What is a Sportsbook Watchdog Site?
A sportsbook watchdog site is a site that offers reviews, information and ratings on online sportsbooks. These sites should offer positive, as well as negative reviews to help punters make educated decisions about which sites to use. The sites should address issues such as safety and security, reliability, types of sports and bets offered, promotions and more. They should allow online punters the ability to compare sites and choose the best option for them. The sites should address issues such as safety and security, reliability, types of sports and bets offered, promotions and more. They should allow online punters the ability to compare sites and choose the best option for them.
Ratings and Reviews
Sportsbook watchdog sites offer reviews, as well as ratings of online sportsbooks. These are designed to help the punter and appear to be unbiased and objective, offering useful information.
The Truth about Sportsbook Watchdog Sites
The truth is that many of these sites are paid by the online sportsbooks. They receive advertising money which means that effectively, they are being paid for the ratings and reviews that they put on their site. Many of these sites also sign commission deals with online sportsbooks that pay them percentages of any losses on an account that is linked to the watchdog site. This is the reason why there may be rogue online sportsbooks that receive good ratings and positive reviews on the watchdog site.
What to Look out for
It is always a good idea to be wary of sportsbook watchdog sites as these may not be as objective as they make themselves out to be. Pay particular attention if you notice any online sportsbook that either falls drastically in their ratings or rises significantly. This is a sign that the watchdog site may be bumping sportsbooks up or down for payment. An “advertising” fee may be required or a commission on losses may be being paid. While you will not see this directly, sudden or drastic shifts on ratings and the tone of reviews on a specific site are a good indication of what may be happening.
You will often find, at online sportsbook watchdog sites that they endorse or certify many legitimate and mainstream online sportsbooks. With a little research, you will understand fully why these sites have been endorsed. However, what is troubling is that many of the online sportsbooks that they endorse or certify are questionable. This is a strong hint that the questionable sites have somehow bought or financially influenced the review and rating and it calls into question the legitimacy of all of the other reviews and ratings on the watchdog site.
Another point to look out for is the list of accredited and licensed online sportsbooks. Many times, these watchdog sites will not update the information on their webpage and with a little bit of research you will find that some of the sportsbooks listed as licensed and accredited, are not.
Examples of some well-known watchdog sites that many appear legitimate on the surface include SBR and OSGA (Off Shore Gaming Association), although there are many others that fit into the category as well. Be wary of any site that claims to be a watchdog site.
