Betfair review: UK sportsbook, licence-checked
Best for: The betting exchange and best prices
The exchange is the reason to have a Betfair account: back and lay at prices set by other customers, usually better than any bookmaker after commission. The sportsbook alongside it is the Paddy Power engine.
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Visit BetfairLicence check
- Licensee
- TSE Malta LP
- Gambling Commission account
- 39561
- Checked against the register
- 2 November 2026
- Group
- Flutter Entertainment
Pros
- Exchange prices beat bookmaker odds on most liquid markets
- Lay betting and trading in-play
- Sportsbook and exchange in one wallet
Cons
- Commission of 5 per cent on net winnings on the exchange (2 per cent on some markets)
- Exchange liquidity thins on minor markets
| Products | exchange, sportsbook, casino, poker |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Deposit methods | Not yet documented |
| Minimum deposit | Not yet documented |
| Apps | iOS and Android |
| Live streaming | Yes |
| Cash out | Yes |
| Minimum age | 18 |
Betfair launched the betting exchange in 2000 and remains the only exchange of scale in Britain. It merged with Paddy Power in 2016 to form what is now Flutter Entertainment. The exchange licensee for Great Britain is TSE Malta LP; the Betfair Sportsbook runs on the Paddy Power licensee.
The exchange
You back or lay at a price another customer has set, and Betfair takes a commission on net winnings per market. On football, racing and tennis the exchange price after commission is usually better than any bookmaker. Liquidity is deep on major events and thin on obscure ones. Cash out on the exchange is a trade at the current price.
The sportsbook
The same product as Paddy Power’s under a different skin, with its own promotions. Useful when the exchange market is illiquid.
App and site
Separate exchange and sportsbook apps share a wallet. The exchange app is functional rather than pretty.
Payments
Not yet documented from the operator’s pages; see the table.
Safer gambling
Deposit limits, time-outs and GamStop apply across both products.
Frequently asked questions
What commission does Betfair charge?
A percentage of net winnings on each market on the exchange, 5 per cent as standard at the time of verification, lower on some markets and for high-volume customers. The sportsbook has no commission.
18+. Gambling can be harmful; BeGambleAware.org. This review is advertising: we may earn a commission if you open an account through a link on this page. It does not affect the rating.