I have been using Betfair for several years now, but it is only recently that I wondered how this company actually do? This question is what forced me to write this article. I will not get copies of their accounts from home companies, the content is all conjecture based on what I picked up the use of the site during the year.

What gave me the opportunity to examine this issue is transparency in the Betfair site. If you believe that the traditional bookmakers like William Hill, Ladbrokes and Betfred, you do not know a particular sporting event, is what has been bet in total and in the specific outcome of paris have been placed.

Take a normal Friday afternoon to say that the races at Ascot. It is 2.30 and 5 horses racing bettors log on one of the traditional sports betting sites, and support for different horses. The end result is to say, another favorite to win, we have no idea if people were outside, or your favorite background, what was the bet, and what kind of profit because of the bookmaker.

Now consider the same race with Betfair. The total amount exchanged for the race is given to the top of the page, it is usually around £ 200 000 for a horse race standard. Now we know that Betfair takes a commission on all wins, and for each exchange of paris is a victory to take their 5% regardless of the result – about £ 10 000 in this case.