Company Info:
Betfair started life pioneering an online betting Exchange in 2000 that disrupted the market in by allowing customers to set their own odds for the first time. This was revolutionary at the time and BetFair has led this betting market ever since. It is part of a larger merged company Paddy Power Betfair that was formed in 2016 and is now an international, multi-channel sports betting and gaming operator and differs from the likes of Boylesports
Website: BETFAIR.com
Customer service: UK: 0344 871 0000 / tweet @BetfairCS
Head Office: Paddy Power Betfair, Waterfront, Park, Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road, London. W6 9HP
Betfair Review Overall Rating (5/5)
Customer Service
Betfair customer service is pretty decent that offer you a few choices. You have options to firstly select the type of issue you may be having with an accompanying list of useful FAQ’s and failing that you can select contact us option and use the live chat tool or call, someone. We really like the level of support with the added comfort knowing how long it will take to answer your call or attend to the live chat. The site however does has some mixed reviews.
Sports Markets:
At the top of the screen, the more popular sports like football, horse racing, tennis, cricket, mma and dart are displayed that is quite handy for quick access. Additionally, there is a drop-down to select all sports that shows an additional number of sports including obscure ones like Chess! There is also a “Special Bets“ option that provides a list of odds for events including non-sport related like TV Shows including The Voice, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, BAFTA Awards to name just a few.
Sign up Offer: Get up to £100 in Free Bets!
18+, New Customers Only, T&Cs Apply
This is the headline Betfair new customer offer and seems very generous. To qualify for this free bet offer you’ll need to fulfil some criteria summarised as follows:
* Place 5 x £10 (or more) single bets on the Sportsbook each at min odds 1/2 (1.5)
* Bets placed on the same selection or market do not qualify for this promotion
* After your 5 qualifying bets have been settled, you will receive a £20 free bet
* The process can be repeated up to 5 times. The max bonus available is £100 (5 x £20 free bets)
* Free bets will be awarded within 24 hours of you completing the qualifying requirement
* You can stake more than £10 but it will only count as one qualifying bet.
Although you have to jump a few hurdles the rewards are there for those that are patient enough. If this offer isn’t for you then there are others like a Free £20 Exchange Bet where you must bet at least £20 on the exchange and if you lose Betfair will refund you £20 – surely that’s a no brainer.
Mobile Site and App:
The Betfair mobile app is available in both android from google play and the iOS version in the app store and you have the option to not download the app and play on your mobile with our login details.
The two versions of the app where one if purely a sports exchange where you can place bets against others I the market and Betfair takes a commission or the more traditional fixed odds platform. For most people, they would go for one or the other although it would be nice not to have two separate apps.
Betfair Trading Exchange – How does it work?
A betting exchange allows members to bet against each other rather than a bookmaker. Customers can offer odds to, or request odds from, fellow Betfair gamblers.
The big difference with exchanges compared to bookmakers is they allow lay betting. This means backing a selection to lose rather than win. Every bet placed on a betting exchange involves two bets really – one bet backing the selection to win, and a second bet backing the same selection to lose.
E.g. place a £10 bet on a horse to win at 10/1 which returns a profit of £100, you need someone else to risk £100 at 1/10 to win £10.
This option to lay a bet makes it much easier for customers to guarantee a return if the odds shorten after they’ve placed their bet.
Where backing a horse with a bookmaker would require you to back every other horse in a race to “green up“, on a betting exchange you can back your selection to lose after the price has shortened to lock in a profit.
There are many benefits to using an exchange instead of a bookmaker like a greater choice for customers as you only need to find another member willing to take on the risk (lay your bet). Betfair exchange allows users to find odds and markets they want.
Value for bettors will generally be better on an exchange where the market is priced up hundreds or thousands of bets placed by other people.
