Betdaq is one of the oldest betting exchanges in the UK, and generally considered to be second only to Betfair. Having begun with its focus on exchange sports betting, in more recent years it has added sportsbook and casino sections to its offerings - though its priority is nonetheless its main exchange.
So is Betdaq still worth using, with such rivals as Betfair, Matchbook and Smarkets around? What does it have to offer to tempt punters away from its competitors? And can you be confident that your money and data are safe with them? We’ll answer all these questions - and as many others as you can think of - in this article, to help you decide whether Betdaq is right for you.
What Is Betdaq?
Betdaq is a betting exchange, which works quite differently from a regular bookmaker. Rather than the customer placing bets against the bookie, customers can place bets against each other, with the exchange typically making money by taking commission. For Matched Betting, an exchange is essential to allow you to place a lay bet against an outcome, thus enabling you to bet both for and against a single outcome, matching your bet.
Betdaq was founded in 2000, but made a couple of crippling errors when it launched in 2001. To differentiate itself from Betfair, which was its only real competition at the time, Betdaq marketed itself as the betting exchange for high rollers, even listing markets in dollars to give itself an international vibe. It also gave its new customers the opportunity to take on major figures in the sports betting world such as J P McManus but this, rather than attracting bettors in search of a challenge, put them off. Most ordinary bettors didn’t much like the idea of risking their money against such high rollers, and they turned instead to Betfair.
After this inauspicious beginning, Betdaq did manage to claw back a little more success - but they’ve never come close to winning the 25% market share they were hoping to achieve. Nonetheless, they offer a great range of markets and a very reasonable commission rate so, even though they’re smaller than their rivals, it would be very unwise to write them off altogether.
Overview
Deposit And Withdrawal Methods
| Method | Min deposit | Min withdrawal | Withdrawal time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card | £10 | £10 | 2 - 5 days |
| PayPal | £10 | £20 | Up to 24 hours |
| Skrill | £10 | £10 | Up to 24 hours |
| Neteller | £10 | £10 | Up to 24 hours |
| Bank transfer | £200 | £10 | 1 - 5 days |
Registration process
Registration is a straightforward 3 step process: first, your personal details; second, your address and contact information; and finally your username, password and security information.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Support
| Live chat | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| helpdesk@betdaq.com | available 09:00 - 19:30 | 0800 473 0009 |
Compatibility
| Mobile | Desktop |
|---|---|
| iOS | Website |
| Android |
Main Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide range of markets | No multi lay tool |
| Mobile app available | Crypto not accepted |
| Generally competitive odds | No best odds guaranteed |
| Reasonable 2% commission rate | Limited promotions after sign up |
| 0% commission welcome offer | No eSports |
| Regular enhanced specials markets |
Range Of Sports
Betdaq offers a good range of sports, which, while not quite as extensive as Betfair’s, still covers the vast majority of sports you’re likely to wish to bet on. Their full list is as follows:
- American football
- Darts
- Formula 1
- Gaelic football
- Ice hockey
- MMA
- Rugby Union
Usability
Much like Betfair, Betdaq’s website doesn’t quite have the slick, modern feel of more recent rivals like Matchbook or Smarkets. Nonetheless, the website is pretty straightforward to use, with major promotions top and centre on their homepage and highlighted markets below. To the left are popular links and a full list of markets, and your betslip is to the right.
When you select an event to bet on, you can easily view the available markets, the available odds and liquidity for each, and the total value matched on each market. We like how straightforward it is to hide irrelevant markets, making it easier to view those you’re actually interested in.
Betdaq’s standard commission rate of 2% is very reasonable, matching that of its rivals Smarkets, Matchbook (though Outplayed members can claim 0% commission) and Betfair (when on their basic rewards plan). However, it’s worth noting that, as Betdaq has a much smaller share of the market than Betfair, it’s often the case that Betfair will be able to offer better odds, due to a higher volume of bettors for each market.
Betdaq’s enhanced specials section, meanwhile, often contains some extremely useful markets that make it possible to take advantage of price boosts from regular bookmakers through Matched Betting. It’s therefore worth keeping an eye on their enhanced specials section to see if anything profitable has come up.
Betdaq’s Help Centre, while organised in a clean, minimalist style, is perhaps not the most effective we’ve seen. There aren’t many subject categories listed on the main page, meaning that you might have to do some digging to find the topic you’re looking for. Its search tool, however, works pretty well, which is a point in Betdaq’s favour.
Welcome Offers And Promotions
Betdaq doesn’t have a huge range of welcome offers, but their headline new customer exchange offer is well worth taking - 0% commission for 100 days for new customers.
You could alternatively take them up on receiving your first month’s commission back as cash of up to £1000 - but this will only really be worthwhile for customers who expect to stake a very large amount of money as soon as they sign up. There’s also a casino offer (stake £25, get 75 free spins) and a bet & get offer (Bet £10 Get £10 on virtuals), but overall the 0% commission offer will be the best value for the majority of new customers.
For existing customers, unfortunately there’s very little on offer - but this is the case for most exchange sites, with Betfair being the only real exception.
Safety And Security
Betdaq is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, so you can be confident that you’re betting with a legitimate company. Transactions are SSL-encrypted, which means that your data is kept safe and secure, away from the prying eyes of fraudsters or identity thieves.
They also have a fairly extensive safer gambling section, with tools such as deposit limits, self exclusion, reality check reminders and time outs, and links to organisations to help with problem gambling and other sources of help and support.
Service And Support
Although Betdaq doesn’t have customer service available 24/7, its opening hours are fairly extended, meaning you won’t have much trouble getting in touch. Unlike a lot of more modern companies, they have a dedicated phone line to call, so if you prefer to speak to a real person over the phone, you can.
| Live chat | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact helpdesk@betdaq.comAvailable Mon-Sat 09:00 - 19:30 and Sun 09:30 - 19:30 | Via websiteAvailable Mon-Sat 09:00 - 19:30 and Sun 09:30 - 19:30 | UK Freephone 0800 473 0009Ireland 015566222International +353 1 55 66 222 (calls charged at international rate)Available Mon-Sat 09:00 - 19:30 and Sun 09:30 - 19:30 |
Betdaq App
Just like most other betting sites and exchanges, Betdaq has its own app, available for both iOS and Android. Its homepage reflects that of the website, with popular events featured prominently, and quick buttons to take you to the most popular sports and sections.
Its main menu is a little less user-friendly than some, with three different sections listed one after another, and when you navigate to a particular event, it isn’t possible to view all available odds for each market, only the best available. Nonetheless, the app is perfectly usable for customers who prefer to place bets via their phone.
Other Sections And Products
Betdaq Sportsbook
Betdaq’s sportsbook is almost identical to its exchange - so much so that you’ll probably need to double check you’ve clicked the right link when you first try to use it! Their odds are reasonably competitive - roughly in line with those offered by most other major bookies - though, as you’d expect, lower overall than those you can access through the exchange.
Betdaq Casino
Betdaq’s casino offers plenty of choice, with live casino and live poker available as well as a wide range of slots games. They also feature a welcome offer for new customers - get 75 free spins when you wager £25 - which will appeal to the bettor who prefers casino to sports betting.
Trading Tools
For those betting at a professional level, Betdaq has a suite of third party tools to streamline their experience. These tools can be integrated with a Betdaq account to allow for swifter betting, automated betting, and complex betting, such as dutching or ladder trading. For those betting at a very high level, this sort of software can be a huge time-saver - but it’s unlikely to be of interest to casual bettors.
Summary
Betdaq often suffers in comparison to its rivals, Betfair especially, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth signing up for an account. Its commission rate is on a par with its competitors, and its sportsbook and casino sections allow it to stand up to comparison with regular bookmakers - though it’s likely that the majority of bettors will stick to the exchange.
Although Betdaq can’t quite compare to Betfair when its comes to size, range of markets or promotions, it’s a worthwhile exchange for matched bettors to have available to them - especially if they’re looking to take advantage of price boosts, which are often made profitable thanks to Betdaq’s enhanced specials markets.