A Real User Tested Betfred Review
Sign Up Offer: Place a bet of £10 on Sports and earn up to £40 in Bonuses
- A household British bookie
- Made Goals Galore betting popular
- Lots of promotions for regular players
3 Solid Reasons To Join Betfred
Bonus Up to £30 + £10 FREE SPINS
CODE: WELCOME40
New UK 18+ only. Register (excl. 13/04/2024) with promo code WELCOME40, Bet £10+ on Sports in one transaction within 7 days of registering. Get £30 Free Bets & £10 free spins within 10hrs of bet settlement. Bonuses expire 7 days after issue. Min odds, eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
Betfred Review Summary
Betfred is a classic British bookie, started in 1967 by two brothers Fred and Peter Done who set up their very first betting shop in Salford. They've expanded its operations to become one of the largest and most well-known bookmakers in the UK. It's a great sportsbook, there are a tonne different features and they offer pretty decent deals including a generous welcome offer.
They're a growing brand and have recently expanded into Africa & America, showing their ambitions lie beyond the UK betting market. These are quite heavily regulated markets, so to me, Betfred is demonstrating its commitment to integrity by strictly respecting the rules of licensed territories and not operating in unlicensed territories.
Betfred Review: Our Verdict
Is Betfred Any Good?
I'm definitely a fan of Betfred! If you don't know who they are, it's a renowned British household name with deep roots in the North of England, where it originated as a single betting shop in Ordsall, Salford, in 1967.
For me, Betfred stands out as a proper, reliable UK sportsbook. While it may not claim the title of the absolute best, it consistently maintains a higher standard than many other betting sites out there. The user-friendly website offers a simplified and uncomplicated betting experience, making it a go-to platform for lots of UK punters.
I like Betfred's bet builder tool, known as Pick Your Punt. They always have decent offers with a strong selection of deals across football betting markets for both moneyback promotions and boosted odds.
Furthermore, Betfred deserves a lot of credit for introducing the concept of goals galore accumulators, a branded idea brought about to boost the popularity of the "both teams to score" betting market. Overall, they're a solid, reliable brand in my opinion and they get my endorsement as a decent sportsbook.
British sportsbooks are also renowned for their new customer betting offers. While the lucrative days of big value free bets have gone, they still offer up competitive betting offers and their sign-up bonuses are just as good as the other top bookies.
Betfred Pros & Cons
Pros
- An established stable sportsbook
- Lots of additional promotions
- Decent welcome offer
- Watch live sports
Cons
- Some rivals have more sports markets
- No free games or fantasy
Betfred Review: Common Complaints
Overall, third-party reviews of Betfred are quite good when looking at common review sites. Typically, people are complaining about the same things. This is what I found:
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Document Verification: One notable issue was the requirement to provide documents to verify people's identity. This is KYC (Know Your Customer) and is designed to promote affordability checks in online gambling. The feedback suggests this is invasive and can be time-consuming, with some accounts being put on hold while the checks take place.
- KYC is a security measure, like getting stopped at an airport. If you are asked to produce KYC documents, you just have to go through with it and prove that you can afford to lose money on gambling. That's the basic premise of it; if you can't afford it, you shouldn't be betting!
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Banned for Winning: I noticed that some reviewers have reported being banned for winning consistently.
- In most cases, if you haven't broken any of the terms and conditions, you'll walk away with what you've initially won. But a bookie won't survive if everyone makes a profit, so they don't entertain winners, unfortunately.
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Promotional Terms Misunderstanding: Another point of concern is the occasional misunderstanding of promotional terms. It's crucial for users to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions, but there were instances where users found them confusing or encountered unexpected limitations.
- Welcome offers are particularly contentious bonuses, with lots of conditions written into the terms. If you've triggered a rule, though, you've probably done something wrong, and in those cases, you just get your money back, unfortunately. Welcome offers are designed to help you test a site when you join; naturally, people try to manipulate the process to their advantage, and in most cases, they get found out.
Available Gambling Categories
Our Betfred Review of Offers & Promos
Betfred New Customer Offer
Bonus: Place a bet of £10 on Sports and earn up to £40 in Bonuses
New UK 18+ only. Register (excl. 13/04/2024) with promo code WELCOME40, Bet £10+ on Sports in one transaction within 7 days of registering. Get £30 Free Bets & £10 free spins within 10hrs of bet settlement. Bonuses expire 7 days after issue. Min odds, eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
CODE: WELCOME40
Betfred offers a rewarding sign-up free bet bonus, providing up to three times your first deposit, with a maximum amount of £40 in free bet bonuses. It's one of the most generous offers in the current free bet welcome offer market, giving you a healthy 300% return on your first bet in bet credits, and there's no wagering required.
I believe this is currently one of the best free bet offers, so if you're considering signing up for a new sportsbook, this offer is quite attractive.
An additional £10 worth of Free Spins can be earned on top of the basic £30 bonus, making the total bonus value available £40.
Betfred Review: Offer Tips & Advice
Remember, this is a deposit and bet welcome bonus, not a matched deposit offer. So you don't receive the free bets just for depositing to your account; you have to place a qualifying bet of £10, or it won't work. But it is a no wagering free bet bonus so you get to keep winnings if you earn any.
If you're looking to reduce the risk, find a simple bet that you can use that £10 on. Choose something you're familiar with that has odds of evens or higher. Even bets are still quite risky, but you have to place this bet to get the bonus.
If I were betting with this bonus, I would look for a football team with a fair chance of scoring lots of goals and then consider a Match Result And Both Teams To Score wager. Most favourites in the football betting markets have odds of under evens, so that's not really an angle I'd pursue. But in most cases, adding the goals element, if they score a lot, will push the price over evens.
Do not cash out; you'll lose the bonus. Be just as responsible with the free bet credits. Avoid spending them on high odds, high-risk bets! They're designed to let you test out the site with less risk to your own cash.
How To Claim This Offer From Betfred
- Make your first deposit of at least £10 using a Debit Card registered to you within 7 days of registering for an account with Betfred. No other payment method will qualify.
- Place a bet of £10 or more on any qualifying Sportsbook markets at odds of Evens or greater (2.0+), which must be settled within 7 days of registering for your account. Two or more separate bets with a combined stake of £10 will not qualify.
- Only your very first valid bet will count.
- If your bet is voided or cancelled, it will not count, and the next valid bet you place will be considered instead.
- If your account is set to euros, you will need to deposit and bet €10 to qualify.
Who is eligible for this Welcome Offer? How do you get the Free Bets? What bets or markets will not qualify? When will you be credited with your Free Bets? Are there any other limitations you should know about? Can we change or remove this Welcome Offer?
Betfred Review: Existing Player Offers
A common theme with modern online sports betting brands is the "bet club" style rewards scheme. Betfred doesn't have a traditional loyalty programme or incentives to log in and claim a weekly prize.
However, they do have an absolute wealth of promotions that enhance your betting experience at your own pace. You don't have to commit to a precise spend in order to qualify for a reward.
You can access a range of promotions on things like Accas, bet builders, first scorer markets as and when you need them. Head over to their promotions page when you join and see the abundance of betting deals available to regular Betfred punters.
Betfred Betting Review
Betfred Sportsbook Review:
Betfred Football Betting
Betfred is naturally renowned for its betting offering. The football betting section is simple and uncluttered, much like the rest of the website design. While it may not be the most attractive sportsbook, it is easy to navigate and follow your way around.
The matches on Betfred are packed with a well-structured assortment of classic and more obscure betting markets. These are organized in a logical and easy-to-understand layout, making it convenient for users to find common markets through tabs or just scroll through a long list and pop open the drop-downs.
The whole football betting section features neatly categorized tabs that enhance the user experience. I like the simplicity of categories such as in-play, coupons, TV matches (which is super useful), or by the major football competitions and leagues.
Betfred also offers a wide range of deals and promotions on classic football markets. These promotions are definite clinchers in terms of setting them apart from rival sportsbooks. There's a choice of deals on Accas, Bet Builders, and an array of football singles. It's a strong football betting offering!
Football Promotions
Football offers can be seasonal and are subject to change. At the time of writing this, these were some of the active football betting offers at Betfred:
- Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven: Get double the odds if your prematch first goalscorer scores 2 goals in the game. Triple your odds if they get a hat-trick.
- In-Play Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven: Get double the odds if your in-play next goalscorer scores 2 goals in the game. Triple your odds if they get a hat-trick.
- Acca Insurance: Place a 5-fold football acca, and if one leg lets you down, Betfred will refund your stake up to £10 in cash.
- Daily Price Boosts: If available, Betfred lists their daily price boosts on selected bets. These aren't always available, so it's best to check on the day if they have any boosts listed.
- #PickYourPunt Special: Place a PickYourPunt Builder bet (3/1+) with 4 or more legs on any selected tournament games and get 100% of your stake back in Free Bets, up to £10, if it loses.
Betfred Sportsbook Review: Free Bets
You'll find a small selection of betting offers for existing customers available at Betfred, with regular offers and deals cropping up all the time. However, it's mainly on Horse Racing and Greyhounds at the moment. Check out the homepage for daily deals and the promotions section to stay updated on fixtures happening that day.
Remember, Betfred has a rewarding sign-up free bet bonus offering up to three times your first deposit, to a maximum amount of £40 in free bet bonuses. This is currently one of the best free bet offers available for new players, so if you're considering signing up to bet, this offer is highly recommended.
Free Bet Offers
Not a massive amount of free bets for existing Beftred customers, but they do have a lot of boosts and enhancements to existing bets if you visit their promotions page. In terms of cash back and free bets, these are the current crop for existing players.
- Acca Flex: Place a pre-match Football accumulator bet with 5 or more legs (at odds of 1/2 or higher per leg). If all your selections win, we'll add a cash bonus of up to 50% to your winnings. If one selection lets you down, you'll get your money back as CASH, up to £10!
- Free Bet if 2nd: Place a win or each way single on any of the nominated races on the specified day. If your horse finishes 2nd, we will refund your stake in Free Bets, up to £10.
Betfred Bet Builder
As expected from this ambitious betting brand, Betfred has come up with a rebrand of the bet builder framework with their #PickYourPunt concept. You get the same functionality as an average same-game multiple bet builder, but in the case of Betfred, they isolate all the games into a neat tab on their main menu where all the active bet builder games are listed.
You get access to all the expected betting markets like full-time results, players' goals, cards, corners, booking points, BTTS (Both Teams To Score), along with some special selections like a penalty, woodwork hit, and many more. The markets are more extensive than those offered by some of the lesser-known bookies.
In naming the tool #PickYourPunt, it's also a reminder that you can get in touch via the Twitter hashtag and share your bet builders with Betfred. The tool features lots of prebuilt Pick Your Punt selections that have been chosen by Betfred punters already. So, you can either build your own bet or select one of their premade Pick Your Punt slips.
Bet Builder Promotions
Betfred has a modest selection of football betting promotions, but they quite often specify #PickYourPunt offers for current competitions or daily games. The following offer is an example of a previous same-day #PickYourPunt pick your punt bet builder offer that was sent out for a Premier League fixture. The offer was sent out by email, so you have to make sure you've opted in to marketing comms if you want to get same-day offers sent to your inbox for bet builders.
- #PickYourPunt Special: Build your own PickYourPunt bet (3/1+) with 4 or more legs on Crystal Palace vs. Man City and get 50% of your stake back in Free Bets if it loses.
If you follow their Twitter hashtag #PickYourPunt, you can see the bets that customers and their celebrity ambassadors are selecting for popular fixtures, and you can follow those bets as they are posted on the Betfred website.
Betfred Sportsbook Review: In Play & Live Betting
In my opinion, Betfred's live betting and in-play section, while not outstanding, does provide a good experience with a decent range of markets and the usual virtual progress graphics. However, there is room for improvement in terms of presentation, visuals, and the amount of information provided to users.
The live betting section felt a bit underwhelming, lacking in detail, whereas other sportsbooks delve deep into game statistics.
Visually, the in-play graphics are basic in comparison to more sophisticated rivals in the industry. While simplicity can be an advantage, it might not appeal to users seeking a more visually engaging live betting experience.
Betfred does offer a good selection of live betting markets. Again, it's not the most extensive I've seen in a live betting experience, but there are enough common markets available to make it better than average.
While Betfred's live betting is better than average, it falls slightly below par when compared to top-level competition. Enhancements in presentation, visuals, and the amount of information available could make their in-play betting more competitive.
Acca Promotions
Currently, Betfred offers a useful live betting promotion for in-play betting markets.
- Football - Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven In-Play: Place an in-play single bet on the next goalscorer market (First Goalscorer, Second Goalscorer, Third Goalscorer, etc.) on specified Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven games.
Betfred Sportsbook Review: Accas & Coupons
Betfred's coupon and acca betting features are pretty easy to use, with a useful coupon tab in the football section, a modest selection of main markets, and of course, they're the historical home of "goals galore."
Betfred's football betting section features a notably useful coupon tab. This tab simplifies the process of finding and selecting different betting coupons, making it easy for users to access quick accumulator bets.
While Betfred may not offer a huge list of coupon betting markets for accas, it does provide a modest selection in the core pre-match markets that are expected from a decent coupon feature.
Historical Home of Goals Galore! Betfred's historical association with the "goals galore" concept adds a unique touch to its coupon and accumulator offerings. They still, to this day, use Goals Galore as their preferred name for what others call the Both Teams To Score markets.
Betfred's design for building accumulators is straightforward and user-friendly. It's quite basic in design, but I feel like that makes it an excellent choice for beginners. The simplicity of the layout streamlines the process of creating accas - it's uncluttered.
Betfred Sportsbook Review: Cashout
Cashout is pretty standard with Betfred, which is the norm these days. They have a cashout section in their bet slip where you can see the bets that are available to cash out, and your bets will move in and out of this section as they're repriced.
Remember not to cash out your welcome offer if your first qualifying bet is still running, or you'll void the bonus!
Betfred Sportsbook Review: Odds
Betfred is quite competitive on odds. When testing 20 different fixtures, they had the best prices on approximately 20% of the fixtures. Considering that there are over 30 recognized sportsbooks accessible in the UK, that's a pretty decent average.
They have the best odds on racing, like most bookies these days, but they also have a couple of offers designed to provide enhanced odds on specific markets.
Betfred Sportsbook Review: Virtual Betting
In my personal opinion, virtual betting is risky and has the potential for irresponsible betting. However, if that's your thing, Betfred does have an impressive virtual betting offering:
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Wide Variety of Virtual Sports: Betfred offers an extensive selection of virtual sports, including traditional options like horse racing and greyhounds, as well as football, darts, motor racing, tennis, and cycling.
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24/7 Availability: The on-demand service is available round-the-clock, 24/7.
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Promotional Offer: Betfred provides a virtual betting offer where if you bet £250 during any single week, you qualify for a 5% rebate of your total stake, up to £100 in Free Bets.
Does Betfred Have Free To Play Games?
Betfred doesn't offer free fantasy games where you can win cash, which is a bit disappointing for those interested in free or even pay to play fantasy games.
Is Betfred Good For Begginers?
Betfred, in my opinion, is a solid choice for newcomers to the world of sports betting. It comes highly recommended as a site for beginners due to its user-friendly design and straightforward approach.
While some areas of Betfred may appear underwhelming from a technical perspective, I actually view this as a positive for beginners.
The website's layout is refreshingly simple, avoiding the overwhelming complexity seen in some other sportsbooks. This means that beginners are not inundated with complicated betting features, and they can easily find their way around without too much interference.
Betfred also offers a rewarding bonus system, including a decent welcome offer. This can be particularly appealing to beginners looking for rewards as part of their experience.
Betfred Design & Mobile Usability Review
Betfred App Review
Betfred's mobile site and app offer a straightforward and reliable mobile betting experience. It lacks unique features compared to rival sportsbooks but does provide a functional platform for users, which is better than having no app, like some bookies.
Betfred's mobile site features a straightforward and mobile-responsive layout. While it may not be overly impressive in terms of design, it gets the job done for me.
One notable aspect is the absence of mobile-specific features. The mobile site essentially replicates the website without offering any unique functionalities tailored for mobile users.
Despite its simplicity, Betfred's mobile site still maintains reliability and speed. Users can expect consistent performance whether they're on a mobile device or a computer.
Betfred has a new mobile app that, while not exceptionally impressive, is still pretty good compared to not having an app at all.
Review: Design & Usability
Betfred's design and usability may come across as basic, but this simplicity is its strength. It's well-suited for beginners, offers a wealth of promotions, and beneath its surface, provides a dependable and enjoyable sports betting experience.
Betfred's unmistakable bold red and blue branding sets it apart visually and I don't think they've swayed too far from their original with the look and feel. The site's simplicity is a significant advantage, especially for beginners.
Its straightforward design ensures that new users can navigate the platform with ease, making it an excellent choice for those just starting with sports betting.
While Betfred's aesthetics may not be its strong suit, it compensates with more emphasis on offering promotions and enhancements.
Betfred Banking Review
Review: Banking
Betfred offers a selective yet trusted range of banking methods, but information on the banking limits is difficult to find on the site.
They provide access to secure payment options for those who prefer traditional methods, like debit card transactions and bank transfers.
In terms of modern e-wallet options, they've integrated both PayPal and Paysafecard, along with two variable options for Skrill for processing payments.
Neteller is another lesser-known option in the UK. It is more popular among international customers where traditional banking is harder to access, so it's strange for me to see it featured as a UK option.
Accepted Payment Methods
Payment Highlights
Minimum Deposit Fastest Withdrawal TimeReview: Depositing
The depositing process was quick, and my secure banking app had to verify the transaction. This gives me some confidence that the transaction is safe and all parties are trusted.
There are more depositing options than some other well-established bookies who opt for a more limited and locked-down list of payment providers. Betfred has partnered with some eWallets to broaden the depositing options.
The information on depositing limits per provider is scarce. There's no clear advice on the Betfred website regarding deposit limitations for each option.
Review: Withdrawals
According to the Betfred website, there is no minimum withdrawal amount, which is interesting. However, they suggest that any requests for withdrawals of less than £5 will need to be made by contacting the customer services team. When you make a deposit or withdrawal, your transactions will appear on your bank statement as Betfred.
Betfred aims to process withdrawals on the same day as your request, but all withdrawals are subject to security and other validation checks, which can take up to 48 hours to be processed.
Review: Cryptocurrency
There's no crypto payment processing presently at Betfred
Betfred Support & Customer Service Review
Review: Customer Support
Betfred's customer support feels lacking in both design and delivery, if I'm honest. Firstly, it was somewhat challenging to locate the customer support options on the website. There wasn't a prominent "Help" button or link available.
However, when I eventually found the "Contact Us" section, it did offer clear contact channels, including live chat, email, and phone numbers. Despite this clarity, there was a missed opportunity to explicitly label these channels as part of the customer support service, potentially causing confusion for some users.
Regarding the FAQs section, while it did exist, I found the information to be somewhat limited within each FAQ. A more comprehensive and detailed set of answers could enhance the usefulness of this resource for users looking for quick solutions.
Oddly, a customer support tab randomly popped up from the footer when I was checking the contact page. While this could be seen as an attempt to provide quick access to support, it didn't offer the best user experience as I had no idea what to use it for.
Available Support Methods
Betfred Review FAQs
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Is Betfred any good?
For me, Betfred stands out as a proper, reliable UK sportsbook. While it may not claim the title of the absolute best, it consistently maintains a higher standard than many other betting sites out there. The user-friendly website offers a simplified and uncomplicated betting experience, making it a go-to platform for lots of UK punters.
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Is Betfred Any Good For Begeinners?
Yes Betfred, in my opinion, is a solid choice for newcomers to the world of sports betting. It comes highly recommended as a site for beginners due to its user-friendly design and straightforward approach. While some areas of Betfred may appear underwhelming from a technical perspective, this can actually be seen as a positive for beginners. The website's layout is refreshingly simple, avoiding the overwhelming complexity seen in some other sportsbooks. This means that beginners are not inundated with complicated betting features, and they can easily find their way around without too much interference. Betfred also offers a rewarding bonus system, including a decent welcome offer. This can be particularly appealing to beginners looking for rewards as part of their experience.
Related Reviews
Betfred Review Ratings
Category | Our Rating |
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Sportsbook |
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Welcome Offer |
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Promotions |
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Bet Builder |
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Live Betting |
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Cashout |
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Odds |
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Mobile |
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Banking |
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Support |
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Company Overview
Sportsbook | Betfred |
Company Name | Betfred |
Founded | 1967 |
License | License number 39544 |
New Player Sign Up Offer | Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets |
No Wagering | Yes |
Free Bets | Yes |
No Deposit | No |
Min. Deposit | £5 |
Min. Withdrawal | £0.01 |
Free Games | No |
Free Spins | Yes |
Deposit Methods | Debit Card, Paysafecard, PayPal, PaySafeCard, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill |