If you are new to betting football online, you can quickly get overwhelmed by the overload of information when it comes to looking where to bet football online. There are several pitfalls to avoid, and you certainly will want to stay away from the numerous online sports betting scam sites that are very prevalent. Most “reviews” sites will simply direct you towards the sportsbooks that pay them the highest commissions, with most operated by people who do not even bet on sports! These traps are easily stepped into by several thousand online sports bettors each year. That is the bad news, the good news is that you will avoid the pain of being scammed if you choose one of the sites recommended below! The recommendations that you find here are all of the online sports betting sites that I use myself. I recommend these same sites to my friends and family! In the unlikely event that you run into a problem with any of our recommended sites, I will eagerly use my insider contacts to plead your case and reach a favorable resolution. We are here as a resource to you, so feel free to message us with any questions!
The sites I recommend are based upon the following factors;
- Trustworthiness
- Financial stability of the company & history of timely payments
- Customer service
- Player experience & ease of use
- Betting lines & variety of wagering options
- Security of personal information
Bovada – A+
Over the years, there is one company that has been consistently serving their customers who live in the USA. Bovada is head and shoulders above their competition. Their lines may not always be the most impressive, although you can find the best “dog” plays here, but their payment processing is indeed the best in the business. No other sportsbook can process your payments, in or out, like Bovada can. If you have had trouble with depositing into a sportsbook with your credit card, give Bovada a shot. They will get it done and their payouts are within a few days, instead of the runaround that many other sites put you through.
Customer Service – Sportsbook-Ratings frequently tests the customer service departments of the sites that we recommend. Bovada is routinely in the top 2. Their agents speak several languages, but their English speaking agents sound like English is their native language. I’m not sure that is the case, but some sites use call centers with agents who barely speak the language. When you contact Bovada by phone or email, you will get the answers you need, quickly. Bovada’s commitment to customer service is unparalleled in the online sports betting industry. We have never received a single player complaint about anything related to Bovada.
History – The Bovada group has been around for nearly twenty years, and are the most financially stable outfit you can choose. Using Bovada for your online sports betting needs is the lowest risk service in the industry.
More Bovada benefits…
- Easy to use, player friendly interface
- LIVE and Play by Play Betting
- Up to $250 Initial Deposit Bonus
- Largest selection of props
- Fast AND Free Payouts!
Complete review of Bovada.lv
Canadian players can play at their Canadian facing site, Bodog.eu
BetOnline – A
If you haven’t played at BetOnline for some time, you should give them a serious look. In the past, this site has been less than stellar. For the past three years, BetOnline has proven that they are in it to become the top online sportsbook. They are second best at getting credit card deposits approved and they pay very quickly via P2P methods (popular instant cash sending services). While they do offer and complete payouts via other methods, we can only recommend P2P at this time, as other methods can see delays. They still perform much better than the vast majority of sites. BOL offers their players lucrative bonus packages and they also have a popular casino and poker service that you can access with the same account.
Customer Service – BetOnline’s customer service agents are knowledgeable and will provide you with excellent service. In the dark days, which I referenced before, their agents were less than straightforward. They have improved immensely over the past couple of years, always providing me with accurate and quick responses.
History – BetOnline is located and licensed in the country of Panama, and has been in business since 2001. BetOnline’s popularity stems from their ability to process payments, offer bonuses that they actually pay, and providing some of the most advantageous betting lines available. Hell, I’ve placed bets with BOL instead of the Las Vegas sportsbooks, simply because their line was so much better.
More BetOnline benefits…
- Easy to use interface
- LIVE Betting
- $1000 sign up bonus!
- Perpetual reload bonuses of 25%
- Unique and reduced juice lines
BookMaker.eu – A
BookMaker is part of the CRIS family of offshore gaming sites, and they are one of the most financially stable and well respected names in the business. Perhaps, this is because they were the first ever offshore sportsbook, starting out with just telephone service which pre-dates the internet. Now that’s a track record! BookMaker has all of the makings of a top notch program, superb customer service, financial stability, lucrative high-roller player promotions, and the earliest betting lines available! They say they provide the earliest lines, but I’ve often seen BetOnline release their lines before BookMaker.
BookMaker will not cut your limits or kick you out because you WIN! Many sportsbooks will collar their clients, who are elite players and consistently turn a profit, but not BookMaker. If you are a professional or high stakes sports bettor living in the United States, BookMaker is your ONLY option. Why risk getting your limits cut when you can play with the freedom the highest betting limits available? Their lines are generally standard, but they do a better job of catering to professional action than 5Dimes.
BookMaker is constantly running special promotions, rewarding your loyalty with free wagering cash with no rollover requirements, and treating their clients with respect and personal information with extreme privacy. The only knock on BookMaker would be their lines are standard -110 lines. The advantage in BookMaker’s lines is that they are released before other services. Bet on next week’s games today, and take advantage of the softies. One other small hit would be that their bonuses are typically only accessed when depositing more than $300. BookMaker is certainly focused on serving the high-limit sports bettor.
More BookMaker.eu benefits…
- Easy prepaid debit card payouts!
- BetPoints loyalty rewards you with no deposit, cash bonuses
- Many promos during the year and reload Tues/Thurs!
Complete review of BookMaker.eu
5Dimes.eu – A-
NFL and College football betting at 5Dimes is a must for sharps and players looking for the lowest possible juice. 5Dimes offers Reduced Juice on football wagers, which include 10-cent moneylines, 10-cent sides and 10-cent totals (-105 pricing). When wagering at -105 odds you are wagering $105 to win $100 instead of the standard amount of $110 required to win $100. This is the case when selecting the ‘reduced’ lines in each respective sport. Great, right? Well, they don’t give you too much of a good thing, as you are limited to a $500 wager on their reduced lines. You’ll have to stay at the lower bet limits or place an additional wager at the standard 20 cent line. Their software is quite antiquated and can be difficult to navigate for newbies. If you choose ‘NFL’ or ‘College’, you will be given the standard line sets. The number one, and really only, reason to use 5Dimes is because of the reduced juice lines. We recommend adding 5Dimes to your books, but not using ONLY 5Dimes. It is a good idea to have accounts at different books to allow yourself some flexibility in line shopping. Getting the best payout for the game you want to bet is the name of the game.
The negative with 5Dimes is their poorly designed interface. The website appears to have been developed in 1995, and doesn’t work well with mobile devices. Only the login screen is mobile optimized, which is a complete waste of time. This is a serious downgrade for players like us, as we like to place our bets on the go. Having to scroll and zoom through several screens is a huge hassle. Their customer service is also hit and miss.
More 5Dimes.eu benefits…
- Fast easy payouts!
- 50% new player reward!
GTbets.eu – A-
GTbets has been around for a few years now, but their leadership team has been in the sportsbook business for much longer! Some of their leadership are the very folks that I began my sports betting days with. I’ve always received exceptional, personal service from this group, and I am happy to recommend them to you. In addition to great service, you will also enjoy a 100% signup bonus, without having to deposit thousands of dollars to reach that level. GTbets is focused on serving the recreational sports bettor.
The perks don’t end with a signup bonus, as you will be able to choose your ‘favorite teams’, and get reduced juice on every bet placed on those games! I don’t recommend actually using your real favorite team, as betting with your heart isn’t ever a good idea, rather choose teams that are your favorite to bet for or against. 😉 Their loyalty program, Game Time Rewards, offers the opportunity to automatically earn free cash and other award items. You accumulate points for each wager, win or lose, and you can quickly reach significant levels with modest play!
More GTbets.eu benefits…
- Affordable and fast bankwire payouts
- Many promotions during the year and reload bonuses!
- Easy deposit and withdrawal services
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