Common Mistakes When Choosing a Legal Bookmaker in Russia

An exclusive interview with a veteran betting industry expert Konstantin Ulanov, founder of one of the largest Russian-language sports analysis platforms vseprosport.ru and an international CPA network uffiliates.me.

With over 15 years of experience in the betting industry, our guest has worked across international brands and built successful platforms for sports analytics and affiliate marketing. In this conversation with a correspondent from a major sports media outlet, he breaks down the most frequent mistakes people make when choosing a legal bookmaker in Russia.

Let’s start with the basics. With your experience, you’ve surely seen a lot of cases where people made the wrong choice. What are the most common mistakes beginners make when choosing a bookmaker?

Oh, there are plenty. The first — and probably the most common — is chasing flashy ads or huge bonus promises. People see a banner like “100% bonus up to the sky” and register right away, without reading any of the conditions. They fall for the pretty packaging and get burned: either withdrawals are a nightmare, or the company itself turns out to be questionable. I always say: free cheese only comes in a mousetrap. If a bonus seems too generous, it’s worth asking yourself if it’s just bait.

So mistake number one is falling for loud offers. What about licensing? Russia has a centralized system with legal bookmakers licensed through official channels. Do people still end up with illegal ones?

Unfortunately, yes. Despite a lot of awareness efforts, some players either get confused or deliberately go to unlicensed sites. That’s a major risk. An unlicensed bookmaker means you could lose your money with no legal recourse. At least with a licensed one, there’s a minimum guarantee you won’t be scammed outright. But even among legal ones, you have to be careful. Check their reputation. Always verify the license, read user reviews, and look into how long the company has been operating.

What else should people be looking at besides the license and the bonus? Let’s say someone opens a bookmaker’s website — how can they tell if it’s reliable?

There are a few key things. First, reputation within the community. If you see lots of negative reviews, reports of delayed payouts, or any patterns of complaints, walk away. Second, check the service and usability: how good is their support team, how fast they respond, and how clear are the rules on the site? A lot of newcomers skip reading the terms, and that’s where the traps are — like withdrawal limits or complicated identity verification steps. It’s not fun to read, but it’s necessary.

Third, look at the odds and margins. I know it’s hard for a beginner to tell which odds are better, but just compare a few markets. If one site consistently offers lower odds than others on the same event, it means their margin is higher — you’ll win less. Also, the range of events offered isn’t everything. A smaller lineup can be better if the bookmaker follows those markets closely and avoids errors.

What about review sites and rating platforms? There are popular ones now that rank bookmakers and collect reviews. Should people trust them?

They can be a decent starting point. At least they compile info on licenses, bonuses, and often have user scores. But don’t take them as gospel. Some of those rankings are influenced by advertising, even though they’re not supposed to be. Use them as one of many sources. Also, check betting forums, and if you know someone with experience, ask them. Combining multiple sources will help you build a balanced view.

Another thing experts often mention is opening an account with the first bookmaker you find and sticking to it. Should players use multiple accounts with different bookmakers?

Yes, ideally. There are a few reasons. First, odds comparison. Sports events are priced differently across sites — you might get 1.90 on your team at one bookie and 2.00 at another. Over time, that matters a lot. Second, promotions. One bookie offers a free bet, another gives cashback on losses, and a third might boost combo bets. If you’re only with one bookmaker, you’re missing out. You don’t need ten accounts, but having 2–3 trusted ones is smart. Third, if one account gets limited or suspended — say they ask for extra documents or cut your stakes — you’ll have a backup and can keep playing without interruption. Think of it like having a backup runway.

What about aggressive advertising? You mentioned flashy bonuses earlier. If a bookmaker is constantly bombarding people with messages and pop-ups, should that raise a red flag?

For me — absolutely. A serious, established company doesn’t behave like that. Aggressive spammy advertising is usually a sign that a brand is desperate for new clients, maybe because they can’t retain the ones they have. Think about it: a reputable bookmaker won’t send you ten emails a day or pop up in every Telegram channel like a maniac. If they do, it’s likely they’re in a rush to get your money fast. Not all ads are bad, of course. Even big brands advertise a lot, but usually in a more balanced way. Suppose the messaging feels like “today only, a million-ruble bonus just for you” — run. It’s probably a trap or a site with a shady background.

So the main mistakes are: falling for overly generous offers, skipping license checks, sticking to one bookie, and trusting pushy marketing. Anything else you’d add for newcomers? Any final advice?

The biggest thing: don’t rush. Bookmakers aren’t going anywhere. Take an extra hour or two to read up. Learn how to withdraw money and what documents you’ll need. Too many young players don’t think about that, and then get surprised when their account is frozen for verification. That’s standard procedure — they just didn’t bother to check.

And don’t treat betting as a guaranteed way to make money right away. It’s entertainment. You can win, and you can lose. If you go in expecting quick cash, you’ll pick your bookmaker based on emotions, not logic.

So my advice: use your head, not your impulses. Choose a bookmaker the same way you’d choose a bank or a car — carefully. That way, you’ll have fewer problems. I’d like to wish new bettors good luck — but more importantly, I wish them good judgment. Luck will follow if you avoid dumb mistakes.

That was a great and very insightful conversation. Where can our readers follow your work and read your betting analytics and industry commentary?

Thanks! I regularly share in-depth analysis and thoughts on the betting industry across several platforms. You can find my articles and updates here:

X (formerly Twitter) — for quick takes and industry news
Medium — for long-form insights and case studies
Substack — where I publish exclusive betting market breakdowns and trends
Telegram (in Russian) — for real-time updates and discussion with the community

I’m always open to dialogue, so feel free to reach out or comment if you have questions or want to dive deeper into any topic.