Established in 2008, Smarkets stands out as a betting exchange platform, setting itself apart from traditional bookmakers. Smarkets offers a selection of 21 sports, with a particular emphasis on the football, horse racing, tennis and non-sporting bets. Their mobile applications for both iOS and Android mirror the main website’s functionality. However, their horse racing and greyhounds-only live streaming and limited bonuses for existing punters are areas of improvement. Still, Smarkets remains a viable choice for UK punters seeking a different betting style apart from traditional bookmakers.
Smarkets Pros & Cons
- Good betting line
- Informative statistical graphics
- Detailed blog
- Non-sporting bets
- Website Themes
- Limited Bonuses for Existing Players
- Limited streaming
Smarkets: Editorial Rating
Smarkets Security
Smarkets operates under the regulations set by the UK Gambling Commission with a licence number 39173, ensuring that it adheres to the highest security standards. To obtain the UKGC licence, Smarkets demonstrated its capability to deliver its services, segregates player funds from operational funds, maintains a clean record devoid of criminal affiliations, and promotes responsible gambling without targeting vulnerable individuals. Additionally, to safeguard all transactions on its platform, Smarkets employs both Transport Layer Security (TSL) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocols.
Smarkets Sports and Markets
On the Smarkets platform, punters have access to a selection of 21 sports, which is not extensive and in line with the average offerings among competitors.
Football. The football section gives a good choice, especially for fans of the English Premier League, offering nearly 200 markets for each match. Beyond the top-tier, Smarkets covers leagues from the EFL Championship to the Scotland League Cup.
Horse Racing & Greyhounds. Horse racing fans can place bets on UK races and events from over six other countries. For greyhound racing, the platform covers races from the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Tennis. Tennis betting on Smarkets is quite good. All major tournaments, including ATP, WTA, and ITF are covered. While the platform offers a decent range of markets for each match, we would like to see more markets for each match.
Apart from the UK’s favourite sports, Smarkets also offers betting opportunities for:
Additionally, the platform stands out for its non-sporting bets. Punters can engage in betting on significant political events across the UK, USA, and Europe. Unique offerings also include betting on the next James Bond, the Oscar betting, and even scientific discoveries.
Smarkets Payment Methods
Our Match.Center experts assume that Smarkets offers a limited range of payment methods, and here is the table showing available payment methods at Smarkets:
| Payment Method | Withdrawal Time | Deposit Limits, £ | Withdrawal Limits, £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 1–6 business days | 10–System’s Limit | 10–System’s Limit |
| Maestro | 1–6 business days | 10–System’s Limit | 10–System’s Limit |
| Neteller | 1–2 business days | 10–5000 (daily) | 10–System’s Limit |
| Skrill | 1–2 business days | 10–5000 (daily) | 10–System’s Limit |
| PayPal | 1–2 business days | 20–200 (daily) | 10–System’s Limit |
| Trustly | 1–2 business days | 40–System’s Limit | — |
| MasterCard | 1–6 business days | 10–System’s Limit | 10–System’s Limit |
| Bank Transfer | 5–10 business days | 10–System’s Limit | 20– System’s Limit |
How to Deposit at Smarkets
To fund your betting account at Smarkets follow these steps:
- Click on your balance and then select “Deposit”.
- Once on the deposit screen, choose a payment method.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your deposit.
How to Withdraw from Smarkets
If you wish to withdraw your winning then read and follow the instructions:
- Select the withdraw icon.
- The withdrawal page will display options based on your previous deposit methods.
- Choose the desired withdrawal method and input the necessary details.
Smarkets Odds
Smarkets operates as a betting exchange platform, distinct from traditional bookmakers. There’s no margin in this model; instead, as Smarkets “Commission breakdown” section says, they charge a 2% commission on net market profits. Betting on an exchange offers the flexibility to both back and lay outcomes. The essence of this platform lies in its ability to pair bettors with opposing views on an event’s outcome, allowing them to set both stakes and odds, thus eliminating the role of a bookmaker.
The commission formula is: ((stake * odds) – stake) * commission rate
For example, if we take ATP Cincinnati match between Alexandr Zverev (2.88) and Daniil Medvedev (1.51) and bet £100 on Alexander Zverev (2.88), commission will be charged =
((£100 * 2.88) – £100) * 0.02 = £288 – £100 = £188 * 0.02 = £3.76.
So, a commission of £3.76 would be deducted from the profit of £184.22. The total return would be £284.22.
Smarkets In Play Betting
Smarkets allow punters to make bets during the game, here are some features that can be used while betting on live matches:
- In-Play statistics. During live matches, Smarkets provides detailed statistics, for example shots, yellow cards, and corners for football or runs and balls for cricket.
- Dynamics of trading. Players can observe the dynamics of outcome trading for a chosen match in real-time.
- Trade out. A feature that enables users to lock in a profit or reduce losses per contract, both pre-game and in-play, with a single click.
Smarkets Streaming
At the moment, Smarkets offers horse and greyhound racing streams. There has been no observation of broadcasts of other sports yet.
Smarkets App
For those who enjoy placing bets on the go, Smarkets offers a dedicated mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms. Here’s a closer look at some of the app’s features:
| App name | Smarkets Betting Exchange |
| Developer | Smarkets |
| Software | iOS, Android |
| Age Limit | 18+ |
| Language | English |
| Currencies | GBP |
| Payment Methods | Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Trustly, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal |
Conclusion
The sportsbook of Smarkets bookmaker in the UK offers a selection of 21 sports, an average range by industry standards. Particularly, the football section shines, especially for English Premier League fans, offering more than 200 markets for each match. Beyond the top-tier, Smarkets covers a diverse range of leagues. Additionally, the platform extends its betting options to significant political events, entertainment, and even scientific occurrences.
For those on the move, Smarkets UK bookmaker has developed mobile applications for both iOS and Android, mirroring the functionality of their main website.
When it comes to streaming, the Smarkets betting website falls a bit short, since they provide live-streams only for horse racing and greyhounds. Quantity of payment methods is decent.
Support is accessible through various channels, but the live-chat feature is exclusive to registered users. Navigation on the Smarkets UK betting website is fairly intuitive, though it may require some initial familiarisation.
Overall, for those seeking a betting exchange website, Smarkets presents a viable option, though there’s still a lot to be improved in streaming and bonuses.
Smarkets Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smarkets Trustworthy?
It can be considered trustworthy if the UK Betting Commission licence is an indicator of reliability for you. It adheres to standards ensuring a secure and transparent betting environment. The Smarkets betting website uses advanced security protocols to protect user data and transactions.
How To Place A Bet at Smarkets?
Placing a bet at the Smarkets exchange in the UK can be done in different ways. Once you’ve logged in, select the market you’re interested in, choose between a back or lay bet, set your stake, and confirm.
Does Smarkets Do Cash Out?
Yes, the Smarkets betting website offers a cash-out feature which is called “Trade Out”. By using the trade out button on the market overview, you can quickly lock in profits or minimise losses both pre-game and in-play. After selecting the button, a form appears detailing the stake and price. Simply confirm to execute the cash out.
Is There A Smarkets app?
Indeed, there is a dedicated app for the Smarkets UK exchange. Available for both iOS and Android devices, both of which duplicate the site’s functionality. In our review we have mentioned the app’s features too.