Smarkets Review

Based in the UK, Smarkets are a hugely respected betting exchange operator, offering peer-to-peer betting at hugely competitive odds.

Here we take a closer look at this award-winning company, including information on the range of sports and markets on offer, and the excellent value new player deal.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Sign Up Bonus: 0% commission for 60 days or £20 cash refund on losses
• Pay only 2% commission on winning bets
• All about sport - No casino betting distractions

Cons

• Low liquidity on smaller events
• Fewer In-Play markets than some other sites

Welcome Bonus Information

Smarkets provides players with the choice of two great value sign-up offers.

• Sign up using code COMMFREE to trade with 0% commission for 60 days
• Or use code SMK20 to receive a £20 cash refund on losses

As with all sign-up deals, there are a number of terms and conditions in place, with the following in particular worth being aware of. (see Smarkets site for full t&c’s)

• Offers only applicable to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more via debit card or instant banking
• £20 cash refund valid for seven days from point of issue.

Our Experience of Smarkets

Players not yet experienced with how betting exchanges operate may initially be a little unfamiliar with the Smarkets layout. Happily, the site does an excellent job of explaining how it all works via the excellent FAQ section.

All betting options will have two prices listed beside them - one highlighted in green, and one highlighted in blue. Green represents a bet on the event to happen e.g. Manchester United to win, with blue representing a bet on the same event NOT to happen e.g. Manchester United not to win. And really it is no more complicated than that.

The major selling point of Smarkets is the excellent value of the odds available. A 2% commission on winnings compares very favourably with the percentage taken out by the majority of traditional bookmakers.

Other than the different betting style, users will find the site highly intuitive to use, with Smarkets adopting the type of user-friendly layout in evidence at many of the most popular sites, i.e. the sports and betting market menu to the left, the odds and betting options taking up the bulk of the central screen, and the betting slip to the right.

We were greatly impressed with the number of user-friendly features on offer, particularly the charts enabling users to track price movements over time.

Sports & Markets Available

Smarkets features a total of 21 separate sports and events, including the popular Football and Horse Racing, to the more obscure Handball and Table Tennis. Where the site really shines though is in the area of current affairs, TV and Special Bets. Offering markets on everything from petrol prices and whether or not the UK will enter a recession, to who will be cast as the next James Bond, the site certainly isn’t short when it comes to the variety on offer.

Delving a little further into the individual events, users will also find plenty of choice. Taking a weekend Premier League football match as an example, the site will tend to offer over 175 betting options. That is a little less than some other sites but, unless you are looking to bet on something truly obscure, you will most likely find what you need here.

The site does also boast a pretty solid in-play section for those who like to bet whilst the action is unfolding, but this area may benefit from an expansion in terms of the range of markets on offer.

Smarkets Mobile Betting

Those who like to place their bets using a mobile phone, or other small-screen devices, will be happy to learn that Smarkets has an excellent app. Available to download for both iOs and Android, the app brings across all of the features of the main site and is just as slick and easy to use.

Summary

For experienced betting exchange users, or those looking to try out the medium, Smarkets rates an excellent choice. From the great value sign-up offers to the extremely competitive prices, there’s a lot to like here. Solid across all the main sports and offering several niche betting options not found elsewhere, this thoroughly modern site looks an excellent fit for the modern betting landscape. Well worth a look.