From the US Open to La Liga, sport is gradually returning. With it, this opens up opportunities once more to enjoy some online sports betting. Placing a bet on your favourite sport is a great way for you to add some extra excitement when watching your team play. For some people, sports betting is a beloved pastime in itself.
However, there are some risks involved in online sports betting, just as there are risks with any kind of betting and indeed any type of online activity. Here are 5 important tips to keep you safe while betting online.
1. Have Up-To-Date Antivirus Software
The first thing you need to do when participating in online betting is to remember the standard practices to follow to keep you safe online. When doing anything online, particularly any activity that involves sharing your financial information whether it is betting or shopping, there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself.
Most importantly, you should make sure that your antivirus software is up to date. Malware is a huge risk to online users and new viruses and threats are constantly emerging. For this reason you need to ensure that you always have the latest version to protect you from the newest threats.
2. Use A Reputable Site
Choosing the right site goes a long way to keeping yourself safe when betting on sports online. There are unfortunately some scams that are set up to look like betting sites but are simply aimed at stealing users’ financial or other data. Read around online to find recommended sites, and check user reviews of the different sites available. You should also double check that the site displays its credentials, particularly which authorities they are licensed and regulated with, before placing a bet on any site.
Other than sites that are fraudulent or seeking to steal your information, there are also those who are misleading and deceptive. For example, some sites advertise deals such as 200% bonuses on bets but make it very difficult for you to actually use or redeem these bonuses. Do your research to find the sites that offer the best 200% casino bonus that represents a genuine bonus.
3. Make A Bankroll Management Plan
Having a strategic approach is also essential when sports betting, whether online or elsewhere. Tracking your bets is much easier when betting online, as you can easily see how much money you are spending, what winnings you get, and how many active bets are still in play.
Even with this transparency, however, it is critical to have a proper bankroll management plan. This help you to ensure that you don’t bet too much money or end up spending money that you need for other things without knowing that you’ll get any of it back. A bankroll management plans involves setting limits on how much you can place on a single bet, and how much you can bet in total. Most importantly, you need to be firm in sticking to these rules! If you find yourself trying to negotiate with your own pre-set rules or manipulating these boundaries, it can be the start of a slippery slope.
4. Be Careful With Your Password
Most online sports betting sites and sportsbooks work on an account-based system, meaning you will need to set up a user name and password. That means that your password security is critical to keeping your activity and your financial information safe.
There are a few important points to keep in mind when it comes to password security:
a) Use A Strong Password That Will Be Difficult To Guess Or Hack
Some sites will force you to use a strong password but even if they don’t, you should do this yourself to keep your account safe. A strong password should have at least 12 characters, and include a combination of numbers, symbols, and upper case and lower case letters. The strongest passwords do not contain any dictionary words at all but are random numbers, letters and symbols.
b) Change Your Password Often
Even though this can be annoying as it makes it harder to remember your password, changing your password at least every 90 days is essential to keep your account safe.
c) Keep Your Password Safe
The only way to make sure your sports betting password is safe and undiscoverable is not to write it down anywhere, but simply remember it. Don’t write your password down on a piece of paper or on your computer or phone. Absolutely do not save your password on your devices by clicking “remember password” on the site, as this means that anyone who can access (or steal) your device will be able to access your account.
5. Avoid Shared Devices
As with any online activity that involves sensitive information, you should only participate in online betting on your own personal computer, tablet or smartphone. It is very risky to use online betting sites on a shared device as this can expose your account and your information to any other user. This means you should not place bets on a friend’s computer or mobile device, or a public computer such as at an internet café or library.
