Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Matchbook Review 2024 & UK Horse Racing Rating
Comprehensive Matchbook Horse Betting Review
Matchbook is a peer-to-peer betting exchange which was founded in 2004. In 2011 it was acquired by UK investors and that has a resulted in a growth in popularity. The firm’s ethos is to offer low margin, high volume betting and Matchbook commission is just 1% on bets placed with them. They are also keen supporters of horse racing, with the Imperial Cup at Sandown featuring among events sponsored.
Matchbook are based in Alderney in the Channel Islands and operates under the Triplebet parent organisation. They are regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the UK Gambling Commission. The main focus on their website are major sports such as horse racing, football and tennis. Matchbook are regular sponsors of races at Kempton and Sandown, and offered a £50,000 bonus for any horse that landed the 2018 Imperial Cup at the latter and went on to taste success in any race at the Cheltenham Festival. As part of the Matchbook horse racing sign up offer you can get up to £500 cashback in your first five weeks of betting. There are terms and conditions attached, so make sure you check these out in full.
Our Matchbook exchange review will look at every aspect of what makes them a good choice for you to place your bets. How to open account, what deposit methods are available, how good their customer service is and what promotions are available will all come under the spotlight. As Matchbook is a betting exchange and not a traditional bookmaker, you can back a horse to win or lay it to lose if you don’t fancy its chances. That gives you options if you have a strong opinion. There is also a very good Matchbook app which is easy to download and enables you to place your bets quick whilst on the go. If gaming is your thing, there is a Matchbook casino and live casino which offer a decent choice of products.
Know Your Bookmaker
No Matchbook horse racing review would be complete without letting you know about what promotions and offers available. These include a commission cash back of up to £500 in your first five weeks of betting after opening an account. We will also look at the Matchbook payment options, who to contact customer services, and the processing time for withdrawals. By covering all bases it will enable us to give Matchbook a horse racing rating based on genuine user experience of their product and see how they compare to others. That will help you to decide if the Matchbook exchange is a good choice when it comes to placing your bets.
Although there is actually no welcome bonus available on sign up, unlike the one covered in our 32Red sports review article, new customers at Matchbook can get up to £500 commission cashback based on their first five weeks of betting. By backing or laying bets that win or lose a minimum of £100 you will have paid around £1 in commission. So, for example, if you generate £250 of commission during the five week qualifying period then you will receive £250 of bonus funds back in cash. Only one offer per customer, per household, per device or shared device, and per shared IP address or range of IP addresses. This offer is also only available when you deposit via debit cards, but eWallet services are exempt.
The good news about any cashback commission you receive as part of the Matchbook new customer off is that it can be used on any sportsbook market of your choice. There are also no restrictions regarding odds, unlike other firms where any bonus bets have to be placed at evens (2.0) or greater. That gives you endless options when it comes to using your cashback to generate as much winnings as possible.
At Horsebetting.com we want to make things as easy as possible for you if deciding that you would like to join Matchbook. As a result we have produced a set of easy step-by-step manuals to guide you through the process. We will also take your through depositing, how to place your first bet, and of course withdraw you winnings. Simply follow the instructions below.
Matchbook has unveiled amazing welcome offer for new casino users. The offers are listed below:
Log in or Sign Up with Matchbook Casino
No Sign Up Code needed!
Navigate to the Casino Promotions tab & opt-in to: ‘Matched 100% Deposit up to $200 + 50 Free Spins’. Bets must settle from 00:00 GMT on July 8th 2024 to 23:59 GMT on July 31st 2024.
Once you opt-in and make your first deposit, we will instantly match it by 100%, up to £/$/€200, so you can start playing any of our great Casino slot games.
As much as it’s thrilling to be rewarded with the bonuses here, players must be 18+ to be eligible for any of the bonus offers. Also, you cannot make a profit from this promotion without meeting the wagering requirements. The matched deposit amount is subject to x40 wagering requirements.
Furthermore, the bonus funds are not withdrawable until the wagering requirements are met. Max Bet with the bonus is £2.50 per bet.
Horse Betting Bonus
Bet £30 Get £30
Welcome Bonus
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Matchbook Mobile App
Another area in which the Matchbook exchange really delivers is betting on the go. They have one of the very best mobile sites on the market and not only is the Matchbook mobile app available for smartphones on both Apple and Android platforms, it is also available for Apple Watch users and Apple iPad users. It is also lightening fast when it comes to placing your bets, and there is simply nothing no to like about the product.
Payment Methods
As with the majority of bookmakers, there are a wide variety of methods you can use to deposit and withdraw funds from your Matchbook exchange account. These include all major debit cards, bank transfer, Skrill and Neteller. The minimum amount you can deposit here is £10 and it is the same for withdrawal. You cannot withdraw funds via Mastercard, as they will not accept payment for Matchbook. However, there is an alternative if you have deposited via Mastercard, and full details of the process involved is available on the website.
Head to our Ladbrokes Review for alternative payment methods offered.
How To Make Your First Deposit
Log into your account and click the Deposit button. This will take you to the cashier section
Choose a currency for the account and deposit method. Only deposits made via debit cards qualify for the Matchbook new exchange customer offer.
Enter the amount you want to deposit, the minimum is £10, and then click confirm.
How To Withdraw Your Winnings
Click on you username in the top right-hand corner of the Matchbook homepage and select withdrawal option.
Decide how much you want to take withdraw. Enter amount and then click to confirm.
Withdrawals take between 2 and 5 working days to hit your bank account.
Customer Service
Customer support available on the Matchbook exchange gets a big thumbs up from Horsebetting.com. There is the usual Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section which is well laid out and you can also contact them via email (support@matchbook.com). You can also get in touch via Matchbook live chat which is available from 8am until 1am every day. If you would rather speak to a friendly voice, then you can also call Matchbook on 0203 642 6867 to speak to a representative about your issue. Matchbook have every angle covered and that is very reassuring when deciding whether you want to open an account.
Licence & Security
For all customers that live in the UK, Matchbook is licensed by the Gambling Commission. Furthermore, they are also regulated and must meet all standards on an annual basis.
You might be worried that your sensitive information is not being kept in a secure place when using an online operator. However, operators that are licensed are required to protect all information. Matchbook uses a SSL technology which will encrypt your information.
Although the sportsbook featuring horse racing is the main component of the Matchbook exchange there is also a very good Matchbet casino and live casino available if you like gaming too.
Live Betting
When it comes to live betting, Matchbook is not like a typical bookmaker as you can not only back a horse to win but also lay it to lose In Play as you see the race unfold. These are call bets in running. It gives you extra options to try and win money, and that’s what it is all about, although there’s not a vast amount of sports covered.
Odds
As Matchbook is an exchange it’s not easy to compare odds with traditional bookmakers. However, there is usually value to be had as you are betting with other punters and pitting your wits against theirs. You can also often get more on and you will not get restricted or have a bet refused. If the price you ask for gets matched, then your are on!
Betting Margins
At Horsebetting.com it’s part of our mission to ensure that you enjoy your betting experience and do as well as possible. As part of that help, we are going to compare betting margins for you. Check all the info out in the table we have provided below which we regularly update. That way you can maximise the profit on offer across the sportsbooks.
Getting an understanding of betting margins on the popular gambling sports, such as horse racing, is really helpful before you place your bets. The table features handy percentages that are easy to understand and compare in-play betting to your standard wagers before sporting events.
Betting Limits
When using the Matchbook horse racing exchange there is no maximum bet or cap for the amount you can win. This applies to all other sports featured too. That’s great news if you are a serious punter who usually gets knocked back when trying to place a large bet. The minimum bet at Matchbook is £2 and that compares well with other exchange platforms. There is Matchbook commission to pay, but that is only just 1%. That is the lowest on the market, and don’t forget that you can get commission cashback on your bets placed in a five week period after joining Matchbook!
We bring our Matchbook horse racing sportsbook review to a close with a recap of what the exchange has to offer. An easy to use and well laid out website with plenty of live betting options is hard to knock. Backing and laying horses with fellow punters enables you to get real value compared to traditional fixed odds bookies. There is also no limit to the amount you can win and Matchbook will not restrict your bets or close your account if you are successful.
With Matchbook commission set at just 1% it’s easy to see why the exchange is proving such a popular choice with punters. The opportunity to earn commission cashback of up to £500 in the first five weeks after joining Matchbook is another good incentive to use them, especially if you are a more serious punter who bets on a regular basis in decent amounts. The Matchbook app is also absolutely top drawer and we rate their customer service as excellent.
Have you’ve got a story to share with us about your betting experiences on the Matchbook exchange? If so, we would love to hear a from you. Write to us and post your own review below. If you’re looking for another option, check out our Grosvenor Review.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via ‘My Offers’ page within 30 days. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play, min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max. extra winnings £100. Once claimed, 30-day expiry. Cashed out, System & EW bets do not qualify. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply.
GET £30 IN FREE BETS+ 100 FREE SPINS When you bet £10
T&Cs apply
8.2/10
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 10 days of registration. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
