Which is the best international betting site?
Now that you understand that you need to find an online bookmaker that caters to your needs, we will expand on the subject. We know that the top international betting sites are the ones that best suit your own tastes. But there is actually a lot more to it. The top offshore betting sites best suited for Australians share a variety of traits.
License
Earlier, we mentioned the benefits of using online sports betting sites that are licensed by Australian regulatory entities. These Australian regulators are:
- The Victorian Commission for Liquor and Gambling Regulation
- Liquor and Gaming New South Wales
- Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
- Australian Capital Territory’s Gambling and Racing Commission
- South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services
- The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission
- Western Australia Department of Racing, Gaming, and Liquor
- Licensing Northern Territory
Obviously, plenty of highly respected international betting sites operate without an Australian license. Instead, they have licenses from other regulatory authorities. If not licensed in Australia, the best and most trustworthy offshore operators are all licensed by regulatory agencies like:
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission
- Government of Gibraltar
- Curacao eGaming
The key thing here is that the best online betting sites are licensed by a respected regulatory authority. You should avoid unlicensed internet bookmakers at all costs because there is nothing you can do if they are unethical, treat you unfairly, or steal your money.
Some of our favourite international sites with Australian licenses include:
- Bet365
- Unibet
- DraftKings
- Ladbrokes
- Betfair
The best odds
Experienced punters understand how crucial it is to get the best odds. Doing so gives them the best chances of being profitable over the long haul. To put this into perspective, you need to understand that bookmakers make money by charging a commission on the bets they take. This is called the odds margin or betting margin. The higher the commission or odds margin, the less value you get.
Imagine you are looking at the 2-way moneyline odds for an upcoming Aussie rules match. The odds for both teams are set at 1.90. Without confusing you with the math, this equates to an odds margin of 5.26% which is pretty reasonable. Now, you check the odds for this match at another bookmaker and see that both teams are priced at 1.85. This translates into an 8.11% commission which is definitely on the high side.
If you bet $100 at 1.90 at the first online sportsbook, you stand to win $90. That’s much better than the $85 that you stand to gain by betting the same team at the second online bookmaker. The best international operators always offer competitive odds which allow you to win more cash when you win your bets.
Betting markets
Another sign of a top-tier bookmaker is that it covers a huge selection of sports, eSports, and other events. If you enjoy betting on Aussie rules football, then the best international sites for you will feature lots of Aussie rules. There is little point in signing up at an offshore site that doesn’t offer odds on the sports or events you want to bet on.
Taking this idea a step further, the best international betting sites give you an abundance of betting options. Being limited to bet on sides, totals, and spreads can get a little boring after a while. You want access to an assortment of game props, team props, player props, and other betting opportunities. If you’ve ever checked out some of the most popular football betting apps, you’ve likely noticed that mainstream events like English Premier League football matches serve up hundreds of different unique bets.
Bonuses and promotions
Almost every online sportsbook offers some type of bonus. We went through the most common types earlier. Bookmakers hand out bonuses not because they are altruistic Santa Claus wannabes. Far from it. They do it because it’s one of the best ways to attract new customers.
You should realize that bonuses should not be your first concern when looking for the best sports betting sites. Just because a bookmaker welcome bonus is small doesn’t mean that it’s a bad bookie. In fact, it is sometimes an indicator of a great bookie. You see, some internet sports betting sites are so good and well-established that they don’t need to use gimmicks to lure customers.
The most respected international betting sites always make sure to make the terms and conditions of their bonuses clear and punter-friendly. You can look at the T&Cs and easily understand the rules and your obligations. By examining the T&Cs, you will soon discover that all bonuses and special offers are not created equally. Some are indeed very good deals, but there are also some terrible ones.
Speaking of offers, top-tier international betting sites serve up a wide range of ongoing deals. House-staked bets, enhanced odds, accumulator insurance, and cashback are just some of the special offers that can help you win more money on a regular basis.
Features
The best online betting site will have a variety of helpful features such as Cash Out. For those unfamiliar with it, the Cash Out feature allows punters to close their bets before the game they bet on concludes. This enables bettors to lock in profits and eliminate the possibility of losing their bets due to a late collapse. Alternatively, Cash Out can also help minimize your losses. If your bet is going up in flames, you could cash it out to receive a portion of your stake back.
Aside from other features like same-game parlays and name your bet, the best international bookies support live streaming. Aussie punters can launch their favorite football betting apps, place their bets, and then watch the action on a live stream. This feature is particularly helpful to live bettors who need to know exactly what’s on.