Sports betting is fun. Not only is it profitable, but there are also a lot of sports that you can tune into and bet on to make the sport more fun and exciting. But do you know what isn’t fun? Getting scammed while you’re high with betting adrenaline.
Although there are a lot of legitimate sports betting websites on the internet right now, a small portion of them are scummy illegitimate websites that are out to get your money. And they do it either through your winnings or your bank accounts. Sure, they may only be the minority, but that doesn’t mean you can be complacent when picking your betting sites.
But how exactly do you know whether a betting site is legitimate? Luckily for you, that is what we’re about to talk about today. This article will discuss signs that a betting site is trustworthy and reliable. So sit back, relax, and read on.
They Have a Good Reputation in the Community
This is one of the most important factors when looking for a legit betting site. A sign of a reliable site is when the community mostly recommends it. If sports bettors don’t trust or don’t have any confidence in a specific betting site, this mostly means that the betting site is running a scam. In this case, they will usually tell it on forums, and you can see bad reviews on the feedback.
If you don’t know where to find these forums or communities, there are many on Reddit, or you could use Google to find them. Not only that, but these forums also recommend sites if you want to bet on a specific sport. For example, Rugby bettors would often give out links themselves for their favorite sites, like https://betway.com/en/sports/sct/rugby-league/nrl, be it for placing a bet or useful wagering resources.
Look for Its Licensing
Before a betting site can legally start its operations, they need the proper certificates and, of course, the license. All gambling sites must be licensed by a governing body, which the betting site should adhere to. Not only that, this license proves that they are checked by the government, meaning that they’re less likely to do something fishy regarding their operations.
And most importantly, a license also means that they have been audited, signifying that their operations have been thoroughly checked. This shows that nothing funny is happening, especially with their finances.
Most websites would post their license on their front page for the bettors to see and to prove to them that they are a legit site. Some would have a specific page they dedicate to their certificates and licenses.
On the other hand, scam betting sites don’t have any proof that they have a license. And if there is, it’s hidden on a page that no one thinks to look into. Scam betting sites do this mainly because they have fake licenses.
Real Bonuses
While there are certainly a lot of betting sites that offer too-good-to-be-true bonuses, there are also scam betting sites that do the same. Overly generous perks and bonuses lure players into betting on their site. This is how betting sites do marketing, after all.
However, if you think the betting site is overly generous or has bonuses and perks left and right, that’s a sign that the site is more focused on getting more players. Of course, for the most part, that’s a red flag.
The occasional big bonus is one thing, but having them too frequently is fishy. That said, if you are in this situation where you are offered a lot of bonuses, especially just by signing up, your scam radar should be in full blast. Remember, scam betting sites are keener on getting new players. New players mean new people to scam from.
They Allow Book-to-Book Transfers
Most sportsbooks online allow book-to-book transfers. But what is a book-to-book transfer? It is an action where a bettor wants to transfer their funds to another website. It’s a common and convenient feature among betting sites since it allows you to get those perks and bonuses you want from another betting site.
However, if your betting site doesn’t allow this, then something might be wrong. One common scenario is that they restricted this feature because they were busted for being fraudulent, and now, other betting sites don’t want anything to do with them. This is especially true when they first allowed this feature and suddenly restricted it.
They Have All Common Withdrawal and Depositing Avenues
Withdrawal and depositing methods are commonly PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, etc. If they have these options, they have a good relationship with these companies, meaning they’re legit.
However, you should be on high alert if your betting site doesn’t have these avenues and instead has something foreign to you. Not having any of these methods means they can’t do business with these companies because of their fraudulent nature. So be warned.
Final Words
Winning is great, especially if you’re given what you deserve for making that bet. What’s not fun, though, is having your winnings stolen or getting your money stolen straight from your bank account. That said, you should only choose the best betting sites and always be highly alert when shopping for them. Good luck.