Factors That Make Online Betting Sites Legit in 2022

How do you know a betting site is legit? This is one of the most commonly asked questions by new betting fans. Everyone wants to know they’ve picked the right sportsbook.

A good sportsbook, after all, provides daily betting markets. It also offers competitive odds, free bets and quick payouts. In light of that information, look for these factors to know if a betting site is genuine in 2022:

Licensing and transparency

In the UK, every genuine betting site needs a license from the Gambling Commission. Usually, licensed operators display their license numbers at the bottom of their websites.

When you come across a good-looking betting site, therefore, navigate to its footer section to check licensing information. Does it hold a license from the UKGC? If it does, this is a legit sportsbook.

In Europe, most betting companies get their licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority. This is alright, but you want a bookmaker that accepts players from the UK.

Licensing aside, transparency is another crucial mark of transparency. To expound, find out if a betting site reveals its ownership details, its security policies and general terms. Generally speaking, legit companies are transparent with information.

Good Reviews

This is a no brainer. Genuine betting sites attract rave reviews. By contrast, scams and poorly operated companies have negative reviews. Against that information, always check review sites to discover whether you can trust a company.

Read online betting reviews UK for every sportsbook you plan to join. This will help you take note of the differences between two or three top companies. Then you can make a clear decision on what site to join.

That said, don’t focus on extreme reviews. Read comments from people who describe both the positive and the negatives of a betting site. Every sportsbook has its strengths and flaws. Of course, you want to join the company with the least flaws.

Safety and Trustworthiness

Nowadays, you don’t need to look for a license to know a betting site is safe. If you use a good browser, say Google Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox, it will warn you before visiting an unsecured website.

If you don’t see a warning message from your browser, chances are the betting site is secure. Most operators use SSL to encrypt their websites. Encrypted sites have a padlock sign on their URL bars and addresses that start with “HTTPS.”

On the other hand, they have plenty of trust features. For example, they might have a license from an independent auditor. They could also have testimonials from past and current customers.

Importantly, genuine betting sites allow you to secure your account through a password and Two-Factor Authentication. 

Competitive Odds

 Betting with good odds is how successful gamblers make profits in betting. However, you don’t get good odds from fraudulent operators. You get them from genuine companies.

For clarity, a lot of genuine betting sites have fair odds. However, you need more than fair. You want the best odds available for you to maximize your profits. So, how do you know a bookmaker has good odds?

One the one hand, you can compare betting odds. Take a look at EPL odds on one bookmaker. Then compare them with the odds at a different site. Nowadays, you can find odds for all major sports and leagues at one place.

Some websites exist to converge odds and betting sites. This way, you don’t have to visit a dozen sportsbooks to determine their odds for one specific tennis game.

Games from trusted Software Providers

Many betting sites in the UK offer both sports betting and casino games. Some people focus on one of these products and not the other. If you love to dabble with a little bit of slots and poker, ensure these games come from trusted software providers:

  • NetEnt
  • Playtech
  • Microgaming
  • Evolution
  • Betsoft
  • BTG

Similar to casinos, software providers have to be regulated to operate in the UK. All of the above-mentioned companies have licenses from the UKGC. So, you want a betting site from these developers.

If you love specific slots, say Mega Moolah, Starburst or Guns N’ Roses, you should prioritize an operator with these games. If you know very little about casinos, make a point to learn about popular games and how they work.

Fair Bonuses and Promotions

The betting industry is highly competitive. Due to that, companies are constantly competing to attract new customers using bonuses. They also give out bonuses to returning customers.

However, nearly every betting site has terms for those who want its bonuses. Usually, you need to create an account or make a deposit to earn a bonus. This is an easy step for many bettors.

The problem comes when you win from a bonus and want to cash out that money. You have to fulfil wager requirements. For sports betting, the play through ranges from 1x to 10x. For casino games, the playthrough can be as high as 40x your bonus amount.

Then there’s the whole issue of fulfilling wager terms within a specific time frame and if that’s not enough, there’s a limit on the maximum you can withdraw from a bonus.

With that in mind, you want a casino with the most favourable bonus terms. Ensure the wager terms are minimal and the cashout limit is generous. 

Customer Service and Additional Features

Good customer service is an important aspect of any genuine betting site. So, take time to contact an operator through its provided channels. Nowadays, most bettors love companies with live chatting, email, social media and phone contacts.

Customer service aside, look for additional features you would never find in a scam company. In a sports betting site, look out for in-play betting, a streaming app and partial cashouts.

In the online casino sector, look for live dealer games, impressively high-paying games and no wager bonuses. All the features are aimed at improving trust between the operator and its customers and as such, fraudulent businesses wouldn’t offer them.

Jim Devereaux
Jim Devereaux
Editor-In-Chief. Has contributed gaming articles to a variety of publications and produced the award-winning TV show Bored Gamers (Amazon Prime). He loves racing games, classic LucasArts adventures and building new PC gaming rigs whenever he can afford it.
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