So you’re in the market for a sportsbook. Maybe you’re new to the game, sick of your existing book or just looking for another one to add to your line shopping list. Whatever the case, it can be very overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for and are having a difficult time narrowing down your search. Here are some things I consider most important when trying to find the right sportsbook.

Longevity

To start, you want an online sportsbook that has been around a while. A sportsbook with staying power is doing something right, because this day and age if they’re not, you can be rest assured we will all know about it.

Whether it be slow-pay or a no-pay, that’s something bettors will not tolerate and will jump on their computer or other device to one of the many online betting
community resources and let everyone know their experience. This information can be devastating to an online book, and will almost undoubtedly lead to it being shut down.

There’s nothing worse to a bettor than going on a hot streak, only to get shutout when requesting a payout. The good books all pay quickly and efficiently, and their longevity will prove it. Their reputation is always on the line, and it’s not difficult to both get a bad one and be put out there for everyone to know it.

Customer Service

You may not consider this to be a big deal, but when most books are pretty even across the board, great customer service is something that will put a sportsbook ahead of the pack. When you need good customer service, you’ll be happy you went with a book that has great customer service, believe me.

Do they make it easy to contact customer service, and then once you have them on the line, is the staff knowledgeable, friendly and have good communication skills? There’s nothing worse than having an issue close to the start of a particular game you want to bet, and when you call customer service, you get the run around long enough that the game has already gone off. It’s happened to me, and when your side wins, believe me, it’s the height of frustration.

Betting Options

This is another very important aspect to finding the right sportsbook for me. I’m not your usual bettor, and like to have options not most are looking for. For example, I have a friend who plays in the Swedish Superettan League, and because of this, I follow it very closely. And because I follow it very closely, I like to wager on games within the league, and I do quite well. For me, having lines for this league is a must.

I have a buddy who loves to both bet the horses and play casino games while he is sitting on his couch watching games. He once won $115K while he was taking a crap pulling a few slots…no joke. He called me up yelling…guess what, guess what?!? Anyways, I digress. For him, having a racebook and an online casino are a must. Make sure you know what you want, and make sure your book has those options to meet your every need, because those books are out there, you just have to put the time in to find the right one that meets all your needs.

Bonuses and Contests

I wrote a full article yesterday on contests offered by various sportsbook, because these are quite possibly my favorite thing about my sportsbook. I’m basically getting something for free, and well, who doesn’t like free stuff?

While it’s not exactly free, I am getting an entrance into a contest for doing something I was going to do anyway, depositing money into my account. Getting a
chance to win money that will be automatically deposited into my account excites me, and it’s something that will lead me to pick one sportsbook over another, as long as they meet the rest of my requirements.

Bonuses are also something I will consider, but make sure you are aware of all the rollover regulations around your freeroll.

So there you have it, my top four things to consider when finding the right sportsbook. You really have to know what you are looking for on a personal level,
and go out and get those. Make sure the sportsbook you choose caters to you, and give them a call, ask questions and see if they truly are the right fit for you.

There will always be more than these 4 things, but this is a good start. Ask around, go online, talk to your friends…do whatever you can to gain an edge when finding the right book to choose. The options are near endless, so do your homework and get those bets in. Good luck guys.