Taking the gamble out of betting online

Tempted by that free flutter to open an account? Compare prices with confidence to find out whether the odds really are stacked in your favour…

Online betting has become hugely popular. With the widespread use of computers and mobile devices to access the Internet, it’s never been easier to place wagers on everything from virtual casino tables to horse racing.

Going hand-in-hand with this increased demand has been a rapid growth in welcome deals being offered to new customers by online betting companies. With competition understandably fierce in the industry, the pressure is on to get people signed up.

Even a cursory glance at the websites of leading operators illustrates the vast array of sweeteners on offer to tempt people into using their services - and for anyone sold on the idea of online betting these offers are very difficult to ignore.

For example, some firms give you a 100 per cent matched amount as a bonus to bet with when you open an account by depositing at least £10, while others allow you to triple the odds on your first bet with the hope of winning three times as much!

But while this is great news for bargain hunters, it does pose a few problems. How do you know which websites are offering the best deals and how do they compare? Are they well established? Which companies offer the best value-added services?

Given the options available you need to be careful. For example, can you be confident that you’re not sacrificing access to the best possible odds in exchange for an attractive introductory offer? Research, it seems, is the key to success.

This is where specialist sites such as BigFreeBet come in handy. Launched back in 2007, this UK-based operation is a one-stop-shop for sports betting, taking prospective clients through the process of joining bookmakers through to finding the best available odds.

And once you have used the site to simply and easily carry out the necessary research, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the best possible free bet deal that meets your needs as a welcome present for signing up to your preferred service.

You can then log on and make use of the freebie by betting on whatever takes your fancy, whether it’s the 13:20 at Ascot or the Merseyside derby.

However, BigFreeBet is more than just a comparison service - it boasts a library of articles on a wide variety of topics such as cashing out of your bet before a match ends and the rise of spread betting.

There’s even a section devoted to football betting tips. Prompted by the huge international reach of the Premier League, these features give an insight into what’s happening to help punters make a call on the outcome of matches.

To find out more go to bigfreebet.com