Payouts, Bonuses & Comps

Well, it's back to basics for this week's column... for the benefit of new and old online gamblers alike: it's never a bad idea to brush up on old knowledge.

Sportsbook Payouts, Bonuses & Comps

We're focusing this week on payouts, bonuses and comps. And it occurred to me that, even to the most experienced gambler, these terms, though familiar, may never have been officially defined. So let's go ahead and clear up any possible confusion that may have been felt up till now.

When one hears the term "payout", one instinctively understands that this refers to the ratio of winnings per bet for each particular online sportsbook. The odds offered. But not everyone is really up to date with all the financial jargon used in present day gambling, so here's the legal, financial definition, for the benefit of all interested parties:

What is a Payout?

For all intents and purposes, "payout" is the equivalent of a dividend. In other words, a payout is a taxable payment, (in the case of casinos a taxable winning), given to gamblers on the occasion of a win. Payout rates are expressed in percentages, each casino usually clearly advertising their specific payout rate.

Understandably, there has always been a certain amount of doubt expressed as to whether or not a casino's advertised payout rate was in fact valid. Let's clear up that issue right now. Generally speaking of course, legitimate online sportsbooks and casinos have no need for false advertising in order to turn a profit. Let's be honest here folks, we all know that there's enough money to be made by simply relying on the house edge and player mistakes. But for those of you who still feel that suspicious, and perhaps healthy, need to make sure, there is a virtually endless array of sites which offer sportsbook and casino reviews and listings.

Now, if you, the responsible and discerning reader, noticed that in the previous paragraph,