SportsBetting
Online: A Primer
by
J. Phillip Vogel
In this lesson,
SportsBetting
Online: A Primer, we’ll
investigate the growing phenomenon of SportsBetting online and
examine
what it
takes to succeed as a player.
Let’s begin with a brief look at
the differences between
traditional and online sportsbooks.
Sportsbooks:
Traditional vs. SportsBetting Online
Land-based
sportsbooks
such as those in Las Vegas
offer bettors the same action without the risk
of wagering with a relatively unknown based in a foreign country. So what’s the difference?
There are several
advantages to
Sportsbetting online.
The
biggest difference is that there is no
face-to-face transaction. This means it can take thousands of bets
simultaneously where a Vegas book can only take dozens at the same
time.
This
lowers the costs dramatically to the point where they can offer deposit
bonuses
and even sport/bet types that may be less profitable than what Vegas
books can
offer.
Land based books don't
comp very much
for sports play as it
is a low profit margin product for casinos.
Also, it is
incredibly time
consuming to drive down to a book, pay for parking, walk the half mile
through
the maze of slot machines to the sportsbook and place your bet. Seems
much
better to place your bet from home and get a bonus on your deposits.
In addition, internet
sportsbetting
grants punters greater
accessibility to informative resources, wagering opportunities that are
not
dependent on location, and the ability to bet on multiple events from
any
computer with web access. Internet
savvy
gamblers can use the Net to research teams, find the best odds,
register at a
sportsbook and place a wager all in a fraction of the time.
Sportsbooks
Features:
People generally have their own
impressions about what features
make for a “good” online sportsbook. To some, it’s the number of sports
covered. Others
prefer a site with
lavish comps. Still
others are more
concerned that there be a casino or poker room built into the site.
Any
one feature does not equal a good sportsbook.
While there is a lot of personal preference
involved in selecting a site that fits you the best, there are also key
elements universal to quality sportsbooks.
Look
for sites that offer a combination of the following:
1)
Wide range of events and betting opportunities.
Premium sportsbooks almost always cover a
large selection of events with a wide range of betting opportunities.
A
basic
sample of popular betting options to look for include: reverse bets,
round robins,
futures, propositions, straight wagers, parlays, teasers, and if-bets.
2) Competitive odds.
Odds vary with the site.
Make
sure you get the best possible price for each bet.
Tip: use
an odds comparison
service like oddschecker.com to find the best price.
3) Player incentives. It
behooves a
gambler to select a site
that offers at least a moderate supply of incentives.
These
can take many
forms, including sign-up bonuses, VIP points, 5% juice, referral
bonuses and
re-load bonuses. Ideally,
the chosen
site will feature a combination of recurring incentives such as monthly
deposit
bonuses, so gamblers can
perpetually augment their bankroll.
4) Special options.
Look for sites that go the “extra mile” and
offer special
options like
in-running betting (allows the customer to bet while the action takes
place)
and person-to-person (P2P) wagering (allows bettors to browse and
accept
betting propositions posted by other site members, or propose desired
bets of
their own.)
5) Quality customer
service. Verify
that the site
provides knowledgeable
customer service agents who can deal with questions in an efficient and
polite
manner.
6) Betting resources.
Seek out sites that provide informative
resources to their
players. Sportsbetting
often involves a lot of
research and the best sites want to assist their patrons wherever
possible.
Look
for free newsletter
offers, links to sports-related portals, free picks and other services.
7) Multiple banking
options.
Sites should always offer numerous and
convenient banking
options.
8) Quality design.
Always be wary of a site that looks like it
was hastily
thrown
together.
That
could signal a struggling
organization, the last place you want to send money.
Although this list does
not represent
the full spectrum of
what’s available, the best Internet sportsbooks tend to offer some
combination
of these features.
Always
keep these
criteria in mind whenever you consider gambling at a site.
Online
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