Fantastic Gambling 3
So you have decided to start betting online - or possibly you just want to find a new trustworthy sportsbook - what do you may need to be aware of?
Well I am in a position to talk from some experience - I did at one time hold accounts with about sixty bookmakers in Europe, UK, Australia and offshore - the second catering mainly Idepro Edu post to a company blog the us market. I have had at least three online sportsbooks go broke on me - luckily my losses were kept to a number of thousand dollars - that may sound a whole lot but it could happen to be a great deal worse.
It's not that easy finding a reputable sportsbook - partly because the web is populated by website owners whom shall sing the praises of a sportsbook or casino simply because they earn revenue from signing up customers via an affiliate program. Often these website owners know nothing about betting, don't hold accounts with the sportsbooks they are advertising and have not researched the companies they're involved with.
You are keeping your money in an account online. Therefore you should think of the sportsbook you are considering as a bank - an area that you intend to keep funds long-term.
Read press articles as opposed to reviews - reviews tend to be authored by the sportsbooks marketing team.
Test run the software by joining and playing for free - most sportsbooks offer this facility.
Find out if your funds are insured or separated in ESCROW accounts so that if the sportsbook company goes under - your funds are still safe.
Find out if the sportsbook is independently audited.
How long has the operation been online - three to four years will be a great marker as the minimum.
Test out the customer services to determine if they meet your standards or even the standards they promise you.
In the event you know about betting already, then check several of their odds and lines - are they in keeping with what you should expect? Some less scrupulous sportsbooks offer very attractive prices to lure unsuspecting bettors.
Find out should the sportsbook is part of a bigger group of companies. Sometimes this implies added solidity.
What are the deposit and withdrawal options as well as the associated charges. These vary a great deal from book to book. Options should be available that will be free or where the sportsbook absorbs the charges. But ask yourself ; how easy is it to get access to my money and the way much does it cost?
Not all the above are critical - but help towards finding a safe and secure book.
If you have already have an account with a sportsbook watch out for lapses in customer service and slowness of payment - these may be signs that the company may very well be in trouble.