There is a new and explosive trend in the world of gambling and sports betting? Internet sports betting where millions of folks enjoy legal online sports betting wagering many billions of dollars each year. The web offers many opportunities for offshore sportsbook betting and has revolutionised the way people bet. With any new type of betting you will discover always dangers and pitfalls that you have to look out for. Online sports bet online betting is no exception. Although online sportsbooks have made it simpler to bet on all your favourite sports the web is riddled with unsafe and unlicensed sportsbooks that will be only too happy to take your hard earned money and run. It is these cowboys that have made it more difficult 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 crucial 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 a number of factors to consider when assessing whether to open an account with the 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 isn't any mention of their licensing information on their web site then it's highly probable that they can be not licensed by any government agency. Betting by having an unlicensed betting outfit is similar to throwing your money away. Also some countries have more stringent regulations, oversee their licensees more closely, and require more funds for them to operate, eg. UK.

Internet security - Will be the sportbook using the-latest security mechanisms? Most reputable betting outfits have highly advanced security on their websites to avoid personal and banking information being exposed and breached.

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

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

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