The competition is very stiff between the best online bookies, which is something that benefits the customers. The stiff competition leads to better odds and prices as well as better welcome offers and sportsbook bonuses for new customers.

There are many factors to take into consideration when finding the best betting sites online, and these are the factors we think are the most important ones:

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1. Licence - Make sure the bookie is licensed to operate in your country. Customers from Great Britain are only allowed to play on bookies licensed by The Gambling Commission.

2. Odds and payout percentage - To get the most out of your betting you should choose a bookie with competitive odds. The higher the payout percentage, the higher the odds.

3. Variety of betting markets and sports - All bookies offer odds on the biggest events, although the selection of odds can vary a lot between bookies in the lower leagues and on the more uncommon sports. Make sure you choose a bookie with a good selection of odds and markets for the sports and leagues you are primarily punting on.

4. Functions such as live betting, live streaming and cash out -The development of betting sites has been enormous over the past decade. Live betting is one of these functions which has developed quickly to match demand. Certain sites offer well developed live betting and live streaming functions now. The cash out function - where a bettor can close a bet before the end of the match in order to secure a win or cut their losses - is also something that has grown in popularity and is now offered by a number of betting sites.

5. Welcome offer and promotions - Choosing a bookie with a good welcome bonus or promotion can provide a significant boost to punters' betting bankrolls, especially when it comes to recreational bettors.

6. Payment methods and transaction fees - All major European bookies offer payments via debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, bank transfers, and sometimes even cheques. But you should make sure they have your preferred payment option before you sign up. Another factor to take into consideration is fees for transactions to and from your account.