Review
Betfair is a market leader when it comes to online sports betting. Launched in 2000, the sportsbook has built their reputation around quality and innovation, and they currently boast the largest betting exchange in the world. The site offers punters a broad-selection of sports bets from the major sporting leagues and tournaments across the world, with their offerings ranging from in-play bets, pre-match, and a peer-to-peer betting platform.
In early 2016, Betfair merged with Paddy Power to create the world’s biggest gaming company; Paddy Power Betfair. The company is regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) oversees their operations in the UK. They are also the official betting partners of Arsenal, Juventus, and La Liga giants Barcelona.
Quality of platform
Betfair is one of the most reliable bookmakers and they pride themselves in providing a quality platform for punters to lay and back bets. The website uses proprietary software, and the platform is highly responsive and pretty fast. The most commendable feature of the website is their dynamic in-play betting platform and high-quality live streams. However, when it comes to layout design, Betfair can be a bit overwhelming for new users due to the extensive coverage of betting markets on the dashboard. However, you can take advantage of the quick links on the left of the dashboard to find the bets for the sporting event of your choice with ease.
Games available
The sportsbook covers 32 sports markets from all the popular sports leagues around the world including the EPL, UEFA Champions League, NBA, and Serie A. Football enjoys the most coverage on Betfair, and they also offer the best odds on UK and Irish horse racing. You can also place wagers on American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Cricket, Golf, Baseball, Tennis, and Esports. Each sporting event or competition on the dashboard comes with a wide range of odds markets. The available markets for soccer include 1X2, Correct Score, Over/Under, Halves, Handicaps, Double Chances, and Goal Scorers.
In addition, you can place live bets on select events from across the globe. You can watch matches on the bookmaker’s live stream page for easier placement of in-play bets. The platform is available to all Betfair members with a balance in their account. However, you should note that the live videos may delay 2 to 5 seconds. Lastly, the bookie also features special bets on political events like Brexit and seasonal happenings revolving around famous characters like the British Royals and other celebrities or TV shows.
Bonuses and promotions
When it comes to bonuses, the sportsbook lags behind other top-rated bookmakers, but you can still find a variety of offers listed under their promotions page. The following incentives are available for Betfair members:
Welcome bonus
You can get up to £100 in free bets by simply opening an account with the bookmaker. To qualify for this offer, you have to place a minimum of 5 bets worth £/€10 or more each at minimum odds of 1.5 and the bookie will reward you with £/€20 in free bets. You can repeat up to 5 times to claim the maximum bonus of £/€100. The offer is available to residents of the UK and Ireland.
Bet £10 on the Exchange to receive a free sportsbook ACCA bet
You can receive free football accumulator bets for your stake on select Premier League Darts matches on the Exchange. All you need to do is place a £/€10 Exchange bet on a stated game at minimum odds of 1.2 and Betfair will award a free bet worth £5 which you can wager on football accumulators.
Get £10 in free bets on first bet placed on the exchange
All first bets placed on Betfair exchange are eligible for this promotion. The requirements are that you have to wager £10 or more on the exchange and the bookie will refund you £10 in cash if you lose.
Mobile gaming
Betfair’s mobile betting experience is one of the best out there. The bookmaker has a user-friendly mobile app which can be downloaded to Android and iOS powered devices. Just like the PC version, the app is quick and efficient, and you can place live bets and watch live videos on the platform. There’s also a separate app for the Exchange which you can download to enjoy the full functionality of the platform.
Alternatively, punters can use the mobile optimized web version of the bookmaker instead of downloading the app. To use the mobile website version, log in to your Betfair account using your mobile browser and you will be redirected to the optimized site.
Payment Options
The sportsbook supports a wide range of payment options for both deposits and withdrawals. The most popular deposit methods are Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Wire, Cheque, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, and Paysafecard. Deposits are processed instantaneously, and there may be attached processing fees depending on your banking method. These options are also available for withdrawals, but you can only withdraw using the method for your last deposit.
Accepted currencies include the USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, SEK, NOK, HKD, and DKK.
Safety
Betfair is one of the most regulated betting sites on the internet, and they pride themselves in providing a safe and secure gambling platform for their punters. The bookie does not leave anything to chance when it comes to securing member funds and sensitive information. The site holds VeriSign Class 3 Certificates for 128-bit SSL encryption, and they are also certified for safety by Visa and MasterCard.
Customer Support
In spite of the bookie’s effort to ensure that punters enjoy a smooth betting experience on Betfair’s platform, bettors may still encounter some hitches from time to time. In the case of any issues, you can contact the customer support team by visiting the help page and clicking on the Contact Us option on the top menu. You will then be able to see a variety of help topics such as account verification, player protection, sports betting help, and deposits/withdrawals, and you can click on the drop down icon on the appropriate topic to get assistance.
The contact options include:
Telephone support from 0730 to 0030 hrs. The telephone numbers are 0344 871 0000 for UK residents, 1800 944 000 for residents of Ireland, and +44 203 059 8888 for international players.
- Instant message
- Social media pages like Facebook and Twitter using the handle @BetfairCS
You can also find answers to a variety of queries by visiting the bookie’s FAQ /Help Topics section on the help page.
Final opinion
Betfair sets the pace for other bookies when it comes to novelty and quality. They cover a wide range of sports options and their odds markets are also very diverse. When it comes to odds prices, Betfair has some of the most competitive rates on the EPL and UK and Irish horse racing, and their prices for other markets are also very fair. In addition, if you can’t the best odds for a match, the bookie gives you the option of setting a price for your own wagers for other players to match through the exchange platform. You can sign up with Betfair to enjoy an unmatched sports betting experience as you discover more of their offerings.
FAQ
-
Will I receive a sign up bonus if I register with Betfair?Yes. You will receive a 100% matched bonus up to 100€ when you create a Betfair account and fund it with a minimum of 10€.
-
Is there live streaming and live betting on Betfair?Yes. Betfair has a live stream feature where players can watch ongoing games. Live betting is also available; hence, players can place live bets and enjoy the experience.
-
Can I wager using my mobile phone on Betfair?Yes. Betfair has a mobile application for both android and iOS users where you can place their bets. Betfair is also accessible from mobile browsers.
-
Can I cash out on Betfair?Yes, you can. Betfair has a cash-out feature.