Matchbook Review

Bright and effective layout

In designing their site, Matchbook have gone for a vibrant, clear design, that provides a distinctive user experience. In terms of functionality, it is one of the best sites around, offering smooth navigation between markets and clear instructions on how to bet, which will be welcomed by newcomers to betting exchanges. Upcoming events are presented in the centre of the home page with links to particular sports on the left-hand side, and you can also access settings and account information quickly via the buttons at the top of the screen. The simplicity and ease of use with this site is a major selling point and not matter how familiar you are with betting exchanges, you will find that the Matchbook site makes it easy for you to find your way around.

Matchbook registration

Initiating the registration process at Matchbook is straightforward. New customers simply have to click on the Join button at the top right of the page, and then click on the Join Now icon, which will open the registration form. To complete the form, you will have to provide basic personal details and set a username and password. There is also a verification process to go through before you can withdraw funds from your account. This requires you to submit photo ID and proof of residence that is no older than three months. These copies can be emailed to the site and the verification process is usually completed quickly. It may seem that this process is unnecessarily long, but reputable sports books, particularly those that operate, as Matchbook does, under the leading gambling authority jurisdictions, are required to take stringent measures to ensure that their accounts are not used inappropriately, and while it can be an inconvenience, it does show that this is a serious and well-regulated sportsbook that players can trust.

Fully licensed sportsbook

Matchbook holds a license from the respected Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) and they are also licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, giving them some of the best licensing credentials you can find in the gambling industry. One example of their commitment to providing proper customer protection and maintaining high standards is their proactive response to the issue of problem gambling. Matchbook works with organisations including GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous and Gambling Therapy to help minimise the risk of problem and underage gambling.

Matchbook promotions

Matchbook is known for its promotions, particularly aimed at new customers. Although the promotions are regularly updated, they are all usually in the form of Free Bets worth between £20 and £30, which is a handy sum with which to start your betting. The Free Bets are given in the form of a £15 back bet and £15 lay bet and as well as being a generous Welcome Bonus, they give new customers the opportunity to try both aspects of betting with Matchbook, which is particularly useful to customers new to Betting Exchanges. There is also a promotion running until the end of 2018, which offers new customers 0 percent commission until the end of the year, another useful perk to help players get started on the Matchbook Exchange. The one negative about the site is that there doesn’t appear to be a loyalty or VIP program, but that is a relatively minor criticism.

A host of markets

The strength of any sportsbook can be judged by the number and range of their markets and Matchbook does a good job compared to other betting exchanges, offering a reasonable depth of market on all the main sports and special markets for politics and eSports. Betting exchanges work through a commission placed on each bet by users, and in the case of Matchbook, this is a 1 percent commission on all bet placed and a 1 percent commission on all winnings. The combined commission of 2 percent for winning bets is still very competitive compared to the standard margins at most online sportsbooks. Another advantage of Matchbook markets is that there is no wagering limit. Exchanges work by bringing people together to make and offer bets, so the only limit on how much you can wager on a Matchbook market is the amount that other punters are willing to lay. This can mean that it is sometimes difficult to make a large wager on a relatively obscure sport, but for the major sports like football, tennis and golf, the amount of money wagered usually runs into the hundreds of thousands, so getting your bet matched is rarely a problem.

Complete sports coverage

Another area in which Matchbook does extremely well is in the range of sports it provides markets for. It has an impressive depth of football events and markets, and covers every sport you can think of, even minority sports, and it is also impressive when it comes to American sports, with the MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA all represented. If you want to bet on any sporting event, the chances are that Matchbook have a market for it.

Simple betting process

Making a bet through a betting exchange is essentially the same as with a standard sportsbook, but the interface looks a little different. You can click to your preferred market quickly using the clearly laid out tabs and then you will be presented with a betting market with blue and pink boxes. The blue side of the market represents the odds at which you can back a selection, while the pink side shows what price you will have to offer if you want to make a lay bet. There are also helpful figures, displayed in Euros, which will tell you how much money is being bet or laid on that selection. Occasionally you will make a bet but find that there isn’t enough money from other customers to match the bet fully, in which case, a portion of the bet will be declared as ‘unmatched’ and you will have the option to cancel it or wait until it is matched. All the markets are laid out clearly, and before you confirm a bet, you will be given the chance to review it. Overall, Matchbook have done a good job of making a potentially complicated way of betting simple and straightforward.

Exciting Live Betting

Live betting is where betting exchanges really come into their own and Matchbook offers several in-play markets, covering all the major sports. Not all the pre-match markets are subsequently available in-play, but you will find that many are. Pre-match markets will be suspended shortly before the event in question starts but will then re-open as in-play markets, enabling you to follow a betting event right through from start to finish. While the in-play service provided by Matchbook is impressive and provides for plenty of excitement for live betting fans, it would be further improved by the addition of live streaming coverage of some of the relevant sports events, to add another dimension of excitement, and this may be something that Matchbook will consider setting up in future.

Effective banking system

Matchbook take deposits in a range of currencies, including Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Australian Dollars and Euros, and they offer all the main payment methods, from Bank Transfer and debit and credit cards to Paysafecard, Neteller and Skrill, and as the use of e-wallets becomes more widespread, that list of payment methods is likely to grow. One handy feature of the Matchbook site is that depending on how often you have used their site, they will agree to absorb the cost of any transaction fees imposed by your bank or credit card companies, which is a user-friendly policy that will be appreciated by punters. In addition, withdrawal times are fast, with card payments usually handled within 4 days and withdrawals to e-wallet accounts completed well within the 48 hours that is the industry standard.

Attractive mobile betting service

The Matchbook website has been customised to work well with mobile devices, and its flexible, responsive design transfers well to smaller screens. The mobile site also offers all the same betting options that you will find on the main site. Additionally, Matchbook provides a dedicated betting app for its sportsbook customers, which can be downloaded to both Android and iOS devices, and was one of the first available betting apps on the Apple Watch. You can access the apps through the Matchbook Sports website, and Apple uses can also download via the iTunes store.

High level security

When it comes to betting online, security is always a major concern, and Matchbook meets all the requirements of their licensing authorities. All payments and withdrawals are handled through state-of-the-art encryption protocols, and the site fully complies with the latest Data Protection rules laid down in the European Union GDPR. When it comes to offering a safe, secure betting service, Matchbook is one of the best sites in the industry.

Reliable customer support

Matchbook offers the full range of customer support contact options that modern exchange bettors have come to expect, including email, Live Chat and telephone, and they offer this service from 9:00 to 03:00 so although it isn’t technically a 24/7 support service, it does a good job of covering most of the likely time that users will be accessing the site. In addition, there is a comprehensive FAQ section, which is extremely informative and useful for those who are new to the world of exchange betting.