Online sports betting has been on the rise for several years now and its popularity will keep on growing. Many new bettors join in on this gaming practice to try and win some funds by testing their skills and knowledge. But, we must also mention that finding a legit sportsbook is a tough job for most bettors.
This is the case as there are many scam sites online that mean you are no good. Because of this major issue, we’ve decided to reveal the information that you need to know when looking for a safe sportsbook.
Features of a Safe and Secure Sportsbook
The best way to teach you how to find the most secure betting platforms is to show you which features to look for. That way you can analyze the sports betting sites yourself without the need for any assistance. Below we will reveal and describe the most important features of the trusted bookmakers.
Licensing Information
We begin with the licensing information, as that is the most important thing in every sports betting site. Without it, the sportsbook is not able to offer its services and conduct payments legally on its gaming platform. Look for reputable regulators such as:
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen)
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC)
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)
- Malta Gambling Authority (MGA)
Every single one of these regulators makes sure that the operator is following their strict rules. Sportsbooks must also keep up with the latest industry standards in order to maintain such gaming licenses. Among the most important ones is the security technology that the platform must feature.
You can find the betting site’s licensing information at the bottom of the site or in the site’s terms and conditions section. If you cannot find such details on the platform then you must immediately leave the site.
Now you know that betting online in a safe way means wagering only at licensed and regulated sportsbooks. All other gaming sites will try to scam you and steal your money and personal information.
Security Measures
Another key factor that every sports betting site must feature is a safe and secure online gaming platform. To do that the operator must utilize the latest 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology.
This highly sophisticated technology encrypts all data that you reveal on the platform. With that, it keeps your personal and banking information out of the hands of unwanted third parties.
To check this out, you must look at the site’s URL. If it starts with https then it means it uses an SSL encryption. On the other hand, if the site begins with http that means it lacks such a technology. Just remember that the “s” in the URL stands for secure.
Modern browsers will feature a lock symbol before the URL, which indicates that it is secure. If a red line crosses this lock symbol, then you should leave the site as it isn’t secure.
Checking these features is crucial, as some sports betting sites won’t reveal such security information on their platform.
The Sportsbook’s Reputation
Another factor that indicates that an online sportsbook is safe is its reputation. If the platform that you are checking out is well-known in the industry that means that it is a legit site. The longer a sports betting platform is operating on the market the better.
Examine whether the bookmaker has won awards in the past. This adds to its reputation and is a great indicator of a good betting site.
Some of them will even acquire celebrities and sports teams to promote their site. You can even find them as sponsors on certain sporting events, or as shirt sponsors on certain teams. All of this adds to the overall reputation and is a serious indicator for a legit sportsbook.
Software Providers
Finding out which software providers collaborate with the sportsbook is the final feature that you need to check. The reason behind this is that reputable software providers tend to work only with trusted sports betting operators.
Some of the best betting software providers on the market are BetRadar, BetConstruct, Pinnacle, SBTech, and Digitain. All of these companies have major experience in the industry and are very careful who they work with.
They also feature valid licenses issued by some of the best regulators that we mentioned earlier. You may need to dig a little deeper as some sportsbooks tend to hide their software providers. Check the terms and conditions at the bottom of the page.
Sports fanatic. With over 10 years in the industry, Graywolf brings his wealth of experience to help you understand the world of sports so you can make better decisions
