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It probably hasn't escaped your attention that something big has been happening in the world of sports betting in the last few years. The US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018 and effectively handed over the legal issues surrounding gambling to individual states.
Most of the country can now legally bet online and there are sports betting websites available to people in over 30 states. There are more planned in the regions still to push through betting legislation as well. But all this may be new to many of you, so what exactly should be looking out for when it comes to online sportsbooks?
Sign Up and Claim
The first thing you should know about any online sportsbook is that you will have to sign up for a customer account if you want to place a bet. This is not like a physical, real-life sportsbook where you can just turn up and make a selection. You will need to register. But don't worry, it is completely free.
You are not obligated to stick with just one sportsbook either. You can play the field - and it may even be beneficial to do so. This also means that you can claim a number of welcome bonuses along the way. Just read the terms and conditions though, so you know exactly what is required of you.
Check the Odds
One of the main factors that you should take into consideration when choosing which sportsbook to sign up for is the odds - or prices. To the uninitiated, the odds offered across the board may well look very similar. To be perfectly honest, they are. But it is the small differences that can have a big effect.
Even a small change in the odds between sportsbooks can alter the amount of winning returns that you can potentially claim. Some sportsbooks will offer better odds on certain sports. But you should check to see which sites have the better odds across all sports. Then you know it is not a one-time deal.
Use a Site that Suits You
We would recommend that you do your research and use some of the many review sites that concentrate on sports betting sites. That should give you a good idea of which sportsbook will suit your needs. But you will probably have to actually use the sites to discover whether they are really for you.
This is a very important point though. If an online sportsbook has thousands of football markets, but not too many for hockey - and you want to bet on hockey - then it is not the site for you. You also need to check whether the payment methods offered work for you too.
Speed is the Key
The other thing you need to know about the odds offered by sportsbooks is that they can change all the time. Live betting markets allow customers to place bets throughout a sports event, so the prices obviously change to reflect what is happening on the field or court.
It is crucial, therefore that an online sportsbook is easy to navigate and is able to process transactions and requests quickly. That will help you time your bets to perfection and give you a better chance of bigger winnings. It is important to note, however, that nothing is ever guaranteed when it comes to betting on sports.
Any Extras?
The betting companies will probably not like us saying this - but most online sportsbooks are much the same. It really comes down to personal choice a lot of the time. So it is also important to check whether there are any little extras that could sway your decision.
This could be more bonuses, or even that the site accepts cryptocurrency (if that is your thing). Live streaming of events is also a good thing to look out for - as is a highly rated app. The best piece of advice is probably to do as much research as you can and change if you feel you need to. You want the betting site to work for you - and there is more than enough choice these days.
