Betfair

It really doesn't. I mean why should it? Betfair has over 4 million clients from all major countries of the world (where it's licensed to operate). You know what? These are not even the latest figures. One can only imagine where this elephant of a betting site stands, now that it's bro-brand Paddy Power and others are all partnered up - under the parent company Flutter Entertainment - with a combined strength of over 18 million customers as of 2023.

The only real competitor of Betfair - to be fair, mind the pun - is bet365.

Being forward-looking strategic thinkers, their management always kept their platform online, avoiding the pitfalls of offline local betting shops. May be this is one of the reasons, it's survived for so long.

Then there's their exchange, which is the biggest in the world. Tens of thousands of people bet against each other on dozens of different kinds of sports, using their platform, on a daily basis. Their volume of exchange betting deals easily crosses millions of pounds on popular matches.

Not only that, they're also the biggest betting liquidity provider for horse and greyhound racing, outpacing bet365 for example, by a wide margin. If I were to make a guesstimate, horse race betting is perhaps their most-used product, especially popular among regular bettors (or potential problem gamblers). These deep-rooted betting links head to all the way up to The Hong Kong Jockey Club too, though "officially, for public consumption" they may have ended it.

And also, being fully licensed, they have partnerships with all the top slot providers and live casino rooms. If a slot is popular, chances are high, you'll find it at Betfair.

Most people don't need an introduction to sites like Betfair or bet365 (at least the ones living in the UK, Australia etc.), but sure, not everyone believes the hype. I hope now, you should be convinced-enough that this place is indeed valid.

I hate doing the traditional review stuff. But, since this page was written for someone who hasn't heard of BF, I will just go ahead and do the necessary.

No deposit bonus is not offered. At best, you will get a £10 sign up bonus with free bets up to £30, which is pretty much a standard thanks to the tough regulations.

Speaking of which, this site is regulated by the UKGC in the UK and in many other places. Like most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada. So, basically, it has a license in every country where gambling is legal.

Deposits and withdrawals can be done using credit and debit cards, PayPal, Much Better, Wires and a bunch more. KYC can be tough to pass, if you live in a country where the regulator's rule say so. Keep your ID documents in check.

If you're clear on the KYC side, withdrawals shouldn't take more than a day or a few more. However, you will have to wait a lot more, if you win a jackpot. Additional clearances will be required.

They're no different than a traditional bookie, when it comes to paying out large sums. Dramas will be created on their end, so prepare yourself for that.

Customer support is slow, not good. But also not terrible. Being a big company has its downsides. Things can get stuck in the pipeline, moving from one department to another. You can get in touch with them through Live Chat only. There isn't any ticket system, as far as I know. This is a big downer of Betfair.

I would grade them bad on support, but then it's also expected. This is why I "generally" avoid signing up with high-street bookies.

Overall, if one is KYCed, and knows how to use the platform, chances are high the experience using them should be smooth.

Personal experiences will of course deviate. I have myself only used their betting exchange and that too not frequently, and with an OK overall ride. Therefore, a natural bias exists on my end.

I would say, go for them. My experience shouldn't stop you from at least trying them out. Wouldn't hurt.