Betfair has been offering markets on Australian racing and sport for a number of years, and have had an Australian-based operation for more than two, after becoming the first licensed betting exchange down under in 2006.

Betfair runs the world’s leading online betting exchange, the betting home of millions of value seeking punters around the world, including thousands of Aussies. Yet despite having established itself as one of the biggest names in betting in the world, Betfair remains a somewhat unfamiliar experience for a large number of Aussie punters.

BETTING AS IT SHOULD BE

A motto of Betfair’s is ‘betting as it should be’. Their point is pretty valid, and there are many reasons this. Many well-informed Aussie punters are currently finding out why.

YOU GET GREATER CHOICE…

Betfair’s exchange format enables you to take either side of a bet – by backing or laying – and in doing so managing your position on any given market.

Laying – or predicting that a selection won’t win or result won’t occur – can really enhance your chances of being a consistently winning punter. It is particularly handy, for instance, if you study a race or sporting event and can’t seem to identify the winner. It also enables you to lock in a profit on a market – by backing a result at high odds and laying it at a lower price.

… AND VALUE

Invariably you also get the best value. Unlike having a bet with a bookie or on the tote, you’re betting against punters who don’t have profit margins built into their prices, nor do they have overheads or shareholders’ demands to take into account. This ensures a competitive marketplace which consistently provides you with the best possible value for your punting dollar.

LEADERS IN INNOVATION

Betfair is always creating new ways to keep punters coming back for more, by constantly expanding its repertoire of betting products. An example of this is the recent introduction of the Betfair SP (Starting Price), a product not dissimilar to the traditional bookies’ SP, but determined by balancing bets from both backers and layers on a market. This cuts out the profit margin punters would ordinarily lose to bookies in the traditional SP format, and accordingly, brings the punter that extra value for which Betfair is renowned.

YOU CAN BET IN-PLAY

Betfair has also pioneered in-play betting, or betting while an event is in progress. As we all know, sporting events fluctuate as momentum changes. With Betfair, you can make the most out of your mid-event sporting intuition! For regulatory reasons, Australian punters can only bet in-play over the phone. So if you reckon you’re confident in a particular result occurring whilst an event is in progress, you can have an in-play bet with Betfair by calling 1800 759 354.

AS A PUNTER, YOU HAVE TOTAL CONTROL

All these factors culminate in Betfair punters having total control over their betting experience. Unlike betting with traditional operators, which offer a take it or leave it proposition, the punter is no longer at the mercy of the bookmaker. If you don’t like the odds on offer, set your own. In setting your price, all you need is a punter with a differing opinion to yours – and naturally, not everyone shares the same opinion – to match your odds. As a punter, it’s a nice choice to have up your sleeve.

Ultimately, with these added choices, Betfair gives punters more opportunities to win where they didn’t exist before.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE RACING INDUSTRY

More than 30 cents in every dollar Betfair makes from Australian racing is put back into the racing industry. No matter where an event is taking place, or where a punter may be, Betfair plays its part in ensuring Aussie racing and sport exists and thrives.

There are many qualities that make Betfair an invaluable tool to add to your punting armoury. The value and ability to set your own prices, the capacity to back and lay to lock yourself in a profit, a suite of effective punting aids, and the unparalleled array of markets on offer, make it a great destination for the punter.

Check out more for yourself:

Betfair homepage: www.betfair.com

Betfair Punters’ Guide: http://guide.betfair.com.au/betfair-userguide.pdf

Betfair Australian Racing Zone: http://racing.betfair.com.au

The Betfair SP site: http://sp.betfair.com.au

BAT (Betfair Advantage Tool): http://bat.betfair.com.au