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If you like to bet on sports, you are probably using one of two ways to place your wagers. Some bettors prefer to use a local bookie who they have built a relationship with, while others rely on any number of the large offshore sportsbooks that have sprung up over the past several years in response to the tremendous growth of the sports betting industry.
Either way works just fine as long as you get paid when you win. However, there are some significant differences between the two methods that can sway you one way or the other. Today’s sophisticated independent bookmakers utilizes a pay per head service that handles the day-to-day administrative end of their business as far as processing transactions. Many of the top PPH services in the game today can pretty much mirror the same sports betting software that the biggest offshore books are using. This has worked in the local bookie’s favor to basically even the playing field between the two sides over past few years.
The big point of difference with a local bookie is the level of service they can provide. Many of the big offshore books employ an excellent customer service department, but you are still just a face in the crowd as a bettor. You can always call your local bookie if a problem arises to quickly get it resolved. When you are dealing with an offshore book, most times it is part of a large gambling corporation, so you run the risk of running into some red tape or some other time-consuming issues that make it a bit tougher to work things out.
Another thing to consider when comparing a private bookmaker to an offshore book is your personal level of betting action. If you are a causal bettor that focuses most of your bets on football and basketball, then a private bookie should work just fine. If you are an avid sports bettor that is looking for action all over the globe in a number of different events, then you might be better off with a large sportsbook that offers betting line and odds for anything and everything under the sun. Many local bookies only operate during football and basketball seasons while offshore books are open for business 365 days of the year.
Speaking of betting lines, one of the limitations of using a local bookie to take your action is the simple fact that you are stuck with their specific odds. Since there are a multitude of betting options with offshore books, you will always have the ability to shop your lines to find the ones that best suit your needs. While it probably is not practical to have multiple betting accounts across a wide number of offshore books, taking your action to even two or three books will give you much more flexibility with your actual wagers than dealing with a single independent agent.
What it really comes down to is personal preference. Chances are your attitude towards sports betting is the same as your attitude the other services you require in your everyday life. If you like dealing directly with the decision maker or the boss, then working with independent bookmaker is probably your best option. If you have no problem dealing with big corporations that have set policies in place right across the board for every one of their customers, then placing sports bets with an offshore book would work just fine.
A third option would be some kind or blend between the two. Maybe you go with the local book for your basic everyday bets, while utilizing an offshore book when it comes to betting things such as futures, props and other exotic wagers.
