How We Pick Online Sportsbooks

You're probably thinking to yourself, "Yeah, all your advice is fine and dandy, but I want to know how you pick your sportsbook." And if you weren't thinking that, well, you're thinking it now. Either way, I give you the checklist of the pros.

Sportsbooks Wager Factor

Unfortunately, there isn't one cure-all sportsbook. It's good to have at least one sportsbook with a unique wager type, such as "in-game betting," and at least one with high wager limits. However, any more than three sportsbooks is probably not a good idea strictly from a sanity and self control standpoint. It's like having ten butlers in a two bedroom house. It sounds like a good idea, but eventually they'll just start smashing into each other and showing up in the shower.

Sportsbooks Odds

While most sites tend to be relatively close to Vegas, sometimes slight changes may be the difference in a cover or loss. Usually newer sites will tend to skew the line in favor of the favorite in hopes of more business, which might be good or bad depending on who you think will cover. For the most part, however, we find little value in obsessing over the line differences. Diversifying will almost always ensure you can take the best line.

Sportsbook Navigation

This is a standard not all for online gambling sites, but all web sites, city streets and supermarket lines. When you're planning to invest 4,343,927 hours on a particular hobby, the last thing you want is a site that makes navigating as difficult as being a pair of Star Jones' shoes. Which makes you wonder, what are those shoes made of? Titanium? I'm not sure, but I think it's the same technology they use in earthquake-proof skyscrapers.

Sportsbook Bonuses

Anything that provides a consistent reload or specialty bonus, as in 5% on Thursday deposits and Friday half juice. We treat this gambling thing like a steady girlfriend, not a one night stand and bonuses are no different.

Sportsbook Scam Care

Research, research, then more research. We usually channel Terrell Owen's gay-dar and use the "smells like a rat test." Some smelly things include insanely high bonuses, crazy odds and any body part following the word "Roseanne's."

Sportsbook Customer Service

Probably the least important factor in selecting a sportsbook, but the most important factor in staying with one. After all, no one cares about customer service until you're the one with the problem. It's also the hardest to gauge when you sign up for a sportsbook because everyone is nice when they're trying to get your business. It's like the guy in the shoe store who asks you "How are you doing?" when you're in the store, but does he care when your shoe falls apart on the court and your ankle goes Grant Hill on you? I don't think so. How are you doing indeed.