Countries

x

Betfair review:

Betfair

Money back as cash up to £20
If your first bet loses

Max £20 refund on first bet. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Only deposits made via Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. T&Cs apply.

Betfair review

Ryan

Ryan

Betfair is a proper quality online betting site. It's a go-to for many UK punters largely because of the options available when you've got a sportsbook and an exchange all under one roof (not to mention the plentiful live streaming, great cash out function plus regular promos and offers). Betfair was one of the first accounts I opened as a beginner and it's still the main account I use for my betting now that I'm at a more advanced level.

Betfair score

  • Terrific variety of markets
  • World-leading betting exchange
  • Daily odds boosts on popular sports
  • Great payment options
  • Bank transfer withdrawals can come with a fee
  • Commission taken on exchange transactions
Bonus offer
8/10
Betting variety
10/10
Mobile experience
9/10
Payment options
9/10
Betting experience
9/10
Support
9/10
Summary
10/10
Betfair quick facts
Website www.betfair.com
Game TypesSportsbook, Exchange, Casino, Live Casino, Poker, Pools Betting, Bingo, Virtual Sports
Deposit methodsVisa, MasterCard, Maestro, Cash, PayPal, Paysafecard, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer, MuchBetter, Apple Pay
Withdrawal methodsVisa, MasterCard, Maestro, Cash, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer, Apple Pay
Odds providerBetfair
Betting functionsLive betting, exchange betting, live streaming, cash out, bet builder
Casino game typesSlots, table games, video poker
Casino providerNetEnt, Playtech, IGT and others
AppsiPhone, Android
SupportEmail, telephone, live chat, Twitter
OwnerFlutter Entertainment
Founded Year2000
HeadquartersLondon, UK/Dublin, Ireland

Betfair Review

Betfair is among the top bookmakers on the planet with over 4 million customers and 1800 employees worldwide. They boast not only a top-class sportsbook but also one of the most fluid and transparent betting exchanges on the market.

Why Bet With Betfair?

🙌 Live streaming & no suspensions on cash out

🌍 World-leading exchange

🎁 Daily odds boosts and other promotions

📱 Great mobile app

Betfair is pretty much a two-for-one bookie for sports betting, with value to be had on the standard sportsbook as well as the exchange.

Add to that a quality casino, live casino, poker, bingo, pools betting, and virtual sports offering, and you have the definition of a complete and comprehensive betting site.

There are constantly enhanced odds available on the sportsbook. These aren’t just long-shots, but also odds-on bets which have a strong chance of coming in. Customers can rest assured they are getting great prices across the board.

You don’t want to be messing about with unreliable bookies. With Betfair, you are guaranteed a quality service through one of the most esteemed betting sites in the game.

Ben Smith

Ben Smith

Website Manager

"The best thing about Betfair is that it appeals to punters at every level. If you are a beginner, the sportsbook is very easy to use plus there are lots of promotions and odds boosts. Intermediate and advanced bettors might look towards the Betfair Exchange, where you can back and lay bets across a wide range of sports, politics, and special markets. In the digital age, Betfair has ascended towards the top of the UK betting market, and given the quality of the site, this is no surprise."

Beginners may not be interested in the exchange, but it is by far the best product of its kind in the UK, and many advanced bettors and pro traders utilise the platform to its full extent.

In addition to betting on events whilst they are taking place, punters can watch some games through Betfair Video - a live streaming service on the site.

Live streaming covers all kinds of sports, from Spanish football to French basketball and all in between.

No online bookmaker would be complete without some lucrative betting bonuses for customers: The Betfair sign-up offer allows new players to get money back in cash up to £20, while there is an array of worthwhile deals for bettors who have an account already, too.

More free bets can be grabbed through the Refer & Earn promo, and there are also rewards for successful Bet Builder wagers on football and American football.

The bonus offers don’t stop at the sportsbook:

The Betfair Casino has plenty of promotions such as Free Spins for new players.

As you would expect with such a big and established bookie, there are a plethora of options for deposits and withdrawals, and the customer support operation is slick and smooth.

What Betfair Could Improve
  • Not the best sportsbook payout percentage
  • Exchange is not beginner friendly
  • Commission taken on exchange transactions

Betfair is a high-quality online betting option and as such it is difficult to find too many faults with its offering. There certainly are no red flags - more little things that Betfair could improve to make a 9.6/10 rating into a 10/10.

First up, the payout percentage on the sportsbook is not the absolute best you will find across the market. Other sites like Bet365 offer better odds overall, however this is easily countered by the fact that Betfair provides punters with the option to bet and hedge on its exchange, often for much better value.

The exchange itself is not exactly beginner friendly, however this is something that it’s perhaps a little harsh to criticise Betfair for, as it is the concept rather than Betfair’s presentation of it that may stump a few bettors who are more used to traditional sportsbooks.

One thing to be aware of when you use the exchange is that Betfair takes a standard 5% commission on all profit made on the exchange. This should be factored in when you consider whether the back or lay price you are taking represents good value or not.

Betfair Sign Up Offer

Money back as cash up to £20
If your first bet loses

Max £20 refund on first bet. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Only deposits made via Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. T&Cs apply.

The Betfair sign up offer allows new users to claim money back up to £20 if their first bet loses.

Betfair New Customer Offer: How to Claim

  1. Click 'Claim' and register using Betfair promo code ZSKAKH.
  2. Bet up to £20 at odds of 1/2+.
  3. If your qualifying bet settles as a loser, you'll get your money back in cash.
    Betfair new customer offer T&Cs
    • Max £20 refund on first bet.
    • Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening.
    • Only deposits made via Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion.
    • If you place a multiple, at least one of the selections must meet the minimum odds requirement.
    • For the purposes of this promotion, your first ever placed bet will be counted as the qualifying bet.
    • T&Cs apply

    For full Betfair sign up offer T&Cs, visit Betfair.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Betfair

    Betfair Promo Code: Where Can I Find One?

    You’ll need a promo code to access Betfair new customer offers. Click here to get the code for the best welcome offer currently available for UK punters.

    What is the Betfair Exchange?

    The Betfair exchange is a platform that enables punters to bet against each other, rather than taking a price from a bookmake as with a sportsbook. Think of it like a stock exchange, except with sports events instead of stocks: Betfair acts as the middleman, or broker, between the two bettors.

    How Long is the Betfair Withdrawal Time?

    The time it takes for withdrawals from Betfair to land in your account depends on the method used. Current Betfair withdrawal time estimates are:

    • Debit/credit card: 2-5 working days
    • UK express bank transfer: next working day
    • UK standard bank transfer: 2-3 working days
    • Non-UK bank transfer: 2-5 working days
    • Skrill: 4-24 hours
    • PayPal: 4-24 hours
    • Neteller: 4-24 hours
    • WebMoney: 4-30 hours
    • Qiwi: 4-24 hours
    • Apple Pay: 2-5 working days.

    Betfair Sportsbook

    The Betfair homepage is very football- and racing-centric, and that serves as a good indicator as to the type of bettor that this sportsbook attracts.

    Betfair Sportsbook home

    You can find odds boosts plus various football markets and offers on the Betfair homepage.

    While fellow Flutter Entertainment bookie Paddy Power, which Betfair merged with in 2016, has a heavy horse racing focus in terms of its display and promotions, Betfair just looks like a football betting site at first glance.

    Odds boosts, of which there are many, are promoted across the Betfair site.

    The sliding banner along the top of the homepage displays five features, and they are usually made up of a combination of promotions, odds boosts, and betting tips.

    Ben

    Ben

    Website Manager

    "The Betfair sportsbook gives me all the options I need, whether I want an acca with boosted odds or instead choose to dig a bit deeper within all of the alternative markets offered across the main sports. The Bet Builder tool is great - not just for football but for the NBA and NFL too. When looking around for value, I often find that Betfair has the best odds, both pre-match and in-play."

    In the main column on the desktop site, in-play football matches are at the top and the top upcoming fixtures are next. You can select other sports by clicking the tabs at the top of the column.

    There is a similar layout on the Betfair Sports app, but other sports such as horse racing and tennis are more visible above the fold.

    Betfair Live Betting

    The Betfair in-play section is fully-stocked as you would expect. Football and tennis are the prominent sports in this area, with the former having Bet Builder availability in-play.

    Niche sports are also listed in the live betting section at all times. Depending on when you visit the site, you will find some pretty obscure stuff on there.

    Betfair cash out is great too - the 'no suspensions' on cash out for selected events (including most football) makes Betfair one of the best options around for live betting.

    Betfair Horse Racing

    There is an incredible amount of fantastic options for betting on the horses on either the sportsbook or the exchange, with multiple daily odds boosts and other racing promotions making for a top-tier experience all round.

    Betfair is horse racing punter heaven.

    The horse racing home page, accessed by the top menu tab, is one of the best around in terms of both the amount of information provided and ease of navigation between and within races.

    Betfair exchange app horses in running

    Betting on Horse Racing is a dream on the Betfair app, too.

    Punters can wager on standard markets like win, each way, place, betting without, forecast, and insurebet markets across GB & Irish races as well as a broad selection of international fixtures.

    Markets on future racing and specials are also available for those who fancy an ante post flutter.

    Once a race is off, there’s a handy link on the sportsbook race card directing you to the exchange market for this race. It’s here that you can test yourself against the rest of the market by backing or laying in-running.

    Betfair Tote

    The option to bet on the tote is also available to horse racing punters on Betfair. Unlike a traditional fixed odds bet as on Betfair Sportsbook, a winning bet on the tote is paid out in a dividend from the betting pool (made up of everyone’s stakes - a bit like how the national lottery works).

    Timeform Betfair

    Another standout feature of the horse racing betting experience on Betfair is native integration of the Timeform statistics and preview product.

    It looks great on Betfair, and is a key source of info ahead of your bet on the race.

    Betfair purchased Timeform back in 2005 and you’ll see it across a number of leading bookmakers these days.

    Betfair Football

    Football is the UK’s most bet-on sport and Betfair caters for this audience with a first-rate football sportsbook offering.

    Multiples, bet builders, and odds boosts are all available here, and these promotions can really add value to your football bet.

    Betfair Sportsbook Football

    There is a huge amount of options for betting on football at Betfair.

    The football hub layout makes it easy to find the competition or match you’re looking for, and there are heaps of outrights and specials such as manager and transfer bets as well as odds boosts requests from the football betting community.

    In play cards and corners markets are a great addition.

    Bet Builders can even be used in-play, and there’s an impressive depth of markets available after games have kicked off.

    Betfair Golf

    Another sport that Betfair excels on is Golf. There is a huge selection of competitions and coupons open for betting, with dozens of markets available for any one event.

    As usual, odds boost offers can be taken advantage of here, too.

    Betfair Exchange

    The Betfair Exchange is the largest betting exchange on the market, and it has revolutionised the industry.

    It looks different from the sportsbook and may appear confusing, but it really is quite simple.

    How does the Betfair Exchange work?

    On the Betfair Exchange, instead of placing bets against the bookie, you are betting against other punters. Any user can offer any odds on any market, and you can take those odds if you wish.

    The main two terms you need to be aware of on the exchange are 'back' and 'lay'.

    Back: By placing a 'back' bet, you are wagering on an outcome to happen.

    Lay: With a 'lay' bet, you are betting that said outcome will not happen.

    Read on below to find out more!

    The image below shows the match winner market for Aston Villa vs Leeds. The numbers that really matter are highlighted in blue and pink.

    Betfair Exchange football betting

    The Win/Draw/Win market on football looks like this on the Betfair Exchange.

    On the Betfair Exchange, the price available to 'back' is always in blue, and the odds you can 'lay' are in pink. So, if you want to back Aston Villa to win at odds of 2.34, you can click that number and enter your stake. The £ figure directly below the odds is the amount of money that you can have matched at odds of 2.34. This is determined by how much users have indicated that they are willing to lay.

    You could enter a bigger stake or even bigger odds, but you would need to wait to have them matched. The numbers in the white boxes show more unmatched orders that bettors and traders have placed.

    Conversely, if you don't think Aston Villa will win, you can lay them at 2.36. If you laid the entire £324 stake available, your liability (potential loss) would be £440.64.

    Many people simply use the Betfair Exchange to get the best odds, as more often than not, it is where you will find them.

    For win-only horse racing or outright tournament bets, you'll usually find the best odds on the Betfair Exchange, and even for football markets such as the match winner, total goals, or Asian handicap, you'll get better value here than on any standard sportsbook.

    Worth Noting❗

    A standard 5% commission is taken by Betfair on winning bets.

    Betfair Trading

    There is also the opportunity to take it further and get into trading. Pro traders use software and apps, all of which are approved by Betfair who provide their api to interested punters. You can even find guides to sports trading on the Betfair site.

    Betfair Offers & Features

    Money back as cash up to £20
    If your first bet loses

    Max £20 refund on first bet. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Only deposits made via Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. T&Cs apply.

    As well as offering UK punters a wealth of options via the prices on either its sportsbook or exchange products, Betfair further enhances the user experience with a whole range of offers and promotions. There are plenty of other neat features that will keep punters coming back for more, too.

    Betfair Promotions

    Promotions for existing customers are key weapons in any online bookie’s arsenal these days, and Betfair wields them better than most.

    Betfair promotes several different Daily Rewards offers, chief among which in our view is the £5 daily free bet.

    Simply stake at least £20 on multiples in any 24-hour period, and you'll earn yourself a free £5 bet on multiples:

    Betfair Free Bet Daily Rewards Offer

    Betfair Free Bet on Multiples: Daily Rewards

    Free Bets 28 September 2021

    Betfair is a top-tier bookie in the UK. One of the reasons for that is its ongoing promotions for new and existing customers, including this tasty Daily Rewards deal through which ... Read more

    Betfair Acca Edge

    Everybody loves an accumulator. For lots of British football fans, a Saturday afternoon or midweek European night wouldn’t be the same without loading up a bet slip with picks and sticking a few quid on the whole lot to come in.

    Betfair Acca Edge

    Betfair Acca Edge gives users the option to insure their multiple wager.

    Those punters know all too well the feeling of one selection letting them down. With Betfair, users can choose to apply an ‘Acca Edge’ to their bets with three or more selections, and if one leg goes awry, they get their stake back - not as a free bet, but in cash.

    Using the Acca Edge does bring the odds down, but it is a nice security blanket nonetheless, and a reduced return is better than no return.

    Betfair Bet Builder

    Bet Builders have become a huge part of the betting ecosystem, particularly within football. The function is especially big in the UK and Betfair's version (formerly called Same Game Multi), which is one of the best around.

    Betfair Bet Builder

    The Betfair Bet Builder is one of the best around.

    It includes all of the typical markets such as the result, goalscorers, and over/under total goals, but what sets the Betfair Bet Builder apart from many other bookies is the fact that you can add player/team shots, player/team shots on target, corners per team, and various other interesting markets.

    You can also use the Betfair Bet Builder for NFL and NBA.

    Both the NFL and NBA are great for player props. In American football, you have markets such as total rushing yards, receptions, and touchdown passes. Meanwhile in basketball you can add props like points, assists, rebounds, three-pointers made, and more.

    Odds Boosts

    Betfair odds boosts include enhanced football multiples, requested bets, and boosts within specific fixtures such as players to score or the correct score.

    Betfair odds boost horse racing

    Horse racing punters will always find an odds boost offer at Betfair.

    Racing odds boosts are also available and usually come in the form of multiples. Likewise, you can get enhanced prices on American football, tennis, cricket, darts, golf, and essentially any of the main sports on the betting site.

    Betfair Cash Out

    Cash out is available on Betfair for lots of bets, including those juicy football accas. The settlement offered is sometimes not as high as you’d like, but you can instead just hedge your bet by backing the other team on the sportsbook or exchange.

    The cash out tab is easily accessed on both desktop and mobile.

    Yes, every bookie and his dog offers live cash out these days, but we think Betfair has really staked a claim as the best UK bookie for cash out with its 'no suspensions' promo.

    Basically, this means that when a market suspends in-play (for example when there's a big chance or bad tackle in football), you'll still be able to cash out your bet. Usually you're stuck waiting for the market to unsuspend and by the time it does, you might have lost your bet if the event that caused the suspension goes the wrong way for you! Find out more via the article linked below:

    Betfair Cash Out: No Suspensions! How Does it Work?

    13 January 2022

    Betfair has a tidy little USP in the in-play betting market with its no suspensions promo. Read more

    Betfair Live Video

    A small play button icon indicates that live streaming is offered on a certain event, and Betfair can boast one of the best streaming catalogues among online betting sites in the UK.

    Betfair live streaming tennis

    Bet and watch sports on Betfair through the live streaming service.

    Top European football leagues are included, such as Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. Tennis is among the other sports available to watch on the site and app, and you can also view the action from some horse racing meetings if you place a bet on the race.

    Betfair Forum

    Rather unique to Betfair is an extensive and active community forum.

    This is a great place to pick up tips on how to use the exchange or to discuss a potential strategy with an experienced Betfair trader. There are more than 260,000 threads discussing football betting alone - a veritable gold mine of information and inspiration!

    Betfair Customer Service

    Betfair customer service is top-notch, as you would expect from one of the biggest online operators in the UK market.

    In addition to an extensive support website including FAQs and numerous guides and tips, you can also get in touch with Betfair via telephone (available 07.00 - 00.00), or via social media channels.

    Betfair Live Chat

    Betfair also offers a live chat service for ultimate convenience. It’s the quickest way to get in touch with someone who can help answer any questions about your account or your bets.

    Betfair App

    The Betfair sportsbook app is a smooth piece of software that really works well. It’s clear that Betfair have put time and effort into ensuring that the sportsbook experience loses none of its quality when compressed into punters’ mobile devices.

    Betfair Sportsbook App i Phone

    Betfair have apps for both the sportsbook and the exchange on Apple and Android devices.

    The Betfair sportsbook app is available for download via the App Store for iPhone and iPhone users, and via the Play Store for those on Android devices.

    Betfair Exchange App

    The Betfair Exchange is accessed on mobile via a separate app. Again, this is available for both the App Store and Play Store, and retains all the bells and whistles of the desktop exchange.

    Betfair Payment Methods

    Betfair trumps many of the other top bookies in terms of the variety of payment options it offers. Methods currently available to British punters are:

    • Debit Card
    • Cash (Via Paddy Power shops)
    • Bank Transfer
    • Neteller
    • Skrill
    • PayPal
    • MuchBetter
    • paysafecard

    Betfair Withdrawal Time

    As with many operators, withdrawal times depend on the method you want to use to withdraw your money. Betfair currently advises the below withdrawal times:

    • Debit/credit card: 2-5 working days
    • UK express bank transfer: next working day
    • UK standard bank transfer: 2-3 working days
    • Non-UK bank transfer: 2-5 working days
    • Skrill: 4-24 hours
    • PayPal: 4-24 hours
    • Neteller: 4-24 hours
    • WebMoney: 4-30 hours
    • Qiwi: 4-24 hours
    • Apple Pay: 2-5 working days.

    Betfair Casino

    The Betfair Casino features hundreds of slots and table games, with a seemingly endless catalogue of titles from a range of top gaming providers such as Blueprint and Red Tiger.

    There are huge jackpots up for grabs, as well as tournaments with big cash prizes.

    Table games include roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.

    Betfair Live Casino

    While most betting sites just use providers like Evolution Gaming for their live casino games, Betfair has its own titles with dedicated dealers who have their own profiles on the site which legitimises the overall service.

    You can play for low, medium, or high stakes, and games include sic-bo, Spin a Win, Buffalo Blitz, plus all of the classics.

    Betfair Bingo

    Betfair offers an array of different bingo games, and the list of available rooms can be easily sorted by time, ticket price, prize, jackpot, and number of players. There’s something for everyone here.

    Betfair Poker

    Betfair’s standalone poker product is perfect for players of all abilities, with a range of different table limits and buy-ins.

    There are several different variations that can be played, and regular tournaments and leaderboard competitions that can be entered for cash prizes.

    Betfair Casino Promotion

    50 free spins (no wagering)
    Plus bet £10 get more 50 free spins

    New customers who have not played Casino only. Register using promo code CASF51. Winnings paid in cash. Full T&Cs apply.

    Casino players can scoop up to 100 free spins as a welcome bonus with Betfair.

    Betfair Casino Bonus: How To Claim

    1. Click the 'Claim' button above and register with Betfair Casino.
    2. Important: Use code CASAFS when signing up.
    3. Get 50 free spins
    4. Deposit and bet at least £10.
    5. Get 100 more free spins
    Betfair Casino Welcome Offer T&Cs
    • New customers registering with code CASAFS only.
    • Free spins valued at 10p.
    • After you've played your initial free spins, opt in, deposit and play £10 on Daily Jackpot games to get an additional 50 free spins.
    • Reload the game to get your free spins.
    • Deposits made with e-wallets are not valid for this offer.
    • Full T&Cs apply.

    For full Betfair Casino Bonus T&Cs, visit Betfair Casino.

    Final Verdict

    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 10/10

    Money back as cash up to £20
    If your first bet loses

    Betfair is a big-hitter in the UK online sports betting space. Its fully featured sportsbook and world-leading sports betting exchange make it a premier option for UK punters of all stripes. That’s before we even mention the range of ongoing promotions and the generous new customer offer!

    Claim £20 offer

    Max £20 refund on first bet. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Only deposits made via Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. T&Cs apply.


    About Betfair

    Betfair was established in June 2000, making it one of the earliest movers into the UK online betting space. Initially focusing exclusively on its exchange product, which has long been the world-leading sports betting exchange, Betfair also launched a sportsbook in 2012.

    Betfair was the first betting company to sponsor an English football club, with its name emblazoned on the Fulham kit during the 2002-2003 season.

    In 2016, Betfair merged with Paddy Power to become Paddy Power Betfair plc (since renamed to Flutter Entertainment plc). Other brands operated by Flutter Entertainment include FanDuel, Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and Sky Bet.

    Betfair’s headquarters are in Hammersmith in west London and Dublin, Ireland. It holds operating licenses issued by both the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.

    Betfair review

    Betfair bonus

    Money back as cash up to £20 If your first bet loses

    Max £20 refund on first bet. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Only deposits made via Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. T&Cs apply.