Betfred Review
Founded in England in the 1960s, Betfred debuted in the US in September 2020, celebrating its arrival with a double launch in Colorado and Iowa. Since then, they’ve expanded their online and mobile sportsbook offerings into multiple states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and most recently into Maryland and Virginia. Additionally, the company offers retail-only sports betting in Louisiana, Washington, and Nevada.
Betfred certainly has a lot of experience under its belt, and I wanted to see if that makes it a great choice for US bettors. After looking into it, I found lots to like, and a few drawbacks too. This Betfred Sports review goes into the detail of what to expect, but here’s a sneak peek: Betfred stands out for their excellent sports coverage, cool deals for existing customers, and easy-to-use mobile app for betting on the fly.
When you’re all clued up about Betfred, you might feel excited to try it out. We’ve made that simple, with a button that links straight to the Betfred sign-up page. You can click through whenever you feel ready, but in the meantime, let’s dive in and discover more about what Betfred Sports has on the menu for bettors.
Bonuses and Promotions
The Betfred welcome bonus, worth up to $1,111 in bonus bets, sets itself apart from typical sign-up offers. When you join this sportsbook and place your first bet of $50 or more at minimum odds of -200, you'll receive $111 in bonus bets once that initial bet is settled. But that’s not the only part of the deal. Over the following five weeks, you’ll also get a kickback of 50% on your betting losses, up to $200 each week.
While I can understand the appeal for certain bettors, I must admit that bonuses tied to losses aren't my personal favorite. For bettors who don’t wager enough each week to reach the required losses, this aspect of the offer won’t hold much value. On the other hand, I did find the $111 in free bets appealing, especially given that it's rewarded regardless of whether your first bet wins or loses. However, there are similar deals in the market offering more generous bonuses. For instance, Caesars is currently running a "Bet $50 Get $250" promotion, which gives you a $50 bonus bet upon settling your first $50 bet, along with an additional $50 bonus bet every Monday for the next four weeks.
When it comes to keeping existing customers happy, Betfred really improves its game, at least in my opinion. The sportsbook inspires repeat visits with daily price boosts on selected special bets and an exciting lineup of regular promotions. If soccer is your thing, you’ll be particularly delighted with what's up for grabs. With Soccer Choke Insurance, your stake is returned on certain bets if your chosen team goes up by 2+ goals but ultimately loses the match. And then there's the Double Delight and Hat Trick Heaven deals. These pay out at 2x or 3x odds if your selection in the Anytime Goal Scorer market scores 2+ goals. Additionally, you can snag a free soccer bet every day. Simply place nine soccer bets of $5 or more on moneyline or totals with minimum -200 odds, and your tenth bet is on the house. The value of your free bet matches your lowest qualifying wager, up to a maximum of $20.
Beyond soccer, my visit also revealed baseball betting promotions, UFC parlay insurance, enhanced parlay payouts, and even a rewards program, leaving me in no doubt that Betfred Sportsbook offers genuine value and a range of exciting opportunities for sports bettors.
Sports and Markets
Exploring the different sports available to bet on at Betfred revealed this sportsbook to be similar to other top online sportsbooks like Caesars and BetMGM in terms of their coverage of main sports markets. Other bookies seem to be a bit quicker to post lines, but overall, it appears that options are available for most events. All the major leagues are covered, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS, along with college sports and popular sports like golf and MMA. If you're looking to add a creative twist to your bets, you can also explore the 'Alternative Sports' tab. This section covers a wide range of unique options, including surfing competitions and even professional bull riding. The inclusion of the latter is a novel addition, and it's something I hadn't come across before.
Betting options cover all the basics, with standard bets like moneyline, totals, prop bets, and parlays readily available. Plus, like other sports betting sites, Betfred allows you to divide games into quarters and halves, enabling you to drill down into the details of events, make strategic wagers, and max out your potential for making a profit. Teasers, futures, and Round Robins also make an appearance, though I didn’t spot any Alternate Lines options.
Overall, it’s a decent performance from Betfred. If you’re looking for a betting platform that features a solid range of sports, a few surprise additions, and all the most popular ways to wager, Betfred is likely to prove a good fit.
Design and Usability
Betfred's website design follows a straightforward pattern. Using a standard three-column layout, the menu is on the left, the main content takes center stage, and the online bet slip sits on the right. This arrangement makes the site instantly familiar. The main menu conveniently places popular sports and leagues at your fingertips, and it also includes an A-Z option for easy navigation. The color scheme, while simple, doesn't stand out. With blue and white as the main colors and no specific theme, it's a clean but unremarkable look.
There's nothing to really dislike here, but I couldn't help but draw comparisons with the more sophisticated platforms offered by Caesars and BetMGM. To be honest, Betfred would be third on the podium in this comparison. On the mobile site, I was left with similar impressions – there's nothing to complain about, yet nothing that particularly stands out either. However, while there's room for improvement, there are no glaring issues that should dissuade bettors from trying out the site.
Payment Methods and Withdrawal Times
Betfred caters to both new and existing customers with a range of trusted banking options. When it comes to deposits, a minimum of $10 is required, and available options include VIP Preferred, bank transfers, PayNearMe, and Play+. Debit card deposits are also offered in some states, and if you're near a qualifying location, you can deposit at a cashier cage too. However, if you were hoping to use an e-wallet like PayPal or Skrill, that option isn’t currently available. While this could be a slight drawback for some customers, I expect that more options will be added in future, and I personally found the Play+ card to be convenient.
While deposit options are quite limited, the bright side is that reasonable withdrawal times ensure your winnings won’t be tied up for long. A waiting period of 2-6 days is indicated, which includes an approval time of 1-2 business days. However, user feedback suggests that many folks receive their funds quicker, which helps put Betfred in line with many of the fastest paying sportsbooks. There are no fees to worry about when you request a withdrawal, but if you’re withdrawing to Play+, remember that the minimum withdrawal is set to $20. For other methods, including VIP Preferred and bank transfers, it’s just $10. You also have the option of Cash @ Cage and checks for withdrawals.
Live Betting Options
Overall, Betfred presents an enticing setup for live betting. This section is exceptionally well organized, making it easy to see the events that are currently playing out, as well as those coming up. Betfred offers live betting on a range of popular sports, including major leagues like the NFL and MLB, as well as on international soccer games. For each event covered, you can see a live depiction of the action, as well as stats to help you make smarter decisions. The different in-play bets for the game are listed underneath the animation, together with the odds, giving you easy access to wagers as you stay up to speed with play. An early cash out option adds to the fun, allowing you to settle select bets before an event ends, helping you to secure a profit or minimize a potential loss. The only thing missing here – and it’s a bit of a glaring omission – is a live streaming option. Compared to brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars, who all have deals to stream select games from major leagues like the NFL and MLB, Betfred misses a trick here.
Bet Builder
Betfred has faced some user criticism for not offering a bet builder feature alongside its regular parlay bets. However, it seems that the bookie has been listening to the feedback and has responded with the introduction of its Parlay+ feature. With Parlay+, you can merge bets from the same game into a single wager, adding an enjoyable twist to your betting experience. It's user-friendly – just click on the Parlay+ option in the event listing to explore your options. However, there is a drawback: the feature seems to be limited in its availability across various sports. I only noticed it as an option for soccer, and while this could change since it's a new addition, other sports might have to wait. In the meantime, soccer fans should find this new betting option at Betfred quite enjoyable.
Betfred Betting App
After downloading the Betfred Sports app for my Apple device, previous concerns about the somewhat lackluster design of the desktop and mobile site all but melted away. If you want to bet on the move, the Betfred app is a great choice. While it maintains a similar appearance in terms of the color scheme and navigation links, the tailored design helps things look much better presented on the app than they do on Betfred’s other platforms.
The great news is that you can access all the same sports and markets in the app as you can on the desktop site. And the same applies to live betting and early cash out too, with both of these perks readily available. Plus, you can access promotions and all the usual account features, such as deposits and withdrawals.
In my opinion, the mobile app is the best option for betting with Betfred. The app is modern, user-friendly, and stands out quite well in a strong marketplace. In addition to iOS, the app is also available for Android devices from the Google Play Store.
Customer Support
Betfred provides customers with several ways to get help. The simplest option is live chat, though it’s worth noting that this service isn’t available in every state where Betfred operates – a raw deal for some. However, the other options, which include email, phone, and Text-to-Talk should suffice, even if they are a bit slower compared to the instant response of live chat. For those fortunate enough to have live chat available to them, it appears to be a positive experience, even if it is only available during limited hours. Feedback from users indicates that the Betfred customer support team is a friendly bunch and quick to address any issues. There’s also an X account (Twitter), @BetfredHelp, though it doesn’t seem particularly active and also appears to be focused on customers in the UK. The online helpdesk is similarly barren, with placeholders for answers in many cases.
Summary
After review, Betfred appears to be a solid choice for US bettors overall. They cover the basics well, but what truly stands out is their responsiveness to user feedback, as seen with the implementation of features like Parlay+ and live chat in specific states. It seems that Betfred is committed to ongoing improvements as it settles into the American market, and in the meantime I intend to make the most of their current setup. If you're interested in joining me, you can click our link to head straight to the Betfred sign-up page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Betfred safe and legal?
Yes, Betfred is perfectly safe and legal to use in licensed states - currently Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Additionally, Betfred has opened retail sportsbooks in Washington, Louisiana, and Nevada.
Does Betfred have a smartphone app?
Yes, Betfred offers a smartphone app for both Android and iOS. You can download and install the Betfred mobile app for free from the App Store for Apple, and from the Google Play Store for Android. However, as more states come online with Betfred, it’s possible that some users will be directed to download the Betfred app straight from their website.
Can I cash out at Betfred?
Yes, Betfred offers early cash out on selected bets. However, it’s a fairly basic feature; for example, it doesn’t allow for partial cash out like bet365’s version. Additionally, cash out is not available on parlays and teasers.
Does Betfred have competitive odds?
Yes, generally Betfred offers competitive betting odds across its selection of sports markets, especially for partners like the Cincinnati Bengals and Loudoun United FC. Betfred Boosts can help you get even better odds. However, we recommend comparing odds across a range of sportsbooks to ensure you get the best value for your bets.