What should I know about online sports betting? Henrietta Wilkinson, November 24, 2022January 26, 2023 If you are one of those sports betting fans who have not yet started betting online, there are a few things you should know before you start. Online sports betting strategy makes you think it’s easy to get started, and most of the time it is. But before you get involved, take a few minutes to learn what to do and what to avoid: 1 – Online sports betting is not legal in all jurisdictions Gambling laws, rules and regulations vary from country to country and seem to change on a daily basis. Basically, online sports betting is legal in some places, illegal in others and a grey area in others. Most people fall into a category called the grey area. If you live in an area where there is no clear law to determine whether it is legal or illegal, you would have to use common sense to figure out if it is legal. 2 – Online sports betting books are not the same It may be tempting to simply sign up at the first online sportsbook you find, but they are not all the same. Some are more reliable than others. Some offer better odds than others. Some may allow you to place bets, while others may not. You can find an online sports betting site that will accept your bets from almost anywhere in the world, but not all of them work in all jurisdictions. Do a little research to find out where to use betting bonuses in your area, how long they run, how their lines and odds compare to other sportsbooks, and find out what bonuses are available. 3 – Understand the betting line representation before placing bets This may seem obvious, but always make sure you understand the betting lines before you place your bets. Not all online sports betting sites display betting lines in the same way, so it can be confusing until you get used to how the lines are displayed at each place you place your bets. 4 – Just because you can deposit doesn’t mean you can withdraw Online sports betting operators have to figure out how people from anywhere in the world can deposit money to bet on sports competitions. They have entire departments that deal with this on a regular basis – if punters can’t deposit, the sports betting company can’t make money. Good sports betting companies also ensure that players who have won can withdraw their winnings. Once you have found some sports betting shops, have a quick look at the payout options where you live. If you don’t see a suitable method or are unsure, contact the support department. They can tell you how other players in your area receive withdrawal requests. 5 – These bonuses are not free Most online sportsbooks offer a bonus to first-time depositors to encourage them to deposit and start betting. You might get a free bet or a deposit match. Deposit bonuses are usually 50% or 100% of your deposit up to a certain dollar amount. Here’s an example: You can get 50% up to $500.So if you deposit $1,000, you get an extra $500. All bonuses have certain requirements that must be met before you can cash out. Most of these requirements are linked to a certain stake amount. The main thing you need to do is read all the terms and conditions or make a deposit. 6 – If you win too often, your action may be rejected Sports betting operators really don’t want you to win too often. They really want bettors to win about 50% of the time so that they can collect the winnings from everyone half the time. If you start winning too much, you may be asked to stop betting. This will not happen if the betting limits are lower. However, if you consistently win at higher stakes, this is a possibility. If you are asked to stop betting, the best option is to find another sports betting operator. It is not worth the hassle and risk of trying to circumvent the ban. If the sportsbook finds out that you have tried to open another account or bet through another person, you could lose your deposit. Sportsbooking