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

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

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

Your second thing you want to do is make sure the site you are considering is financially stable. Think about it like this; with all the money which is being transferred into and out of this sort of organization, you want to make certain they have enough assets to stay in business. Think of it like a bank. Would you get an account at a bank that was running out of money? If the company is public you can check their books. Should they aren’t public, you may still attempt to see how long they are already in business and talk to people and see if they are honest and prompt with their payouts.

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

Eventually, start small. You might be used to making big bets, but when you’re dealing with a brand new sportsbook for the very first time, it’s better to use a small amount of money just in the event something goes wrong. As soon as you feel comfortable dealing with them you may start betting more if you want.

Do not forget that betting on sports should only be done with money you may afford to lose, and if you feel like you may have a problem, you can find organizations that may help.