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Matchbook Review
Matchbook was launched in 2004 so it has plenty of experience under its belt. It main market in those early days was the US sports betting sector.
However, in 2011 Matchbook was acquired by TripleBet Ltd. and due to licencing regulations, it had to pull out from the American market. This had a severe impact on the liquidity on the platform - something which is essential for a betting exchange to thrive.
Therefore, it turned its attention to Europe and the UK. Through offering a cutting-edge platform, low commission fees and a focus on providing value to its customers, Matchbook has got back on track and today is regarded as one of premier exchanges for sports betting.
It’s located in Alderney and is licenced and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Thus ensuring all British punters that this is a completely safe and trusted place to bet online.
Matchbook Verdict
Why punters bet at Matchbook
Pros
✔ Often better odds than at a traditional bookmaker
✔ Low commission - especially on horse racing
✔ Can back or lay bet selections
✔ Good pre-match US sports markets
✔ Quick bet function in the app
Cons
✘ No live sports streaming
✘ Not all sports and markets have good liquidity
Matchbook Odds & Markets
Matchbook doesn’t offer as many sports and markets as a traditional bookmaker at the moment. As this is a peer-to-peer betting exchange where customers bet against each other (rather than against a bookmaker), the range of sports is essentially governed by what customers want. These are what Matchbook has for you:
| American Football | Australian Rules | Baseball | Basketball | Boxing |
| Cricket | Golf | Horse Racing | Ice Hockey | MMA |
| Motor Sport | NCAA Football | Rugby League | Rugby Union | Soccer |
| Tennis | Politics | Current Events |
Matchbook Football Betting Tips
Matchbook offers soccer markets on more than 50 leagues from 20 countries, which is a respectable number. There is also a healthy number of markets available, too. These range from match winner and handicaps to total goals, correct score, BTTS and many others.
However, these factors are not as important as the liquidity within the market. With a betting exchange, there is no bookmaker taking the liability of a punter’s bet - it’s peer-to-peer. This means if customer A wants to place a ‘back’ bet on Liverpool winning 2 - 0, he needs customer B to place a ‘lay’ bet on the same market which means he thinks Liverpool will not win 2 - 0. At Matchbook, for the top leagues and the main markets, there is good liquidity, but things a considerably weaker for lesser known teams and some of the less popular markets.
Matchbook Horse Racing Betting Tips & more
Matchbook delivers a strong showing in US sports such as NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. There’s no liquidity issues with the main markets on any of the upcoming games. Big tennis tournaments are also popular and we noticed quite a lot of cash in some golf and rugby markets, too. Basically, it’s a case of looking around to see what catches your eye. You can also place any bet you like - this is termed ‘Make an offer’. If the bet doesn’t get matched your money is returned.
The major strength Matchbook holds over a traditional land-based or online bookmaker is in the odds department. This is because the bookmaker will set a margin to balance its books and secure a long-term profit. Below, we compare Matchbook against two standard bookmakers so you can see the difference.
| Event | Matchbook | bet365 | 10bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football EPL: Watford Vs Man Utd. Man Utd to win. | 1.97 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Football EPL: Wolves Vs Burnley. Wolves win. | 1.77 | 1.75 | 1.74 |
| NFL: Panthers Vs Falcons. Falcons win. | 1.427 | 1.40 | 1.37 |
| MLB: Tigers Vs Indians. Tigers win. | 1.416 | 1.38 | 1.39 |
| Horse racing: Bath R4. Current price of favourite to win. | 4.7 | 4.0 | 3.75 |
| bet365 Review | 10bet Review |
There’s no arguing that the odds are better, but when betting on an exchange, you must factor in the commission that you have to pay on winning bets. At Matchbook the standard rate is 1.5%.
Matchbook Live Betting
Live in-play betting on an exchange is intense and exciting. Matchbook offers a number of sports for customers to bet in-play including tennis, soccer, NFL and golf. However, there wasn’t any live MLB action which other bookmakers were offering at the same time. Once again, liquidity and market depth varies enormously from match to match so you may not get your bets matched if looking for something outside of the main markets.
Getting a bet on is easy - if you want to ‘back’ (to win) click the blue button or if you want to ‘lay’ (not to win) click the red selection button. The amount of liquidity is displayed below the odds so you know if your bet will be matched instantly. After you’ve clicked a selection, type in your stake and hit confirm bet.
Matchbook Website & Login
In addition to a stunningly user-friendly website, Matchbook offers customers extra features on both its desktop and mobile platforms.
Colossus Jackpots
This is a third-party product offered by Colossusbets Limited. Put simply, it’s pool betting where you can win some massive jackpots across a range of sports including football, tennis, horse racing, NBA and NFL. Players will place bets into any number of the wide range of pools for a chance to win the jackpot (or a share of it). You can also join a syndicate, or create your own, and attempt to win as a team.
Matchbook Insights
We all want a bit of insider knowledge before betting and Matchbook Insights has just that. It’s a complete website packed with match previews, betting tips and betting strategies that can be used on the exchange. There are also guides to get you started betting on Matchbook, covering areas such as ‘backing’ or ‘laying’ and basic trading moves. If you’re looking to take your sports betting to the next level - Matchbook Insights can help.
Website/Usability
Matchbook’s website is wonderfully easy to use on both desktop and mobile devices. The menu has a few quick links to popular markets, plus in-play betting and a list of all sports available. When you click on soccer a list of the countries appears. After selecting a country you get a list of the available leagues then a set of dates which relate to when matches are available. Breadcrumbs are used so it’s easy to flick between matches from the same league.
Mobile and desktop users will also be pleased with the speed and responsiveness of the Matchbook platform. There is no lag when you click on the links nor when you add a selection to your bet slip. It’s by no means the most flash web platform in the business, but it does its job very well. A further addition to the platform is the Matchbook Casino and Live Casino. Links for these products are in the header so it’s effortless to change between them.
Matchbook Mobile App
Staying true to the web-based platform, the Matchbook mobile app is also simple yet effective. This makes it both user-friendly and easy to find your way around.
The Matchbook app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices, allows customers do to everything that can be done on the desktop platform. This ranges from making safe and secure deposits/withdrawals to viewing live markets and checking liquidity. An extra perk of the app is the quick bet function which offers a range of predetermined bet stakes, so you don’t have to take time typing in the amount. When every second counts - this is just what you need.
As well as the sports betting exchange, you can access the Matchbook casino via the app. There are over 200 instant-play games jammed inside for you to enjoy in-between betting.
Matchbook Withdrawals & Deposits
A set of basic payment options are available for customers from the UK and other countries. Whilst not the most complete range, you still should be able to find one which is suitable.
- Credit Cards
- Debit Cards
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
- Bank Transfer
Matchbook aims to handle all withdrawal requests within 6 hours which is fast. Where possible, withdrawals must be made back to the method of deposit. The time this takes varies with e-wallets (Neteller and Skrill) being instant but payments to credit cards taking 3 - 5 days.
Matchbook Customer Service
It’s easy to get in touch with Matchbook - which is always a good sign. These are the options you can use:
- Live chat: this is located on the homepage. Click the icon to launch the feature. It’s operational from 08:00 to 01:00 every day
- Email: send to - support@matchbook.com
- Freephone: if you’re in the UK, call: (+44)203-642-6867 or customers from Republic of Ireland can call: (+353)21-242-8626
Matchbook FAQs
Is Matchbook the same as Betfair?
Yes, both of these are sports betting exchanges. Betfair is the undisputed king at the moment, with Matchbook and Betdaq (which is owned by Ladbrokes) battling it out for second spot. The commission fees are far less at Matchbook compared to Betfair, so customers get to keep more of their winnings.
Is there a Matchbook welcome bonus?
Yes, there is. It’s 0% commission on all winnings until the end of the year. However, the offer may vary depending on where you are registering from, so please visit the site via this link to find out if you’re eligible.
Can I also use the Matchbook casino?
Yes, you can. One account and one wallet gives you access to use both products as you desire.
Why do I have to pay Matchbook Commission?
This is the fee that Matchbook charges customers for providing this service and using the platform.
Does Matchbook accept accumulator bets?
Not at the moment, but Betfair has introduced accumulator betting on its exchange, so Matchbook probably will do the same once it has enough liquidity.
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