In a time when new sites are launching every day, or at least so it seems, punters can be forgiven for getting a bit lost while browsing the different options. Which are actually the best sites for your needs? Unfortunately, it’s very easy to get this answer wrong, but at least there are ways to combat the question properly.
Independent or not: Is there one answer?
Amid the rise of white-label sites, i.e. ones that are powered by the same platform provider/company, punters are flooded with welcome offers these days. While you could argue that more sites equal better terms, due to increased competition, this isn’t always the case. In fact, there are several examples of the opposite, with punters falling victim to subpar and poorly run sites.
Without a doubt, this is also why independent bookies such as Betfred, bet365 and BoyleSports have been so successful over the years. You can even throw pre-merger Coral and Ladbrokes into the mix, which suggests that a single focus from the owner is crucial. The more sites you have, the harder it tends to get and in many cases, the product subsequently takes a beating.
Does this mean that punters should only opt for independent sites? No, not necessarily, as there are many companies with multiple sites that do it ‘the right way’. Entain, which now owns the aforementioned Coral and Ladbrokes, is responsible for many successful (and quality) sites, while Playbook Gaming is another example. The platform provider works with more than ten sites in the UK, most of which have different owners.
Many punters even prefer the familiarity of sticking to a specific owner or platform when trying out a new site. This could be because the designs and interfaces tend to be similar, making navigation easier, but the welcome offers often have the same terms well. In short, having multiple sites under the same ownership/platform isn’t solely a bad thing, especially when you come across a good owner.
How to find the sister sites
The problem, however, is that it can be difficult to identify the links between sites beyond the visual elements. Sometimes, they will be listed under the same UKGC licence – simplifying the process tremendously – but this is far from a guarantee. Fortunately, the relatively new website FindSisterSites.com has covered the UKGC gaps with an impressive database of sister sites information.
In addition to the individual pages for each site, there is a ‘sister sites tool’ on the homepage which allows users to filter by site, owner, platform and/or sportsbook. This means that you can be very specific with your search, such as picking an owner and a sportsbook combination. Alternatively, you can be more generic by picking a platform to see all of the connected sites regardless of the owner, for example.
“It’s possible to find the relevant information for almost every single betting and casino site if you dig deep enough. Having said that, it’s very time-consuming and simply not worth it for most punters. As such, I hope our site and especially the tool can help them make the right decision, showing information that is actually correct,” Isak Möller, the editor-in-chief of FindSisterSites, tells MrBetting.co.uk.
The site can definitely be described as a time-saver, in other words, but it’s clear that a lot of focus has been placed on educating punters as well. That, along with the increase in sites as mentioned at the start, is one of the main reasons why we have decided to recommend FindSisterSites here. It never hurts to know more about the gambling industry, especially if betting or wagering is something you enjoy doing.
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