Opening a Telephone Account

Betting over the phone is quick and easy. All the major bookies have phone operators at the ready, who all have computer screens in front of them to look up the latest odds for any bet you request.

Setting up a telephone account is simple; just choose one of the three different types that suits you best…

Switch/Debit Card accounts

This option is the quickest and simplest way to open an account. All transactions are conducted through your bank, via your Switch or Debit Card for your bank account.

Simply ring up your chosen bookmaker and ask to open a Switch or Debit Card account.

You will be asked to provide your name, address and Switch or Debit Card number - and confirmation that you are over 18 years of age. The telephone operator will enter your details on to their system and provide you with your account number straight away.

Any bets that you place will be deducted straight from your bank account - just as if you had purchased something in a shop with your Switch or Debit Card. Your winnings will be paid directly into your account by the bookmaker - and this transaction may take three of four working days to clear.

Credit accounts

Credit accounts are particularly useful for betting on longterm (or 'antepost') bets, when you don't want to tie up any of your money while waiting for an event to take place.

Apply for a credit account by phone or by writing to the bookmaker you wish to open an account with. They will send you an application form to fill in and send back.

An agreed credit limit will be set depending on the details you give, and you will be able to place bets as long as you don't go above this limit. Your winnings will be paid in to your bank account upon your request for a withdrawal.

The bookmaking firm will send you a bill for any losing weeks you may have - and you then pay the outstanding amount. Failure to pay is likely to get you a bad rating in the industry - and you may find placing any future sports bets very difficult with a 'black mark' against your name.

Deposit accounts

These offer great flexibility and there is no need to prove your identity or creditworthiness. Call the bookmaker you wish to open an account with and ask to open a deposit account.

You choose how much money you wish to deposit in to your account, and provide this money up front - for example you could send a cheque. This amount is used to place your bets. You can deposit more money whenever you wish. Losing bets stakes are taken from this amount and winnings are paid on top of it, to be withdrawn at your request (or paid to you in full upon closing the account).

Note: Many serious investors may start off with a deposit account, and then ask for it to be changed to a credit account at a later date.

Placing a bet over the phone

Once you have set up an account, betting over the phone is simple. Call the bookmaker and give them your account number (and name, if asked) and clearly explain which bet you would like to place.

If you are not sure, ask to be given the odds for certain bets. Feel free to ask as many questions and enquire about as many bets as you like - you are a valued customer to them and they should be happy to help!

When you've decided which bet to place, make sure you clearly state it to the telephone operator, and check that the bet, the odds taken, and the amount of your stake are correct when they read back your bet to you. Confirm the transaction, and that's it - your bet is on.

Betting over the phone is usually a straightforward affair; should there be any problems, calls are recorded for customer services purposes and playback of a call should resolve any confusion.

What's more, all the big bookmakers are very reputable and your money and details - no matter what type of account you have set up - will be as safe as houses.