It’s no secret that the online sports betting industry has seen a rise in popularity over the last several years. While there are many reasons for this boom, one of them is certainly because it can be done anonymously, making it an extremely appealing option for bettors who wish to keep their wagers private.
But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which sites are trustworthy, and which aren’t. Here are 7 ways that may help you determine whether or not a sportsbook is legitimate, or just another scam looking to take advantage of hopeful bettors.
If It Seems Like Something You’ve Seen Before
One of the best things about the internet is that no matter what niche you enjoy, there’s a community of like-minded people out there who share your interests.
If you’ve been around online sports betting in Singapore for a while, then chances are that at some point on your journey you may have stumbled upon a site that claimed to be able to provide an edge to bettors by providing inside information on teams and players.
Going beyond that, some sites even claim that they will earn you money with bets that others cannot see because of special connections or inside knowledge.
Although these promises may seem alluring, after seeing one too many of them it’s easy to tell the truth: such claims are always false. Sites like this exist solely to separate you from your money. They make promises that are completely outrageous in an effort to build hype, and will ultimately fail because they have nothing of value to offer their customers.
Nonetheless, these sites are prevalent throughout the industry, so do what you can to steer clear of them.
Is It Offering Bonuses?
One would think that a sportsbook offering bonuses would be a good thing. After all, who wouldn’t want to earn extra cash with the opportunity to bet? But as you know, nothing is guaranteed in the world of sports betting.
Bonuses are always given to those who have made a deposit and wish to bet on another game after blowing their first wager out of the water. This means that nobody can ever take advantage of this feature until they’ve made at least one bet.
Bettors should be cautious when it comes to deposit bonuses, as they often require rollover requirements in order to cash out winnings earned with the bonus. The higher the rollover requirement is, the more difficult it will be for bettors to meet it.
As such, if the rollover requirement is too steep for your liking then chances are that you’re better off looking elsewhere.
Is It An Independent Sportsbook?
Sportsbooks that are independently owned and operated will often post ads across numerous sites attempting to lure bettors in with the promise of bonuses and a decent user experience.
These sites are often shady and the odds they offer tend to be rather weak, but these factors can be overlooked if a site is going to provide bettors with what they’re looking for in terms of customer service and accessibility.
Unfortunately, most independent sportsbooks don’t have the infrastructure needed to operate an online sportsbook. This results in a poor experience for bettors, and ultimately means that independents will be heavily outmatched by the larger online sportsbooks when it comes to finding customers.
Site Traffic/Social Media Accounts
Take a look at how many fans each site has on Facebook , Twitter and any other social media account they may possess. If the account is new and has few followers, then it’s probably best to avoid it.
A good sportsbook will always try to establish an online presence before they start taking bets in order to build up an audience that will return on a regular basis.
Is It Licensed To Offer Betting In Your Jurisdiction?
It is important for bettors to do their homework and make sure that the site they’re looking at is properly licensed before making any wagers. There are hundreds of unlicensed online sportsbooks, but most legal jurisdictions will prosecute those who choose to place wagers with them.
As such, bettors should be extremely cautious when it comes to choosing a betting site and stick to the platforms that are properly licensed.
Although there are many red flags when it comes to spotting an illegal sportsbook, one of them is attempting to receive information from bettors before registration. Unlicensed sites will often ask for personal details such as name and address in order to collect winnings, but this is simply a ploy that’s being used to steal private information.
Is It A Reputable Sportsbook?
The most important factor in determining whether or not a sportsbook is legitimate is their reputation within the industry. There are plenty of negative reports online about these sites, so bettors should do what they can to stay away from them.
Many online sports betting in Singapore like Winbig7 for example, that have been around for years and have built up a solid track record throughout that time are obviously going to be more trustworthy than those that only just opened their doors.
If you’re looking for an unlicensed site with a terrible reputation, then there’s plenty of options out there for you to choose from. But if you want your wagers to be safe and legal in an environment that provides bettors with what they’re looking for, then you’ll need to find a trustworthy sportsbook.
Is It Trustworthy?
Reputation is just one of the factors that can be used to judge whether or not a site is trustworthy – we also have some more reliable methods which we will discuss below.
The practice of offering bonuses to customers is one of the most common red flags that can be used to pick out dodgy online sportsbooks. These sites will often act in an unprofessional manner and continue to provide poor customer service after this stage, which leads to more negative reviews on the Internet.
As mentioned above, it’s important for bettors to do their research and learn about the sites they’re looking at before they place any wagers. This means learning as much as possible about the site, such as their history and policies on bonuses and withdrawals.
