Beyond the core sportsbook experience, there are a number of practical elements that warrant consideration when determining the optimal betting site for your preferences:

• Where do you live?
  • While sports betting is becoming more accessible, options may be limited depending on the country and/or state you live in.
  • Some countries (like the UK) have an incredible number of legal betting options, while the number of options on the US sports betting scene to bet online vary from state to state. There may be more options in Arizona, Michigan, Kansas, and New York than states like Connecticut, Iowa, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia for example.
• How often do the odds change?
  • Some sportsbooks and bookmakers adjust the odds more frequently than others.
  • Carefully monitoring these changes can be an effective way to find value on one side of the wager, but this strategy can be too time-consuming for casual bettors.
  • If you prefer to place your bets without fear of better odds popping up an hour later, look for a book that takes a “set and forget” approach to their lines.

• How early are the lines released?
  • Some online sportsbooks will release the odds days or even weeks ahead of game day, while others tend to cut things a bit closer.
  • If you’re a very knowledgeable and confident bettor, putting your money down early can often secure better odds. But if you’re new to betting or find yourself wagering on a sport you don’t know as well, it’s probably best to wait until closer to game day to place your bets.
  • If you prefer to bet on athletic sports like hockey, baseball, or basketball, you’ll see much less variation in line release times. If you’re a fan of football betting or combat sports betting, on the other hand, you might want to consider a sportsbook that releases their lines well in advance.

• How much of a cut does the sportsbook take?
  • Every online betting site charges a commission to handle your wager (called the ‘juice,’ ‘vig,’ or ‘vigorish’), but the amounts vary between books and individual games.
  • Over the long term, the difference in vig can be the difference between turning a profit or suffering a loss.
  • Odds of -110 are generally standard for points spreads and totals. This means you must bet $1.10 to win $1. Books that charge more than this are considered pricey, while those that consistently offer odds at -105 are generally considered to be a value.
  • If you plan to place a couple of bets casually, these differences won’t have such a large impact. On the other hand, those who plan to bet consistently will notice the toll a high vig can take on your bankroll over time.
  • Consider how much money you plan to wager over the next year. The higher the number, the more you should consider finding a sportsbook with low average juice.

• Do they offer a wide variety of lines on your favorite sports?
  • There’s often incredible value to be found betting on smaller market teams and sports, but not every sportsbook offers lines on these less frequently covered games. If you want to bet on snooker, darts, cricket, or any other event you’re not likely to see on national television, make sure you find a sportsbook that has the resources to formulate betting lines for them.
  • While many bettors stick to the ‘big four’ North American sports of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, many sportsbooks also allow you to put money down on anything from table tennis to Belarusian Premier League soccer.