Betfred Review

Betfred screenshot

Betfred have been plying their trade since 1967 – although they began life under a different moniker – and are now regularly accepted as being in the top 5 biggest bookies in the UK, claiming a seat among the notorious big names that are known to everyone.

They have proclaimed themselves as The Bonus King, and to be fair they are well within their rights to do so since not only did they introduce the idea of Best Odds Guaranteed to the industry, but they also offer a shed load of other bonuses and benefits to make your wagers go further.

While they don’t always stack up to other big brands in terms of market range and scope there is still an awful lot to bet on, and Horse Racing fans would be remiss to go anywhere else, especially if they like to watch live.

A lot of people value the ability to visit a bookie in person, and since Betfred operate around 1,650 of them they certainly tick that box.  This allows people the facility to bet and withdraw from a linked online account in cash, not something many sites can do.

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It was this digital version of Betfred that, eight years on from its launch, became a lucky bet for one winner. In 2012, a Betfred Casino customer won a life-changing £5.1 million jackpot in just six spins on slots game, Beach Life. The winner was, at the time, the biggest online progressive jackpot winner in UK history and the third biggest ever worldwide.

Better still, the winner – whose name has never been revealed – was flown out via private jet to meet Betfred founder, Fred Done to be presented with the cheque.

While players aren’t likely to hit a jackpot like this every time, they can enjoy playing on a site that has gone the distance. Betfred is a well-known, established brand and if you are player who enjoys the interactive element and flashy extras that come with a big betting name, then this is a site that is well worth trying out.

Gameplay is straightforward and you will find everything you could possibly want here. This is online bookmaker and casino for those who want to stick around to try a bit of everything.

Markets & Odds

Betfred Markets

Being the former owners of the Tote, it is obvious that Betfred put a heavy focus on Horse Racing. They cover every UK and Ireland race and offer Live Streaming on the lot, as well as covering plenty of Internationals; plus, they offer Best Odds Guaranteed alongside a number of other racing promotions on ante-post bets. If you are someone who bets on the horses (or the dogs for that matter) then Betfred is a solid contender for your business.

Football is another area with good coverage, from real low league games across the UK to U18 Internationals, and you might find some price boosts in this category too alongside a couple of fun coupons. Market depth tends to be strong, try 25 – 35 for 2nd tier European fixtures; but they aren’t always particularly creative, so if you are someone that likes to dabble in the nitty gritty you will find more choice elsewhere.

Surprisingly for a bookie of this size their list contains less than 30 sports categories. 30+ is more usual for big brands so there is something lacking here, although all of the main events are sure to be available.

No one will be getting particularly excited about the odds at Betfred if taken at face value, but if you take advantage of the many promotions and use them in conjunction then you could be looking at some high value selections. This is especially true when betting on the Horses, Football, or NFL.

In summary, there is plenty here and at a fair price too, and if they were just another bookie we would be singing their praises. As one of the big 5, however, we feel Betfred are dragging their feet a little.

Live Betting/Streaming

Betfred Live Betting

If we are talking Horse Racing then you will struggle to find much better. Every UK and Ireland meeting is available to stream as long as you have made the customary £1 bet, and the quality is great. For everything else, you can count on around 50 live streams per day that are free to watch as long as your account is funded.

The great thing about the Watch Sports Live area is that it opens in the same window. That means you can bet within the same window as you watch, and also flip between the live stream and the match graphic that contains all the stats without constant page reloads. It is very well designed.

The in-play area fares better than the rest of the site in terms of functionality and user friendliness, since the interface has more room to breathe and there is less info on display. This helps it to be much more ergonomic. There’s a bit of back and forth to do once you have selected a game but it’s minimal.

A minimum of 75-100 events should be available at quiet times of the day, with Ice Hockey, Tennis, Basketball, and Football most prevalent; although some of the less well represented sports boast many more markets since only the bigger games are being covered. For example, there is currently one American Football event with 45+ markets, whereas there are 67 Football events with an average of just 20+.

Odds are a little flabby for in-play markets, however, so keep an eye on those promotions to add more value and use cash-out wisely.

Banking

Banking Method Max/Min Deposit Max/Min Withdrawal Notes
Debit Card £5 £5 Up to 48 hours
PayPal £5 £5 Up to 48 hours
Neteller £5 £5 Up to 48 hours
Skrill £5 £5 Up to 48 hours
Paysafecard £5 N/A No Withdrawal
Bank Transfer £85 £25 1-5 Days

There is good news and bad news here. Minimum deposits are low enough to make gambling affordable for almost everyone, although processing times at Betfred’s end can be as long as 48 hours; and with some online bookies getting it done in just a few hours Betfred could certainly trim the fat a little in this area.

There is plenty of choice, though, so you won’t struggle to find a banking method to suit you, and there are no withdrawal fees to contend with either.

With Betfred being a physical bookmaker, you have a few options that you don’t have elsewhere: unlike with most other bookies you have the added ability to bet over the phone and instore, offering even more flexibility as to how you conduct your business. Betting over the phone carries a £10 minimum deposit and a £250 maximum withdrawal, whereas you are free to do as you please instore. You can withdraw online funds instore but it’s not a simple process and anything over £250 will require photo I.D and 48 hours notice.

For everything else, see the table above.

Features

Betfred are excellent for offering plenty of features and new reasons to keep coming back. There are numerous ongoing and weekly promotions as well as a very rewarding VIP scheme for all you high rollers – since Betfred sponsor so many sporting events their VIP invitations can be envious.

#Pickyourpunt doesn’t need much explaining and is available on events selected by Betfred, while a few other features are examined below:

Totepool

Betfred Totepool

The Totepool works in a similar way to a lottery. All of the money wagered goes into a pool with the winner or winners claiming all or a percentage of that pool once the race is over: a single winner would claim 100% of the pool whereas two winners would get an amount proportional to their stake size. So someone who bet £20 would get more of the proverbial pie than someone who bet £5.

Within this, there are various different bet types to allow for a fun and flexible experience with varying jackpots that can break the £1 million pound barrier.

This is an entity in itself so we can’t cover it in detail here, but it’s well worth looking into and not nearly as daunting as it might sound.

If you want to dig a little deeper have a look at our Tote review here.

Live Commentary

Betfred Listen LiveThis nifty little feature allows the punter to listen to commentary on a variety of different sports including Horse/Greyhound Racing, Football, and Cricket.

It’s perfect for keeping up with the progress of your latest nap while simultaneously plotting your next move and it’s completely free to listen.

It will pop up in a small new window and you can select which event you want to listen to from the list. Piece of cake.

Virtual Sports

Betfred Virtual DartsIf you are one of those people who bet on Virtuals then Betfred is one of the best in the field. There are nine categories: Football, Speedway, Darts, Motor Racing, Cycling, Tennis, Horses, and Greyhounds… and bingo, randomly.

The Darts, in particular, is great fun, and visually they are mostly all impressive but Darts even uses a combination of CGI and real footage. Football is the one area where graphics were a slight issue.

Commentary varies from excellent (Football) to almost pointless (sorry Darts) but all in all this is one of the best virtual offerings we have used both in terms of variety and quality.

Cash Out

Betfred Cash OutIt’s not always a wise move to make, but it is always a fantastic option to have at your disposal. It won’t always be an option, but Betfred offers Cash Out on single and multiple bets on Football, Golf, and Horse Racing (win and each way). The Cash Out symbol will be evident on qualifying bets.

It’s a simple feature; during your chosen event you can opt to end your bet early with new odds based on the current situation or let the wager run its natural course. The cash out amount you are offered may be more or less than your initial stake, and will always be less than your winnings would be if you let the bet run and it won, but in some circumstances you may decide it’s your best option.

It’s a useful way to claw back a bit of capital if you feel your selection is doomed to lose or to lock in a profit if they are currently in the lead but you feel their luck is about to run out.

Software, Platform & Games

betfred casino games examples

A few software providers power the Betfred online casino site: Ash Gaming, IGT WagerWorks, Boss Media, and NetEnt, but Playtech is their main provider. The range of providers makes gameplay diverse, while using big-hitting software name Playtech means players know what they will be getting, thanks to the range of recognisable games.

That’s not to say that gaming with Betfred is predictable. The other software providers ensure that you are getting a variety of gaming options and interfaces to work with, meaning that whether you prefer something flashy or something more no-nonsense when you play online casino, all of the options are there.

Having said that, when you look in detail at the number of games that are available, you may notice that Betfred seems to have just enough. It hints at the different casino games, so you get a few table games here and a couple of roulette games there. This isn’t necessarily a negative, but if you are a player who wants to have a choice of 30 blackjack titles, you won’t find them at Betfred unless you visit the Live Casino.

Betfred Games

Betfred can offer you access to around 1000 games all told, and no software needs to be downloaded to your desktop in order to play them – they are all browser based. If you are playing on the go, there is a download option for a casino app or you can just use your phone’s browser, you will not see much of a difference in performance.

When it comes to live casino, Betfred was one of the first to run games featuring live dealers. However, in recent years the casino has moved away from investing in its live games and today you will notice that it is a straightforward experience. Powered by Playtech, the live games are no frills but there is a comfortably familiar feeling to gameplay that holds its own appeal.

Betfred are fans of having lots of categories, but you have to scroll through them all to find the one you want which defeats the object somewhat, but nevertheless the way they split them up is helpful once you find the category you are after.

Here’s a selection of what’s on site:

  • Most Popular – This is a quick-look guide to the titles that other people have been playing.
  • Live Casino – A few games are highlighted but many more exist once you open the Live Casino lobby..
  • New Games – Here you will find the latest titles that have recently been added to the site.
  • Roulette – You will find various variations of the game here, each offering something different. Try Pinball Roulette for a speedy game, Penny Roulette, or for something a little bit different have a spin of the wheel on Frankie Dettori’s Jackpot Roulette.
  • Blackjack – Among the blackjack titles available, you can choose from Perfect Blackjack, Cashback Blackjack, and Progressive Blackjack.
  • Slots – If slots are your thing, you have a seemingly endless supply to try out. Games include Space Invaders, Justice League, Jekyll and Hyde, and Dirty Dancing.
  • Jackpot Games – If you are playing for the big-hitting jackpot games, take your pick from almost 100 games. Prize pots run into the multiple millions, and titles such as Jackpot Giant, Beach Life, and Jackpot Bells all pay out for those in search of the big one.
  • Scratch Cards – The scratch card selection is good for a more laid back session, including Pink Panther and Rocky.

Poker

Betfred PokerThe emphasis is on fun here rather than taking the game as seriously as other places, so while you can still deal in serious money playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Twister, it has a playful vibe.

You can play in browser so you don’t have to download anything and joining a game takes no time at all, especially at the lower end of the staking limits. You can select your own minimum bet and the computer will do the rest, matching you up with people playing for similar stakes.

The poker product comes with its own reward scheme and Betfred might also issue ‘missions’ for players to complete in order to earn bonuses and the like. Prizes might include jackpot entries, free spins on side games, or tournament places.

Betfred poker will appeal to a certain type of player, but anyone who gets along with the company’s other departments should find that it suits their personality right enough.

Bingo

Betfred BingoIt’s a real hive of activity when it comes to bingo at Betfred, and you can join in for just pennies at a time. Of course, there is nothing to stop you going bigger – you can buy up to 120 tickets in one go on some of these games.

There are a huge number of different bingo rooms here containing 90 ball, 80 ball, 75 ball, 40 ball, and even a few crazy variations that you might not have seen before. These games come thick and fast all day with dedicated chat hosts to keep things fun and friendly.

Of all the big betting companies that offer bingo it feels most at home at Betfred. They seem to embrace it properly and have great liquidity so prizes can be above average too – there is even free bingo which anyone can play for the chance to win bonus funds.

Lotto

Betfred LottoIt may not appeal to all of you, but if you like the idea of a companion lotto bet alongside your sports betting activities or blackjack hand then Betfred grants access to draws from New York to Poland.

If you have a few pounds left over and nothing to spend them on then this is a great little punt with high potential returns. Of course, it’s all blind luck, but sometimes a break from all the analysing of sports stats and potential poker hands can be a welcome relief.

You aren’t entering the lottery itself, mind you, rather you are betting on what the outcome of that lottery draw will be.

Betfred Casino Offers & Rewards

betfred casino complementary loyalty pointsThere are plenty of other promotional offers to look out for, and these can be found in the promotions section of the site accompanied by a countdown clock that indicates how long is left on each offer.

In order to earn more money, Comp Points is the Betfred loyalty programme that can add up to prizes. As you play the different casino games – either on the desktop site or via mobile – you earn loyalty points, called Comp Points.

All Betfred Casino players are eligible, and you receive one point for every £10 or currency equivalent wagered on the casino games unless it states otherwise. You can earn double Comp Points when you play the Game of the Week, which can be found on the promotions page. To achieve double points, players need to opt in before playing.

The Comp Points achieved can be converted to real cash and the more you play, the more likely you are to raise your level. The different levels are explained below. It is important to note that only wagers made on real cash money games contribute towards the wagering requirements. See the Betfred website for full details.

To rise through the levels, here is a rundown of what you will need:

  • Base – Requires 100 conversion points for a £1 cash prize. The minimum number of points to convert is 1,000 (£10).
  • Premium – Requires 95 conversion points for a £1 cash prize. The minimum number of points to convert is 950 (£10).
  • Platinum – Requires 85 conversion points for a £1 cash prize. The minimum number of points to convert is 850 (£10).
  • Black – Requires 70 conversion points for a £1 cash prize. The minimum number of points to convert is 700 (£10).

While this is not as flashy as some of the loyalty schemes that are available at other online casinos, and while there are arguably fewer rewards involved here, this is probably one of the more straightforward systems to follow. There are no elaborate rankings to work out and participants can enjoy their play knowing that every spin or roll of the dice is earning them something towards the points scheme.

Ultimately, when looking across the different loyalty programmes out there this is a simple way to achieve cash prizes. You may have to forfeit the benefits that come from playing the points systems at other online casinos, such as extra support and other goodies, but this is a good way to know where your points are earned.

Desktop Website

 

Betfred Homepage

We were not fans of the old Betfred desktop site at all but thankfully they revamped the whole thing in 2019 and it’s now up there as one of the best and most intuitive sites.  It manages the impressive feat of combining a huge range of products, markets and features into an interface that is very simple to use and navigate.

One of the old issues was a poor linking system that made it difficult to quickly scan and digest betting options, and consequently, it felt like an effort to look through them.  This has been entirely changed and now you can reach most sports markets and casino games within a couple of clicks.  They have also made the support section, account section and bet history more user friendly.

In redesigning the site they have gone for a cross-platform model, this means you get the same basic site on desktop and mobile and that makes it a hell of a lot easier to remember where stuff is, and jumping between betting products is hassle free and almost instant.

Essentially everything is managed from a menu bar at the top from where you select the area of the website you want to go (sports, casino etc.), and then the menu on the left will change depending on which heading you choose. This menu will contain options like the sports list in the sports section, and game categories in the casino. Simple stuff.

Mobile Website

Betfred MobileThe old mobile site was good but they have since improved this further with the revamp.

The choices are presented clearly and ergonomically with quick access to the most popular or useful features, and everything else separated into sensibly divided areas under the Menu button – you can jump to other areas of the site from here as well, such as the Casino etc.

The in-play area works especially well on mobile and the Watch Live area is just as user friendly if not more so. Drop down collapsible menu’s make everything so much easier to organise and it moves at lightning pace.

It all feels bigger and easier to digest, which is probably thanks in part to the fact that Betfred have had to break their products up on the small screen; so in effect, the Sports, Casino, Live Casino etc are all on separate pages so they can each run more efficiently, although as a punter this will never be apparent or cause an issue.

There are a few apps to choose from that are run by Betfred, however if you want to solely focus on the casino games there is a dedicated app. At the Betfred mobile casino, you will find hundreds of games that have been optimised to work across mobile devices. Therefore, whatever smartphone you have, you will be able to access Betfred’s mobile games and they will run as smoothly as they do on your desktop site – even when you are playing in a space that has a slower Wi-Fi connection.

The mobile casino reflects the desktop site in that it sets out its stall in a straightforward way. This means that you can easily navigate to the games you want to play without having to trawl through different pages – and this is useful if you have limited access to Wi-Fi while you are out and about.

We really enjoyed using the mobile site. You can glide from one part of it to another with ease, it’s remarkably easy on the eye, and nothing ever gets in the way of what you are trying to do next. Highly recommended.

About

Betfred LogoIf England hadn’t won the World Cup in 1966 there would be no BetFred. Hard to imagine – almost as hard to imagine as England winning the World Cup again – but that is a conversation for another day.

Fred and Peter Done won big on a bet that England would be victorious in 1966, and they used their winnings to open the first Done Bookmakers in Salford, in 1967.

30 years of steady growth followed, until in 1997 the Done brothers acquired another bookie by the name of Robert Walker which gave them a grand total of 100 licensed betting shops. This was the spark which ignited the flame, and just two years later that number had doubled to 200, with the continuing expansion reaching London by 2002.

2004 was a big year for the company, as not only was this the year that they rebranded to Betfred but it was also the year that the website and all of its associated products was launched. Further positive press came their way at the end of the year when the first ever betting shop millionaire was made in a Betfred shop back home in Salford, the winner netting more than £1.1 million on the totescoop6. A year later and their shop numbers had passed 500.

From 2006-2013 Betfred was the official betting partner of Manchester United, and on several occasions lost out big time by paying out early on bets that United would win the league. They were the first company ever to do this, but on the one occasion Arsenal ended up taking the trophy by one point, and on another Man City stole the trophy on goal difference. So, if Betfred ever offers to pay out early on United again, maybe back the other guy.

The company is known for sponsoring events throughout the sporting calendar, but probably their biggest deal came in 2011 when they won the bid to take control of the Tote from the UK Government. They paid £265 million for the pleasure, and pledged £155 million more into racing over the 7 years of the deal; although the Tote has since been sold off.

By going online, casino play became a lucrative venture and, while the original site was very rudimentary in the early days, it has gone on to become one of the biggest parts of the Betfred business. As time has gone on, the online version has grown to become a continuously evolving thing, meaning that players are getting the very latest version of the digital persona of the Betfred brand.

Today, the business is based in Gibraltar with a strong UK team. As of summer 2017, there were over 1,600 shops operating across the UK. In September of the same year a documentary about the history of the company was premiered on the official Betfred YouTube channel as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations.

Today, Betfred employ over 10,000 staff and operates over 1,650 betting shops countrywide. Geoff Hurst has a lot to answer for.

Read more about the company behind the brand on our Betfred company page.

Why Bet With Betfred?

If Horse Racing is a staple part of your gambling diet then Betfred is a brilliant choice. If you couple this with a variety of sports bets then it’s even better.

The plethora of bonuses on offer make up for average odds if you have the inclination to use them, but if you find that all a bit faffy you might be better served elsewhere.

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for those punters who mainly use a desktop site to wager, simply because there are better options out there, but if you tend to use your phone you are sure to be impressed. Betfred operating so many bricks and mortar shops is another huge benefit of being a customer.

Customer Support

Betfred TwitterYou would expect nothing but the best from a company like Betfred, and frankly, there would be no excuse for anything less. Gladly, when it comes to support avenues, they have got your back from every angle.

The Live Chat is a constant feature on every page of the site, and although it looks like something from the internet dark ages (otherwise known as the 90’s) it performs speedily and the staff are great.

The number of e-mail addresses for various different problems is legion, which actually feels a bit messy and convoluted, but they will all get you a swift response within 24 hours; and if you prefer a human touch you can use the 24/7 phone line. Again, there are a few of these, one for Sports, Casino, Phone Betting etc.

The tiny Help icon is your gateway to all of this and will initially plonk you in front of a Betting Glossary. There are too many options here, and the FAQ is a further click away which seems the wrong way around, and it is also split up which makes things more confusing. It’s not rocket science but it can cause unnecessary delays.

There is a Contact option that will bring up all of the information below and more.

Licence & Contact

Click the ‘Help’ tab at the top of the home page – located at the top right of the home page – to access the customer support options. This will take you to a page filled with the different topics that you may need assistance with.

You can also contact the team via these options:

  • Live Chat – A 24/7 service ever present on the website so you never have to search for it. You will be connected almost instantly even at busy times.
  • Email – There are many many email addresses but if you use [email protected] they will forward it on to the right department.
  • Phone – UK customers can reach the support team on 0800 028 7747 any time of the day or night. Good news for all you night owls. Telephone betting, on the other hand, is 0800 032  0878.
  • @Betfred – A great account this one. Live updates, odds info on top markets, and video interviews.
  • Address – Petfre (Gibraltar) Ltd, 5.2 Waterport Place, 2 Europort Avenue, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA
  • UK Gambling Licence – 39544
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