At Betting.us, we approach online sportsbook reviews with great dedication, providing our readers with exceptionally detailed and highly credible information.
If you stick around for more of our reviews, you will do yourself a favor, familiarizing yourself with our review criteria and system. We make it easy for our readers by leaving a rating element for each category we discuss. However, our expert contributors understand that not all readers might be aware of how this rating is formulated.
This is what we aim to address with this page, explaining how we rate betting sites. A lot goes into calculating the ratings of each featured sports betting website, and we are eager to provide more details on that. For now, we can put it simply by saying that we combine the ratings of each reviewed category and take the mean average.
How we evaluate each separate category, however, is what we will be explaining for the rest of this article. Let's start by providing some context of what our rating system means.
How we rate betting sites is always influenced by the legality of sports betting in the target state. It is a must to have a valid license from the respective authority that is in charge of sports betting regulation in the state. We are not here to provide legal advice, so please check your local gambling laws if you are unsure.
We do provide information on where betting sites are officially legal, though. If you live in New Jersey, for example, you can read through the recommendations of the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement – the legal gambling regulator in the state.
In addition to licensing, we find it necessary for a sports betting site to show proof that its digital platform is secured. An SSL certificate from a trusted cybersecurity company is what we hope to find when we review the security features of a US betting website.
At the footer section of every legit online sportsbook, there should be information about the company operating the website and a licensing number. For users' convenience, the number is often made to a link that leads directly to the database of the respective state licensor.
Unlike casinos, sportsbooks don't need RNG validation, but what they need to prove their legitimacy is regular audits of their operations. There are a lot of fine details in sports betting that need the oversight of independent audit organizations. We are always looking for such reports.
As mentioned previously, the technical security aspect is very important for us as reviewers. Online security is hinged on sportsbooks having a secure server to store personal information and player activity data. For the user, an indicator for that can be having an SSL certificate and a firewall certificate.
Having easy access to sports betting markets and wagers is why players like to join online sportsbooks. As such, this aspect takes center stage in our reviews. When conducting a sportsbook review, our experts inspect the betting markets accessible to the user. The things we look for here are ease of access and sports availability.
The portfolio of a trusted betting operator should be diverse and uncompromising when it comes to essential sporting events. Every good site for sports gambling must have odds for the biggest competitions and most popular sporting events. This includes the NBA, MLS, March Madness, NFL, MLB, NHL, and also the best from the international sports scene, including leagues and tournaments such as the Premier League, La Liga, Wimbledon, PGA Championship, and more.
The user experience and smoothness of operation are two pivotal things for returning players. To a large extent, these two depend on the betting software itself. Therefore, we are determined to test that aspect of the software. Of course, it also comes down to personal preferences, but overall, the most popular and proven companies are well-known and preferred for their top-notch sports betting software.
Part of our job is to check what bonuses a new user can claim and on what terms. If you want a welcome bonus to your name, you often have to do something in addition to just opting in. We have your back on this. Our reviewers disclose the significant terms of the deals we discuss.
Though players coming from an online casino background might think that deposit matches are king in sports betting, they are in for a surprise. The bonus for new players is, more often than not, the free bet. We look into the finer points of the offers, making known details like the minimum betting odds, maximum win, validity, etc.
Promo codes are an eye-catching detail that is enticing to new customers and important enough a feature for us to review. Our goal is to make promo code bonuses as clear as possible to our readers, helping them make an informed decision. We often break down the important information that is contained in the fine print.
Even sports betting bonuses come at a price. To get a clear idea of what is required of you as the recipient of a bonus, you must dig deeper into the bonus terms and conditions. We do this for you and simplify daunting terms like "playthrough", for example. Our review aims to give you the best deals with the most favorable validity period, playthrough requirements, and eligible payment methods.
To fully evaluate the bonus program of a sportsbook, we mark down the absence of regular promotions and – conversely – we add points for running promotions campaigns. We check for free bets clubs, rebates for regular users, odds boosts, betting tournaments, and comp point benefits.
Another thing that keeps players on the safe side is conducting payments through trusted companies. For our rating criteria, we favor fast and secure payment methods. It is important for us to see the payment solutions liked by locals. That will get you full marks for the "deposit and withdrawals" category.
With instant deposits being the norm for online betting, we don't take anything less as a viable option. In our book, it is a major letdown if a sportsbook cannot guarantee speedy deposits. Additionally, bonus eligibility shouldn't be hinged on using a pre-determined payment method. Constraining the freedom of users as far as how they should deposit is a big no-no.
We understand that withdrawals are subject to many checks related to money laundering, and they take more time than deposits. However, we are hoping to see evidence of same-day withdrawal options. If such is not available, then withdrawals within the span of two days are also acceptable. E-wallets and credit/debit cards ought to be the fastest.
Nobody likes them, but know-your-customer checks are essential to a safer industry. We applaud sportsbooks that perform such checks and, in fact, rate them higher than those that don't. For the user, that would mean that they will have to disclose their identity by sending a photocopy of their ID card.
Research clearly shows that the modern-day customer of sports betting sites uses their phone to place wagers more than they would use a computer. That is why our rating criteria are made with the mobile user in mind. One of the most important parts of how we rate betting sites is when we evaluate the mobile app or mobile website of a sportsbook. They have to be compatible with mobile operating systems iOS and Android.
For those users who don't want to download and install a dedicated app, having the option to use a sportsbook through a mobile web browser is essential. For the courtesy of making that possible, we give rating points to sportsbooks. It's even better for their total score if the interface is intuitive and user-friendly.
Most sportsbooks in the US go the extra mile to create a native betting app that can be downloaded on the App Store. While this is not a must, it is a nice touch that we appreciate and reflect in the rating. The advantages are having ready access at all times to sports betting markets and being able to receive timely notifications of important changes.
We check the compatibility of Windows phones, Android, and iOS devices with the software products of sportsbooks. What we look for is fast load times, flawless compatibility, and functionality. If there are any known bugs in the app and it was quickly fixed, that speaks volumes about the support and attention players get as mobile users.
It goes without saying that customer support must take a central role in any review criteria. We want to see in a sportsbook a dedicated support team that can be contacted via multiple channels. Having quick response times and helpful interactions on record is also crucial for us as reviewers.
Besides the resoluteness of customer support, we also evaluate how accessible it is. Hotlines are a dated contact channel, so we are not too harsh on sportsbooks without dedicated phone support. However, live chat is paramount for the smooth operation of sports betting support. Sending an email must also be a valid solution for the not-tech-savvy users.
Time is money, and money is important. For that simple reason, we give response time a priority position above all else in the "customer support" segment. Since the main purpose of how we rate betting sites is customer satisfaction, the response time of the helpdesk team is especially important to us.
Most betting operators offer their services to players from different states. That is to say, they cater to different audiences. We want to know that these sportsbooks have tailored solutions – promo offers, markets, betting lines – for each separate state where they operate.
Having our rating explained is impossible without talking about responsible gambling. The websites of licensed sportsbooks must include detailed information about what responsible gambling is and how to best get in touch with a local counselling agency.
We only recommend online sportsbooks that have passed the needed checks. No operators without legal validation receive publicity on our website unless we are advising our users against going there.
We do blacklist sportsbooks not only to demonstrate our determination but also to protect our users from making a move they might regret. We can't tell you how many blacklisted operators there will be at a time, but we will have as many as it takes to make sure our readers are protected. Here's how a betting operator can fail our tests.
If you want to contribute to keeping the online betting space safe, you can signal to us about any dangerous sites through our contact form.
Being well-rounded gambling reviewers, we do know a thing or two about gambling outlets other than sportsbooks. That makes it all the more necessary to carefully plan our publishing process. Every bit of information you find here goes through the inspection of reviewers and curators.
To make certain we bring true value to the reader, we double-check the information we provide before publishing. What's more, we minimize the possibility of an error by only referencing reputable sources.
Last but not least, we need to point out that our website is regularly updated. The online sports betting industry is moving lightning-fast in every aspect, and we are committed to staying abreast. That, however, requires significant resources, passion, and dedication, which we commit.