Betting on sports online is the most convenient way to bet on sports, period. However, you have to be extremely careful when choosing that option. There’s only a handful of online sportsbooks that you can trust 100%. Scammers love going after the sports betting crowd because they know they have a lot of money to spend and that they have to hand over very sensitive information to sign up.
You also have sportsbooks that may look legitimate on the surface but are dealing with solvency issues or don’t offer the best service. This is why you need to be extra careful with where you’re going to spend your money. Here are a few things to check to avoid getting scammed when betting online.
Check the Licence
The very first thing you have to do when looking at an online sportsbook is check their licence. Some sites make their licence as visible as possible while others will have to dig a bit deeper. If you can’t see it right away, try to scroll down and check in the site’s footer, in their About Us section, or the terms and conditions.
Don’t automatically assume that, because you see licence information, the site is legit, however. You need to verify that the information is valid and that their licence is up to date. You have to follow up with the regulatory body they are registered with too. They will gladly let you know if the sportsbook is licensed by them or not.
You have to know which regulatory bodies are recognised by the community at large as well. Comeon Canada, for instance, is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), which is one of the most respected regulatory agencies in the world. If you see that a sportsbook is licensed by the MGA, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the UKGC, the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, or Curacao, then it’s usually a good sign.
Check What People Have to Say
You should then look up what other people have to say about the sportsbook and whether they have encountered any issues. You should pay special attention to anyone saying that they couldn’t access their funds for some reason or that they had to wait too long. Any sportsbook that will require you to wait for more than 15 days to withdraw your money should be looked at with extreme suspicion.
Lines or Bonuses Seem too Good to be True
Another thing you should watch out for is if you notice that a certain casino has lines that deviate strongly from the norm. It’s even worse if they advertise it heavily on their site. When a sportsbook does this, it usually means that they are either placing bets on their own lines or that they have trouble getting betting volume. In either case, this is a definite red flag.
You also have to watch out for outlandish bonuses. If a bonus looks too good to be true, then it’s usually the case. Either it is a trick for you to give up your personal information, or the bonus in question will be nearly impossible to redeem. If you see a sportsbook offering a 300% signup with no minimum wagering requirements, then there’s a strong chance that it’s a scam. No sportsbook in their right mind would do that. That’s basically a licence for people to come and steal their money. So, if you’re suspicious about a bonus, take the time to look at the terms and conditions and see if the rollover is reasonable. If it isn’t or there’s no rollover at all, spend your money elsewhere.
Unprofessional Website and Customer Service
You also have to examine the website and check the quality of their customer service before you use them. Their website should look clean with no typos or broken images. It should also look good no matter which device you use it through. If they have a live chat function, check if it works. Then call their customer service and ask a few questions about things like their licence, payment options, other games the sportsbook has to offer, etc. If you get clear answers in proper English, then it’s usually a sign of a sportsbook that cares about its clients.
These are all things you need to look at very closely when choosing a sportsbook. Once you’ve found a few that tick the right boxes, you can give them a spin, but always start with a small amount.
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