betfair.com
I'm sure you've heard of Betfair if you're a fan of soccer or rugby. They're one of the top betting sites in the UK, and they've been around since 2000. They've become pretty well-known over the last two decades, with over 1 million active users and weekly revenue of over £50 million. What they're doing right is pretty impressive!
What is Betfair?
Betfair is a company that offers a variety of online gambling services, including fixed odds betting, an online casino, online bingo, and poker. It has become popular quickly due to its innovative in-play system which has revolutionized the betting industry.
Live coverage of varied sporting events
The Betfair TV service allows the brand to offer great live streaming capabilities to its players. As of now, the network hosts over 3,500 sporting events a year which covers a wide range of sports from across the globe. Thus, unlike Bovada, you can actually watch the sports content live. All of the live content on Betfair can be accessed for free except for horse racing in UAE, England or Ireland. If you want to watch horse racing, you're required to place bets of at least 50p in order to stream the network.
Different streaming conditions
For example, to stream football on the network you need to have at least 50 pence in your account. You can also watch US and South African horse racing for free, but you have to place a bet of £2 or more on the event. Some people might find this requirement unnecessary and confusing, but it is necessary to comply with the rulings of the platform.
Quality live-streaming
I've tested the live stream on Betfair and I really liked it. There's no confusion when it comes to selection. Everything is laid out clearly and you can choose any event that you want to watch. If it's available, you'll see a small TV symbol which will open up a streaming window. The window will also have a calendar comprising of in-play and details about the upcoming events. The only hole I could find on this network is that the content isn't too much. So, except for greyhound and horse racing, there aren't many fixtures that you can watch.
History
Betfair, based in Hammersmith, West London, started its journey back in June 2000. Edward Wray and Andrew Back founded the company and sold 23% of its stake to Softbank which set the valuation of the brand at £1.5 billion. In 2006, Betfair acquired Timeform - a horseracing publishing company. Betfair was also the first betting company to sponsor a football club, with Fulham donning the kit with Betfair branding in 2002-03. Additionally, Betfair has sponsorship deals with renowned football clubs such as FC Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester United.
Betfair started its own radio service in 2007 which can be accessed via the website. You can access live commentaries using your desktop or your mobile phone. The Betfair Radio service is now known as Timeform Radio which generally broadcasts horse racing.
Why should you stream on Betfair?
Almost all of the major football, horse racing, and cricket events can be watched on Betfair. In-play betting is a major attraction on this network, and it represents an important part of the user experience on Betfair. You can use the intuitive features and place a bet of at least £2 to stream live. As for the quality, everything is great except for slight hiccups on some days. The streaming quality largely relies on the connection along with the device and browser. If all these elements are in place, you would enjoy a steady streaming experience.
No annoying ads
Betfair doesn't have any ads, which means that players can focus on what matters without getting redirected to the advertiser's website. Not having ads also prevents users from clicking onto malware and inviting trouble.
Safety & Security
Betfair is a big website with a lot of safety and security features. It's extensively regulated and licensed, and it's very secure. You don't have to worry about your data, since Betfair is well-protected by a number of security measures. Sometimes websites can be slow or crash, but that can happen with any website with a lot of data. Betfair has an SSL encryption, so you can trust the site.
Sign-up offer
If you're a new customer, you can get a sign-up bonus of £100. This offer is available to all the customers. Apart from the sign-up offer, you can also take advantage of free bets. This promotion offers free bets on sporting events and other activities. You can also use promotion codes which help you earn free bonuses from time to time.
Placing Bets and Payments
Betfair Exchange is a site where you can go head-to-head with other players. Apart from traditional bets, you can use Betfair Exchange to negotiate terms with other gamblers on the same platform. There's a lot of room for experimentation and though 5% is charged off every win - you still get the major share of the prize money.
Customer Service
Betfair falls short in my opinion when it comes to customer service. They don't have 24/7 phone support like Bovada or Bet365 do, which can be inconvenient. However, the live chat feature is still available, and I find it easier to use than voice support.
Design
Betfair is a platform that isn't as complicated as Bet365, but it isn't as simple as Bovada. The menus and categories are brightly colored, and the tiny thumbnail snippets allow you to access almost all the sports-related events available on the platform. I like the tiny slider like snippet sliders which make accessing events very easy.
Header
A striking orange background with black font design. In the header section you'll find 10 categories - Politics, Football, Horse Racing, Specials, Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Boxing, Rugby and Menu. If you click on the menu you'll find an integrated panel sliding in from the left. This section has a Sports, Features and Special columns. Under each of these menus you'll find a host of options that you can choose from. If you wish to go back to the homepage simply click on the cross icon towards the right.
Hero Section
Betfair also keeps a running tally of the most bet on sports in real time.
Body
As you scroll down, you'll find four major sections: Best Bets, Star Columnists, Features and Services. Under Best Bets, you can see the most favorable fixtures from chosen sports. Under star columnists, you can find news beats from Betfair's pundits. Under Features, you can get exclusive stories from the trending sports. Under Services, you'll find several helpful options such as Opta Stats, Podcasts, Rewards and Betfair Casino.
Footer
The first two are straightforward, while the third is a bit more opaque.
The Betfair footer has many options, including three on their About page. The first two are simple, but the third is more complex.
Content
Betfair has a lot of betting options, with coverage for most popular sports. You can even place bets head-to-head with other bettors using the in-play feature. With good market coverage, Betfair gives you a good betting experience as compared to Bet365's all-encompassing approach.
Desktop/Mobile experience
The mobile app at BETFAIR is great. You can stream the website from your desktop, use the mobile version or download the app. Among all these three platforms, I love the mobile app the most because browsing and navigating across it is excellent.
Plans & Pricing
Betfair isn't a free streaming platform. The pricing varies based upon the sport you want to watch. In some cases, you have to fund your account to stream whereas in other you need to bet in order to access a stream.
Suggestions I have for Betfair
I like the platform and admire its steady rise over the years. However, I would recommend the developers to work on the customer support and streaming issues that arise from time to time. Also, the payment requirement is not stable which is kind of frustrating.
Conclusion
Betfair is a good site if you want to bet on sports such as Football, Cricket and Horse Racing. Sure, there are many avenues but the football coverage on the website is really amazing. There is a good range of betting options along with free streams and adjustable cashouts. In my opinion, you should definitely check out Betfair.