Sportsbook Online in the Philippines

What is an Online Bookmaker?

An online bookmaker is a website that provides a wide range of bets on different sporting events. Think of traditional brick-and-mortar betting shots. Now, remove the building and place it all online – this is the essence of online bookmakers.

The bookmakers use complex algorithms and analysis to pick out odds on different sporting events. They will then add a slight margin onto these odds and offer them to you to bet on. For example, you may be able to bet on who the winner is between the Davao Occidental Tigers and the San Juan Knights in the MPBL.

You bet a specific amount, such as 20 PHP, and if you choose the winning selection, you are paid back your initial stake, plus the multiplier of the odds. For example, let’s say that you picked the San Juan Knights to win, with odds of 1.4, and a 20 PHP bet. If they won, you would get a total payout of 28 PHP (20 x 1.4). However, if they lost, you would get nothing.

New bookmakers and established platforms alike usually provide betting markets on virtually every professional sport. From basketball and tennis to football, golf, and boxing. Within each sport, you can usually bet on the different competitions. For example, football markets usually cover top-tier leagues like the EPL, La Liga, and Bundesliga.

For each match, the platforms usually have a fantastic range of individual bets too. These can be simple selections like picking the outright winner, to complex props bets on things like the number of corners in a half of a football match.

How Can You Bet on Odds With Online Bookmakers?

Still, following? We hope so! The next step is understanding how you bet on odds with new bookmakers or existing sites.

The first thing you have to do is register an account. If you don’t register an account you can’t deposit money or place bets. The registration process is usually simple and you will have to enter personal details such as your name and email address. There may also be verification, and some platforms require you to submit ID documents before you can make a deposit.

With your account created, you can log on and deposit money to your account balance. This is done via the cashier or banking section. Most bookmakers online accept a wide range of payment methods like credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets. There is usually a minimum deposit amount such as 50 PHP, but the deposits are usually credited instantly.

Once the money has been added to your account you are ready to make your first odds bet! You have to find the relevant sports category and match you want to bet on. Typically the left-hand menu contains the different sports and you can usually click a drop-down arrow to expand each sport to show the individual competitions.

Once you have found the match, you should see a range of bet options and the odds for each selection. It’s usually a case of finding the right bet, such as an outright winner, and clicking on the odds for the team or player you think will win. 

This should add the selection to your bet slip on the right-hand side. You can then enter the amount you wish to bet and finalize the selection! You can usually see the estimated payout if your bet wins. That’s it! You can then rinse and repeat and do this for other sports and props bets.

How to Choose a Sports Betting Site Online

We know how difficult and daunting it seems when choosing bookmakers online – there are so many platforms to pick from! 

So, how do you know which ones are worthwhile and the best bookmakers online for Philippines customers? This is where we come in! Using our expert knowledge and testing we have listed four key features you should look for when choosing a new bookmakers:

Sports Markets Covered

This depends on which sports you follow and want to place bets on, but in most instances, you want fantastic variety and access to any sports market you want. 

Therefore, make sure you check the sports coverage that the online bookmakers provide. You can usually see a list of available sports on the left-hand side of the website. Ideally, they should support all popular sports for Philippines customers including football, boxing, tennis, and basketball.

Don’t simply look at the main sports categories though – big deeper and look at the competitions and leagues support within those categories. For example, you would expect the basketball section to contain markets for the MPBL, NBA, and FIBA basketball.

Website Quality and Accessibility

You don’t want your online sports betting experience to be difficult or confusing which is why you should look at the quality of the website design and its accessibility. Does the website look the part and can you easily navigate to the different sections?

What about the bookmakers online mobile accessibility? Ideally, there should be a downloadable mobile app for Android and iOS smartphones. However, if there isn’t one, we at least expect a mobile-responsive version of the website which you can access using a mobile browser like Chrome or Safari.

Welcome Bonus and Other Promotions

You want value for money so always check the welcome bonus! Usually, this is a free bet where you must spend a minimum deposit amount to receive the free bet bonus. For example, you might get a 150 PHP free bet if you make a 50 PHP bet.

If there isn’t a free bet, check for a deposit match bonus. Bookmakers online like Megapari, 22Bet, and GGBet all offer a 100% deposit match bonus. These are a great way to boost your initial bonus and get some extra cash to place bets with.

We also advise looking for promotions for existing customers. These are usually things like VIP clubs, weekly deposit match bonuses, bet boosters, and enhanced odds. Usually, the bookmakers online have a dedicated promotions page where you can find all the info.

In-Play Betting Features

While pre-match bets are fun, you also want to look at the in-play betting options. In-play betting is the next evolution of sports betting and all the best bookmakers online have extensive live betting sections.

Check which sports and competitions are covered in the live betting section. Also, look at how accurate the odds are and make sure they refresh quickly. Ideally, there should be a huge range of outright bets, over/under bets, and specialized props bets too.

To accompany the in-play betting, check for the availability of live-streaming coverage too. Oftentimes bookmakers online provide live streams of games but this depends on things like TV rights and national broadcasting limitations.

Which is the Best Online Bookmaker?

Some bookmakers online are better for new customers, while others have advanced features for experienced bettors.

For New Customers

If you are new to the world of sports betting you want ease of use as sportsbooks can be confusing. Ideally, the information should be displayed logically, and you should be able to easily minimize the different sections to reduce the clutter on your screen.

The site should also have a simple registration process and a welcome bonus that is easy to claim. Sportsbooks for new customers also make adding selections to your bet slip easy and make the formats of the individual matches and bets easy to understand.

For Experience Customers

Experienced customers want additional features, variety, and betting tools. For example, many online bookmakers allow you to build advanced bets with multiple selections from different matches. Not just acca bets, but bet builders where you can have a range of props bets.

There should also be a range of betting tools such as bet calculators. We also expect platforms for experienced customers to have a mass of historical match data, live stats feeds for the games, and advanced metrics like head-to-head stats that customers can use to make more informed bets.

How We Rate and Review Online Bookmakers

We don’t just recommend any bookmakers online. Instead, we have a strict rating and review system that incorporates a range of important factors such as licensing, accessibility, payments, and promotions.

Does the Sportsbook Have a License?

The only bookmakers online we work with are licensed. Gambling licenses are issued by third-party regulatory bodies such as the Curacao eGaming organization and Malta Gaming Authority. For the best bookmakers online to obtain a gambling license they must comply with the regulations stipulated by the regulatory body.

We first check for evidence of a gambling license which is usually found in the website footer or the company info page. Next, we cross-reference the license number with the licensing issuer to make sure that they match, and that the license is active.

What Support Has it Got for Philippines Customers?

Not all bookmakers online are accessible for customers from the Philippines so we check several key factors to make sure you can legally access these sportsbooks.

Firstly, we check that the gambling license covers the Philippines and that there are no national restrictions. Next, we make sure that the bookmakers are available in either English or Filipino. Lastly, we make sure that PHP and USD are available for deposits and withdrawals.

Can Customers Easily Make Deposits and Withdrawals?

We know that making payments online can be daunting so we check the banking systems of new bookmakers to see how easy they are to understand. Ideally, the platforms should offer a smooth banking process that anyone can understand.

We also check the available payment methods, minimum/maximum deposit and withdrawal limits, and average processing time for withdrawals. You should be able to make payments instantly and get your withdrawals within 24 hours max.

Does it Offer a High-Value Welcome Bonus?

We want our readers to have excellent value for money which is why we look for welcome bonus quality and promotions for existing customers.

The welcome bonus should either be a free bet or a deposit match bonus. We also check the terms and conditions to make sure you have plenty of time to use any free bets or bonus funds, and that the wagering requirements aren’t too strict.

We look at the promotions online bookmakers provide too for existing customers in the same manner. This could include things like VIP clubs, bet boosts, odds boosts, regular deposit match bonuses, or enhanced odds for special sporting events.

Can Customers Easily Contact the Support Team?

Although we review the quality and usability of these online bookmakers, there may be an instance where you have to contact customer support. This is why we check the available support methods and look for things like live chat, email support, telephone lines, and help centers.

Not only do we find the available support methods, but we test each one. This involves using the support method and sending proper queries to check the average response time and the quality of the support received.