Online Poker > Online Poker Room Reviews > Betfair Poker Review
Betfair Poker, launched in 2004, is one of the fastest growing sites on the internet. The phenomenal success of its pioneering online sports betting exchange has helped generate great player numbers, and enabled Betfair to go solo, leaving the Cryptologic network in October 2006. The new software is not to everyone’s taste, but the site is still as busy as ever. Read More...
Our Ratings
Promotions/Bonuses
| Sign-up Bonus |
$1000 Bonus code BF1000 |
| Deposit Bonus |
100% |
| Referral Bonus |
$0 |
| Deposit free bonus |
$0 |
| Paid to play |
$0 per hour |
Graphics
Betfair is no longer part of the Cryptologic network, having launched its own software in Oct 2006. It now has a very different look, with much richer colours and simpler layout.
Playability
Table
The most important feature of Betfair’s new software is the ability to run six tables simultaneously, something that many regular online players like to do. But Betfair have made improvements in many departments, adding lots of nice touches such as a display that tells you what cards you folded until the hand is over.
Lobby
The new lobby is also fine – they have kept it very simple yet included all relevant information for game selection, such as average pot, hands per hour, players per flop and so on.
Player Numbers
Ring
Since Betfair went solo it has been difficult to gather figures for player numbers, but from trawling the site it is clear there are plenty of games being played at most levels.
Tournament
There have been many compliments about the tournament structure on the new software.
Game Variety
Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi. So far these are the only games available, but Betfair will soon be launching Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud in both regular and hi/lo formats.
Rake
5 percent on any pot over £5/$5/€5 up to a max of £3/$3/€3. Take note that this means the total rake is higher in the sterling and euro games. as £3 is actually equivalent to $5.2.
Special Tournaments
Betfair’s tournaments have improved massively since moving to their own platform. They now offer satellites to some of the world’s greatest live tournaments, such as the WSOP, the EPT, the BAPT and the Aussie Millions, along with some smaller tournaments such as the Northern Ireland Poker Championships. Aside from satellites Betfair now offer over $2.2 million every month in guaranteed tournament prize funds!
Promotions / Bonuses
Sign-up
Exclusive $1000 with the bonus code BFP1000.
Loyalty
Play regularly at Betfair and earn player points which give you lower commission at the Betfair sports betting exchange.
Payment Options
Deposit
Credit Card. Debit Card. MasterCard. Visa. NETeller. Moneybookers. PayPal. Bank Transfer. Cheque. and Western Union.
Withdrawal
back to your card. Cheque. Bank Transfer. PayPal. Moneybookers. and NETeller.
About BetFair Poker
Betfair Poker is the poker operation of the Betfair Sports Betting Exchange, which is the trading name of The Sporting Exchange Limited.
Founded in 1999 by Andrew Black and Edward Wray and launched in June 2000, Betfair’s concept of cutting out the bookmaker proved an instant hit with the punters.
Run from its headquarters in London, Betfair’s worldwide operation has been a sensational success, and it is currently the largest sports betting exchange in the world.
The success of Betfair has not just been reflected in financial rewards. In 2001 co-founders Andrew Black and Ed Wray won the Ernst and Young Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award. And more recently Betfair was recognised by the Department of Trade & Industry when it was given a Queen's Award - the most prestigious business award in the UK.
Betfair’s online poker operation was set up in May 2004. It began as part of the Cryptologic poker network, but moved to different software in October 2006.
Betfair features some of the highest stakes no-limit and fixed-limit Hold’em games on the web where many well known players such as Ben ‘the Milkybar Kid’ Grundy and the Swedish sensation Bengt Sonnert (ed note: see our poker profiles section for transcript of an interview between Whichpoker writer Malcolm Weir and
Bengt Sonnert<\a>) are to be seen plying their trade.