The popularity of placing bets on sports has been increasing in the past years. This happened mainly due to the increased accessibility of online sportsbooks, and the innovations brought to the industry.
Due to this, the variety of betting sites currently available has expanded, allowing bettors to pick and choose between online sportsbooks depending on their interests and preferred sports.
Nevertheless, with the sudden boom of betting sites, punters should be wary of which platform they use to place their bets. Although there are plenty of trustworthy online sportsbooks, there are also some that bettors should stay away from.
Throughout this article, we’ll give you tips on choosing a safe and reputable website where you can enjoy the best sports betting India can offer.
Bonuses
One of the first aspects a bettor looks for is a sign-up bonus or a first deposit match promotion. After all, who doesn’t want to start their betting journey with a boosted balance?
Most of the well-known and reputable betting sites in India offer one of these bonuses; sometimes, they might even offer both.
Although this might sound enticing, you should always carefully read the promotion’s terms and conditions. These set the rules and wagering requirements you’ll have to meet before you can withdraw the remaining bonus funds or associated winnings.
Some betting sites might advertise attractive promotional offers to entice punters to register an account quickly, but you’ll notice that their requirements are impossible to meet after reading the T&Cs. In these cases, you’ll often spend more of your own money than you’ll receive as a bonus.
Pay attention to all the tiny print in the Terms and Conditions of bonuses and promotions to ensure you always pick sportsbooks that offer you the best conditions.
Variety of Betting Options
The primary purpose of any betting site is to allow punters to place bets on sports. Before registering an account with any sportsbook, you should research the available offering.
Some sportsbooks will have more extensive coverage of certain sports than others. For instance, betting sites that began their operations in Europe will likely have a more comprehensive range of soccer competitions, divisions, and leagues, than a sportsbook with its headquarters in the United States.
Likewise, some betting sites offer better and broader coverage of sports prevalent in India, such as cricket and kabaddi. Additionally, not all sportsbooks cover races, so if you’re looking for a platform to bet on these types of events, you should search for one with long-lasting industry experience in this sector.
Overall, most betting sites will offer the same number of sports, but some might specialize in one sport over the other.
Security
The most important aspects you should consider when picking a betting site in India are fairness and security.
Picking sportsbooks that have received an operating license from a gambling regulatory authority will cover both aspects. These entities are responsible for ensuring the betting sites offer fair odds, meet the high-security standards imposed by the regulatory guidelines, and guarantee that the player’s private information is safeguarded.
Betting sites with a license will often display the license number and the regulatory authority that provided them with it at the website’s footer. With this in mind, you should always check if the betting site has the seal of approval from one of the following entities or similar ones:
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Curaçao Gaming Control Board
Banking Options
Suppose the betting site you choose already received a license from a regulatory authority. In that case, you can rest assured of the safety of all the payment methods available on the platform. Gambling authorities consider the security of banking options when licensing a sportsbook, as these platforms must always ensure that bettors receive their winnings.
Nonetheless, since some of these betting platforms might have their headquarters and primary operations in other countries, you should always ensure that you opt for one that allows you to deposit, bet, and withdraw with Indian rupees.
We also recommend that you give preference to payment methods that are well-known and that you have used before on other platforms, as it will ensure you don’t need to register a payment provider account to perform transactions.
Safety Protocols
Along with the licensing, betting sites should also provide bettors with sufficient tools to guarantee they can manage their gambling activity. For instance, trustworthy betting sites will have a designated section on their platform for responsible gaming.
Responsible gaming tools allow players to set limits that help them track their gambling times and spending habits. We recommend that you opt for betting sites that provide you with the possibility to set the following:
- Deposit limits (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Wagering limits (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Loss limits (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Playtime limits (daily)
- Account suspension periods
Additionally, all sportsbooks should allow bettors to self-exclude from the platform for set periods, such as months, years, or permanently. Many reputable sportsbooks also provide punters with additional information about self-diagnosing gambling problems.
If you or anyone you know needs help with their gambling habits, you can reach out to Hope Care India.
Customer Support
Lastly, the quality and efficiency of the customer support team should also be one of your priorities when picking a betting site. The vast majority of well-known sportsbooks currently allow players to contact the support team via:
- Live chat
- Phone
Some brands offer support through the sportsbook’s social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Moreover, we suggest you always begin your journey on a sportsbook by reading the FAQ section or the Help Center. This way, you can learn more about how the platform operates and discover if some technical aspect tends to give issues to the bettors.
Focus on Entertainment
To conclude, you should always seek betting sites that meet the basic security, fairness, and safety levels. You can do this by searching for betting sites with an operating license and a focus on the Indian market, as this ensures you can use the local currency to bet.
Regardless of which betting site you pick, always focus on the entertainment these gambling platforms provide, and don’t chase your losses!
