Smarkets Sportsbook Review

By Teemu Mattila Updated:

Our Smarkets betting review goes over everything, including sportsbook, exchange, promo code, sign-up offer, withdrawal time, app, and free bets.

Bonus code: COMMFREE
Basic information
Launch date 02/2010
Minimum deposit £10
Platform Independent / No platform
Return to player % 98%
Live casino No
Bingo No
visa
mastercard
paypal
online-bank-transfer
trustly
skrill
neteller
maestro
Play here » Bonus is only available to new UK players Minimum first deposit for bonus: £10 Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller, PayPal or a virtual/prepaid card will not qualify for this promotion You must enter code COMMFREE in the promo code field during registration Eligible customers will be able to enjoy trading with a commission rate of 0% on all bets that settle within 60 days from the first deposit. Full and Bonus terms apply. BeGambleAware.org.

Screenshots of the Smarkets betting site

Here is a glimpse of the Smarkets site on a mobile device.

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Summary

Smarkets is more than just your traditional bookie. It is a simple-to-use, easy-for-everyone solution. It shines in its attention to customers, which includes a good user interface. That being said, there is always something to improve, like in-play betting.

Bojoko rating

4

Bonuses

Banking

Odds

Support

Usability

Pros:

Easy to use website
Mobile app is good
Good customer service

Cons:

Liquidity is not always available in obscure bets
Live betting is not extensive

Deposit methods

Mastercard Visa Online bank transfer Skrill NETELLER Trustly PayPal Maestro

Withdrawal methods

Mastercard Visa Online bank transfer Skrill NETELLER Trustly PayPal Maestro

Detailed Smarkets review

If you're tired of boring and traditional betting sites, Smarkets is your bookie! This site operates as a betting exchange, which means that the odds on offer are calculated based on the bets other people make, not by any estimated odds by the bookmaker.

There aren't too many bookies out there who operate like this, and with over a decade of experience on their belt, Smarkets is one of the best in the business.

The betting options are vast, the Smarkets commission is only 2%, and the design is top-notch. The UKGC license also guarantees safety, and all winnings are tax-free for all UK players!

Play on Smarkets! »

Smarkets sign-up offer

Smarkets' sign-up offer is unique, catering to all new traders and bettors. Sign up, make your first deposit and get the following:

The standard commissions are 2%, but for the first 60 days, you can trade and bet with 0%. So you can make considerable money in about two months of profitable betting!

Smarkets bonus banner

Significant terms: Bonus is only available to new UK players. Minimum first deposit for bonus: £10. Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller, PayPal or a virtual/prepaid card will not qualify for this promotion You must enter code COMMFREE in the promo code field during registration. Full and bonus terms apply. BeGambleAware.org

Smarkets promo code

Once again, Bojoko has made it easy to claim the welcome bonus when you sign up for Smarkets. Click on the provided link to claim your welcome bonus, use bonus code COMMFREE, claim the offer, and create your Smarkets login details. Now you have 60 days with 0% commission on Smarkets betting!

Special promotions

Smarkets has regular promotions, like commission-free trading, so keep an eye out for these so you don't miss out.

Compare Smarkets welcome offer

Smarkets has an attractive and unique welcome offer for new customers. 60 days of commission-free trading is a valuable offer, but if you seek something more traditional, check out our collection of free bet sign-up offers.

You can find out how this welcome offer compares to other bookmakers using our interactive tool below!

Bojoko rating 4
Welcome bonus -
Wagering requirement No
Minimum deposit for bonus £10
Minimum odds -
Max conversion -
Payout percentage 98%
Bojoko rating 3.2
Welcome bonus £40 free bet
Wagering requirement 1x (D)
Minimum deposit for bonus £25
Minimum odds 1.5
Max conversion -
Payout percentage 94%

Being a betting exchange, Smarkets is available to provide fantastic value for players' money. The bookmaker's commission is an industry-low 2%, meaning that betting at Smarkets can achieve an extremely high payout percentage. Remember to use your new player offer and bet 60 days with 0%.

This commission applies to all markets at Smarkets, so if you want to find some proper bang for your buck when betting, this exchange is one of the best options!

exchange odds explained

At Smarkets, you get to bet against other players rather than betting using the odds that a bookmaker offers you. As such, the odds are determined differently on an exchange than a conventional bookmaker. You can read more about exchange betting sites UK from our dedicated page.

Additionally, you can lay or back a bet on an exchange, which you can't do at conventional bookmakers. To explain, when you back a team to win, you bet they will win the match. Whenever you lay a bet, you are betting against a team to win, which could cover a draw and a loss for the team.

Smarkets offer better odds than you would typically find at a bookie. However, it would be best to look at your prospective bet's liquidity before you make a bet. For most mainstream matches, you will find plenty of liquidity. However, for the more obscure matches, you might not find the required liquidity you need to place a bet.

odds display

Smarkets offer several different odds formats. No matter the format used, the probability is always the same. It's just the presentation that differs.

You can change the odds display in the settings. For assistance, see the image below:

How to change decimal odds on Smarkets

As you would think from a site with "markets" in its name, the betting exchange at Smarkets is full of many fun things to bet on. You'll struggle not to find something interesting, from traditional sports to current affairs like entertainment and politics. The markets for traditional sports contain all the leagues you could want from the most significant sports.

The platform is straightforward to the eye, and thanks to the sidebars it uses, you always have more than enough relevant information and exciting bets in front of you. The odds are visible both in percentage and regular form, and you can also see how much has been staked on in exchange for each betting option.

Like all the best betting brands in the world, Smarkets also offers players a cashout option, which goes by the name of trade out on the exchange. Trade out is available on most bets as long as there is enough volume in bets on the match/wager in question.

By using the trade out, you can lock in a profit whenever you like, and the more likely your bet is to end up winning, the more you will be able to trade out. If you want to use this option, it will appear in the market overview next to the bet/contract you have made your wager.

In-play betting, for a single match in pairs, is an absolute pleasure at Smarkets, thanks to many statistics and relevant information available to bettors during the game.

You can, for example, view when and how much has been bet on specific outcomes at certain times, along with all the relevant statistics.

The live betting markets at Smarkets are suited exceptionally well for football enthusiasts, but the number of sports available could be more impressive. Although some individual events are available, you will find much more from conventional bookmakers.

The depth of the markets on the Live play could have been better, with many markets needing more liquidity. Explore our picks for in-play betting sites and have a look at their sign-up offers.

Smarkets is one of the most modern bookmakers, and this also applies to their mobile services. You can enjoy practically all the features of their desktop version on mobile devices, whether using a smartphone or tablet.

Players can choose to bet at Smarkets through their device's browser or the app. The Smarkets mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

To download the Smarkets app, I logged into the Play Store app on my phone. After that, I searched for the app, hit download, and opened it once it finished.

To log in to the Smarkets app, you do not need any other login details except those you registered with on the main Smarkets site. Once you enter these, the whole Smarkets site is available wherever you go.

The Smarkets app feels polished and user-friendly and worth checking out.

Although Smarkets' status as a betting exchange sounds peculiar to some, you can rest assured that the site offers players the best money transfer options, just like any other prominent bookmaker. This means that both deposits and withdrawals can be made with debit cards and e-wallets.

The smallest possible deposit is £10, while refreshingly, the minimum withdrawal amount is also £10, which is lower than on many other sites.

Note that Smarkets uses the closed-loop system, meaning that you must withdraw using a method that you previously deposited with.

Payment method Deposit minimum Withdrawal minimum Fees
Visa £10 £10 -
Mastercard £10 £10 -
Maestro £10 £10 -
Bank transfer £20 -
Instant bank transfer £10 £10 -
Neteller £10 £10 -
Skrill £10 £10 -
PayPal £20 £10 -
Trustly £10 £10 -

Withdrawal times are standard, ranging from a few days with faster methods to about a week when using debit cards.

Estimated withdrawal times:

  • Mastercard: 1-6 working days
  • Visa: 1-6 working days
  • Maestro: 1-6 working days
  • Bank transfer: 5-10 working days
  • Instant bank transfer: 12 hours
  • Neteller: 1-2 working days
  • Skrill: 1-2 working days
  • PayPal: 1-2 working days
  • Trustly: 1-2 working days

The customer service options at Smarkets are some of the most thorough out there, as you can get help with all your problems even through social media! However, when encountering a problem at the bookie, your first port of call should be the help centre, where you can find the answer to almost anything.

If this doesn't yield results, Smarkets' helpful live chat team is available between 9 am and 11 pm. While testing the Smarkets betting, I had to look at the top of the page for the "Live Chat" button to enable live chat. After entering my query, they connected me to a customer service agent within minutes. The answer was polite and straight to the point, wasting as little time of yours and theirs as possible.

You can also send an email, and the bookmaker's Twitter is happy to answer any queries you might have. You can even send the bookie a letter!

  • Email support: ✅
  • Live support: ✅
  • Contact number: ❌

Like all bookmakers who hope to operate legally in the United Kingdom, Smarkets owns a UK Gambling Commission license. This guarantees the safety and security of the site but also comes with some responsibilities. These include knowing who plays on your site, which is why Smarkets might require the following information from you:

  • Proof of identity = National ID card, driving license, passport
  • Proof of address = Official government letter, recent utility bill (with your address on it)
  • Proof of payment method = Picture of your debit card screenshot from another payment method. This information must be provided to Smarkets when asked, but this will only sometimes happen.

The verification process is just as easy as signing up. The verification process usually took under 24 hours as Smarkets aimed to complete these checks as soon as possible.

Safety comes first in almost everything, and betting is no exception. Smarkets wants to promote responsible gambling on their site, which is why there are options aplenty to help players limit problematic behaviour. These include:

  • A self-assessment test
  • Deposit, loss and stake limits
  • A choice of taking a break from betting
  • Full self-exclusion from Smarkets

There are also plenty of links to get help and tips to help identify a problem gambler. If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, seek help immediately and cease all betting activities.

Smarkets sister sites and alternative sites

Smarkets is a great option for a betting exchange adventure, but there are a number of other sites if you want to try something else.

FAQ

Smarkets is a betting exchange owned by Smarkets (Malta) Limited.

Smarkets withdrawal times depend on the payment method you use. The fastest you can receive your money on the same day, the longest on six working days.

Smarkets is a betting exchange that allows users to bet on the outcome of various events, including sports matches, political elections, and other events.

Unlike traditional betting, where users only bet on a particular outcome to happen, betting exchanges allow users to both back and lay a bet. Backing a bet means betting on a result to occur, while laying a bet means betting against an outcome to happen.

Yes, Smarkets is a tax-free sportsbook. 

Smarkets Trade Out is a feature that allows users to lock in a profit or minimize their losses on a bet before the event has finished. Essentially, it is a way to cash out a bet early.

About the authors

cover
Teemu Mattila

Reviewed 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.

Methodology

This review was made independently by Bojoko’s betting expert. Rating score is based on both quantitative and qualitative factors: offers, odds & markets, payment methods, customer service and usability.

The review method is uniform for all bookmakers affiliated with Bojoko, so you can easily compare this betting site with other brands.

See the full review methodology here.
cover
Tomi Ristola

Reviewed 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.

Methodology

This review was made independently by Bojoko’s betting expert. Rating score is based on both quantitative and qualitative factors: offers, odds & markets, payment methods, customer service and usability.

The review method is uniform for all bookmakers affiliated with Bojoko, so you can easily compare this betting site with other brands.

See the full review methodology here.

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