So you’ve got decided to start betting online – or even you just want to locate a new dependable sportsbook – what do you’ll need to check for?

Well I am in a position to speak from some experience – I did at one time hold accounts with about sixty bookmakers in Europe, UK, Australia and offshore – the latter catering mainly to the united states market. I have had at least three online gambling (about his) sportsbooks go broke on me – luckily my losses were kept to a number of thousand dollars – which will sound a lot but it could have been a great deal worse.

It’s not that easy finding a reputable sportsbook – partly since the web is populated by website owners who will sing the praises of a sportsbook or casino mainly because they earn revenue from signing up customers via an affiliate program. Often these website owners know nothing about betting, do not hold accounts with the sportsbooks they may be advertising and also have not researched the companies they may be involved with.

You are keeping your hard earned money in an account online. Therefore you should think of the sportsbook you are considering as a bank – a place that you intend to keep funds long term.

Read press articles as opposed to reviews – reviews are usually written by the sportsbook’s marketing team.

Test run the software by joining and playing for free – most sportsbooks offer this facility.

Find out if your funds are insured or separated in ESCROW accounts in order that in the event the sportsbook company goes under – your funds remain safe.

Find out if the sportsbook is independently audited.

How long has the operation been online – three to 4 years is normally the best marker as the minimum.

Test out the customer services to determine whenever they meet your standards or perhaps the standards they promise you.

If you are aware about betting already, then check some of their odds and lines – are they in keeping with what you should expect? Some less scrupulous sportsbooks offer very attractive prices to lure unsuspecting bettors.

Find out if the sportsbook is part of a larger group of companies. Sometimes this means added solidity.

What are the deposit and withdrawal options and the associated charges. These vary a great deal from book to book. Options should be available which are ‘free’ or where the sportsbook absorbs the charges. But ask yourself ; “how easy is it to get access to my money and just how much does it cost?”

Not all of the above are critical – but help towards finding a secure book.

Should you have already have an account with a sportsbook watch out for lapses in customer service and slowness of payment – these may be signs that the company could be in trouble.