A sportsbook bonus sure is a nice thing, but it’s not the only thing.

Perks like reduced juice, excellent customer service, prompt payouts and high limits should also get your attention when looking for an offshore sportsbook to play with.

That’s why Pinnacle Sports, despite not offering any bonuses at all, is a must-have account for any sports bettor (except for those in the United States, since Pinnacle unfortunately closed its doors to the American market several years ago).

Pinnacle makes up for its lack of bonuses with the lowest juice in the industry, the best customer service, lightning-quick payouts, high limits and a website that is arguably the best in the business.

Pinnacle’s low odds pricing (for example, NFL odds are at -103 instead of the standard -110) means its margins are razor thin, but the sportsbook is still profitable because of the massive volume it deals with. Pinnacle also keeps its overhead costs down by handling customer service almost exclusively by email, but the rare conflicts you might have will be quickly and courteously resolved.

So how does using a sportsbook like Pinnacle compare to a full-juice shop that offers big bonuses? Here’s an example:

Bettor A deposits $500 and gets a 50% signup bonus, giving him $750. He bets $50 a game at -110 odds and wins 53 per cent of his bets. After 100 bets, he’s won 53 bets to make $5300 and lost 47 bets to lose $5170, leaving him with $880 overall (his original $750 plus $130 profit).

Bettor B deposits $500 at Pinnacle and gets no bonus, leaving him with the same $500. He bets $50 a game at -103 odds and wins 53 per cent of his bets. After 100 bets, he’s won 53 bets to make $5300 and lost 47 bets to lose $4841, leaving him with $959 (his original $500 plus $459 profit).

As you can see, despite not receiving any bonus from Pinnacle, Bettor B is up more after 100 bets than Bettor A is at the full-juice book where he received a 50% signup bonus. After 200 bets, Bettor B will be up even more.

Hey, we’re all for bonuses. You should sign up with as many of our recommended sportsbooks as possible to take advantage of their bonus offers. But don’t forget about Pinnacle, either. You’ll be glad you didn’t.