Betfair

Betfair is a British online gambling company founded in 2000 by Andrew Black and Edward Wray. It operates a betting exchange, a platform where customers place bets against each other rather than with a traditional bookmaker. Bets are matched by other users through Betfair’s liquidity pool, and the company charges a commission on net winnings. The exchange supports back and lay bets across a wide range of sports and events and offers features such as in-play betting and cash-out.

Beyond the exchange, Betfair runs a sportsbook and a portfolio of gaming products, including casino and poker platforms. The business emphasizes liquidity, fast execution, and user-driven odds formation, and it has introduced tools to manage risk and volatility in markets.

Betfair markets are available in multiple jurisdictions, with a strong presence in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company operates under licensing and regulatory frameworks administered by bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission, and it adheres to responsible gambling practices, including self-exclusion and age-verification measures. Regulation also governs advertising, payments, and player protections in various markets.

Ownership and corporate structure have evolved in the 2010s and beyond. Betfair is currently part of Flutter Entertainment, the multinational group formed by the 2019 merger of Paddy Power Betfair and The Stars Group. Historically, Betfair’s assets were integrated into Ladbrokes Coral in 2016, before the broader Flutter corporate consolidation. This lineage situates Betfair within a larger portfolio of online gambling brands and platforms.

Betfair remains one of the largest online betting platforms by market liquidity, offering a widely used exchange alongside its sportsbook and other gaming offerings, across multiple markets and regulatory regimes.