A betting exchange can be a great way to spice up your betting experience, with one of the best-known being none other than Matchbook. Although it also hosts a superb casino, the operator’s main offering is sports betting. Does it tick enough boxes for the team at ThePuntersPage to recommend as a great betting exchange for beginners? Or did it leave us unimpressed? Read our in-depth review to find out.
How We Rate Operators
At ThePuntersPage, our commitment to providing clear and comprehensive sportsbook reviews is paramount. We meticulously assess each bookmaker during our future-proof review procedure, focusing on several critical aspects:
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1.
Odds and Margins
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2.
Bonuses and Terms
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3.
UK-friendly Payment Methods
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4.
Betting Markets
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5.
Live Betting and Streaming
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6.
Betting Features
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3-step process
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Guidance was easy to understand
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Process takes a matter of minutes
Signing up at a new sportsbook may seem like a daunting prospect for new players. Fortunately, Matchbook guides you through the process, meaning it could not be easier to start betting! Registration consists of three basic steps, and your account will be set up within a matter of minutes.
First off, you'll need to locate the ‘JOIN NOW’ icon. This should be easy, as no matter where you navigate on the website, it remains in the top-right corner.
After clicking this, you will be directed to the first stage of the registration.
In the first section, you need to enter your general account details. This includes your name, date of birth, username, email address, currency of choice and password. We recommend that you make your password as secure as possible and use numbers, symbols, and upper and lower case letters.
At this point, you should also enter the promo code: COMMFREE110 to benefit from 0% commission for the first 110 days of betting. The offer is an excellent long term bet – perfect for frequent bettors.
The second step is just as easy: you only need to provide your address and phone number. If you're wondering why an online betting site needs your address, it's a legitimate question – the operators need to collect this data as additional information for verification purposes.
The third step in the registration process involves a set of security questions and answers to help further protect your account. Finally, all you have to do is agree to the terms and conditions, make your first deposit, and start betting.
Overall, signing up with Matchbook was no problem at all for us. At every stage of the process, the instructions were very clear, so we were able to start placing bets within five minutes.
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Impressive deposit and withdrawal speed
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Some popular payment methods missing
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Cryptocurrency not permitted
When it comes to deposit and withdrawal options Matchbook’s selection is solid, though not perfect. Players who wish to pay money into their account via debit cards are well-catered for, with both VISA and Mastercard accepted by the operator.
Method | Min | Max | Processing Time | Fee |
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£10 | *Not Specified | Instant | None | |
£10 | *Not Specified | Instant | None | |
£10 | *Not Specified | Instant | None | |
£10 | *Not Specified | Instant | None | |
£10 | *Not Specified | |||
£10 | *Not Specified |
Method | Min | Max | Processing Time | Fee |
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£10 | No limits | Up to 3 business days | None | |
£10 | No limits | Up to 3 business days | None | |
£10 | No limits | Up to 3 business days | None | |
£10 | No limits | Up to 3 business days | None | |
£10 | No limits | |||
£10 | No limits | |||
£500 | No limits | 3 to 5 business days | May be subject to fees |
E-wallets such as NETELLER and Skrill are also available for both deposits and withdrawals. PayPal, however, is not available for either.
Minimum deposits across the board are £10, while the maximum payment per individual transaction are all in the thousands.
During our review, we were never left waiting long for our deposits and withdrawals to process, as we used a Skrill e-wallet. However, it is worth noting that any players using bank transfer to receive their money will be subject to a waiting period of several days. Therefore, if you have not created an account with either Skrill or NETELLER, we recommend you do so before signing up.
Finally, Matchbook enforces a strict “closed loop policy” which states that all deposited funds must be withdrawn using the same method. You can use multiple deposit methods at the same time, but withdrawn funds are sent first to the oldest deposit method used.
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0% Commission for 110 Days on all sports
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Use Bonus Code: COMMFREE110
An excellent welcome offer, Matchbook's 0% commission offer is definitely worth exploring. Taking advantage of this promotion when you register with Matchbook is a no-brainer, as it’s the longest 0% commission period of any exchange at 110 days.
In order to claim this promotion, simply follow these steps:
Create an account. Naturally, to get a new customer bonus, you’ll need to register yourself as a newcomer. This is a really simple process. Just hit ‘Join Now’ and fill in their incredibly simple registration form, details of which have been covered previously in this review. During this registration process, it is vital that you sign up with the bonus code “COMMFREE110”. The relevant place to include your bonus code can be found on the very first registration page.
Make Your Deposit. At this point, it doesn’t matter how much money you deposit into your account, as long as you make one. NOTE: Users who make their first deposit with NETELLER and Skrill will not be eligible for the promotion.
Place your bets. That's really all there is to it! Once you've made your deposit, you can bet on anything you want in the sports exchange without having to pay a commission. Remember that the 110-day period starts with your registration, so make sure you get started right away.
Opinion
The best way to take advantage of this offer is to wait for a period when you're likely to place more bets – for example, during an international tournament.
Other Key Terms and Conditions
Part of the joy of the promotion, is of course, in its simplicity. But there are always terms and conditions to keep in mind, even for the most straightforward of sign-up offers. Beyond what is explained in our step-by-step process of using the bonus, here are some other key terms and conditions you should be aware of.
Do note that this and all other Matchbook promotions (and indeed, any kind of bonus offer) alongside their terms and conditions are subject to change at the whims of the bookmaker. Now, we don’t think this is particularly likely in this case. But it is important to note before we get to those key terms that the only way of being entirely sure you have the most up-to-date version of the offer is by checking the terms for yourself. We, of course, update all information about the most recent bonus offers as soon as we can, but as they can change at any time, we always advise our readers to check for themselves to avoid disappointment.
With that in mind, here are the most important terms you should know at the time of writing:
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It is only available to new customers, meaning existing customers are not eligible.
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It is strictly one promotion per person. Any attempt to acquire the promotion through multiple accounts is taken very seriously by Matchbook, with account suspensions likely for any infraction in this regard.
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The 110-day period starts as soon as you register. After this period, your account will automatically be reset to the standard commission rate.
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‘Enhanced specials’ are excluded from the promotion.
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Certain payment types, including paysafecard, Skrill and NETELLER, are exempt from this promotion. Credit cards are also banned from being used on betting sites in the UK, which naturally means they can’t be used for this promotion, although plenty of credit card alternatives are available.
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You cannot use this promotion alongside any other welcome offer.
These terms are typical and are not only in line with what we would expect from such a high-calibre bookmaker, but also exceed our expectations, cementing this welcome offer as one which is well worth your consideration.
Bet £30 Get £30
Matchbook has a second welcome offer, where users can get £30 in free bets when betting £30 on Matchbook Exchange markets. To benefit from this offer, the promo code GET30 must be used when signing up. Bets must be placed on at least 4 different events to qualify, at odds of at least 2.0. Full T&Cs apply.
£20 if Your First Bet Loses
Another welcome offer gives users £20 money back as a free bet if their first bet loses.
Users can benefit from this offer when signing up to Matchbook with the bonus code MB20. When placing the first bet at minimum odds of 1.8, if the bet loses the stake will be refunded as a £20 free bet. Terms and conditions apply.
Currently, there is only one promotional offer available on the sports Exchange- besides the two excellent welcome offers. The promotion is particularly generous – albeit, short term, as it ends on 12th February at the time of writing.
The offer is “Bet £20 on multiples and get £5 in free bets every day”. This is perfect for frequent punters – especially those who live on the wild side and make bigger bets. You can win a whopping £250 in free bets if you wager more than £20 every day from the start of the promotion.
The £20 doesn't even have to be spent on a single system bet – so you can place lots of small bets to increase your chanc9es of winning and reach the £20 minimum.
As the promotion is limited until 12 February 2023, we expect Matchbook to come up with more great offers soon. As soon as new offers become available, we'll update this page – so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Enhanced Specials
Matchbook also offers some ‘enhanced specials' for selected events. At the moment there are none on the site, but we're sure they'll be added as soon as there are some worthwhile sporting events to bet on. The Champions League round of 16 is just around the corner and is a great opportunity for ‘enhanced specials'.
Opinion
If you look out for these offers, you can place bets with much better value. We recommend that you take advantage of them whenever possible.
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Not all sports markets available
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No esports
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Markets they do have are fairly deep
Matchbook’s range of sports is fairly impressive for a betting exchange, though not as comprehensive as some other exchanges in the UK.
Of course, all the most popular markets are covered extensively, including football, tennis and cricket betting. However, those looking for niche sports like badminton, Formula One or handball, to name but a few, will have to search elsewhere.
What Matchbook lacks in availability, it more than makes up for in usability. Placing a back or lay bet is straightforward. Moreover, in most cases, odds are already available and can be adjusted using the plus or minus symbols on your betting slip.
For the sake of this review, we decided to bet on Newcastle United vs Leeds. Matchbook suggested odds of 4.0 for a back bet on the home team to win. However, we could easily adjust this to create our own market.
In the end, we opted to back Newcastle at 4.5, placing a stake of £10 for a potential profit of £35. This bet was then matched by another player, although, as the Magpies failed to win, we did not receive our £35. If we had won, Matchbook would have taken a 2% commission on our winnings. However, as we lost, we were not charged any commission at all.
This process is replicated across all markets, and on all sports. Even if no market has been created on one specific event, players can create one, provided they can find a fellow Matchbook user willing to back or lay their selection. This creates far more choice for players than at a traditional sportsbook.
One of the drawbacks of Matchbook’s pre-game selection is their lack of esports betting selections. With more and more bookmakers taking these markets seriously, this is something the operator should look into, in order to give their customers even more options.
Matchbook is making progress in adding betting markets – so far they have added both politics and virtual sports to their sports exchange. Matchbook has also created an innovative new betting platform called Matchbook Zero, which offers the best value for users.
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Dynamic profit loss calculations are a highlight
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Odds are updated quickly
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Some live streaming options
As well as impressing us with their pre-match offering, we were also pleased to discover Matchbook’s fine live markets.
Prices for in-play bets are updated constantly, with handy arrows indicating whether the price on a market is going up or down. Even on the most niche sports, such as snooker, Matchbook ensures that players are getting the most up-to-date odds possible.
The operator’s in-play offering is strengthened by the addition of live streaming options. As long as you have placed a matched bet of £2 (it can be either a back or lay), you will be able to watch races at the following greyhound tracks: Central Park, Crayford, Doncaster, Harlow, Henlow, Hove, Monmore and Romford.
Dynamic Profit and Loss
One of the principal advantages of using a betting exchange is having the ability to trade out when your bets are in profit. Make sure you also check out the Punters Page’s betting exchange guide before diving in.
Trading out your Matchbook wagers when they become profitable is a simple process. After you place your pre-match bets, they will show up green when they are in profit and red when they project a loss.
During the process of this review, we enjoyed experimenting with different stakes and wagers in order to hedge our bets. This process gives players greater autonomy over their betting, far more than at regular sportsbooks.
Overall, live betting with Matchbook is a genuinely exciting experience. After a brief learning curve, new players will soon grow to love the advantages of the dynamic betting exchange.
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Fully licensed to operate in the UK
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Possesses two licences in total
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All transactions secured with SSL data encryption
One of the first things we check during our bookmaker reviews is an operator’s licensing credentials. Betting with an unregulated sportsbook is a recipe for disaster; rest assured, however, there is no danger of that if you sign up and bet with Matchbook.
That is because the betting exchange is operated by Triplebet Limited, who are fully licensed to operate in the UK by the Gambling Commission. For non-UK customers, Triplebet is, in turn, licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.
In terms of player security, Matchbook scored highly. Every financial transaction on the website and app is secured with SSL data encryption, which ensures that each player's personal information is kept well out of the reach of scammers.
In addition, we also appreciated Matchbook’s commitment to safer gambling. Not only was setting deposit limits on our account extremely easy, but the operator also has partnerships with GamStop and Problem Gambling Support. This is further evidence of the brand's enthusiasm for keeping its users safe.
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Helpful live chat
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Great FAQ section
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Live chat available Monday to Sunday: 9am to 1am GMT.
Matchbook’s customer service was a real highlight of our experience. While it was not perfect, we found very little to complain about overall.
Those wishing to contact the operator have three options: phone support, live chat and email. Our main port of call was their live chat option, which is active from 9am to 1am – all throughout the week.
During our review, no question was deemed too trivial for Matchbook’s customer service representatives. Whenever we messaged them, we always received a warm greeting, as well as an extremely quick response.
Responses via email were also impressive. They weren't quite as fast as the live chat, but we did receive a response within a few hours. Matchbook also offers a phone service – just go to the live chat section and ask for a call back. They'll guide you through the rest of the process.
Rounding off the operator’s customer service offering is a superb FAQ page. This section of the website is well-designed and a pleasure to navigate. It includes easily digestible information on a wide range of topics, including deposits, account verification and bonus terms.
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Sleek and easily navigated site
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Search function is a great addition
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Podcast and Insights create a feeling of community
The Matchbook website is aesthetically pleasing, but it is also designed with usability in mind.
Featuring a minimalist red, black and grey colour scheme, the site's layout is understated but effective. Navigation is also extremely simple. At the top of each page is a search bar, while the litany of drop-down menus makes it easy to find what you are looking for. The back-end development is also strong, meaning loading times were never a problem.
Matchbook’s website has several unique features. We particularly enjoyed the ‘Insights’ portion, which contained both betting tips and industry news.
For the high rollers among you, Matchbook's ‘Brokerage' section offers punters the opportunity to make bespoke high stakes bets with relative ease – providing quotes and support when needed.
The operator’s podcast is another nice touch. Hosted by a number of industry experts, it was named Betting Podcast of the Year in 2019 and 2020 by the Smart Betting Club. A wide range of sports is covered, with horse racing, greyhounds, football, NFL, and cricket all being discussed so far this year. The addition of the podcast and the conversational tone of the operator’s blog posts both add to the community feel of the website in general.
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App is available on Android and iOS
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No issues when downloading it onto our devices
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Excels in many areas
Much like the website, the Matchbook mobile app is well-designed and simple to use.
Available on both Android and iOS, downloading only takes a few minutes and the app itself will not take up much space on your device. Matchbook did mention that some iPhone users could run into some problems, but we experienced no such issues.
After downloading the app, we were impressed at how faithfully it replicated the desktop site on the smaller screen. Not only were all the same sports markets available – we were also able to load all the best Matchbook casino games without experiencing any glitches.
Depositing and withdrawals were also great, with one-touch verification available for both. It truly is one of the better mobile betting apps we have reviewed recently.
If you currently live outside the UK, you can still access the app – although it requires a few more steps. Android users simply go to the mobile app section of the Matchbook website and follow the steps there. Apple users need to check their phone’s settings to make sure the app works abroad – enabling “Location Services” for Matchbook is the only way to make the app work.
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Fine online casino
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Games from both Red Tiger Gaming and NetEnt
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Live casino also available with no need for a separate account
As well as offering a superb betting exchange, Matchbook also possesses a great casino. It features some of the biggest slots in the world, such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and The Wings of Ra – with all games being provided by the award-winning Red Tiger Gaming and NetEnt.
Matchbook also offers a wide selection of table games including Craps, video poker, blackjack, roulette and several other casino staples. They have also added a live section for many of the aforementioned games.
There is also a strong live offering for those players who want to experience the buzz of a brick-and-mortar casino from the comfort of their own home, including titles like Monopoly and Deal or No Deal. These alternative gaming possibilities help to keep things fresh for players.
What others are saying
Matchbook is a superb and reliable betting exchange bookie. Their attention to creating an excellent customer experience is seen through their simple yet sleek designs and helpful customer services.
If you are looking to try out a betting exchange, Matchbook is a great place to start. It possesses all the unique features you would expect, and thanks to its excellent customer support and FAQ section – trying out an exchange has never been easier. Don't just take our word for it – register an account today and see for yourself!
Matchbook FAQs
The minimum deposit amount for all payment methods it £10.
The withdrawal methods on the site are Visa, Mastercard, NETELLLER, Skrill and Bank Transfer.
The withdrawal process takes up to 3 business days.
Matchbook offers many sign-in bonuses and free bets, so keep an eye on the Matchbook promotions page.
Simply select the free bet option on your betslip if your bet is eligible for the offer.
Matchbook can be contacted on Twitter, by email or landline, and with their live chat service which is open from 9am to 2am (GMT) from Sunday – Thursday and 9am to 4am (GMT) from Friday to Saturday.
To delete your Matchbook account, you must contact the Customer service team and they’ll handle the process.
Add at least 2 bets to your betslip. At the bottom of the betslip you’ll find a dropdown menu, select Multiple and place your bets.