Bookmakers Reviews
It’s here, in the bookmakers reviews section, where we get our say on the best and worst bookmakers the web has to offer (just scroll down to see how bad it gets).
Each bookmaker has been given a star rating which represents the quality of service on offer, their reputation, whether they pay out on winning bets and what kind of bonuses and promotions are on offer.
BETTING REVIEW RATINGS EXPLAINED
The following is an explanation of the star ratings we use for our bookmaker reviews:
– The best of the best – any site which gets a 5 star rating really is the cream of the crop.
– Any online bookmaker with a 4.5 star score is a top quality place to bet online but isn’t quite as good as the absolute best online bookies.
– The 4 star grade is applied to quality online bookmakers who’ve just got a couple of small issues with their site or reputation.
– Good sites which pose little if any risk to player funds and have a solid reputation but lack the features to be rated higher.
– Decent for placing online wagers but often lacking in features, promotions and bonuses.
– Again OK sites but completely lacking in features promotions and bonuses.
Sites which have a good reputation but have been known to mess around with player funds in the past and cut off winning punters quickly.
(or below) Total scam sites which should never be used ever, avoid at all costs.
Online bookmakers which aren’t listed above – whilst every effort is made to keep the list above up to date obviously I can’t list every single gambling site in creation. If you’ve come across a site which isn’t on the list then my advice is to avoid it. All the top rated online bookmakers are included in the list and anything that’s worth a B rating or higher is already on there.
There’s little reason to bet with anyone who doesn’t have an A or at least a B rating so if the bookie you are thinking of joining isn’t listed it’s a good idea to give it a miss.
Note: If you think there is a mistake with the online betting reviews list above or want me to add a site to the list based on your own personal experience then don’t hesitate to drop an email.
WHAT DOES A GOOD BOOKMAKER OFFER
Our bookmaker reviews are designed to give you the information that you need to choose the best betting site for your needs. So what do we look for and what qualities should a good bookmaker offer? Here are some of the most important factors to look out for.
WELCOME BONUS
The welcome bonus is often the first thing that you see when you visit a new bookmaker’s home page and it is one of the key elements in attracting new customers to a site. A good welcome bonus will offer a substantial boost to your betting with a site, but it will also have transparent and fair terms and conditions, with minimal or zero wagering requirements and other restrictions that are punter-friendly.
EXISTING CUSTOMER PROMOTIONS
A bookmaker that only focuses on new customers and doesn’t offer much for regular punters will not score highly in our ratings. The best bookmakers provide ongoing promotions for those who show loyalty to the site. These can be in the form of long-term promotions, such as a VIP or Loyalty program, ACCA insurance, and Best Odds Guaranteed deals, or short-term offers, relating to specific events and markets.
MULTIPLE PAYMENT METHODS
There is an ever-growing range of banking options available to consumers and bookmakers have to keep up with these developments. In addition to the standard card and bank transfer payment offers, the best bookmaker sites will provide a variety of other methods, including e-wallet, prepaid cards and even cryptocurrency, where appropriate, so that as many customers as possible can bet using their preferred deposit and withdrawal method.
QUICK PAYOUTS
Bookmakers that are slow to payout are regularly highlighted by punters and this is one of those areas of the gambling sector that can be extremely frustrating. The speed of individual banking methods is not within the bookmaker’s control, but the speed and accuracy with which withdrawals are processed definitely is. Avoid bookmakers with a reputation for slow payouts, and those that attach significant restrictions or fees to withdrawals.
SECURITY AND VALID LICENSE
No matter what sport you like to bet on, it is important to be able to bet on the markets that you are interested in. This is particularly important if you want to bet on relatively low profile sports or markets other than Match Winner or Tournament Winner. The best bookmakers provide a huge choice of sports events and the depth of market to meet everyone’s needs.
EXTENSIVE MARKETS
Bookmakers that are slow to payout are regularly highlighted by punters and this is one of those areas of the gambling sector that can be extremely frustrating. The speed of individual banking methods is not within the bookmaker’s control, but the speed and accuracy with which withdrawals are processed definitely is. Avoid bookmakers with a reputation for slow payouts, and those that attach significant restrictions or fees to withdrawals.
COMPETITIVE ODDS
As well as a wide choice of markets, the quality of the odds offered is also important. All punters should compare odds across a range of bookmakers to find the best price, but some sportsbook sites are consistently better at providing competitive odds on particular sports, and these are often the first sites to check out when you are planning a bet.
LIVE STREAMING
Live streaming is vital for in-play betting punters, but it can also be useful for punters who bet in the pre-event markets. Often it is possible to spot things while watching a live sports event that others have overlooked. Obtaining the rights to provide live streaming coverage is something that not all bookmakers can do, so look out for those that offer the most comprehensive streaming coverage.
IN-PLAY BETTING
Live betting is a dynamic and exciting form of sports betting that is a growing sector of the industry. The best sports betting sites provide a wide selection of live betting opportunities. This includes in-play markets for all major and most minor sports, and a host of betting options ranging from which team or player will win the next point to the overall match-winner.
BETTING STATISTICS
While not every bookmaker can offer live streaming, it is possible for most to provide statistics and visual aids, particularly for live games. These can provide detailed, quickly-updated data on live events, ranging from cumulative stats for such aspects as shots on target to visual representations of shots played in cricket and tennis matches. Bookmakers that offer the most advanced and detailed statistics can be more attractive than their rivals.
EFFICIENT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Good customer support is sometimes overlooked by punters choosing a new sports betting site, but it is an important part of the package. If something goes wrong or you have a query, it is important to be able to access fast and efficient customer support. The best sites will give you multiple channels of contact, with a 24/7 live chat support service being the most important.
FREE MOBILE APP
Although there is a trend for bookmakers to offer a mobile browser-friendly site rather than the familiar downloadable app, most sports betting sites still give customers the downloadable app option. If you like to do your mobile betting through an app, look out for the top-rated apps, which should be free, easy to use and provide access to all of a bookmaker’s markets and features.
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING SUPPORT AND FEATURES
The betting industry has rightly been under pressure to do more to protect customers from the risk of problem gambling and gambling addiction. Providing access to a variety of support services and tools, including Time Outs, Self-Exclusion and helplines is not only an important priority, it also indicates that a bookmaker takes their duty of care towards customers seriously.