What is an online betting tool? Each person probably has a different view on what constitutes a tool. For many, bookmaker comparison charts make extremely useful tools. These are the charts that show the starters in any particular event and the odds provided by a range of bookmakers.

Now online bookmakers are not all the same. Some work to smaller margins and the odds they set can reflect that. Punters also affect what odds a bookmaker will set. If there is a rush of money for one particular option, the price will shorten while other options will lengthen. That is the principle behind most forms of gambling.

With this in mind, you can often find some real bargain bets simply by comparing the odds available. If you check the range for England’s first game against the USA in the World Cup 2010, you find the following variations:

England – average price 1/2 – best prices 4/7
USA – average price 5/1 – best price 7/1
Draw – average price 11/4 – best price 7/2

By shopping around, you will find much better prices. England are short priced favourites in this match, if you check matches where the prices are closer, you can even find that some bookmakers have one team as favourite while the rest have their opponents as favourites.

The game between Greece and Nigeria is a good example. BetFred has them both at 6/4 while BetFair has Greece at 19/10 and SkyBet has the longest price on Nigeria at 13/8. BetFair has the draw best priced at 7/3 while most bookmakers are quoting close to 2/1.

As an online betting tool, bookmaker comparison tables allow you to find good value bets quickly – it’s certainly better than visiting each bookmaker individually.