Betfred UK Review - Is it Legit?
Betfred is one of the UK's most popular bookmakers, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of betting markets, competitive odds, and generous promotions. Betfred also has a strong focus on customer service, with a team of experienced and knowledgeable staff on hand to help with any queries you may have.
In this review, we will take a closer look at everything that Betfred has to offer, from its betting markets to its customer service. We will also highlight some of the pros and cons of using Betfred so that you can make an informed decision about whether it is the right bookmaker for you.
Betfred offers
Betfred Sign Up Bonuses
BettingLounge has partnered up with Betfred to bring several exclusive new customer offers. Compare all of the exclusive Betfred promo codes with bonuses for the sports, casino, bingo and lotto products.
The Betfred free bets welcome offer is one of the biggest in the UK, and it has easy terms and conditions to unlock the free bets.
Promotions and Rewards
At the time of reviewing Betfred has 14 sports promotions running. Because of this, I will only mention a few of their innovative and awesome promotions.
- #PickYourPunt- In select events each week, you can tweet @Betfred to combine markets and create your betting scenario. T&C's Apply 18+
- Acca Insurance - Place a 5+ fold match result accumulator with the safety of knowing if your bet loses by 1 leg, you can get a free bet. (Max free bet £10) T&C's Apply 18+
- Best Odds Guaranteed- Great Horse Racing odds guaranteed. Example: Take an early price of 4/1 on your selection and your selection returns at 6/1, you get paid at 6/1 (UK, Irish and Breeders' Cup horse racing only) T&C's Apply 18+
- Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven- If your player scores first in a match, and then go on to score a brace or hat-trick your odds can be doubled or even tripled. T&C's Apply 18+
- Betfred Nifty Fifty Lotto Game - Betfred's own award-winning lottery game with massive jackpot prizes.
- Betfred Cash Out - Betfred offers a few different cash-out options including full & partial cash-outs across a number of different sports.
- Goals Galore - Goals Galore is an accumulator bonus where customers can add games together to boost the potential returns of the bet.
About Betfred
| Products | Sports, Casino, Lotto, Bingo, Poker, Totepool, Virtual |
|---|---|
| License | UK Gambling Commission (39544) |
| Founded | 1967 |
UK-based bookmaker Betfred has lots of betting shops up and down the country - at the latest count the number of Betfred betting shops is more than 1,500 - but like most of the industry, it has turned its attention firmly to gambling via the internet over the course of recent years.
Founded all the way back in the middle of the 1960s, Betfred is headquartered in Warrington, Cheshire, and stands as one of the largest online betting brands in the country right now.
The company was set up by bookmaker Fred Done, who remained the public face of Betfred's business decades later and only stepped down from his role as chief executive in 2021, though he remains the chairman of Betfred. Joanne Whittaker was then appointed to take over as CEO.
Betfred has used lots of sports sponsorship to increase brand recognition in the UK and around the world. It sponsored the snooker's Masters tournament in London and will be the sponsor of all three England teams at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. These deals build on Betfred's sponsorship of rugby league's Super League, as well as various horse races in the UK.
For much of the company's history, it ran under the name of Done Bookmakers. However, there was a major change in 2004 with the launch of a digital platform and the first use of the Betfred brand.
Done - who is reported to be worth in excess of £1 billion along with his brother Peter, who he built the business with - and Betfred earned a lot of media attention when the company paid out early to its customers who bet on Manchester United to win the Premier League title in 1998. Arsenal eventually narrowly beat United to the championship, costing the company a fortune.
Incredibly, Betfred made a similar mistake when it paid out early on for United to win the Premier League title in 2011–12, with their local rivals Manchester City then pipping them by a point.
Legend has it that Done used the money he won from a large bet that he won on the outcome of the 1966 World Cup, won by England at Wembley, in order to finance his new business venture.
Betfred Sports Review (2023)
Betfred is regarded as one of the best online bookmakers in the UK, but sports betting is not everything that the site has to offer, with various different gambling products available here.
Players signing up to Betfred can play casino games, bingo, poker and more but how does the site compare to rivals that have a similarly broad offering to those who create an account?
Appearance and Navigation
At first glance, Betfred certainly has a unique look with vibrant colours throughout its site. However, the font can sometimes be too small, especially the fonts of the games and events.
It is an easy fix, but not too much of an issue as all games/events are organised well, using sub-headings of the league and country.
Down the left-hand side, you can see quick links and all the sports on offer. Also, while navigating the site, all the necessary information is on one convenient page.
Whether you are browsing the different sports, live or upcoming matches, you will find it all on the sports page.
The left-hand side quick links and sports list will stay visible throughout your searches making it painless to browse other matches/sports.
Betting Markets
Betfred has over 25 different sports to choose from, including all the most popular sports and a few niches. The list isn't as diverse as some other sites, but it's more than enough for the average punter.
To name a few, football, horse racing, American football, tennis, e-sports, and volleyball. There are also some non-sporting markets such as politics and lottery specials.
With attention to the sports market, it is noticeable that Betfred doesn't have the same depth in its betting markets as other top UK bookmakers. Even more so in the in-play markets.
On the other hand, Betfred's range of betting types is more than enough for most, in fact, they have a unique and awesome feature available for punters called "Pick Your Punt".
You can tweet Betfred's Twitter account with your creative bet type on many select events. An awesome feature allowing punters to get creative with their betting types, for some pretty decent odds too.
Live Betting and Streaming
For live betting, you have a separate page within the tab "In-Play Betting". Here you can see all live matches filtered by sport and competition to great effect. It's nice and easy to navigate allowing for fast selection, which is crucial for live betting.
Where the font can be slightly small on the main page, the In-Play section fills up more of the screen making it that much clearer to see.
If you want to see all the games for the day, you can choose between three different options. Events that are live or in the next 15 minutes, in the next three hours or all events for the day. To cycle through these options, you can find the tab at the top right of the In-Play page.
It can be said that the range of betting types is also smaller than most for their live betting. It would be great to see more options in all sports both live and pre-game. Also, Betfred seems to have no info-graphic or stats for their live games at the time of reviewing.
It feels a lot less stimulating without any live stats and the typical pitch map.
However, I did notice Betfred offers a live streaming service for some games, which of course would make up for the lack of info-graphic. However, it just feels strange that a simple feature like that is left out. If you want a diverse range of different betting types, check out Unibet or William Hill.
Betfred Casino Review
Next to Betfred Games in the top menu on the site is Betfred Casino, which is where users can find even more titles that can be played on a range of devices: desktops, tablets and mobiles. There is a slightly different welcome bonus at Betfred Casino. Players who deposit £10 get 50 free spins, but the good news is that winnings from the spins are paid in cash with no wagering required.
Betfred Casino also picks out a special Game of the Week, with players able to earn comp points for every £1 that they spend on that particular title during the seven-day period. Comp points that are racked up through playing games at the Betfred Casino site can be traded in for real cash, the rate at which they are awarded depending on a user's VIP rewards tier. Every £10 that is spent playing games at the Betfred Casino will earn a player one comp point on the site.
Must-drop daily and weekly jackpots are some of the most intriguing games on offer at Betfred Casino. A quartet of sport-themed games are linked together with the same jackpot, which at the time of producing this complete guide to Betfred Casino stood at over the £200,000 mark.
Over a dozen roulette and blackjack variations at Betfred Casino make this section a great place to visit for any customers who like to play the classics. Live dealer games are offered at Betfred too but they are in a separate section, so we will come on to those a little bit later on.
Betfred Games Review
Slots, jackpots and table games can be found in this section of the site, with more than 600 different titles to pick from in total.
Slots dominate, as is the case with most online casinos in the UK, with providers such as Blueprint and NetEnt among those to have their games featured on Betfred's site. Games based on TV and films continue to get more popular. At Betfred Games, users can select titles based on everything from Tomb Raider and Deal or No Deal to Top Cat, Narcos and Hell's Kitchen.
Jackpot slots always catch the eye too. At Betfred Games, titles offer top prizes of millions of pounds, meaning there is a chance to land a truly life-changing sum of money from a single spin of the reels. Megaways games based on the likes of Wheel of Fortune and Deal or No Deal can be found at Betfred Games too, with the site even having its own branded Megaways slot game. There is also a slot game created based on the Betfred Nifty Fifty lucky numbers game as well.
Roulette and blackjack are offered in the table games section at Betfred Games. Keno, baccarat and a couple of different poker variations are included in the selection on offer here as well. Users looking for the latest titles at Betfred Games can find these in their own dedicated section.
New players at Betfred Games can get 100 free spins to be used on the famous Starburst online slot. They need to deposit and stake £10 on slot games to qualify for this promotion.
Betfred Live Casino Review
UK casino players are increasingly turning to live dealer games, with the Betfred Live Casino a strong option due to the range of virtual tables that are up for grabs. Again, there is a slightly different promotion for new users with £5 free cash on offer at the Betfred Live Casino site.
There is a live trivia room for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire players with a prize pool of £100,000 on offer, though winners will be paid out in the site's golden chips, not in cash. Each golden chip is worth £1 and can be used across various games at the Betfred Live Casino.
Live dealer games for casino classics such as roulette and blackjack are among those that can be played at the Betfred Live Casino. Unusually, Betfred has its own branded range of live dealer games, whereas most UK online casinos instead use titles from studios like Evolution Gaming.
Baccarat is offered too and this is likely to be a popular choice due to the fact this game has a very low house edge compared to most of the other titles offered at the Betfred Live Casino site.
Game show live dealer games are all the rage with Betfred Live Casino having plenty to pick from. There is a game based on Deal or No Deal and another on Alice in Wonderland here too.
There are more than 80 different live dealer rooms at the Betfred Live Casino, so users who sign up for an account here are sure to find a new favourite due to the fantastic range of options.
Betfred Vegas Review
Betfred Vegas is the next section we will be looking at in our complete guide to this casino site. Again, Betfred has put together a tweaked welcome bonus for those who sign up at Betfred Vegas. Depositing £10 into a new account will earn 100 free spins - and there is no wagering.
Other promotions up for grabs at Betfred Vegas include a free spins accumulator, which is similar to a deal that also runs in both the Betfred Games and Betfred Casino sections. Players who stake at least £10 on eligible games will be entered into the promotion, which has up to 200 free spins available to win. The free spins are valued at £0.10 per spin and will only be able to be used on the Fruitinator game, as well as the King Spin Deluxe Jackpot King title on the site.
Betfred Vegas has a massive range of games to pick from, starting with more than a dozen table games. It is not entirely clear why there is a need to have roulette and blackjack games in three different parts of the Betfred site, but it at least increases the options that are available.
More than 150 different titles are in the library at Betfred Vegas, with some of them being jackpot slots that offered top prizes in excess of £3 million at the time this review was being produced. Old-fashioned slots can be found here with dozens of different three-reel games to pick from.
Betfred Lotto Review
Lotto is another of the sections offered at Betfred. Many people may be unfamiliar with lotto, but it is basically betting on the outcome of the different lottery draws from countries around the world.
Betfred Lotto is one of the most popular areas of the site, with £15 in free play funds up for grabs for new players who sign up for an account and deposit £5 to play lotto games on the site.
Lotteries from nations such as Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Australia, Greece, France, Canada and many more are among those offered, with the Daily Million among the most popular as a result of the massive top prize that is up for grabs. Betfred also has its own Lotto game, with the Nifty Fifty game having been a smash hit for the company since it was released on to the market.
Betfred Nifty Fifty is exclusive to this online casino site with three draws taking place throughout the day - at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm. They are all broadcast live on the Betfred Lotto site. Players can win as much as £200,000 by playing Nifty Fifty at Betfred Lotto from a £1 stake.
Players logging into the Betfred Lotto area will also be able to find dozens of scratchcards, some of which have a minimum stake of just a penny. Among the scratchcards offered here are titles based on Deal or No Deal and the film Ted, which starred Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg.
Betfred Bingo Review
Online bingo is increasingly popular in the UK, especially with many brick-and-mortar halls having had to close down as a result of financial issues in recent times. Betfred Bingo has a welcome bonus that sees new users able to receive £10 when they sign up and play £10.
New users who have just joined Betfred Bingo will also get access to a special Rookie Room for the first 10 days after they have signed up for an account on the site. Only available to new customers, this room is open daily from noon-1pm and from 7-8pm. The good news is that all of the games are free to play, helping to introduce players to Betfred Bingo, though all of the game winnings are paid in bonus money, which is non-withdrawable, and each game's prize is just £2.
Other Betfred Bingo promotions include five per cent refunds on all bingo tickets that have been purchased each week up to the value of £25, with this deal designed to reward customer loyalty. Players need to opt-in and only bingo tickets contribute, not spending on slots or other games.
Betfred Bingo players have a lot of rooms to pick from, with some of them themed on things such as the Rainbow Riches slot game. Variations like 40-ball bingo, 60-ball bingo and 90-ball bingo are offered at Betfred Bingo, so players are sure to find a new favourite type of game here.
More than 100 different games can be played at Betfred Bingo too, including yet more types of slot games as well as scratchcards, which offers a good amount of variety for those playing bingo on the site. Chat rooms are available for those who want to join in with the community too.
Betfred Poker Review
The last of the separate sections we are looking into in this full review is Betfred Poker. Unlike some other top UK online sportsbooks and online casinos, Betfred Poker is a fully fledged poker room that offers a range of tournaments for players to enter. New users signing up at Betfred Poker for the first time can get a 200 per cent welcome bonus worth up to £1,200, as well as £20 in poker tournament tickets, so it is clear the site is aiming to snap up serious players.
Betfred Poker has a week's worth of welcome missions for new players too. Among the prizes that are on the table on this section of the site are free spins, casino bonus money and the chance to play for jackpots, so it is well worth users taking the time to work through them.
One of the most important things about Betfred Poker is there is never a shortage of players. The site is always busy, meaning it poses a good challenge and users will be able to find action rapidly whenever they log in to their account in the hope of taking a seat at the virtual table.
Various types of poker are offered, though most of the tables will be playing Texas Hold'em, so players who have a favourite variation are very likely to be able to find it at Betfred Poker.
Gameplay seems to be balanced with fresh poker players still having a chance to win big pots, though it is fair to say experts with a lot of experience will always be likely to come out on top.
Betfred App and Mobile Site Review
Many UK players prefer to use handheld devices to gamble online these days, which is where the Betfred app and mobile site come in. The desktop site is still the standard offering from the company but in time it seems like most of its traffic will be to the Betfred app and mobile site.
The mobile site at Betfred is quite basic, with a similar blue style to the full desktop site. The top menu for navigation is the same, offering access to the full range of Betfred gambling products such as its live casino and sportsbook, as well as Betfred Bingo, Betfred Poker and so on.
Betfred's radio commentaries can also be accessed through the mobile site that is run by this operator. This will be handy for any sports fans who are on the move but who still want to stay up to date with the latest action from football matches, as well as cricket and horse racing.
An app is available for both iOS and Android, again offering the full array of Betfred products. The betting app works smoothly and has attracted rave reviews on both the App Store and Google Play, indicating users are very satisfied with the experience provided by the Betfred app.
Some users have found that the Betfred app can be prone to crashing, but developers are making constant improvements to the software in order to iron out any similar glitches. For many people, the Betfred Android and iOS app will be the very best way to play online.
Betfred Deposit & Withdrawal Options
Betfred UK customers have a range of deposit and withdrawal options to choose from, including:
- Debit cards (Visa, Maestro)
- E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
- Bank transfer
- Betfred shops
The minimum deposit amount for all payment methods is £5, except for bank transfer, which has a minimum deposit of £85. The maximum withdrawal amount varies depending on the payment method but is generally in the thousands of pounds.
Withdrawals to debit cards and e-wallets are free, while bank transfers incur a fee of £12 for a standard withdrawal or £25 for an urgent withdrawal. Withdrawals from Betfred shops are free for amounts under £250 but require 48 hours' notice for amounts over £250.
Overall, Betfred offers a good range of deposit and withdrawal options with competitive limits.
| Payment Method | Minimun Deposit | Minimum Withdrawal | Maximum Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit Card | £5 | £5 | £9,999.99 |
| PayPal | £5 | £5 | £5,000 |
| Skrill | £5 | £5 | £6,500 |
| Neteller | £5.50 | £5 | £4,000 |
| Bank Transfer | £85 | £25 | £25,000 per day |
| Betfred Shop | £10 | £10 | £250 over the counter, £250+ with 48 hours' notice |
Betfred Customer Service
| Chat | Yes |
|---|---|
| support@betfred.com | |
| Phone | 0800 028 7747 |
| Opening hours | 7 Days a week, 24/7 |
Betfred has outstanding customer service, with several different methods of communication. You can go straight to live chat in the bottom left-hand corner or click the "Help" tab in the top right-hand corner of their page.
- FAQs with the top ten listed and a search bar to help with your specific issue
- Email-support@betfred.com
- Phone number- Inside the UK: 0800 028 7747
- Live Chat- Available 24/7 to resolve any of your issues throughout your time with Betfred
Betfred Expert Opinion
| Bonus | 9 |
|---|---|
| Sports betting offer | 8 |
| Casino offer | 9 |
| Customer support | 9 |
| Payment methods | 10 |
| Licensing safety | 10 |
| Design & usability | 9 |
| Overall | 9 |
Betfred is one of the UK's leading bookmakers, offering a wide range of betting markets and competitive odds. We also have a thriving online presence, making it easy to place bets from anywhere in the world.
Whether you're a fan of sports betting, horse racing, casino games, or bingo, Betfred has something to offer you. We also offer a variety of promotions and bonuses to help you boost your winnings.
Betfred FAQs
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User Reviews
Bailey
May 25, 2022
They never give a free bet or any goodwill.
Johnraf
March 17, 2021
I took up the Cheltenham offer of free bets when you open your account but they never credited me with my bets The reason they gave which was in small print was my first bet was on lottery Very bad I would not recommend if you need customer service the waiting time is hours Not recommend
Mohammed
July 7, 2020
Feels safe to get your withdrawals
Henry
April 20, 2020
Great experience with a fast and easily navigated site recommended
Patrik
March 18, 2020
Good bookie.
Markus
October 15, 2019
Seriously a good bookie just gotta figure out the best way to make it work for you
Mahmoud
September 26, 2019
I like this very much
Chris
September 19, 2019
Worth a try Id say
Mohammed
August 5, 2019
Dont like the layout or the odds..
Peter
July 4, 2019
Never tried this site before seeing it here same same to me but worked okey
Sam
April 16, 2019
Was loving playing at Betfred but they have limited my stakes Tired of being limited will probably use an exchange now.Four stars for the solid product but shame to see them limiting people.