As one of the most established betting sites founded in the UK, Betfred has been serving punters since 1967 from its base in Birchwood.
This decades-long presence at the heart of the industry gives Betfred an innate understanding of British betting culture and expectations.
In this Betfred review, we will help you decide if Betfred is right for you by highlighting the biggest pros and cons based on our personal experience.
This article will highlight their safety, mobile app, website, banking, markets, features, promotions, and customer support so you can judge if the platform suits your goals.
Throughout this review, we will evaluate the platform’s primary features using a qualitative, points-based scale. These points will be converted into star ratings.
For more information on how we test view here.
Overall Rating – 4 stars
Overall, we give Betfred a rating of 4 stars, based on an overall score of 77 points, equating to approximately 85.56%.
Betfred is a robust, well-rounded platform that excels in the areas that matter most – safety, trust and product quality.
Their UKGC license provides ironclad security standards while 50+ years of experience cements their reliability.
The mobile app and website deliver smooth user experiences that make wagering simple.
However, a relative weakness is Betfred’s odds competitiveness.
While they provide depth across popular sports markets, their prices are often less attractive than those of rival bookmakers.
Considering Betfred’s robust integrity and assistance, we still believe they facilitate an excellent user experience overall.
With their long-term presence and understanding of UK punters, we am happy to recommend Betfred.
Their ability to satisfy betting needs across platforms solidifies their position as a top choice for new and existing players alike.
Here’s a breakdown of how Betfred performed:
Category | Points | Star rating |
|---|---|---|
Safety | 10 | 5 |
Mobile betting app | 8 | 4 |
Website | 8 | 4 |
Deposits & withdrawals | 8 | 4 |
Markets | 7 | 3.5 |
Pre-match betting | 8 | 4 |
In-play betting | 8 | 4 |
Welcome incentive | 10 | 5 |
Customer service | 10 | 5 |
Here’s a rundown of the overall pros and cons of Betfred:
Pros
Renowned for security
Trusted over 50+ years
Smooth mobile and web platforms
Huge football market depth
Responsive customer service
Cons
Fewer niche sports covered
Live streaming coverage still expanding
Safety – 5 stars
Betfred is a highly secure and properly licensed UK sports betting site. Users can feel confident their information and money is protected.
Licences
Betfred holds licences from the UK Gambling Commission.
These strict regulatory bodies monitor Betfred’s operations, requiring secure payment processing, responsible gambling measures, and player fund segregation.
Betfred’s UKGC licence proves they adhere to the highest standards for safety and accountability.
As a UKGC licensee, independent auditors also routinely assess Betfred’s integrity. This provides external validation of their safety for customers.
Betfred prioritises maintaining these prestigious licences.
Security
All payments and personal data transactions on Betfred are encrypted.
Their security team uses industry-leading technologies like TLS, firewalls, and the latest fraud detection systems.
Customers can trust Betfred to secure transactions to the same level as major banks.
Betfred also enables optional responsible gambling limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion periods.
These help identify and assist vulnerable players while deterring fraud and underage access. Such safeguards showcase Betfred’s commitment to customer security.
Track Record
Launching in 1967, Betfred has over 50 years of experience as a retail bookmaker. Their longevity and market leadership highlight how security and trust have long been integral.
Betfred is also the official sports betting partner of several major UK sports franchises. These partnerships require thorough vetting and alignment on safety standards.
The trust placed in them by prominent organisations demonstrates Betfred’s safety credentials.
Pros
UKGC licensed
Encrypted transactions
Responsible gambling tools
50+ years experience
Trusted by leading sports franchises
Cons
None
Mobile Betting App – 4 stars
Betfred’s mobile app provides a smooth and intuitive user experience for betting on the go.
With a clean interface, easy bet placement, and solid features, it earns a 4-star rating as a mobile platform.
Look and Feel
Upon opening the Betfred app, we were greeted with a visually appealing home page highlighting popular sports and events.
The interface uses contrasting colours to make events stand out against blue and white backgrounds. Pages load swiftly with sports laid out in a sensible grid system.
The menus and navigation flow logically without clutter. One downside is the presence of promotional banners which can sometimes distract.
Overall, the app looks sharp and makes finding the sports you want to bet on a breeze.
Making a Bet
Placing wagers via the app is quick and simple. The odds are clearly labelled for each event and betting slip creation is seamless.
We could easily toggle between fractional and decimal odds to suit our preference. Filling in our stake and adding selections was intuitive with prompts if we made any errors.
Submitting the bet slip also only took a tap without hassles. The ability to cash out bets early is additionally built-in nicely.
User Experience
The Betfred app provides a decent user experience overall, but some users have reported performance issues.
Reviews indicate the app can be slow at times and even crash unexpectedly.
On the plus side, the interface is slick and responsive when working properly, allowing for easy bet placement.
Useful features like cash out are also available.
However, some way of tracking bonuses would improve the experience. On the whole, the app provides a robust mobile platform for sports bettors.
Check out our roundup and see where we ranked Betfred among the best UK betting apps.
Pros
Easy bet placement
Solid sports coverage
Useful cash-out option
Cons
The app can be slow and crash unexpectedly
Promotional banners distracting
Website – 4 stars
Look and Feel
Betfred’s website has a clean, modern design that is easy to navigate.
The black, white, and green colour scheme looks professional and all the important links and features are conveniently accessible across the top navigation bar.
Information is well-organised into different sections like sports, casinos, games, and more. The layout is responsive so it adapts nicely to both desktop and mobile.
Images and graphics are eye-catching without being too cluttered or distracting from finding what you need.
Overall, the site looks great and makes finding your favourite betting options intuitive.
User Experience
Placing bets on Betfred is quick and simple. The bet slip on the right side allows you to easily review selections, adjust stakes, add multiples, and place bets with just a few clicks.
Registration only takes a couple minutes and it’s easy to find competitive odds across all the sports using the odds comparison tool.
The site is secure, reliable, and mobile-friendly. Pages load fast and the platform is stable with no lagging or crashing issues.
Betfred also has great customer support through live chat, phone, email, and social media to resolve any problems.
Pros
Competitive odds & betting margins
Wide range of sports & betting markets
Intuitive mobile app
Fast payouts
Live streaming available
Cons
Can improve in-play graphics
Deposits & Withdrawals – 4 stars
As one of the most popular UK betting sites, Betfred makes it easy for punters to get money in and out.
Deposits
Betfred supports a wide range of deposit options to suit all UK punters:
Debit/Credit Cards – Visa, Mastercard, Maestro
E-Wallets – PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Bank Transfer
Paysafecard
Funding your account is quick and easy.
Select your preferred payment method, enter the amount you wish to deposit, and the funds will instantly appear in your account balance.
Making a Deposit
To make a deposit:
Log in to your Betfred account
Click on “Deposit” next to your account balance
Select your chosen deposit method
Enter the deposit amount and submit
Funds are instantly available once the transaction is approved
The minimum deposit amount is £5 across all methods. Deposits are completely free and take just seconds to process in most cases.
Withdrawals
Betfred is just as accommodating when it comes time to withdraw your winnings.
A wide selection of withdrawal methods are available, with a minimum withdrawal set at just £5 – one of the lowest in the industry.
Payout speed is exceptionally fast at Betfred. E-wallet withdrawals are processed within 24 hours, while other methods take no more than 5 business days in most cases.
Making a Withdrawal
To make a withdrawal:
Log in and click “Withdraw” next to your account balance
Choose your preferred withdrawal method
Enter the amount you wish to withdraw
Click withdraw and confirm the transaction
As long as you have verified your account, withdrawals are hassle-free.
Just take note of the processing times for each method.
Pros
Numerous deposit and withdrawal options
Minimum deposits/withdrawals from just £5
Swift processing for both deposits and withdrawals
Completely free deposits
Cons
5 business day wait for bank transfers
Markets – 3.5 stars
Betfred offers a solid range of betting markets, covering all major sports and leagues that UK bettors are likely to be interested in.
However, its odds often aren’t as competitive as those of other top UK bookmakers.
Sports
Football dominates, with an immense selection of leagues and tournaments from across the globe.
You’ll find extensive markets in the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, and other top divisions. Betfred also covers smaller European leagues in depth.
Beyond football, Betfred provides a plethora of markets for sports like tennis, golf, cricket, rugby union and league, darts, snooker, boxing, MMA, and more.
US sports have a strong showing too, with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL fully covered. While not as vast as some competitors, the range here satisfies most needs.
Odds
In terms of odds, Betfred tends to be quite competitive on major events like Premier League matches.
But they aren’t always the best odds guaranteed across the smaller competitions and sports. It’s worth comparing odds before placing your wager.
Pros
Huge range of football markets
Competitive odds on big events
Cons
Odds less competitive on minor markets
Fewer niche sports covered
Pre-Match Betting – 4 stars
Betfred offers a wide selection of pre-match betting options for most major sports and leagues.
With competitive odds and a user-friendly interface, their pre-match product earns a 4-star rating.
Coverage
Betfred allows you to place pre-match wagers on dozens of sports, including all major leagues in the UK and abroad.
Football dominates with bets available on leagues ranging from the Premier League to obscurer divisions across Europe and beyond.
You can also bet on tennis, golf, cricket, rugby, boxing, MMA, and more. While the focus is on British and Irish matches, the coverage extends worldwide.
For example, you can bet on NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL games as well as domestic basketball and handball leagues in countries like Greece, France, and Germany.
The variety is excellent though some smaller sports or leagues may be overlooked.
Bet Builder
An innovative feature is Betfred’s bet builder which lets you combine multiple bets on the same match into one wager.
You can choose from hundreds of different markets to create a custom bet reflecting your predictions on the game’s outcome.
This is extremely useful as it allows you to get much better odds than placing those bets separately. It provides so many more options than a standard accumulator.
Pros
A huge range of pre-match betting markets and sports covered
Competitive odds, especially for UK and Irish leagues
Easy-to-use bet builder feature
Live streaming available for many events
Cons
Missing some niche sports or minor leagues
Overall, Betfred succeeds in the most important areas. Their pre-match odds and markets are strong while innovations like the bet builder add genuine value.
For these reasons, serious bettors should give Betfred serious consideration.
In-Play Betting – 4 stars
Betfred offers an exciting and feature-rich In-Play betting experience.
With a wide variety of markets, the ability to watch matches live, and access to useful match stats, bettors have everything they need to place profitable in-play wagers.
Markets
Betfred has in-play markets on all major sports. Football fans can bet on outcomes like the next goalscorer, correct score, total goals, both teams to score, corners, cards shown, and more.
Tennis offers markets on the set winner, total sets, game-winner, total games, and so on.
Betfred also covers in-play betting for basketball, cricket, golf, boxing, MMA, and many other sports.
With so many options, it’s easy to find a market to match your analysis of the live action. The number of available markets does vary by sport and league popularity.
Obscure competitions may only have basic markets like matchwinners. But for top-level events across the most popular sports, Betfred has an exceptional range of in-play markets.
Bet & Watch
Betfred facilitates In-Play betting by live-streaming thousands of events directly on its sportsbook.
Soccer, tennis, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis are just some of the sports you can watch while wagering in play.
For matches without streams, Betfred provides live match trackers.
These visualisations depict the live action with graphics showing ball position, player locations, possession changes, attacks, shots, and more key events.
The trackers are detailed enough to follow the flow of play and inform in-play betting decisions.
Live Scores and Match Stats
Every In-Play market displays live scores so you always know the latest situation.
Betfred also compiles useful match stats like possession, shots on goal, corners, ball touch heatmap, and more.
The availability of stats varies across sports and leagues but adds valuable context when analysing in-play wagering opportunities.
Pros
Huge variety of In-Play betting markets
Live streams
Alternative match trackers when no stream
Live scores and key match stats
Cons
Fewer markets for obscure competitions
Welcome Incentive – 5 stars
Betfred offers an excellent welcome bonus that makes it worth signing up for new UK bettors.
2024 Bonus – £30 in Free Bets & £10 Free Spins
The current welcome offer from Betfred is very competitive compared to other UK betting sites in 2024.
By using the exclusive promo code “WELCOME40” when you sign up and place a £10 qualifying bet, you unlock £30 in free bets to use across the sportsbook.
Additionally, 10 free spins on selected slots are credited to use in the casino section.
With the free bets, you can explore Betfred’s extensive markets across football, horse racing, tennis, and more without risking your own money.
The free spins also let you preview the casino games on offer.
How To Redeem
Claiming this new customer promotion is simple. Just use the Betfred promo code “WELCOME40” when registering an account, then place a £10 bet at minimum odds of 1/2.
Your account will then be credited with the £30 in free bets and 10 free spins within 48 hours, ready to boost your betting bankroll.
Comparative Offers
When comparing welcome offers across top UK betting apps & sites, Betfred is among the leaders in 2024.
Their bonus beats out competitors like Ladbrokes with enhanced odds offers and also surpasses matched deposit bonuses in terms of overall value.
The £30 in free bets in particular stands out as being an industry-leading incentive. When combined with the 10 free spins, new customers are given a generous head start.
Pros
£30 in Free Bets substantially boosts bankroll
10 free spins are good for trying the casino section
Easy to claim with exclusive promo code
Competitive compared to other UK welcome offers
Cons
Wagering requirements on free spin winnings
Customer Service – 5 stars
Betfred provides exceptional customer service across all platforms.
Their team is readily available to assist with any questions or issues promptly and knowledgeably.
Live Chat
The live chat feature on Betfred’s website connects you directly to a customer service agent within seconds.
The agents we have interacted with have been courteous, patient and able to resolve our inquiries competently on the spot.
They walk you through solutions in a clear manner, providing screenshots when necessary.
Telephone
Calling Betfred’s customer service line puts you in touch with a friendly representative right away.
We have found them to be polite listeners who take the time to understand your problem before advising the best solution.
They have extensive knowledge regarding account-related questions.
Sending an email to Betfred’s customer service team elicits a response within 24 hours in our experience.
Their email support agents provide detailed, individualised answers to questions with step-by-step instructions when required.
They write professionally and promote further assistance as needed.
Pros
Fast response times across all platforms
Knowledgeable about products and accounts
Patient and happy to explain in detail
Offer individualised solutions
Cons
Can experience longer email response times during busy periods
Telephone wait times are occasionally longer than ideal
Overall, Betfred’s customer service stands out as exceptionally attentive, efficient and reliable – a key strength of their platform.
Their support team enhances user experience through prompt, customised assistance for all inquiries.
Final Thoughts
Betfred brings decades of betting industry expertise and a trusted reputation to the table.
Their platform offers a smooth user experience, extensive football markets, and bet builder tools to enable creative wagering.
While their odds are not always the most competitive compared to some other top-tier sportsbooks, Betfred boasts a long history of secure, reliable service.
Moreover, its array of existing player promotions still provides good overall value.
Backed by fast, knowledgeable customer support, both new and experienced punters should feel comfortable joining Betfred’s substantial UKGC-regulated community.
For these reasons, Betfred remains a quality destination we are happy to recommend, especially for football fans seeking a reputable, featured-packed sportsbook.
