In order to continually attract new players, it has become the norm for online bookmakers to advertise new bonus offers. However, this does not mean that players can sign up with a sports bookmaker just to cash out immediately and wander off with their initial deposit with a bonus as these bonuses are aimed at attracting new business and are designed to benefit both parties and as such, each bookmaker will employ their own set of requirements.
How to Determine a Good Betting Bonus
Value is an often-used term amongst the online sport betting community, but unfortunately is an equally often misunderstood concept. One cannot determine good value by the size of odds as it is a consideration of the odds size in relation to the size of bonus and the chance of achieving positive results.
Bettors often have the assumption that short priced favourites are unable to offer good value if odds are heavily in their favor; however, this is not essentially true, since if the odds are relative when compared to the likelihood of the favourite generating a win, then it possibly represents good value.
Wagering Requirements, simply put, are rollovers that are directly associated with the bonus received. It serves to highlight the value a player is required to place in wagers before their bonus becomes eligible for any form of withdrawal. Rollover requirements always come expressed as multiples, with requirements clearly stipulated in the bonus terms and conditions of each sportsbook website.
As an example: an online bookmaker offers £100 as a match bonus when depositing £100 into their account, its bonus T&C’s stipulate a 5X rollover of both the bonus and its deposit. This simply means that prior to a withdrawal request a withdrawal that a minimum of £1000 must be wagered.
Qualifying bets are an area that many fail to also understand. These require the bettor to place a wager with their own money equal or greater in value to the bonus they received at cumulative odds greater than or even to your own first wager. For example if you deposits £200 or more, they qualify for a £200 bonus to wager with. However, if the bettor then transacts a minimum qualifying deposit of £20 they then would qualify for £20 in bonus monies, and then within seven days deposit and additional amount of £180, the bettor still qualifies for the full £200 maximum.
Most bonus promotions are subject to an expiry date and as such need to ensure wagering requirements are met within the specified timeframe after the bonus allocation has been applied to the bettor’s player account. Any rollover requirement conditions not fully met within the specified time-period before the bonus offer expires will see winnings achieved from wagers forfeited and expired bonus monies deducted from the player account balance.
Sportsbook sites love players and players love bonuses. Some betting sites offer bonuses that are more generous than those offered by others, However, each one’s true benefit can only be determined when considering all the terms and conditions relevant to each bonus. Top sites offer bonuses that are generally not too demanding to clear; yet others will in offer massive bonuses that are subject to huge rollover requirements that are often not obtainable and essentially not worth considering.
Deposit and withdrawal transactions form an essential part of funding any sportsbook, and as such those sites should offer a substantial variety of banking options that provide the necessary options to fund their online player accounts as easily as possible. The top sports betting websites offer a range of banking options that supports just about any viable, popular online form of e-commerce transaction, including bank wire transfers, Skrill, Neteller, Moneybookers, Paysafecard, Ukash , and all major debit and credit cards to name just a few.
Different Bonus Offers
Bookmakers offer a large variety of bonuses that are different with the most commonly found bonuses being free bets, welcome bonuses, bookmaker bonuses, sports betting bonuses, deposit bonuses, and a multitude of others.
The intrinsic value of these are heavily affected by the terms and conditions attached to each individual bonus type as offered by the individual online sports bookmaker. These factors include wagering requirements, expiry dates to achieve wagering conditions, and to a lesser extent, the minimum deposit required.
A welcome bonus is the most common and range from 25% up to 100 or even 200%. This will see new players who register and deposit receiving an amount equal to the percentage being offered on their initial deposit. Welcome bonuses represent incredibly good value for money at no extra cost to the player and should be taken advantage, especially in the area of sports betting.
Enhanced Odds are generally known as Price Boosts. They illustrate one of the increasingly popular types of promotional offers amongst sports bookmakers. Essentially these are when a bookmaker offers a client better odds on a specific event than what the dictated market would accurately reflect. I.E: the winning market odds on a specific team at a specified event is 1:50, in order to clinch additional wagers the bookmaker offers enhanced odds at 2.00. Enhanced odds bets present great value, it is however notable there are quite often limited to low stakes on offer, with winnings paid out in bonuses instead of cash.
Free Bets & Bet Refunds currently offer a number of free bet varieties that range from Money Back and Refund offers, Insurance Bonus bets, and a number of specials offered on popular sporting events.
Regardless of the bonus type, free bets represent an excellent way to enhance your wagering. Risk Free bets have become one of the most widely used and popular promotional offers and are well received by players for understandable reasons. Please take note that truly risk-free bets are not quite as common and only serve to attract new customers.
Promotions, in addition to the variety of VIP sand loyalty programs, bookmakers currently employ a number of methods in an attempt to reward their existing customers and keep their business. Most offer regular and special promotions such as a variety of refunds on specified bets, enhanced odd wagers or opportunities to win fantastic prizes. This can also include cash prizes, VIP hospitality at sports events and more.
Accumulator Insurance, currently on offer via numerous sports bookmakers offers bettors the opportunity to receive part of, or their entire stake back if their accumulator misses its prediction. This form of wagering insurance remains subject to a couple of noteworthy terms and conditions such as the accumulator should contain a predetermined number of pre-match bets on the same day or they must offer a minimum odds limits. Either way you look at it, it remains great value.
VIP Schemes remain fairly simple; they focuses on rewarding players on the value they wager and the amount they deposit. Simply put, the more a player wagers in any given timescale, the larger their potential reward will likely be, with its main focus on encouraging the continued patronage of the site.
There are a vast number of innovative ways that bookmakers have come up with t reward their loyal players, currently these include cash back bonuses, bonuses on deposits, and free bets. It is an effective means by which the site extends its gratitude to the player for his past, current, and future continued business
Best Price Guaranteed ensures that you receive the best possible price for your wager and further ensures whenever you have taken out a price on a sports event that the Starting Price or SP is higher, the bookmaker will pay the better odds. This applies to multiples on each way and win markets only, but does not apply to ante-posts odd placements, tote bets, combined horse bets, or any international racing events.
A No Deposit Bonus is similar to all other bonuses linked to deposits. They aim to attract new players to register with the bookmaker with one main difference, it requires zero investment or deposit in order to qualify. This form of bonus reward is based on a fixed amount, usually £10 to £20 and are subject to rollover requirements as specified in the terms and conditions.
Safety and Security
By the very nature of online gambling, sports bookmakers realise their success relies heavily on their reputation in order to establish a relationship of trust with their clientele. They can only do so by ensuring an environment offering maximal safety, security, and fairness. It is also one of the essential responsibilities of anyone who is considering signing up at a sports bookmaking website to ensure they deposit their funds and personal information into a reputable, reliable, highly secure environment.
Most leading bookmaking sites work very hard at establishing a proven track-record in this regard and employ multiple measures to ensure they meet those requirements, not only for their own protection but also for those who trust them with their deposits. This will include proof of identity to protect again underage gambling, secure banking software, random security checks and more.
Licensing is an important aspect and those who are licensed ensure a safe and secure environment for depositing and their personal information to. This provides a form of control required to assure standards of safety and security are met and maintained by oversight regulatory bodies. Those bodies are often government regulated but also include other oversight groups such as the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), and several others.
Live Betting
Modern online technologies allow players to become part of the adrenaline rush by placing live bets while watching the action unfold. Most casinos offer a large range of live betting options and events upon which bettors can place both combination and single wagers. Live betting events feature score boards displaying the match statistics and current events standings, updated in real time.
Certain online sports betting houses provides bettors with the ability to watch the action on selected events live directly from the website’s desktop. Live streaming video feeds are available cost free, with bettors simply needed to have placed a wager in the 24 hours prior to the event or alternatively have funds available in their personal player account.
Mobile Betting
With the greater part of the online community having to attend to their financial well-being on a daily basis by either following a career, job, or running a professional business many have the time, but unfortunately remain on the run during the day without access to a desktop computer.
Fortunately modern communications devices and online software technologies have overcome the problem by making a full range of sports betting options available directly from their mobile cellular devices via specialised applications and bespoke mobile sites developed specifically for tablets and smart phones.
Mobile app users can place bets directly from their handsets that now offers access to all forms of pre-match betting, live betting, as well as live score updates. Bettors can check their account status via their mobile devices; view pending wagers, bet history, as well as withdrawal or deposit funds.
Most of the leading sports betting brands all feature their own proprietary mobile apps that adhere to the highest standards in online security, allowing no data interception whatsoever and if the cell phone is stolen or lost the app still remain secure since it requires a PIN code.
Conclusion
Since the early days of online gaming, the reputation and image of online sports betting has taken a drastic turn for the better, with leading betting sites having gained a reputation for solid, reliable security and professional sports betting choices.
This has given rise to the increase in popularity and in turn created a huge influx in online sports bettors searching for the best possible online sports betting website to deliver them the full experience comparable to that found in brick and mortar establishments. Online sports betting responded with a vast multitude of betting options and an equal number of generous high-valued bonuses aimed at encouraging new players and retaining their existing player base.
The online sports bookmaking community currently delivers a welcome haven where players can pursue their favourite form of entertainment at professional, reputable establishments without having to leave the safety and comfort of their own home. This is a priceless luxury that will only improve and generate interests in the years ahead.