What are the basics of online bookmakers for new users?
How to open an account with an online bookmaker
It is very simple to open an account with an online bookmakers. Just follow the step-by-step guide below to join the betting site of your choice.
- Visit the website or mobile site of the betting site you wish to join.
- Click on the Join or Register button or similar.
- Complete all the details in the registration process.
- Submit your information and your account should be opened almost immediately.
Wish some bookmakers you may need to add a deposit option to your account when you sign up. With others you may not need those details to join, but you will need to add a payment method to your account before you make your first deposit on the site.
Top Tip! – Always check what welcome bonus your betting site is offering to customers when they sign up. Ascertain what you need to do to get the bonus when you join. Do this before you join – you may require a bonus code, or to make a deposit of a minimum amount at the sign-up process to claim the offer.
How do I make my first deposit at my chosen betting site?
If you need to deposit when you sign up at a bookmaking site, when you will make your deposit as part of the registration process, and you should have money in your account already.
However, if you haven’t yet added money to your account then you will need to do that, not just to bet with, but to access any welcome bonus that may be available.
The first choice you need to consider is what payment method to use and outlined below are some of the more common payment methods you can use to run your betting account.
Standard Deposit Options
Some of the more common deposit options available to customers include:
- Debit Card (Visa and MasterCard)
- eWallet Services (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
- Prepayment Cards (Paysafecard etc)
- Bank Transfer
- Fast Bank Transfer
- ApplePay
- GooglePay
Non-Standard Deposit Options
Alongside the standard methods to deposit on sites, some bookmakers are now starting to offer a variety of non-standard deposit options based on cryptocurrency.
For non-standard deposit options like crypto, you will need a crypto wallet and for it to be loaded with your choice of cryptocurrency. Plus, you’ll need your betting site to accept payments via crypto (not all do, but some of the more modern sites and crypto-based casinos and sports books will accept crypto as a payment method).
How do I place a bet?
Almost all betting sites tend to use a very similar system when it comes to allowing customers to place a bet.
Firstly, you need to navigate around the site using the different options to locate a bet that you want to make. The first filter is for the sport in question, then you can filter down further through tournaments and fixtures to find the markets available for the fixture you want to bet on.
When you find a bet that you wish to back, then you simply click on the odds to add that bet selection to your bet slip.
Just follow that process to add one or more selections to your bet slip and then when you are ready to make the bet, simply click on the bet slip to open it up.
Now is a good time to review your bet and if you are happy with it, select the bet type (if the bet you want to make isn’t the default single bet) and enter the stake.
If there is a selection that you have changed your mind about since adding it to your slip, there will be an option to remove that selection from your bet slip.
Once you have finalised your bet then check the stake is correct and click the button to place the bet and your bet will then be active.
How will I know the result of my bet?
You can check the result of your bet with any online results website, or with your bookmaker who will also carry the results of events that have taken place.
The quickest and easiest way to find out the result of a bet you made, and any winnings you landed from it, is to check the part of your account that details your current and previous bets.
Here you will find details of the bets you have made, and whether they were winners or not and if they were winners, how much money they won you.
How do I withdraw my winnings?
With most bookmakers, you will need to complete a verification process (see the section below) before a withdrawal can be actioned from your account with the betting site.
If you have completed the verification process then you can withdraw funds from your account in the following way.
- Log in to the site and head to the Account section/Cashier.
- Click on your cash balance. This may also show you how much of the cash balance can be withdrawn.
- Choose the option to withdraw funds from the account.
- Choose how much you want to withdraw.
- Select from one of the available methods by which to receive your funds.
- Click the button to start the withdrawal process.
- Wait for your funds to appear in your account.
Depending on the amount being withdrawn and the payment method used, it can take from anywhere between near instantaneous to around a week to receive your funds. This may be longer if you need to complete the verification process after step 6 on the guide above.
Remember too that many betting sites will only allow withdrawals back to payment services used to make a deposit with them. So, if you deposited via a debit card, then you will only be able to withdraw back to your debit card.
If you use a deposit method that does not allow for withdrawals, then your bookmaker will usually attempt to transfer your funds into your bank account via a bank transfer.
What is the Verification Process and why do I need to complete it?
Verification with a bookmaker is a process that all customers need to complete so that bookmakers can meet their legal requirements to prevent money laundering, and to ensure that their customers are who they say they are.
Until you have completed verification you may not be able to deposit or withdraw into and from your account, although verification is usually completed before your first deposit is actioned.
The requirements for the verification process are similar for most popular bookmakers. You will need to provide two pieces of official information to prove you are who you say you are.