Betfair to do fixed odds betting sportsbook

[spreadbetting]

I can't see them getting rid of the exchange as it's likely they'll be hedging into those markets. Seems stupid they're displaying the odds alongside the exchange odds though especially since their odds are crap in comparison. I guess when it's fully up and running they'll have a separate site with sportsbook only though to cater for overseas players unable to use the exchange.

[Euler]

https://promotions.betfair.com/fixed-od ... 5116606286

[Euler]

Having just spent £149.99 on Bet Angel Pro, I can only hope we don't loose P2P or have it mortally wounded. If Betfair want to take on the big boys WHill and B365 then they need to up their customer service game and improve the fixed odds as I can't see them managing this I wouldn't be too concerned about the P2P just yet.

Betfair have always positioned it to be as a supplement to the exchange to me. I remember when everybody was fearful of SP but that turned out to have very little impact. If anything it helped.

[Euler]

Looks like it's been informally launched. Click on the Euro 2012 markets.

Received a tweet that they have restricted somebodies bet to £10 already from £3k.

Prices are nothing special and with the stake restrictions I just fail to see what value add this is?

[LeTiss 4pm]

They'll mop up the punters who like to do accumulator bets. These have always been the bookies bread & butter

[andyfuller]

IMO I am not convinced this is going to work.

Betfair are now not one thing or another. They used to be able to advertise themselves as the only viable betting exchange. Now they are going to have to try and market two competing products which has made them neither one thing or another.

They don't have the high-street presence of most other bookmakers so lose out on that front.

In order to gain entry into the market they are going to have to spend a fortune on marketing and I think they will struggle to attract people as they see Betfair as an exchange.

Also if they start restricting people etc it is likely to lead to a poorer reputation for them on both the exchange and sports book front as people will throw them both together when it comes to moaning about the brand.

I personally see it as turning out to being an expensive error long term.

[andyfuller]

They'll mop up the punters who like to do accumulator bets. These have always been the bookies bread & butter

Why though? Most of these punters won't have much of an incentive to switch to a new company will they?

[freddy]

I dont think people are being restricted yet,

i just think it's that betfair will not take much risk until therre is money on the exchange to hedge.

try placing some bets on longer odds, they wouldn't even take the minimum bet on one for me

appears to be a compleate waste of time imo, especialy when you consider one of the main selling points according to betfair is.

Take the Fixed Odds as soon as a market opens or where there are gaps in the market – no need to wait for a price.

maybe true if you are wanting o get .25p matched otherwise why not just stick it up on the exchange.

[hgodden]

I haven't seen a lot really being made of it tbh. Of course when the directors have been asked about it they've talked it up as an amazing thing (as you'd expect from a company launching anything) but I've not seen them extensively advertise it anywhere. Maybe to us traders who rely on the site it aroused much more interest because of the potential repercussions for us - maybe it was never really going to be that big a thing (in the UK market.)

Looks to me just like a corner shop adding home made sandwiches to its fridges. Big deal!

[andyfuller]

If people have experiences like that, especially on their first attempt at using it I can't see them coming back very easily for a repeat visit!

Did someone say LMAX?