Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Betting – Answered

Best betting sites >> FAQ

As a new punter you might find yourself baffled by the language of online betting, or maybe the terms and conditions of your welcome bonus look seemingly inconsistent to you. We know very well the cumbersome procedure of searching the web for answers, and at the end things just don’t add up. We have the affinity for concise, crisp answers that will lift the veil on those intricate affairs you might bump into. This is where we dumb down the complicated, and ferret out what you need to know. We confide, all that our years of sports betting is worth, in a brief and orderly manner, here in our FAQ section.

Is Sports Betting Legal?

Depending on where you live, you will hear different answers to that question. From the user’s standpoint of view, the worst that could happen is not being able to access a particular betting site. This would mean that the respective company is not a legal distributor for your country. For the UK jurisdiction, it’s the Gambling Commission that has the final word. All sites displaying the logo of the Gambling Commission are legalized to operate on UK territory.
There are departments whose job is to filter the incoming Internet traffic and ban domains, in the first place. So as long as you don’t interfere with their job or alter what they do, you will be fine. All admissible operators are established in countries where online gambling is permitted, so they are technically not breaching the law either. As far as we know the simple act of wagering is not punishable, as long as you do it in the right place. In any case, we advise you to exercise due diligence and get familiar with the background of any company before getting involved with it.

Are There Any Age Restrictions for Online Betting?

For the most part, customers must be 18 and above in order to take part in online gambling, but in some countries, the prohibition extends to the 21-year-olds. All sites legalized by the Gambling Commission will be displaying apparent signs, in plain sight, featuring the age restriction and calling for responsible gambling.
This issue is not taken lightly by the Gambling Commission, hence compulsory ID checks are performed by the legitimate operators. Therefore we appeal to your sense of responsibility to always provide authentic personal information. As far as Lottery, Scratch Cards and Football Pools goes, at the moment of writing, all individuals above the age of 16 are eligible.

How Long Does the ID Verification Take?

Only the appropriate department, which processes the documents, can give a precise answer to the question. In spite of what you might get as a deadline, you should allow for a few days extra because of a potentially high volume of documents. Generally speaking, a week should be more than enough, if that’s not the case, you have the right to ask what’s taking so long. You can contribute to shortening the time by providing a clean, intelligible scan of your documents. A photo is always an option, but be sure to get it right.

What Documents Do I Need to Provide?

It’s best to check the onsite information. However, a conjecture along the lines shouldn’t be too far from the truth: documents proving your identity and age (i.e ID card, passport, driving license), bill or invoice certifying your address. Whatever documents are needed, we recommend you to submit them directly to the site, without involving any third parties that may compromise your confidentiality.

What Security Precautions Should I Take

The first line of defense is your password. Include uppercase letters and special symbols and abstain from using popular words or your birth date. To reinforce your login add two-factor authentication. If you have a bad memory for passwords Touch ID takes that burden off your shoulders. It will enable you to login fast and securely with a simple swipe of your index finger. For extra security purposes, by default, your session should be configured to time out after a certain period of time, a functionality that you can change.

How Do I Claim a Welcome Bonus?

Every betting site prides itself on their welcome offers. As much as they are made apparent, one can only be entirely sure how to claim the welcome offer after reading the terms and conditions which apply. We say this because, qualifying for a bonus will usually require some sort of trivial action like making your first bet, first deposit or a special coupon. For a more detailed explanation on the matter check out our Bonuses section.

What Rewards Are in Store?

The bonus for a first deposit doesn’t wrap up everything a betting site can offer. By default, you should be able to find ongoing promotions for the different betting markets, reload bonuses, limited offers, loyalty structure and many other surprises. It’s a good idea to investigate a little further before joining a betting site. To get the bigger picture we recommend you stop by our designated Bonuses page.

How Do I Register with a Betting Site?

On the whole, the registration process is pretty straightforward. The previously mentioned ID verification can take some time. What’s more, on account of the strict regulations imposed by the Gambling Commission, you might be asked to pass additional documents for scrutiny. Other than that, it’s real easy to create a betting account. Upon filling the blanks and submitting the form, verify your email through the verification link you will receive and that’s it.

How Do I Make My First Deposit?

First, you need to be logged in to make a deposit. Select the Cashier and choose a deposit method. Enter the payment details and sum you want to deposit. After you make sure everything is correct hit the Confirm or Deposit button. Most payment methods are instantaneous, but with others, you’ll have to wait for some time.

What Deposit Methods Can I Choose from?

Figure out what is your preferred payment method first and check if it’s supported by your operator. The reckoned betting sites for the most part, will have integrated at least 5-6 payment methods in their system, covering bank transfers, card transactions, electronic wallets, pre-paid cards, telephone wagering, even Bitcoin deposits. Whatever means of payment you may choose, what you have to do on your behalf is to carefully enter the required information and contact the support in case of uncertainty.

What Should I Do If My Deposit Was Not Successful?

First, make sure that your balance can sustain such deposit. Every now and then we can lose track of ordinary things such as our bank account. Ensure that your deposit is within the range of acceptance. Finally, double check if you’ve entered the correct information. If you can’t deal with the issue alone get in touch with the customer support. If you’re paying with debit card it could be that the transaction has been blocked for some reason.

How Can I Withdraw My Winnings?

The first thing you should take care of is fully validating your account and identity. Before depositing money you are ought to check terms and conditions of the bonus scheme you’re opting in. This is essential, as more and more sportsbooks require rollover of not only the bonus amount but the deposit itself too. After you make sure your bankroll is not subject to any regulations or at least the sum you want to withdraw isn’t, simply request a cash-out from the cashier. Then, depending on your payment method, the transaction will be processed accordingly, for the most part instantly.

How Do I Place a Wager?

After you deposit some money, the next thing will be to make your first wager. This is the most frequently asked question and it’s covered at length in all information sections out there. Usually, the act of wagering consists of three parts: selecting one or multiple odds, staking the bet with an amount of your choosing, and to seal the deal – confirm the bet. If you’re betting live an extra confirmation might be needed, due to the constantly changing odds.

What Types of Wagers are Available Online?

You are sure to find your favourite betting lines plus something extra. Outrights, exact result, ante posts, handicaps, multiples, the best bookies have it all. The most anticipated meets get more attention and consequently – more betting lines. As a rule of thumb, the UK sportsbooks focus primarily on football and horse racing, so expect the biggest diversity of choices there. There is an ongoing trend on Twitter, initiated by several sportsbooks who promise to give you a price on almost any prop bet you could think of. Check with your operator to see if that’s a viable option.

Can I Cancel a Wager?

Normally, once your wager is under way there is no going back. Of course, you should first enquire for a detailed explanation from the support team, but be prepared for a negative answer. If you are willing to place a compensating bet you can have a shot of redemption by using hedge betting. Hedging will, no doubt rectify things, but next time you will have to be more careful. Read more about Hedge Betting in our betting guide.

What Sports Can I Bet on?

The sky is the limit. Typically, the best sportsbooks boast a wide array of sports markets. Some might stick to just the majors, but it’s highly likely a few side-events for each sport to be on the list too. If nothing, the bookies are more than willing to price up your own betting lines. Nevertheless, the chances are, they will have the same lines on board already. No matter what sport you’re into, the bookies will give you odds.

What Sports Can I Watch Live?

A big part of the sports events that are up for betting, will be streamed live. And that means nearly every sport that is widely known. You can be sure that the bookies will make their utmost to cover the long-awaited events. However, depending on where you live, you might have limited access to the streams. It comes down to the operator’s legal rights to stream in your region. Usually, you can get information of this sort in due time and decide where to watch.

Are There Any Requirements for Streaming Sports Live?

To unlock this feature, you first need to create an account and log in. More often than not, as a next step the sports bookies will demand that you fund your account and place a wager but under certain conditions, this could or could not be the case. On the technical side, you will need a relatively fast Internet connection and a web browser that supports Flash content, but requirements should not cause any concerns because they are the norm nowadays.

Live Betting – What to Expect?

More or less, Live Betting or In-Play betting is the most sought-after feature of online betting. It essentially gives you the opportunity to place a wager on a meet that has already started and, thus reaping the benefits of knowing the crucial pieces of information that are made available only after the kick-off. You will receive dynamically changing odds, reflecting the situation on the pitch. This, by itself, reveals a world of possibilities for strategizing. On the fun side, you can watch your favourite team in action, and wager at the same time through an intuitive interface.

How to Cash Out a Wager?

Cash Out is by far the pinnacle of safe betting, as it allows you to settle bets before the final whistle. This effectively means that you don’t have to wait and risk to lose it all. Cash Out can be triggered manually or automatically, given that you have specified the desired criteria for cashing out. This function will quite often be available for the bigger part of the betting market, giving you the chance to secure winnings or minimize losses.

What Is Exchange Betting?

Exchange betting is based on a mutual agreement between a person who “lays” the odds and someone who “backs” the selections. This way, you get to choose both the prediction and the odds, leaving no place for a mistake on your behalf. In addition, you can widen even more the array of your betting options and at the same time taking advantage of exceptionally high odds. Not every sportsbook grants the opportunity for exchange betting, for this one you will have to turn to the big names in the business.

Who to Contact If I Encounter a Problem?

Every betting site that has been licensed by the Gambling Commission must have a trained staff of professionals at hand. Typically one can contact customer support via live chat or toll-free phone. Any of those methods should guarantee you a swift response. We recommend you to go for the live chat if that’s an option because we found this to be the most efficient way of receiving help, since you can apply screenshots and even request a remote desktop connection.

What Happens If One or More of My Selections Doesn’t Take Part?

Should any of the selections you chose be postponed or canceled it will most be considered a void selection and your bet will be settled on the remaining selections. Not all bookies have the same policies, though, you need to make an inquiry about that before jumping to conclusions.

Does Winnings Cap Really Exist?

Yes, for what it’s worth they actually are a part of online betting, but they are more of an insurance against a breach in the security. This limitation is also meant to stop punters, who use unfair methods, in their tracks, until the case is resolved. The cap usually applies for a 24 hour period of time. It could be triggered also by a suspicious streak of consecutive winnings. Unless you are into the really high-stakes gambling the winnings cap should not be any of your concerns.

Are My Winnings Subject to Taxation?

Each country or jurisdiction has its own interpretation of the case. Exactly because the law-making is not one and the same we can not give a concise verdict. It would be best if you can consult a legal adviser. Taxpaying is a very delicate subject, that’s why you need to clarify it at earliest convenience.

Are There Any Bet Settlement Rules?

Yes, there are. Those are the standards which determine whether a wager wins or loses. For the most part, they are pretty forthright. But it’s a good practice to go through the essentials of bet settlement for your favourite betting markets. You ought to get familiar with the subject because there could be parts relating to some in-game specifics you might not expect. Not only that, but the different types of wagers have added to the confusion. As a very brief example, we will mention that usually cashed out bets don’t count towards the rollover requirements for a first deposit. Little specifics like that should not come as a surprise in the midst of your betting session.

Can I Check My Open Bets?

Yes, you can do that, as well as follow the results live or even watch a live stream. The way the check on your bets that are still in play may not be one and the same with the different bookies, but in general, there must be a designated section for that. Expect it to be situated somewhere near the Cashier button. The window should be divided in three – with bets that are available for Cash Out at the moment, the events that are In-Play, and bets on events that haven’t started yet.

I Can’t Log in to My Account

Don’t forget that your password is case sensitive, double check if you’re not writing with capitals. Some sportsbooks would lock an account after three consecutive unsuccessful login attempts. If you suspect this is the case, it’s good to know that your betting account could remain blocked for either a few hours or permanently, until you contact customer support. We recommend you head straight to the customer support and let them address your issue. You will need your personal details at hand in order to prove your identity.

Can I Recover My Login Details If I Forget Them?

There is no place for concerns, because usually betting websites have got you covered. Just look below the password field, there should be something of the sort “Forgotten your password”. What’s left then is to provide the email you originally registered and in some cases a security phrase or answer if you had been warned about that beforehand. Almost instantly you should receive an email with instructions as to how to reset your password.

How Many Accounts Can I Have?

Most reputable operators don’t tolerate multiple accounts holding and they would block such users from visiting their website. As far as how many different websites you can register with is concerned, there is no limitation. You are free to choose as many as you want and compare their odds, bonuses, and markets. That’s why the gambling industry is so competitive in the first place because it’s up to you choose whom to trust. We recommend you to at least consider using the services of more than one operator in order to balance their pros and cons.

Can I Open an Account on Behalf of Someone Else?

Due to the strict security measures, most operators are unanimous that customers must create accounts solely on their own and bear responsibility for the activity therein. Furthermore, the most reputable sportsbooks strictly prohibit shared accounts. Therefore, it’s a good idea to ask customer support before you grant access to your account to someone else. If you think about it, the idea behind this is clearly your own safety. In regards to that, the system admins are highly likely to restrain any suspicious IP addresses from accessing your account anyway.

Can I Revise My Own Activity?

Yes, by all means, this option should be available to you. Bet history, successful deposits, and withdrawals, sessions length etc. With this useful information in hand, you will be able to see in retrospect and evaluate fully your betting experience. For what it’s worth, if you need additional data, don’t hesitate to make a request for it. The top sites collect all sorts of data with a view to better their service, so if your demand is reasonable you might just receive what you ask for.

Can I Wager on My Mobile Device?

Placing wagers online is made especially convenient for mobile users. The biggest bookies cater for a seamless mobile betting experience due to their responsive design and unique features. If you made up your mind to gamble on-the-go, simply enter the name of your favourite site, as you normally do. Your device will then display the mobile version of it, which is optimized for ease of use.
Some companies have a mobile application, ready for download either through their website or the App Store. Very few, if any, gambling apps make it to Google Play. It’s important to note, you only need one account to operate on all platforms, which means you can smoothly transition from one device to another.

How Do I Increase my Chances of Winning?

We invite you to read our guide for sports betting to further increase your chances of winning. While it’s not a substitution for due diligence, you will find it very informative. There we break down the commonly utilized betting strategies and systems. But first, before using any strategies, ask yourself are you self-disciplined, are you willing to go the extra mile, can you duly follow a plan, do you have enough time and knowledge of sports on your hands? If you can give a positive answer to those questions, then you have the makings of an accomplished punter.

How Do I Make an Official Complaint?

Every reputable betting site has a procedure to deal with customer complaints that ensures prompt and satisfying results. You can make a complaint in one of the following ways: Live Chat, email, Telephone or post somewhere on the Internet. A member of the customer support team will look into it and contact you timely with a solution. You can rest assured your complaint is regarded with due respect, the only thing required on your behalf is to provide a concise and detailed explanation of the subject of your concerns.

My Betting Account is Frozen/Limited. What Happened?

Obviously, you stepped on the bookie’s toes, but how exactly? If you haven’t received a notification, your guess will be as good as ours, this is why we recommend you to turn to customer support for help. If you’re left with no other choice but figure it out on your own, we will help you narrow down the possible reason for this inconvenience.
If you for some reason have created multiple accounts, they could all be frozen as soon as the system administrators have proven that those accounts point back to you.
It’s no secret that the bookies monitor closely customer activity on their platform, just like every table in a casino is supervised. You could be looked on as a sensible punter, who somehow always picks the best odds and manages to win enough to arise their suspicion. Yes, you could play by the rules and still wind up on the wrong side of a ban. The bookies reserve their rights to do that because at the end of the day, this is how they make bets – if a client is of low value to them they would rather not do business with him.
You might be suspected of arbing. While it’s not unfair to use, this is not what the most profitable sportsbooks look for in a customer.

What is Responsible Gambling?

Responsible gambling is a serious matter, and all top-ranked sportsbooks openly promote it, as requested by the Gambling Commission. This initiative addresses the issue some people might have with the nature of gambling. Nowadays sportsbooks would call for a more sensible approach towards online gambling. They go as far as to give expert advice on self-control, remind you to take breaks frequently. If you struggle to stay collected and take rational decisions, there is a number of ways to customize your account so that it won’t cost you. The customer support will guide you through the process of setting it all up.