Wanna Make a Bet? Bettor Beware!
Online gaming has become much more mainstream, particularly since the explosion of Daily Fantasy Sports and the recent migration of sports gambling emerging from the shadows and into the bright light of the now legal U.S. sportsbooks. But before all of this, sports bettors had (and still have) hundreds, if not thousands, of websites to choose from if they had a hunch and wanted to bet a bunch online.
That’s right, for decades offshore sports betting sites have been a haven for those who wanted to deal with a legitimate entity when making a wager rather than a local bookie knowing their business. But to the uninitiated, all online sportsbooks are alike, a commodity if you will, where one is identical to the other much like a hamburger at a fast-food joint. Whether you order one from a franchise in Boston or San Diego, it’s all the same.
However, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to choosing an online betting site to create and fund your account. There are several factors you must consider when choosing the one that is right for you but none more important than getting paid in a timely fashion. After all, the name of the game is making money, and what’s the point if the betting site you select doesn’t send you your winnings when a request is made?
Fortunately, there are third-party sites out there that serve as an industry watchdog and assign letter grades to each and every known online bookmaking shop. Below we will discuss what to look for when doing your due diligence in finding a reputable online sportsbook.
Reputation
Rule #1: Never sign up at an online sportsbook because your buddy recommended it. What you might not know is that your friend has never asked for a payout because he is a stone-cold loser who does nothing but deposit. He has never asked for a payout because he loses more than he wins. Oh, and he also might not mention the fact that he will get a few bucks added to his account for referring you.
Now that we have that out of the way, make sure to find those online books that have been around for at least a decade, if not more, and read what customers, former and current, say about that book’s track record when a payout request is generated. There are several A+ rated books out there where you can take advantage of bonuses offered and never worry that you will have to sweat the payout more than the game itself.
Betting Options
You will find that the A+ rated online sportsbooks all compete to offer the greatest number of betting options. No longer are the betting choices relegated to either the side or the total on a game. Those are a remnant of the old days because today’s best online betting sites offer everything from futures in all of the major sports to in-game betting options where you can wager on the next play via your pc, laptop, or mobile device.
Innovative technology is always at the forefront of the best betting sites and most of them have an easy-to-navigate dashboard separating the betting offerings based on each sport. Do you want to bet over or under how many wins the Philadelphia Eagles will have this upcoming season? No problem. Or maybe you believe the Seahawks will win the NFC West and like the odds being offered on them to do just that. No worries, that’s as easy as a few clicks on your mouse or pushing a few buttons on your mobile device.
The same can be said of any team in the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, or any number of professional soccer leagues. There are also events such as boxing, UFC, tennis, golf, auto racing, cricket, and so much more. The best books allow their customers all of these wagering opportunities.
Bonuses
We mentioned bonuses earlier in the article but virtually all of the online betting sites offer bonuses. Even those that are on the dreaded Black List use them to entice unsuspecting bettors so never choose your books based solely on bonuses.
However, when you have whittled your choices down to a select few, open accounts with two or three of them so that you not only get valuable bonuses but will have more options when betting the games. Why bet the Rams -4 when another top-notch sportsbook might have them at -3? Those points and half-points can be the difference between covering, pushing, or losing.
So, make sure to do your homework and find out what people are saying about an online sportsbook before you decide to deposit there. It can be the difference between getting paid or getting an expensive education that you will ultimately regret!