Figure 1 You may be able to bet on sports from all around the world – but you need a trustworthy sportsbook
Newcomers to online sports betting – and there will be more than ever before thanks to the change in the laws in many states – might be under the misconception that all sportsbooks are the same. But that is not the case.
Before you register for an account purely down to which one has the best sportsbook bonuses, take a look at our guide to choosing the best online betting site. We have highlighted a number of factors to consider before signing up. You can always pick more than one anyway – but these tips should help you with your initial decision.
Is it Legal?
This might be a stupid question – but can you actually legally access the site that you have in mind? Sportsbooks may have become legal for almost 80% of the US now, but there are still some regions where it is still definitely not allowed. There are others who are still deciding just how they are going to make betting legal.
Without having the legal right to access an online sportsbook you run the risk of not being able to fall back on the law if anything goes wrong. The regulation of sports betting has made everything more accountable – and that is something you really want in place. Just make sure you can legally bet and we can move on.
Welcome Offers
These are the first things you will take notice of when you are weighing up the decision on which sportsbook to go for. Any site worth further investigation will have some kind of welcome bonus to claim. It could be free bets or deposit matches, but you should get something for registering for an account.
But make sure that you read the small print. All promotions and offers come with their own terms and conditions. So you need to ensure that you know exactly what you need to do to claim what initially seems like a good incentive for signing up. Also, take a look at what existing customers get in the way of bonuses – it’s a good sign of how well you will be looked after.
Betting Markets
This is the main reason why you are contemplating signing up with an online sportsbook in the first place. You want to make selections and place bets. So any potential site needs to have a wide range of betting markets and opportunities.
You should also check to see if they cover the types of events that you want to bet on. Some sportsbooks will specialize in particular sports – or be well known for offering competitive odds on the Super Bowl or the World Series. Just make sure that your preferred sport or league is well covered.
Figure 2 Make sure the sportsbook accepts your preferred payment method
Payment Methods
After the excitement of sifting through the piles of welcome bonuses and potential betting opportunities, studying the range of payment methods may seem a little boring. But it is exactly this kind of detail that makes all the difference when it comes to picking a sportsbook.
There is no point in being able to receive a big deposit match, or a free bet, if you won’t actually be able to use your preferred payment method to move your funds around. This is especially true if you are into cryptocurrencies.
Customer Service
The whole point of picking a good sportsbook is that you never have any problems or issues and the user experience is just about perfect. But you never know when you might need a little help.
Take a look to see what kind of customer support is available – and that you can contact the sportsbook in a way that suits you. Also, make sure you can reach the help team 24/7. Because whichever sportsbook you end up going for, you want to be able to concentrate your time on making selections and picking winning bets.
