An Overview
At Easybet.com, we aim to always be honest with our readers. And we will be crystal clear with you when talking about SMarkets. We weren’t aware of its existence until a few years ago. But then, we started diving deep into the betting exchange world; we realised that if one exchange incorporates all the advantages of using this betting type, then SMarkets is this.
Below, we will review the key aspects of this very modern betting proposition; we will assess whether this is a safe environment for customers, we will suggest if this is a good place to bet on sports, and, of course, we will present before you all the welcome offers and other perks that await you post registration. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to our SMarkets betting exchange review!
Selection of sports and markets
With 25 sports available pre-game and 10+ available in-play, SMarkets do a pretty good job for a betting exchange. Markets-wise, there are also decent options. Premier League games are offered with app 200 markets. Horse racing is also well-planned. We have been pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the sports and markets available for a lesser-known betting exchange.
SMarkets Betting Exchange
Later in our analysis, we may not sound happy with certain elements of the content we found on SMarkets. However, we can’t be happier with the betting exchange product we reviewed.
The page has been designed to look modern, but this is not only a facade. It’s a high-functioning betting exchange based on the same elements as Betfair and Betdaq, bringing fresh air to those who prefer exchanges over traditional bookmakers.
Players can select between a dark and a light theme. We prefer the dark skin, with white and yellow fonts. The page is not packed with events on a laptop or mobile. Instead, odds, in-play stats, trading volumes and other info are used with enough space between each other.
What stands out is the in-play layout. The graphs look amazing, the menus are generously placed around the main markets, and the action icons leave no space for mistakes. Out of all the betting exchanges we have reviewed on Easybet.com, this looks the most modern, user-friendly and comprehensive.
SMarkets Fixed Odds Betting
This betting exchange is committed to offering the best possible exchange experience. As a result, no fixed odds sportsbook is available on the pages. Unlike Betfair.com and other exchanges, SMarkets only offer markets and odds based on supply and demand laws. 100% betting exchange experience!
SMarkets live betting and streaming events
Live betting is a success story for SMarkets. We have noticed hundreds of events from 10+ sports on busy days. The trading team will observe and trade live odds on:
- Football
- Horse Racing
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Cycling
- eSports
- Hockey
- Motorsports
- Volleyball
Although the live betting platform is very modern, with many stats, in-play action, animation, and graphics, live streaming is available only for certain horseracing events. Its also worth mentioning that big premier league clashes and other popular sports trade over half a million pounds in-play. Which brings SMarkets to the forefront of all betting exchanges.
Bet Types
SMarkets Exchange will satisfy demanding players. Including professional bettors and arbitrage aficionados. Therefore, the list of available bet types is endless. Here are the most popular ones:
- 1X2 Betting
- Draw No Bet
- Asian Handicap
- Over / Under
- Head2Head
- Parlays
- Lucky 15
- Trixies
- Yankee
- Heinz & Super Heinz
- Each Way
While liquidity might vary based on the markets you are looking at, SMarkets has made a name as one of the exchanges with the best levels of liquidity out there. And, of course, it is one of those with the best variety of bet types. You should have a look by yourselves.
Odds and payouts analysis
As a betting exchange, odds and payouts are defined purely by supply and demand. Therefore, this is not a section to analyse the odds and the payouts but the liquidity on SMarkets.
We noticed that close to 1m GPB is traded during big events. e.g. UK Horse Racing or Champions League clashes. Naturally, smaller leagues and exotic sports won’t enjoy the same privilege. Nevertheless, this exchange has many options, and liquidity will be enough for most of them.
Welcome Bonus and Other Promotions
Customers can expect some but not many offers from SMarkets. We are pretty sure that this is part of the strategy to focus on real juice and betting limits value, simultaneously discouraging bonus hunters and savvy players. Still, though, there are a few treats for new and loyal customers:
SMarkets Welcome Bonus
SMarkets new customers will enjoy 0% commission on their bets for 60 days! Is this a good welcome offer? Well, exchanges are all about odds and juice. So we are confident that players will enjoy this. Please note that you need a bonus code inserted during registration to qualify for this.
SMarkets Casino Promotions
No Casino, no Party! As we mention later in our review, casino fans won’t be happy with SMarkets because no games of luck are available for customers looking to diversify their fun. We suspect this is due to some regions’ lack of local licenses. Still, it’s a letdown for most betting customers since there is always a good overlap between the two products.
SMarkets VIP Program
Unfortunately, no page on the website clarifies whether loyal players will be rewarded somehow. We don’t know if the customer support team contacts high rollers and good customers and receives extra offers, bonuses and cash backs. We keep an eye on this and will update this SMarkets Review if we obtain further info.
Website graphics and functionality
If you are a novice in betting exchange, you will love markets like we did because the page has been built to guide beginners in placing bets and trading easily.
Black, green and white colours dominate the website. Beautiful financial graphs and professional sports images nicely show the vast array of bets available. We mention later on the page that this modern page design is among the top pros of SMarkets.
How to place a bet
Have you researched and located odds that you want to back or lay? It’s time we looked at how to build the SMarkets betting slip.
While this isn’t the stereotypical betting coupon we have seen, it allows for great functionality. Players get all events in the list and then have to choose among several options:
- Single or Multiples
- Price asked
- Stake
Once this info has been entered, the return amount will appear in the relevant box. Thats it! You are good to go!
Deposit and payment methods on SMarkets Sports Betting
It was unexpected that USD is not among the accepted currencies on SMarkets. The company targets certain regions; therefore, the available currencies include:
- British Pounds (GBP)
- Euros (EUR)
- Swedish Krona (SEK)
- Brazilian Real (BRL)
Deposits
If you decide to pay money into your account, you can use one of the following methods, that are all instant and free.
- Visa Debit Cards
- Mastercard
- Solo
- Maestro
- Instant Bank Transfer
- Trustly
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paypal
Withdrawals
Similarly, all cash-out methods are free. However, the processing times can range between 12 hours (instant bank transfer) and 5-10 business days (regular bank transfer). Please read below the complete list of available withdrawal methods:
- Instant Bank Transfer
- Visa Debit
- Mastercard
- Solo
- Maestro
- Trustly
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Bank Transfer
- Paypal
Learn more about SMarkets Sports
· Customer Support
It’s a nice surprise to learn that the SMarkets support team is online for 14 hours daily. These are the available CS channels:
- Email: support@smarkets.com
- Twitter: @SmarketsTech
- Live Chat: Visit smarkets.com
- Post: To a dedicated UK physical address
There is no mention on the page whether SMarkets offers multilingual support. However, since the page has been recently translated into Portuguese and Swedish, we are confident that the relevant CS department also offers these languages.
License and Safety Information
SMarkets uses a Malta License (MGA issued – License Number MGA/CRP/162/2008 issued May 12th, 2009) to provide sports betting and betting exchange services. MGA is the licensing authority behind some of the most popular and reputable online gaming firms worldwide.
Additionally, there are links to responsible gambling and self-assessment organisations. For those that are afraid they might be risking more money than they can afford.
What we appreciate the most, however, in this section of our SMarkets review is that a whole area of the website is dedicated to educating players on how to trade better on such exchanges. There are very interesting articles for those who start now or even for experienced traders. We recommend that you look at this info before placing real money bets.
SMarkets Casino and Other Products
Pure and utter letdown! We won’t hesitate to write so. However, as professional sports book and casino reviewers, we are unhappy that there is nothing but a betting exchange on the SMarkets page.
Naturally, some will say that an exchange must focus on its core proposition to achieve perfection. And this is correct to some extent. However, we would love to have the option to play some casino games, some poker, or even some virtual games. We don’t know the reason behind this decision. It may concern the complex regulatory environment in its core markets. Or it could be a decision of focus. Nevertheless, SMarkets players have few options besides playing on the betting exchange.
FAQs
Is SMarkets legal and safe?
The license issued by the Malta Gaming Authority is one of the strongest certificates in the world. This is the guarantee that players get when trusting their money on SMarkets. You can feel safe and confident that you are in good hands.
Is there an SMarkets app?
Yes! There are apps for both iOS and Android. SMarkets product teams are very proud of the launch. They have dedicated an entire page to promote and declare their enthusiasm for their achievement. The app works perfectly on any mobile device. It allows full exchange functionality, and players can customise their experience.
Is there a SMarkets welcome bonus?
There is no traditional SMarkets bonus. Instead, new customers get 0% for a range of days. That has been set at 60 days post-registration and first deposit. This is a competitive offer that we have seen in other betting exchanges.
Is there a SMarkets VIP Program?
There isn’t. It could be because the company already feels very generous to players. Or it’s because they prefer to invest the VIP reward money in product development. We can’t know the reasons, but it’s a fact that high rollers and regular players will find their promised land here.
Is SMarkets a good destination for High Rollers?
Looks like it. Especially at popular events. Trading isn’t as high in volume as some other betting exchanges. However, there is enough liquidity to match bets for high rollers.
