Before you sign up with an Online Sportsbook and start betting online, you sure need to find out what to look for in a sportsbook service.

The main idea of sports betting is to defeat so-called oddsmakers in order to win some money. Most sports gamblers use betting services because it makes watching sport much more exciting. That's why your bookmaker or sportsbook has to be best of the best - to maximize your fun.

Reliable bookmakers should accept credit cards. I advise you to have a separate credit card for your sports gambling needs in order to avoid any missunderstanding in the future. Always remember to check the withdrawal fees, because there are some bookmakers out there who charge you up to 50 bucks for paying you the money. Never join these sportsbooks - they are not user friendly.

Very important is to watch out for sportsbooks that almost insist big initial deposits. I don't recommend to join bookmakers who demand $70 or bigger minimun deposit. Every player should have an opportunity to hang around for a while and try the bookmaker out.

Even now, in 21st century there are bookmakers who don't accept singles on all games, which is actually quite sad and makes industry look bad in a way. You should avoid these bookmakers. Some of them accept singles, but still - they don't do it on all events, so they shouldn't qualify for you.

This adds one "must" you have to follow - always read the rules at bookmakers webpage. You even may find out that gamblers from you country are not welcome there. So they accept your money, but there's no possible way to withdraw.

It also doesn't hurt to rely on other players experience. There are webmasters who write reviews and there are also many sportsbook forums out there, that advise players. Check them out.

Safest way, of course, is to stick to known brand.

Ralf Vinogradov is a part-time journalist in a newspaper and an editor and webmaster of sports betting related website GamblingRalf's Sports Betting Sites and also a gambling related website Best Online Casinos and Online Gambling - GamblingRalf.COM.