- Review of Matchbook
- Available Sports
- Betting Coverage
- Design of the Website
- Steps for Registration
- Matchbook Welcome Offer
- Matchbook In-Play
- Sports Betting Products
- Matchbook Casino
- Casino Welcome Offer
- Live Casino
- Matchbook Mobile Apps
- Payment Options
- Security and Regulation
- Matchbook Affiliate Program
- FAQs
- Company Information
- Customer Care
- Overall Rating
Matchbook Review
Matchbook is one of the most exciting betting exchanges in the industry right now. They have made considerable improvements to the way that they are able to market their product and also to the features that are included on the site.
Visit Matchbook
New Customers Only, Sign up using Bonus Code: MB:20. Place your first bet, if it loses we will refund your first bet stake as a free bet, up to the value of £20. The first bet must be placed within 7 days of registration and at odds of 1.8 or more. 18+ T&C apply |begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Website: Matchbook.com
Type: Betting Exchange
Founded: 2004
Country:
Available Sports
Sports coverage at Matchbook is pretty good. We’ve got to be honest when we say that they possibly aren’t as big as some of the competition, but there is a decent range on offer that will cater the majority of punters.
One area that they are solid in is the range of American based sports. These include the likes of American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey. Each of these has massive coverage on-site, and they are about as strong as you will find anywhere.
Outside of these, you get the main range of sports that you would expect to see. Included in this are the likes football (soccer), boxing, cricket, golf, darts, horse racing and tennis, amongst others.
Here is a full list of sports that you can expect to see at Matchbook:
- American Football
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Darts
- Football
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- MMA
- Motor Sports
- Politics
- Rugby
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Horse Racing
- Greyhounds
- Handball
- MotoGP
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball
Betting Coverage
Matchbook has been around for a good few years now, but it’s only been the last couple of years where they’ve really been able to challenge the best in the business. The primary catalyst for their recent success has been down to the betting coverage and in particular, their pricing.
We’ve noticed that lots of people talk about their odds and make this one of the main reasons why they use the site, so when testing we were hopeful it would live up to the hype.
Testing betting exchanges are often tougher than traditional bookies as the lines move very quickly, but from what we found, their pricing was exceptional. We looked at over two dozen different betting markets from a range of sports and found that they were right up with the best.
They had more best-price markets than any other exchange that we looked at, and they were never far off the best price in the industry. Exchanges can often look bloated in prices as you need to take into account the commission charged, but given that this is so low, it means that it’s almost negligible.
A common theme throughout the pricing structure was that they were able to offer at least one for that market as equal to or standalone best price. For example, on the 1×2 market for a football match, they were often best price or very near with either the home win, away win or the draw. So, for at least one of those bets, they were able to offer great value.
Website Design, Structure, Layouts and User Experience
The first thing to note on Matchbook is that the design is unique to the brand. This may seem obvious, but in the betting industry, many bookies use the same layout and then repeat it, changing the colours and logo to make it “unique” to their brand. If you see sites looking very similar, then this is often the reason.
Given that Matchbook is a betting exchange, this means they need the site to work differently than your traditional bookmaker. This is also the reason why it’s unique.
One of the things that we liked about the homepage is that it was relatively clean. You could do away with the advertisements at the top for us, but the rest of the page works well. They tend to focus on popular markets that are upcoming, often filled with horse racing through the day and then football at night.
While the layout is relatively fluid, it does have a basic three-tiered design to it. You’ve got a menu section down the right, the market coverage in the middle and then your quick links, latest races and bet slip in the far-right section. It’s a classic layout, but it works, so there’s no need to mess on with this.
When you dive into the sports, the right side of the page collapses, and this gives you a lot more room in the middle section, which is the meat of the content. You can select the “settings” tab here as well that allows you to change the odds type (US, Decimal, KH, MALAY) along with your currency of choice.
One of the features that stood out for us was the ghost menu on the left. This allowed you to select the sport you want to bet on, then the league or competition, the date and then finally entering the HUB page for that section. It means that you don’t need to load a new page for each part of the bookmaker, and it saves so much time in loading as a result.
How to Register at Matchbook?
As with most of the more prominent betting companies, registration is simple and will take you just a couple of minutes to complete. Here is a breakdown of the process:
- The first part of the process is to click the “Join Matchbook” button in the top right of the screen. This can also be done on the Matchbook app if you would rather sign up using your phone. The process is just as simple and takes the same amount of time.
- The first part of this will ask you to confirm your email address, username, password and phone number. You can also enter a Matchbook bonus code here if you have one, but you don’t need it to claim the welcome offer (below).
- The second phase of the signup process is to enter your name, DOB and then to add some security questions on to your account. The security questions are essential as you will need to answer these to verify your account should you need to change your password.
- The third phase of the process is to confirm your address. Once this is done, you will then be able to make your first deposit on site. You can skip this step if you’d rather make a deposit later.
At some point, Matchbook will require that you verify your account per UK gambling laws. This can be done at any point before you make a withdrawal, but we recommend that you do it sooner rather than later to avoid delay.
They accept a wide range of documents such as passport or driver’s license for proof of ID and also bank statement, electricity bill, gas bill, water bill etc. for proof of address. These must match the details you entered when you registered an account. If you cannot verify your account, you will not be able to make a withdrawal.
You can access this part of the site via the “settings” tab and then contact live chat who will talk you through it. Documents can be scanned, or use of a high-quality photo on your smartphone will suffice.
This can take up to 2 days to verify, so make sure that you do it before you need your money out.
Matchbook Welcome Promotion – Get £20 Free Bet
Starting offers are great for new players. They help them, especially in their first steps in online betting. At Matchbook as a new player, you can get back up to £20 as a free bet in case your first bet loses. Do so by using the promo code MB20 when you are registering on the platform. Place your first bet with odds 1.8+ and wait for it to settle. The bookie will then give you two rewards if your best results in a loss – up to £20 as a free bet. Use it in the Exchange only.
New Customers Only, Sign up using Bonus Code: MB:20. Place your first bet, if it loses we will refund your first bet stake as a free bet, up to the value of £20. The first bet must be placed within 7 days of registration and at odds of 1.8 or more. 18+ T&C apply |begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Compare Matchbook with other bookmakers
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Pin-up
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Welcome Bonus
£20
Bonus Percentage
-
Minimum Deposit
-
Turnover
-
Live Betting
Live Streaming
Cashout
Apps
Welcome Bonus
€130
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
-
Turnover
x5
Live Betting
Live Streaming
Cashout
Apps
Matchbook Live Betting
The in-play betting section can be accessed by the main menu on the left-hand side. It’s all integrated into the layout of the site and with it is one of the best features of the Matchbook betting exchange.
Once you get into the in-play betting section, it’s a bit of a free for all. You can’t filter by sport here, which is pretty crazy and it means that you need to trawl through hundreds of games and markets that are taking place at any one time.
The best way to narrow it down is to visit each sport individually then from here you can see the live betting markets for that sport. It’s not ideal, by any means, but given the lack of structure, it’s one of the only plausible options here.
What we will say about the live betting section is that it’s extensive. Matchbook includes a lot of sports and a decent number of markets within those sports as well.
Liquidity is notably good. This is an essential factor for betting exchanges, and we’ve noticed that throughout the site, liquidity has been good. Some of the lesser games, such as lower league football, for example, can suffer here though and punters looking for mid to high stakes action may need to take slightly weaker prices as a result.
Once in the games, you can take advantage of a good-looking match centre. This includes game data and stats, as well as live streaming integrated into it, again adding another dimension to this section.
Sports Betting Products
We’ve spoken previously about Matchbook seeing significant growth over the last few years. One of the main reasons that they have seen this growth is down to the features and products that they now have on offer.
Below we have taken a look at some of the features on offer from this betting exchange.
Cash Out Feature
The cash-out function is still relatively new to exchange betting, even though it’s been around for a good few years in the mainstream sports betting sector.
Those of you who are switched on will be wondering how cash out works on a betting exchange. Well, Matchbook has programmed it, so it lays your bet automatically. It uses the lay price and then allows you to cash your bet out essentially.
You need to be aware that this is all based on the liquidity for that specific market. This is the money that is in the market that you can wager on. If it’s low, then your cash out price will be low. It’s tough to gauge if you are getting a reasonable “true” price here as a result, so you need to use your judgement with the bet as they will vary.
The cash-out feature can be used directly from your bet slip, and it will highlight the price here. We do like that you can clearly see which markets you can use the cash out feature on though, which is a nice touch.
Given that it’s a betting exchange, you can technically cash out all bets via the lay option. However, this does make it a lot easier to use.
Live Streaming
Matchbook does offer a live streaming service, although it is pretty limited. It’s only currently set up for greyhound racing, and even though they do have a ton of races on the site, if this is not your thing, it’s a wasted feature.
That being said, what they do have is excellent. They cover a vast number of races from several tracks in the UK that include Central Park, Crayford, Doncaster, Harlow, Henlow, Hove, Monmoore and Romford.
To access the stream, you need to have a matched bet of at least £2. Once your bet has been placed, the stream will then start a few minutes before the start of the race. Once the race ends, so will your stream. You will get a countdown timer borfee the start of the race to signify when the stream is about to start.
Matchbook Acca's
One of the latest features to enter the Matchbook exchange is that of acca betting. This is nothing new to the betting industry, but it is unique for exchange betting.
It works in the same was a standard accumulator bet would. You choose your bets and then add them to your betslip. At the bottom of the slip, you will have a button that is “Add to Acca”. Once you click it, the bets will move to the acca section of the bet slip, and then you can enter your stake.
The odds are taken from the current “back” price on the exchange. But this will need to take liquidity into account as well, so it might not match at the price you initially see given how quickly the odds can move.
One thing to note with acca bets is that no commission is applied to them. Matchbook takes a base price from the exchange and then they offer these bets in a more traditional manner.
They are one of the very few betting exchanges to have this feature, so it’s a big deal for the company.
Colossus Jackpot
Linked into the Matchbook platform is that of the Colossus bet jackpots. For those that don’t know, these are syndicate bets that allow you to invest in bets that have or are about to be made. For example, they might have to pick the results from 6 upcoming Premier League matches. You then choose to follow a syndicate, and if it wins, everyone wins.
The jackpots range in value, starting at £5,000 and work upwards to £1million for the Pick 6 Jackpot. They are some of the biggest jackpot games in the industry and partnered with one of the best companies as well.
It’s worth noting that you can create your own bets for this if you wish. You can either take the whole bet yourself or open it up to allow others to join. You will need to sell your entire syndicate allowance for the bet to run.
It’s a great way to get a group of friends involved and win as a group.
Matchbook Casino
The casino is an excellent addition to the betting exchange and is all linked under the same wallet. It comes with over 200 games to choose from a range of game developers, that includes NetEnt, Red Tiger and Evolution Gaming.
Even though the casino is not the biggest, their links with both NetEnt and Red Tiger, in particular, allow them access to a unique line up of games to choose from. Table games include the likes of roulette, baccarat, Caribbean poker, craps, red dog, pai gow and sic bo.
Casino Welcome Offer – 100% up to £100 plus 100 Free Spins
The Matchbook Casino includes a brilliant welcome offer. You can get a 100% match on your opening deposit. When you sign up, you will have three options to choose from that include a £20, £50 or £100 deposit amount. The 100% match will then be applied to your deposit and the equivalent money added to your account as bonus money.
You need to wager through the bonus 35 times before being able to withdraw. The maximum that you can bet is £1 per spin, which is one of the negatives of this offer. The free spins will be linked to the bonus that you get. For example, if you get the £20 bonus you get 20 free spins, the £50 bonus you get 50 free spins and the £100 bonus you get 100 free spins. Free spins have no rollover requirements and any money won from these will be paid as cash into your account.Live Casino
The live casino is solely powered by Evolution Gaming, who is one of the best in the business right now. The games are located all over the world, and you can often get each variant in several different languages, although English is the most popular.
Games include roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, Texas Hold ’em bonus poker and Deal or No Deal Live. This is, without doubt, the best live casino line up of games that you can access, and the quality is second to none. Outside of the betting exchange, it’s probably the best part of the Matchbook package, and such is the strength of the games on offer.
Matchbook Mobile Apps
The Matchbook App can be downloaded straight from the Google Play Store for Android and the App Store for iOS users. It’s quite rare to have the Android download option, so this is a big plus. If you can’t access the download for Android for whatever reason, they do have an .APK file that you can download straight from the Matchbook website.
The app is quite superb. It functions instantly, and it looks great. These are two massively essential features for betting on an exchange as well, and they have nailed it. It’s clear that with the menu set up and the integrated bet slip, that a lot of thought has gone into the usability of the app as well.
What we did notice is that the mobile app has rave reviews on both the Google Play and App Store, highlighting that others agree with our glowing review.
Payment Methods
There is a decent range of payment methods at Matchbook, without ever being great. Deposits start from as little as £5, and withdrawals come with no fees attached, initially at least. Fees will only be charged if multiple payments are processed a month.
| Payment Method | Deposit Minimum | Deposit Maximum |
|---|---|---|
 Bank Wire Transfer | €500 | It depends |
 Neteller | €10 | It depends |
 Skrill | €10 | It depends |
 Credit Cards | €10 | It depends |
 Debit Cards | €10 | It depends |
 Instadebit | €10 | It depends |
| Payment Method | Withdrawal Minimum | Withdrawal Maximum | Time for Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | €500 | It depends | up 72 hours |
| Neteller | €10 | It depends | within 12 hours |
| Skrill | €10 | It depends | within 12 hours |
| Credit Cards | €10 | It depends | 2-5 days |
| Debit Cards | €10 | It depends | 2-5 days |
| Instadebit | €10 | It depends |
Security and Regulation
Security and regulation at Matchbook play a significant role in the site. They can open their virtual doors to a wide range of countries, primarily down to the fact that they hold two main licenses from Alderney Gambling Commission and the UK Gambling Commission.
They are also long-standing partners of both Gamcare and Gamstop. These organisations have been set up to help those with gambling addictions and also to prevent players with addictions from accessing sites like Matchbook.
Affiliate Program
Matchbook also includes a massive affiliate program. This allows people to sign up and then promote the Matchbook brand. In exchange for any players that they get to sign up through their link, Matchbook will pay them 30% net revenue for the first six months the player is registered with the exchange.
FAQs
Does Matchbook offer competitive odds?
They are one of the best priced betting exchanges in the industry right now.
Why can I not log into my account?
The most common reason is that your username or password is incorrect. Use the “forgot log in” details to help reset them.
What commission does Matchbook charge?
Matchbook charges a base rate of 2% commission, much lower than the 5% industry standard.
Does Matchbook have a welcome offer?
Yes, it does. There is a free bet and funds for the betting exchange.
Does the exchange have strong liquidity?
Yes, for the most part, liquidity is very good on the betting exchange.
Can I download the Matchbook app?
The Matchbook app can be downloaded on both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store.
Company Information
Found in 2004, Matchbook is one of the most reputable betting exchanges on the market. The brand’s platform is licensed by the Gambling Commission in the UK. Given that exchange betting is so heavily dominated by Betfair, it’s been impressed to see that Matchbook, along with their low commission rates of 1.5% (compared to around 5% industry average), have been able to make a significant impact into the sector. The inclusion of features such as cash-out betting, live streaming and accumulator bets have been a big part of this
List with restricted countries
- Canada
- France
- United States
Customer Care and Contact Information
Customer service at Matchbook is outstanding and is one of the many positives about the exchange. Here’s a look at how you can get in touch:
- Phone UK: 0203 642 6867
- Phone Republic of Ireland: 021 242 8626
- International Phone : (+44) 203 642 6867
- Live chat: Online
- Email: support@matchbook.com
Overall Rating
Matchbook has improved a lot over the last couple of years. They can offer a decent range of sports and a strong range of betting markets within each of those sports.
The site struggles a little with the lesser sports/markets when it comes to liquidity, but the 2% base rate commission more than offsets this negative, making it one of the lowest commission rates you can get. It’s hard not to compare these exchanges to Betfair as they have been leading the line for so long, but Matchbook is now a very credible alternative and will have the likes of Betfair and others looking over their shoulders given their recent growth.
