So you’ve been following your favorite sport for a while and also have thought about using an online sportsbook to bet on several of the games. You probably went online and did some searches and found a whole lot of sportsbooks, each claiming to be the top, and then become confused and overwhelmed at the sheer range of choices around. You looked at the pros and cons of each one, and after that you probably started getting second thoughts because you have heard that you will find some companies online that will be less than reputable. And you will be right. The final thing you want is to bet money with some company that will not pay you if you win.

So what steps can one take to choose a legitimate great online football gambling site sportsbook?

The very first thing is to ensure the company covers the sport(s) you want to bet on. Not everyone offers every sport. This probably sounds obvious, but it is worth mentioning.

The second thing you want to do is make certain the site you are considering is financially stable. Think about it like this; with all of the money which is being transferred into and out of this sort of organization, you want to ensure they have enough assets to stay in business. Consider it like a bank. Will you get an account at a bank that was running out of money? If the company is public you can check their books. If they are not public, you may still attempt to see how long they are already in business and talk to people and see if they are honest and prompt with their payouts.

Number three: check their reputation online. When you are reading this article then you’re probably already comfortable using the web. Find some active sports betting forums and find out what people there have to say. Pay focus on who the reviews are from and try to screen for fake reviews (some companies put up fake positive reviews to try and make themselves look good).

Finally, start small. You could be used to making big bets, but when you are working with a brand new sportsbook for the very first time, it’s better to use a small amount just in the event something goes wrong. Once you feel comfortable working with them you can start betting more if you want.

Understand that betting on sports should only be done with money you may afford to lose, and if you feel like you might have an issue, you will discover organizations that can help.