Choosing a bookmaker seems like the easiest thing in the world these days because there are so many of them around. Growing from an already impressive gross gambling yield of £8.4 billion in 2011 to a whopping £14.4 billion in 2018, punters are now inundated with adverts enticing them to bet.
Nevertheless, there are certain things you need to think about before depositing your hard-earned cash into a sportsbook. Some of them are purely value based, while others can help you to avoid serious issues further down the line.
Customer Service
When things go wrong, it’s vital that you’re able to connect with people who can fix it. Before you settle on a specific sportsbook, make sure that they provide easy access to a customer support team that work around the clock. Sites like Loyal Casino offer you great customer service which means that should anything ever go wrong you know you will get the best help around.
Licence
One of the most important things to look for when selecting a sportsbook is whether the company has a licence to operate in your country. The UK Gambling Commission works to ensure that customers are treated fairly by bookmakers and this can be the difference between receiving your winnings or not.
An example of this can be seen in July 2020 when Genesis Global Limited had its operating license suspended for breaching terms that put customers at risk.
Reputation
Reputation can be the making or breaking of a sportsbook and with good reason. Even if a bookmaker is covered by a licence, there are some that seem to edge towards the dodgy side of things.
For example, some bookmakers may have a reputation for not paying out bets or banning accounts without reason. A little search online will usually give you enough information to go on. However, it’s important to remember that reports of a few disgruntled customers don’t necessarily mean a bookmaker should be avoided. Common sense is required here.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options
The best bookmakers around tend to offer a wide range of deposit options – cards, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrencies in some instances.
However, it’s even more important to check the deposit terms. Some sportsbooks charge deposit and withdrawal fees, have minimum deposit and withdrawal amounts, and can take a long time to process withdrawals.
The best option here is to find a bookmaker that accepts major deposit methods and doesn’t charge you for the privilege.
Markets and Features
Of course, when it comes to sportsbooks it’s important to have a range of sports to bet on. These days, the best bookmakers cover major sports such as football and horse racing but will also have markets for smaller sports and esports.
Furthermore, it’s important to check that a bookmaker offers enough markets to make things fun. Some people like to bet on simple things such as match outcomes, but others will find more enjoyment in betting on specifics such as goal scorers, booking points, number of goals and so on.
Likewise, the best bookmakers around tend to offer other features such as slots, poker, bingo, and live casino games. It’s all about finding the most value for your custom and you can play live games at Casino Winner and other similar sites that offer you fantastic value.
Promotions
Finally, make the most of businesses competing for your money. Most bookmakers will offer promotions to convince you to sign up so look around and find special offers that provide big bonuses to play with.
