Review of the 5Dimes Sportsbook
I just returned from Vegas last weekend, and I must say I was highly disappointed. I bet on a few NFL games while I was there, and I have to be honest. Everything you can find at a Vegas sportsbook, you can find at 5Dimes. It is one of the most accepted sportsbooks in the USA! Sure, all the debauchery of Sin City can be fun if you are hanging out with a fun group of friends, but when it comes down to making a bet, it really isn’t necessary to spend the extra time and money. You’d do just as well staying home, cracking open a cool Coors sixer, maybe a little bit of Skynyrd for your listening pleasure.
I have been playing the odds at 5Dimes for a few years now, and in that time I have won and lost, gone from rags to riches to rags back to riches again. Even when I have lost my bets, I’ve still had lots of fun, because I just love that feeling of anticipation that overtakes me when it’s a close game. I usually use a feature called live in-game play, which lets me watch the game at the same time I am placing my wagers. It’s much better than going to a land-based sportsbook, standing around with a bunch of hard-luck cases, staring at the betting board that looks like it belongs in an airport. That’s what I did when I was in Vegas, and I had my kid with me, and the floor manager chastised me for letting my kid stand outside the betting room. Not cool.
I don’t have to worry about any such nonsensical folderol when I hang out at home with my best buds and bet on the Broncos while smoking my Lucky Strikes and waiting for my lady to cook my dinner. I bet so often at 5Dimes that I save lots of money with the reduced juice bonus. I’ll tell you about that later. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. My point is you don’t have to travel halfway across the country to have a quality betting experience. 5Dimes has everything you could possibly want in a sportsbook. In this 5Dimes review, I’m going to tell you about some of the badass benefits of this great site.
Yes, 5Dimes is legal. I was a little wary before signing up, but I looked into the legal issues dealing with sports betting, and found out that online sportsbooks are legal as long as they: 1) operate in Nevada or Delaware, or 2) function outside of the United States. Scratch off option number one, because you have to live in Nevada or Delaware to use their online sportsbooks, which leaves option number two. I did some more research and discovered that the main reason that online betting sites have to function overseas is a law called PASPA, which stands for Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. It prevents all but the aforementioned two states from hosting sportsbooks.
A wave of relief hit me, although in the back of my mind I was still unconvinced until I dug a bit deeper and discovered that no has ever gotten in legal trouble for using 5Dimes or any other site like it. I looked up my state laws and was unable to find any language that seemed to penalize an individual for betting on sports. In fact, there was no mention at all of the word “sport” or “book” anywhere in my state code. I then looked into the history of 5Dimes, and found that it has been around for almost twenty years and that over a million members use the site. I looked at some customer reviews for the site, most of which were glowing. I have been betting there for going on three years now, and I’ve never felt worried that I’m doing anything against the law.
Absolutely. I can attest to the safety of 5Dimes. I, too, was apprehensive at first, having heard horror stories of people having their identities stolen and their personal information used for nefarious activities. But I called one of 5Dimes’ nine customer service numbers to enquire about their security protocols. They helpfully explained that their site uses a form of technology called encryption. I asked what encryption does, and they told me that it converts all of the sensitive data into numerical code so that if someone tries to break into the site, they will not be able to decipher it. They also told me about firewalls and other safety measures. By the end of that phone conversation, my mind was at ease. I joined 5Dimes that very day and have never regretted it.
Yes, as long as you are old enough to bet, you can join. It doesn’t matter what state you live in, because 5Dimes accepts players from all fifty. I would advise you to find out what your state says about the legal betting age, though, because it is different in every state. In most places, the number is set at 21, although some states have lower age requirements. I happen to live in one of the oddball states where there is no specific betting age. 5Dimes’ minimum betting age is 18, so I went with that, and have had no problems at all. I made sure to think of a long and ridiculous password that my kids couldn’t figure out, because I didn’t want to take any chances.
Learn More: Laws for US Sportsbooks
Making a deposit is pretty straightforward. Clicking on 5Dimes’ funding methods section brings up a list of the available methods. I usually use my credit card, because it’s the easiest. The first time I deposited, 5Dimes required that I use Visa. I deposited $50, which is the minimum, and my money appeared in my account within seconds. They didn’t charge me any extra fees, either. I have tried all the other deposit methods as well. MoneyGram is definitely one of my favorites. It’s not as fast as a credit or debit cards, but it’s still quite speedy. Last time I used MoneyGram it took less than two hours. I deposited the $100 minimum, although a maximum of $970 is allowed. I have also tried money orders, gift cards, and bitcoin. They are all good methods. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Learn More: Depositing at US Sportsbooks
The first time I wanted to make a withdraw, I was a bit dumbfounded, because I wanted to use my credit card but that wasn’t an option. I looked into it and learned that there’s a law called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, UIGEA for short, that prevents credit or debit card transfers. Although I was a bit irked at first, I discovered some other great methods, like cashier’s check. I requested a payout of $1,000. This was the minimum amount they would let me withdraw, but it was no problem because I had won so much money that it didn’t matter. I was charged a fee of $40 and received my check less than two weeks later. I then deposited my check into my savings account through an ATM machine.
Another time I used MoneyGram, which was much faster than cashier’s check. It took less than 48 hours. I had two options: MG Red and MG Express. I chose MG Red because there was no minimum, whereas with MG Express you can only withdraw money in denominations of $100 up to $600. They charged me a very reasonable $10 in processing fees. I’ve tried all the other methods, too: money order, debit card funds application, gift cards, bitcoin…and they all have their own unique benefits.
Learn More: Withdrawals at US Sportsbooks
Okay, I mentioned the reduced juice bonus earlier. It’s my favorite. When I first joined 5Dimes, I had no clue what juice was. I had heard the words vig and vigorish in gangster movies before, though. It turns out that vig and juice are both just other ways of saying interest. That is, interest collected by the bookmaker for taking a bet. Reduced juice means that the interest is less than average. In 5Dimes’ case, the juice is 50 percent, which is a killer deal! I have saved probably hundreds of dollars in juice by using this bonus. 5Dimes has a laundry list of bonuses and promotions, including the new player reward of 50 percent, which is also a really good deal. You get half of your plays free on your initial deposit. Sportsbook free plays and the point mover special reward program are a few of the other wonderful bonuses you can get at 5Dimes.
Learn More: Promotions at US Sportsbooks
I have gotten a lot of use out of both live in-game play and mobile betting. Live play allows me to watch the game on my computer in a comfortable and relaxed setting while I am placing my bets. I use this feature all the time. I can make current and future bets, get frequently updated odds and statistics, and watch game replays. I have a lot of fun with this interactive feature. I did not have to download any annoying apps that slow down my computer, and 5Dimes didn’t make me pay anything extra to it.
I also like to use the mobile sportsbook. It means I can place bets from my new smartphone I just got. I have used this feature countless times: on road trips, family vacations, lunch breaks…one time I excused myself from a business meeting “because I needed to use the bathroom.” What I actually did was put a hundred bucks down on the Ravens vs. 49ers game, and won a nice little pile of money, which I then used to bet on another game.
I can say with all honesty that 5Dimes has changed my life for the better. In the three or so years I have been using the site, I have learned a lot about the art of sports betting, and I have 5Dimes to thank for that. I have called their helpful customer service department dozens of times over the years when I have had questions or comments, and they have always been friendly and helpful. Most sportsbooks that accept players in the USA don’t go out of their way to make the customer feel like the ruler of the roost. 5Dimes is the exception. You will not regret joining. Mark my words.