Best Betting Exchange Sites UK – Reviews, Comparison + Sign Up Offers

Betting exchanges in the UK have become very popular. Every day, hundreds of players in the UK are visiting these sites to experience the excitement of betting against other bettors. If you’re tired of betting on low fixed odds set by bookmakers, we have other options for you.

In this guide, we will walk you through top betting exchange sites with high betting odds, low commission rates, and generous sign-up offers. We will also tell you more about the sports you can bet on, how to bet on a betting exchange, betting tips, and much more.

The Best Exchange Betting Sites For November 2024

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Smarkets UK offer	0% Commission For 60 Days	0% Commission For 60 Days Our choice for echnage bettig in the UK Good liquidity & best rated exchange betting app Outstanding market coverage for a new betting exchange	9.8 Smarkets UK offer	Play Now NO CODE REQUIRED	Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% for 60 days. New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Card or Instant Banking. Full T&Cs apply.
Matchbook UK offer	£10 Risk-Free Bet	£10 Risk-Free Bet 0% commission for first 30 days Nice apps for iOS and Android Casino & virtual sports available	9.7 Matchbook UK offer	Play Now NO CODE REQUIRED	Matchbook is a peer-to-peer betting exchange designed for smart bettors who want more value. Offering deep liquidity and low commissions, Matchbook returns maximum value to bettors.
Betdaq UK offer	Bet £10 Get A Free £10 Bet	Bet £10 Get A Free £10 Bet Up to £1,000 cashback from commission during your first month 0% commission on a huge number of sports Best odds guaranteed on UK & Irish horse races	9.7 Betdaq UK offer	Play Now NO CODE REQUIRED	Using the promo code “BDQ10”, place an opening sports bet worth £10+, at odds of 1/1 or greater, in order to claim your £10 free bet at Betdaq. Free bet to be used on the betting exchange within 7 days, with deposits via bank card being required to qualify.
Betfair UK	Free £50 Exchange Bet	Free £50 Exchange Bet One of the leading betting schnages in the UK Competitive starting odds £10 Sportsbook acca to qualify	9.7 Betfair UK	Play Now Copied VAL250 Copy	Place a £50 bet in your first bet on the Exchange and if it loses we'll refund you £50 in Cash. Deposit using a Debit Card. Place a qualifying bet of maximum £50, within 7 days of account opening. Your bet must settle in this period too.

Our Top UK Betting Exchanges

Here’s a list of UK betting exchanges we strongly recommend you check out in 2024. We’ve reviewed these sites and can assure you they provide the best betting odds available. They also feature low commission rates, high liquidity, a wide variety of sports, and attractive betting promotions.

Top 4 Betting Exchanges UK Reviewed

Before you pick one of our recommended sports betting exchanges, we would like to walk you through each of them. We will look at the commission rates, sign-up offers, betting options, and payment methods. Once you learn about all this, you will be able to make an informed decision.

1. Smarkets – 0% Commission for the First 60 Days

Smarkets is a world-class betting exchange site that has been operating since 2008. The site is licensed and regulated in the UK by the Gambling Commission, which means you can sign-up and play with peace of mind. In addition to that, the site boasts a decent sign-up offer, dedicated mobile betting apps, a user-friendly site, and a low commission rate.

Betting Options

Smarkets covers all major sports in the world. From Horse Racing to Tennis, Football, Cricket, Boxing, Cycling, Darts, Rugby, Snooker, and MMA. Smarkets has every sport you could ask for. Moreover, there are hundreds of markets with high odds that you can bet on. And if you love in-play betting, the exchange has got you covered.

Commission Rates

Smarkets betting exchange has a standard commission fee of 2%. Well, this is one of the lowest, considering that most betting exchanges UK charges 5% or more. A commission of 2% means that you will get £98 when you win £100.

Smarkets Sign-Up Offer

When you sign-up with Smarkets, you will get a 0% commission for the first 60 days. In order to activate the offer, you need to deposit at least £10 and use code COMMFREE. This offer is not available to deposits made using Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and Prepaid Cards. Once the 60 days are over, you will be charged a standard commission of 2%.

Payment Methods

Smarkets has more than enough payment methods for UK players. You can choose from popular options like Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, and Trustly. These options are safe and fast, and you can use them to deposit and withdraw at least £10.

2. Matchbook – Up to £30 in Free Bets

Matchbook is a top-rated peer-to-peer betting platform that has been in the industry since 2004. Besides that, the site is operated by Triplebet Limited, a company licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. When you join Matchbook, you will enjoy low commission rates, generous bonuses, high betting odds, and a wide range of sports.

Betting Options

Matchbook Exchange has every sport you could think of. You can bet on the likes of Golf, Cricket, Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Horse Racing, Tennis, Soccer, Snooker, and Rugby. These sports have dozens of markets with better prices than most betting exchanges in the UK. Besides that, you can place both prematch and live bets.

Commission Rates

Matchbook has some of the best rates in the UK. When you place normal bets and win, you will be charged a commission of 2%. But if you win on enhanced specials, you will be charged 5% of your net win. And when you lose, you won’t pay any commission.

Matchbook Sign-Up Offer

The betting exchange has fantastic sign-up offers for new bettors. When you sign-up, you will get a 0% commission on all sports for a period of 90 days. This means that all your winnings during the first 90 days won’t be charged anything. To claim this offer, you need to use code COMMFREE90 when signing up.

Matchbook also provides you with another welcome offer of up to £30 in free bets. To activate this bonus, you need to sign-up using code MATCHBOOK30 and place a bet at odds 1.8 or more. If you lose, you will get back your stake in the form of a free bet worth £30.

Payment Methods

Matchbook betting exchange has safe and secure payment methods you can use to fund your account. The methods include Skrill, Neteller, Visa, and Mastercard. These are the same payment methods you will use to withdraw winnings.

3. Betdaq – 0% Commission for the First 100 Days

Betdaq has been operating since 2000, making it one of the oldest and best betting exchanges out there. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, the betting exchange provides punters with high betting odds, low commission rates, a generous sign offer, and dozens of sports. Furthermore, the site has dedicated mobile gambling apps, secure banking methods, and excellent customer support.

Betting Options

When you join Betdaq betting exchange, you will never run out of betting options. There are dozens of sports that you can back and lay, including Tennis, Cricket, Soccer, Horse Racing, Baseball, Rugby Union, Ice Hockey, Boxing Darts, and Virtual Sports. These spots have a wide variety of markets and some of the highest prematch and live betting odds on the market.

Commission Rates

Betdaq has one of the lowest commission rates standing at 2% on net winnings. If you win £1000, you will pay a commission of £20. When you lose, you won’t pay any commission. You, however, need to note that the operator reserves the right to charge extra rates on certain sports from time to time. These extra rates are referred to as enhanced commissions and will always be marked in the applicable markets.

Betdaq Sign-Up Offer

As a new bettor, you will get a 0% commission on all sports during the first 100 days. This means that you will get winnings in full during the first 100 days. After 100 days have elapsed, you will pay the normal commission of 2%. To activate the sign-up offer, you need to make your first deposit using a debit card. You will also need to use code 0COMM100.

Payment Methods

Here at Betdaq, you can use a wide range of payment methods to make deposits and withdrawals. Among the most popular methods that you can use include Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Skrill, PayPal, Neteller, and Bank Transfer.

4. Betfair – A Wide Variety of Sports

Established in 2000, Betfair is one of the largest betting exchanges in the UK. The site is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which means you can bet against fellow gamblers in a safe and secure environment. Additionally, Betfair stands out with a vast range of sports, high liquidity, and multiple payment methods.

Betting Options

All popular sports in the world are covered in the Betfair exchange. Specifically, you can back or lay more than 40 sports, including Football, Darts, Horse Racing, Rugby, Snooker, Boxing, Basketball, Tennis, and Cricket. These sports have dozens of markets as well as high betting odds.

Commission Rates

Betfair Exchange earns profits by charging a commission of 5% on winning bets. So, if you win £100, you will be charged £5. The amount available for withdrawal, in this case, is $95. One interesting thing worth noting is that you can place bets, earn points, and unlock a discount on the commission.

Betfair Sign-Up Offer

Betfair Exchange doesn’t have a sign-up offer at the moment. However, you can expect regular betting offers such as free bets. The betting exchange also has an auto cash out feature that allows you to lock in some profits when you are away from a computer or mobile device.

Payment Methods

There are several payment methods you can use to transfer money in and out of your Betfair betting exchange account. If you want to make quick payments, you can use PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Web Money, and Paysafecard. One important thing you should keep in mind is that card deposits are restricted. You will, however, be able to withdraw to cards attached to your account.

How We Rate the Top UK Betting Exchanges Sites

Our aim is to recommend betting exchange UK sites that will take your betting experience to the next level. We achieve that by ranking our recommended sites based on strict criteria. For a betting exchange to feature on the list, it must tick all the boxes. Here are some of the key things we check:

Licensing and Safety

We only recommend betting exchange sites that operate in the UK with legal and legit licenses. In particular, we recommend sites that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. We also check if betting exchanges have employed SSL technology to protect your financial and personal data.

Commission Rate

Betting exchanges in the UK make profits by deducting a small amount of money from winning bets. This is the commission rate and can range from 0-5%. Here, we only recommend sites with the lowest commission rates, like 2% or 1%. We also check if the sites offer discounts on commission from time to time.

Betting Offers

Betting exchange sites have not been left behind when it comes to offering bonuses and promotions to bettors. We check whether our sites offer bonuses such as free bets, match bonuses, cashback bonuses, and VIP rewards. Additionally, we check if bettors will enjoy 0% commission during their first few days after registration.

Betting Options

The best betting exchange should cover a wide range of sports, including Cricket, Soccer, Baseball, Tennis, Dart, and Boxing. Moreover, the sports should have a wide range of markets as well as high betting odds. We check all this before recommending any exchange site to you.

Payment Methods

As a bettor, you will need to fund your betting exchange account in order to start placing bets. For that reason, we only recommend sites that accept some of the most popular payment methods in the UK. We, for instance, check the availability of banking options like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Visa, Mastercard, and Paysafecard. We also check whether these options are available to make withdrawals.

Best Online Betting Exchanges Compared

Our recommended betting exchanges in the UK offer a mix of gaming products. For example, some of the sites offer fixed betting odds, while others don’t. The commission rate also varies from one betting exchange to another. We have prepared the following comparison table to make your work easier:

Betting Exchanges Explained

A sports betting exchange is an online platform that allows bettors to bet against each other. In other words, bettors bet against fellow punters instead of bookies. Betting exchanges eradicate the role played by sportsbooks by allowing punters to set odds and markets and have more control over their bets.

A good example is when you and your friend are watching a football match between Chelsea and Arsenal. You strongly believe Chelsea will win the match, while your friend believes Arsenal will claim the victory. Your friend offers you odds of 2.00 that Chelsea won’t win the match. If you both agree to stake £20, your friend will pay you £20 if Chelsea wins. But if Arsenal wins, you will pay your friend £20. As you can see, betting exchanges in the UK match punters with different opinions on a certain event.

Since there is no role played by the bookmaker, a betting exchange facility is more transparent and fair. Besides, punters have equal chances of success as well as better winning opportunities with no limits. You, however, need to note that betting exchanges facilitate peer-to-peer betting by charging a small commission on winning bets. If you lose a bet, you won’t be charged anything.

What is Back and Lay in Betting?

Back and Lay bets are the most popular types of bets you can place at betting exchanges. When you place a back bet, you are simply betting for an outcome to happen. A good example is a match between Real Madrid Vs Roma. If you bet that Real Madrid will beat Roma, then that is a back bet.

Your bet will only win if Real Madrid beat Roma. But if Real Madrid lose or the match ends with a draw, you will lose the bet to the other punter. One important thing worth noting is that you can choose to back at higher odds. Once you back at higher odds, you will have to wait for another bettor to lay those odds. If there is no player to lay those odds, your stake will be returned.

Lay betting, on the other hand, is where you bet for an outcome not to happen. A good example is where you bet that Real Madrid won’t beat Roma. Your bet will only win if Real Madrid don’t beat Roma. But if Real Madrid beat Roma, you will lose the bet to the other bettor. Like back betting, you can lay at higher odds.

Traditional Sports Betting Vs Exchange Betting

Betting exchanges have indeed revolutionized the way gamblers place bets online. Specifically, they have eliminated the role played by bookies, making betting more transparent and fair. They also don’t factor in their profit margin, meaning the odds are better than those offered by online sportsbooks. You can see in the below section some of the pros and cons of betting exchanges in the UK.

How to Bet on a UK Betting Exchange

Placing bets on a UK betting exchange site is pretty simple. All you need to do is register an account with your preferred betting exchange and make a deposit. Here is an example of how you can place bets at Betfair Exchange:

Step 1: Visit the Betfair Official Website

You first need to visit the Betfair official website by clicking on our link. Our Betfair link is secure and will land you on the homepage right away.

Step 2: Open an Account

After landing on the homepage, click on the “Join Now” button. This button is located at the top-right corner of the homepage. You will also need to fill in the registration form. Some of the details will fill in include name, date of birth, country, postcode, username, and password.

Step 3: Make a Deposit

After opening a Betfair account, you can go to the cashier, choose a payment method, and make your first deposit.

Step 4: Place Bets

Now that you have funded your Betfair account, you can go to the “Exchange” section, choose the sports you want to bet on, and place the first bet.

Betting Exchange Bonuses and Offers

Like traditional bookies, betting exchanges in the UK have exciting bonuses and promos for new and existing bettors. Therefore, you can claim these offers and bet against fellow punters without spending your real money. Below are some of the most popular exchange deals you can expect:

Free Bets

Free bets are the betting exchange bonuses that allow you to place a free bet. To activate this bonus, you need to make a deposit and place a bet. If your bet loses, you will get back your stake in the form of a free bet.

Deposit Bonuses

A deposit bonus is an incentive you get after funding your betting exchange account. When you make the deposit, the betting exchange will match it up to a certain percentage. For instance, a 100% match deposit bonus means that the betting exchange will match your deposit up to 100%.

0% Commission

This is the most popular welcoming offer you will get once you join betting exchanges in the UK. A 0% commission means that you won’t pay any commission when you win. However, the offer is limited to the first few days, like 60 or 100.

Our Top Tips for UK Betting Exchange Punters

Betting on exchange sites can be daunting, especially if you are a novice player. They are a bit different from conventional sportsbooks, so it is important to have a clear understanding of how to win on betting exchanges before getting started. We have rounded up the following handy tips to help you win more.

Tip 1: Back at High Odds

Betting exchanges have no fixed betting odds. The platform allows you to create odds and markets and have more control over your bets. So, if you want to increase your profit, you should always back at high odds.

Tip 2: Lay off the Outcome if Things are Not Good

Your bets will not always go as predicted. If you see that the outcome you have backed is performing poorly, you can lay off the outcome and minimize losses.

Tip 3: Bet on Both Sides

Betting exchanges allow you to bet on both sides – back and lay betting. This guarantees you profit no matter the outcome. The profit, however, is not that big.

Tip 4: Take Advantage of Promotions

The best betting exchanges offer exciting promotional offers. As a bettor, you can claim these promos and boost your chances of winning. Some exchange sites also offer a 0% commission, allowing you to get your winnings in full.

Tip 5: Learn the Basics

Navigating through betting exchanges in the UK can be confusing, especially if you are a beginner. If you want to have an easy time, you should learn basic things like how back and lay betting works.

Conclusion

The exploitations by conventional bookies are now over. You can now join betting exchanges in the UK and enjoy the freedom of betting against fellow punters. You will also enjoy the freedom of creating your odds and markets and control your bet the way you want. All these benefits are only a few clicks away. Just pick one of our recommended UK betting exchange sites, sign-up for an account, and enjoy paying a commission of as low as 2%.

FAQs

What are betting exchanges?

Betting exchanges are online betting platforms that allow punters to bet on sports against fellow punters.

How do betting exchanges work?

Betting exchanges match punters with differing opinions. As a bettor, you back an outcome by setting your own odds. Another bettor also thinks you are wrong and lays off your odds.

What is the commission rate?

The commission rate is the fee that punters pay in order to use a betting exchange platform. In other words, it is the profit for the betting exchange and can range from 2% to 5% of the net win.

What sports can I bet on at a betting exchange?

Betting exchanges in the UK cover all major sports, such as Tennis, Soccer, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Golf, and Baseball.

Users must be 18+. If you are having trouble with gambling then help and advise can be found at begambleaware.org