So you’ve been following your favorite sport for a while and have thought about using an online sportsbook to bet on several of the games. You probably went online and did some searches and found a whole lot of sportsbooks, each claiming to be the best, and then become confused and overwhelmed at the sheer number of choices available. You looked at the pros and cons of each one, and then you probably started getting second thoughts because you have heard that you’ll find some companies online that are less than reputable. And you would be right. The very last thing you want is to bet money with some company that won’t pay you if you win.

So what steps can one take to choose a legitimate online sportsbook?

The first thing is to ensure the company covers the sport(s) you want to bet on. Not everybody offers every sport. This probably sounds obvious, but it’s worth mentioning.

The second thing you want to do is ensure the site you are considering is financially stable. Think about it like this; with all of the money that is being transferred into and out of this kind of organization, you want to make sure they have enough assets to stay in business. It’s similar to like a bank. Will you get an account at a bank that was running out of cash? In the event the company is public you can check their books. Should they are not public, you may still try and find out how long they have been in business and speak to people and find out whenever they are honest and prompt with their payouts.

Number three: check their reputation online. If you are reading this article then you’re probably already comfortable using the internet. Find some active sports betting forums and see what people there have to say. Pay attention to who the reviews are from and try and screen for fake reviews (some companies put up fake positive reviews in an attempt to make themselves look good).

Inevitably, start small. You might be used to making big bets, but when you are working with a brand new sportsbook for the first time, it’s better to use a small total amount just in the event something goes wrong. Once you feel comfortable working with them you can start betting more if you want.

Keep in mind that betting on sports gambling should only be done with money you may afford to lose, and if you feel like you may have an issue, there are organizations that may help.