Bookmaker has a storied history in the offshore industry and is a favorite of both recreational and professional bettors alike. Famous for their slogan, “Where the Line Originates”, Bookmaker prides themselves on posting lines before the vast majority of other sportsbooks and having massive betting limits. One of the old school pioneers of online sports betting the book offers early lines and a vast list of NFL betting markets.
Offers the highest betting limitsStellar reputation amongst US bettorsVIP treatment for regular playersAmazing customer support team.
Certain withdrawal methods carry high feesInferior odds on non US sportsBookmaker was founded all the way back in 1996, long before the advent of internet betting where they ran their operation via phone lines. They then immediately became one of the top shops at the turn of the century, offering bettors loads of markets and unquestioned professionalism in the form of BetCris Sportsbook.
They are located in San Jose, Costa Rica and employ a staff of several hundred employees. Though they don’t sport a gaming license on their homepage, it is only because Costa Rica does not require licenses for online gambling operations in the country. But rest assured they are operating legally in the country and with the government’s approval.
Things haven’t changed much since the name change to Bookmaker. The sportsbook is still taking the largest wagers around and offers a wide range of banking and support options. They have been consistently rated as a top 10 sportsbook for over a decade by bettors and top industry rating & and watchdog sites.
Customer support is excellent at Bookmaker. They have 24/7 support, 365 days a year, via email, phone and live chat. The live chat button is on all pages of the website, and response times are quite fast, even during prime hours. Bookmaker’s support staff is right up there with the best of them.
Bookmaker offers players an extensive range of deposit & withdrawal options for US bettors that are comparable or better than most sportsbooks.
Credit card deposits are the go-to method for most customers as nearly everyone has a credit card. Deposits are instant via CC and come with no added fees. Deposit limits for credit cards are quite large compared to other sites. Players can deposit up to $2,000 per day, $4,000 and $8,000 per month.
Person-to-person transactions are another popular option. These Western Union and MoneyGram transfers can be sent from all over the world from tens of thousands of locations. They are sent instantly but can take a few hours to process once Bookmaker receives the funds. The book reimburses players on transaction fees if their deposit is $300 or more. The minimum amount sent per transaction via person-to-person transfer is $100, and the maximum amount is $2000.
Finally, the best way for larger bettors to get online money online is without a doubt via bank wire or certified check. These methods come with just a $500 minimum deposit and no maximum amount.
There are no fees on any deposit options except for person-to-person transfers under $300. These fees can be expensive so it would make the most sense to only deposit $300 or more via this method.
Bookmaker has two payout options for US bettors, person-to-person transaction and paper check. Bookmaker quotes up to a month for checks and up to 7 days for person-to-person transfers, but from my experience that is the worst case scenario. Withdrawal times seem to be much faster than the timeframes they quote to players.
The last person-to-person transfers I received took less than 72 hours before cash was in hand, and my last check took just under 10 business days. The maximum amount via check per transaction is $2,500, and the maximum amount via person-to-person transaction is $1,500.
Checks come with a flat fee of $60 per check and transfers come with varying fees from $25 to $95 depending on the amount requested. Bettors will be entitled to one free withdrawal per month and may be able to earn more free payouts via Bookmaker’s Loyalty Points VIP Program.
As we mentioned above, Bookmaker often has their lines posted before many other sportsbooks and has larger limits than most other bookmakers in the US market. Since they take larger action, their lines need to sharp.
You will not find games shaded to public betting like you might at Bovada or other more recreational sportsbooks. Many professional bettors wager at Bookmaker.eu, some of which are laying action off from other bookmakers, both online and land based. So, the margin for error for Bookmaker’s oddsmakers is slim.
With that said, they still offer a minimum online wager of $1 online and $50 over the phone. Their maximum amount per NFL side or total on the internet is $5,000. By phone, it is $20,000. However, this may be raised for certain clients. Contact support if you want to bet more than $20k per game.
Bookmaker offers all of the standard markets available for NFL bettors and has plenty of game day propositions available, as well. Their future options include conference, divisional, and Super Bowl futures, along with season win totals. Teaser odds are excellent at 2-teams, but get much worse after that. Parlay odds are around the industry standard.
Live betting options are available, and Bookmaker has one of the better live betting menus for US bettors. I’d certainly recommend the book for those looking to bet live during the NFL season.
The list of bet types matches or exceeds most other books online. In addition to sides, totals, teasers and parlays, bettors can wager on if-bets, reverses and futures. Each individual NFL game will have 1st and 2nd half lines, quarter lines, team totals and both team and player props.
The NFL markets are excellent at Bookmaker, but they offer a variety of betting options at all major sports. Markets tend to be larger on American-based sports such as hockey, baseball, and basketball, but their betting sphere does not stop there. They offer odds on soccer, tennis, auto racing, horse racing, golf, boxing, rugby, and many more sports. Bettors can also wager on political events, reality TV and awards shows.
In addition to their online sportsbook offerings, Bookmaker has plenty of other online gambling options making it a one-stop shop for online gamblers. They offer a Vegas style online casino, online poker, office pools, cash skill games.
Finally, if you are on the go – have no fear. Bookmaker has a mobile betting site that is simple to use and easily accessible via any mobile device that has an internet connection.
Bookmaker does not offer specific NFL themed bonuses regularly, but they may offer seasonal promotions for the playoffs or to kickoff the season. All newly depositing bettors will receive a 15% Welcome Bonus up to $2,500. This bonus is geared towards bigger players but is still quite generous despite the large amount you have to deposit to receive the maximum amount.
Also, all of Bookmaker’s deposit and reload bonuses come with just a 4x rollover, one of the best rollover rates online. Depending on your level in their VIP Program, you may be entitled to regular reload bonuses, as well. The book offers a site-wide Reload Bonus across the board for bettors on any Tuesday of a 20% Deposit Bonus up to $100. This is a fantastic promotion, and it is available till the end of 2015!
Bookmaker has been a consistent, reliable sportsbook since the start of offshore online betting, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Though their lines are tougher and quite sharp, bettors will know 100 percent that they will be paid if they win. Also, just because their odds are sharp does not mean the book is unbeatable. They are a clear must-have for high volume US bettors who want to bet more than $5,000 per game. But at the same time, they accept wagers for as low as $1.00.
My advice is to know what you are getting into with Bookmaker. You will not be able to get a better than line against a publicly shaded market like you might be able to find at other books. You will have to pick your spots more carefully. Bookmaker rarely limits bettors, so if you are profitable, you stand to make a fair bit from the book before they reduce your betting limit.
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