Just a few words of wisdom (such as I have to offer) about betting online. Of course we’ve already discussed the importance of doing your research; you know that I’d love for you to believe every word that I say and go straight to the sportsbooks that I recommend — but in all fairness, I’d rather you make your choice based on as much good information as possible.

When you’re gathering that information, there are a few things that are more important to pay attention to than others:

• Read the Terms and Conditions (T&C’s) – every website has them, even online slots sites. Sometimes they just call them Rules. It will be a document full of legal language, but hang in there as best you can; this will tell you some of the most important things that you’ll need to know. If you don’t, sooner or later you’ll wish you had.

• Bonuses – on a related note, every sportsbook offers some sort of promotions, and every promotion has its own little set of rules. Most of the sportsbooks offer a free bet when you sign up, some offer a deposit-matching percentage to add to your account (just like an online casino USA), and some offer other little extras to make your money go a little further. They’re nice to have, but make sure you know what to do to qualify, and exactly how you can use it.

• Sometimes the T&C’s will include sport-specific rules, covering all of the unexpected things that can happen. This is where you find out what to expect in the case of ties, cancellations, technical issues, multiples, et cetera. All of the sportsbooks that I’m recommending are fair, but keep in mind that fair doesn’t necessarily mean “the customer is always right”.

• Nothing beats objective information from experienced bettors. You’ll want to hear from people who have played at that sportsbook for a while. Don’t put too much faith in websites that advertise sportsbooks (including mine!) because you never know if they’re just paid to say it. On the other hand, take the negative reports with a grain of salt, too; some of the people who yell “scam!” the loudest would have been just fine if they’d known the rules before placing a bet.