you should consider choosing a bookie with a casino section. Then there’s early cashout. This feature usually applies to parlay betting.
If you have a 4-7 leg parlay, some bookies might give you the option to withdraw money won after the first four predictions. The feature gives you a safe way to make money in betting. You can secure some profits instead of risking a loss should the final match go against your prediction.
Another feature you need to have in a betting site is live betting. Although it can be daunting for a first-time bettor, it is highly exciting. It offers you a way to bet while also watching games. Live betting attracts quality odds. But they change by the minute.