There is a new and explosive trend in the world of gambling and sports betting? Internet sports betting where millions of people enjoy legal online sports betting wagering many billions of dollars per year. The net offers many opportunities for offshore sportsbook betting and has revolutionised the way people bet. With any new form of betting you will find always dangers and pitfalls that you will need to consider. Online sports betting is no exception. Although good soccer online sportsbooks have made it simpler to bet on all your favourite sports the web is riddled with unsafe and unlicensed sportsbooks that can be only too pleased to take your hard earned money and run. It is these cowboys which have made it harder for the legitimate safe, regulated and licensed online sportsbetting industry to operate, and they have given the industry as a whole a bad name.

It is therefore imperative that anyone who could possibly be considering throwing some money at their favourite team or sport, look closely at the on-line sports betting site they are betting with. There are many of aspects to think about when assessing whether or not to open an account having an online sportsbook.

Will be the sportsbook licensed by a government licensing authority? Their site should state the country the book is licensed in. If there's absolutely no mention of their licensing information on their own web-site then it is highly probable that they may be not licensed by any government agency. Betting having an unlicensed betting outfit is similar to throwing your hard earned money away. Also some countries have more stringent regulations, oversee their licensees more closely, and require more funds for them to use, eg. UK.

Internet security - Is the sportbook using the latest security mechanisms? Most reputable betting outfits have highly advanced security on their own sites to prevent personal and banking information being exposed and breached.

Depositing options. The sportsbook must have a number of depositing options and preferably accept 3rd party e-wallets such as Neteller and Moneybookers. Using a 3rd party e-wallet service for example Neteller reduces the need to send personal and financial information to every book you sign up with.

24 hour customer support by phone and e-mail. A lot of the reputable sportsbooks offer 24 hour support by phone, email and online chat.

Incorporates extensive features offering a number of betting types and competitive odds. Some provide a multitude of betting types and other features such as statistics on all of their betting products. Some may specialise in betting on a particular sport and may offer the very best odds for that sport but offer lousy odds on others. Due to this reason many professional bettors shop around and open accounts with a number of reputable sportsbooks to receive the most effective deals.