If you are new to online sports wagering or looking for a reliable offshore sportsbook you have come to the right place. Online sports betting and casino gambling have increased at an exponential rate since the birth of the internet. Unfortunately there are a large number of unscrupulous online sportsbook sites and virtual gambling operators whose only business is swindling money from the recreational sports bettor. Thankfully there are plenty of legitimate online sportsbook wagering sites from which to choose.

In order to pick an online sportsbook that will fit you best you need to evaluate your betting history to determine what sports or bet types you wager on the most. If you have not bet on sports before you will most likely wager on sports you enjoy watching.

The most important question to ask before deciding to deposit money at an online sportsbook is do they pay. You can start your research by visiting the online sportsbook directory which has an extensive list of reputable sportsbooks. In addition you should utilize the many sports betting forums that have appeared with advent of online sports betting. Do not make the mistake in thinking that every sportsbook who advertises at an online sports gambling discussion group or sportsbook forum is legitimate. Many so called watchdog websites are nothing more than internet portals whose owners have not opened an account, placed a wager and successfully completed a withdrawal from the advertisers on their sites. You are better off seeking the opinions of the forum posters by either posting questions or using the forums search feature to investigate sportsbooks that interest you.

At this point you should make a list of online sportsbooks that focus on sports you like to bet or are compatible with your wagering style based on what you have learned from forum posters.

The next step is to start eliminating online sportsbooks under consideration that do not offer either reduced juice, opinionated lines or substantial sign up and reload bonuses. Beware of any online sportsbook that offers all three incentives they may be scams and most likely will not be in business for long.

Most online sportbooks regularly offer a cash bonus in order to attract new business. The online sportbooks that offer larger then normal sign up and reload bonuses are targeting recreational bettors and they typically are not interested in acquiring professional gamblers as customers. Nearly every online sportbook offers a standard bonus equal to 10% of your initial deposit but there are a number of quality online sportbooks who have sign up and reload bonuses of 20% or more.

Some sportsbooks provide gamblers with the option of wagering at reduced juice versus receiving sign up and reload bonuses. In my opinion every sports bettor needs at least one reduced juice sportsbook in their arsenal. Traditionally sportsbooks require sports bettors to wager at -110 where you risk $1.10 to win $1.00. Reduced juice sportsbooks allow you to wager at less than -110 usually -107 to -105 or risk $1.05 to win a $1.00. It might not seem like much of a discount but it definitely adds up over time.

It is highly recommended that you have at least three fully funded online sportsbook accounts even if you only wager on one or two sports. It is very difficult to be a profitable sports bettor without the ability to shop for the best line.

With a little forethought and research you can ensure your funds are safe, increase your bankroll by taking advantage of promotional bonuses and win more on every wager by utilizing reduced juice sportsbooks.