It’s fair to say that the Internet has completely revolutionized the way we bet online. The best online bookmakers in 2021 have more bets than average bettors could really handle. They have surpassed betting shops in every possible way. From the efficient layout and design of bookmaker’s websites to the fantastic deals and offers, sportsbooks online are the real deal.
Bookies these days use all the technological developments to their benefit. The betting industry is evolving as we speak. With new markets and bet types and mobile betting in the mix, it’s easier to place a bet nowadays than ever. The odds are great too, so it’s getting harder and harder to avoid online betting sites.
That, however, is both a blessing and a curse for bettors. On one hand, the variety is great, but on the other, it’s hard to single out a great bookie. Some are fantastic, others are worse than a shady betting shop in an alley. That’s why we’re here. Our casino reviews and comparison of betting sites will lay out all the options in front of you so you can make a choice with ease.
Online bookmakers have the same idea as betting shops, but they’re the natural evolution. Since they are hosted online, there are no major money spent on rent, employees, and other expenses. This means that online betting sites are cheaper to run, which also has an effect on the odds. To put it simply, betting shops don’t come close to odds you’ll find at the top rated bookmakers online.
You can get odds at online betting sites on all the sports events you can think of. That goes for both pre-match and live events. Gamblers can enjoy a variety of hundreds of markets that go well above and beyond you’ve ever imagined. The top 10 online bookmakers such as Betfred or William Hill have exciting new markets that are constantly updated to keep punters satisfied. Paired with great odds, of course.
Online bookmakers also have a bunch of promotions in place that will help you try new markets without breaking the bank. If you want to bet on sports in 2021, it’s best to do it online.
Why Choose Online-Bookmakers.com?
That’s the million-dollar question. Why choose our site when there are other reviews online? What do we have to offer over the competition? It’s easy – our reviewers never post sponsored reviews and promise an unbiased and in-depth look into the best sports bookies on the market right now. We strive to help novice punters find their footing online and choose the absolute best bookies.
How We Rate Bookmakers
Our experts use several criteria to rank betting sites on our list. They don’t just write reviews off the top of their minds. The process involves a lot of aspects that a bookie must satisfy before it can make it to our list.
You see, not all bookies are the same. In order to cover all the basics, our experts take an in-depth look into every nook and cranny of our recommended bookies to give you a clear overview of what you can expect.
Online-bookmakers.com will never lie to you. We want our readers to enjoy the best possible online betting experience. Our reviews are transparent and always on-point. We don’t just rank any bookie – we only review the top online bookies. Our qualifying criteria mean that not any bookmaker can make it on our list. As a matter of fact, very few do since we only rate the ones with best odds, markets, bonuses, and user-friendly sites.
What Should You Look for in the Best Online Bookies?
As mentioned, there are plenty of criteria a betting site must satisfy in order for a punter to join it. We cover them all when we review sportsbooks and will walk you through the detailed process below.
Trustworthy & License
The first thing we check when reviewing sports bookies is the license. It’s the single most important factor for a bookie to appear on our list. In 2021, it’s getting very hard to filter out the rogue betting sites from the industry. Everyone’s doing their best, but there are too many of them.
Thanks to our reviewers, you can rest assured that all the bookies on our list are fully licensed and legit. You don’t have to worry about the legality of your bets if you join our recommended sites.
Sports Variety
Sure, the license is very important, but what would a betting site be without a great variety of sports? The best online bookmakers in the business usually have at least 30 sports on their list. A good bookie will cover the majors such as football, tennis, and basketball, and offer odds on up-and-coming markets such as Esports.
Not all bookies have odds on specials such as TV/music award shows or politics. Since these markets come with great odds, it would be wise to choose a bookmaker that has them all. The more the merrier.
Range of Markets
The range of markets is equally important. A legal betting site will have a maximum number of markets for each sport. Football, for example, should be aptly covered with hundreds of markets. It’s great to have that many options since you don’t want to stick to 1x2 betting all the time.
Odds
The top bookies in sports betting should have industry-leading odds. With that many bookmakers available online, it’s a great idea to shop for odds. You will see this regardless of the marketing campaigns, not all of them have great odds. Of course, you should choose the one that promises the best returns.
It’s not only the odds that are important, but if they’re bad, the number of markets and range of sports won’t matter.
Live In-Play Betting
Pre-match betting may be most common, but if you ask punters, live betting is more exciting. The top sports betting sites all have live betting platforms. For those unaware, these allow you to place bets on live matches. The fact that you’re betting in play opens up a world of possibilities and unique markets you can’t get elsewhere.
A good in-play betting platform will at least offer enhanced stats that are updated every minute. Top rated bookmakers might also offer live streaming that allows you to watch the matches you bet on. This will help you make more informed decisions which will lead to better chances of winning. Live betting is one of the major ranking factors in our reviews. We believe that a bookie can’t be on the top if it doesn’t offer such a platform.
Live Streaming
Live betting and streaming should go hand in hand, but unfortunately, you won’t find live streams on every betting site. The reason for that is that the technology and streams themselves are expensive. Even when a bookmaker has live streaming, it will only be available on selected events.
Live streams are available to registered customers only. Punters can usually watch football and tennis matches as well as horse racing streams. Watching the matches you bet on is much better than following live stats since it will give you a clear look at the chances of both teams.
Customer Support
Good customer support is essential when you bet online. New players are likely to have more than a few questions, and bookies must satisfy their curiosity with an apt response. Don’t underestimate the importance of the customer service. Without it, the bookie of your choosing loses important points.
Most bookmakers in 2021 will offer several support channels including email and live chat. A FAQ page is required too. This is where you get answers to important questions such as how to add cash to your account and more, qualifying terms for bonus offers, and what the lowest deposit amount is.
Good Reviews
If you want to find the best sports bookies online, you’ll have to take their reputation into account. There are plenty of bookmaker review sites where you can read what experts think. Better yet, you can learn what punters think too in the comments section so you know what to expect of that particular bookie when you join the site.
Site design and navigation
The site design and layout is also important. What good is a bookie with great odds and large number of markets if you don’t know where the Sign Up button is? The best online bookmakers will have user-friendly websites that are easy to navigate regardless of the device.
Friendly Terms and Conditions
When it comes to bonuses and deals, you should read the fine print (terms and conditions). Top rated sportsbooks will have friendly terms without restrictions that will make it hard to get your winnings. That’s one of the signs of bad bookmakers on the market who are only looking to prey upon new ‘victims’.
Useful Apps & Mobile Site
While not all betting sites will have a dedicated app, they should have a user-friendly mobile site. Apps might be better, but mobile websites should make it easy for you to bet on the go.
Payments
One of the most important, yet overlooked factor on bookmakers websites is undoubtedly the payment process. A good bookmaker will cover all bases in regards to payments and allow you to deposit and withdraw with ease. All transactions should also be free of hidden charges.
The recommended methods include credit and debit cards and e-wallets. Depositing money is usually done in minutes, while withdrawals can be slower. What’s important is that the bookie offers plenty of payment options paired with fast payout speed.
Things to Consider for New Bookmakers
Besides well-known names in the industry, there is a surprising number of new bookmakers coming up. These bookie hopefuls are a great idea for new punters as they’re more likely to try harder than others to appeal to new punters. Of course, that alone doesn’t make them good. Sometimes, trying too hard has the opposite effect.
The good news is that below we have a bunch of criteria that can make or break a new betting site.
Reliable Website
When searching for a new online bookie to join, make sure it’s got a reliable website. This means user-friendly navigation and design. If the design tries too hard to be modern, unfortunately it could be a mess.
Betting Offers
The top new bookies in sports betting should have the best betting offers. This means better deals than well-known sites which should likely appeal to new punters and get the attention of the old ones.
Regulation & Licensing
Of course, every new bookmaker that you plan to join should be properly licensed and registered. Without a license, no bookies can be called good.
Customer Service
When we review new bookmakers, we make sure their customer service is great. They might have features and functions that need explaining, and this means appropriate customer support.
Payments Options
New online betting sites should accept a wide range of payment methods and plenty of currencies as well. The best new sportsbooks on our list offer familiar options and fresh payment methods such as cryptocurrencies.
Understanding Bookies
Before you go and join a betting site, you have to understand how online bookmakers work. If this is your first time with online sports betting, we will walk you through it all. Think of it as our sports betting guide for dummies. We’ll cover the most important aspects below so you learn how bookies work and how to choose one.
While famous bookies are an obvious choice, they are not always the best one. We’ll give you more options and the best bookies in 2021 by our ranking.
Online Bookmakers & Odds
What you first need to understand about online bookmakers are the odds. Unlike the betting shops, online odds tend to be better. There’s a huge difference between running betting shops and online betting sites. Online betting sites are cheaper to run, although the cost depends on the cutting-edge tech they use.
The higher odds are one of the reasons why punters prefer betting online. The money returned to you will be much higher than what you might get in a shop. Online betting is the future and it’s already here, so there’s no point avoiding it anymore.
Online Bookmakers Offers
Another major thing that goes in the favor of online betting sites is the opportunity to use the offers. Betting shops may offer enhanced odds, but online betting sites have bookmaker deals and promotions you can’t get anywhere else. From welcome bonuses and free bets to sport-specific promos, there’s a lot of extra cash to be earned at online betting sites.
Just make sure to cover the lowest qualifying deposit before you claim an offer. Always read the terms and you’ll get loads of extra cash to play with.
Gambling Regulation
As mentioned earlier, the license is most likely the most important factor when choosing a betting site online. The best ones on our list have a license by the UK Gambling Commission. It is widely considered to be the top regulatory body in regards to online gambling and is the most trusted one.
A betting site may also have a Curacao or a Malta Gaming Authority license. There are also local governing bodies in almost every country in the world that can additionally grant a license to a betting site for that particular jurisdiction.
Independent Bookmakers
Current regulatory restrictions, especially in the UK, have given birth to a whole new type of betting sites – independent bookmakers. These are usually licensed by the government of Curacao and attract quite the interest in 2021.
These sites offer plenty of benefits and are fully legit. They do lack the sanction of major governing bodies such as the UKGC, though, and that might be a concern for some punters.
Safe Gambling
One of the often-overlooked factors at online betting sites is definitely the security and safety. A proper new bookmaker should strive for safe gambling. That would be ensured with a proper license first. The other important features are SSL encryption, safe and secure payment methods, and advanced security measures that will keep you safe while betting.
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