An Overview
If one website incorporates all of the advantages of a betting exchange then Smarkets is it.
In this article, we will review the key aspects of this very modern betting proposition. We’ll focus on safety and security, whether this is a good place to bet on sports, and, of course, all the welcome offers and other perks that await you after registration.
Selection of sports and markets
With 25 sports available pre-match and more than 10 in-play, Smarkets does a good job for a betting exchange. Markets-wise, there are also decent options. For Premier League games, there are over 200 markets on offer. The Horse Racing offering is also particularly extensive. 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
While there may be weaknesses in Smarkets’ other offerings, we were delighted with the quality of the betting exchange. It has a modern, sleek design and clearly has similar elements to the likes of Betfair and Betdaq. If you know those two sites, navigating Smarkets should be a breeze.
Players can select between dark and light mode. We prefer the dark skin, with its white and yellow fonts. The page is not too packed with events on a laptop or mobile. Instead, odds, in-play stats, trading volumes, and other info are all shown in an easy-to-read way.
The layout for the in-play markets particularly stands out. The graphs look amazing, the menus are intuitively 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. Unlike Betfair.com and other exchanges, Smarkets only offers markets and odds based on supply and demand.
SMarkets live betting and streaming events
Live betting is a success story for Smarkets. We have noticed hundreds of events from over 10 different sports on busy days. It’s also worth mentioning that big Premier League clashes and other popular sports trade over £500,000 in-play. This catapults Smarkets to the forefront of all betting exchanges.
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, animations, and graphics, live streaming is only available for certain Horse Racing events.
Bet Types
Smarkets Exchange can satisfy even the most demanding of 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 / Accumulators
- Lucky 15
- Trixies
- Yankees
- Heinz & Super Heinz
- Each Way
While liquidity may vary depending on market, Smarkets has made a name for itself as one of the exchanges with the highest levels of liquidity out there. And, of course, it is an exchange with a wide variety of bet types too.
Odds and payouts analysis
As a betting exchange, odds and payouts are defined by supply and demand. Therefore, we should focus less on the odds and the payouts at Smarkets, and more on the liquidity.
We noticed that close to £1,000,000 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 the liquidity will prove attractive for most of them.
Welcome Bonuses and Other Promotions
Customers can expect a modest selection of offers from Smarkets. We are pretty sure this is part of their strategy of focusing on the juice and high-value betting limits, while discouraging bonus hunters and savvy players. Still, there are a few treats for new and loyal customers:
Smarkets Welcome Bonus
New customers at Smarkets 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 to insert a bonus code during registration to qualify.
Smarkets Casino Promotions
No Casino, no Party! As we mention later in our review, there is no casino at Smarkets, with the site focusing exclusively on sports betting.
Smarkets VIP Program
Unfortunately, it is not clear whether Smarkets has a VIP scheme. We don’t know if the customer support team contacts high rollers or whether loyal customers receive extra offers, bonuses, and cashback. We will keep an eye on this and update our Smarkets review if we obtain further information.
Website graphics and functionality
Smarkets is an excellent option if you are new to betting exchanges as the site guides beginners in placing their bets and trading easily.
Black, green, and white dominate the website. Beautiful financial graphs and professional sports images nicely show the vast range of bets available. The whole site is very intuitive and easy-to-use, making it one of our favourite betting exchanges.
How to place a bet
Have you found odds you want to back or lay? Then let’s take a look at the Smarkets betting slip.
While this isn’t the stereotypical betting coupon, it does allow for greater functionality. Players get all events in a list and then have to choose among several options:
- Singles or multiples
- Price asked
- Stake
Once this info has been entered, the return amount will appear in the relevant box. Thats it! You’re good to go!
Deposit and withdrawal methods on Smarkets
We were surprised that USD is not among the accepted currencies on Smarkets. The company targets certain regions so 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. All are 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). Here is a 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 service Quality
The Smarkets support team is online for 14 hours a day. These are the available CS channels:
- Email: [email protected]
- X.com: @SmarketsTech
- Live Chat: Visit Smarkets.com
- Post: To a dedicated UK physical address
There is no mention of 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-referral organisations.
What we appreciate the most is the section dedicated to educating players on how to trade better on betting exchanges. It contains very interesting articles for both novice and experienced bettors. We recommend you check this out before placing any real-money bets.
Smarkets Casino and Other Products
Smarkets does not offer a casino, which is something of a letdown. Indeed, Smarkets players have few options besides the betting exchange.
Naturally, some will say that an exchange must focus on its core proposition to achieve perfection. This is correct to some extent. However, we would love to have the option to play some casino games, poker, or even virtual games.
FAQS
Is Smarkets legal and safe?
Smarkets is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, which is one of the strongest certificates in the world. This means you can feel safe and confident that you are in good hands.
Is there a Smarkets app?
Yes! Smarkets has apps for both iOS and Android. The app works perfectly on any mobile device. It allows full betting exchange functionality and players can customise their experience based on their preferences.
Is there a Smarkets welcome bonus?
There is no traditional Smarkets welcome bonus. Instead, new customers get 0% commission for a number of days. This has been set at 60 days post-registration and first deposit. This is a competitive offer compared to other betting exchanges.
Is there a SMarkets VIP Program?
There is no Smarkets VIP program, but we know the site is attractive to high rollers and experienced bettors.
Is Smarkets a good destination for High Rollers?
Smarkets looks like a good betting exchange for high rollers, particularly those interested in the more popular events. Trading may not be as high-volume as at some other betting exchanges, but there is enough liquidity to match bets for high rollers.