Best Place For Sports Betting
It’s crucially important to stay safe when betting online. In fact, it should be priority number one when assessing a site to bet on.
- The best place to bet on sports in Montana – and frankly, the only place to bet on sports in Montana – is right on your smartphone, tablet, or home computer. In that regard, anywhere you are where there’s an active Internet connection constitutes a fine betting parlor.
- Sports Betting Sites Find the best sports betting sites to place your wagers at online. Sports Betting Picks Free daily sports betting and DFS picks from a team of expert sports handicappers. Sports Betting Strategy Sports betting strategy articles that will help you learn how to win more money.
- After sports betting was legalized in July 2019, the NH State Lottery invited operators to place bids on what they could potentially offer in terms of land-based, mobile and lottery betting. DraftKings has been selected by the State Lottery to be the sole sports betting (retail and mobile) operator in the state.
Yes, in some places. Sports betting has been legalized in a number of states to date, and the list is expected to continue growing in the coming years. In 2018, the Supreme Court placed the matter of legalizing sports betting into the hands of the individual states to decide on.
We’ve done most of the hard work for you by searching the web, reviewing hundreds of potential betting sites, and separating the worthy sites from those you should avoid.
Check out the sites listed in the table above. All of these passed our security checks with flying colors.
Betting Site | Bonus | Bet Now | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | up to €30 Free Bet | Go to Site | |
2 | 22Bet | 100% up to €122 | Go to Site |
3 | 100% up to €200 | Go to Site | |
4 | 10Bet | 100% up to €50 | Go to Site |
5 | 100% up to €50 | Go to Site |
Of course, we don’t just expect you to take our word on it. That’s why we’ve outlined how we made the decision to include these below if you’re interested.
The safest gambling sites are inevitably found in the countries where it is legal and regulated. These sites have to pass quality checks and comply with strict regulations to get a license from the authorities in these countries. This is one of the factors we consider when assessing a site.
How We Decide if a Betting Site is Safe
There are literally tens of thousands of potential betting sites to choose from. We’ve visited, bet on, and reviewed thousands of them. Over time, we have developed criteria for assessing betting sites.
Each site listed in the table above passed the following tests:
It Must Have a Valid Gaming License
If a site doesn’t have a license issued by a credible authority, that’s a warning sign that it might not be safe. It’s even worse if it once had one but lost it. That means it violated the issuing authority’s rules.
There are lots of gaming authorities in the world, but the following are the ones we rate highest.
This is widely considered the gold standard of casino gaming licenses. The UK is a highly regulated market and there’s a zero tolerance policy towards cheating and scheming. If a betting site has a UK license, it’s almost guaranteed to be safe.
Malta is a Mediterranean island nation and an iGaming mecca. Lots of online casinos and software firms operate out of Malta. The Gaming Authority, therefore, takes licensing issues incredibly seriously and is quick to clamp down on anything considered unfair.
Geographically, Gibraltar lies off the tip of Spain. It’s actually a British overseas territory, though. While it governs its own affairs, gambling regulations stem from the UK Gambling Act (2005), making a Gibraltar license just as worthy as a UK one.
This small island nation in the Caribbean is home to thousands of remote eGaming operations. A Curacao license is generally held in high regard, and although the regulations are a little more flexible than the UKGC’s, for example, a betting site with a Curacao license is still considered pretty safe.
So, that’s a quick look at some of the top gambling regulators. Our recommended sites always have a valid license. You can double check these directly on the websites listed above.
It Must Offer Fast, Reliable Payouts
There’s more than one way for a site to be unsafe, but without a doubt, the most common sort of betting site scam is when you deposit and don’t get your money back.
Some sites also put up major obstacles to allowing you to withdraw, such as by asking for unreasonable verification documents or by putting in minimum withdrawal clauses which far exceed the deposits you have made.
We check the terms and conditions of each site we recommend and avoid recommending those with anything we think is ‘funny business.’
Ideally, we want to see same day payout for e-wallet withdrawals, and we want to see a maximum 3-5 business day wait for credit and debit card withdrawals.
Despite how some players feel, we actually like it when a casino asks you to verify your identity. As long as the process isn’t too complex or time-consuming, this means the site cares about fraud prevention and identity theft. When it comes to looking for safe betting sites, that’s a big plus.
It Must Run on a Secure, Encrypted Connection
Does the idea of advanced encryption make your head spin? Don’t worry, we feel you on that.
There’s no need to have a deep understanding of this issue to make use of it. That’s why they pay IT professionals the big bucks. All you need to know, as an online bettor, is that you want to bet at sites with https:// at the beginning of the web address.
That means the site runs on an SSL encrypted connection. Without getting into boring details, this makes it virtually impossible for hackers and criminals to steal financial and/or personal data on the connection.
If you take a look at any of the sites listed above, you’ll see that they run on secure connections. We don’t take risks with your data safety, and you should avoid any sites which aren’t encrypted.
On most browsers, a little notification will appear beside the address bar telling you if a site is not secure. Pay attention when this happens. It could be a costly mistake to ignore this.
It Must Offer Games from Reputable Software Providers
Whether it’s a sports betting site, a casino site, a poker site, or a combination of things, we want to see software from established, reliable firms.
When it comes to online casino betting sites, for example, we really like to see games from NetEnt, Microgaming, IGT, and Playtech. These companies have a long history and are guaranteed fair.
If we see betting software we don’t recognize, that’s not an automatic write-off. We know this industry is highly innovative and are always willing to give upstarts a chance. However, we need to dig deeper and find out if these companies are reputable, and ideally want to see third-party verification of payouts.
Safe betting sites will have no problem publishing payout rates and explaining how the software works. If they aren’t willing to be transparent, we aren’t willing to recommend them.
It Must Have an Established History & Solid Base of Players/Bettors
The longer a betting site has been around the better, in our view. If a site has been servicing thousands of players since 1998, it’s highly unlikely to be unsafe. If it has survived for decades, it’s a safe bet (pun fully intended).
We’re also aware, of course, that there are lots of new betting sites coming online on a daily basis, and plenty of them are safe. In those cases, we look at the management team and company running them. If they are experienced and run multiple safe betting sites, we are happy to recommend them.
If a site is totally new, run by a startup with no industry reputation or experience, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find that site on our recommended list. They will only make it if they’ve done something exceptional to win our trust.
There are some new betting sites which make the cut, but it’s rare, and as you’ll see from the table above, most of our preferred betting sites have been around for a while.
Some of the Risks Associated with Online Betting
Part of the key to staying safe when betting online is education. We don’t mean to be patronizing, but if you’re new to this, you’re more likely to fall into the hands of predatory sites and scammers.
We want to prevent that, if possible. Other than sticking to the sites which have already been reviewed in-depth by our team of experts, it helps to know what some of the common safety concerns are.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the risks associated with betting sites:
- Outright Theft – This is simply a site stealing your money or making it impossible to get it back. It happens all too often but can easily be avoided. Stick to sites with a reputation for fair, fast payouts. Also, take some time to at least skim the terms and conditions, especially the ‘withdrawals’ section.
- Identity Theft – This is the one that really seems to freak people out these days. It’s always slightly unnerving when a betting site asks you to send a copy of your ID and a recent utility bill to verify your account. Again, it won’t be such a worry if you stick to the best-known operators who have licenses requiring them to take data protection seriously.
- Fee Gouging – Those terms and conditions are a treasure trove of information, as we’ve said before. Still, virtually nobody takes the time to read them. This is where dishonest operators can confiscate your winnings for no reason or take back a hefty slice in the form of fees.
- Viruses & Malware – Lots of mobile bettors, in particular, like to download an app from their favorite betting site. However, too many less scrupulous operators install malware, adware, and spyware along with the app. Get a good antivirus program which detects malware, adware, and spyware, and you should be safe.
- Rigged Games & Odds – The crooked bookie or casino run in a smoke-filled room parlor by the mob is long gone. These days, they’ve migrated online. Some unsafe betting sites create their own odds software or casino games, which are designed to rip you off, plain and simple.
Summary
It’s always worth it to take the time to research before deciding on a betting site. You can start by reading some of our in-depth reviews.
We cover each of the points listed above in detail and leave no stone unturned. We’re not saying every site we review will turn out to be right for you, but we are saying you’ll be in a much better position to make a decision after reading one.
You can find our safest betting sites and their full reviews on the table at the top of this page. We wish you the best of luck!
Could this be the scene at sporting venues around Arizona? It’s possible now that sports gambling legislation is moving through both the House and the Senate as two separate bills. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – Picture a baseball game at Chase Field. Or a basketball game at Suns Arena. As more fans begin returning to sporting events after the COVID-19 pandemic, they are welcomed by the benefits of live competition, from ballpark hot dogs to the energy of a packed stadium.
In the near future, the Arizona sports fan’s experience could include the ability to place bets inside sports venues while the action unfolds. For others, daily online fantasy sports platforms like Draft Kings and FanDuel might soon be operating legally in the state.
Arizona moved several steps closer to making those opportunities a reality with sports-gambling legislation now moving through both the House and the Senate as two separate bills, each with similar strings attached.
The new legislation would overcome the barriers set by the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compacts in 2002. That agreement set the rules for tribes to operate casinos but with no opportunities for sports betting, on or off of tribal land.
Now, HB 2772 and SB 1797 would allow both event wagering and online sports betting, with up to 10 tribes and 10 professional teams licensed to provide online betting platforms. There are 16 tribes in Arizona operating casinos. And there are eight professional teams, including NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA franchises.
If passed, people would be able to place bets at Chase Field during a Diamondbacks game, or at Gila River Arena with the Coyotes skating. Bettors could also place wagers at sports books at select Indian casinos or legally participate in popular daily fantasy sports games.
In January, the Washington Nationals announced plans to open the first sportsbook at an MLB stadium, and for an app that will allow fans at their games to place bets from their seats.
Jill Dorson, the managing editor for Sports Handle, says there hasn’t been much of an explanation for the number of licenses being handed out, especially since there aren’t enough for all the tribes and too many for the teams.
Ten additional licenses would be used strictly for brick and mortar or retail sports betting, not online or mobile platforms. It’s unclear who would receive those licenses.
HB 2772 was introduced to the House by Rep. Jeff Weninger (R.) of LD 17 Chandler, Sun Lakes, and Gilbert. He said he’s excited to see this process underway, with support from Gov. Doug Ducey.
“This bill is modernizing the current gaming compacts,” Weninger said. “It will allow event wagering inside and outside of tribal casinos. It will also allow online fantasy sports to operate in parts of the state as well.”
The bill was pushed forward by an Arizona House committee on February 10.
On February 24, SB 1797 was pulled by the Senate Appropriations Committee, but then added as an amendment to a previous bill linked to horse race gambling. It passed 5-4 on a party line vote and now moves to another vote on March 10 within a different committee before bringing it to the entire floor if it passes.
The current bill, now SB 1794, struggled to pass in previous years because of the implications it has between the tribes and the state. Their 2002 gaming compact, which regulates the amount of revenue between the tribes and the state, would have to be renegotiated if this bill were to pass.
The main argument for those who want to pass the bill is the increased revenue it would create for Arizona. Weninger believes there’s a market for sports betting in Arizona and not having it legalized leaves the local teams at a disadvantage compared to those in states with legalized gambling.
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In 2018, the last time the original SB 1794 was brought to a vote, there were adamant opponents because of a belief that it violated the gaming compacts with the tribes. State Attorney General Mark Brnovich was one of the fiercest opponents of this bill, writing:
“Wagering on historic racing through the use of player terminals has been prohibited in Arizona since before May 1, 2002. Any change to Arizona’s pre-May 1, 2002 gaming laws could cause one of the signatories to the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact (the “Compact”)[1] to initiate action under Compact section 3(h)(1), which would limit the State’s ability to regulate some aspects of tribal gaming and dramatically decrease the revenues the tribes must provide to the State.”
Tribes pay approximately eight percent of their casino revenue to the state. That number will decrease if sports gambling on horse racing is passed.
Effect on small businesses
Not everyone is satisfied with the proposed legislation.
It would not allow bars and restaurants to license online sports books, which is par for the course in other states that have legalized gambling. Dave Delos, the president of Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, said politicians voting on this should add an amendment to allow bars and restaurants to operate with gambling licenses.
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“We’ve already been left out to dry during the pandemic as small businesses,” Delos said. “I’m glad they’re moving this bill along, but they really need to consider finding a way to include small businesses so we can get a piece of this revenue opportunity.”
Dorson covers sports legislation and betting and has been watching Arizona’s process for quite some time. To her, the notion that small businesses are left out is understandable, but the precedent was set in other states.
“If you look at how sports betting is legalized in a lot of places, the real answer is that there’s no room for the little guy,” Dorson said. “It’s generally used for existing casinos and professional sports teams in the states.”
As Arizona looks to become involved in retail and online sports betting, Dorson says they’re not trying to “reinvent the wheel” as they follow in the footsteps of states like New Jersey, which has seen tremendous growth following the legalization of gambling and an expansion of tribal casino gaming.
Following the Super Bowl, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted that preliminary wagering on the game totaled $117.4 million, “a 116% increase from last year’s game.”
New Jersey won big at #SuperBowlLV last night – with preliminary wagering data totaling $117.4 million, a 116% increase from last year’s game.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 9, 2021
Next steps
If SB 1797 is passed as an amendment on March 10, then it will move through another committee for an additional vote. If passed, it will go before the Senate for a vote and then move to the House for confirmation.
The same goes for HB 2772, which has been moving more quickly through the Arizona House of Representatives. As of now, the original bill hasn’t been altered. If it’s approved by the House, then the Senate would have to vote on it as well.
The earliest that sports gambling can be legalized in Arizona is in July of this year. There is an emergency clause and a conditional enactment, which means that once the Senate and the House sign one of these bills, it will go into effect immediately. There would need to be a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber. The House passed with 48 of 60 votes on March 4.
The current tribal gaming compact remains a potential stumbling block, something that Weninger doesn’t take lightly.
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“Governor Ducey has been working with tribal leaders to renegotiate the current compacts,” Weninger said. “We want to make sure that this benefits them as well as the state. We will just have to wait and see what that looks like in the coming weeks and months.”