Year established: 1967
Mobile compatible: Yes
Jurisdiction: Gibraltar & UK
Overall rating: B+
Recommended: For recreational players
BetFred Sportsbook Review
Betfred is a thoroughly established UK betting operator with a major retail presence throughout towns and cities nationwide. In February 2016 the total number of outlets was 1370.
The origins of Betfred go back to Salford in 1967 wherein it was set up by the Done brothers (Fred and Peter) who are still closely involved today. It’s grown to some degree since then however and the group now employs over 10,000 people.
Today Betfred is Britain’s largest independently owned betting chain. The Done brothers’ joint net worth was estimated to be in the region of £1 billion by the Sunday Times in 2015.
Betfred went online in 2004 which coincided with the opening of the current Warrington HQ.
Betfred mobile launched two years later in 2006 during a particularly glamorous spell for the operator as it established partnerships with both Manchester United and Wembley Stadium.
2011 saw a sizable acquisition for Betfred as it became the new home of the Tote and in doing so becoming one of the biggest names in horseracing. Betfred sponsors in excess of 700 races per year.
Betfred is the title sponsor of the World Snooker Championship, and in addition to numerous greyhound stadium sponsorships it offers Price Boosts to keep customers coming back.
Betting markets
Betfred offers a very decent selection of sports betting markets, and whilst its foremost focus is horseracing and football they include niche sports such as gaelic football and bowls. To save you the trouble of seeing if they’ve the sport you’re after we’ve detailed all of them here:
Horseracing, Football, Tennis, American Football, Athletics, Aussie Rules, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Gaelic Football, Golf, Greyhounds, Handball, Ice Hockey, Motor Sports, Rugby League, Rugby Union and UFC / MMA.
In addition to these there are Betfred Virtual Sports and other specials markets such as Politics and entertainment from television, to awards and film.
In-play betting
Betfred live betting is versatile, on point, has numerous sports betting markets and with live streaming included as well as live commentary on football, horseracing, greyhounds and more it’s a particularly strong product.
The layout is clear and well spaced out, though with no featured event on the main live betting page you have to click onto any event to find out any more significant stats than score and time. When you do click through however, you’re spoiled by a fun and active graphic which smartly details events as they unfold.
You need to have money in an active account to watch Betfred live streams though you do not always need to have placed an actual bet on the event as you do with some bookmakers offering similar services.
Usability of the site
Betfred online and Betfred mobile are both smartly and simply designed with the actual experience of the end user taking precedence over appearing modern and innovative, and including too many promotions.
There is a Betfred cashout option, and with each feature such as this there’s also a clearly marked explanation tab, making it ideal for new users. The left hand column gives the various betting markets, including the popular ones grouped together in Betting Highlights, whilst down the right hand column are Betfred’s social media links, a link to the Betfred blog as well as form, results and live commentary.
The Betfred customer support is available via email, phone or live chat meaning you can reach someone 24 hours a day. There’s also a standard FAQ section.
There is an extensive range of Betfred banking options. These include Visa, Mastercard, Paysafecard, Skrill, Neteller and Paypal.
Conclusion
With the British Done Brothers still at the helm Betfred is massively UK focused and with this in mind, horseracing and football are number one.
It’s particularly strong on the former, but includes football coupons too such as Betfred Goals Galore which make it worth a visit. Betfred mobile and the online site are both simple to navigate and with the extensive explain tabs to hand, it’s a bookmaker which is ideal for casual punters.
Advantages:
– Impeccable reputation;
– Financial stability;
– Great coverage of european football and horse racing;
– Wide range betting offer;
– Excellent odds on a consistent basis;
– There is the live stream feature;
– Great bonuses and promotions for new and existing customers;
– Superb “football predictor” stats and analysis software;
– The website is elegant and quite easy to navigate;
– Sponsor of the football teams.
Disadvantages:
– Main focus is on UK customers;
– It does not support some countries;
– Odds aren’t the greatest for local sports;
– High wagering requirements on some promotions;
– Support can be a little slow.
Payments:
Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, 1-Pay, Bank Transfer, Cheque, Citadel, Neteller, PayPal
*Keep in mind to double check information. Be prepared for changes to restricted countries, bonuses, currencies, deposit and payment options, languages, contact info.