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Betfair are our second best ranked "Bookmaker"!!!, well okay they are not a bookmaker, but a betting exchange, or should I say the betting exchange.

If you are not familiar with Betting Exchanges they are fully explained in our Bookie Lingo page. As a norm you will get a better price (about 20% better) with an exchange than with a traditional bookmaker.

Betfair is proud to display the Queen’s Award emblem which it is entitled to do having won a Queen's Award for Enterprise, in the Innovation category, during 2003.

A Queen's Award is given (as its name suggests) by the Queen, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, and following a full assessment by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Betfair is the world's leading betting exchange, a concept it pioneered. All bets at Betfair are placed there by users who either want to bet for a selection or outcome in the normal way (back), or bet against a selection or outcome (lay).

Bets are matched between people with opposing views.

In addition to the exchange Betfair has an established games portfolio, including Betfair Poker, Betfair Casino and a number of exchange-enabled games.

Betfair is a licensed bookmaker in the UK. It also has licences in Australia, Malta, Austria and Germany.

Betfair offers you unprecedented choice, value and control. You can bet that an outcome will happen (back) or that it won't happen (lay). You can choose the odds you want to play at. You can bet whilst the game is in play. You can play on a range of products and innovative games.

Although Betfair knows who is on each side of every bet matched through the exchange, you never know who you are betting against. Your privacy and the confidentiality of your bets is maintained byBetfair's secure site.

Betfair is the trading name of Betfair Limited. Betfair Limited is registered as a limited liability company in England and Wales, company number 5140986. The registered office of Betfair Limited is at: The Waterfront, Hammersmith Embankment, London, W6 9HP.

Betfair Limited was founded in August 1999 by Andrew Black and Edward Wray in order to commercialise proprietary betting technology that had been under development for the preceding year.

The technology used by Betfair Limited is proprietary and, as well as being protected by copyright, is the subject of a patent application that has been filed with the United Kingdom Patent Office.

Betfair Limited is located in the United Kingdom and operates within the confines of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963. It holds a bookmaker's permit in England and Wales.

Is betting with Betfair safe? Your full card details are encrypted and sent over the internet only once - when you register your card. Your card details remain encrypted and are stored on Betfair's secure server.

Betfair uses DataCash and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as our secure payment partners. Betfair possesses a BT TrustWise Secure Server Certificate, has a bookmaker's permit and is registered as a limited liability company in England and Wales.

The company is also developing new revenue streams by providing automated price feeds to third parties, establishing white-label exchanges and through its own Betfair Mobile product.

Launched in 2000, Betfair is a profitable and debt-free company with annual revenues exceeding £140 million. It is a privately-owned company. Betfair is proud that a large percentage of its employees own part of the company through its SAYE scheme.

Sign-Up Bonus

Betfair are not currently offering a free bet. But this changes constantly. If you open an account you could very well get a call offering you a £20 matched bet.

Sportsbook

At Betfair you are able to place a bet, or lay a bet on the following markets - American Football, Athletics, Australian Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Combat Sports, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Financial Bets, Fishing, Gaelic Games, Golf, Dog Racing, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Sport, Netball, Poker, Politics, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer (football betting), Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo.

How to Deposit Funds

Deposits in to your Betfair account can be made using Delta, Solo, Maestro, Laser. Visa MasterCard (U.K.), Visa Electron PayPal, NETELLER Moneybookers, ClickandBuy Bank Transfer – Same day, Bank Transfer Western Union, Cheque

Even though there is currently no free bet, Betfair still came second in our rankings. This is a sign of the quality of Betfair, and 20% better prices could soon outweigh the lack of any sign up bonus.

Betting Exchanges are a different experience, one you should take a look at, and why not the best betting exchange in the world, just click on the banner below. You will not be disappointed.