Tuesday, June 24, 2008

What to look for in an online sportsbook

By Simon M Skinner

So you've discovered the joys of online betting. You love the fact that you are going to be able to sit at home in your underwear, yet still be able to bet on that basketball game. It's great that you want to bet online, but do you know who to look to for help? You are going to want to find a sportsbook, (online bookmaker), where you can place your bets. Here are just a few things you need to look out for when you find your online sportsbook:

1. Reputation. Obviously, you want to make sure you check out any gambling website thoroughly before signing up with them

2. Financial condition. Do some research on the financial background of the sportsbook. Make sure that the gambling website is known to pay its winners. You want to get your money if you win, right?

3. Ease of using the site. Make sure that the website is easy to maneuver through. You should not be scratching your head and pulling your hair out to find your way through the website.

4. Cost. Many gambling websites do charge a certain expense, usually 99 percent of the time. However, the website you use does not have to charge an outrageous expense.

5. Range of events. You probably will not always want to bet on a certain sport. Many people enjoy betting on football as well as basketball, and sometimes golf. You want an online sportsbook that allows you to bet on a variety of events.

6. Variety of location. This goes along with the explanation given above. You do not want to only have the chance to bet on certain events that take place in a certain country, state, or arena. With an online betting website, you should be able to have the world at your fingertips, and you should be able to bet on events all over the world as well.

7. Knowledge of the rules. When you use an online sportsbook, you still have to obey the rules that are set forth by the track, arena, etc. If you bet on a horse race, you are still obliged to follow the rules of that specific horse track, even if you are not at the track itself.

8. Availability. You want your sportsbookto be available by email and phone, preferably 24 hours a day.

9. Free stuff. Yes, this is important to many. Does your sportsbook match a percentage of your opening account balance, or offer a sign up bonus?

10. Comprehensive website. This covers many things. Make sure that your online sportsbook does more than take your bet. It is always a good idea to use an online betting site that gives you information on the event as well as information on the players and the odds. It is also important that the sportsbook can provide you with results of the event.

For reviews of top gambling websites, visit www.sportsbook-watch.com

About the Author: