First steps

Tags: beginners, account, visa, credit card, moneybookers, bookmakers

The following article is intended for people who are new to online betting, and have no experience at all. It will cover some basic steps and notions related to online gambling.

Some people believe that betting can be like a job, and money can be made in the long run. It takes some time to become good at this "game", and sometimes it can cost a lot of money to learn from mistakes.

First steps - prerequisites

The first question often asked by beginners is: What do I need to start?

• credit or debit card, preferably VISA branded cards
• choose a bookmaker and open an account
• Moneybookers or Neteller account (optional)

Credit or debit card

VISA cards are recommended because they can be used for withdrawals (MasterCards can only be used for deposits). You can use any VISA or VISA Electron card that has a verification code on the back. Most of them can be used for internet transactions, but you should also ask about this at your bank. Deposits made with cards are instant.

Bookmaker account

This is where you'll actually make your bets, so it's important to choose a site that's easy to use for you. Another important criteria is to have good odds and a good variety of available bets. This is why a lot of gamblers have accounts at different bookmakers and use more than one site for placing a bet.

Moneybookers / Neteller account

These are online wallets that can be used to deposit or withdraw at most bookmakers. It's an easy way to move money between different gambling sites when you have more than one account. You simply withdraw from one site and deposit to another if you see a better offer. Another advantage is that you don't have to send your credit card info to every site, so it's a bit more secure.

PayPal is a very similar online wallet and you can use it at some bookmakers, but most of them don't accept it (or restrict it to some countries).