Betfred Sportsbook Review - $105 Second Chance Bet

Betfred Sportsbook at a Glance

For over 50 years, Betfred has built a reputable standing in the worldwide betting industry. The sportsbook originated in the UK and has since expanded its reach across the sea to the US, launching in its first state in 2020. We’ve got everything you need to know about Betfred right here, including the Betfred welcome bonus. 

Betfred Sportsbook User Experience ⭐4/5

Betfred’s interface has the classic look and feel of a sportsbook. It’s not breaking any boundaries of innovation but it’s very usable. Although I think it is a little outdated from an aesthetic standpoint, especially when weighing it against the top sportsbooks, the platform does offer a dependable and straightforward user experience. If you are a beginner looking for a simple-to-use sportsbook, then it is a great choice. 

After signing up, which only took me a few minutes, I got stuck straight into the sportsbook, finding it to be intuitive and a breeze to navigate. On the left side, you see a menu of the site's main features, including live betting, daily boosts, promotions, customer support, house rules, and the loyalty program. Underneath this are the most popular markets, followed by an alphabetical list of available sports. I particularly like that you can add a section for your favorite markets and that you can usefully search for specific teams, competitions, or sports. Touches like this make it feel like Betfred has really thought about the user experience. The bet slip easily pops open from the bottom right of the screen and hides when not in use.

You can use the Betfred app to manage your account, make deposits and withdrawals, review your betting history, claim bonuses, and place bets. I found the app to be a bit clunky with a few glitches, and while it didn’t significantly disrupt my betting, it wasn’t smooth sailing. 

A slight nuisance is that each state has a separate Betfred app. For example, suppose you live in Arizona and already have the Betfred Arizona app. In that case, if you decide to visit Colorado, then you’ll have to download the Betfred Colorado app. This is not the case for other leading sportsbook apps, like FanDuel or DraftKings, with a single app in legal states that adjusts to your location. On the Google Play Store and App Store, these apps have mixed reviews, ranging from 3.2/5 to 4/5, respectively.

I preferred betting on the desktop website to Betfred’s mobile app. It's simply a more seamless experience. That said, the app still offers the convenience of betting on the go, and it’s great to have the option. Overall, I enjoyed how organized and straightforward it was to explore the sportsbook, so I’m awarding it a 4/5 in user experience. 

Betfred Sportsbook Features ⭐3.5/5

Betfred has a diverse selection of sports and betting markets, an excellent live betting section, and offers early cash-out. It delivers all the essentials you look for in a sportsbook. 

Sports & Betting Markets

Betfred has a healthy variety of sports and betting markets that are sure to keep you interested. You can explore all the major US leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, as well as popular global sports like soccer and cricket. The ‘Alternative Sports’ market even offers interesting options like surfing and bull riding, which is a real novelty in the US sports betting industry. On the main menu, you can select Betfred’s ‘House Rules’, which lets bettors explore each of the sports in depth. I thought this was a nice addition and especially helpful if you’re a beginner. 

Live Betting

The in-play section at Betfred is fantastic if you enjoy betting in the heat of the action. You can view ongoing events, see updated odds, and assess changing betting lines. Additionally, bettors can bookmark their preferred events so you can easily keep track. A wide selection of markets and leagues are available for live betting, on par with leading competitors. You can also make prop bets and explore other secondary markets live. The only criticism I have is that there is no live streaming yet. 

Early Cash-Out

Bettors can make the most of early cash-out, which allows them to complete their wager before the end of a game. Essentially, it allows you to secure your bet and minimize potential losses to stay ahead of the game. A small icon with two arrows indicates markets with early cash-outs.

Betfred delivers everything you expect from a sportsbook, executing those aspects well. But it lacks special or unique features that would make it stand out from competitors. Therefore, I’m giving it a 3.5/5 here. 

Betfred Sportsbook Promotions ⭐3.5/5

Betfred reels in new users with an appealing welcome bonus and keeps existing bettors happy with daily boosts and other regular promotions. VIP customers can also benefit from an invitation-only scheme with exciting prizes.

Welcome Bonus

Betfred welcomes you with a safety net on your first bet after signing up. If your initial wager results in a loss, your stake will be refunded up to $105 in Fred Bets by the sportsbook. It is the perfect offer if you’re looking to make a big bet right off the bat. Fred bets are a kind of betting voucher that can only be used on the platform and cannot be withdrawn or redeemed for cash. You have 7 days to use these bonus bets before they expire.

Your qualifying bet has to be at least $20, must be wagered at minimum odds of -200 or greater, and can be placed on any sport. Remember that it has to lose for you to claim the Fred Bets. I like this kind of offer as it is a win-win situation. You either have a successful first bet or you’ll receive the bonus. On the downside, it is a relatively low amount for a second chance bet, which generally can be upwards of $500. 

Betfred Boosts

At Betfred, you can enjoy daily perks with specially selected wagers with enhanced odds. Basically, the sportsbook will temporarily offer a higher payout for the same level of risk. It is worth frequently checking the ‘Betfred Boosts’ page to see if there is an offer that takes your fancy. 

Choke Insurance

It can be frustrating when your bet is set to win for most of an event, but then the course of the game unexpectedly changes and your wager loses. Betfred offers Choke Insurance, where you’ll be refunded your stake in the case of this event. These offers are currently available for soccer, basketball, and hockey but are updated according to different seasons. I like this promo a lot: its fun and original, but it also genuinely adds value.

VIP Program

Betfred does have a VIP program, but unfortunately, it's invitation only. If you’re already a VIP at another sportsbook, then you can send an email to [email protected] to request entry. Betfred VIPs can enjoy special perks like box suites, personal hosts, golf outings, exclusive promotions, and plenty more. For other players, there will be a Betfred Rewards program that is coming soon to the platform.

Betfred does earn points from me for its regular promotions. However, since the welcome bonus does not particularly stand out and there is no loyalty scheme for all players, I’m giving it a decent 3.5/5. 

Betfred Sportsbook Deposits & Withdrawals ⭐3.5/5

Betfred’s payment process has the potential to be improved, as there are only a few banking options and it has somewhat slow processing times compared to other sportsbooks. 

Here is the complete list of deposit and withdrawal methods:

Bettors can easily and quickly deposit funds into their accounts. Depending on your selected method, there is a minimum deposit of $10 or $20. Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of payment methods: 5 options for deposits and only 3 for withdrawals. This is far less than some competitors, with top platforms having a range of banking options. On the bright side, at Betfred, there are no fees attached. 

Payout Speed

Additionally, when compared to leading sportsbooks, Betfred’s payout times are trailing behind. From my tests, it takes them a couple of days to approve and process transactions, which is frustrating if, for example, you are used to FanDuel’s timeframes.

By far, the quickest option to get your hands on your winnings is PayPal. When using PayPal, my withdrawal hit my account within 48 hours. Play+ Prepaid card took a few days for me, while VIP Preferred was even longer than this. If you want speedy withdrawals, I would recommend definitely opting for PayPal. It is worth noting that larger withdrawals can require further processing days. 

Overall, Betfred receives a 3.5/5 for deposits and withdrawals, using PayPal was relatively quick and easy, but it didn’t compensate for the lack of variety and overall speed. 

Betfred Sportsbook Customer Support ⭐4/5

Betfred has excellent customer service, which I had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand. If you are looking for a polite and helpful support team, this sportsbook delivers. Each state has a dedicated email and phone number, which we have listed below, and live chat on the state-specific page. 

Arizona

• Email - [email protected]

• Phone number - 480-485-4967

Colorado

• Email - [email protected] 

• Phone number - 855-769-4878

Iowa

• Email - [email protected]

• Phone number - 947-333-9991

Maryland

• Email - [email protected]

• Phone number - 443-244-4360

Ohio

• Email - [email protected]

• Phone number - 513-995-7763

Virginia 

• Email - [email protected]

• Phone number - 757-505-7137

I have to say that it is commendable that they have state-dedicated support channels, allowing for a personalized and efficient experience. I tried contacting my state’s helpline and it took only a couple of minutes to be connected to an agent. Personally, I preferred the convenience of using the live chat, finding it to be just as quick and responsive, but it's nice to have phone support. You don't get to see that every day.

The only improvement in this area would be the addition of a detailed FAQ section so that it isn’t necessary to contact support for general queries. For that reason, I’m giving it a 4/5.

Betfred Sportsbook Responsible Gaming

Betfred offers a few tips and tools for responsible gaming, but I think that it could be better. At the bottom of the page, you can find a link to the ‘National Council on Problem Gambling’ and 1-800-GAMBLER, which you can call or text. On the menu, you can read the Responsible Gaming Policy, which has a few helpful resources:

• You can set gaming limits for deposits and betting, whether for daily, weekly, or monthly periods.

• You can permanently close your account by contacting support.

• A list of problem gambling warning signs

• Contact information for state-specific organizations that aid in combating problem gambling.

• Information about how to enroll in self-exclusion in your state. 

While Betfred has the essential resources, it doesn’t have extra guides and information or overly promote safe gambling like other top sportsbooks.

Where is Betfred Legal?

At the moment, Betfred’s online sportsbook is available in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Betfred Pennsylvania is provided under the Wind Creek branding, but it is the same sportsbook. Betfred’s retail locations are only offered in Nevada, Louisiana, and Washington. 

How to Sign-Up for Betfred

It is pretty simple to sign up for Betfred. It has a similar process as any other sportsbook. You’ll just have to provide general personal information to create your account.

Here is our step-by-step guide:

1. Click the register button. You can find the register button on the home page. The whole process only took a couple of minutes.

2. Enter your personal information. Then, you’ll be asked for personal details like your full name, gender, and date of birth. You have to be at least 21 years old to join Betfred.

3. Put in your contact details. Next, you’ll have to type in your address, mobile number, and two security questions to recover your account if needed.

4. Accept the terms and conditions. At the end of the page, you can accept the terms and conditions, privacy policy, and prohibited patrons policy.

5. Type in your SSN. On the next page, you’ll have to enter the last four digits of your social security number so that Betfred can verify your identity. Depending on your available public information, you may need to send some additional documents to verify your identity.

Like I said, I found the whole process extremely smooth and on par with the other top sportsbooks. 

Betfred Sportsbook Final Verdict

Betfred meets my expectations for a good sportsbook, but it doesn't offer anything unique or distinctive to elevate it beyond that level. If you are looking for a solid across-the-board platform, then Betfred delivers a consistently good betting experience. 

Beginning on a positive note, I was impressed with how intuitive and organized the platform was. Live betting and ongoing promotions were the other highlights that stood out to me. When speaking to customer support, they were helpful and responsive to my questions. I love the fact that each state has its own personalized helpline, which is just another example of Betfred putting the customer first. 

There is room for improvement in other areas, such as adding payment methods and the payout speed. Hopefully, Betfred will roll out their VIP scheme soon as well. I found the app to have a few glitches, but nothing that significantly affected my overall experience. 

I would definitely recommend Betfred to a beginner, as it simplifies the betting experience. But there aren’t really any truly innovative features or exceptional services like at other leading sportsbooks.

How We Rate Sportsbooks

When rating sportsbooks, we adopt a direct approach that is based on hands-on experience. We invest the time and effort to thoroughly explore each sportsbook, as we believe that is the only way to truly understand the strengths and weaknesses of a platform. That means signing up, making deposits, claiming the bonuses, placing the bets, and going through the withdrawal process.

Our experts are asked to commit at least two hours to these six key areas:

1. User Experience: We thoroughly test the sportsbook’s interface, evaluating the ease of use, navigability, and aesthetic design. Bettors should have a smooth and enjoyable experience on both desktop and mobile. 

2. Features: We look at the sports and betting options offered, giving high marks to platforms with an extensive selection and innovative features like in-play betting, live streaming, cash-out, DFS, and picking services.

3. Promotions: We opt into all the available promotions, whether welcome bonuses, ongoing offers, or loyalty programs. We assess how fair and transparent they are by paying close attention to the terms and conditions. 

4. Deposits and Withdrawals: We go through the payment process and make real-money transactions to check the available options, processing times, limits, and fees. We know the value of efficient and fast transactions, so you can easily make deposits and withdraw your winnings.

5. Customer Support: We contact customer support to see how helpful and responsive they are to our questions. We test out the various channels, such as phone, live chat, email, and social media. A detailed FAQ section is also a plus. 

6. Responsible Gambling: We value sportsbooks that advocate responsible gambling by providing resources and links to support services, as well as specific tools like deposit and wagering limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion options.

Once the review has been published, our post-publication editors are required to dedicate an extra five hours per month to updating the content according to any changes to the platform. 

Why You Should Trust Us

At WSN, we are committed to being a reliable and authentic guide for our readers. We delve into each sportsbook to deliver opinions that are sincere and original. There is no reliance on second-hand information. Everything that we say is based on personal experience. 

Our team has been a part of the sports betting industry for decades, so we deeply understand how a sportsbook operates. Backed by this experience, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a platform with an eye for detail that only experts can provide.

Ultimately, we aim to empower you to make informed betting decisions when choosing the right sportsbook for you.

Betfred Compared to Similar Sportsbooks

Responsible Gambling

At WSN, we are dedicated to advocating for responsible gambling. While we are enthusiastic about betting, we are fully aware of the potential downsides that can harm individuals. It is important to remember that betting is a source of entertainment. Plenty of resources are available for those facing gambling challenges: 

• National Council on Problem Gambling - An established organization that assists those with betting issues, they can be reached via phone at 1-800-GAMBLER, text at 800GAM, or live chat.

• Be Gamble Aware - Another national organization that offers support and resources, including a live chat.

• Each state has its regulatory body that is committed to fostering a safe gambling environment through support groups, hotlines, and helpful guides.