Betfair Review

Betfair were the first betting exchange to hit the internet and they are long established as market leaders for this style of gambling so it’s good news that they have brought their product across to Australia.

While many punters still prefer the traditional method of betting at a sportsbook, there are clear benefits to using an exchange so let’s straight away take a look at what this operator has to offer us.

Bonuses

Like all best bookmakers with an Australian license, Betfair have to be very guarded about their offers and promos and you generally have to sign up with an operator before you find out the full story. Their welcome deal is also subject to change but you should be able to look forward to a risk free first bet with up to $200 AUD being refunded if your opening punt fails to land.

This should be a busy place for ongoing deals and Betfair also have a ‘refer and earn’ programme which can get you a further bonus if you can encourage friends to sign up.

Sporting Markets

Here is the current list of available sporting markets as published by Betfair.

American Football, Athletics, Australian Rules Football, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Football, Gaelic Games, Greyhound Racing, Golf, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, MMA, Motor Sport, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Snooker, Tennis and Volleyball.

Betfair also have one of the biggest ranges of non-sporting markets so you can take your pick from the worlds of politics, finance and entertainment plus there is a good set of eSports bets mixed in.

The traditional sporting list may not be the biggest but all the popular options are there and it’s certainly a schedule that will appeal to Aussie punters.

Banking

As we know, funding options can vary very little for Australian customers and that’s also the case with Betfair. The good news is that Paypal is included among the eWallets – that’s the most popular option for most but you can also make use of Skrill, Neteller and paysafecard.

Webmoney is also a possibility while Betfair will also accept any of the major debit and credit cards.

Customer Services

Betfair’s help button is located at the top left of the home page and when you click on this it will lead, initially, to a set of frequently asked questions. These are in a logical order and will answer all basic queries but there are contact options here too.

These include a live chat and a phone and while there is no obvious customer support email, you could alternatively use Twitter where Betfair have a very responsive, dedicated account just for support services.

History and Licence

Betfair were first founded way back in 2000 by Andrew Black and Edward Wray who sought to offer a different way to approach betting. The notion of an exchange quickly caught on and the company’s reputation built from there. With nearly 20 years of trading behind them, that’s a period that has allowed them to build up plenty of trust and they are noted for fair treatment of their players.

For Australian purposes, the company are regulated in the Northern Territory and full details of this license are shown prominently at the bottom of the home page.

Conclusion

While you don’t get the sort of high paying matched deposit that you can find elsewhere, the real benefit of playing at an exchange lies in the odds that are published across all sporting events. These will typically be higher than those you will find at a standard sportsbook and while this may not be the case for every single betting option, longer odds tend to drop in on a regular basis.

Betfair also meet most of our basic needs and that starts with the fact that you can play here in Australian Dollars as your default currency. The choice of markets is OK too and all of the favoured Australian sports are certainly here. There are lots of benefits but the real plus here is the value that you get as a long term player with great prices for the life of your account.

Pros

  • Ability to play in $AUD
  • Good set of sporting markets with all the popular Australian options covered
  • High odds can be found on the exchange and in many cases these can offer a decent increase on the sportsbooks

Cons

  • Some customers may prefer a high matched deposit as a welcome deal rather than a free bet if your first punt loses. However, the long term value should certainly outweigh this possible issue.