Wagering on sports has managed to reach some unprecedented heights over the past few years thanks to the advent of technologies. More and more people all over the globe switch from land-based bookies to virtual ones due to the fact that the latter make sports betting easier and quicker. Nowadays, punters have the unique opportunity to wager on the preferred sport or sporting event even when they are on the move. Undoubtedly, this is one of the greatest improvements that were made in the gambling industry as it gave punters the chance to place their bets irrespective of the time and the place.
In fact, punters who reside in the UK are presented with plenty of options to choose from as namely there is one of the biggest web-based gambling markets on a global scale. Due to the fact that gambling over the Internet is legalised and well-regulated in this particular region, it will not be that hard to find a dependable virtual bookie where you can place your bets with the peace of mind that your security is guaranteed.
There is an abundance of virtual bookies that give punters the chance to wager on a mind-blowing number of different sports and markets. As each web-based bookie strives to attract as many bettors as possible, they cater their customers with numerous promotional offers. Occasionally, trustworthy sportsbooks also provide their customers with plenty of convenient payment solutions so that they could top up their accounts effortlessly.
Gambling Regulations in the UK
Fortunately, UK is not among the countries where gambling is banned or restricted. Punters who reside in the UK are really privileged due to the fact that the gambling industry is really well regulated, meaning that there are not any grey areas in the legislation of the country, concerning gambling. The country has managed to create a really good betting environment for people who take pleasure in wagering. As a result, in the UK there is a wealth of land-based gambling venues as well as numerous online bookies that provide punters with an extremely exhilarating gambling experience.
The UK is one of the countries that have adopted numerous strict and effective laws, concerning gambling. It should be noted that betting sites can operate in the UK as long as they have a valid license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. The commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 in order to stringently regulate all forms of gambling on the territory of the country.
Punters should know that virtual sportsbooks that provide their services in the UK work under some really strict licenses. This, on the other hand, explains why such web-based bookies are among the most trusted providers of such services available out there. It should be noted that bookies that offer their services within and outside the region can operate as long as they possess a license issued by the commission.
How to Pick a Sports Betting Site
As previously stated, the number of the virtual bookies is constantly growing which is only natural considering the exorbitant demand. Presently, more and more punters choose to wager on sports over the Internet simply because they will have the freedom to place their bets whenever and wherever they wish. Perhaps, this is one of the biggest advantages virtual bookies have over their land-based counterparts.
While you are on the lookout for the virtual bookie that best suits your demands, there are certain things you should pay special attention to. Punters should be careful not to overlook some important features each web-based bookie should have as this may cause them troubles later. That is why bettors are also advised to be really careful if they have decided to open an account in a betting site that was introduced recently due to the fact that sometimes, you may be misled by the special offers such bookies provide and omit some of the other important features they need to possess.
Punters should know that there are certain features they should look for prior to opening an account in any UK-friendly bookie. One of the first things you need to check is whether the sportsbook you have chosen is legitimate. This means that you need to check whether the sportsbook owns a valid license issued by the relative independent gambling authorities.
In addition to this, bettors should also look for bookies where their security is guaranteed. This is of paramount importance simply because in most cases, you will be required to provide some personal and banking information in order to wager. It is only natural to look for web-based bookies where you can place your bets with the peace of mind that your sensitive information is protected and that no third parties can get access to it. That is why we can advise you to look for sportsbooks that employ an encryption technology in order to ensure that their customers’ security is guaranteed.
Punters are also advised to search for virtual bookies for which diversity is important. By this, we mean that they should also pay attention to the sports that are on offer. Versatility is also crucial due to the fact that gamblers want to make sure that they will have the chance to place their bets exactly on the sport, the sporting event or the player they want. In addition to this, you should also check the betting options that are on offer. This is also vital due to the fact that this can affect significantly your gambling experience.
One more thing that makes a good bookie are the odds it offers. All punters, especially the more shrewd ones, tend to look for virtual sportsbooks that provide their customers with competitive odds which is normal due to the fact that they want to get the best possible value for their real-money bets.
Those of you who prefer wagering on sports are also advised to look for web-based bookies that cater their customers with various bonuses and promotions in order to retain them. It is important to find a sportsbook in which there is something for both newly-registered and regular customers. A large number of the betting sites provide their customers with bonuses when they open an account or when they top it up. You may also be offered a bonus when you reload your account with cash. In some cases, you may also be offered a bonus, depending on your activity.
Still, gamblers should bear in mind that they should acquaint themselves with the terms and the conditions prior to claiming a bonus. The reason for this is that usually, bonuses and promotional offers come with certain turnover requirements you need to comply with.
Most of the decent web-based sportsbooks give their customers the chance to choose between a wide array of payment solutions so that they could find the option that meets their demands and preferences. Gamblers are advised to stick to payment methods that give them the chance to transfer their funds quickly and easily.
Not less important than the other is the customer support. That is why it is advisable to search for virtual bookies that provide gamblers with 24/7 customer support so that you can contact the agents if you need assistance.
Major Sports to Bet on
Even though there is a mind-blowing number of betting sites available out there, we can say for sure that bookies based in the UK are definitely leaders. In fact, betting sites that are based in the UK provide their customers with a really wide array of sports to wager on which explains why they enjoy such a great popularity among punters.
As previously stated, variety is undoubtedly important for bettors due to the fact that each gambler has individual preferences as well as a different passion for sports. That is why a decent gambling operator will strive to satisfy the demands of its customers by providing them with a long list of sports to bet on so that they could find the option they consider most suitable for them.
As it turns out, the largest number of the punters prefer wagering on football, which is anything but surprising. If you go through the catalogues of the bookies be it UK-based or elsewhere, you will immediately notice that they cover numerous such events. In fact, a single football game comes with plenty of markets to bet on which explains why it is among the most preferred sports for wagering.
The second most popular sport for wagering in the UK is horse racing. This comes hardly as a surprise considering the fact that some of the major horse racing events take place namely in the UK. Just like football, the sport of the kings is also added to the lists of the sports that are on offer in most of the bookies.
A large number of the punters also prefer wagering on sports such as tennis, cricket, and rugby. There are also many UK betting sites that enable their customers to wager on sports that are popular in the USA such as baseball, basketball, and American football.
Making a Deposit at UK-friendly Betting Sites
After you have managed to find the betting site that meets all your criteria, you can proceed to open and fund your account. As a matter of fact, finding the best place to wager on sports is definitely a hard task, once you are done with this, things will become easier. Perhaps, one of the biggest concerns of inexperienced punters is their security, and more precisely, they are worried about their personal and banking information. In most cases, such concerns are groundless and they arise when gamblers do not fully understand the way virtual bookies work.
In order to open an account in the preferred bookie, you will have to follow several very simple steps. Most of the betting sites have provided a “register” or “join” link you need to follow. Occasionally, these links occupy a prominent position on the websites of the bookies. When you click on the link, you will be given a form you need to fill. Gamblers will need to provide the requested information such as name, address, their date of birth, and so on. There are also virtual bookies that send their customer an email containing a link they need to follow in order to activate their accounts. Then, you will need to type your login details that include your username as well as password. After you have completed the registration procedure, you are ready to make a deposit at the preferred web-based bookie.
In order to fund their accounts, enthusiasts who prefer wagering on sports should visit the “cashier” page. There, they will find a list of all the payment solutions supported by the particular virtual bookie. In most cases, UK-friendly betting sites give their customers the chance to choose between a wide array of payment solutions. One of the most common ways to top up your account is to use a credit or a debit card. A large number of the web-based bookies will give their customers the opportunity to make a deposit via cards of some of the most popular brands such as Maestro, Visa, Mastercard, and so on. I fact, this particular payment solution is widely accepted by UK-oriented bookies.
A large number of the punters also go for e-wallets that have managed to gain great popularity recently. These wallets are funded directly from your bank account, meaning that you can curb the transfers of funds easier. Such a great number of the gamblers prefer using e-wallets due to the fact that they simply need to provide the account number of their digital wallet in order to make a transaction. One of the biggest advantages of using this particular payment solution, however, remains that it provides gamblers with extremely high levels of security. Some of the most popular providers of such services are PayPal, Neteller, Skrill to mention just a few.
Paysafecard is also a payment method of choice for a great deal of the punters. This is a prepaid voucher that enables you to top up your account without using your bank account. Such prepaid vouchers can be purchased online or in a wide array of retailers.
Many punters also prefer using the services of a bank wire or bank transfers when they want to load funds into their accounts. In fact, this is one of the most common payment methods that can be found in a large number of the UK betting sites. Still, gamblers should bear in mind that sometimes, it takes more time for their funds to be transferred to their account via this particular payment solution.
Once you have chosen the preferred payment method, you will simply need to provide the required information and to type the amount you wish to deposit. It should be noted that gamblers need to comply with certain limits while making both deposits and withdrawals. The maximum and the minimum amounts punters can deposit depend both on the preferred payment method as well as on the bookmaker. That is why it is advised to check this beforehand. This information is readily available on the websites of the sportsbooks.
Apart from the limits concerning the minimum and the maximum amounts that can be deposited, bettors should also pay attention to the processing time of the chosen payment solution. In most cases, deposits are processed right away, whereas the time frames for the withdrawals may be slightly extended. In addition to this, gamblers should also check whether there are any fees associated with the chosen payment method.
Mobile Sports Betting
Gamblers who prefer wagering on sports are no longer required to go to a land-based bookie in order to place their stakes. What is more, they do not need to wait for the working day to end so that they could bet on the preferred sport or sporting event. The gambling industry is also moving towards mobile devices which is definitely good news for punters as they will not be confined to wagering only from the computers. Presently, gambling enthusiasts are enabled to place their bets from their portable devices, meaning that in practice, they can wager on their favourite sports whenever and wherever they want.
Most of the virtual bookies are targeting customers who own Android and iOS-run devices as they provide them with apps or enable them to wager via their portable device without downloading any additional software. Punters are given the opportunity to enjoy a one-of-a-kind gambling experience even when they are on the move which guarantees them that they will not miss any opportunity to place their bets and potentially win.
The websites of a large number of the bookies are fully optimised, meaning that you can access them directly via the portable device you are using. You will be provided with exactly the same opportunities you are given while betting on sports from your computer. You will have the chance to wager on the same variety of sports and markets from every location which definitely is an invaluable asset.
In addition to this, there are also web-based bookies that provide their customers with apps for their portable devices. This is also a great opportunity for punters who lead a busy life and do not have that much free time. Such apps guarantee that you will enjoy an extremely exhilarating gambling experience and that you will be provided with really high levels of convenience. Such apps also enable punter to keep track of all the sporting events that are taking place as well as to make real-money bets on their favourite sports, teams, or players from every location.
Punters’ Security
A large number of the punters are still not sure whether wagering on sports over the Internet is safe. Nevertheless, this is only natural due to the fact that both your sensitive information as well as your money are involved.
There are several things you can do in order to ensure that the virtual bookie you have chosen is reliable and dependable. In the first place, you are advised to go for virtual bookies that have valid licenses. This is vital as it will guarantee you that the bookie is legitimate. In fact, one of the first things you need to check are the licensing details of the relative sportsbook. By this, we mean not simply to check whether the bookie holds a license at all, but to check which is the gambling authority that has issued it. As far as UK betting sites are concerned, they need to possess a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission.
One more thing you are advised to do is to make a research of the history of the chosen betting site. This will help you learn more about the bookie and will provide you with a general idea of sportsbook through the experience of other gamblers. Perhaps, this is one of the best ways to get an impartial judgment about the preferred sportsbook.
FAQ
Many of you probably wonder whether sports betting is solely for experts. In fact, the answer to this question is no. You should not necessarily be an expert in order to wager on sports as long as you want to gamble for fun. Still, you will have higher chances to win if you expand your knowledge of all the specific aspects of sports betting.
If we have to be honest there is not a correct answer to this particular question simply because it all depends on your personal demands and preferences. If you are a real fan of football, for example, then, you are advised to wager on this particular sport simply because you are familiar with the teams and the players, meaning that you will higher chances of making right predictions.
As a matter of fact, it depends on your personal preferences. If you want to have the convenience to bet on the sports you wish whenever you want, then, the answer is yes. It is all up to decide which is the most suitable option for you.
There are numerous advantages of wagering on sports online. If we put aside the convenience, we should also mention that virtual bookies provide punters with better odds as well as with a greater variety of betting options. In addition to this, web-based bookies also offer numerous bonuses that will give you some extra value as well.
Betting on your favourite sport is safe, providing that the chosen bookie is dependable and trustworthy.
In practice, gamblers are enabled to use the services of as many betting sites as they wish. It is worth noting that punters should have accounts in at least two betting sites so that they could compare the odds, the bonuses they are offered, and so on.