How to find genuine betting odds in 2024
Sports betting is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, thanks to changes in the law that finally made it possible for states to legalize the activity. Back in 2018, New Jersey became the first state to legalize sports betting, and since then, most of the country has followed. The most popular sports to bet on are football, basketball, baseball and soccer.
Some states only allow in-person betting at casinos or at special betting locations (like race tracks), others have legalized online sports betting, and some have legalized both. Online sportsbooks are where most people are choosing to place their bets when they can.
Online sportsbooks are more convenient and easier to access than retail betting locations. Unlike the United Kingdom, the US doesn’t have a long history of betting shops in every town, so it has always been harder to find a reliable place where you can place your bets. Online sportsbooks have helped to fix that problem.
Unfortunately, just like with any lucrative industry, there are scam bookmakers who take advantage of inexperienced bettors. When you’re new to sports betting, it’s difficult to understand the odds and you don’t know how to read all the fine print before you place a bet. This makes it easy for those sketchy betting sites to avoid paying out.
Finding a trusted sportsbook with genuine betting odds is the first step to getting into sports betting as a hobby. Keep reading to find our top tips for finding genuine betting odds at online sportsbooks in 2024.
Read reviews
We live in a world where all it takes is a simple Google search to find detailed reviews of anything and everything. From restaurants and hotels to tourist attractions and products, people review just about everything that they have any experience with. And we’ve all become very used to checking these reviews before we go out to eat or buy some new piece of tech.
Betting sites are no different. There are tons of review sites dedicated to sportsbooks and online casinos. These review sites also provide information on reading odds, bet types, sports stats and predictions. The WSN weekly picks are a great place to start, especially if you’re looking for NFL betting sites and tips.
You can also find plenty of first-person reviews on sites such as Trust Pilot and Google Reviews, or on social media platforms like Reddit. Just remember that these reviews are just one person’s experience and that most people don’t write a review unless they’re upset about something or something really amazing happened. Your best option is to read a lot of reviews so you get the full picture.
Compare odds
Once you’ve read the reviews and narrowed your options down to a few sportsbooks, compare the odds they offer. The dream is that odds will always be long on your pick, so that you can win big when it comes through, but we all know that isn’t how life works. Impossibly good odds are usually just that – impossible.
Odds aren’t just pulled out of thin air. Bookmakers set their odds based on detailed stats about both teams, conditions, insider information on injuries, and on betting patterns. Odds will vary by sportsbook but typically not dramatically. Trust the sportsbook whose odds are in line with those of their competitors.
Find a trusted sportsbook
Finding a trusted sportsbook is essential to finding genuine odds and placing secure bets. There are several things to look for before you create an account with any online sportsbook. First, are they fully licensed in your state or region? If they’re not licensed, you’re not protected.
Similarly, verify that the site uses encryption software. This will keep your deposit safe from hackers and cybercriminals who target betting sites. You should also check what payment methods they accept for deposits and withdrawals. A trusted sportsbook will only support reliable and secure payment methods.
Lastly, check the terms and conditions. Most sportsbooks will offer welcome bonuses that include features like free bets and bet protection. Trusted sportsbooks will have wagering requirements (how much you have to bet before you can claim anything you won from a free bet) that are possible to meet. Sketchy sportsbooks will have impossibly high wagering requirements, so that you can’t claim any winnings.
Do your research
So, you’ve done your research on sportsbooks and you’ve read the reviews. What else is there? If you’re just betting on a game with some buddies for fun, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re taking sports betting more seriously and want to place smart bets with genuine odds, then you need to do your research on the sport you’re betting on.
Odds can sound great or terrible if you don’t actually know that much about the teams playing or the sport. If you’re uninformed, it’s really easy to be swayed by a convincing bit of advertising or odds that look good.
This is one of the main reasons why experts recommend only betting on one particular sport when you’re new to sports betting. Researching the teams, coaches, fields and players makes it easier to identify genuine odds. It’s also the most enjoyable research you’ll ever get to do!