New betting sites are launching left, right and center these days â many of which offer incredible features and opportunities, like in-play betting and streaming, or the ability to claim generous, limited-time bonuses.
But bettors like you and I need to be a bit cautious when considering fresh-to-market bookmakers. Betting with brands that hold the right license for your region is an absolute must, for example. Cherry-picking sites that support trusted payment options is equally important. Additionally, reading through bonus T&Cs will help you get more out of special promotions.
Whether youâve been betting at longer-established sportsbooks for years and simply fancy a fresh betting environment, or youâre completely brand-new to the world of online sports and esports betting, this guide is for you.
It doesnât matter which part of the world youâre in, either, because on this page youâll see banners for the best bookmakers and new no deposit bonus offers currently available in your region.
Of course, Iâm also going to talk a bit about what kinds of features you can expect from new-to-market brands. And Iâll also list a few things you should look out for when making comparisons between todayâs hottest, most up-and-coming betting sites to determine which are the best fit for you.
Well⌠Iâm afraid that all depends on your region. You see, from Canada to Australia, and anywhere else in between, the sportsbooks that are on offer differ â and thereâs a very good reason for this.
In most regions, whether youâre looking at $1 minimum deposit sportsbooks or fresh-to-market bookies targeted more at high rollers, itâs a legal requirement for betting sites to hold an iGaming license â and this license should be the correct one for your region.
When youâre shopping around, you can usually locate a brandâs licensing information at the very bottom of their homepage, or by performing a keyword search on their T&Cs page. But I like to make things easy for my busy readers, which is why Iâve set up this page to automatically display banners for new bookmakers that are good-to-go wherever you live, as I said before.
Basically, any sites you see here already hold a local license in your neck of the woods, and have been thoroughly vetted. So, have a look through the options listed and I hope youâll meet your match.
The ânewâ aspect of fresh-to-market sportsbooks is one of the biggest reasons to pick shiny new brands over those that are longer-in-the-tooth.
When comparing brand-new sites, youâre going to be looking at some of the most state-of-the-art bookmakers around as far as special features, user experiences and betting slip customization tools go.
In my many, long days of betting, Iâve found that the best new brands out there tend to offer the following to their customers:
Android user? More of a fan of iOS? Many of todayâs newest and hottest betting sites offer dedicated, downloadable apps on the App Store and Google Play. But if you stumble across a site that looks 99% great, but has no apps available, donât fret. Most of the time, the marketâs latest betting sites are optimized to be totally mobile and tablet-friendly.
Live betting is a common feature at many fresh-to-market betting sites. It works in much the same way as regular betting â youâll check out the odds, make your selection and place your bets. The only real difference is that youâll be putting down your bets in real-time, as the action unfolds, and can make better-informed decisions according to the mechanics of the individual game because of this. Some sites might even let you live-stream the actual gameplay while you bet.
For me, one of the best aspects of betting with a brand-new bookie is that theyâll likely have limited-time launch bonuses up-for-grabs during their first year or so of doing business. Bonuses come in many different shapes and sizes, but the best ones are those offering flexible bonus bets (think no game restrictions) or a âno deposit matchâ (think no up-front deposit requirement to claim). Keep in mind that a promo code might be required for activation, and always double-check the wagering requirements and other T&Cs associated with the bonus in question. More on this point laterâŚ
On top of the awesome features I outlined above, itâs absolutely imperative that you only ever register with brands that offer:
Iâve been through this already, I know, but itâs incredibly important. You should only ever bet with bookies that are licensed by your backyard regulator, whether that be the UK Gambling Commission for Brits, or the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for Americans based in the Garden State, for example.
Of course, your easiest option for locating new betting sites that hold the right credentials for your region is to check out the geo-targeted banners in this guide. You can also have a read through some of my other articles for further banner-based recommendations if youâre more interested in, say, sweepstakes casinos or esports than traditional online sports betting.
Unless thereâs a very generous no deposit bonus up-for-grabs, chances are youâre going to have to make a deposit to place bets with a new sportsbook â and at some point youâre going to need to cash out too, right?
Trusted betting sites should always offer widely-recognized deposit and withdrawal options. At one of my favorite betting sites, Stake.com, payment methods include anything from globally-used credit cards like VISA and MasterCard to e-wallets like Skrill, for example. You should look out for similarly big-name payment options at other bookies, too. Check out the average payment processing times listed in their T&Cs as well, as you donât want to be left waiting around too long to get betting or cash-out.
All new betting sites shout about their bonuses and game portfolios, but the best and most-trusted sites should shout equally loud about the importance of responsible gambling.
Many of my personal favorite betting brands offer easy-to-use self-limitation and exclusion tools you can toggle on and off whenever you like. If a brandâs legit, chances are theyâll have a dedicated âResponsible Gamblingâ page, which will also link you to external support resources that may (or may not) come in handy someday later down the line.
In my recent Stake.com bonus review, I talked a lot about how that brandâs sign-up offer requires a promo code for activation and imposes wagering requirements on the free bets that are up-for-grabs. These kinds of details are important but often overlooked by eager bettors who are claiming generous-sounding bonuses from brand-new betting sites for the first time. Remember: no matter how good a brand-new siteâs launch bonus or welcome promo looks on the surface, you need to check whatâs underneath before claiming.
And by that I mean you should always look out for bonuses that have crystal-clear T&Cs and fair restrictions. The T&Cs should only ever be one click away from the initial bonus ad at most, and any wagering requirements stated within the rules should be realistic â think 1-10x on free sports bets, and 20-50x on free casino chips and spins, for example. Of course, all the brands youâll see in my banners offer exceptionally good sign-up promos which donât take the biscuit, but this tipâs worth bearing in mind if you decide to go shopping around elsewhere.
So, new sportsbooks are phenomenal fun. They tend to offer generous launch promotions, awesome live and in-play betting tools and dedicated apps that can be downloaded directly onto your device.
But beneath all these glitzy and exciting features, you do need to think carefully about what any new sportsbooks youâre interested in offer from a more practical perspective, too. As I said, it’s essential any brands you bet with hold the right license for your region, offer reputable payment options you can trust, and take responsible gambling seriously.
The best way to find brands that check all these boxes, and more, is to take a look at the bookmakers highlighted in the banners across my site.
There are a few tell-tale signs that youâre looking at a trusted betting brand, but the most important one is of course whether or not the bookmaker is properly licensed. Check out my guides on how to find trusted online sportsbooks, esports betting sites and social casinos in your region now.
To be honest, itâs on you â because both options have their big draws. Newer sites are more likely to offer state-of-the-art apps, live betting and exclusive launch promotions, for example, while brands that are longer-in-the-tooth will likely have a better-established reputation. My advice? Check out my comparisons to find a betting site that really works for you.
The process is slightly different from brand to brand, but generally shouldnât take you too long. Most bonuses require you to create a new customer account, make a qualifying deposit above a certain amount, say $10, for example, and then play through your free bets on eligible sports markets. My bonus guides reveal a few potential pitfalls you might want to watch out for along the wayâŚ
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.