Exchange Betting Sites UK - Best Sports Bet Exchanges

By Teemu Mattila Updated:

Find exchange betting sites in the UK. On this page we have gathered plenty of information about betting exchanges and the best exchange betting sites for British players.

You can find all the necessary information to make an educated decision where to start betting, including info about the welcome offers, odds, commission rates and much more.

Betting Exchanges List - November 2024

Our experts have gathered a comprehensive list of exchange bookies where UK bettors can join. All the sites are licensed with the UKGC license and therefore safe.

UK betting exchanges are listed below:

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Best Exchange Betting Sites

Best Betting Exchanges

Top sports betting exchanges let you wager high odds in safe and reliable marketplaces. We hand-picked the following betting exchange sites as the best for British punters. Compare your options using our detailed insights. 

The best betting exchanges are listed below: 

  1. Smarkets - 0% commission for 60 days
  2. SpreadEx - Up to £45 free bet + 50 free spins 
  3. SportsBroker - £30 free bet 
  4. Sporting Index - £20 free bet 

1. Smarkets

Logo of Smarkets betting exchange

The best exchange betting site is Smarkets.

What makes Smarkets the best exchange betting site is their one of the highest odds of all UK betting sites. Another superb feature that earns Smarkets its top spot is its excellent new customer offer: 0% commission-free betting for 60 days. 

Regular commissions are also just 2%, which is lower than what most of the exchanges are taking. For the more professional and prominent players, Smarkets lowers the commissions to just 1% if you place over 1500 bets per month or exceed £1 million in wagers.

You can read more from our Smarkets betting review or jump directly to the site below.

4
Bojoko rating
🎁 Bonus 0% commission for 60 days
❌ Cons Limited live betting markets
✔️ Pros Hassle-free user experience
⭐ Special Great selection of political betting options

Play on Smarkets »

2. SpreadEx

Logo of SpreadEx betting exchange

SpreadEx is an intriguing betting exchange site available to UK players. It offers traditional sports betting with fixed odds, spread betting (similar to a betting exchange), and financial spread betting.

The site is available through two different mobile apps. For exchange betting, SpreadEx offers markets for up to 20 different sports.

New players can look towards a real treat at SpreadEx since they will be treated to up to £40 in bonuses at the site. These will be rewarded as five free fixed odds bets in £5 increments after you've placed a qualifying bet of £25. You can join directly from below or read more from our SpreadEx betting review.

3.2
Bojoko rating
🎁 Bonus Up to £45 free bet + 50 free spins 
❌ Cons The site's design feels rather outdated
✔️ Pros Plenty of live in-play betting options
⭐ Special Financial trading also available

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3. SportsBroker

Logo of SportsBroker betting exchange

SportsBroker is an exciting betting site that doesn't fit a predefined mould. The brand offers a mix of pool and exchange betting. We've decided to list SportsBroker as one of the best exchange sites because how other players place their bets and the amounts they wager directly impact how much you can win.

SportsBroker offers two kinds of betting: SportsbBroker Pools and SportsBroker Classic. In SportsBroker Pools, bettors predict the outcomes of five pre-selected matches, with all correct predictions sharing the pooled entry fees after a 20% deduction.

SportsBroker Classic involves buying a stake in a team's pool for a match. Based on in-game performance stats, the winning team's pool increases by taking a portion from the losing team's pool. Bettors then receive a share of the pool proportional to their stake.

Read more about this brand on our SportsBroker betting review, or go ahead and try it out!

3.1
Bojoko rating
🎁 Bonus £30 free bet 
❌ Cons Only a few banking options
✔️ Pros Good mobile app
⭐ Special Unique pool betting options

Play on SportsBroker »

4. Sporting Index

Logo of Sporting Index betting exchange

Our final choice for our top UK betting exchanges is Sporting Index, who have been encouraging spread bettors as a pioneer for four decades. The spread betting site has operated online since 2001.

The site's biggest strength is its odds, which is the case at all betting exchanges since the users determine them. However, only a couple of bet exchanges can compare when it comes to the usability and betting options on the site.

For spread betting, there is a 50% cashback offer for all new players for the first seven days. Check out our SportingIndex betting review, or move on to SportingIndex using the button below.

3.6
Bojoko rating
🎁 Bonus £20 free bet 
❌ Cons Slow withdrawal times
✔️ Pros Great odds at the exchange
⭐ Special Fixed betting odds also available

Play on Sporting Index »

5. SBK

Betting exchange app SBK

For a long time, SBK was solely a mobile app-based betting portal. Nowadays, SBK also has traditional fixed-odds betting-focused websites, and you can place bets traditionally through the app.

In any case, SBK has roots in spread and exchange betting, and you can still place back and lay bets in one of the UK's most user-friendly betting apps. One exciting way to bet is, for example, that you can directly see what other people have bet on and tipped, after which you can either bet for or against it.

SBK is not only one of the top UK betting sites but also the best betting exchange app. Read more about the brand from our SBK betting review. 

4.2
Bojoko rating
🎁 Bonus £30 free bet
❌ Cons No promotions for existing customers
✔️ Pros Great odds
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Best Betting Exchanges - Summary

The best betting exchanges are listed in the table below:

Betting Exchange Bonus Min deposit Fixed odds
Smarkets 0% commission for 60 days £10
SpreadEx Up to £45 free bet + 50 free spins  £1 ✔️
SportsBroker £30 free bet  £10
Sporting Index £20 free bet  £10 ✔️
SBK £30 free bet  £10 ✔️

How We Rate Betting Exchange Sites

Image of exchange betting sites rating factors

We rate betting exchange sites by testing the betting offer, betting odds & markets, payment methods, customer service and overall usability. 

Of course, when reviewing betting exchanges, we focus on slightly different factors compared to traditional bookmakers. For example, it's important to consider the commission fees the site charges, which are not present with regular bookmakers.

At Bojoko, we have reviewed hundreds of betting and casino sites. We've refined our review methods to perfection, aiming to serve you, our readers, as effectively as possible. Learn more on our UK betting sites review page.

What is a Betting Exchange?

A betting exchange is a platform where you bet against other customers rather than against a bookmaker. 

When users bet each other instead of using fixed odds, the odds at exchange betting sites can often be much more lucrative than those at traditional bookmakers. The site's profit comes from a tiny 1-5% commission on all bets, not from bettors losses. 

The RTP (return to player percentage) can even go above and beyond 100% for all the choices for a single bet, depending on how the punters are betting. Everything is determined simply by the amount of back-and-lay betting going on, meaning that:

If you're a professional bettor, betting exchanges are crucial since regular bookies can ban impressively winning players. Luckily, exchange betting sites do not care about your results, and they are glad if you wind up and come back to bet more.

How Does Exchange Betting Work

A betting exchange works almost the same as a regular bookmaker in practice, except that your bets are always "backing" or "laying" on an outcome. Lay bets are bets on something not happening, and the betting markets are created by players either backing or laying on an option, and the more backers there are, the odds will shorten and vice versa.

Here is a very well-explained guide on how exchange betting works on the Smarkets betting sites.

New Bet Exchanges

New betting exchanges rarely open in the UK betting market anymore. Exchange betting is a traditional form of betting, and most betting exchanges have a very long history spanning decades. This is also reflected in the design of some websites, which may need to be updated to meet 2020 standards.

However, the world of betting exchanges has improved constantly. In recent years, we've seen ownership changes, such as SpreadEx acquiring Sporting Index in 2023. Smarkets-owned SBK has launched a new online site focusing on traditional fixed-odds betting, and SportsBroker has introduced a completely new type of pool exchange betting to the market. So, while entirely new sites may open less often, betting exchanges still have new developments.

If you want to explore fresh betting sites, explore our list of brand new betting sites and see which ones we've rated as the best newcomers.

Betting Exchange vs Regular Bookmaker - What Are The Differences?

The main differences between betting exchanges and bookmakers are the markets and odds. At standard online bookmakers, the only bet you make is towards something to happen, while at bet exchanges, you can choose to either back or lay an outcome.

These back-and-lay bets also affect the fact that exchange odds are better than traditional fixed odds.

The system allows players to act as bookmakers, offering odds depending on the number of bets made. As more backers place bets on an event, the odds for that outcome shorten while the lay odds increase.

Such a setup brings much more volatility than fixed odds at traditional bookies.  The process couldn't be more straightforward, as you're always laying or backing a specific outcome.

In a nutshell, the differences between bet exchanges and regular online bookies are easy to note.  

Betting Exchanges Liquidity

Liquidity refers to the money available to place bets at various odds. It's crucial in betting exchanges to determine how easily you can place a bet at your desired odds.

High liquidity means there's plenty of money in the market, making it easier to find and match bets at competitive prices. Conversely, low liquidity can make placing a bet at the odds you want more challenging, as there might not be enough money from other bettors.

Understanding and navigating liquidity is essential for maximising your betting strategy on exchange platforms.

Comparing the liquidity of the opening matches in the 2024/2025 Premier League season provides valuable insight into the significant differences in liquidity across various games. For example, it highlights how much more interest there is in matches involving title contenders than those predicted to finish in the lower mid-table.

Here you can see how much punters have a trade-in at Smarkets to three different Premier League fixtures a day before matches: 

  • Manchester United - Fulham ♻️ £81,783
  • Arsenal - Wolverhampton ♻️ £97,045
  • Everton - Brighton -♻️ £8,009
  • Brentford - Crystal Palace ♻️ £3,514

Payment Methods To Use at Betting Exchange Sites

Debit cards, bank transfers, and Trustly are popular payment methods used on betting exchange sites. These are traditional and reliable methods trusted by numerous bettors and betting exchange sites alike.

Debit Cards

Logo of debit card betting

Depositing with a bank card is the most popular method in the UK for transferring money to betting sites and withdrawing winnings. No wonder debit cards are available as a deposit option on every top betting exchange site listed by Bojoko.

Learn more about debit card betting and discover all the other best debit card betting sites behind the exchange bookies.

Bank Transfers

Logo of bank transfer betting

Bank transfers are classic payment methods, like transactions made with debit cards. They are one of the slowest but easiest and safest payment methods on the UK's top betting exchange sites.

Check out our bank transfer betting guide. There, we present the pros and cons of bank transfers and list the best bank transfer betting sites.

Trustly

Logo of Trustly betting

Trustly is just as easy to use and secure as debit cards and bank transfers. With Trustly, you make transfers directly from your bank account using your login details. Thus, Trustly can be considered a sort of mix between card and bank transfers.

Trustly is originally a Nordic service that has gained an increasingly strong position in the UK gambling market and on betting sites year after year. Learn more about Trustly and check out the sportsbooks we think are the best Trustly betting sites.

Sports You Can Bet on in Betting Exchange

You can bet on a wide variety of sports on betting exchange sites. The markets may not always match those of traditional fixed-odds sites, as the law of supply and demand is stricter on exchange platforms than conventional bookmakers. Nevertheless, betting exchanges will satisfy those who want to dive deep into betting and generate income.

Top sports that you can bet on at bet exchanges are, for example:

By far, most hottest sports are, of course, football and horse racing. If you want to read more about these topics, check out our football betting and horse racing betting -sites. 

Bet Exchange Betting Offers

Betting exchange sites offer betting promotions just like traditional betting sites. At Bojoko, we introduce dozens of betting offers, and if you wish, you can explore all free bets and offers on one page.

The two most common betting offers for betting exchanges are commission-free offers and free bets. We'll introduce these to you in more detail below.

0 Commission Betting Exchange

Among bettors who prefer betting exchanges, one of the favourite offers is promotions that allow commission-free betting. As we've learned earlier in this article, betting exchanges profit by taking a margin from each bet you place, regardless of whether you win or lose.

When a betting exchange offers 0% commission betting to new or existing customers, everything you bet and win comes directly to you. This means the betting exchange doesn't take any pounds or pence from your deposits or winnings. Of course, this isn't profitable for betting exchanges in the long run, so most 0% commission betting exchange offers are limited to specific periods.

If you want to try betting with 0% commission right now, head to the Smarkets betting exchange, which currently offers 60 days of betting with 0% commission.

Free Bets

Free bets are a classic offer from betting sites. Free bets are available on dozens of sites, with various terms and conditions. Typically, the process works like this: as a new customer, you must deposit a certain amount and wager it at a minimum odds. After this, the promised free bet is credited to your betting account.

At the moment betting exchange Sporting Index offers £20 free bet for new members at the site. If you're interested in reading more about £20 free bets specifically, we have some great promotions for you to explore: 

Pros and Cons of Betting Exchanges

As always, each form of betting and different type of betting site has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are what we consider to be the pros and cons of betting exchanges.

Pros:

You will enjoy higher betting returns in general

You are not at the mercy of regular odds calculators

Excellent arbitrage opportunities often

Betting exchanges don't need you to lose to make a profit

Cons:

Betting markets will be available less frequently for less popular sports

There are only a few betting exchanges to choose from

The betting offers available don't compare to regular bookmakers very well

Conclusion

Betting exchanges offer a unique and exciting way to bet on sports, providing a different experience than traditional bookmakers. Instead of betting against the house, you bet directly against other players. This creates a dynamic market where odds fluctuate based on supply and demand, potentially leading to higher returns and greater control over your bets.

With betting exchanges, bettors have more control and can even trade positions during an event, locking in profits or minimising losses.
Teemu Mattila, Betting Expert

FAQ

A sports betting exchange is a platform where you bet against other players instead of a bookmaker and their odds. This means that the exchange itself doesn't have any risk, and it's only distributed between bettors who "offer" the odds against each other. A betting exchange is simply a marketplace for betting, not an opponent for people betting.

The use of betting exchange is similar to that of a regular bookmaker, but with one key difference: you can either "back" or "lay" an outcome. When you place a back bet, you're betting on something to happen (like a team to win), just as you would with a traditional bookmaker. However, with a lay bet, you're betting on something not to happen (for example, against a team winning).

The best betting exchange sites are Smarkets, SpreadEx, SportsBroker, and Sporting Index. Explore these bet exchange sites through our top bet exchange list.

About the Authors

Teemu Mattila

Article by:

Teemu Mattila

With a career starting in 2015, Teemu has an extensive background in content writing, collaborating with global companies in Finnish and English. Since 2022, he has been working with Bojoko, focusing on sports betting and casino content, combining his passion for sports and the iGaming industry.
Tomi Ristola

Article by:

Tomi Ristola

Tomi has been writing translations and content during a career spanning over a decade. Honesty and patience come naturally to Tomi, and this will be evident in his work for Bojoko. You can expect nothing short of authentic and meticulous analysis.

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