Choosing an Online Bookmaker
When browsing the web for online bookmakers, you will immediately notice there are hundreds if not thousands of online bookies to choose from, so how do you narrow the choice down to find the best ones? The answer is not as obvious as you may think, many people assume the bookies they see advertised on TV will automatically be a great choice, but in fact, there are plenty of “rogue” bookmakers that are popular simply because they spend huge amounts of money advertising – they have to advertise heavily to continually replace dissatisfied customers!
To begin creating a short-list of online bookies, start with your country. Online bookmakers have some country restrictions in place so make sure that the bookies welcome customers from your country. For UK customers this is not a big deal as almost every online bookie will be happy to accept UK punters. But if you are in the USA, you will be automatically excluded from many online bookmakers websites.
The next important factor to consider is your sport or game of choice. Most punters have a preference for a particular sport and many online bookies are better for one sport over others. For example one bookmaker may often feature the best odds and coverage of horse racing events, whereas their football (soccer) coverage may be limited, so it make sense to use the bookie that caters best to your particular interests. If UK horse racing is your thing, finding an online bookmaker that offers best odds guarantee on UK horse racing events will obviously give you the most value for your bets.
The way in which financial transactions such as deposits and withdrawals are made and the associated charges are also important. Punters from UK usually have a huge choice of payment and withdrawal options including credit/debit cards and various e-wallet providers, but fees charged by online bookmakers vary considerably. Choosing a bookie which offers a free deposit and withdrawal method which is also convenient for you, obviously makes a lot of sense. Even better, some online bookies will even give you a bonus for using certain e-wallet payment providers to fund your betting account – extra free money is always a good option! Another issue to consider is the amount of funds you are going to deposit and play with, not all online bookmakers will accept very large bets from high rollers, whereas other bookies may have a minimum bet which is slightly higher than you are comfortable with.
If you are interested in mobile betting, then you should also narrow down your selection by searching for online bookmakers which offer a mobile app which is compatible with your device. Though most websites will offer a mobile app or perhaps a mobile version of their site with no app downloads required, some online bookies have not quite caught up with the latest trends in mobile gambling. Some may offer only an iPhone app, others just an Android app. However, just because a bookie offers a mobile app that is compatible with your mobile device operating system, that does not necessarily mean that app will offer a satisfying mobile experience, some apps are basic and clunky in operation, which can be frustrating.
Finally, once you have narrowed down your selection, you should also consider the safety of the websites before making a deposit. Online gambling scams are not common, but they do happen from time to time. For the safest online betting experience, use only reputable sites which offer access to local customer support and the possibility of recourse in the event of a dispute. UK based online bookmaker websites in particular have very strict controls in place.