betfair.com
Since 2000, Betfair has been a household name in Britain for its work in online sports betting. With over 1 million active users and weekly revenue generation of above £50 million, Betfair is doing something right.
What is Betfair?
Betfair is an online gambling company with a focus on players. In recent years, its in-play system has been integral to its success story, making it one of the most innovative and noteworthy gambling companies in the world.
Live coverage of varied sporting events
Betfair's TV service offers great live streaming capabilities to its players. As of now, the network hosts over 3,500 sporting events per year which covers a wide range of sports from across the globe. This means that unlike Bovada, you can actually stream the sports content live. All the live content on Betfair can be accessed for free except for horse racing in locations such as UAE, England or Ireland. If you want to watch horse racing, you are required to place bets of at least 50p in order to stream the network.
Different streaming conditions
You can't stream everything that you see on the network. For example, you need to fund your account with at least 50 pence to stream football. At the same time, you can stream US and South African horse racing for free but you do have to bet at least £2 on the event. It might come off as unnecessary and confusing but the platform needs to comply with the rulings. Having said that, none of us can deny that the criterion for living-streaming sports like football and tennis comes with a minimal requirement.
Quality live-streaming
I have tested the live stream on Betfair and I really enjoyed it. There is 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 is available, you will 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, London, was founded 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. Apart from Fulham, the betting giant has a sponsorship with renowned football clubs such as FC Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester United.
The Betfair Radio service is now known as Timeform Radio. It generally broadcasts horse racing, and commentators can be heard live on desktop or mobile phone.
Why should you stream on Betfair?
Betfair offers a streaming experience for most major events, with in-play betting at the heart of its user experience. Quality can vary depending on factors such as the connection and device, but overall Betfair's streaming is reliable and enjoyable.
No annoying ads
Unlike some medium betting portals which rely heavily on banner ads to generate additional income, Betfair doesn't have a single ad. No annoying pop-ups and intrusive ads allow players to focus on what matters rather than 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 secure website with extensive regulation and licensing. It's well maintained and you don't have to worry about your data. Sure, there are some critical reviews regarding its performance, but they have little impact on your payments. Usually, websites run slow or crash, but that can happen with a lot of betting websites. Betfair has an SSL encryption, so you can trust the website.
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 even make the most of the promotion codes which help you earn free bonuses from time to time.
Placing Bets and Payments
Betfair Exchange allows you to compete against other players head-to-head. Apart from traditional bets, you can use Betfair Exchange to take the middleman out of the picture. This allows you to come up with your own terms with other gamblers on the same platform. There is a limitless room for experimentation and though 5% is charged off every win - you still get the majority of the prize money.
Customer Service
The one feature that would make or break Betfair's ability to compete with the top online betting platforms is customer service. While Betfair does offer 24/7 telephone support, I found that the live chat feature was inadequate. Additionally, I found that voice support was a much better option in troubled times.
Design
Betfair is a platform that has both complex features and simplicity. The Orange and Black color combination is very eye-catching, and the tiny thumbnail slider allows you to see almost all of the events available on the platform. I like how it has separate menus for sports-related events, as well as categories.
Header
A striking design with orange background and black fonts is featured on the homepage. There are ten categories featured in the header section: Politics, Football, Horse Racing, Specials, Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Boxing, Rugby, and Menu. If you click on the menu, a panel sliding in from the left will have 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
The Betfair hero section features sport-themed thumbnails and banners on the right and top stories on the left. The main topic of the day is typically found on the homepage banner. You can use the slider buttons to get a closer look at different banners. There are five sliders at any given time.
Body
As you scroll through this page, you'll find four main sections: Best Bets, Star Columnists, Features and Services. Under Best Bets, you can see the most favorable sports bets from Betfair's experts. Under Star Columnists, you can find news about sports betting from Betfair's pundits. Under Features, you'll find exclusive stories about the hottest sports topics. Under Services, you'll find several helpful options such as Opta Stats, a Podcast and Rewards.
Footer
Since Betfair is a gambling portal, their footer will be packed with options. If you're looking for information on the site, you can find it under the About tab, and if you need help choosing a bet or want to see how your language compares with others, the Pick Language section is for you.
Content
Betfair has many sports to choose from and with the in-play betting feature you can have a competitive experience against other bettors. You'll find most of the popular sports here, as well as some that might be new to you. With decent betting market coverage, Betfair gives you a quality betting experience as compared to Bet365's all-encompassing approach.
Desktop/Mobile experience
Betfair's mobile app is amazing. 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 it is excellent for browsing and navigating across it.
Plans & Pricing
Betfair isn't a free streaming platform. The pricing varies based on the sport you want to watch. In some cases, you have to fund your account to stream, whereas in other cases you need to bet in order to access a stream.
Suggestions I have for Betfair
I like the platform and find its steady rise impressive. However, I would recommend the developers to work on the customer support and streaming issues that often arise. Additionally, the payment requirement is not always stable which can be frustrating.
Conclusion
Overall, Betfair is a great site if you are interested in betting on sports such as Football, Cricket and Horse Racing. Sure, there are many options available, 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.