How selecting an online sportsbook just got that much easier for Kiwi players

Leo is trying to find an online sportsbook that fits all of his needs. How difficult could it be? He just needs to find one that takes bets on his favorite teams and sign up. Well… not quite. 

A simple internet search will lead you to endless sportbooks — all of which just scream for your attention. Flashy welcome bonus, different sports selections, all the payment methods that literally exist. Some of them? Solid. On the other hand, some are sketchy. 

Kiwi players already have limited options compared to other markets. And that doesn’t help. Let’s learn how to cut through all the digital noise and find a sportsbook that fits your needs.

Where Kiwi players can find reliable sportsbooks

The internet offers unlimited information, for better or worse. In a lot of ways, it's for the better; everyone now has instant access to all information with just a tap of the finger. But when it comes to finding an online sportsbook, it can be detrimental; there are so many out there that it can be tough to decide which ones are worth your time and which ones you should avoid.

This is where review portals provide the most value. Instead of digging through thousands of reviews and cross-checking them, you get many different online sportsbooks that have all been thoroughly vetted by industry professionals, ranked, and regularly updated. So the process of picking one that fits your play style becomes a lot smoother with one addition: you, as the player, have a better peace of mind when playing.

Check payment options before you commit

Leo from the beginning got so excited about his welcome bonus and signed up to the sportsbook he thought was the best for him. But he made a rookie mistake: he didn’t realize they don’t accept credit cards, his preferred payment method. 

Before you deposit a cent, check what payment options the sportsbook offers. And, maybe more importantly, ensure the withdrawals work the same way. The last thing you want is to jump through additional hoops to just make a deposit or withdraw the money. 

Ensure they cover the sports you’re interested in

This one may seem obvious, but it is worth double-checking: does a site offer the sports that you are interested in betting on? If you're all about rugby, cricket, and football, verify that those are covered. If you think you'll only ever bet on one sport, consider picking a sportsbook with variety anyway… your interests might shift, and having options beats being locked into a limited catalog.

Know what kind of bettor you are

Are you a casual player who throws down the odd bet every now and again to make the game more interesting? Or are you the type who takes it more seriously and studies different teams and players to see how they are performing and where your money is best put? Perhaps even studying the weather conditions and how they may affect any given game.

Your approach matters — it affects what you need from a sportsbook. Casual players might value ease of use and quick deposits more than detailed stats and live betting options. Before committing, figure out where you land on the seriousness spectrum.

Keep security in mind

Online security is more important than ever. If you haven’t been living off the grid, cybersecurity must have come to your attention at least once. And for good reason. Cyber attacks are happening more often and getting much more sophisticated. So it is incredibly important that you protect yourself online. Here are a few examples of things that you can do:

• Check that a site has an HTTPS connection protocol: this means data between you and the site is encrypted. In simple terms, your data is more secure and a lot harder for hackers to intercept. All you have to do to check this is look for the HTTPS at the beginning of any URL.
• Read a site's privacy policy: It may not be the most exciting read, and we are all guilty of just checkmarking that “read” field in the past, but they hold valuable information on how that site is going to save and protect your data.
• Invest in a VPN, or virtual private network: this could be useful for you if you generally access sensitive information or make payments while connected to a public wifi network. These are usually unencrypted, which means that your information is at risk of being intercepted. A VPN will take this IP and mask it with a virtual one, encrypting your data and making it much harder to intercept.
• Set up two-factor authentication: this requires you to enter a passcode every time you log into the associated account; the code is generally sent via text message or email, but you can also use a third-party authentication app. This serves as a great last line of defense for security, because if someone has your login details, they still would not be able to access your account.

What comes next?

There's no perfect sportsbook that works for everyone. What matters is finding one that matches how you actually play.

Leo eventually figured it out. He slowed down, checked payment options first, made sure his favorite sports were covered, and picked a site that didn't make him feel like he needed a cybersecurity degree just to place a bet. Now he's not bouncing between platforms or dealing with withdrawal headaches.

You do the same. Find the one that checks off all the important fields for you and helps you to actually focus on what you're there for: the game.