Finding the best online sportsbook for your betting needs is the first step to becoming a successful sports bettor. You will need to sign up with a bookmaker that offers a seamless wagering experience.

However, the process of handpicking the most ideal bookies can be a bit challenging, especially for beginners.

For that reason, Odds Shark does all the digging for you. The site is committed to helping its visitors select the most appropriate sportsbook. When assessing the viability of a bookmaker, there are a number of things that you should put into consideration.

This article discusses the metrics that uses to pick the best sports betting sites.

Steps for Picking the Best Sportsbook

If you have finally decided to get started with online sports betting, welcome to the club! However, you should know that you should not just register with the first bookies that pop up on your browser. It would help if you actually took a few minutes of your time to do a bit of research.

This ensures that you do not sign up with a site that will frustrate you later. Below, we have highlighted some of the steps you should take and the selection criteria you should use.

Decide What You Are Looking For

It is vital that you have an idea of what you are expecting from the sportsbook. Are you looking to make a one-time wager or do you want to use the site for future wagering? Do you intend to specialize in one sport or several games?

These are some of the questions that you should answer beforehand. By doing so, it will be easier to find a bookmaker that offers exactly what you are looking for. That notwithstanding, it is still okay not to be sure, which is normal for first-timers. By the end of this post, you will have formed a general idea of what you want.

List Your Deal-Breakers

After forming a general idea of what you are looking for, should be to note down your deal-breakers. These are typically things that you cannot stand to have in your online sports betting experience.

Knowing your deal-breakers beforehand will help you rule out sportsbooks that do not meet your requirements at the onset.

Create A Short List of Viable Candidates

When selecting the best bookmaker, you will definitely have to start from somewhere. To that, you can start with the list of sportsbooks reviewed at Odds Shark. From that list, you will surely find one that addresses your unique betting needs.

Handpick at least five to six sportsbooks without giving them much thought. You can then narrow down the list by doing a deeper assessment of each. If one of them makes the cut for you, then go for it.

Make A Point to Read Reviews and Test the Sites Out

Before deciding on a sportsbook, it is vital that you read the reviews it’s been receiving from others. There is much that one can learn from reviews, more often than not, reviews will tell you whether a bookie has what you are looking for, whether there are possible deal-breakers, and more.

Odds Shark has done numerous reviews on some of the most reputable online bookmakers. We recommend that you check some of these sites before proceeding with your search. To confirm the claims, you can always test them out.

Make Your Decision

Once you are done with all the checking and testing, it is about time that you make a decision. Pick the sportsbook that best suits your needs. Remember that the betting site you choose will largely influence your sports betting experience.

However, it is also worth noting that you are not tied to the site you choose for life. If after signing up and using it for a while you discover that it’s not for you, you can always withdraw your deposit and move to a different site.

The Criteria for Choosing the Best Sportsbook

Now that you are comfortable with the process of selecting the most ideal bookie, let’s discuss the criteria for handpicking the best site for you. In this section, we will discuss the factors you would need to consider.

Sports Covered

One of the things that you will need to know is whether the bookmaker offers odds for the sports that you are most interested in. If football happens to be your sweet tooth, does the bookie offer football betting odds?

Some players follow several sports and they would love to place wagers on all. If that is you, go with a sportsbook that offers odds on multiple sports. The most reputable bookmakers will cover everything from soccer, NFL, NBA, MLB, horse racing, and more.

Betting Markets Offered

When it comes to sports betting, there are so many markets to choose from including totals, spreads, props, parlays, futures, live betting, and more. It is best that you register with an online bookmaker that offers all the available sports betting markets for the best experience.

You would definitely agree that it is good to have multiple options.

Payment Options

What forms of payment options does the sportsbook offer? Does it support your most preferred banking option? These are questions that you must seek to answer before signing up.

It is also important that you assess the bookie’s transaction processes. How long does it take to withdraw your winning, for example?

Mobile-Friendliness

A majority of bettors prefer using their mobile phones for their sports betting activities. If you happen to fall under this category of punters, it would be advisable to ensure that the online sportsbook you are about to register with is .

This means that the site should work smoothly over mobile browsers. Alternatively, a sportsbook can also offer a mobile betting app for Android and iOS users.

Bonuses and Promos

Due to the stiff competition in the sports gambling arena, online bookies are always giving lucrative bonuses and promotional offers to new and regular customers.

If you are looking to grow your bankroll without risking too much of your money, you should consider signing up with a sportsbook that offers profitable bonuses and promos.