Chapter 2: Getting Started with a Bookmaker · Lesson 2
By Cadell Griffith, Software Architect and founder of OddsFantasy · Updated · 3 min read
To open a bookmaker account, choose a licensed bookmaker that accepts customers in your country, register with your real details, verify your identity and make a first deposit. Verify straight away: bookmakers hold withdrawals until your ID and address are checked, so an unverified account can’t pay out a winning bet.
By the end of this lesson, you will:
You’ve set aside a bankroll. The next step is a place to bet it. Every bookmaker’s screens look different, but the sign-up process is the same everywhere, and doing it properly now saves you a held withdrawal later.
Enter your name, date of birth and address exactly as they appear on your ID. A mismatch is the most common reason a verification fails. You must be 18 or older (21 in some places).
Use a unique, strong password and turn on two-factor authentication if the bookmaker offers it. Your account holds real money.
Upload a photo ID (passport, national ID card or driving licence) and a proof of address (a recent bank statement or utility bill). Do it before you bet, not when you want to withdraw.
Deposit your bankroll, or the part of it you’ll keep at this bookmaker, by card, bank transfer, e-wallet or crypto. Check the deposit and withdrawal fees first; a 2% fee on every deposit is 2% of your bankroll gone before you bet.
Welcome bonuses come with a wagering requirement: the amount you must bet before bonus money can be withdrawn. A $100 bonus with 5× wagering means $500 of bets first. If the requirement is high or the minimum odds are long, skip the bonus. Bookmakers also offer deposit limits; set one that matches your bankroll plan.
Odds on the same bet differ between bookmakers, so accounts at two or three let you take the best price every time. That habit alone raises your returns, and it is the basis of arbitrage betting.
Open and verify an account with a bookmaker of your choice and deposit your bankroll. You’ll use it to practise every concept in the rest of the course.
Bet responsibly: 18+ only, and only deposit money you can afford to lose.
In the next lesson, you’ll place a bet online: find an event, use the bet slip and check everything before you confirm.
Choose a licensed bookmaker that accepts customers in your country, register with your real name, date of birth and address, secure the account with a strong password, verify your identity, then make your first deposit.
Usually a photo ID such as a passport, national ID card or driving licence, and a proof of address such as a recent bank statement or utility bill. Some bookmakers also ask for proof of the payment method you deposit with.
Licensed bookmakers must check every customer's age and identity under gambling and anti-money-laundering rules. Most hold withdrawals until the check is done, so verify before you bet.
Yes. You can hold one account at each bookmaker, and having several lets you take the best price for every bet. OddsFantasy compares the odds of the bookmakers you use against fair prices.
The amount you must bet before a bonus, or the winnings from it, can be withdrawn. A $100 bonus with a 5× wagering requirement means $500 of bets first. Read it before you accept any welcome offer.