The online gambling industry is growing at an unparalleled pace giving more options to the online bettor than he or she knows what to do with. Advertising everywhere points to this site or that site as being the best. The fact is there are numerous well run gaming sites. But unfortunately there are also those sites looking to scam you out of your hard earned money. The following is some sound advice that every offshore player should always keep in the back of his or her head when choosing an online sportsbook or casino.


• Look over their website to see how accessible they are.

This is very important. If you can't get a in touch with them easily, what will you do in the event a problem does arise. Most, if not all, of the reputable sites offer a toll free customer service number for there clients to use. Remember, well run companies, in it for the long haul, want their customers to feel comfortable. The more information on their website the better.


• If it sounds too good to be true - it probably is.

There are sportsbooks and casinos out there that will tell you anything to get you to join, so you have to make sure get the relevant information. Don't get us wrong, there are some very good incentives available, however don't forget there is no such thing as a FREE LUNCH. There are, and always will be, conditions on every free thing you receive in your life. Make sure to ask what those conditions are and you can deem whether or not they are reasonable.


• Two sets of lines are better than one.

If you have $1,000 in post-up money, send $500 to two sportsbooks and have the benefit of two sets of lines, two sign-up bonuses, etc. It is not rare to get 10% on your money to sign-up and/or see a differential of 1.5 points on a game. And, yes 10% on your money and 1.5 points a game does make a difference in your long-term success. This will also allow you to compare product offerings and service. You can then move your money to the one with which you are most comfortable.


• Pull some of your winnings to see how promptly the company reacts.

A reasonable time frame for you to receive your winnings is anywhere from 48 to 72 hours after request. There are extenuating circumstances that may cause it to be longer from time to time (ex. hurricanes or religious holidays). If you request a payout and do not get it within this time frame and there are not any apparent extenuating circumstance you might want to think twice about continuing with that service. Better to be safe than sorry.

*Remember, that when pulling money you typically have to have met certain criterium to keep your bonuses, get free payouts, etc... Make sure you have met those criterium if you want to keep your promotional items. Don't come to us and say a company is bad because they took your bonus money away if you didn't meet the requirements to keep it. That is the business after all.*


• Find out how long they have been in business and who licenses them.

We consider most of the premier online services to have been in business less than 7 years. When dealing with newer companies there is a greater chance that all new technologies will be taken advantage of. This will result in smoother operation and a greater number of options for the user. There are companies that are older than that but those are generally old phone operations that are trying to convert to the Internet. Older does not equal better! As for licensing, here are some of the larger more civilized countries that have embraced online gambling: Curacao, Antigua, Costa Rica, Australia, and England.


• What is the largest wager they will accept over the phone?

While most online limits are much lower, the leading companies will accept at least a $1,000-$10,000 wager over the phone. If they won't accept this amount you should move on and find a more stable book. Serious books will accept this amount any time and will probably take much more.

• What books are safe?

If you want to stay with a safe book it is important to only use top tier books. If you are searching for this type of book and need some help we recommend these sportsbooks. They have been around for many years and have established themselves as responsible and ethical companies. They have proven their financial stability and would be a great choice for your business.