The UK has one of the most competitive internet betting sectors in the world. This means that UK customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to opening an internet betting account.
The only factors that come into the reckoning when choosing an internet bookmaker are trust and security. Do you trust the particular operator to look after the funds you deposit, pay you out when you win, and will they still be in business for the near future (three years at the very least)? All other considerations are secondary.
At present the majority of internet betting brands, with the exception of Bet365, are not actually regulated in the UK by the Gambling Commission. Instead most firms are located offshore in jurisdictions like Gibraltar (e.g. Ladbrokes, William Hill, Betfair, Coral, Stan James), Alderney (Skybet), and the Isle of Man (Paddy Power). As such, if you have a complaint or dispute with your bookmaker it is to the regulators of these jurisdictions that you must complain.
It is also worth checking if your chosen betting firm is a member of the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). IBAS acts as a mediation service between bookies and gamblers in the event of a dispute over a bet. It is an invaluable service.
The situation as regards regulation of internet betting is likely to change following the publication of a new gambling bill in the Queen’s Speech 2013. From late 2014 the new regulation will require all operators wishing to target UK customers to hold a licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission.
When choosing a bookmaker also bear in mind that they are not your friend. However amusing their Twitter feed or Facebook page, however generous they appear to be with their bonuses or cashback offers, do remember these are just marketing activities to induce you to place bets you didn’t really want to place and to give back your hard earned winnings.
Of course, you need to choose a bookmaker that offers the type of bets you usually place. If you make a number of each-way bets you might choose a website that offers slightly shorter odds but regularly offers an extra place for each-way betting purposes in the big races (not forgetting that this is still secondary to the most important consideration stated above).
