Betfair

(UK) Betting Site Review

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4.4
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Betfair is an all-in-one gambling hub, offering a variety of gambling products, such as arcade, bingo, online poker, and casino. So, if you ever get bored with sports betting, there’s still plenty of other betting options to choose from.

Overview of

Betfair

Betfair is a household name in the gambling industry, renowned for operating the world’s biggest betting exchange. The bookmaker was founded in May 1999 and is currently owned by Flutter Entertainment — the parent company of Paddy Power Betfair, Sky Bet, FOX Bet, FanDuel, Pokerstars, and several other premier gambling brands. 

The website is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority with licence reference number MGA/CRP/131/2006 and the UK Gambling Commission under the licence number 000-039439-R-319330. With its impressive dual licence and state-of-the-art security measures, Betfair is one of the safest sports betting platforms in the world. 

Betfair provides a whole bunch of bonuses for both newcomers and existing customers, the best of which is a welcome bonus for new customers — a free £20 exchange bet. 

Betfair is the pioneer of the revolutionary betting exchange concept that allows every punter to lay bets instead of only backing them. Many popular features used in online betting nowadays would not exist without this groundbreaking betting model. 

Other positive points include user-friendly design, competitive odds, great coverage of sports, and an extensive range of markets on offer. On top of that, Betfair has a first-class mobile app, available for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Windows mobile phones. 

If you’re looking for an experienced gambling operator with lots of cool features and exciting bonuses, Betfair might be a worthy candidate. To help you determine whether it suits your betting preferences, we provided an in-depth breakdown of its key characteristics. Stay tuned!


Betfair

Review Checklist

Should you register with Betfair? We’ll try to answer this question further in this post, covering all the significant aspects of the world’s leading betting exchange platform. Our comprehensive review explores the highs, the lows, and the how-tos of placing online bets in Betfair. More broadly, we’ll discuss the following: 

  • Ease of use and registration — The feel and usability of the website, along with a step-by-step guide on how to get started.
  • Key features and bonuses — We tested Betfair’s key features, including live betting, live streaming, and bonuses. 
  • Mobile betting apps — Evaluation of Betfair’s mobile version of the site and the mobile app. 
  • Sports markets — A full lowdown of all the different sports available for betting in Betfair.
  • Payment methods — We discussed the availability of different payment methods supported by Betfair, as well as the associated processing times and fees. 
  • Security measures — A thorough background check of Betfair’s security measures used to protect players’ personal and financial data. 
  • Restrictions — We listed all the countries that are not allowed to use Betfair’s services.
  • Customer support — Different contact channels players can use to get in touch with Betfair’s customer service agents.
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Ease of use and registration
We wanted to present an unbiased review so that our readers can know exactly what to expect when joining. With that said, here is a breakdown of all the things that you will be able to read in our review:
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Bonuses and key features
What makes
Betfair
stand out and which bonuses you can use for sports betting;
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Mobile betting apps
Assessment of the operator’s mobile website and mobile apps;
Sports markets — We listed all different sports markets that are covered on the website;
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Payment methods
Explanations on how to complete a deposit and request a withdrawal, together with all available methods, payment processing times, fees, and minimum and maximum limits;
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Security Measures
We made sure
Betfair
is a secure website that guarantees the safety of players' money and personal information;
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Restrictions
Potential restrictions that you need to be familiar with;
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Customer Service
Different modes of contact and customer support working hours for UK customers.

Ease of Use and How to Start Playing in

Betfair

Betfair has a responsive and perfectly optimized website, which makes it easy to navigate. The site itself is coloured in orange and white, with all the popular features being presented at the top. Functionality wise, the sports section runs smoothly, and you can find any bet or competition you’re looking for hassle-free. 


If you’re a beginner who can’t find their way around the site, we’re going to help you get started. Just follow our lead — we’ll walk you through the registration process, step by step. 

  • Visit Betfair’s homepage and click on the Join Now tab located in the upper right corner;
  • Fill out the required fields (name, email address, country, currency, mobile phone);
  • Input the promo code (if you have one);
  • Confirm that you agree with the T&C;
  • Go to the Cashier section to make your first deposit;
  • Select a payment method from the list and type the amount you wish to deposit;
  • Once you confirm the payment, the funds should reach your account instantly;
  • Start placing bets on your favourite sports! 


Bonuses and key features

When it comes to the most useful features Betfair has to offer, the betting exchange platform easily tops the list. This service allows users to act as both a punter and a bookmaker. Being the industry leader in this area, Betfair provides a mind-numbing array of betting exchange markets. What’s more, customers can also trade their bets to other punters to secure their profits even before the match has started. 

When it comes to the live betting platform, the offer here is quite impressive, which is expected from a company of such stature. Brits love football, so it’s only natural that this is where their live betting offer excels the most.

Apart from an extensive live betting offer, Betfair is also home to a first-class live streaming platform that allows users to tune in on the live betting action across a variety of sports. Regardless of what match you pick for live broadcast, you’ll be getting stats that shows which team has the higher possession of the ball, which team is pressing the attack, the total number of shots, and so forth. 

As far as bonuses and promotions are concerned, Betfair is one of the most generous betting operators around. Below, you’ll find a full lowdown of the operator’s finest promotions. 

Welcome Offer — Get a Free £20 Exchange Bet 

Newly registered punters who sign up using the promo code VAL225 are entitled to a fantastic risk-free £20 bet. It gives customers a chance to place a qualifying £20 bet on any betting exchange market and, if it fails, Betfair will refund their stake in full as withdrawable cash. 

Keep in mind that this offer is exclusive to Betfair’s exchange service — you cannot use it on classic sportsbook markets. 

Furthermore, the qualifying bet must be placed (and settled) within 7 days upon registration. If you lose, Betfair will refund your stake within 72h of settling your qualifying bet. 

Note that only deposits made via ApplePay and credit/debit cards are eligible for this promotion. You should also know that, if your qualifying bet wins, Betfair will not refund your initial stake. 

Since there are some country restrictions in place regarding this offer, we recommend that you go through the bonus T&C before signing up for the bonus. 

Earn  £10 in Cash for Every Friend You Refer 

If you convince your pals to sign up with Betfair using your referral link, Betfair will give you cash prizes. For every friend you bring in, you’ll receive £10, up to a maximum of £50 — 5 referrals. 

To qualify for the offer, both you and your referring friend must have accounts registered in the same country. The promotion is only valid for customers residing in the UK, Ireland, or any of the following countries from the list

In order to receive the cash prize, the friends that you’ve shared the referral code with must place a £10 (or over) in 60 days — free bets don’t count towards the requirement. 

Best Odds Guaranteed on All UK and Ireland Races 

This offer applies to any horse race that takes place in the UK and Ireland after 8 am on the day of the race. Best Odds Guaranteed means that, if the industry starting odds for a particular race are at 4/1, and the Betfair’s odds for that race are lower (3/1 for example), the bookmaker will allow punters to place odds at higher, industry starting odds (4/1). 

Note that the Best Odds Guaranteed offer pertains to race winner markets only (win and each way), and it’s not available for ante-post markets. 

The maximum payout from this promotion is £50,000 per day. Only bets placed on the Betfair sportsbook section will count towards the offer — exchange bets are excluded.


The

Betfair

Mobile Betting App

Betfair strives to do everything in its power to provide its customers with the best possible instant betting experience by offering mobile users two different ways to place bets on the go. First, there are iOS and Android sports betting apps that are downloadable from Apple and Google Store, respectively. 


You can also access the download links from the Betfair’s app directory. There, you can find all sorts of handy betting features, including Betting Assistant, Geeks Toy, and more.




If you want to save storage space, you can also opt for the optimized mobile version of the page. It runs on all operating systems, not just iOS or Android. 

Both of these variants have one thing in common — the entire betting program is readily available, including live bets and the majority of features that you can find on the desktop version. For instance, you can make deposits and withdrawals from your mobile phone or get in touch with the customer support team. 


Betfair

Sports Betting Markets

Betfair offers over 27different sports to bet on, which puts them at the very top of online betting sites. I’ve listed them out all below, so feel free to check it out.

The depth of market coverage at Betfair can only be matched by the range of available betting options. There is an endless selection of both pre-match and live betting types found across a variety of sports. You’ll find all the usual suspects — correct score, win, and goalscorer markets, along with other popular bet types like over/under, handicaps, and points markets. 

There is a solid range of special bets as well. These include political betting, Oscar betting, and you can even place wagers on who is going to be the next Pope after Francis I.


Here is a list of all sports betting markets that we could find while reviewing this operator:
American Football
Cycling
Horse Racing
Rugby Union
Aussie Rules
Darts
Ice Hockey
Snooker & Pool
Baseball
Esports
MMA
Basketball
Football
Motor Racing
Table Tennis
Boxing
Tennis
Cricket
Netball
Golf
Politics
Volleyball
Greyhounds
Rugby League
Specials

Deposit Methods

Fast, direct money transfers to and out of your Betfair account are a straightforward affair. The bookmaker is able to facilitate transactions through a seemingly endless range of payment options. 

Although not every payment option is available to users in every country, the most common payment services like major credit and debit cards can be utilized from anywhere around the world. 

The company accepts PayPal payments from numerous European countries, as well as lightning-fast bank transfers. Regardless of your whereabouts, you’ll probably also have access to banking methods such as Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, Webmoney, and ClickandBuy — to name but a few. 

The minimum deposit for almost all payment options is £10, with the only exception being PayPal (£5) and Neteller (£12). All deposits are instantaneous, except those made via bank transfer that may take up to 3 working days. Depending on the chosen deposit method, Betfair may charge some fees on your money transfer. To find out more about this, we suggest that you contact customer support.

Withdrawal Methods

Much like with other operators, there are fewer payment options for withdrawal than for depositing. Nevertheless, you can cash out your winnings using dozens of different banking platforms, including: 

  • Debit or Credit cards 
  • UK Express Bank Transfer 
  • UK Standard Bank Transfer
  • Australian Bank Transfer (NAB) 
  • PayPal 
  • Skrill 
  • Neteller 
  • Qiwi 
  • WebMoney 
  • Apple Pay 

The processing times depend on the selected method, with e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, Qiwi, PayPal) being the fastest, as they can transfer your proceeds within 24 hours. Betfair incurs fees on withdrawals processed via certain payment providers. Any fees applicable will be displayed on your withdrawal page.


Security Measures

Betfair meets the highest standards when it comes to security. The site utilizes top-notch measures to ensure maximum protection of players’ private and personal data. These include cutting-edge SSL encryption software, advanced firewalls, and Secure Server ID. With these mechanisms in place, you can rest assured that your sensitive data will be safeguarded at all times, and protected from any hacker attacks.

Restrictions

Betfair is a universally recognized brand, but its services are not available in certain countries. This means that, if you happen to be in any of the countries from the list below, you will not be able to place wagers in Betfair, and you will have to find another betting platform. 

  • Canada 
  • Cuba 
  • France 
  • Iraq 
  • Lebanon 
  • Portugal 
  • Turkey 
  • China 
  • DR Congo 
  • Greenland 
  • Israel 
  • Libya 
  • Somalia 
  • Côte D’Ivoire 
  • Eritrea 
  • Japan 
  • Iran 
  • North Korea 
  • Sudan 

Betfair is also available in the US, for punters living in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The list is subject to change, and you should always check the legal status of online gambling in your country before trying to sign up with Betfair.

Customer Support

Betfair treats its loyal customers with respect, as can be seen through their round-the-clock customer service and supreme customer care for every account holder. You can get in touch with the support team via a number of ways, and they all have one thing in common — delivering fast solutions to queries. 

Contact with the support representatives can be established via email, phone, live chat, Twitter and Facebook. With vast resources at their disposal, Betfair is one of the rare bookmakers that are able to provide genuinely international customer service. 

There’s also an extensive FAQ section where you’ll find answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding security, registration, payments, and more.



Conclusion

Betfair is a fantastic betting establishment, and their splendid offer is testament to that, no matter if you’re talking about sports coverage, availability of markets, or customer support. Years of experience have paid off — they’re now running a first-class venture that caters to the needs of every punter. The only downside we could find was the number of payment methods provided for non-UK residents. Regardless, you can look forward to a superb betting experience the moment you set your foot at Betfair’s virtual chambers.