With so many online betting sites out there is can be confusing to know which ones are the best sites to place your bets at. We’re going to look at a few factors that all people wishing to bet online should consider when choosing an online sportsbook.
1. The reputation of the site
This is probably the most important factor in choosing a betting site. If you sign up to a reputable sportsbook you have a much greater chance of not experiencing any problems down the line. Have you heard of the company before? If not, google them! There are many review sites out there that will give you a wealth of information on the majority of betting sites and tell you whether or not they are any good. Read as many reviews as you can on different sites as some sites will write a positive review of a sportsbook just to get you to sign up to them through their links. Reputable online sportsbooks include William Hill, SkyBet, Paddy Power and 888.com to name a few.
2. Do they accept players from your country?
If you are in the UK then you should be ok to sign up and use any betting account online as there are no restrictive laws on online gambling. However, people from countries such as the USA may have to do a bit of searching for a sportsbook that accepts USA players. The USA has strict online gambling laws in most states but there are still sites that USA players can bet at. A simple google search for ‘USA Sportsbooks’ brings up a list of sites that provide information on available options for players looking for legal USA online sportsbooks.
3. Welcome bonuses and new player promotion offers
Nearly all betting sites offer something to new registrations. Usually these are some kind of free bet or deposit-matched bet such as a £10 no deposit bet (currently offered by SkyBet) or a £88 free bet with 888.com where you are rewarded with a free bet up to the same size as your stake. Always read the terms and conditions with free bets and promotions as they might not always be as good as they first seem to be. Most free bets are straight forward and as a general rule you do not get to keep your free bet – but you do get to keep any winnings made from using it. One of the best sportsbooks for free bets and money-back promotions is PaddyPower.com. Most days they have a number of money back special bets which refunds losing bets on specific events if a certain outcome happens. For instance, in todays Irish Oak’s Special, If your horse finishes 2nd, PaddyPower will refund your losing bet. They have a number of these types of promotions daily so be sure to check out their promotions page for up to date information on their current money back specials.
4. Customer Service
The better the company, the less likely you are to use their customer service as you will hopefully not be experiencing any problems. However, from time to time there may be questions you may want to ask or queries regarding new promotions etc that you need answers to and so customer service is an important factor in choosing a betting site. The number of contact options is a factor to take note of. Some sites will only have email and phone support while others will offer live chat. It is our recommendation that you search for a site that has a live chat support feature as the majority of queries most people have at reputable sportsbooks are small and simple ones and with a live chat feature, these queries can usually get cleared up within seconds rather than waiting a day or two for an email reply.
5. Deposit & Withdrawal Options
Most sites allow players to deposit and withdraw using all major payment methods such as visa/matercard, debit & credit cards etc but some offer additional methods such as PayPal and Moneybookers/Skrill. These can often come in handy if you have a few £ spare in one of these accounts and want to play a few hands of blackjack with it. Another factor is the withdrawal time. All sites will deposit your funds instantly into your account when using the major deposit methods but withdrawal times can vary from site to site. I withdrew funds from my PaddyPower account a few days ago and they were actually credited to my bank account the next day which is exactly what you are looking for. Again, if you stick with the well known, reputable betting sites, withdrawals should reach your bank account within 3 working days.
