Betdaq is the second largest betting exchange platform after its big brother Betfair.
There are only four different bet exchange websites available to the UK punters, which makes the competition for new members all the more intense. Small details can make a huge difference in betting exchange platforms. From sign up bonuses to market liquidity and customer support, when there are fewer choices it is easier for players to notice the differences.
For example, Betdaq introduced a 2% fixed commission on all sports for all of its customers. Comparatively, Betfair charges a 5% commission.
Betdaq is obviously doing something right as it is the second-largest and second most popular betting exchange platform out there. It currently owns a 7% share of the UK and Republic of Ireland markets. It is unlikely it will dethrone Betfair anytime soon in terms of popularity, but it does have some advantages that are worth considering.
- User-friendly, easy to navigate the site
- Excellent sportsbook and exchange betting platforms
- Good selection of high-quality games in the casino
- Very limited live streaming available. Even that can only be accessed via Betdaq mobile app, not from desktops.
- Only one promotion for the casino. Could add a few more.
Bonuses at Betdaq
Betdaq is primarily a betting platform. It provides the traditional sportsbook as well as the betting exchange platform. As such, most of the promotions and offers are directed at new or existing members who use Betdaq for their sports betting needs. It currently lists different promotions for different members using different sections of the website:
Sports Welcome Bonus
Bet £10 Get £10 – this is one of Betdaq sign up offers available to new customers only. The bet has to have odds of 2.00 or greater and must be placed within 14 days of opening the account.
Once your bet is settled, you will be credited with £10 as a free bet. To activate this offer, you have to use the Betdaq bonus code “BDQ10” when you register your Betdaq account.
Casino Welcome Bonus
Bet £10 get £30 – this is the only running casino promotion Betdaq offers. It is restricted to new users and bound by a wagering requirement of 40 times the bonus funds.
You simply open your account at Betdaq, deposit a minimum of £10 and spend it in their casino games. You then receive the £30.00 in bonus funds. Any winnings from it can be withdrawn after the wagering requirement has been met (£1,200 playthrough).
Cashback for New Customers
Up to £1,000 Cashback – another promotion for new customers, where you can get back your first month’s commission as cash. This is capped at a maximum of £1,000. To avail of this offer, you have to use the promo code “DAQBACK” when you register your account.
Sports and Markets at Betdaq
Betdaq offers two separate platforms for sports betting, the traditional sportsbook, and the exchange platform. Each platform has its own markets.
The betting exchange platform at Betdaq covers 19 different sports and non-sporting events. These include:
- American Football
- Australian Rules
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Formula 1
- GAA
- Golf
- Greyhound Racing
- Horse Racing
- Ice Hockey
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Politics
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Virtual Sports
The sportsbook at Betdaq is a bit poorer than the exchange platform. It covers 13 different sports. The 6 sports that are offered on the exchange but are missing from the sportsbook are American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Politics and Virtual Sports. Even so, it still has the most popular markets including Betdaq cricket which is getting more and more bets.
Betdaq – UK’s Second Largest Betting Exchange Bookmaker
Betdaq is a betting exchange platform, which is not to be confused with the traditional bookmaker. Betdaq is essentially a marketplace that matches punters wishing to place opposite bets. This takes out the middleman, or bookmaker from the betting process.
A bookmaker makes its money by building their margin in the odds, whereas a betting exchange site makes its money by charging a commission on a player’s winnings.
Because there is no middleman, the odds you find on betting exchange platforms are generally higher than those at the bookmakers.
A Bit of History
Betdaq exchange was launched in 2000, only a year after the pioneer of bet exchanges, Betfair. Its launch was not as successful as desired. It launched with a 0% commission rate that was to go up 1% each month until it would plateau at 5%. It wasn’t as attractive to players as it was planned out to be.
Betdaq Exchange Today
Today Betdaq is still the second largest betting exchange platform. The difference is that now there are four different exchange sites so second out of four is more impressive than the second out of two. It has also added a casino section that includes games such as slots, table games and jackpots. The casino at Betdaq is constantly updated with new games and updated promotions.
In 2013, Ladbrokes took possession of Betdaq. A few years later, in 2016, Ladbrokes would merge with Coral thus becoming the largest bookmaker in the UK. Whether they will use their strong financial support and large customer base to push Betdaq UK for a greater market share in the exchange industry is worth keeping an eye out for. Or it will be interesting to see whether they will push to expand the casino side more so than the exchange platform.
Casino and Games at Betdaq
Betdaq casino has a collection of 67 games in different categories. These are high-quality games and most of them are developed by the reputable Playtech software provider. However, they do use other providers such as IGT and Quickspin. They also update their casino with new games every so often. Currently, the casino games available at Betdaq can be broken down into 5 different categories:
- Slots – The most popular category, featuring 27 high quality games.
- Jackpots – a selection of 8 games such as Leprechauns Luck and Life of Brian
- Table games – 6 different casino table games to choose from such as Blackjack and Roulette Pro
- Arcade games – a good choice of fun arcade games such as the Wheel of Fortune On Tour awaits you at Betdaq casino
- Virtual sports – at Betdaq you can win by placing a wager on the two arcade games they offer: Virtual Dogs and Virtual Horses
Special Features
All in one – Betdaq offers an all-in-one solution for the online gambler. It offers an exchange betting platform, sportsbook and online casino. There are only two other websites that can take pride in featuring such a complete package.
Betdaq Tips – Betdaq has a section where its tipsters constantly share information and hints on what bets to place. These bets cover all sporting events and the information provided is full of useful research and statistics.