An Overview

Few betting companies (or betting exchanges, if we want to be 100% accurate) have changed the sports betting world in a way that is similar to Betfair.

Founded in 2000, based on a completely fresh and innovative idea, Betfair became synonymous with 0% margin betting, attracting millions of people worldwide. The Betfair betting product was too good to compete with mainstream bookies. A platform that allowed punters to bet against each other, eliminating the margins and offering exceptional odds to players from all over the globe.

Twenty-five years later, Betfair entered a new stage in its career in the industry. It has secured licenses across different jurisdictions, integrated modern betting tools, and offers a mainstream book with fixed odds. Its online casino is by far one of the largest and most popular in the world. 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 understand the vast array of betting markets, promotions, and tools players can use on the page. And we will answer the most common question about a brand that changed the betting world forever.

Selection of sports and markets

Before we analyse the Betfair list of sports and markets, we need to clarify that to be 100% accurate and fair, most sections of this review will be split into Exchange and Sportsbook. Although most players will visit the website to use the Betfair betting exchange, quite a few will be tempted to use the fixed odds book.

• Betfair Exchange: 25 Sports, including the very 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; therefore, greyhounds, horse racing, and darts are prominent.

• Betfair Sportsbook: We initially thought the sportsbook would be much more populated. Since, by nature, fixed odds markets are easier to open and generate liquidity around. However, we found the same number of sports and competitions. All the UK favoured sports, but also several betting markets that are not focusing just on Great Britain sports.

Betfair live betting and streaming events

Both Betfair betting products offer an exquisite live betting experience. Since it is one company, they share similar betting tools and live-streaming capabilities. Registered users can watch various in-play events live in High Definition. The live exchange betting platform won’t offer as many markets as the fixed odds platform since it’s nearly impossible to match all markets in real-time. However, in popular sports like football, cricket and tennis, there are enough betting options even on the exchange.

Bet Types

It’s hard to produce dozens of bet types, a betting product that requires punters to match each other’s preferences and limits. Like a fixed odds book. However, even under these unique circumstances, Betfair exchange offers:

• 1X2
• Over / Under
• Half Time
• Goal Lines
• Goal Scorer
• Both Teams to Score

This wealth of options is also in popular sports, including Horse Racing, Grey Hounds, Tennis, Cricket, Boxing and Darts.

On the other hand, if you compare an important Premier League game and the bet types offered on the Betfair Sports Book, you will notice immediately that there are markets that aren’t offered on the exchange. Such as:

• Build Ups
• Fouls / Cards
• Shots
• Corners
• Goalkeeper Saves

Naturally, we can’t compare the two. The exchange has structural restrictions in the way it works, and it would be unfair to mention that the sportsbook is way better in terms of bet types offered. We can only say that both products are top-notch, and although betfair exchange was initially criticised for leaving its comfort zone to launch its fixed odds product, they have done an amazing job in both verticals.

Betting and winning limits

And this is where things get interesting. Betfair first came up with the idea of betting against other players and not against the house. This is good and bad at the same time:

• Good because, in theory, there is no limit on your betting and winnings since someone else will pay for those if he has accepted to stake against your bet
• It isn’t good because there is insufficient liquidity in markets that aren’t as interesting. Unlike traditional bookmakers, there is no trade to infuse liquidity on these markets (at least not officially).

While betting against other players from all over the world sounds complicated initially, it is why Betfair has become a global giant in this industry. The model has been executed perfectly, even with manual cash infusions in markets with lower liquidity. In a way that players can find the most bets they are looking for.

Odds and payouts analysis

Betfair is the first and biggest betting exchange in the world. It established the odds exchange market, where supply and demand define directly the prices in each game and betting market. The house keeps a % of the stake, allowing for no juice betting odds everywhere.

However, due to local regulations, in some countries, Betfair also offers fixed odds betting. This rather mainstream service won’t stand out from other traditional bookies. Players prefer to use this brand mainly for its exchange, which has remained 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 Exchange fully understands the leverage they have, which is based on its unique platform and betting exchange proposition. Like other cases of bookies with strong innovation advantages, Betfair is tight with its bonuses and promos. Instead, they prefer to focus on cutting-edge technology and essential betting tools.

There are welcome bonuses for all kinds of players. Regardless of the games they prefer. Here is the complete list, which might be enriched with seasonal offers now and then:

• £50 in Free Bets for new betting customers. Available after your first £10 bet on the exchange.
• £20 Exchange Free bet. A full refund for your first loss of £20 or less.
• 50 Free Spins to try Betfair Casino. Why? Because it’s awesome, with thousands of games. Worthy of the huge brand it represents.
• £50 Bonus on Betfair Bingo. Perfect for Lucky Numbers enthusiasts in the United Kingdom, but not only.   

If you are not based 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 Betfair when it first started 25 years ago. And they remember the simple yet very functional interface. The biggest issue back then was the complexity of matched odds and bets. This is now every day for most punters, at both casual and professional levels.

However, it’s the 2020s, and the website needs some refurbishment. White and red/green have been replaced with the characteristic yellow and black of the new era. All the features, bets, markets, and the betting platform are perfectly positioned. To welcome loyal customers and those who try for the first time. It’s not random that Betfair sports has the most loyal clientele in the betting world. And that no other exchange managed even remotely to threaten its supremacy.

How to place a bet

While placing a bet with Betfair follows the identical logical steps that it follows on traditional bookmakers’ websites, a substantial difference has to do with matching the stakes. Here is how it works:

1. Select the match and betting market you wish to place a bet on
2. Observe the volume of bets already placed to understand liquidity in that market
3. Place a bet that can be fully or partially matched before the game starts.

But that’s not all. Betfair offers players the option to lay a bet. Bet against a result, allowing every player to become the “bookmaker”. Laying bets on Betfair is undoubtedly one of the biggest innovations in the betting world. Ever! Understanding it might seem hard to start with, but with a little effort, you’ll get the grip of it after a few attempts.

This is how you place lay bets on Betfair:

1. Select the game you want to lay
2. See the pink options with the odds
3. Choose your stake
4. Submit your Lay Bet

With lay betting, players can choose the odds and the stakes for an event that is not happening. For example, if you lay on Liverpool to win vs Man City, you bet on the event of not winning. The difference is that with Betfair Lay Betting, players can suggest and – perhaps – get the odds they like. Not the double chance odds that traditional bookmakers offer.

Deposit and payment methods on Betfair

A reputable betting website such as Betfair can only offer the world’s largest and best list of payment methods. Players can use the following options to make deposits:

• Instant Bank Transfer
• Debit Cards
• Credit Cards
• Apple Pay
• Paypal
• Skrill
• Neteller
• Paysafecard
• Rapid Transfer
• Much Better
• Bank Transfer

Since its merger with Paddy Power, UK’s other betting powerhouse, Betfair players can use any Paddy Power Outlet to deposit funds in their accounts using cash.

Learn more about Betfair Sports betting

Customer service Quality

If you wish to get in touch about any account-related issues, then you can try one of the designated Customer Support contact methods:

• Live Chat (most popular)
• Telephone Numbers (different for each market)
• X.com Betfair CS (via @BetfairCS)
• FAQ section
• Email Customer Support
• By Post (Betfair Corporate Communications, Waterfront Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road (access on Winslow Road, London, W6 9HP, United Kingdom)

License and Safety Information

Betfair’s corporate history and business evolution can be taught in business schools. A company that started from a small office in London to become the world leader in exchange betting and then merged with some of the biggest online gaming brands.

Betfair is part of the Flutter Entertainment group, alongside Paddy Power, Pokerstars, Adjarabet, Tombola, Sky Betting, Fan Duel and other brands. Flutter generated over 11 Billion Dollars in Revenue in 2024, all in regulated markets, with Betfair accounting for a significant share of this. Operates with a local license wherever available, has invested significant amounts in corporate responsibility and is listed on the NY Stock Exchange (NYSE). In brief, it’s one of the top destinations for betting and exchange aficionados.

Betfair Casino and Other Products

Betfair casino online won’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.

Casino is the real deal here. We found thousands of games on its homepage, including all the classics, Megaways slots, Pragmatic Play top sellers and a wealth of jackpot games.

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 exists. Betfair Studio is dedicated to players who seek this VIP sense when they play blackjack and baccarat.

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 even to this day is considered one of the best websites for online poker enthusiasts.