Which online bookmaker is right for me?
When considering the best online bookmaker for you, the first thing to be aware of is the alarming growth in unregulated, or ‘black market’, gambling in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in recent years. The whys and the wherefores of the afforability checks, technically known as ‘financial vulnerability checks’, introduced by the Gambling Commission is a subject for elsewhere, but illegal betting operators are notorious for withholding payments, or simply disappearing with your money, so should be avoided at all costs.
Even if you’re comparing legitimate, licensed online bookmakers, the betting market is saturated, with new brands emerging every year. As such, determining which bookmaker best suits your needs and preferences can be a daunting task. The good news, though, is that sports betting is, by definition, a hugely competitive industry, such that online bookmakers are only too keen to offer promotions and incentives to gain, and retain, customers. Sign-up, or welcome, offers, in the form of deposit bonuses, free bets and enhanced odds, are equally popular with bookmakers and consumers, so it’s worth shopping around to see what’s available. As a by-product, sign-up offers also give you an opportunity to explore sites, in terms of ease of navigation, user experience and so on, without making any firm commitment.
Of course, sign-up offers are just part of the story. You’ll want to find a bookmaker that offers an array of markets on the sport(s) on which you wish to bet and, above all else, competitive prices on those markets. It would be fair to say that some bookmakers habitually offer longer odds than others, which can make a significant difference to your bottom line. If you’re a horse racing punter, so too can ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ (BOG), a concession that means you’re paid out at the price you took or starting price (SP), whichever is bigger. Not all online bookmakers, not even some established ones, offer BOG, but those that do typically offer it from 8am on the day of the race. Some others may make you wait until 9am, 10am or 11am so, once again, do your homework.