Review of the Betfair Welcome Bonus and Promotions
- In-Play betting sports
- Exclusive offers
- Game Winner option
There’s no doubt that Betfair is one of the most famous names in the online betting industry. Back in 2000, Betfair launched the world’s first online betting exchange, revolutionising the way that punters bet on sport. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, and through a partnership with sportsbook operator Paddy Power, the site also offers a traditional online bookmaker service.
So how good is the Betfair Welcome Bonus? In this review, we will be examining all of the Betfair Bonuses and Promotions, including their Welcome Bonus and their ongoing offers for regular customers. We will also be weighing up some of the other important factors such as the quality of their customer support, their mobile offering and how well they cater for Live Betting fans.
Overall Rating: 9/10
Special Features
- Betting Exchange
- Live results
- Live Streaming
Payment Methods
Sport Markets
Impressive £100 Free Bet Welcome Bonus
An eye-catching sign-up bonus is a must for any modern online bookmaker, and Betfair has certainly ticked that box with their impressive £100 Free Bet offer.
The Free Bet offer only applies to the Betfair Sportsbook, not the Betfair Exchange, and takes an unusual form. It isn’t a percentage Deposit Match offer that you find with some sportsbooks. Instead, Betfair commits to rewarding new customers with £20 in Free Bets for every five bets of £10 and over that they place. This Bonus can be awarded up to five times, which in theory means that a new Betfair customer could earn up to £100 in Free Bets.
To qualify for the Welcome Bonus, all bets have to be placed at odds of 1.5 or higher. To qualify for the Welcome Bonus, you need to register a new account with Betfair, deposit funds and then make five bets of £10 or over. The first of the £20 Free Bets will then be credited to your account, and you can repeat this process four more times. So, to claim the full Betfair Welcome Bonus takes longer than with the typical Deposit Match offer, but it provides a greater depth of reward, potentially continuing to credit you with Free Bets even after you have made 25 bets through the site
- Place 5 x £10 to recieve £20
- Repeat up to 5 times to recieve £100
- Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5)
30 days
The Betfair Sign-Up Process
In order to benefit from the Betfair Welcome Bonus, you will need to set up your Betfair account, but with this site, the process is simple and easy to follow. When you open up the Betfair site, look for the grey Join Now button at the top right of the screen, next to the Log In icon. When you click on the Join Now option, the registration form will open, and you will then be able to input your details like gender, name, address, date of birth and postcode.
On the right-hand side of the form, you then enter your email address, preferred Betfair user name and password, provide a security question and answer, and finally choose your preferred currency. You will also notice that the promotional code triggering your Welcome Bonus will be pre-filled in the relevant box, which is a nice touch. By clicking on Join Now, you will complete the registration process and will be directed to the Add Funds and Pay page.
Depositing Funds with Betfair
This is perhaps the most important part of the Sign-Up process as without any funds in your account, and you won’t be able to make qualifying bets and earn your Welcome Bonus.
Betfair has produced a streamlined, effective payment page that makes it easy to deposit funds. On the Add Funds page, you will be given the option of 13 different deposit methods. This is fewer than you will find with many sportsbooks, but their list covers all of the most popular methods, including Visa and Mastercard, Cheque, Bank Transfer, Skrill and Western Union.
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Paypal
- BankTransfer
- ApplePay
- Neteller
To put your first deposit into your Betfair account, simply find the icon that represents your preferred method, click on it and input your details, as you would with any e-Payment site. This will involve quoting your card number in the case of card payments, or your account name if you are using an e-Wallet method. You can then choose the amount of your first deposit, and as the promotional code has already been automatically registered, you will be eligible for your Welcome Bonus.
An Impressive Array of Betfair Bonuses
Whereas some sites don’t do much more than offer a flashy Welcome Bonus, Betfair provides ongoing bonuses and promotions for regular users. In fact, scrolling down the list of offers and deals takes quite a while, as there are so many!
9/10
- Live Betting
- Mobile & Tablet App
- Early Payout / Cash Out
- Live Streaming
- Regulated
9/10
- Live Betting
- Mobile & Tablet App
- Early Payout / Cash Out
- Live Streaming
- Regulated
There are offers for each section of the site, but sports betting fans, who will be focused on the Sportsbook and Exchange pages can enjoy the following:
- Free Bet up to £25 when you win a football same game multi AT 4/1 or more
- Earn £10 cash if you refer a friend to Betfair
- Bet £20 on Horse Racing Multiples & get a £5 Free Bet
- Free £20 Exchange bet
- Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Ireland Races
The Betfair promotions are regularly updated and are often linked with the latest sporting event, so there is always plenty of reason for regular users to keep logging in to the site.
No Betfair VIP Program
There is no dedicated Betfair VIP Program, but the site does offer rewards for regular players. They have linked up with the Racing4Rewards scheme, which rewards Betfair users with points that can be redeemed on days out at the races. And regular Exchange users will also benefit from lower commission rates on all winning Exchange bets.
A Simple Effective Way to Bet
A major part of Betfair’s early business model was about making their innovative betting platform accessible for newcomers who had never used a Betting Exchange before, and they have used that experience well to evolve a simple betting platform that is ideal for new punters. When using the Betfair Sportsbook, once you’ve found the selection you are interested in betting on, you simply click on it and the details will appear in the Betfair betting slip at the top right of the page. The betting slip gives you the option to bet each-way or add your bet to others to make up a multiple, and before you confirm that you want to bet, it will show you your potential return.
The Betfair Sportsbook provides betting on all of the most popular options, from Tournament Winners to Correct Score, and most markets also offer a Cash Out option, which is a handy way to lock in a profit while the event is ongoing. The Betting Exchange is a more complicated way of betting, as it offers the opportunity to both bet on and oppose selections in every event, but there is a full and clear explanation on the site that enables newcomers to get to grips with it.
Live Betting on the Betfair
The Betfair Sportsbook also offers in-play betting on a variety of sports, complementing the Betting Exchange markets and giving punters one of the most comprehensive live betting platforms around, and the opportunity to switch between the two sites to find the best odds.
Betfair also provides one of the best Live Streaming services to complement their Sportsbook and Exchange models The site offers coverage of a wide range of sports, including tennis, football, horse racing and snooker, for any punter who has a bet on that event, as well as detailed score and stats updates to help inform your Live Betting. For fans of Live Betting, Betfair remains at the forefront of the industry.
Good Mobile Service
With most people accessing the internet via mobile devices these days, punters are increasingly turning to mobile betting, and Betfair provides an excellent mobile service.
Both the Betfair Sportsbook and Exchange pages are designed to work well with any mobile device, and you will be able to use the regular site without any difficulty, simply by inputting your existing Betfair user name and password. But for those who prefer to use a dedicated mobile app, this can be downloaded from the App store for iOS users, or from the dedicated Betfair mobile link for Android users. Both of the Apps work run smoothly and offer a fast, responsive service, which is particularly important for users who are betting on live action.
- All odds
- Betting predictions
- Live betting
- All payments
And as an additional incentive for mobile users, there is a mobile-only promotion for new users, which offers a free £30 bet when you make your first £10 worth of bets using your mobile device.
A Range of Withdrawal Methods
There are several options for withdrawing your funds from your Betfair account, some of them are:
- Visa
- Paypal
- BankTransfer
- Skrill
- Neteller
Withdrawal times vary, with e-Wallet methods being credited within 24 hours, while card withdrawal methods and bank transfers can take up to five days, and if you choose to withdraw your funds using cheque, you may have to wait up to sixteen days. But the good news for Betfair customers is that there are no withdrawal fees and no withdrawal limits.
Well Regulated and Licensed
Whenever you use a new sportsbook, you want to be sure that it is a serious operator that treats its customers well and adheres to the highest standards when it comes to privacy, and Betfair goes out of its way to reassure players that it is a reputable operator.
Betfair Complete Bookmaker Profile
- +44-203-059-8888
- info@betfair.com
- Live Chat
License Numbers:
- UKGC Ref. 39439
- MGA/CRP/131/2006
Founded: 2000
Managed by: PPB Counterparty Services Limited
Headquarters: United Kingdom
The site is licensed by two of the most highly-regarded authorities in the online betting world, the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. In addition, Betfair employs the latest in secure encryption technology and have annual audits of their information security management systems by an external, independent assessor. As part of their commitment to operating responsibly, they also work with gambling harm organisations including GamStop and GamCare.
Excellent Customer Service
Being able to access friendly, effective customer support is important when you’re using a new betting site, and Betfair provides a range of ways to help resolve queries. Their FAQ section is one of the most comprehensive in the industry and covers a wide variety of scenarios and issues. While there is no Live Chat facility, you can contact them via their online messaging service or through a telephone service that is available from 07:30 to 00:30. The Betfair Twitter account is also quick to answer queries or questions raised through social media.
An Industry Leader with an Impressive Welcome Bonus
Conclusion
Betfair has earned an impressive reputation in its nearly two decades of operation and on the basis of what we can see from their site, it is well deserved.
You can choose other bookmakers from our list of recommended bookmakers.
The Welcome Bonus is a thoughtful way to support new players, going beyond the usual Deposit Match offer, providing rewards for an extended period.
The site itself is easy to use, and Betfair customers are well served by a comprehensive FAQ section, smooth mobile compatibility and an array of ongoing offers and promotions. If you are a sports punter, but you haven’t yet checked out this site, we can definitely recommend it, whether you are intrigued by the Betting Exchange model or you simply want to use a fast, reliable modern Sportsbook.