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BETTING SITES & GAMBLING SITES, BOOKIES & SPORTSBOOK REVIEW

What makes these the best sports betting sites on the web, and why should I trust you?

Well, allow me to answer the second question first if you don’t mind. It is certainly a fair one. Nowadays it is harder than ever to gauge credibility on the internet, what with all the “fake news” and disinformation being sown into just about every corner of the web. And when it comes to choosing a sports betting site, you would be right to be a little cautious.

I mean, let’s face it, online betting sites, in general, do not exactly have what I would call a ‘stellar’ reputation on the whole. Unfortunately, some online sports betting sites have been less than honest with their customers. Hell, some have even turned out to be outright money-sucking scams, either by fixing matches or simply taking players’ bank info and shutting down shop. Finding a sports betting site that offers both a quality product and a trustworthy reputation in the industry is a much more difficult task than it should be.

That is precisely what inspired me to start BettingDude.com to begin with. As a longtime sports bettor myself, I simply grew tired of the seeming lack of accountability that exists in the world of online sports betting. Well, that and the fact that in my own research for the best betting site, I started to realize that there was no comprehensive list of sports betting site reviews that was intuitive, convenient, and user-friendly.

I mean, sure, there are other online sportsbook review sites out there. BettingDude.com is by no means extremely original in that regard. What makes my list of online sportsbooks reviews the best, though (if I may toot my own horn for a moment), boils down to two main factors…

First, this is the only site that offers a convenient and easy means of browsing only the best sports betting sites. Thanks to an extremely user-friendly and intuitive layout and interface, it has never been easier for sports betting customers to quickly browse all of the sports betting sites that are worth knowing about. I don’t bother wasting my time (or yours) by even including sports betting sites that are subpar, untrustworthy, or poorly put together. Even if you don’t read the reviews, my list of the best sports betting sites can be used as a super helpful resource (much more streamlined than trying to Google “best sports betting sites,” for instance) for discovering new, high-quality online sportsbooks.

Second, as I was conducting my research — reading various reviews from some of the most ‘reputable’ reviewers of online sportsbooks — I began to notice a pattern: a solid, well-written online sports betting review is hard to come by. Many of them were little more than glorified lists of attributes of betting sites, basically just pros and cons. I searched high and low, but I struggled to find reviews that were comprehensive, thoughtful, honest, and written well. Surely, I thought, this couldn’t be too difficult to pull off. So, why not do it myself? Thus, Betting Dude’s list of the best online sportsbooks was born.

As a fellow sports bettor, this list of the best online sports betting sites is exactly the tool that I always wished existed. I full-heartedly believe that the more honest and quality content that there is out there to hold betting sites accountable, as well as to provide online sports bettors with better resources for making better-informed decisions, the overall quality of online sportsbooks as a whole will increase.

A well-informed and fastidious customer is the most effective way to ensure a higher-quality product. If we collectively push sportsbook providers to raise the bar, trust me, they will. At the end of the day, they are competing for our business … so, let’s turn up the level of competition, shall we? When sportsbooks are improved, we all win (even though we won’t win every bet we place).

Okay, that’s nice and all, but, seriously, what makes these the best sports betting sites on the web??

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the first half of your question. I was getting there. Now that you (hopefully) trust my evaluation of the best online sports betting sites, I can tell you a little bit about how I came to this final list of the best 50-ish. Every site that I critique gets evaluated on how it performs in 4 basic categories. History and reputation, design, content and features, and mobile experience. These, of course, are not the only 4 things that I discuss in my reviews, but they are, as far as I’m concerned, the most essential aspects involved in finding the best betting sites.

History and company reputation

This is usually the first thing that I look into when I am vetting a betting site. This is because, well, frankly, none of the other criteria matter much if it turns out that the sports betting site in question is fraudulent or has a history of mistreating or ripping off its customers. Therefore — where the company comes from, how long it has been in business, whether it has been in the center of any notable scandals, how people generally feel about it, whether it has an exceptionally high number of customer service complaints, where the company looks to be going in the near future, etc. — these are all incredibly important bits of information. This is the stuff that will dictate whether you even bother reading on, so I like to get them out of the way first (again, I am not in the business of wasting anyone’s time).

Site design and interface

Although this may not be quite as important as company reputation, the design of a sports betting site, I would argue, comes in as a close second (tied, probably, with content and features). So, naturally, when I am evaluating sports betting sites, the second area that I explore is the interface, layout, and design of the site itself. I don’t care how versatile and competitive your online sportsbook is, if it is displayed sloppily or the site is unnecessarily difficult to navigate (or, god forbid, buggy), I will happily continue my search for the best online sportsbook, thank you.

Now, just to be clear, when I speak of site design, I am not just talking about whether the betting site happens to look cool or not. Does this matter? Sure … everyone likes a good aesthetic, right? Is it the most important element of site design? Not so much. In my opinion, a betting site’s aesthetic (color scheme, logo, brand image, etc.) always plays second string to the user experience that the site provides. This is especially important, I feel, when it comes to betting on sports. Online sportsbooks are pretty hard to do well. But a well-designed, legibly laid-out sports betting website really does make all the difference.

Maybe you have seen some of the more shoddily put together online sportsbooks of which I speak. You know the type: they are cluttered, chaotic, hard to navigate, confusing, and borderline illegible. I get that it is not easy to take something as intrinsically data-heavy as online sportsbooks are and make them look clean, neat, and user-friendly … but, the best sites have no interest in taking the easy route.

The best sites for online sports betting are willing to go that extra mile to provide their customers with the best sportsbook and sports betting experience they possibly can. And a major part of that is putting in the time, effort, and money necessary to create an intuitive, user-friendly online sportsbook that streamlines the process of browsing categories, placing bets, and managing bet slips.

The online sports betting site should, if nothing else, offer the best sportsbook possible. If I am not instinctively fluent in a site’s sportsbook the moment that I visit, I don’t want anything to do with it. Betting on sports online should be easy, fun, and instantaneous. My online sportsbook of choice needs to reflect that with its site design.

Content and features

Equally important to how well a sportsbook is designed are the features that sports betting sites have to offer. However, I will say that this is the category where things begin to become a little more subjective. The best betting site for you, in other words, might be comprised of a completely different set of features than what I naturally would look for.

There are several different types of sports betting sites. Not every type is right for every person. That being said, when looking for the best site, it is going to be up to you to figure out what features you value, and then (from my reviews) choose the betting site that most closely fits the bill.

Bet by betting type

For example … I am not a huge fan of mutual sports betting. Nothing against it (or online sports bettors who like to bet this way), I totally understand the appeal of mutual betting online; it’s just not my personal preference. However, if you are a mutual sports bettor, you can quickly find sites that offer that type of online betting by jumping to the content and features section of my online sportsbook reviews. There are many ways to bet online. I’m not here to tell you that one way is better than another; I’m just here to give you a thorough, in-depth look at what all of the best sites have to offer.

Similarly, some sports betting sites enable customers to bet on sports with cryptocurrency and some do not. If you are one of the millions of people around the world who likes to bet with bitcoin, then, a crypto friendliness is a feature that you will probably want to look for. This, I have found, turns out to be especially important for players wishing to place bets in the United States. Due to the rigid anti-internet gambling laws of the United States, US bets can be rather tricky to place. Or, more accurately, finding a site that accepts bets from United States residents can be hard.

Since the anti-betting US legislation is so harsh, a great deal of sports betting sites have chosen, understandably, to simply take their losses and avoid the US market altogether. Bitcoin (and other forms of crypto), however, have opened a relatively new portal between online sportsbook providers and American bettors.

Due to bitcoin’s encrypted, untraceable, and anonymous nature, both sports betting sites and US sports bettors alike are able to bet safely and securely — neither party needs to fear Johnny Law coming and knocking down their door. If you live in a country that, like the US, firmly discourages sports betting (online or otherwise), finding a crypto-friendly sportsbook is probably at the top of your to-do list.

A few required features

Regardless of the nature of the sports betting sites that may or may not work best for you, one thing remains true for all of us: a sizeable sportsbook is a must-have. In order to even be considered for my list of the top sports betting sites, your sportsbook has to be jampacked with action. I’m talking a sprawling list of categories to choose from (as well as a diverse range of international leagues); I’m talking an active, heavily populated, highly competitive selection of markets to choose from.

First of all, the best online sports betting sites provide a huge selection of markets pertaining to all of the major sports, of course. I expect to find tons of action on all of the NBA games, MLB, NHL, NFL, FIFA, etc. But I also look for a sportsbook that lets me bet on the more obscure sports and leagues as well — such as Asian handicaps, darts, snooker, surfing, and so on. Oh, and if your online sportsbook has a few novelty markets, too, all the better. I love being able to bet on things like politics and entertainment when my favorite sports are not in season.

Another thing that I am not very flexible with is whether sports betting sites have live betting capabilities or not. Furthermore, how good are they? There is an enormous spectrum in terms of quality and ease of being able to place live bets. Some sites, for instance, have no live betting features whatsoever; others offer live streams of sporting events that make in-play bets easier than ever to place. The best online betting sites, as far as I’m concerned, will offer some form of in-play betting — and the top-tier betting sites offer high-quality streams of live games.

Mobile experience

It is 2020, people … If there are any sports betting sites out there that do not offer some sort of a mobile-friendly sportsbook, they are not worth my time. Although I always prefer an online betting app, if you have a mobile site that is well-optimized enough to provide an immersive and intuitive online betting experience from my smartphone browser, I’ll usually let it slide. That being said, if your platform does not have an app, it better be a freakin’ incredible online betting mobile site — like, good enough for me not to care that you don’t have an app.

Mobile sports betting is no longer the future. Most of us do everything on our phones. There is no reason why online betting should be an exception. The best online betting sites put you in full control over your bets. You should be able to bet when you want, where you want. You should be able to track, withdraw, edit, or cash in your bets whether you are chilling at home or driving to work.

Betting Dude, be honest, of all the betting sites on this list, which one is the best?

I wish it were as easy as saying, ‘let’s be real. X site is, without a doubt, far better than any of the other sports betting sites on this list,’ but that is just not the case. Like I said before, more than anything else, it is really just a matter of perusing this list of betting sites and finding the one that comes closest to providing the sports betting platform that works best for you! Although there are a few features that we all are going to want in a sportsbook, I don’t know you or how you like to bet; therefore, I cannot simply say that any one site is going to be better than the rest.

The best advice that I can give you is to do your homework. Read as many of my reviews as possible, get a feel for how each site works and what they offer, and then figure out which sites come closest to letting you bet on sports the way that you prefer. There are, however, a few more general things to look for as you weigh your options of online betting sites.

Do not underestimate, for instance, the value of the bonus. Many sports betting sites will entice new customers with a welcome bonus of some sort. Sometimes that welcome bonus can be rather generous. You may find a site that makes betting on sports easy while also offering a welcome bonus to new customers in the form of a no-risk first bet. This can be an awesome way to make the most of your initial deposit, as well as get a hang of how a given online betting site works. Other betting sites may offer a bonus deal in which they are willing to match your first deposit, instantly doubling the amount that you have to play with.

Although I would not personally choose my sports betting sites of choice based entirely on the wow-factor of its sign-up bonus, it is definitely a way that some sports betting sites differentiate themselves from the competition. Hey, free money is free money, right? Who doesn’t like a risk-free bet?

The sign-up bonus is not the only sort of bonus, though, that sports betting sites will make available. Sure, a nice welcome bonus is cool and all, but what of ongoing promos and bonus opportunities? Betting on sports is, in part, about figuring out how to strategically make the most of every dollar. So, finding sports betting sites that offer free money and lucrative bonus opportunities is yet another way to make sure you bet smart.

There is one other area that seems to not get highlighted nearly as often as it should, and that is customer service. You never know when you might run into an error on a sports betting website. You could be placing a bet at 3:00 in the morning and encounter a pesky technical bug with the site. You could find out that something went wrong with your withdrawal on a Saturday evening. Should you have to wait until Monday morning to be able to get to the bottom of this problem?

Absolutely not. The best betting sites offer some form of customer service that is available (ideally) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If not in the form of a 24-hour hotline that you can call and speak directly with someone about the issue, then there should at least be a 24/7 customer service live chat feature on which you can chat with a customer support representative.

In my opinion, 24/7 customer support is not something that a site gets bonus points for … it is a feature that all sports betting sites should provide as a baseline. After all, some of us are flooding these online betting sites with hundreds and thousands of dollars — there is no reason why we should be left in the dark for any period of time on matters that concern our own hard-earned money.

Now that I know everything there is to look for in sports betting sites, can you tell me how to bet on sports?

I would be happy to fill you in on how to bet on sports. The way that I see it, there are the most basic elements concerning the actual process behind placing a bet n your favorite sports, and then there is figuring out how to bet on sports, strategically. Let’s take these 2 topics one at a time, shall we?

How to bet on sports 101

This is the easy part. First, you browse my list of the best betting sites that the internet has to offer. Check. Once you figure out which site is right for you, you’ll register for it. Piece of cake, right? Some sites may have more drawn-out registration processes than others, but most will require at least a bit of waiting (as they may have to verify your identity, bank info, etc.). Next, you make a deposit of whatever you feel comfortable with. And, voila, that’s it, more or less. Now you’re ready to place bets!

Finally, head on over to the site’s sportsbook and check out all of the available bets. Find a category that you’re into, browse all of the available bets, click on the one that you like, and it should automatically appear in your bet slip. This is where you can tweak your bet, amount, bet type, etc. before you officially lock it in and place your bet. Once you customize the bet to your liking, just place the bet (or bets) and cross your fingers.

Figuring this part out, I think, will come more instinctively than it may seem at first. Especially if you have chosen your sportsbook from my list of the top betting sites — they will all make placing bets online intuitive and user-friendly. That being said, I strongly (strongly) encourage all novice sports bettors (and anyone who may be new to online gambling in general) to read up on how to bet strategically.

How to place strategic sports bets

There are plenty of resources online that will run you through all of the ins and outs of how to intelligently bet online. Before you make your first bet, you should definitely familiarize yourself with as much of the math, lingo, and knowledge that goes into making a smart sports bet. After all, even if you have found the greatest online betting site known to man, you’ll still wind up broke if you bet foolheartedly or without fully understanding what your bet means.

If you are new to the world of betting on sports online, worry not, I got you covered. In addition to my list of the top sports betting sites found here, I also have a list of the most helpful online betting resources, too. Before you place your first bet, please do consider checking those resources out. Online gambling is, without a doubt, a lot of fun. It can also be very lucrative if you know what you’re doing. However, if you simply bet blind and without doing your homework, it can be dangerous. Bet wisely, though, and you’ll have a great time. And, who knows, maybe you’ll even win big.

Alright, let’s go!

Remember, online gambling can be tons of fun, but it can also be dangerous. That is why it is so important to make sure that you go in prepared. If you use this site as a constant resource, you will have the most success in placing your sports bets. All it takes is a little bit of time reading through my reviews of the sites that you are interested in, figuring out which one is the perfect online betting site for you, registering, and making your first deposit.

It may seem overwhelming at first, to see 50+ top-tier sports betting sites here. But don’t allow it to stress you out. Every single one of these sites is awesome. Each offers high-quality site design, plenty of sports to bet on, competitive odds, an excellent mobile experience, and trustworthy reputations. You could easily choose any of these sites at random and find an enjoyable and top-tier sportsbook. All you have to do is figure out which site offers the experience that best fits your interests and bettings tyles.

Then, once you have found your site of choice, feel free to come back to BettingDude.com to check out all of the listed sites of betting resources, tips, and strategies. This is going to be the most important for new bettors, but even the most experienced players among us can benefit from a refresher now and then. Plus, let’s face it, there is no such thing as knowing everything that there is to know about sports betting.

Especially since all of the variables are constantly in flux — not only season to season but game to game as well. If a valuable player gets injured, for instance, the whole league in question is going to be affected in one way or another. The most strategic bettors are those that make sure that they remain as knowledgeable about betting and sports as possible at all times.

At any rate, I hope that you find this list of sports betting sites as useful and helpful as I hope it will be. Have fun, sports fans … now let’s go win some money!