Betting Site & Online Sportsbook Reviews

Step 1: Check Licensing & Security Details

We first check for a valid gambling licence.

If proper regulators don’t license a bookmaker, we won't go any further with the testing process.

This quick check usually takes just a matter of minutes.

Step 2: Sign Up & Verify ID

A member of our team signs up and evaluates the registration process.

While signing up should be quick and simple, we also want bookmakers to carry out the necessary legal checks to ensure customers are over 18 and can legally place bets.

The time this takes varies depending on the site, but we're usually fully signed up-with ID verified-within a few hours.

Step 3: Deposit Money

The next step is depositing real money into a betting account. At this point, we want to see a wide range of payment methods accepted.

We also look for flexible deposit limits and expect funds to be accessible as soon as they're deposited.

It usually takes a couple of hours to test all deposit methods and check limits.

Step 4: Claim Welcome Offer

We read the terms and conditions of welcome betting offers (where applicable) so you don't have to.

Then we claim the bookmaker's sign-up offer to ensure it accurately reflects the information outlined in the terms and conditions. We place bets with these credits, usually over a seven-day period, to ensure the site upholds the terms of the offer.

Step 5: Study Odds & Markets

Step 5 is crucial: checking which betting markets are available and how valuable the odds are. To evaluate the odds, we research prices for individual betting markets and compare them with odds from leading bookmakers.

This is one of the lengthier parts of the testing process. We aim to compare odds for 100 markets across at least 15 sports, which can take a few weeks.

Step 6: Claim Existing Customer Promotions

Along with welcome offers, sites should have a range of promotions that can be claimed regularly after signing up.

We test offers such as odds boosts, early payouts, money-back specials, and loyalty promotions, to ensure a site rewards existing customers. We spread these tests over the course of a month to ensure we can form opinions on the majority of promos offered.

Step 7: Place Bets

We place bets on a range of pre-event, outright and in-play markets to determine if this process runs smoothly. After at least 30 bets have been placed, we have a good feel for the process.

We examine the betting slip after placing a bet to check the odds and markets selected. If the bet wins, we check to ensure the bookmaker quickly pays the correct amount.

Step 8: Test Customer Support

To assess a site's level of customer service, we contact support agents using all available contact methods.

If a site offers 24/7 live chat, we test this function to check whether support agents deal with queries promptly and professionally.

We also put email and phone support functions to the test during this step of the process.

Step 9: Test Mobile & Desktop Experience

We test each bookmaker on a range of platforms, including desktop, smartphone, and tablet, devoting the most time to smartphone testing as this is now the most popular way to bet.

If a bookmaker has an Android or iOS app available, we download the apps and spend two weeks using all of their key features.

The best bookmakers should cater to all users, no matter what type of device you're betting with.

Step 10: Withdraw Funds

The final step in our testing process involves withdrawing funds. Again, we want various options, including debit cards and digital wallets like PayPal.

We test each withdrawal method to check how long the process takes, as withdrawal times can vary depending on the method used.

Dean Ryan

Dean Ryan brings 20 years of industry experience to our team, having worked with leading bookmakers such as 888, Tote, BoyleSports and BetVictor.

A passionate horse racing bettor, Dean is also an analyst, tipster and co-founder of the #Racehour Podcast. His expertise adds a genuine punter's perspective to our review process.

Shannon Lane

Shannon Lane's background working on NFL.com and the NFL mobile app at NFL Media gives her unique insight into how sports websites and apps should function to provide you with the ultimate user experience.

Cathal Austin

Cathal Austin spent over a decade as a journalist covering sports and breaking news before joining the Gambling.com team. He now utilises his research and reporting skills as a betting site reviewer.

Since 2022, Cathal has reviewed over 300 betting sites and apps, helping readers to find safe, trusted platforms for betting online.

Kevin Taylor

Before joining the Gambling.com team in 2021, Kevin Taylor covered sports betting news for major media publications, such as The Mirror and The Sun.

Among the stories Kevin reported on was an investigation into alleged match-fixing involving players at an Irish football club. Kevin’s investigative reporting on irregular betting activities underscores his and our team's commitment to protecting punters from unfair practices.

Michael Butlin

Michael Butlin has over 20 years of experience in the gambling industry, having held senior roles in product development, commercial strategy, and marketing at online bookmakers such as Blue Square and Unibet. His diverse career has also included managing sports betting information websites, operating an online poker site, and providing consultancy services.

Michael is dedicated to ensuring his teams produce insightful content that resonates with new and experienced bettors.

Peter Mooney

Peter Mooney is a longtime sports writer, copy editor, and bettor. He holds a Master’s in professional writing from the University of Southern California. He applies his keen professional experience to betting content through the lens of a bettor to ensure our users’ questions get answered.

James Molloy

Before joining the team, James Molloy spent five years working with Flutter Entertainment, one of the world's leading betting companies.

James' client-facing roles with Paddy Power and Betfair, two of Flutter's flagship betting sites, gave him a unique insight into customer needs. This insight informs his evaluations of bookmakers, making him a key member of our team.

Diarmuid Nolan

Diarmuid Nolan brings over 10 years of betting industry experience to our team, with roles at Sport Caller, RacingFM, and BetBright included on his CV.

A co-founder of the popular #Racehour podcast, Diarmuid's horse racing betting knowledge is second-to-none.

Diarmuid also plays a key role in vetting bookmakers to ensure we only feature betting sites that are fully licensed, regulated, and safe to bet with.

Chris Alpizar

Chris Alpizar has honed his expertise by working across diverse industries, managing everything from finances to sales to top-notch technical and digital support. A former customer service rep, Chris knows what users want when seeking help from a website. He works with all team members to ensure that our reviews and the tools available within them are accessible.

Jamie Casey

Jamie Casey leverages his sports betting expertise and journalism background when reviewing bookmakers for Gambling.com. He ensures our reviews and betting guides are engaging and informative.

Jamie has worked with major bookmakers such as Sky Bet and Unibet and contributed to respected media outlets like FourFourTwo and Sky Sports.

Chris Rivers

Chris Rivers brings experience from bookmakers like bet365, Betfred, and Bet UK to his role at Gambling.com. He also brings significant journalistic experience, having worked for publications like the Racing Post.

As a tester, writer, and editor, Chris researches and writes bookmaker reviews and produces sports betting news and tips.

Kevin Walsh

Drawing on his experience working for major bookmakers and media outlets, Kevin Walsh analyses promotions and writes expert reviews on site offers. Kevin helps readers understand which bonuses offer value by breaking down their key terms and conditions.

Simon Sinclair

Before joining our team, Simon Sinclair wrote extensively about sports betting for major online bookmakers such as bet365, Paddy Power, and Coral. His work has also featured on sports media platforms like Goal.com, and he has reported on cricket for the England & Wales Cricket Board's official channels.

Charlie Mullan

Charlie Mullan has over two decades of professional sports journalism experience. He spent 11 years writing for the Hull Daily Mail before joining Press Association, where he helped launch a new betting channel with statistical insights featured at leading bookmakers.

At Gambling.com, Charlie applies his data analysis expertise to deliver insightful sports betting news, equipping punters with the information they need to place informed bets.