Independent gambling information
Before you bet, play, buy picks, choose software or do business with a gambling company, ask the bookie.
- companies reviewed
- 62
- guide pages
- 104
- questions answered
- 74
How a review is made
The full methodologySame questions, same order
Every review in a section answers the same questions, so two can be laid side by side.
One model per section
A sportsbook, a per-head shop and a capper do different jobs, so each is judged on its own factors.
Dated and sourced
Each review lists what it rests on and the date it was last checked.
The terms, not the banner
Bonuses are valued after the rollover, the minimum odds and the time limits.
Ties disclosed
A business relationship, or a company in the same network as this site, is stated on the review.
News & Industry
All newsMatchbook buys Betdaq, and the old Betdaq exchange shuts
Two of the oldest betting exchanges are now one company. If you still have money sitting on Betdaq, the date that matters is 4 November.
New Jersey makes its responsible gaming triggers law
New Jersey now tells its online books exactly when they have to look at a player, and what they have to do next. Big depositors should expect an email.
Powerball Xs & Os cut its prizes in the very first drawing
Powerball's new NFL game advertised $20,000 for seven teams out of eight. In its first drawing it paid $500. The rules allowed it, and the reason is one any bookie would recognize.
Sportsbooks
All 19 sportsbook reviews
Bookie.ag
100% free play up to $5,000, 18x rollover
BookMaker Sportsbook
No offer listed
BetanySports
25% sports free play up to $75
Sportsbooks19 reviews
Books reviewed on payouts, limits and terms
Offers as each company states them. The review reads the terms.
Pay Per Head
All 15 pay-per-head reviews
RealBookies
2 weeks free, no deposit required
PricePerPlayer
2 weeks free
RDGcorp
2 weeks free
Pay Per Head15 reviews
Software for bookies, priced and compared
Offers as each company states them. The review reads the terms.
Handicappers
All 19 handicapper reviews
ScoresAndStats
Free predictions
GameAdvisers
Free account with limited daily picks
WagerTalk
7-day Flex Picks pass $69, listed at $99
Handicappers19 reviews
Pick sellers judged on the record
Offers as each company states them. The review reads the terms.
Online Casinos
All 9 casino reviewsCasinos9 reviews
Online casinos, their bonuses and their games
Offers as each company states them. The review reads the terms.
Gambling Guide
The whole guideParlays
A parlay ties two or more bets into one ticket. Every leg has to win, and the payout multiplies. So does the book's cut, which is the part nobody advertises.
Moneylines
A moneyline is a bet on who wins. There is no point spread, so the price does the work the spread would have done, and the price is where you win or lose this bet.
How to read betting odds
Betting odds tell you two things: what a bet pays, and how likely the book thinks it is. Every line on the board is one of three bets, and every price is written in one of three formats. Learn those and you can read any book in the world.
Spreads
A point spread is a handicap. The book gives the weaker team a head start in points so that either side is worth a bet. You are betting on the margin, and who wins the game is a separate matter.
Round robins
A round robin is a batch of small parlays made from one list of picks. One loser doesn't sink the whole bet the way it does on a single parlay. You pay for that protection with more stakes, and with the same cut on every one of them.
Totals
A total is a bet on how many points the two teams score between them. The book posts a number and you bet over it or under it. Who wins the game makes no difference.
Ask The Bookie
All questionsWhat is a parlay?
A parlay is one bet made of two or more picks. Every pick has to win for the ticket to pay, and the payout multiplies with each one you add. Miss one and the whole ticket loses.
Is sports betting legal in Florida?
Yes, through one operator. Florida lets adults 21 and over bet on sports through the Seminole Tribe of Florida, on a phone from anywhere in the state, under the gaming compact the Legislature ratified in 2021.
What does moneyline mean?
A moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game, with no point spread. The favorite has a minus price and the underdog a plus price. At -150 you risk $150 to win $100. At +130 you risk $100 to win $130.
How does sports betting work?
Sports betting is putting money on the result of a game at a price a bookmaker sets. If you are right the book pays you at that price. If you are wrong it keeps your stake. The price is built so the book earns a little whichever way the game goes.
What is a bookie?
A bookie is a person who takes bets. He sets a price, takes your money or your word on it, pays you if you win and collects if you lose. The word is slang for bookmaker, and it usually means a local, independent one. The full answer
How do betting odds work?
Betting odds are a price. They tell you what a bet pays and, read the other way, how often it has to win. Odds of -200 mean you risk $200 to win $100. Odds of +150 mean you risk $100 to win $150. The full answer
Is sports betting legal in California?
No. California law prohibits sports wagering under Penal Code section 337a, voters turned down both sports betting measures in November 2022, and none is on the ballot now. Pari-mutuel betting on horse races is the exception. The full answer
What does the spread mean in betting?
The spread is a head start the book gives the underdog to make the game an even bet. A team at -7 has to win by more than 7 for a bet on it to win. A team at +7 wins the bet if it wins the game or loses by fewer than 7. The full answer
Is sports betting legal in Texas?
No. Texas has no law that allows sports betting, and its Penal Code makes a bet on the result of a game a Class C misdemeanor. SJR 16, a 2025 resolution to put sports wagering before voters, never got out of committee. The full answer
What is a sports betting strategy?
A sports betting strategy is a plan for which bets you make, at what price and for how much. The ones that hold up rest on two things: getting a better price than the bet deserves, and keeping stakes small enough to survive the losing runs. The full answer
What is live betting?
Live betting is betting on a game after it has started. The book keeps repricing the spread, the total and the moneyline as the game goes on, and you can bet at the current number. It is also called in-play or in-game betting. The full answer
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About AskTheBookie
More about usAskTheBookie is a directory of the people who want your betting money: sportsbooks, pay-per-head services and handicappers. We review them, explain how the business works, and answer the questions players and bookies actually ask.