An Overview
Few betting companies (or betting exchanges, to be 100% accurate) have changed the sports betting landscape as much as Betfair.
Founded in 2000 based on a completely fresh and innovative idea, Betfair became synonymous with 0% margin betting. This attracted millions of people worldwide. Betfair allowed punters to bet against each other rather than the sportsbook itself. This eliminated margins and allowed them to offer exceptional odds to players from all over the globe.
Twenty-five years later, Betfair is still a huge player in the industry. The site has secured licenses across multiple jurisdictions, integrated modern betting tools, and offers a mainstream sportsbook with fixed odds too. Betfair’s online casino is by far one of the largest and most popular in the world as well.
This review will analyse why Betfair is the undisputed king of betting exchanges and why you might be interested in trying its fixed odds proposition. We will look at the vast array of betting markets, promotions, and tools offered by Betfair. And we will answer the most common questions about a brand that changed the betting world forever.
Selection of sports and markets
Before we analyse the list of sports and markets available on Betfair, we need to clarify that we will split our review between the Exchange and the Sportsbook as these are two different products. Although most players will visit Betfair for the betting exchange, quite a few will be tempted to use the fixed odds sportsbook too.
- Betfair Exchange: 25 sports, including all of the most popular ones (Football, Basketball, Tennis, Boxing) and less favoured ones such as Winter Sports and Gaelic games. Betfair was built as a UK-focused page so Greyhounds, Horse Racing, and Darts feature heavily.
- Betfair Sportsbook: We initially thought the sportsbook would be much more populated as fixed odds markets are easier to open and generate liquidity around. However, we found the same number of sports and competitions as in the exchange.
Odds and payouts analysis
Betfair was the first and is now the biggest betting exchange in the world. At an exchange, supply and demand directly define the prices of each betting market. The house keeps a percentage of any winning stake, allowing for no juice betting odds everywhere.
Due to local regulations, Betfair also offers fixed odds betting in some countries. This more mainstream service doesn’t stand out from other traditional sportsbooks, but it is still a good product. Players prefer to use Betfair for the exchange, which has remained at the core of its business for over 25 years.
Welcome Bonus and Other Promotions
When your name is Betfair, you don’t need to spoil players. Betfair fully understands the leverage it has, which is based on its unique platform and betting exchange proposition. Like other cases of bookmakers with strong innovation advantages, Betfair is tight with its bonuses and promos. Instead, Betfair prefers to focus on its cutting-edge technology and betting tools.
There are welcome bonuses for all kinds of players though, regardless of the games they prefer. Here is the complete list, which might be enriched with seasonal offers now and then:
- £50 (or currency equivalent) in Free Bets for new betting customers. This is available after your first £10 bet on the exchange.
- £20 Exchange Free Bet. A full refund on your first loss of £20 or less.
- 50 Free Spins to try Betfair Casino.
- £50 Bonus on Betfair Bingo. This is perfect for Lucky Numbers enthusiasts.
If you are not in the UK, this is not a problem. These promotions are also offered with the currency equivalent for players based elsewhere. Check the Betfair promotions page by clicking on one of our secure links to see what’s available in your region.
Website graphics and functionality
Some players remember the simple yet functional interface when Betfair launched 25 years ago. The biggest issue back then was the complexity of matched odds and bets. This is now a known concept, for both experienced and casual punters alike, so the site became much more intuitive.
However, it’s the 2020s, and the portal needed refurbishment. White and red/green have been replaced with yellow and black. All the features, bets, markets, and the betting platform are perfectly positioned to welcome loyal customers and those who sign up for the first time. It’s no coincidence that Betfair has the most loyal clientele in the betting world. It is also no coincidence that Betfair is still pretty much unrivalled in the world of exchange betting. Their new site reflects all this.
Deposit and withdrawal methods on Betfair
A reputable betting website such as Betfair offers one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive selections of payment methods. Players can choose from the following options to make deposits:
- Instant Bank Transfer
- Debit Cards
- Credit Cards (where legal)
- Apple Pay
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Paysafecard
- Rapid Transfer
- MuchBetter
- Bank Transfer
Additionally, since its merger with Paddy Power, Betfair players can deposit funds in their accounts using cash at any Paddy Power outlet.
Sports betting
Betfair Casino and Other Products
Betfair’s Casino doesn’t disappoint. The non-betting exchange part of the Betfair website is full of exciting games, the best live dealers, exclusive exchange games (a Betfair original production), and several virtual sports options.
The casino is the real deal here. We found thousands of games on the homepage, including all the classics, Megaways slots, Pragmatic Play top sellers, and a wealth of jackpot games.
It is a similar situation in the Live Casino section, with hundreds of live blackjack, roulette, and baccarat tables. Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play provide the vast majority, while a section with Betfair-exclusive tables also exists. The Betfair Studio is dedicated to VIP players and is another good feature.
A special mention is needed for Betfair poker. One of the oldest online poker platforms, it dominated the market between 2000 and 2010. It has sponsored thousands of online and offline events in Europe and the Americas, paid out millions to winners of cash games and tournaments, and is still considered one of the best websites for online poker enthusiasts.
