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The bookmaker always wins.
Well that's the theory anyway. If you're getting an edge on every thing you offer, then over time you're going to come out on top. Did you know that everyone already has an edge over their bookmaker? Quite simply, you don't have to use that bookmaker. Once you understand that, there's plenty of money to be made. You can beat the bookie. |
There are lots of things to consider when looking for a new sportsbook to bet with; do they offer a bonus, is it a site you can trust with your money, do they offer the markets you want to bet on?
Because of everyone's different requirements it's hard to pick top sites out, in fact everyone has a different opinion on which is the best which is normally based on not much more than where they've won the most money!
But if you're in the market for a new bookmaker, here are 5 things to look out for.
Bonuses and promotions
Welcome bonuses come in all shapes and sizes from a simple matched-bet of £10 (bet £10 and get a free £10 bet), right up to a £200 matched initial deposit which allows you to bet your bonus on a variety of events. Stake returned, stake not returned, risk free and enhanced odds, pretty much every bookmaker has a sign up bonus to entice you in with.
Remember that bonuses come at a cost. How are the bonuses being funded? It's either coming from losing accounts, or the odds the site are offering are so poor that they can lay off elsewhere.
We're not saying you shouldn't take the bonuses (matched betting is all about taking the bonuse!), but be sure of what you're doing and what you're getting in for. Can your float really take on a £200 bonus with 5 times wagering? Start small and build up.
Odds and Offers
Bookmakers want you to take a sign up bonus, and then become a loyal customer, a losing customer. The sign up bonus is often very nice, and profitable, but after that's peeled away you're left with a site offering poor odds and when that happens it's time to look elsewhere...........unless they offer regular bonuses.
Take BetBright as an example. They have a £30 risk free bet for new customers, it'd be rude not to take that. But you soon realise that the odds are poor, and finding matches is difficult. That said, I still use BetBright frequently, as they offer some decent value in their promotions. I'd not bet with them without those extra offers though, everyone else has better odds.
Payment options
Most people use a credit or debit card to deposit into bookmakers and casinos, but Skrill offers an interesting solution which although it can incur some charges on withdrawals, is normally a quicker way of getting your money in and out and that can make all the difference to your float, especially when it's still small.
Customer Service
Does it really make a difference if you're going in and out on a bonus only? Well you'd perhaps be suprised how frequently you need to contact customer serivce, particularly live chat, and each one of those interactions has the power to be either a swift and successful conversation, or like jabbing something into your eye.
That some companies still put people on CS that have no idea about betting, the current promotions or even sporting events in general is pretty shameful, but you will encounter it, fairly frequently.
The sites that offer a better service will get you coming back..............provided the bonuses stack up. Some need to work extra hard to win you back, because you know it'll be a painful extraction of any profit.
User Experience (UX)
Can you place a bet simply and quickly? Are you constantly bombarded by offers from the casino and poker, binog and games?
How do you find the market you want to bet on? Does it all make sense, or does it look like it was designed 10 years ago and never updated?
Some sites you can forgive for how they are, Pinnacle Sports isn't the easiest site to use, but they're working to the tightest lines and taking the biggest bets, they get some leeway. Ladbrokes? PaddyPower? You have no excuses for such a poor experience for the customer.
Because of everyone's different requirements it's hard to pick top sites out, in fact everyone has a different opinion on which is the best which is normally based on not much more than where they've won the most money!
But if you're in the market for a new bookmaker, here are 5 things to look out for.
Bonuses and promotions
Welcome bonuses come in all shapes and sizes from a simple matched-bet of £10 (bet £10 and get a free £10 bet), right up to a £200 matched initial deposit which allows you to bet your bonus on a variety of events. Stake returned, stake not returned, risk free and enhanced odds, pretty much every bookmaker has a sign up bonus to entice you in with.
Remember that bonuses come at a cost. How are the bonuses being funded? It's either coming from losing accounts, or the odds the site are offering are so poor that they can lay off elsewhere.
We're not saying you shouldn't take the bonuses (matched betting is all about taking the bonuse!), but be sure of what you're doing and what you're getting in for. Can your float really take on a £200 bonus with 5 times wagering? Start small and build up.
Odds and Offers
Bookmakers want you to take a sign up bonus, and then become a loyal customer, a losing customer. The sign up bonus is often very nice, and profitable, but after that's peeled away you're left with a site offering poor odds and when that happens it's time to look elsewhere...........unless they offer regular bonuses.
Take BetBright as an example. They have a £30 risk free bet for new customers, it'd be rude not to take that. But you soon realise that the odds are poor, and finding matches is difficult. That said, I still use BetBright frequently, as they offer some decent value in their promotions. I'd not bet with them without those extra offers though, everyone else has better odds.
Payment options
Most people use a credit or debit card to deposit into bookmakers and casinos, but Skrill offers an interesting solution which although it can incur some charges on withdrawals, is normally a quicker way of getting your money in and out and that can make all the difference to your float, especially when it's still small.
Customer Service
Does it really make a difference if you're going in and out on a bonus only? Well you'd perhaps be suprised how frequently you need to contact customer serivce, particularly live chat, and each one of those interactions has the power to be either a swift and successful conversation, or like jabbing something into your eye.
That some companies still put people on CS that have no idea about betting, the current promotions or even sporting events in general is pretty shameful, but you will encounter it, fairly frequently.
The sites that offer a better service will get you coming back..............provided the bonuses stack up. Some need to work extra hard to win you back, because you know it'll be a painful extraction of any profit.
User Experience (UX)
Can you place a bet simply and quickly? Are you constantly bombarded by offers from the casino and poker, binog and games?
How do you find the market you want to bet on? Does it all make sense, or does it look like it was designed 10 years ago and never updated?
Some sites you can forgive for how they are, Pinnacle Sports isn't the easiest site to use, but they're working to the tightest lines and taking the biggest bets, they get some leeway. Ladbrokes? PaddyPower? You have no excuses for such a poor experience for the customer.
