Betfair is an online betting exchange established since 2000. Developed on the principles of a how a stock exchange operates, founders Andrew Black and Edward Wray used Betfair to create a market place for bettors, where users can back or lay a bet on any sporting event. Focused on several sports at the beginning to build liquidity, Betfair grew to be the world's largest online betting exchange and one of the top gambling brands. Besides the betting exchange section, users will find at Betfair also a regular bookmaker section launched much later, along with casino and live casino, poker and bingo for UK users. The betting exchange section is operated on a proprietary platform, offering now back and lay odds on a variety of sporting events.
Betfair is licensed in many European jurisdictions, making it a recommended gaming option to users in many EU countries. The website is operated in many different languages, while support is also available in those languages via phone, live chat and email. Betfair users will find that promotions are plenty, with free bet offers, odds boosts, ACCA insurance and many other interesting monthly choices.
Sports and Betting Odds
Betfair is a betting exchange and sportsbook offering many events on which users can place a bet. Among the covered sports are: American football, athletics, aussie rules, baseball, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, golf, greyhound racing, horse racing, ice hockey, motor racing, pool, rowing, rugby, snooker, soccer, swimming, tennis, winter sports, financials. Betting odds at Betfair are various as users are the one to create the betting options here. Players will find here that there are many odds which are up to 20% better than in regular bookmakers. However, users should remember that out of those betting odds, a 5-7% exchange fee is levied on winning bets, which works as the actual betting margin. Please note that exchange fees may be different from a sport to another.
Betting Features
Betfair is a sports betting operator which could not miss on the Cash Out feature. The exchange section does not have however such an option, but only the regular sportsbook. The Cash Put option simply allows users to terminate a betting position before the event being settled. This allows users to take advantage of it by limiting loses or cashing in on winnings much faster.
Security and Fairness
Betfair website uses a secure connection over the https protocol. The security certificate ensures that any information transmitted between users and Betfair are encrypted, taking privacy to another level. For those interested in reading more about the methods put in place by Betfair for protecting user details, the Privacy Policy page available on Betfair website is a good place to start.
As Betfair has licenses from many EU jurisdictions like Malta, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Australia outside EU, this ensures their dedication to fairness and transparency of their gaming operations.
Betfair is by the best online betting option I found online. While most other bookmakers simply limit your stakes should you win, Betfair has no such problems, and mainly because you are simply betting against other users and the stakes are already matched. If you do not find enough value in backing a result, there is also the possibility of laying the bet. The only reason for not giving a full 5 star rating here is because when laying bets, the value is not always matched, but other than that, is a great place to be. As a betting exchange it may look a bot more complicated to use if compared to regular bookies, but this is something that can be learned quickly.
This bookmaker was on my favorite list for long time. Until they closed account without any notice, no payment processed and no answers after repeated calls of asking for updates and explanations. I over the internet more and more complaining about Betfair practices. Should be blacklisted. GO STAY in same league with 1xbet and others like that.
SCAMMERS. I am posting this everywhere so people can stay away. I had all my account verified and set up.haf no issue spending money then after spending a ton of money I finally get a little win. I withdrew some of the money and kept some on the game. After I withdrew I went back to playing and within 2 minutes I got a big feature and during the feature my account was locked and I was logged out. I go straight to live chat and was told to email paddy power security with I’d even though I’d already verifed so I sent 15 emails and they eventually sent one back saying we dont read these no more we deal with everything on live chat. So I go back to live chat to a guy called Francis who was rude and had zero customer respect or care. I told them what’s happening and they said my I hadn’t got a bank on this account,(how did I deposit then) i have pictures of withdraws which i took so they couldn’t deny the withdraw, then they said they wanted bank statements- then they said they wanted more documents after all that. Then at the end they said oh where sorry your date of birth doesnt match.send us the right one or this chat is ended. I send picture of my account details saying your are age verified and ready to go and they sent a message back saying, I’m not going round in circles,I told you to send the right details so this chat is finished! I’ve never known anything like it. It’s a disgrace. I literally can not do anything about it. Betfair send me to paddy power email.then they send me to betfair. People wouldn’t believe it but please dont be the one to find out the hard way
Opened an account last week and verified it straight away. Received an email saying account was verified. Went on to place two big bets on their sportsbook, on Champions league topscorer, and Man City to reach the final. Watched the match and was delighted with the result. Logged in to my account to see the bets were void!!
Live chat told me they needed more documents and this was normal practice…I could not believe it. I have been betting for a long time, but this is a first for me…
I was asked to provide more documents, which I did, and told the bets might get reinstated. I am waiting 4 days now and they are still processing with very little hope of my bets actually getting reinstated.
If you think because a bookie is a big name, and spends a lot of money on marketing, this also makes them trustworthy, think again!
Absolutely appaling and frankly illegal behaviour by these thieves. STAY AWAY!
Betfair offers a range of welcome bonuses to its new users. For example, International users (that are not from a country specifically listed below) will receive a bonus of €100.
Besides welcome bonus packages, Betfair also offers different promotions that can be accessed by registered players. Check here for latest promotions and bonuses on offer.
Bonus Codes
Registration Bonus Code
€100 Bonus
VALID: September 2021 ✅
18+. Bonus T&C apply. See below for details.
Registration Bonus Code
€100 Bonus
VALID: September 2021 ✅
18+. Bonus T&C apply. See below for details.
No Deposit Promo Code
- Bonus
18+. Bonus T&C apply. See below for details.
No Deposit Promo Code
- Bonus
18+. Bonus T&C apply. See below for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find here a list of the most frequent questions regarding Betfair, along with answers. While we are trying to keep the info up to date on this page, please note these details may change in time and is needed to double-check it with Betfair website, where most info comes from.
General FAQ
Is Betfair safe?
Since being founded in the year 2000, Betfair has managed to rise in the betting business, becoming one of the largest online betting companies in the UK and one of the world’s largest betting exchange. Betfair is licensed in more countries (Australia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, Malta, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK and Ireland), which is an indication that there is no playing around with regulations and laws. The Betfair website uses a secure connection, with a security certificate that vouches for users data protection.
Who owns Betfair?
Betfair is owned and operated by the Ireland based “Flutter Entertainment Plc” company.
Where is Betfair based?
The “Betfair Limited” headquarters are located Clonskeagh in Dublin, Ireland,
When was Betfair founded?
Betfair was founded in June 2000 by Andrew Black and Edward Wray.
Will Betfair return to India?
With gambling being illegal in India, Betfair does not plan on returning to the country. While there is no clear specification of online gambling being illegal in the Indian law, Betfair will not risk accepting users based in India until gambling is legalized there.
Will Betfair return to Canada?
At the moment, there is no indication the Betfair plans on returning to Canada.
Will Betfair work in Spain?
Even with the bookmaker being licensed in Spain, users have reported having trouble accessing the Betfair website from the country. If you ecounter issues, you can opt for a VPN or proxy service.
Can I use Betfair in the USA?
If you are in the USA, you need to know that Betfair is restricted in many states. Betting online with Betfair is legal in the states of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey. If you have trouble accessing or using the website even in these locations, you can use a VPN or proxy service.
Is Betfair legal in Netherlands?
Netherlands is a country without a legislation in place for online gambling. At this stage is forbidden to operate and target players in the Netherlands. Therefore, Betfair does not accept players from Netherlands at the moment.
Countries where Betfair is legal
Betfair is legal in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, Malta, Russia, Ukraine, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Gibraltar, New Jersey (USA).
Where is Betfair licensed?
Betfair is licensed in the UK, Malta, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Spain and Romania. This information can also be found on the “Regulatory Information” section of the Betfair website.
What is Betfair Exchange?
The Betfair Exchange follow the model of a stock exchange. Simply put, the Betfair Exchange allows users to bet against each other. The system matches users, allowing them to opt to “lay” a bet, esentially betting on something not to happen.
Who owns Betfair Australia?
Betfair Australia is owned by the Crown Resorts Ltd. company.
Financial FAQ
Betfair - how to deposit money?
Once you have a registered account on the Betfair website, log in and go to the upper right side of the screen, where you will find the “Deposit” button. After accessing the page, you will be prompted with all of the payment options available for funding your Betfair account. Select the preferred method, enter the amount that you want to transfer to your Betfair balance, your password and proceed with the payment. You will have to verify credential, depending on the selected payment method.
Betfair - can't deposit
If your are having trouble depositing money into your Betfair account, make sure your payment provider doesn’t have limits set on payments. Alternatively, you can clear your browser cache and cookies and try again. If problems persist, you can always contact customer support and get their help.
Betfair - how to withdraw money?
To withdraw money from your Betfair account, you need to be logged in on the website and click on the “My Account” icon, select “My Betfair Account” and then the “Withdraw funds” option. If you are using the website on mobile, simply go to “My Account” and then “Withdraw’. Note that you can only withdraw funds from your “Main Wallet” and you can only select the method that you also used for payment.
Betfair - can't withdraw
If you are having trouble withdrawing money from your Betfair account, please check if you are trying to request a withdrawal in accordance to the website’s rules. You can only withdraw from your “Main Wallet” and you should be using the same method that you used for deposit payments in your account. Customer support can help you with issues that you can’t find an obvious solution to.
Betfair - how long to withdraw?
The time Betfair withdrawals require to be completed depends on the method the users chooses to receive the funds. For debit and credit cards, it takes from 2 to 5 days, UK bank trasfers can be done in the next working day or a maximum or 3 working days, non-UK bank transfers require 2 to 5 days, e-wallets (Skrill, PayPal, Neteller, WebMoney and Qiwi need 4 to 24 hours to complet and lastly, Apple Pay need 2 to 5 working days.
Betfair to PayPal withdrawal
If you have used PayPal to fund your Betfair account, you can choose to also withdraw funds to this account. The process can take up to 24 hours, with a minimum waiting time of 4 hours.
Betfair to Revolut withdrawal
Revolut is an online banking system, making use of an mobile app and card linked to the bank account. Revolut does not support transactions with gambling companies, therefore it is advised against depositing or withdrawing to Revolut as this can get your account terminated.
Betfair to Skrill withdrawal
You can choose to withdraw funds from your Betfair “Main Wallet” to your Skrill account. The money will reach your Skrill account in 4 to 24 hours.
Betting FAQ
What is Betfair commission?
The Betfair commission is a charge that Betfair customers have to pay. Each market that users can bet on has a Market Base Rate (MBR), which is expressed in percentage form. You can see the MBR of a market when you access the corresponding “Rules” section. To calculate the commission you will have to pay, simply multiply the winnings of a bet with the MBR of the corresponding market.
When do Betfair take commission?
Betfair Commission will be automatically removed from your winnings once the market is settled.
Betfair - what is To Qualify market?
Betfair users also have a betting option simply known as “to qualify”. When you place a “to qualify” bet, you are essentially betting on your selection to reach the next phase of the tournament/competition it takes part in. The time when that actually happens during the match does not matter.
Betfair - how to do accumulators?
To place accumulator bets on Betfair, you need to login with your previously created account, navigate to the sports section and find the ones that you want to bet on, explore the market and click on the odds of any bet to add it to your bet slip. You now have a simple bet; to continue and create an accumulator bet, simply click on more odds, for other bets available in the markets you are interested in. They will be added to your bet slip. When you are satisfied with your selections, enter your stake in the corresponding box and click “Place bet”.
Betfair - can't see my bets
If you have issues seeing your bets in your account, try refreshing the page first, to allow it to update, maybe try to log out and then back in; if it still doesn’t work, you can also try clearing your cache and cookies, or trying another browser. If the issue persists, there could be a problem on the Betfair website’s end. You can wait it out or contact customer support for more information.
Betfair - can't cash out
On Betfair, Cash Out will only be available if the bets to be placed have a value of more than £2. The availability of the Cash Out feature also depends on the available liquidity in a market, considering that Betfair is a betting exchange, and the money that circulates the platform is strictly dependent on the players.
Betfair - can't place bet
If you cannot place a bet on Betfair, the reasons could be the following: you do not have enough money in your Betfair wallet for the selected events. You can use the “Transfer” feature to move money into the required wallet. Another situation where you wouldn’t be able to place a bet is when you have exceeded your exposure or loss limits. If these cases to not apply to you, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, log in again, and contact customer support if the problem persists.
Betfair - what is Back and Lay?
The Betfair Exchange offers its users the possibility to both back and lay a bet. A person backing a bet is the person that believes that the event in question is going to happen (ex.: a certain team will win a match). The bet placed by the person betting against that event happening is a lay bet.
Betfair - what does unmatched mean?
When your bet shows up as unmatched, it means that the price you initially wanted to bet at has gone and your lay wasn’t taken. This happens due to the fact that sometimes there is not enough money on the market for your bet to be placed at that price. Bets can also show up as partially matched. If this scenario happens, simply cancel the unmatched bet and then enter the new lay price and lay at the current odds.
Betfair - what happens to unmatched bets?
You can cancel unmatched bets yourself, but if you don’t do that, and your bet is not matched until the market closes, you will get your money back.
Player Accounts FAQ
Betfair - how to change to decimal odds?
You can switch between fractional and decimal odds on the Betfair Sportsbook, by selecting the preferred option from the black banner at the bottom of the page (if you’re accessing the website on a deskop), or by clicking on your balance, then “Settings” and “Odds Display” (if you’re on mobile).
Why do Betfair suspend markets?
Sometimes, market suspensions can happen for no major reason at all, and understanding why that happens is easier if you follor the live action during the match/event. For example, a cash out sum can become temporarily unavailable if a goal goes in or a penalty is awarded during a footbal match.
Why are Betfair odds higher?
Being a Betting Exchange and not a bookmaker, gives Betfair more room to play with their odds. Since players and backing a laying bets against each other, and not Betfair itself, the exchange is simply not affected by who wins or loses. This gives them the opportunity to establish higher odds.
Can Betfair ban you?
Just as any other bookmaker website or betting exchange, Betfair can ban users, and they do so if they spot attempts at system exploitation.
How to create Betfair account?
To create your Betfair account, go to the Betfair website homepage, click “Join Now” and complete the details in the registration page that you are redirected to. You will need to provide personal information and contact details, a username, a password, the answer to a security question and your account currency. Note that you cannot change your username and account currency after the completion of the registration process. You can also add a new customer promotional code if you have one. Before you can submit your registration form, you need to check the boxes agreeing to the Betfair “Terms and Condition” and “Privacy Policy”. Your account will be instantly active and you can log in and play on Betfair.
Websites like Betfair
Betfair is an online bookmaker and betting exchange, one of many available over the Internet. However, when choosing an alternative to Betfair, we recommend using one of the trusted brands like Bet365, Betdaq, Matchbook or Unibet.
Josh Baker
June 27, 2019 at 9:39 amBetfair is by the best online betting option I found online. While most other bookmakers simply limit your stakes should you win, Betfair has no such problems, and mainly because you are simply betting against other users and the stakes are already matched. If you do not find enough value in backing a result, there is also the possibility of laying the bet. The only reason for not giving a full 5 star rating here is because when laying bets, the value is not always matched, but other than that, is a great place to be. As a betting exchange it may look a bot more complicated to use if compared to regular bookies, but this is something that can be learned quickly.
Mk Burns
April 15, 2021 at 9:13 pmThis bookmaker was on my favorite list for long time. Until they closed account without any notice, no payment processed and no answers after repeated calls of asking for updates and explanations. I over the internet more and more complaining about Betfair practices. Should be blacklisted. GO STAY in same league with 1xbet and others like that.
JJ
May 2, 2021 at 4:56 pmSCAMMERS. I am posting this everywhere so people can stay away. I had all my account verified and set up.haf no issue spending money then after spending a ton of money I finally get a little win. I withdrew some of the money and kept some on the game. After I withdrew I went back to playing and within 2 minutes I got a big feature and during the feature my account was locked and I was logged out. I go straight to live chat and was told to email paddy power security with I’d even though I’d already verifed so I sent 15 emails and they eventually sent one back saying we dont read these no more we deal with everything on live chat. So I go back to live chat to a guy called Francis who was rude and had zero customer respect or care. I told them what’s happening and they said my I hadn’t got a bank on this account,(how did I deposit then) i have pictures of withdraws which i took so they couldn’t deny the withdraw, then they said they wanted bank statements- then they said they wanted more documents after all that. Then at the end they said oh where sorry your date of birth doesnt match.send us the right one or this chat is ended. I send picture of my account details saying your are age verified and ready to go and they sent a message back saying, I’m not going round in circles,I told you to send the right details so this chat is finished! I’ve never known anything like it. It’s a disgrace. I literally can not do anything about it. Betfair send me to paddy power email.then they send me to betfair. People wouldn’t believe it but please dont be the one to find out the hard way
Mark
May 3, 2021 at 4:52 pmOpened an account last week and verified it straight away. Received an email saying account was verified. Went on to place two big bets on their sportsbook, on Champions league topscorer, and Man City to reach the final. Watched the match and was delighted with the result. Logged in to my account to see the bets were void!!
Live chat told me they needed more documents and this was normal practice…I could not believe it. I have been betting for a long time, but this is a first for me…
I was asked to provide more documents, which I did, and told the bets might get reinstated. I am waiting 4 days now and they are still processing with very little hope of my bets actually getting reinstated.
If you think because a bookie is a big name, and spends a lot of money on marketing, this also makes them trustworthy, think again!
Absolutely appaling and frankly illegal behaviour by these thieves. STAY AWAY!