Although the internet has transformed many industries over the last 20 years, there’s a strong argument that few have changed as profoundly as the gambling industry has. It doesn’t matter if you’re a sports bettor or somebody who prefers to play casino games; the last two decades have witnessed the most significant shift in an industry that some historians trace back to the beginning of the 1600s.
Now that it’s a multibillion-dollar industry and a predominantly digital force, mobile phones, laptops and PCs have become the new battlegrounds for iGaming companies looking to get a piece of the proverbial pie.
However, today’s quest sends us down the sportsbook route. With hundreds of sports betting markets, some of which have tens of thousands of potential markets to explore, it’s crucial to make the best choice when betting and that you find a platform that you enjoy using to maximize your gaming experience.
Factors to consider with a new betting site
There are new sports betting companies appearing online every week it seems. With all of them offering some sort of offer or new customer promotion, it can be dizzying just to keep up with all the new names and logos spinning around. However, you can implement a few handy tips to help you save time and differentiate providers with decent potential from those with a subpar service.
The newest betting sites should ideally be able to tick every box. Not only are they entering a market where some of the most established companies at the top have multibillion-dollar strongholds, but they need to offer something genuinely different to make up ground on the established names in the industry.
Here are some of the main factors to consider. Understanding these will give you a better understanding of how to make the best choice when betting:
Promotions and bonuses
Sports betting companies can gain ground by offering a quality platform combined with bonuses and promotions that help them stand out. A platform that balances cost-effective bonuses with various markets and a good balance of promotions for new and existing customers is often the sign of a platform with a good business strategy and an eye towards bringing in new customers.
Quality of customer service
It should be a given that a company handling your financial and personal data has efficient and friendly customer service you can contact at any time. We’d expect the same from any other company we use online. However, if you’re having an issue with a payment or a withdrawal, this is where a company with a good customer service setup will shine.
Customer service quality can take many forms, but you want to ensure that the site you use has a multi-faceted approach, including live chat and social media, which are now some of the most popular ways customers seek assistance and lodge complaints.
Range of sports betting markets available
Aiming for a sportsbook that offers your favorite sports betting markets is important. With growing niche markets proving to be a hit in the gambling world, more providers than ever are looking to branch out into virtual sports, esports and smaller markets, such as badminton, athletics and boxing.
While having the most markets doesn’t necessarily equate to having the best platform, whether we’re looking for sports news or a sports betting site or app, the whole industry has now shifted online. So, it’s important that a website can respond to this growing digital demand and provide value and scope to its budding new user base.
Responsible gambling
Another green flag to look for is companies that have a clear section of their site dedicated to responsible gambling and how to identify problems. Although companies are often mandated under legislation to provide tools to assist people, some sites will not have clear guidance regarding responsible gambling; those that don’t are ones to be aware of. Responsible gambling measures include:
- Time and deposit limits
- Self-assessment tests
- Self-exclusion requests
- Providing contact phone numbers or e-mails of problem gambling organizations
Sites that go above and beyond to protect their customers show they have a good ethos and company culture. Responsible gambling should be the most crucial variable you implement into your gaming. By exploring social media comments and expert reviews, you can often get a good indication of which betting sites fit into this category, both old and new.
Social media and expert reviews
Exploring what the experts say can be a great eye-opener into the quality of a site. If somebody with expertise has had a detailed look at a sports betting platform, not only will experts be able to tell you in detail what the platform does well and where it can improve, but they’ll also indicate the elements to look for so that you can learn how to spot the pros and cons yourself.
A strong social media presence is important for any company; this extends beyond the betting industry, too. While social media platforms have their own characteristics and perceived user base, a betting company with zero social media presence or inactive profiles that do not engage with customers is something to be wary of.
Summary
Understanding how expert reviews can be used as a guiding light to help you find the best platform and develop the best practices when betting is probably the most critical aspect. They’re provided by the people who have tried-and-tested experience and know what they’re looking for. Other angles that speak about their broader business culture include:
- Social media presence
- Responsible gambling measures
- Quality of customer service
We understand that these might not be the integral factors that makes you choose them, but they signal the underlying culture, which experts agree on too. The more sports betting platforms you explore, the easier it becomes to spot the promising platforms and those that are best to avoid.