Fitzdares

Fitzdares UK Review (2023)

Fitzdares may lack the public profile of the UK's largest sports betting sites, but this is one to watch with the brand having focused on providing outstanding service to its customers.

Having been crowned the SBC Racing Sportsbook of the Year not too long ago, it is clear where the main focus is on this site, although there is also an online casino attached for users as well.

Various sports betting offers can be found at Fitzdares, but users will have to be 21 or over to play with Fitzdares due to the terms and conditions that have been laid out on this site.

Fitzdares was founded in 2006 but this is much more than just another UK sports betting site. Fitzdares even runs its own private members' club in London, just around the corner from Claridge's in the heart of Mayfair, with the space dedicated to fine dining and top live sport.

While Fitzdares is a relatively new company, it has snapped up old bookmaking brands such as Sunderlands and Guntrips in order to extend its tendrils further back into the industry's history.

Those who have not heard of Fitzdares before are likely to have questions about this UK site, though, such as the markets and odds offered, as well as whether it is safe or a scam. We have all the answers in our full review of the Fitzdares online sportsbook, so read on for more info.

Introduction to Fitzdares

Fitzdares believes that the UK's bookmaking industry has seen a race to the bottom in recent years. With so many companies fighting over customers, it has become harder for brands to stand out from the crowd, but Fitzdares is aiming to thrive due to its notable air of exclusivity.

While the company has been around for about 15 years, Fitzdares continues to operate under the radar. While its clientele is said to include big-name actors, Fitzdares does not advertise its services on radio or television in competition with big betting brands such as Coral or Bet365.

William Woodhams, CEO of Fitzdares, has spoken publicly about the company having a strong focus on horse racing betting. While other UK betting brands have sought to move customers towards sports that might have a more appealing margin, Fitzdares has instead doubled down on racing.

"My view is that if you want a loyal, happy and safe punter, UK and Irish horse racing is absolutely the best product available," Fitzdares' Woodhams said in a recent interview. "And racing isn’t going anywhere. It is the most glamorous, evocative and passionate sport around."

Fitzdares is investing in horse racing in a different way to other betting brands, which may just simply pay to put their name to a race. Fitzdares customers can access exclusive clubs at some of the top racecourses in the country, but what will users find on the Fitzdares sportsbook site?

Fitzdares Sportsbook Review

As would be expected from a betting brand that was the SBC Racing Sportsbook of the Year, Fitzdares has a strong focus on the sport of kings, offering live streaming of all UK & Irish races. Racing markets are put front and centre on the Fitzdares sportsbook, though we were testing it during the popular Cheltenham Festival, so perhaps this will not always be the case on the site.

One of the things that make Fitzdares stand out from the competition in the industry is the site's customer service, which includes access to brokers via the live chat option. While on a lot of betting sites in the UK, it feels as if those operating live chat are simply call centre workers who have little knowledge or interest in betting, this is not the case at Fitzdares at all. Everyone on the live chat knows sport inside out and it is even possible to negotiate on the prices offered.

While Fitzdares is not aiming to be a mass-market bookie, it still has offers designed to appeal to new users. Racing fans had access to a range of very special Cheltenham Festival betting bonuses, while customers can get money back as a free bet if their horse finishes second to a 20/1+ winner. Bonus winnings on Lucky 15, 31 and 63s are available up to a 25 per cent boost. Football fans left disappointed when their bet is beaten by an injury-time goal will get the money back as a free bet and golf lovers who place five pre-tournament bets get an in-play free bet too.

Racing and football are undoubtedly the top sports to bet on at Fitzdares, with cricket, boxing and American football also popular on the site. Some minor sports such as water polo and bandy that are covered by the biggest betting brands in the UK are missing, but there is the chance to bet on esports such as CS:GO and Call of Duty by signing up for an account here.

Politics markets such as the winner of the next general election can be found at Fitzdares too and virtuals have their own special section on the site as well. Players can pick from two types of virtual horse racing, as well as virtual motorsport, virtual football and virtual dogs racing too.

Fitzdares offers football fans a decent choice of markets, with a typical game in the Premier League having in the region of 250 different bets to pick from. This is less than half of what can be found on some other UK betting sites, but all the basics are covered and flexibility is provided by the fact there is a create-a-bet function that Fitzdares customers can use to build a wager.

An area where Fitzdares is not particularly strong is live in-play betting. The interface is quite basic, with none of the bells and whistles that major betting brands often offer these days. For instance, when checking out cricket live bets, the score was the only statistic available to help users make up their minds when trying to pick out winning wagers. Tennis fans might also feel a bit let down by a lack of data for live in-play matches when compared to many UK sportsbooks.

Overall, though, Fitzdares meets the mark in a lot of areas, with free live streaming one of the many reasons it ranks among the best racing bookmakers in the UK right now. Live betting could be better but those wanting to use a user-friendly betting site should certainly consider making the most of this betting brand by signing up to bet with Fitzdares.

Fitzdares Customer Support

Fitzdares is certainly different from the norm when it comes to its customer support options, with the live chat service staffed by brokers who are happy to discuss potentially giving better prices.

While a lot of customer support agents at big betting brands appear to be following a script, this is not the case at Fitzdares which helps to build the market-leading feel on this UK site.

The Contact Us page is another good place to go for anyone experiencing a problem at Fitzdares, with help via email offered to those who send a message to bet@fitzdares.com.

Fitzdares is registered with the Independent Betting Arbitration Service. As IBAS settles disputes between UK licensed bookmakers and customers, this is part of the support here.

While the office is open for bets and enquiries by phone, live chat, text and email from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 9pm on Sunday, Fitzdares is also open late when there is a major sporting event taking place in the evening, which may include a boxing match.

Fitzdares also offers the chance to bet by telephone - users can call on 020 7851 5407 - as well as the opportunity to bet by text message by sending a message to Fitzdares at 07492 882213.

Fitzdares Payment Methods

It is fair to say that Fitzdares payment methods are a little limited when compared to the huge list of different banking options that can be used at many of the other top betting brands around.

As is the case across the industry these days, it is not possible to use a credit card to make a deposit at Fitzdares due to a change to the law. However, customers are able to use a range of top debit cards such as the following: Visa; Visa Debit; MasterCard; Visa Electron; and Maestro.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to bet with PayPal, which is a shame, but on the other hand, it is useful to have a more stripped-back approach to payment methods. One of the things to keep in mind is that withdrawals to e-wallets tend to be faster than those to debit cards, so people in a rush to withdraw winnings may need to look elsewhere, not join Fitzdares.

With Fitzdares also yet to offer modern payment methods such as cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or the option to pay by phone bill, those who are used to a lot of choices may feel let down. The flip side is that there is a large range when it comes to deposit and withdrawal limits at Fitzdares.

This is better than a lot of betting brands have to offer and ensures that Fitzdares can easily cater to high rollers with a lot of cash to splash on trying to find a lot of winning wagers on the sportsbook, though more casual sports fans who only place a few small bets can do so as well.