Although the calendar year is coming into its final turn, the sporting action around the world will continue to dazzle millions. Following the usual off-season period, the NFL is back in full swing with the NBA to follow in a month’s time. And closer to home, the new Champions League season has started to complement all the domestic football action.
For avid cricket fans, a highly anticipated Ashes series down under in Australia is set to see us into the new year, while the battle on the Formula One track between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is expected to go right down to the wire. And if that is not enough, the Ryder Cup will see the USA try to wrestle back the trophy in New York at the end of this month.
And for those looking to check the best betting sites for 2025 and back the betting markets across all these sports and more, online bookmakers will be keeping up with the action to provide the broadest range of markets as well as in-play live betting options to back the action as it unfolds. However, with more online operators entering an increasingly competitive market, how can you spot the best betting operators in the business?
1. Make Sure the Site has a Wide Sports Selection
Perhaps the most obvious point, the number of sports and betting markets available is an indicator of how much time and effort an operator has invested in their product. And that does not just include basic markets such as which team or player will win. Operators with more niche betting markets generally have greater investment for research departments and computer programmers and coders. And the more niche the sport, the better.
2. Platform has a Legitimate Licensing
Over time, illegal market betting sites have slowly been stamped out with more regulation and policing involved in the industry, but there are still some on the market. With a little bit of investigatory work, it is possible to determine whether an operator is legally licensed. At the bottom of each web page on an operator’s website, the licensing information should be displayed.
For players in the UK, betting operators will generally be regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), but there are other reputable licensors such as Malta, Gibraltar, Curacao, and Ontario. With a license from the UKGC, an extra layer of security and trust is added by the fact any individual or group that wishes to gain a UKGC license has to fulfil a long list of criteria including supplying financial statements, criminal record checks, and a test of an applicant’s honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness.
3. What Deposit and Payment Methods are Available
In society, there is widespread evolution occurring and none more so than in the way we go about making payments. From the use of coins, to paper money, through to debit and credit cards, payment methods have significantly changed and advanced over the centuries. For online betting sites, the emphasis is on keeping up with the times and providing punters with the most options possible. Nowadays, we have entered an age where cryptocurrency is growing in popularity and with that, digital currency is emerging as a payment method on many reputable betting sites.
Along with the globally recognised methods such as debit and credit cards, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies represent the shift into a more online lifestyle where money can be transferred and deposited at the click of a few buttons. And since not every market has evolved at the same rate, including all the options possible allows betting operators to appeal to the wider audience.
4. Take The Action on Your Mobile Device
Although there are other aspects that contribute to a good betting site, such as a smooth and secure sign-up process and user-friendly, yet also secure, payment methods, the greater reliance in the modern era on mobile devices places greater emphasis on the ability to place bets while on the go.
Mobile phones especially, have become essential items on every individual’s person so being able to access a mobile app that runs seamlessly and efficiently makes a bigger difference nowadays. Furthermore, if you can roam around an app safe in the knowledge that any information processed is securely encrypted, that is a bigger benefit in an age where more personal information is transferred online.
More Choice in the Digital Future
We already alluded to the greater reliance on technology, but amidst a transition to a more digital lifestyle, our everyday habits are slowly changing. More time is spent in the online world, hence the rise of online sports betting sites. With more time spent in the digital realm, we can expect more betting operators to enter the market to give punters more choice. And as a result, more scrutiny will need to be placed to find the right betting site for this year and beyond.
