Chapter 1

Commission

• What is the commission on Matchbook vs Smarkets?
• Where is it better?
• Does your nationality have an impact on the commission?
• Is it possible to get 0%?

Let’s find out!

We have already covered Smarkets in great detail in other comparisons between Betdaq and Betfair. You can check them here:

• Smarkets vs Betdaq
• Smarkets vs Betfair
• Betdaq vs Betfair

However, if you don’t remember, here is a reminder – Smarkets charges a fixed commission of 2% on winnings.

Of course, it is possible to get a 0% commission, but this is mainly a marketing pull, as it will only kick in when your monthly turnover exceeds £1500. 

What commission does Matchbook charge?

Well, it depends on where you live.

If you are a resident of the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, then the commission you will pay on winnings will be 2%.

Unfortunately, we don’t have such good news for you if you live in another country, as the commission charged on winnings will be 4%.

You can also get a 0% commission for 90 days, but this is a welcome offer for new customers only and is described in the welcome bonuses section.

Overall, Smarkets holds a slight advantage in this category.

Chapter 2

Markets availability

• Which exchange has the most betting markets?
• What categories does Matchbook not have?
• In which sport(s) does Matchbook perform better?

Here we go!

We move on to a category that is also important in choosing the correct exchange – the availability of markets.

Without this, we will not be able to trade with other members, and as we all know, the more markets, the better.

Some exchanges specialise in selected sports, such as Smarkets, which has excellent tennis coverage. So how does Matchbook compare, and which markets are the most numerous?

Let’s check out the number of live markets available on a typical weekday afternoon.

There are not many football markets available. This is due to the top leagues, such as the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga, only featuring on weekday evenings. So any markets available are from matches in lesser leagues.

However, Smarkets fares slightly better regarding market availability in tennis and cricket, so we award them a deserved second point.

What’s more, Smarkets has 24 sports categories, while Matchbook offers just 15. The Matchbook Exchange does not have markets on MMA, motorsports, table tennis, eSport or cycling – this strengthens our belief that Smarkets performs better in this area.

Chapter 3

Liquidity

• Fierce competition for liquidity!
• But which exchange is better?
• How does Smarkets perform in live and pre-match markets?
• How important is liquidity?

Let’s take a look!

Liquidity is an issue that we cannot ignore – without it, we’re not even able to place a bet. So let’s see how liquidity looks in a live match and in the most popular pre-match market.

Considering the cricket match above, Matchbook fares much better in terms of odds and the amount of money to be taken. 

But consider, for example, the upcoming Champions League final.

Here the situation is entirely the other way round. 4x more money was matched on the Smarkets Exchange. Moreover, the odds to take are marginally more favourable, but Smarkets offers much larger amounts that can be taken.

To settle the final result in this category, we consider horse racing, specifically an upcoming race.

In this sport and this race, it is undeniable that Smarkets is better and more advantageous.

The odds are more favourable, and also, the market is offering larger amounts to be matched. 

Considering the markets outlined above, we can, in good conscience, again award a point to Smarkets.

Chapter 4

Welcome Offer

• What kind of welcome offers do Matchbook and Smarkets have?
• What are the promo codes at Smarkets and Matchbook?
• Which exchange has the better promotional offer?

Let’s take a look!

Welcome offers are an essential consideration for those who do not yet have an account on the exchange.

They help you save extra money or get additional welcome bonuses, making the exchange even more enjoyable.

So let’s look at what both exchanges are trying to entice us with.

Smarkets has two offers in its welcome offer. One is 0% commission for 60 days, and the other is cashback up to £20 – that’s it. To take advantage of any of the above offers, simply enter the relevant promotional code listed in the table at registration. 

However, Matchbook comes off much better in this regard – just take a look!

Okay, £50 in free bets is not to be taken too seriously as this is a temporary promotion and may not be available when you are looking to sign-up. But 90 days with no commission on all sports, compared to 60 on Smarkets, looks very good! What’s more, the cashback is £10 more on Matchbook than on Smarkets. 

So there can only be one winner in this category – it’s Matchbook, of course.

Chapter 5

Payment Methods

In this section you will learn:

• What are the payment methods on the Smarkets and Matchbook exchanges?
• Which methods are not available on Smarkets and Matchbook?
• Does any exchange perform better in this category?

Here we go!

Everyone has their favourite electronic wallet where they keep their money, but which wallets can we use on these two exchanges? 

Here they are;

1. Smarkets

• Bank Transfer
• Debit Card
• PayPal (£20 minimum deposit – £200 max limit)
• Neteller (£20 minimum deposit – £5,000 max limit)
• Skrill (£10 minimum deposit – £5,000 max limit)

2. Matchbook

• Visa
• Mastercard credit/debit cards
• PaySafeCard
• Neteller
• Skrill

It is hard to decide a winner here. Admittedly, Smarkets allows you to deposit via PayPal but does not have the option to transfer funds using PaySafeCard. 

For this reason, we will personally award a tie and leave the deciding vote to you.

Chapter 7

Usability

• Which exchange is easier to use?
• What is the reason for this?
• Can you get used to it?

Find out for yourself which exchange is easier to use!

We will not beat around the bush – Matchbook is much more enjoyable. This is due to the unintuitive interface on the Smarkets exchange.

Some of you will say it’s a matter of getting used to it – we agree, but there is no doubt that new users will have more trouble using Smarkets than Matchbook.

Take a peek at the homepage of either exchange. You will conclude which one would be easier for you to navigate.

The same situation applies if we enter a match or a race. More straightforward navigation means a better experience when using a particular exchange.

Chapter 8

Mobile Apps

• Do both exchanges have an app for iOS and Android?
• How do you install the software on your phone?
• Where to download the .apk files?
• Do you want to download the app?

Here you go!

Matchbook for Android (UK & Ireland)

1. Simply click here to launch the Play Store and download the Matchbook application.
2. Internet connectivity via Wifi or 3G/4G is required.

Matchbook for Android (Other)

1. Simply click here to download the Matchbook .apk file.
2. Internet connectivity via Wifi or 3G/4G is required.

Matchbook for iOS

1. Simply click here to launch the App Store and download the application.
2. Internet connectivity via Wifi or 3G/4G is required.

Smarkets for Android

1. Simply click here to launch the Play Store and download the Smarkets application.
2. Internet connectivity via Wifi or 3G/4G is required.

Smarkets for Other

1. Simply click here to download the Smarkets .apk file.
2. Internet connectivity via Wifi or 3G/4G is required.

Smarkets for iOS

1. Simply click here to launch the App Store and download the application.
2. Internet connectivity via Wifi or 3G/4G is required.

We won’t rate the exchange apps because we don’t use them. Both exchanges make them available for iOS and Android. 

If you’ve experienced anything worth mentioning, please let us know in the comments below!

Chapter 9

Support

• How do you contact the support team?
• What is the Email for both exchanges?
• Are there other methods of contact?
• Do you need help?

Here’s how you can get it!

Contact with support on the Smarkets and Matchbook exchanges is of a standard level.

What can you expect? We can contact them via email as well as via chat.

If the bot does not help us, we can send a message directly to a person from the Support Team. 

Chapter 10

Reliability

In this section, you will find out:

• Is your money safe?
• Where are Matchbook and Smarkets registered?
• Are they licensed?

Let’s take a look!

Matchbook has been in business for over 15 years. They are a pioneer in the field of online sports betting exchanges.

Matchbook is also licenced and regulated by the AGCC (Alderney Gambling Control Commission) and holds a UK Gambling Commission operating license.

As a result, if you live in a regulated nation, this assures that the site is compliant and that you are secure from any frauds.

Similar regulations apply to Smarkets Exchange. Smarkets (Malta) Limited is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 39173.

Licensed and regulated outside of the UK by Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/B2C/162/2008 issued May 12th, 2009). 

One thing you can be sure of – your money is safe at both Smarkets and Matchbook.

Chapter 11

Summary

• Which exchange performs better in the end?
• What does it depend on?
• Is it worth opening an account at the other one?

Check out the conclusion!

Summarising the above article, we conclude that Smarkets performs slightly better than Matchbook. This is due to better liquidity and the availability of markets, which is a vital issue that we cannot ignore.

While the welcome offer and navigation aspects prevail on Matchbook’s side, these are less important considerations that will not have such a significant impact in the long run.

Nevertheless, do not immediately cast Matchbook aside. They are among the top sports exchanges, and it is worth opening an account there, even if only to take advantage of 90 days of trading without any commission.