So you’ve got decided to start betting online – or even you just want to locate a new trustworthy sportsbook – what do you will need to be aware of?

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 second catering mainly to the us market. I have had at least three online sportsbooks go broke on me – luckily my losses were kept to a number of thousand dollars – which will sound a whole lot but it could are already a great deal worse.

It is not that easy finding a reputable sportsbook – partly because the web is populated by website owners which will sing the praises of a sportsbook or casino simply 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 have not researched the companies they can be involved with.

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

Read press articles as opposed to reviews – reviews tend to be 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 to ensure that should the sportsbook company goes under – your funds remain safe football (click hyperlink).

Find out in the event the sportsbook is independently audited.

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

Test out the customer services to find out should they meet your standards or even the standards they promise you.

In the event you know about betting already, then check several 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 in the event the sportsbook is part of a bigger group of companies. Sometimes it indicates added solidity.

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

Not all of the above are critical – but help towards finding a safe and 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 might be in trouble.