Here are some tips to get you started.
What are the fee structures? Your very first concern is what is going to fit into your budget.
Most advertised prices are strictly for Internet usage.
Generally, there is a small up charge for call center service, but never more than a few dollars.
However, you need to look into this and not assume anything in regard to pricing.
Many of these services will also offer things such as poker and casino.
As the agent, these should not cost you anything at all.
You are more or less becoming an affiliate for the poker or casino sites.
These options can only make you money, not cost you anything.
For the poker rooms, you get a cut of the rake your players generate.
For the casino, you get a cut of any losses from your players.
What Features Do I Need? As a bookie, you need to be able to control player limits and line moves.
You want to be able to prevent players from getting into trouble and not allow them to run up an unlimited debt without you knowing about it.
You should have an alert when a player hits a certain limit as well as be able to contact them on a secure network.
Some bookies prefer to be able to move the lines themselves, others prefer to have it automated.
A third option is tailoring the line move to your specific action.
For instance, you want the line to move by a half point when you have an excess of $1,000 in action.
Smaller bookies may choose to set that number at $500.
Others yet may prefer their line reflects the line all other online agencies are using and to use public money to move their line versus their own players.
Regardless, all of these should be an option for you.
What Bonus Features Should I Expect? Part of having an online operation is the ability to mimic the major sportsbooks that were and are still available to players.
The biggest draw for many of these companies was the ability to offer players bonuses on their first deposit and reload bonuses.
Your programming should enable you to create some form of bonus for your player, be it free money in the casino, a poker stake, or a free play bet.
No one site is going to work for everyone, and we know this.
It is exactly why we recommend that you call around, talk to the customer service reps, and test drive the programming as both a player and an agent.
It is the only way you will truly know if everything the PPH service guide says is true and if the PPH itself delivers on everything it promises.