Betfair Sportsbook & Exchange Review

Betfair offer both an exchange and a sportsbook, it really is a one stop site for all your betting needs.

Betfair is the World’s busiest betting exchange and have the largest number of customers. Having the most customers gives Betfair best liquidity of all the exchanges. This liquidity is a major consideration when looking to get a bet matched or looking for a price away from the standard.

Exchanges in general offer bigger odds than traditional bookies, as there is no bookmaker margin built in to the prices.

They also offer more markets and more market depth than anyone else, there should be an option that suits all bettors. You should also get your bet matched earlier in the day than on other exchanges.

If you are looking for a back price than you can request the price on an event and see if it gets matched by another customer, as an example Manchester United may be readily available with the bookies at say 2.5 in a game, you can request 2.9 and see if someone will match the bet, by taking better prices over a period of time you will increase returns. Only on exchanges can you always request a single price above what is currently on offer.

You can also act as a bookmaker on Betfair by taking bets from other customers. You decide that Arsenal are a poor price in their match against Tottenham and decide you want to bet against them (lay). Another customer thinks Arsenal will win, the exchange matches your desire to bet against them with that customer who thinks they will win, if Arsenal lose you win the customers stake – exactly like a bookmaker does.

You as a customer of Betfair also have the ability to trade on events and lock in a profit before an event has finished, you can back or lay a selection, and if the price moves in your favour either in running or before an event has started you can win without risking any money, or have a free bet on the selection.  

If betting in play is a consideration, then again Betfair due to sheer weight of bettors is an account that you should sign up for. Events ebb and flow and are refreshed instantly on Betfair, again enabling the fastest finger to profit.

You can watch events unfold on Betfair via their “live” streaming service, you do need to have placed a bet on the event and have funds in your account. All the streaming events featured can be accessed via the in-play section on the sportsbook.

Their sportsbook was introduced to run alongside the Exchange and compete with mainstream bookies. Their sportsbook is often one of the first bookies with prices on an event, especially when it comes to horse racing, you can take a generous overnight price with the Betfair sportsbook before other bookies have priced up.

Accumulators are also offered on the sportsbook, unlike the exchange, we suspect this was a major consideration when Betfair decided that they wanted to compete with the likes of Ladbrokes, William Hill etc.

The Cash out service was introduced by Betfair and quickly followed by other bookies, Cash Out is a function that enables you to guarantee a profit regardless of the final result or cut your losses at any time.  

You can take the full or part amount of the cash out offer. For example if you have placed a treble and your first two legs of the treble win, Betfair will offer you a Cash out figure before the third leg, you can then decide whether to take their offer or let the bet run its course, you will cut your expected profit but be guaranteed a return for your bet.

All in all via the exchange or sportsbook Betfair has it all. If you are ready to sign up, click any of the links.