Sports betting is a popular way to add a bit more excitement to watching sports. The move from physical bookmaker locations to online sportsbooks has made sports betting available to many more people. Potential bettors who never felt comfortable betting in person can now bet from the comfort of home.
The convenience of online sports betting also makes it more attractive to experienced bettors. One of the biggest selling points is that bets can be placed at any time, from anywhere. With the increase in in-game betting, this is a feature that is in demand. Some people miss the conversation and community of the old-fashioned betting shop. Luckily, there are now plenty of online forums and discussion sites where online sportsbook bettors can form a community.
Finding reliable and trustworthy online sportsbooks shouldn’t be a difficult process. With a trusty guide like this one, it doesn’t have to be. In this article, we’ll go over everything that you need to know to find the best sports betting sites for you. We’ll also provide some suggestions on which sports betting sites are already a hit with bettors in New Zealand.
Licenses
Licensing makes it legal for a sportsbook to operate in a specific region. Licenses also protect bettors because they ensure that bettors have an official body to reach out to if anything goes wrong. It also means that the sportsbook has taken the necessary steps to make sure they comply with the established standards.
While New Zealand does have its own gambling commission, many bettors believe you should look for international sportsbooks that are licensed by more trusted regulatory bodies. The most reliable licensing bodies are the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority.
Sports
Online sportsbooks typically offer bets on more sports than traditional sportsbooks do, but this doesn’t mean that every sportsbook will cover every sport. It’s important to review what sports a sportsbook covers before you make an account. You should also review the events that are covered for each sport, since it’s frustrating to find out that you can only bet on Test cricket and not One Day International (ODI) cricket, for example.
If you only want to bet on top sports like cricket, rugby, horse racing and football, you should be able to find those at any sportsbook. If, however, you have an interest in betting on sports with a smaller audience, you will want to check that the sports and events you’re interested in are covered.
Bet types
Newcomers to sports betting might not realize that there are many different types of bets you can place — it’s not all just picking a winner. That standard bet is called a moneyline bet. Moneyline bets are the most common type of bet, but there are many others which all have their own appeal. It’s important to find a sportsbook that offers a variety of bets.
The other popular bet types to keep an eye out for are spread bets, over/under bets, futures, prop bets and parlays. Over/under bets are bets on the total number of points that will be scored by both teams. It’s a great choice for when you don’t care much about who will win. Futures are bets placed early on the results of big events like the Super Bowl or the World Cup.
Prop bets are bets on events related to the game but not the outcome of the game itself. Prop bets are usually placed on things like which player will score first, how many corner kicks or penalty kicks there will be, how many yards a player will carry for or how many tackles they’ll make. Prop bets can also be on silly things like what color shoes a player will wear, or which coach will get flagged for their behavior.
Payment methods
Having an array of safe and secure digital payment methods is essential for an online sportsbook to function effectively. Bettors should always look for their preferred method for both deposits and withdrawals before they commit to making an account.
The most common payment methods that you’ll find on most online sportsbooks are bank/wire transfers, debit/credit cards, e-wallets and payment apps. Not every method is available in every region, it depends on local legislation and on which apps operate there. For example, Skrill operates almost everywhere, but Cash App is mainly accepted in the USA and the UK.
Popular sportsbooks in New Zealand in 2024
One of the well-established online sportsbooks that is popular in New Zealand is sportsbet.io. This sportsbook has been around since 2016, so it’s had plenty of time to improve its offerings and customer support. The bet builder feature is particularly popular and a handy tool for the more creative bettor.
Mr Play Casino is an online casino and sportsbook. Mr Play has some of the best live betting options in the industry. They have limited options for tournaments and their loyalty program only applies to the casino.
Luckster is another site that combines a casino with a sportsbook. If you’re looking for a great variety of sports, Luckster is a great choice. The promotions they offer are fairly limited.
