- Sports Betting Online 101: Introducing the World of Online Wagers
- Gain Access to Every Sport Market
- You Have Every Online Sports Betting Type Available
- Boost Your Bets with Bonuses
- Bet Responsibly By Setting Your Limits
- Personalisation at Your Fingertips
- Bet on the Go
- Live Stream Matches Online
- What to Look for in a Top-Notch Online Sports Betting Site
- Top Tips For Betting On Sports Online
- Legal Sports Betting
- Payment Methods
- Ready, Set, Get Started with Online Sports Betting
- Sports Betting Online FAQs
Sports Betting Online 101: Introducing the World of Online Wagers
Betting on sports online is a game changer for those who’ve previously stuck with physical bookies or had to call their bets in. Even without all the bells and whistles, being able to bet digitally means being able to bet instantly. See great odds? Place a bet before it changes. You won’t miss out because someone else is placing a bet at the machine or is in front of you at the bookies when you bet online.
Naturally, of course, the experience you have with online betting is going to vary considerably from one operator to another, but there are some general benefits to choosing to place your bets online.
Gain Access to Every Sport Market
When it comes to sports betting online, you don’t just have the big leagues in your own country to choose from. You can bet on sports anywhere in the world. Do you follow European football teams? You can place your bets on even the lower leagues without a hitch when you bet online.
International coverage isn’t the only benefit. You can also bet on niche sports, eSports, and virtual sports. Since digital sportsbooks operate 24/7, there’s also no restrictions. You can get up super early to watch a game in another time zone and place bets without any problems.
You Have Every Online Sports Betting Type Available
When betting online, you also have several ways to bet:
- Pre-match betting, where you bet on outcomes before the game begins.
- Live betting, where you place bets as the game unfolds right up until the last minute.
- Live-stream betting, where you place bets on the same page as you follow the live video stream (only available with select operators).
When and where you bet is just one of the options available to you. When you bet on sports online, you also have every betting type available to you at all times. This way, you can choose a bet that suits you. This can be based on a strategy that you’ve developed for yourself, or it can be just what feels fun to you at the moment. With so many options, betting online is easily adaptable for casual and serious bettors alike.
Here’s an overview of the types of bets you can make when you use an online sportsbook:
| Bet Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Bet on which team or player will win the game. |
| Point Spread | Bet on the margin of victory, with a handicap applied to even the odds between favoured and underdog teams. |
| Over/Under (Totals) | Bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a predetermined number. |
| Parlay | Combine multiple bets into one, with each leg needing to win for the entire parlay to cash out. This has higher potential payouts, but also higher risk. |
| Teaser | Similar to a parlay, but you can adjust the point spreads or totals slightly in your favour in exchange for lower odds. |
| Prop Bets | Bets on specific events or outcomes within a game, not just the final winner. |
| Futures Bets | Wagers placed on long-term outcomes, such as who will win a championship or individual award. |
The bet types and what they’re called will naturally change depending on your location and even the sport you’re betting on. Horse race betting, for example, has a whole different set of bet types to suit the event. Regardless of what type of sport you’re betting on or where you are, however, you can be sure that any questions you have can and will be answered online. This may be in the FAQ page, or on the odds pages themselves. This way, you can understand what you’re looking at in a jiffy, and place fully informed bets.
Boost Your Bets with Bonuses
One of the biggest reasons why people choose to bet on sports online is because of the bonuses and promotions. We’ve put together a complete guide on the best betting bonuses out there today, and which operators they’re from, so if you plan on using bonuses and promotions as part of your betting strategy, you know exactly where to go.
Betting bonuses can absolutely be used to enhance your bets, but you need to be fully aware of how to clear the wagering requirements, what types of bets you can make with the bonus money, and the terms and conditions. Just have a look at this overview:
| Bonus Type | Description | Example | How to Withdraw Your Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | A bonus only available to new subscribers. Usually a free bet or matched deposit. | Matched deposit up to $100 or a free bet for new sign-ups. | Clear the wagering requirements. |
| Matched Deposit Bonus | The operator will match your deposit amount up to a certain amount. | Your deposit is matched up to $250. Deposit $100, get $100 from the operator. | Clear the wagering requirements. |
| Free Bet | A bet placed with house funds instead of the player’s own money. | If you win the bet, the $10 goes back to the house and you keep the winnings. | Place a qualifying bet, usually with certain odds or market restrictions. |
| Cashback Bonus | A percentage of your losses over a certain period is refunded as bonus funds. | Opt into the cashback promotion and place bets within the qualifying period. | You get a % of your losses back if you lose over a certain amount. |
| Loyalty Programmes: | Reward regular betting activity with points that can be redeemed for bonus funds, free bets, or other rewards. Variable and depends on the brand | Get higher matched deposit bonuses for 2nd, 3rd, 4th deposits over a certain amount. | Deposit funds regularly, bet often, etc. |
The exact bonus requirements will differ from promotion to promotion, and from operator to operator, so you need to check in regularly and read through the full terms and conditions before you accept.
Bet Responsibly By Setting Your Limits
One of the most important things to remember when you bet on sports is that you only bet with money that you’re comfortable with losing. Now, it can be challenging to stick to the limits you personally set with yourself when you’re in the heat of the moment, but that’s where the responsible gambling tools come into play. The best sites, for example, will offer these tools to make sure you’re only betting with a cool head:
- Deposit limits
- Loss limits
- Time limits
- Cool-off periods
- Regular check-ins
Personalisation at Your Fingertips
When you bet on sports, you want to see odds in the format that makes the most sense to you, and in the currency that you’re betting with. You may also want to view the betting pages in dark mode, or see certain sports featured on your main page when you log in to your account. All of this is possible through site preference features. Naturally, the default options differ from one operator to another across regions, so have a look at our online betting sites guide to learn more about what each brand offers to make your experience as personalised and streamlined as possible.
Bet on the Go
Some of the best betting brands have their own dedicated apps that let you streamline your betting. Not every app is going to be better than its website equivalent, however, and you do need to set up your preferences to get the best experience out of sports betting online through an app. Apps come with extras like widget integration, after all, or notifications so you never miss a game. To find the best options out there, have a look at what we consider to be the best betting apps out there today.
Live Stream Matches Online
Betting brands today now allow their customers to stream games on the go. While the streams aren’t going to compare in quality to your TV, they’re great if you’re out but want to keep an eye on the game. Only the best brands offer this streaming service, however, and streams will often only be available for the biggest games. For those that do offer the service on their main sites, they might also offer it via app too.
What to Look for in a Top-Notch Online Sports Betting Site
You’ll want to use the best betting sites when you bet on sports online in order to get the most potential benefits. While going for an operator that’s been licensed by a responsible gambling authority is a great start, it’s just the beginning. You’ll want to look for factors such as the ones listed below, many of which we already discussed.
- Sports Promotions
- Site Speed
- Site Security
- Ease of Use
- Mobile Apps
- Payment Options
- Sports Market Coverage and Value Odds
- In-Play Betting
- Betting Limits
- Betting Tools
While the biggest and best betting brands are always a good shout, newcomers offer some very exciting new features that are definitely worth investigating. We’ve done the legwork for you and have put together some top guides on the latest online betting sites to help you get started.
Top Tips For Betting On Sports Online
When you go searching for new online bookmakers, it is always important to look out for certain credentials that turn the bookmaker from a good one into an excellent one.
Here are a few tips we feel you should look out for when choosing which online betting site you are going to use.
Bonus Offers And Promotions
We all love a good offer, whether that is in normal life or in the world of betting. A large portion of online bookmakers will offer new customers a special welcome bonus in order to get them to sign up. These welcome offers and bonuses can vary depending on the bookie. Take a look at what is on offer and choose the site that has the welcome offer that satisfies your betting needs.
Find The Best Odds
Most bookmakers now will have similar betting markets for all the mainstream sports, but not all odds will be the same. It is important to check out a few sites to see how the odds differ. There might not be a lot of difference, but the opportunity to get better odds and win more money is too good to pass up.
On-Site Features
It makes good sense to take a look all around the bookmaker site you have chosen. Some sites will have different sections like stats, news and blogs. These are useful tools when you are planning your bets for the weekend. The blogs and news section will provide expert analysis on upcoming events, while the stats can help when it comes to betting markets like over/under goals and both teams to score. If the information is available then use it to your advantage.
Loyalty Offers
Loyalty offers are different from welcome bonuses. The welcome offers are aimed at new customers, but what about the existing customers. The existing customers have not been left out. They might not get amazing offers like the new customers, but some bookmakers will have offers and specials on site to keep the regular customers happy. So when you are looking for a site, look deeper to see what that site can offer you after you have made your first deposit.
Legal Sports Betting
It is important that as a customer looking to sign up with an online betting site, you check out whether that site is operating legally and has the relevant licence.
The majority of betting sites will have the licences they hold in clear site at the bottom of the home page. If you scroll down you will see the logo of each licence. Some bookmakers will just have one, while others will have multiple licences.
Here at Odds Portal, we will only feature online bookmakers that hold the relevant licence.
This one is the main licence that all UK online bookmakers have to have in order to operate. If a bookmaker has the UKGC licence, you can be rest assured that the licence is reputable and can be trusted. The UKGC covers all forms of betting apart from spread betting.
We mentioned that all UK bookmakers need a UKGC licence to operate, well if that site wants to include spread betting then they will need one from the FCA as well.
The MGA is highly regarded in Malta, but a lot of UK bookmakers will have this licence alongside the UKGC. It is not a requirement to have both, but it implies trust if you have more than one operating licence.
The GBGA represents all of the online betting operators that work in Gibraltar. This association gives the betting industry a voice on important matters and educates people on the gambling industry.
Payment Methods
This section will cover all the ways you can deposit and withdraw funds when it comes to online sports betting. Gone are the days when you would just have to use a debit card, there are a number of different methods that are used as legal online sports betting payments.
Debit Cards
Using debit cards like Visa or Mastercard still remains the most popular method of payment at online sports betting sites. People trust things they are used to, and the majority of us all use a debit card on a daily basis. You do need to input your personal details to start off with when setting up with a debit card, but this information is held securely and will not be shared.
E-Wallets
Digital payments are on the rise and the introduction of e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill are used regularly on sports betting sites. Using an e-wallet allows you to make payments without having your information stored online. Transactions are quick and easy. Some bookmakers will not allow you to use e-wallets to claim welcome bonuses because of bonus abuse.
Mobile Payments
Apple Pay and Google Pay lead the way in mobile payments. Like e-wallets, it is a simple method to ensure you safely deposit and withdraw funds. These kinds of payments done from your mobile phone ensures no one can access your account because of the Face and ID touch security on the latest models.
Bank Transfers
You would be forgiven for thinking that no one uses bank transfers for online sports betting in 2025, but it is still a valid payment method. Bank transfers are slower than other forms of payment methods in terms of withdrawing funds, but people trust it.
Ready, Set, Get Started with Online Sports Betting
Sports betting online is one of the best ways to place wagers on your favourite teams in the most convenient way possible. It’s faster, gives you more options, and lets you personalise your experience with your own set of responsible gambling tools.
Once you find the best platform for your individual betting style, you’ll be able to bet on niche sports, major leagues (even internationally) and so much more. This puts you in the driver’s seat, so you can bet on what you want, how you want, and when you want. All that’s left to do is to find the right platform for you, so delve into all of our expert guides to learn all there is to know about the betting operators out there today.
Betting Bonuses Not To Be Missed
Sports Betting Online FAQs
🔒 Is Betting On Sports Online Safe?
If you select an online bookmaker that is licenced by a well-regarded gambling commission, betting online is entirely safe. At Odds Portal, you can expect only fully regulated sites that have been checked by our experts.
👮 Is Online Sports Betting Legal?
Online sports betting is legal in many countries around the world, but you’ll have to check in with local regulations to be sure if you can participate from where you are.
❓ How Old Do I Have To Be To Start Betting Online?
This depends on the country you live in. In most cases, you can bet online from 18 years of age, while in other countries, that limit is 19, 20, or 21.
😥 Why Can’t I Claim The Welcome Bonus?
In general, welcome bonuses are only available for new players. Make sure that you or anyone in your household hasn’t already opened an account or claimed the bonus in the past.
👀 How Can I Watch The Live Sports Video Streams At My Sportsbook?
If the platform that you use offers live streaming, you’ll still usually need to accomplish two things before you can watch the game. The first is to have money in your betting wallet, and the second is to place a bet. Some platforms only require you to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours, while others want you to place the bet on that game itself, so check the terms and conditions in advance so you don’t miss one second of the game.