Sports betting is at its most accessible today, even in the US, where sports betting outside Nevada was banned for the longest time. With the rise of online gambling likewise came the rise of online sports betting. Now, you can easily place bets on your favorite teams without having to go outside your home.
However, with the wealth of options available, how do you know whether or not you’re putting your money in a reliable site? Here are some rules to follow when picking a sports betting provider in the US:
Check for Availability
Although the nationwide restriction on sports betting has been lifted by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, as lines.com notes, the legality and availability of sports betting is still dependent on each state.
Before you even decide to start sports betting, make sure that it is legal in your state. Then, take a look at which providers are available in the state you’re in to help you narrow down your choices.
Take a Look at the Betting Features
Once you’ve came up with the possible choices in your state, pay each sports betting site a visit and see what they have to offer in terms of betting experience.
While casual bettors are usually content with straightforward pre-game betting, you’d want the best betting experience possible. Look for features such as in-game cash-outs, stat tracking, and live betting. Not all online sportsbooks have this option, and you might thank yourself later if you need to make use of some of these features in the future.
Consider Diversity
If you want to take sports betting seriously, you should be expanding your palate and bet outside common sports such as basketball, baseball, and football. Though these sports are more than likely enough for the average bettor, diversity is still a plus as this could present multiple opportunities for value. A wide variety of sports is a benchmark of well-rounded and reputable sports betting sites.
Apart from providing you with sports that you can bet on when your favorite sport is in its offseason, also consider the variety of bets each provider offers. While you can’t go wrong with everyday money line, spread, and point totals bets, you may want to spice it up by making proposition bets or betting on futures. Having a host of possible bets at your fingertips can help you make the best possible decision and reap the most value.
Customer Support is Vital
One indicator of a reliable sports betting provider is round the clock instant customer support. Though it’s not everyday that you might need to contact customer support, it’s still essential that you sign up for a sportsbook that will be able to respond to your queries instantly and provide you with guaranteed solutions to any problems you may face.
Poor customer support will not only lead to frustration, but will also cost you time, and even money in the long run as you might just give up on resolving your grievances and move on to another sportsbook.
Compare Bonuses and Promotions
Many betting sites offer bonuses and promotions such as welcome bonuses and loyalty programs to attract bettors to sign up with their sportsbook. These bonuses and promotions indeed incentivize gambling with a particular sports game provider, but some providers are not as generous as others.
When you’re considering different choices, take a look at the value their bonuses and promotions provide as compared to each other. The best online sports betting providers offer generous and consistent bonuses that will help you win and save more money in the long run.
See If There’s a Mobile Betting Option
It’s incredible how convenient sports betting can be nowadays. With just a few clicks of a button, you can easily place a bet and you just have to wait for the game to be over to see whether you’ve won or not.
But what if you’re constantly on the move and you don’t have access to a computer? Unfortunately, not all sports betting providers have a serviceable mobile betting option. Go for sportsbooks which not only have a mobile betting option, but also have a seamless user experience so that you can bet on sports whenever, wherever.
Evaluate Payment Options
Convenience is perhaps the greatest advantage of online sports betting, but you also have to make sure that you can put your money in and withdraw your winnings without a hassle. A sign of a reliable sports betting provider is that it provides a variety of payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrency.
Also consider the processing times of withdrawals. You wouldn’t want to wait for days just so you can enjoy your winnings.