Our aim is to support those who want to place bets online. The modern online betting landscape is a busy one, with a large amount of sites, apps and bonuses to pick from. We have an expert team who are highly experienced in the world of iGaming and passionate about finding the best experiences. They take great pride in running the rule over all the various choices on the marketplace to discover who really stands out from the crowd. You’ll only find honest, in-depth analysis here.
With so many sites to choose from, how do you know which ones are best suited to your needs? That’s where our in-depth, unbiased reviews come in. We have strict criteria that our experts apply to every sportsbook, sweepstakes site or online casino. The aim is to uncover the true customer experience, looking beyond the marketing messages and slogans in the process. Don’t worry about security either, unless a brand holds at least one licence to operate then they won’t be listed on our site at all.
Check out our reviews for an honest assessment of every legal gaming site that’s available in your region.
Moving money in and out of online gaming sites is easier than ever before. But how do you know which payment method is best to use and which sites accept it? We’ve created a range of guides to the various payment methods available around the world. They’re designed to give you all the information that’s actually important and how this relates to using them for placing bets online. Discover the best e-wallets, cryptocurrency options, pre-paid cards and more.
With the ever-evolving world of online gaming, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest developments. Our betting guides are designed to be accessible to new players while still offering valuable insights to those with plenty of experience. They cover everything from the best bankroll management approaches to latest markets and how they work. You’ll never fall behind with these in-depth guides written by our dedicated team.
With the development of online betting, it’s never been more possible to shop around for the best deals. That extends beyond odds comparison though. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to claim a bonus when opening a new betting account. They are a very popular way for brands to attract new customers but also reward the loyalty of existing ones. We test each bonus to see how it really works, the overall value and what to be aware of before you get involved.
Not all sports are the same, we know this because as well as avid sports fans, we’re experienced bettors too. But how do the differences between sports impact on the betting strategies required to make the most of them? Of course nothing is a given when it comes to betting, you can certainly make the most of the opportunities and different markets by exploring every betting strategy available to you. Some are based in statistics while others may only focus on a specific type of market which tends to offer an opportunity in a certain situation. Dive in and discover what our experts have been testing recently.
Online betting is a popular way to place bets on sports and enjoy classic casino games. But if you’re just getting started, it can seem daunting to know where to begin, given the sheer number of online betting platforms available.
In this comprehensive guide, we run through everything you need to know about the topic to help you kickstart your online betting adventure. We run through bonuses, safety, banking, and mobile betting and even provide you with a step-by-step tutorial that will help you get started in five simple steps. Read on to bet online today.
Betting online includes everything from playing slot machine games to betting on the English Premier League. This guide focuses on sports betting at online sites, but the advice applies to practically all forms of online betting.
Before getting started at a betting site, the key thing to remember is that betting should be fun. You should not put yourself under financial strain or duress to fund any type of wager and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Therefore, the very first thing to do is to decide how much you are happy to spend on online betting and set a budget accordingly. You can then decide where and what to bet on, as discussed in the following sections.
Hundreds of betting sites offer a vast swathe of markets, promotions, and betting options. So, how on earth do you know where to begin? You can use this step-by-step tutorial to identify sites that are licensed, regulated, and safe to play at, which are all non-negotiables as far as online betting is concerned:
Your safety and security are paramount when you’re betting online, which is why you should take into consideration the following factors: licence and protected data measures and responsible gambling practices.
Unfortunately, there are some betting platforms out there that are unlicensed, unregulated, and unsafe for customers. The good news is that you can easily check for a site’s licence to ensure that you only ever play at licensed and regulated platforms.
Beyond that, you need to check that the site has SSL encryption to protect your personal data and review the secure payment options offered to ensure that your financial information is not at risk.
Responsible gambling also falls under safety and security. While you are personally responsible for how much you gamble, betting sites should also offer a suite of responsible gambling tools that you can use to stay in control. These include things like deposit limits and self-exclusion options that you can activate if you want some time away.
You can check which tools are available via the responsible gambling policy and find helpful links to resources for problem gambling. If the site isn’t committed to responsible gambling, it’s best to look elsewhere.
One of the best ways to identify great-value betting sites is to check the available bonuses and promotions. Promos invite you to unlock bonus funds from the very start that help while you bet. Here are some of the most popular bonuses that you will come across while betting online:
A no-deposit bonus is attractive because you don’t need to add any of your own money to the betting site to unlock it. Instead, the betting site offers a specific amount of money that you can access simply by creating a new account, which you can then use to bet on selected sports.
Perhaps the first deposit match is the most popular type of promotion at betting sites. Here, the site promises to match 100% of your initial deposit in bonus funds up to a specific amount. For example, you might see a 100% deposit match up to £250, offering you generous bonus funds to get started with.
Another widely available promotion at betting sites is the bet X get Y offer. For example, a betting site might offer £20 in free bets when you place a qualifying £10 bet on a specific market. The bonus funds are usually offered in the form of site credits and can’t be withdrawn as cash.
You might come across a sportsbook that offers a second chance bet promotion. This offers refunds for losing bets up to a specific amount as site credits to give you another chance to place a wager. This is usually a welcome bonus, but it’s a great option if you’re looking to place a sizable first bet at a sportsbook.
In addition to welcome packages, online betting sites deliver a host of ongoing promotions that offer excellent value as you bet. These are often cashback offers that reward you for making a deposit on a specific day or free-to-enter tournaments that give you the chance to win prizes.
You can also check out how a betting site’s loyalty program works and how you can get cashback, rewards, and special prizes as you bet. Some loyalty schemes are tiered and are only available to VIPs and high rollers, but others offer points and rewards when you bet a specific amount each month.
As you get started at an online betting site, one of the decisions you need to make is how much to deposit and which payment methods to use. All sites have deposit limits, and the minimum deposit at most sports betting sites is £5 or £10, while you can usually deposit upwards of £1,000.
The same is true of withdrawals, and you need to be aware of how much you can withdraw each day, particularly if you’re a high roller. Every reputable site publishes payment terms and limits, so you can read through them before deciding where to gamble.
Note that at many sites, you need to deposit and withdraw funds via the same method, which is something to consider before adding funds to your account. In our experience, the fastest method for deposits and withdrawals is an e-wallet like PayPal, with most payouts processed within 24 hours.
The table below indicates some of the most popular payment methods supported at online betting sites, with some key terms attached that you need to be aware of:
| Payment Method | Examples | Reason to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | Visa, Mastercard | Widely available and the easiest option to use |
| Credit cards | American Express, Discover | Not supported in the UK |
| E-wallets | PayPal, Neteller, Skrill | Fast withdrawals – often within 24 hours |
| Prepaid cards | Play+ | Helps with managing your gambling budget |
| Bank transfer | Trustly | High limits and often the option that takes the longest |
| Cryptocurrency | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum | Not available at all sites |
| Mobile | Apple & Android Pay | Quick and convenient |
It’s also really important to consider the value of the odds offered at a betting site. The best new betting sites tend to offer the most competitive odds as they’re looking for ways to attract new punters to the site, and they do so in a multitude of ways, from Best Odds Guaranteed to odds boosts and other special odds promotions on select markets.
You also need to look at the range of sports offered, the quality of the betting markets, and your actual betting options. Do they have your favourite sports, including the niche ones? Are there both pre-match and in-play betting?
Live betting sites are a great option because they offer extensive in-play markets and bet builders that allow you to tailor your betting slip. You can bet on things like the next player you think will score a goal in a football match, or the number of yellow or red cards you think the referee will issue. In-play markets offered by the best online betting sites can be quite exciting and are available for most sports.
| Site | Bonus | Operating In |
|---|---|---|
| Stake.com | Stake.com Bonus | Nigeria, Canada, UK & More |
| Betway | Betway Bonus | UK, Canada, Nigeria, South Africa & More |
| 1xBet | 1xBet Bonus | India, Nigeria, Bangladesh & More |
| bet365 | bet365 Bonus | UK, Australia, Canada, US, Nigeria & More |
| 22Bet | 22Bet Bonus | Canada, Nigeria & More |
| Unibet | Unibet Bonus | US, Nigeria, Canada & More |
| 888Sport | 888Sport Bonus | UK, Canada & More |
| Betfred | Betfred Bonus | UK, Canada & More |
| N1Bet | N1Bet Bonus | Canada |
| William Hill | William Hill Bonus | UK, Canada, US & More |
| Ladbrokes | Ladbrokes Bonus | UK |
| Sportingbet | Sportingbet Bonus | South Africa & UK |
| Bet9ja | Bet9ja Bonus | Nigeria |
Given the prevalence of smartphones and tablets today, a betting site with a native mobile app for Android and iOS is a great option. You can check the app’s rating on the Google or Apple store to get a feel for how intuitive the app is before downloading it.
One of the benefits of using top betting apps is that you can access app-only promotions and features that enhance your betting experience. This includes things like special cashback rewards and great value odds boosts that may not be available on the PC version of the sportsbook.
The fact that you can access the sportsbook immediately, no matter where you are, is also advantageous, as you can take advantage of the myriad in-play markets as you watch live sports with your friends.
Even if a sportsbook doesn’t have an app, it likely offers a fully optimised mobile version of the site, which you can access directly on a mobile browser. You can check the quality of the mobile version of a site by opening the platform on your phone or tablet before creating an account.
Getting started with online betting doesn’t need to be daunting. When you know what to look for in an online betting site, you can select the best online betting site, make a deposit, and take advantage of the promotions available to fund your sports bets.
Ensure you only ever gamble at sites with the correct licences and take your security and safety seriously. You should also look at promos, banking options, odds, and market availability to identify the best sites available online. With all this considered, you’re now ready to get started with betting online – head to a sportsbook and create an account today to kickstart your online betting.
This depends on where you live. You should check the legislation surrounding online betting in your country before creating an account at a betting site.
Yes, you can. When you sign up for a real-money betting site, you can win money if your selections come off. However, you should always gamble responsibly and within your means.
Some countries tax gaming winnings, while others don’t. You should consult an accountant for up-to-date taxation advice in your country.
If you gamble at a betting site licensed by the appropriate regulatory body, online betting is safe.
Responsible online gambling refers to a range of tools and resources that you can use to stay in control while gambling online. Each site has specific responsible gambling tools that you can use if you wish.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
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