Latest review of BetFred Poker. This popular UK owned online poker site runs on Playtech's iPoker network.
BetFred Poker
Review
Pay In / Cash Out, Account Management at BetFred Poker
BetFred Poker Security & Reputation
BetFred Poker Customer Service & Help Facilities
Systems and Software
BetFred Poker Gameplay
Site Traffic at BetFred Poker
BetFred Poker Level of Competition
Tournaments and Freerolls at BetFred Poker
Poker Game Variety Available
BetFred Poker Bonuses and Player Rewards
Betfred Poker is the online poker division of Betfred, one of the UK’s top sports betting companies (licensed & regulated in the UK since 1967). Betfred Poker is licensed in Gibraltar. Petfre (Gibraltar limited) Betfred has a management team with strong land based & online gaming operations experience.
BetFred Poker's rake is industry average - up to 5% of each total pot, not more than $3. They don't charge a rake if the hand ended before the "flop" cards were dealt - "No flop no drop". BetFred are big on security, confidentiality and game interity. Their systems use 128-bit encryption technology to protect the details of your electronic transactions over the Internet. They have a strong focus on anti-collusion (good for both them and to protect you).
We've found the BetFred Poker customer service team first class - they are polite (even when we intentionally ask stupid Qs), efficient & friendly. Free phone numbers for UK only is a bit of a pain - but email support is "rapid response" 7X24.
BetFred Poker offers start-up tips and help for those who need it. They have a good set of simple play rules and a glossary of terms.
BetFredPoker.com's game engine is impressive and very popular with online poker players. Table options let you to customize your game to suit your play. All the usual features are available. Useful features include a search facility to find friends online (or tagged fish). A recent upgrade has resulted in faster game play than the last LabRat testing quarter - faster and smoother. It's easy to navigate and good and stable.
BetFred Poker Site traffic reaches good levels during peak hours & is growing. There's usually plenty of tables available at all levels & little wait-time. Off peak is not so great but there is still action available. BetFred Poker (and a dozen other poker sites) are members of the Playtech iPoker Network. BetFred also runs it's own tournaments & freerolls in addition to Network poker action.
BetFred Poker has a good balance of newcomers to poker and old hands. The BetFred bookmaker (sportsbook) side of the business ensures an ongoing stream of fish... the mid-stakes tables are where to go for the money. Try not to be too tempted by the Freerolls (8+ per day) as the level of play is just frustrating.
Bet Fred Poker offers a good range of heads-up (1:1), Sit 'n' Gos (fixed player numbers), and tournament play is available via BetFred Poker weekdays and Sat/Sun. Freerolls (no entry fee tournaments) occur frequently - 8+ per day and often with 1000+ players. Satellites into many major industry tournaments like Aussie Millions, WSOP Euro, etc.
At Bet Fred Poker you can play Texas Hold'em, Omaha or Omaha Hi/Lo either as Fixed Limit (or "Limit"), Pot Limit or No Limit. Most game play is by far at the Texas Hold'em low stakes tables. A new fixed odds poker game is also available (bet on the odds of a poker hand - great to test your real skills!)
NOTE: PokerLabRat.com tested 170 poker rooms this quarter and failed or rejected 93% of them. BetFred Poker passed with 88 out of a possible 100 points.
This review is not the formal site analysis, just a high level summary of the key aspects we like and don't like about BetFred Poker.
BetFred Poker offers a good range of payment options and accepts all major credit & debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Solo, Switch, Delta, Laser). You can deposit funds via online service providers Citadel, Moneybookers and Neteller, 1-Pay, use Western Union or send a cheque or bankdraft. Deposit cash at a BetFred shop. Account set-up is easy and payments to and from our test team's accounts are made as requested - and quickly. 1 Free deposit per day, all deposits over £170/€300/$300 free. Cash out to the same payment method used for depositing, except some credit cards.
Betfred has partnered with Playtech for its poker software platform - PLAYTECH iPoker. PlayTech has won numerous international industry awards and is one of the current leaders in online gaming software. During testing and our own play at BetFred Poker the system servers proved reliable and all functions runs very smoothly.
Join bonuses are real - 100% deposit match up to $600 - & unlike many Poker bonuses are readily achieveable if you are a keen player. Some good fun player promos feature from time to time too. See the PokerLabRat.com Poker Room Bonus Comparison for more details.
NOTE: BetFred no longer accepts poker players from the USA.
Last page update: 12 March 2010
SORRY NO US PLAYERS
BetFred Poker - WHAT's HOT
Playtech's iPoker network has good traffic, Excellent reputation for quick payouts, safe and secure, good bonuses and player promotions, call/check/bet decisions spoken, friendly
BetFred Poker- WHAT's NOT
Less mid to high buy-in tables that we'd like off-peak, few freerolls and novice player tables, At time a very confusing lobby and cluttered hard to follow major tournament promotions
BetFred Poker
Review
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BETFRED POKER - OVERALL RATING
Both BetFred and Playtech clearly understand what is needed for first-class online poker. BetFred Poker is a member of Europe's largest online poker network.
Whether you're aiming to win big or just to have some fun - try BetFred Poker. It's a good, safe place to play - and with friendly players (but not all easy beats!). Some consider the PlayTech Software a tad twee but options like play summary & speaking characters do add some dimension and entertainment value to the overall game.
