Why Should You Try Online Betting Sites?
If you’re anything like me, then I understand why you might be having reservations about trying online sports betting. Like most of the seasoned bettors out there, I first started placing action at betting shops where everything just feels like you’re actually in the stadium. The thing though is that placing action on betting shops means dealing with long lines which I quickly realized wasn’t sustainable if I wanted to keep doing this in the long term.
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Learn MoreI vividly remember the 2010 FIFA World Cup semifinal matchup between the Netherlands and Brazil where the former found themselves down early 1-0 after a 10th minute goal from Robinho. However, all game long the Netherlands controlled the possession and I knew that it was just a matter of time before they could get the equalizer so I rushed to the nearest betting shop to place some action. Just when I arrived, I found myself stuck in a line that seemed to stretch to forever and had to watch Wesley Sneijder score the next two goals to take the Netherlands into the final.
Quite frankly, recalling that memory still makes my stomach churn a little although it was probably the biggest reason why I started trying out online betting sites. However, if you need more reasons why you should try out the best sports betting apps, then here are a few more things that really convinced me to make the switch.
Multiple Sports and Betting Markets
While you can place action on several sports at betting shops, the process is often slow and usually limited to top leagues like the Premier League, NHL, NBA, and the NFL. Although it does the work for the most part, you’re leaving plenty of value on the table if you stick to what’s only available in physical shops. What’s even worse is that you’re often limited to moneylines, spreads, and totals in these shops which can be incredibly frustrating when you want to try other bets.
For example, first half markets and live betting are completely off the table in physical sportsbooks which means that you can’t react fast enough if a game is swinging in a particular direction. This is the exact opposite when you’re playing at online sports betting sites where you can place bets on several betting markets right away. Even more impressive is that these online betting sites usually cover niche sports like darts and table tennis and low-tier sports leagues which let you find value that you would never even see when betting in person.
Better Betting Odds and Competitive Pricing
Better betting odds are perhaps among the biggest reasons why I tried online betting sites. Although you can still get solid odds in physical shops, they are usually less competitive because local bookies have higher margins. The good thing about betting online is you can easily shop and compare for the best odds across multiple bookies.
Doing so makes it easier to hunt for value instead of just settling for whatever odds happen to be offered at a single location. Moreover, actively seeking out the most favorable lines also lets you create a more strategic approach to betting which is important if you want to win or stay profitable in the long run.
Easy to Join
Unlike physical betting shops where signing up involves numerous paperwork, most online sportsbooks let you create an account in just a few clicks. What I love most about this is that it removes all the challenges that make betting feel like a chore. For example, with online sports betting, I don’t have to plan a trip or place huge bets to get started.
One thing about online sportsbooks is that you can start small and test the waters without feeling overwhelmed with all the different options at once. In fact, some of the lowest deposit betting sites allow you to get started for as low as €5 or even less, which is perfect if you’re just getting a feel of how online betting works. It's also easier to find new user bonuses and betting offers online.
I like to think that these low deposit sportsbooks are where I can learn which strategies work without putting too much of my own money at risk. When you can understand how the odds shift or how the game flows, you can improve your chances of finding value betting opportunities that others might miss.
Pros and Cons of Online Betting Sites
As you can see, there are so many things to love about online sports betting sites from better betting odds and easy registration to multiple sports and betting markets. However, I’d be remiss if I did not tell you what are the things you should expect before you sign up.
While online betting makes everything simple and exciting, there are a few things you have to keep in mind so you don’t find yourself being caught off guard once you start placing action.
Sports Betting Sites: Pros & Cons
- Various sports and betting markets
- Live betting
- Better betting odds
- Low minimum deposits
- Sports betting bonuses and promos
- Technical app glitches
Important Things You Need to Look for in Online Betting Sites
As you’ve probably gathered above, easy registration, competitive betting odds, different sports and betting markets, and live betting are some of the things you need to look for an online betting site. However, that’s only half of the pie because there are still a few things you have to consider when choosing an online betting site which I will talk about below.
Mobile usability
Mobile usability is a big one, especially if you like placing bets on the go. As a matter of fact, I might even argue this is the reason why you are contemplating trying online betting sites. That’s why it’s important that you have to make sure that your chosen online betting site has a dedicated mobile app or at the very least a website that works well on mobile so you can place bets and react to in-game events wherever you are.
As a personal tip, look for mobile betting apps that have clear menus and fast loading times because it makes a huge difference when you’re live betting.
Variety of payment methods
Deposit and withdrawal methods are another thing you have to pay attention to when choosing an online betting site. Your chosen betting site should support several ways to fund your account or cash out your winnings.
The good news is that most minimum deposit betting sites support a mix of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, electronic wallets, wire transfer, and even cryptocurrencies (these are more popular at new betting sites). By choosing an online bookie that supports multiple payment options, you can manage your funds much easier and know that you have alternatives if one method is unavailable.
Responsive customer support
Last but certainly not the least of the things you need to look for online betting sites is responsive customer support. If you’ve placed a bet in betting shops before, you know how some of the tellers out there are just way too busy to explain things to you.
This is something that you don’t want when you are playing online which is why it’s important that your chosen betting site can quickly answer your questions or resolve any issues that you might encounter. Many online sports betting sites offer support through live chat, email, and phone although it might be a good idea to find something that offers support via social media for faster responses.
Top Sportsbooks That You Should Try Right Now
Now that I’ve outlined what to look for in a sportsbook, it’s time to pick a bookie that delivers on all these fronts. While there are dozens of online sportsbooks out there, a few consistently stood out while I was doing research for this piece.
| Top sportsbooks | Features |
| Stake.com | Wide range of betting markets |
| Betano | Super odds and betting value |
| 888 Sport | Live sports betting feed and multiple cashout options |
Stake.com - All-in-one Betting Site
Stake.com ranks first in my list of the top sportsbooks you should try right now and for plenty of reasons. With so many sports and betting markets available, you can find any betting angle you like whether it’s simple moneyline and spread bets or exciting player and team props or even same-game parlay.
The best part is that Stake.com is known for their different seasonal sports-specific promotions year-round, with most of it for popular sports like basketball, baseball, and football. However, I’d like to note that the sports betting bonus offers from Stake.com may look different for other regions so make sure to check the banners above to see what’s available to you.
Betano - Boosted Odds and Prices
Betano is another bookie you should consider if you’re looking for something that gives you the best odds for your bets. One thing I love about Betano is that it frequently runs a Super Odds promo where you can boost the odds on specific outcomes.
As someone who loves to squeeze the value on any bet I am making, this is something that is too good to pass up, especially when you consider how juiced betting odds are on popular sports and betting markets. There are also a lot of sports-specific offers and other events that keep me engaging with the platform, even outside of the sports betting aspect.
888 Sport - Flexible Cashout Options and Live Betting Insights
It goes without saying that 888 Casino is one of the best online casinos out there although one thing I’ve noticed is that they also have a solid sportsbook available. Known as 888 Sport, its sportsbook really takes it up a notch with flexible cash out options such as full, partial, and auto cash out as well as excellent market coverage and a live sports betting feed where you can see the most popular picks right away. This is extremely important since it allows me to find value odds and interesting betting angles that I might have otherwise missed.
Conclusion - Take Advantage of Online Sports Betting Sites Today and Unlock More Opportunities
If you’ve been playing at betting shops for most of your life, then I can see why you might be having a hard time ditching traditional in-person betting. However, once you find out how generous betting odds are on online sports betting sites with bonus codes & bonuses or how easy it is to join and place action on several sports and betting markets, it quickly becomes clear why so many are making the switch.
Of course, as I’ve mentioned above, not all betting sites are created equal so make sure to keep things like mobile usability, responsive customer support, and multiple payment methods in mind when vetting for online bookies. That said, if you don't know how or where to start then you can check out the Stake.com banners on this page or betting sites like Betano, and 888 Sport to get started.
Online Betting Sites FAQ
Can I use online sports betting sites on mobile?
Most online sportsbooks are designed to work mobile which means that you can manage and place your bets from anywhere.
Can I place live bets on online betting sites?
The best online betting sites let players place bets while a game is in progress with odds updating based on what’s happening during the match.
How do I deposit and withdraw from online sportsbooks?
Funding and withdrawing from online sportsbooks is really simple since most support popular methods like credit and debit cards, bank transfers, wire transfers, and electronic wallets.
