Betfair Review – Our In-Depth Bookmaker Test Report

This review will take a detailed look at their operation, with a specific focus upon their sportsbook. Covering everything from markets and odds to customer support and banking, we will start by outlining the pros and cons of Betfair, based on our experiences.

Pros & Cons of Betfair

Excellent variety of sports betting markets
Competitive odds
Live streaming on selected events
24/7 customer support

Can be overwhelming for beginners

£100 Up to £100 in Free Bets in Free Bets

94/100 Rating

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T&C Apply 18: New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. T/Cs apply.

Sports Betting Markets – Fantastic Selection

Some 30+ sports markets are available at Betfair, with pre-match, in-play and outright options being available to customers in all. Markets include American football, baseball, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, greyhounds, horse racing, motor racing, rugby union, rugby league, tennis, Aussie Rules, cricket, darts, Gaelic football, handball, ice hockey, snooker, volleyball, badminton, bowls, golf, MMA and Winter sports. Meanwhile, markets surrounding politics and entertainment can also be found. It is not only high profile events and tournaments that are covered either, with regional competitions from a host of sports being available to bet on. As such, punters will rarely be short of options at Betfair.

Live Betting at Betfair

Inplay Icon Meanwhile, the vast majority of sports markets will also be available when it comes to live betting at Betfair. Clicking on the “In-Play” tab on their sportsbook top menu opens up a host of new opportunities, with odds being updated constantly. Sports including football, tennis and basketball feature heavily, with selected markets being accompanied by live streaming, something we will touch upon in greater detail later on in this Betfair review. Meanwhile, there are also ongoing promotions specific to live betting at Betfair, which offer free bets.

Betting Odds – Hugely Competitive

Odds at the Betfair sportsbook are very competitive, with betting margins being better than many of their rival bookies. Prices are especially appealing when it comes to less high-profile events, such as Championship football or a tennis match from the ATP Challenger Tour. A quick look at odds comparison sites shows that Betfair regularly offer greater odds than many other bookies in the UK, with odds being available to view in either fractional or decimal formats.

Betfair in Test 94/100

Good Welcome Offer
Very High odds

£100 Up to £100 in Free Bets Visit Betfair

Bonuses & Promotions

Bonus Icon Whether it be their sportsbook or betting exchange, both bonuses and promotions are available to new and existing customers at Betfair. Those signing up at the Betfair sportsbook can claim up to £100 in free bets, with punters having to place 5 bets of £10 or more to get a £20. This process can be carried out five times in total. The promo code “ZBBC01” must be entered, while qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/2 or greater. Free bets will be distributed within 24 hours of qualifying bets being settled, however it is worth keeping in mind that only deposits made via debit card or ApplePay will be eligible. Free bets claimed will be available for 30 days. Meanwhile, those signing up on the Betfair exchange can claim a risk-free bet worth £20. Should your opening bet on the exchange be unsuccessful, your stake will be refunded, up to £20, with qualifying bets having to be placed within 7 days of registering.

Meanwhile, ongoing promotions range hugely at Betfair. Firstly, a loyalty scheme is in place for customers placing horse racing bets. For each bet placed, points will be awarded, which can be used to place additional wagers on selected markets. 1 point is received for every £1 bet. Speaking of horse racing, best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse races is available at Betfair too. There is also a specific promotion surrounding ITV racing, where those backing a runner at odds of 3/1 or greater will receive a risk free bet up to £25. Horse racing fans are certainly well catered for, with daily price boosts being available too.

On top of this, an accumulator insurance offer is available to sportsbook customers, with punters receiving their stake back in the event of just 1 selection letting down your 3+ acca bet. The best thing about this promotion is that there is no maximum refund, unlike other bookies. As part of this promotion, customers can earn up to 20% in boosted winnings.

Design & Interface

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A yellow and black colour scheme is found on the Betfair site, which is now synonymous with the bookie. Meanwhile, the top menu of their sportsbook site features convenient links to all sports markets, in-play betting, cash out and promotions. Meanwhile, it is also easy to move between the Betfair sportsbook and betting exchange, as well as their casino, live casino and arcade pages. A bet slip appears on the right-hand side of the page upon selections being added, while the most popular events taking place at the time feature opposite. The speed of the site is also pleasing, with the bookie having received very little negative feedback in terms of usability.

Betfair Mobile

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The Betfair sportsbook site is fully functional on mobile devices too, making placing bets on the go easy. Meanwhile, a dedicated betting app is available to download on both iOS and Android devices, with the relevant links being found via the App Store and Google Play Store respectively. An app directory is found too, where punters can find a selection of recommended apps, along with the features found on them. Betfair is a bookie who clearly takes mobile betting seriously, with such customers also being able to view price graphics on exchange markets, as well as taking advantage of the “My Markets” feature.

Additional Features – Cash Out & Live Streaming

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On top of the generous promotions and range of sports markets available, Betfair is likely to appeal to punters because of features such a cash out and live streaming too. Cash out is available on selected markets, including football, tennis and horse racing, putting customers in greater control of their betting. Both full and partial cash out are available, with the latter meaning that punters can take home a proportion of their potential winnings, while leaving the rest active. The cash out option will appear on active bet slips when available, whether you are operating on desktop or mobile.

Live streaming is also available at Betfair, with sports including football, tennis and horse racing featuring heavily. In order to watch UK or Irish races, a bet of at least £1 must be placed, while a funded sportsbook account is needed to view other streams. Matches from major European football leagues, including Serie A, Bundesliga and La Liga are available, along with tennis clashes from the ATP and WTA Tour. Meanwhile, a live streaming schedule makes it easy see which evens will be available to watch.

Payment Methods – Easy to Deposit & Withdraw Funds

Punters in the UK also have a good number of options when it comes to processing both deposits and withdrawals at Betfair. All payment methods allow for instant deposits, which start at as little as £5, while withdrawals will take anywhere between 1-5 working days to process. Available options come in the form of Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, ApplePay and Bank Transfer.

Customer Support – 24/7 Customer Care

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As you would expect with a bookie of Betfair’s size, support is available 24/7, with response times being excellent across the board. Contact can be initiated via the telephone, email and live chat, while Betfair are also active on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter. Meanwhile, a detailed FAQ page is also found, delivering important information surrounding banking, betting, cash out and bonuses.

Security & Reliability

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Betfair is fully licensed and regulated by both the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority, two of the most respected authorities within the industry today. As such, potential customers should have no concerns in terms of their reliability. Meanwhile, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption is used to protect all customer details and payment information, while the bookies’ privacy policy can be read at all times, with the relevant link being found at the bottom of their site at all times. On top of this, a two-step authentication process is in play to protect against fraudulent activity, while Betfair are associated with organisation’s such as GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous and Gambling Therapy. Customers can also set themselves deposit limits, perfect for those concerned with their spending.

Betfair Exchange

The Betfair Exchange is hugely popular, offering an alternative to the traditional form of betting. Here, punters bet against each other, rather than a bookie. Back and lay bets are placed, with customers paying a small commission on winning bets, which sits at 5% at Betfair. Betfair’s is the worlds leading betting exchange, with new customers being able to £20 risk free bet upon signing up. Just under 30 sports markets were found on the exchange at the time of writing this Betfair review.

Betfair FAQ

How long has Betfair been operating?

Betfair was founded back in 2000. While not having the history of some of their rival bookies, Betfair still has over two decades worth of experience to its name, meaning that it is no surprise that they are one of the biggest names in the industry today.

Can I take advantage of a sign up offer at Betfair?

A sign up offer is available to new customers at the Betfair sportsbook and betting exchange. The sportsbook welcome offer is worth up to £100 in free bets, while exchange customers can claim a risk free bet worth as much as £20. Meanwhile, there are also a variety of ongoing promotions available.

Is live streaming available at Betfair?

Yes. Live streaming is available on a host of sporting events. Football, tennis and horse racing are the most common, with a qualifying bet or funded account being needed in order to gain access.

Is there a mobile app for iOS users?

Yes. The Betfair iOS app can be downloaded via the App Store. Meanwhile, an Android version is also available, with the relevant link being found on the Google Play Store.

Can I deposit and withdraw using PayPal at Betfair?

Yes. PayPal is one of a number of accepted payment methods at Betfair. Payments using this method are convenient, fast and generally free of charge.

Bottom Line on Betfair

Betfair really does have everything in which punters could be looking for, with their sportsbook and betting exchange catering for the needs of all. With a huge number of markets, competitive odds, generous welcome offer and a host of additional features, we cannot recommend Betfair highly enough. The only limitations surround the small number of ongoing promotions and potentially overwhelming website, however these are very minor. All in all, Betfair is in a position to compete with the very best bookies in the UK today, with an increasing number of punters signing up as a result.