The worst thing you could possibly do is win big and never see a penny of your winnings. There are thousands of sportsbooks today and many of them operate without any intentions of paying you a single penny. After the word gets out about them stiffing a player, they simply pack up and start a new site with new domain and start the whole process over again. Do not fall victim to an unreputable sportsbook.
Where Is the Online Sportsbook Located?
A very important factor about choosing an online sportsbook is their government licensing. Are they licensed in a preferred gaming jurisdiction? There are many countries who issue operator gaming licenses but never intervene when a problem or complaint arises from that sportsbook. However, the bottom line is the sportsbook operator and how they conduct business. The following offshore jurisdictions have strict gaming licenses and procedures.
Curacao
Antigua/Barbuda
Isle of Man
United Kingdom
Australia
Belize
Jamaica
Gibraltar
Austria
Canada (Kahnawake)
High Online Sportsbook Bonus Percentages
You know how the saying goes, “If it’s too good to be true, it usually is”. That age old adage couldn’t hold more true for sportsbook bonuses. A red flag should immediately rise when you see an online sportsbook offering an unusual high bonus to entice you to sign up and deposit. A good bonus ranges anywhere from 10-25%. Anything higher than 40% percent should be approached with caution.
Reputation
There is nothing better than listening to what real players have to say about their personal experiences with an offshore sportsbook. Take the time to read the positives and negatives and make your final judgement. Keep in mind that there may be unbiased reviews from people who will schill for the sportsbook.
Customer Service
Do they display their customer service information including email, and phone support on the site? All online sportsbook should be able to provide 24/7 toll free customer support. Be wary of sportsbooks that does not display their physical address. There are plenty of sportsbooks who operate illegally from the U.S. that doesn’t have any intentions of paying. Give them a call and ask about mail in deposit options along with email support response time. Those are a few of the things you should consider when looking for a reputable sportsbook.