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 safe online football and did some searches and found a whole lot of sportsbooks, each claiming to be the very best, and then become confused and overwhelmed at the sheer number of choices around. You looked at the pros and cons of each one, and then you probably started getting second thoughts because you’ve heard that there are actually some companies online that will be less than reputable. And also you will be right. The 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 sportsbook?

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

The next thing you want to do is make certain the site you are considering is financially stable. Consider it like this; with all the money that is being transferred into and out of this sort of organization, you want to ensure 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 are not public, you can still try and see how long they happen to be in business and talk to people and see should they are honest and prompt with their payouts.

Number three: check their reputation online. In case you are reading this article then you are probably already comfortable using the internet. Find some active sports betting forums and find out what people there have to say. Pay focus on who the reviews are from and attempt to screen for fake reviews (some companies put up fake positive reviews to try and make themselves look great).

Inevitably, start small. You might be used to making big bets, but when you’re dealing with a new sportsbook for the very first time, it’s better to work with a small total amount just in case something goes wrong. As soon as you feel comfortable working with them you can start betting more if you want.

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