How do you find the best bookie for you?

Before taking up betting as a pastime, there are a few things any prospective punter needs to get ironed out ahead of time. How they will fund their efforts is one of those questions, and so too is the matter of how they will schedule betting times. Are you planning to have an occasional flutter when the mood takes you and you get a good tip, or are you looking to put time and research into your efforts? These things matter, and you’ll do well to answer them before you move on to the practice.

Another question, aside from how and when you will bet, is the matter of where. There are many bookmakers out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, and picking the one (or more usually ones) for you is an important part of getting betting right. So below, we’ll give you some pointers on picking the best bookmaker without specifically guiding you towards named bookies.

Find a bookmaker who suits your priorities

It’s a fact that some bookies are specialists in a particular area. While the bigger names are almost uniformly broad churches – they’ll offer a wide range of bets on a wide range of sports – some of the lesser-known names on the market are focused on specifics. If you’re planning to bet here and there on horse racing or esports, you will find bookies who are focused on those to the exclusion of all else. Meanwhile, if you’re planning to bet seriously and devote time to it, you might be inclined to check the current Pinnacle VIP code and sign up to a bookmaker that specifically reaches out to pro bettors.

Check out their special offers

Most bookmakers will have a special offer or two, and it won’t just be tucked away in some corner of their site, it will generally be the first thing you see when you arrive there. Everyone likes a little something for free once in a while, and it’s worth enjoying the special offers at a bookmaker’s site. The one caveat to this is to look out for gimmicks and fripperies that make the offers look better than they actually are. If a bookmaker offers loads of money’s worth of free bets, check those bets to see if there are strings attached. Sometimes they’ll have to be accumulators with at least three parts, and those parts must all be above a certain price… The more caveats, the less worthwhile the offer – which can make the bookie less tempting.

Read up about the best providers

In large part, the betting community are extremely online, which is excellent news for you if you’re looking to pick the best bookie. A quick google with “best bookie”, plus your specific priority (like “best bookie for football” or “best bookie for pro betting”) will deliver the results you need. You’ll find experienced bettors talking without the marketing jargon about which bookmakers they trust (and which they don’t), and why. This is particularly useful if you read information from forums, where you can pitch your own questions and get educated, precise answers.