Matchbook Review

Matchbook Betting Review

Matchbook is a betting exchange, so it works a little differently from your typical bookmaker. Players are in complete control here, able to set odds and play directly against each other in various sports markets.  

If you’re looking for a unique sports betting site with a great selection of sports and some hugely favourable odds, this one is highly recommended by myself and the SBR team. 

Matchbook Quick Facts

Matchbook Locations 

Matchbook operates all over the world. It’s fully licensed and regulated, making it safe and legal for players in several regions. However, like most well-regarded sportsbooks, it has some limitations regarding location.  

The following countries are currently restricted from using Matchbook to place real money bets: Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.  

If you’re hoping to play from one of the site’s restricted countries, I suggest you keep an eye out for updates from the Matchbook team. It’s quite likely that the betting exchange will expand into more regions in the future, given its popularity.  

Sports Leagues to Bet On 

The list of sports leagues available to bet on at Matchbook isn’t quite as extensive as some of its bigger competitors, like Bet365 or Ladbrokes. Still, all the most popular sports are fully covered. Here are a few highlights.

Football  

Football fans will find plenty to tempt them at Matchbook. The betting exchange provides generous odds on everything from UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1. The Championship, League 1 and League 2 are also available to wager on.

Of course, global tournaments are also covered. The odds on pivotal games like World Cup matches tend to be amongst the best around. The future market is unfortunately not as robust as other bookmakers.

Greyhound Racing  

If you’ve got an eye for the fastest competitor you’ll love the greyhound racing section at Matchbook. Here you can bet on races taking place in the UK and Ireland, with a particular focus on famous meets like the Irish Greyhound Derby. They also have daily races from Youghal, Doncaster, Harlow, Sunderland, and Yarmouth.

Cricket  

Matchbook has plenty of options for cricket fans, with odds on cricket matches taking place all over the world. Current listings include games in the Caribbean Premier League, along with the Twenty20 Internationals (Men's & Women's).  

Tennis 

One game that always draws in crowds is tennis. With huge matches regularly occurring throughout the year, it’s always a popular choice at betting exchanges. Matchbook provides odds on all the Grand Slams and tournaments like ATP Seoul, WTA Parma, and ATP Tel Aviv.  

Other Sports Leagues 

Virtual sports are growing in popularity all the time, and thankfully betting exchanges like Matchbook are doing all they can to nurture the incredible growth of virtual gaming. They’ve got everything from instant greyhounds and horses to instant virtual football games,  velodrome races, and speedway races on offer.

American sports are also well represented. You'll be able to wager on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, plus college basketball and football.  

Online Betting Experience 

Website Experience

The online betting experience at Matchbook is definitely worth a mention because it’s one of the things that sets this betting exchange apart from the competition.  

The site has been designed to make navigation quick and easy, and thanks to its clever layout and loads at lightning-quick speeds it achieves just that. Sports are laid out on the left-hand side, games are listed in the middle, and your bet slip is on the right. The top bar leads you to the casino options, plus its in-house insights columns and responsible gambling options. Clearly created with beginners in mind as well as seasoned pros, Matchbook is a shining example of UX done right.

Mobile Betting and Betting App 

Matchbook isn’t the only betting exchange available on the app store, but it’s certainly one of the better ones.  

The mobile app can be downloaded via the Apple App Store and the Google Play store, so it couldn't be easier to get it up on your phone. It’s rated 4.7 on the Apple app store, and while its rating on the Google Play store is a little lower at 4.4, it’s still a great score. 

Recent players are largely positive, commending the usability of the app and its speed in particular. There are some complaints of the app freezing, but these are definitely in the minority.

Live Betting 

Live betting is now available at Matchbook, perfect if you’re looking to make the most of ongoing action. The betting exchange recently introduced a cash-out feature, allowing players to take their winnings at any point during a race or match. It's accessed by the "In-Play Betting" option on the drop-down menu, 

Cash-out options have been around for a long time at typical bookmakers, but they’re still quite new to betting exchanges. However, the Matchbook team have done their homework on this, releasing a great version of the feature that works seamlessly — and always delivers fair odds too.

Casino, Poker & Other Gaming Options

Matchbook treats players to all kinds of casino games, so it’s worth spending some time exploring the casino side of the site too.

At the Matchbook casino, you’ll find cutting-edge online slots, perfect for amateurs and high rollers alike. Look out for big-name progressive titles amongst the selection if you’ve got your eye on big prize money (and who hasn’t?!). They offer 286 different slots to choose from and are sortable by A-Z, jackpot size, and most popular.

If you prefer a more traditional take on casino entertainment, you won’t be disappointed by the range of table games available here. Choose from baccarat, roulette, blackjack, poker, craps, sic bo, and red dog. All have three options — £0.5 to £100, £5 to £,1000, and £25 to 5,000. There are even live casino versions of all the most popular titles, perfect if you’re looking for that authentic casino atmosphere!

Matchbook History 

Matchbook is one of the oldest betting exchanges, having launched shortly after the very first betting exchange, Betfair. Matchbook started its life back in 2004. The site has grown considerably over the past 18 years, and it’s now one of the most prominent betting exchanges in both the UK and Europe.

Notably, Matchbook was confirmed to offer the best football odds for Premier League and Champions League matches in 2015 — so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on football odds here to ensure you’re always getting the best deal.

Customer Ratings & Reputation 

Matchbook has a consistently good reputation. It’s praised by players for the generous odds it offers. Its customer support offering is brilliantly reliable and helpful too. In fact, it has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot and was shortlisted for Best Customer Services Operator in the EGR Operator Awards.

Common complaints include the small signup bonus, loyalty programs, issues with verification, and slow cashouts on occasion.

Customer Service 

There are many ways of contacting the customer support team at Matchbook — which is something we always like to hear.  

Players can get in touch via live chat, from Sunday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. GMT, or Friday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. GMT. There’s also a phone line, or players can contact the help team via social media using Matchbook's Twitter account. If preferred, there’s also an option to email instead. It's not 24 hours like other bookmakers, but Matchbook's audience is primarily based in the UK.

I found the live chat to be the best option when solving our test queries because it’s fast, convenient and almost always available. Twitter is a great choice too though, and the social team was impressively quick at getting back to me via the platform.

Matchbook Contact 

• Email: support@matchbook.com
• Live chat
• Phone: Request a call back via live chat
• Twitter: @MatchbookCS

Matchbook Legal Betting

Matchbook is fully licensed and regulated, and I'd expect nothing less from an esteemed betting exchange like this.  

This site operates under the company name Triplebet Limited, which is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 39504. For those playing from outside the UK, the company is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

Responsible Gambling 

Matchbook takes gambling responsibly very seriously, providing numerous resources for players to promote responsible gambling. Here is a list of some of their recommended partners.

• BeGambleAware.org: offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: a global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.
• GamCare: The National Gambling Helpline provides confidential information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling problems in England, Scotland, and Wales. Help available via live chat or phone: 0808 8020 133.
• GamStop: a free national self-exclusion tool. Once registered, you will be prevented from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain for your chosen period.

The responsible gambling options at Matchbook include everything from deposit and loss limits to reality check options and the ability to set a time out. Players can also opt into self-exclusion and limit their account access if necessary. 

Why Choose Matchbook

Matchbook is a user-friendly, comprehensive betting exchange providing odds on an impressive range of different sports. While it works slightly differently from a traditional sportsbook, it’s well worth exploring if you’re interested in trying something new. The fact that it's a betting exchange service rather than a bookmaker could confuse new bettors, but it still provides excellent odds on all major sports.

The Matchbook site has clearly been designed to be beginner friendly, and the support team is incredibly helpful should you have any questions or concerns. All in all, it gets a big thumbs up from myself.