BetFair Esports Betting Review
BetFair was founded in 1999 to providing betting services to punters in the UK. As the online gambling world took over, the site did not falter: it kept innovating to keep up with the times and now remains one of the oldest started in the UK. Currently, punters from several countries are accepted at this site.
Sports betting was limited to traditional sports such as football and basketball, but things have changed these days with the evolution of esports. You can still bet on traditional sports on this site, but you also have the option to go into the other more exotic options in esports. This review is about the products this site has and its legitimacy.
BetFair Pros and Cons
Here’s a summary of our likes and dislikes:
Pros
- Enough banking options
- Has competitive odds
- You can bet for and against an outcome
- Wagering period for the welcome bonus is quite long
- End-to-end encryption for the safety of personal information
Cons
- The esports section could have more variety
- The minimum deposit is a little too low for some of the banking payments given here
Is BetFair Legit?
The owner of this site is regulated by Malta Gaming Authority, while the site itself carries a UK Gambling Commission license. These two respected bodies give punters the confidence to take risks here, knowing that their winnings are guarded.
The rules on wagering are clear as written on the T&Cs that every punter should read before accepting the bonus. This way, you already know what is expected of you and how you may lose the bonus and associated winnings if you do not meet the requirements. Since its establishment in 1999, this site has stayed true to its initial plan: providing betting services to punters and giving some of the best odds in the industry. Online reviewers have kind words for the services offered here.
BetFair Payment & Withdrawal Methods
There are not too many banking options at the site, but the ones available are the most secure. You have:
VISA
MasterCard
VISA Delta
Solo
VISA Electron
With each of these options, you have set minimums and maximums, and you may be charged a processing fee for withdrawal. The time it takes for payments to be processed differs from one option to the next. BetFair is yet to join other sites that have adopted cryptocurrency or the use of e-wallets that are faster to transact with low charges. Though this leaves them at a disadvantage, it also means the maximum withdrawal amounts are a little bigger than you would get with e-wallets.
BetFair Esport Games
There are several bet types on this site for esports. You can place a map bet on Dota 2, Global Starcraft 2, Starcraft, League of Legends, Overwatch, or Call of Duty, which essentially means you are betting on the winner of a particular map. You can also bet on a selected combination of map wins. There is also live esports betting that happens when the match is still on. Unfortunately, BetFair doesn’t have that option at the moment. You place your bets and then wait to receive updates on how the teams performed. At the site, you will have all the events lined up and the statistics for each team and game so you get to choose, place your bet, then get to know the outcome after the match has ended.
Information on traditional sports is also available with team stats to help you make up your mind. The site has great odds on esports and especially on The International. Payouts are also processed quite fast. one thing though is that the site could do better with the options on esports as there are not that many of them at the moment.
Check Out BetFair Bonuses
When you sign up at the site for the first time, you get a welcome bonus that is double your deposit. The initial required deposit is $10, and from that, you will be sent a code that validates the offer. Safe to say, you can ignore this bonus if you so like. This offer is structured this way: place 5 x £10 to get £20 each time. This then means you can get a total £100 by doing this again five times. The total bonus is then subjected to a wagering requirement that you will be expected to meet before you can withdrawal the deposit, bonus, and associated winnings. The time given is also indicated on the T&Cs that we advise you to read before accepting the offer.
There are other offers over time, most of them targeting existing players. They are announced on the site, and so you want to check regularly not to miss out.
BetFair Customer Service
We didn’t find an email address on the site, which leaves two ways for punters to communicate with management: Live Chat and by phone. The agents manning live chat are fast to respond and conversant with all the products the site offers, making this the most effective way to get in touch – they typically answer in 30 seconds. You are also connected immediately when you reach out through the phone, and so this is just as effective for reaching out. If you have attachments that you want to notify the site about, you can attach them through the chat.
BetFair Security & License
This site has a UK Gambling Commission license, which is known to be quite strict as to how casinos under it conduct themselves. Punters say the odds are fair and payouts honored on time, all of which are traits of a licensed site. From the homepage, you can access the full terms and conditions that cover the encryption used by this site as well as how information shared is handled. The online reviews from punters who use this site paint the same picture we found: a sound gambling site where you can safely deposit your money, place bets, and get paid when you hit the targets for withdrawal.
Conclusion: Our Final Thoughts on BetFair
Having been founded so long ago and still be able to compete with newer sites is something most people respect. The innovativeness and discipline that come with this site have proven that punters can count on it for all their betting needs, even with newer and more exotic sports options. We still believe a lot could be done to improve the esports section, which is currently in need of exotic game options, but we like the odds for existing options.
We like that you can cash out and make a profit before a match ends. We also like the stats offered in each game option because it is informative. The promotions segment is quite simple, and the options for bonuses are easy to get. They note on the T&Cs that free bets have no wagering, but players still have to use the money fully within the period allocated. You also get a reward for referring a friend.
BetFair allows players from several countries to participate as long as their country is covered by the UKGC license. We didn’t see any loyalty programs on the site, and this, we think, puts it at a disadvantage. Rewards are also quite few, but this could never be a deal-breaker. Overall, we like this site and recommend it for people who want good odds and fast payouts.
BetFair FAQ
Q: What types of customer service are available?
A: You can get in touch with the customer care desk through emails and live chat. There is also an FAQ section at the site that will answer most of the commonly asked questions about the site’s products and accounts.
Q: Is a welcome bonus available for players?
A: Yes, punters get double their deposits when they put in money for the first time at this site. This bonus has a wagering requirement that must be met before you withdraw your winnings and the bonus.
Q: Does this betting site have an app?
A: Yes. This site has an app for Android and iOS users. With the mobile apps, you can place bets online at any time.
Q: Is there any withdrawal limit?
A: Yes, the limit is determined by the type of bet placed.