Best Online Sportsbooks for Casual Bettors and Beginners
So you’ve clicked on this article, which means a few things: a. you’re most likely a sports betting beginner; b. you’ve recently decided to get more into sports betting; and c. that scares the crap out of you. Well fortunately we’ve got a few ideas on how to go about that process—starting with what to look for in a sportsbook.
You’ll want to find a book that caters to beginners and casual bettors. The best ones on the market know how to serve their novice demographics by offering useful how-to’s, detailed betting guides, and other resources to help make the experience enjoyable and profitable.
The challenge is finding them.
Start by taking the time to understand how sportsbooks make money. One of the fundamental, appealing aspects of sports betting is that it’s possible to consistently make a profit. You need to know what you are doing and apply the right strategies, but it can be done. However, most bettors lose money in the long run. There are several reasons why this is the case, one of which is the fact that bookmakers use certain techniques to make sure they are always at an advantage.
Successful sports betting is basically about overcoming this advantage. Bookmakers are essentially your opponents, and you have to learn how to beat them. Before you can do this, you need to understand exactly how they are ensured to make money.
Bookmakers can’t control the outcome of sports events, but they can control how much they stand to win or lose on any particular result. They set the odds for all the wagers they lay, which ultimately enables them to ensure a profit. They don’t always win money on every single market they price up, but bookmakers do have a mathematical advantage. And this advantage does help to ensure they win money in the long run.
The advantage can be beaten, however. It’s not like casino games where the odds are always stacked against you no matter what you do. That being said, the mathematical advantage isn’t the only reason why bookmakers make money. Their success also comes down to the simple fact that most bettors place more bad than good bets.
Best way to avoid making bad bets is to learn the art of betting. That begins with finding a sportsbook that suits your needs as a first-time sports bettor.
This page will give you the tools you need to find the top sportsbooks designed to help new bettors get started. You’ll learn what to look for, what to avoid, and how to tell if a book is worth getting involved with – ideally, before making your first deposit. Along the way, we’ll point you to a few sites we’ve used that are highly-rated by other sports bettors – beginners and veterans alike.
A Few Quick Notes For First-Time Sports Bettors
Let’s take a moment to clear up a few minor issues. First, a lot of folks would like to bet on their favorite sporting events, but fear that doing so is in violation of certain laws. In reality, betting on sports is not illegal. There are no laws that prohibit you from placing wagers. In the past, U.S. prosecutors have tried to use the Federal Wire Act of 1961 to outlaw the operation of a bookmaking business. But that has little to do with individual sports bettors. After all, it’s unlikely that you’re running your own bookmaking operation.
Another issue that concerns new bettors is security. They want to be sure that their credit card details won’t be stolen as a result of using their cards to fund their accounts.
To be fair, security is always a reasonable concern, whether you’re placing bets at Bookmaker and JustBet or buying something from Amazon. The best sportsbooks for beginners use encryption when storing sensitive financial information, and real-time monitoring and identity verification when processing transactions. Personally, we’ve never had a problem.
Most folks want to bet on the big professional sports: football (NFL), baseball (MLB), basketball (NBA), and so on. Others prefer to put action on college games or more obscure pro sports, such as water polo, cricket, and Ultimate Frisbee. Check out our directory to get more info on the sports you want to bet on.
First, all books offer odds on the most popular sporting events. That’s where a majority of the money gravitates. That being the case, sportsbooks would be crazy not to offer odds on them. However, many sites provide very few lines – and sometimes none at all – on less-popular events. The books we’ll mention below provide a reasonably long list of sports on which you can place wagers.
Another issue that concerns many beginning sports bettors is whether they need to report their winnings on their taxes. The short answer is yes. The government considers profits from sports betting as taxable income. Technically, that’s the case whether you win a bet at Bovada or with a friend. Having said that, we’re not accountants. So check with the person who does your taxes to make sure you’re doing things by the book (so to speak).
How To Choose The Best Sportsbooks For Beginners
There’s no shortage of sports betting sites. Even if you live in the U.S., where placing wagers online involves jumping through hoops, plenty of books want your business. Of course, that doesn’t mean every site is trustworthy or runs a quality operation. Frankly, some are downright shady.
You need a list of parameters to determine which sites are the best sportsbooks for beginners. Here are some of the things to look for (and things to avoid):
Customer support – If you bet online long enough, you’ll eventually run into minor issues that need to be resolved. Even if a problem is of your own making, it’s important to have access to support reps at the book you’re using who can help get things back on track. To that end, a sportsbook’s support staff should be responsive, professional, and knowledgeable.
Promotions and bonuses – The top sportsbooks for beginners go to great lengths to attract new bettors and encourage them to place bets. They do so by offering generous “new account” bonuses and holding routine promotions. For example, Betonline offers a $25 risk free bet for live in game betting. Similarly, Bovada gives you 50% deposit bonus match up to $250 when you make a first deposit (no promo code needed).
Banking options – One of the biggest hurdles you’ll run into is funding your accounts. The most convenient method is to use your credit card. But thanks to legislative roadblocks set up by US politicians, transactions often get declined. It’s helpful when sports betting sites offer several funding options, such as money transfers, bank wires, and deposits from eWallet services.
Good odds – It does little good for a sportsbook to provide great support, big bonuses, lots of banking options, but horrible odds. That’s a great recipe for losing money on your bets. Some books, like BetOnline and Bookmaker, are known for consistently offering attractive lines. That said, it’s useful to have options. We recommend registering accounts at a few books so you can compare and shop for the best odds.
Easy-to-use interface – The interface at any sportsbook should be easy to use. But this is doubly important if you’re just getting started. If the software is clunky or the site is hard to navigate, it can make the entire experience unpleasant. Sites like Bovada and Sportsbook have been catering to sports bettors for so long that both have a keen grasp on how to design a seamless betting environment.
Rollover requirement – A rollover reflects the amount of money you’re required to wager before you can make a withdrawal. It varies by site. Some of the best sportsbooks for beginners impose rollovers as low as 3X your deposit (Bovada is a great example). Others impose much higher rollovers, making it difficult to get your money out.
Track record – You want to work with books that have a history in the sport betting industry. If a site has been serving its customers for several years, there’s an excellent chance it has gained their loyalty by offering a high-quality, dependable service. That kind of reputation is hard to ignore, especially given the number of “here today, gone tomorrow” sites that populate the industry.
Casino? Poker? Racebook? – Many of the top sportsbooks for beginning sports bettors offer wagering opportunities that extend beyond sporting events – namely, a casino, poker room, and racebook. You might be completely uninterested in these features. But you might be surprised by how many people felt similarly and eventually wandered into a sportbook’s casino or poker room. It’s a great way to blow off steam and add variety to your betting activity. Bodog, TopBet, and SportsBetting (all are on our recommended list) host a casino. Bodog provides a casino, poker room, and racebook.
Our Favorite Online Sportsbooks For Beginners
- BetOnline
With decades of customer service experience, BetOnline provides a simple, no-frills sports betting interface that provides beginners with a plain user interface that allows them to rapidly lock in their bets. BetOnline is geared to sports betting and the website is among one of the biggest US facing sports betting website in the market today. If you are looking for a straight forward online betting experience, BetOnline is the best for beginners. - Bovada
Bovada provides extensive support for mobile clients as well as desktop PCs and Macs. Bovada provides an all around gambling experience that draws in casual sports bettors. For example, many sports bettors will use Bovada to bet on UFC fights exclusively. In addition, Bovada offers exotic prop bets that can produce huge payoffs. Bovada has rapid customer service, should you have any questions about your account. - SportsBetting.com
It’s impossible to talk about sports betting for beginners and not mention SportsBetting.com. Sports bettors can simply sign up for an account, place your bet and begin wagering real money on sports events all around the world.
