Online sports betting has become one of the largest industries in the world. Thanks to the availability of sports betting and the increased convenience that people live in their daily lives, betting on sporting events has never been easier.

According to Match.Center, the number of online betting sites in the UK and Ireland has grown exponentially in recent years, a trend that extends beyond Europe, America and Asia, with startups seeing unlimited potential in the world of online sports betting.

Having an enthusiastic audience is key to any growing industry and one of the biggest advantages of online sports betting is the sheer number of different betting options that are currently available to players.

As always, the financial opportunity also attracts a wide range of consumers and while most online bookmakers are reputable and reliable institutions, players are advised to always look out for unlicensed online bookmakers.

Gambling is first and foremost entertainment, and wins and losses inevitably come with the territory of betting on the outcome. However, there is a growing number of companies that pretend to be bookmakers and try to make fraudulent deals with players.

The activities of bookmakers are regulated by special authorities, and they must be registered to obtain a license. Any player who places a bet with a company that cannot show their license number is no longer subject to the rules of the gambling authorities and is therefore placing a bet with an unlicensed bookmaker.

Here is a short list of some things to look out for when avoiding betting with an unlicensed bookmaker:

Do your research

As with any other investment, proper research into the credibility and reliability of an online bookmaker is absolutely essential for players of all levels.

It's never been easier or more affordable to read reviews from other users and customers in the gambling industry and taking the time to research an online bookmaker before using them is always beneficial.

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Here are some things to look for when researching online bookmakers:

License Number: Perhaps the most obvious but important thing that players need to look for when choosing an online bookmaker is the license number. All reputable online bookmakers will display their license number (usually on a banner at the bottom of the landing page), which offers players financial protection and peace of mind. You can find a full list of reputable betting sites as well as lots of other useful information such as expert reviews, ratings and more.

Read customer reviews. Getting feedback from other users can sometimes open a dark world of fake or just negative comments (we all know that people usually write reviews only when they face some problem), usually asking other users' opinions is a useful tool in the field of online gambling. If there are patterns of unreliability and misuse of player funds for users, then obviously players are advised not to bet with that particular online bookmaker.

Responsible gambling protection is an important provision. Let's take the example of the UK: any online bookmaker registered and licensed in the UK is required to participate in the Responsible Gambling Program, which is designed to help those addicted to gambling. Having an official license from the UK Gambling Commission is a prerequisite for participating in the Responsible Gambling initiative, and double checking whether a bookmaker is registered is always an indicator of trust in its license.

Realism - all online bookmakers will try to attract new and existing customers to place a bet with a variety of offers and promotions. Unlicensed bookmakers often try to attract new customers through unrealistic promotional activities which are unacceptable to both bookmakers and bettors. General awareness of realistic offers and market trends is also crucial to avoid unlicensed gambling activities.