The online gambling industry is sweeping worldwide, moving from shore to shore and gathering exciting new players. Legal sports betting arrived in the United States in 2018, and despite its progress being hampered by the pandemic, it is one of the few industries that has come out swinging. The chances are that betting is now legal in your region; if it’s not, we bet it will soon be. But are you ready to begin your online sportsbook adventure? This article will help bring you up to scratch before you decide to part with your hard-earned cash.

There are hundreds – if not thousands – of sports betting sites operating worldwide, targeting new customers, offering welcome bonuses and promoting themselves as the best around. Some can live up to the hype, while others are little more than savvy marketing and will eventually struggle to keep up with demand as you step up your betting. Gambling is fast-paced, dramatic and enjoyable, but your bets are only as good as the bookie you place them with.

When you first start betting on sports competitions, including the NFL and English Premier League, there’s a lot to consider. Many inexperienced gamblers rush in, grab the first bookie they see and start placing lazy bets. This article is here to help. We advise three common mistakes that new gamblers make and how to avoid them. The more you understand about the industry before you start, the more chance of you beating the bookies and making a profit from your sports gambling. 

Choosing a bookie

The first thing you will do when you begin betting is to choose an online bookmaker. We know there are many to choose from, and we know most of them look the same or, at least, appear to be similar, so how do you choose the right one for you? The mistake many new gamblers make is they believe a bookie is a bookie, and they sign up with the first one they see or a name they are familiar with. There is much more to online gambling than meets the eye.

Your first check should be that the sportsbook is legal and licenced to trade in your region, and you will find details of both the licence they hold and who issued it at the bottom of the bookie’s homepage. It is crucial that everything is above board and looks genuine to you, as there are some illegal and unlicensed apps out there. You want nothing to do with these types of sites as they could land you in a lot of trouble. They may be illegal, or they may be out to scam you. Always be on your guard when choosing a betting app.

The more you know about a sportsbook, the more chance there is of you choosing a great one. Visit many different apps, browse the sports, odds and specials, communicate with the customer service team and read reviews. You can open an account with more than one bookie, and in doing so, you will receive the welcome bonus free bet at each and increase your chances of getting the market best price on every bet you place.

Placing bets

All gamblers have done it, but we would love to stop you from making the same mistake. Don’t see a selection you like and throw money at it, and don’t simply go with your favourite teams or the betting favourites. Beating the bookies and making a regular profit from gambling takes time and effort.

Every gamble you make should be fully researched before you lay your stake and take a risk. If you are gambling on an NFL match, for example, you want to know the recent form of both teams, injury news, head-to-head stats, the weather forecast, officials and much more.

Paying for bets

There are a few different ways to pay for your bets, with the best betting sites accepting debit cards, e-wallets, cash and cryptocurrency. The more banking methods available, the better the bookie is. 

Usually, only a debit card will grant you access to the welcome bonus free bet. Read the terms and conditions before deciding and consider adding different forms of payment to your account.