This bookmaker is no longer accepting new players – please check out our list of mobile apps available for UK bettors.
Bethard is a new entrant to the traditional online bookmaking industry. The parent company is based in Malta but customers in the UK come under the license and regulations of the UK Gambling Commission. The operator has links with bodies that provide support for problem gamblers. Bethard have won operator awards so the sports betting product has proved to be reputable.
The site can be read on desktop computers and mobile devices. New and existing customers can benefit from a package of offers and bonuses. The core product is sports betting but the Bethard site also features a casino and live casino offering popular table games.
The UK Gambling Commission sets and monitors criteria for compliance with regards free bets and bonuses. The Bethard welcome offer of up to £50 in real cash is seen to be acceptable and fair.
The operator’s new customer offer is subject to the following Terms & Conditions:
This is a 5% matched bet bonus because the real cash credit is one-twentieth of the qualifying stake. To earn the maximum bonus, a new customer must stake £1,000 in one week which may be beyond recreational players. However, the offer is transparent and there are no hidden rules.
Mobile customers with Bethard are not entitled to any mobile app specific offers. However, the Bethard mobile app is fully functional which means that new customers can claim the welcome offer of £50 in the form of betting funds. This offer is valid for iOS and Android users. Casino app players are entitled to the welcome bonus and free spins and prizes. However, users of all devices are eligible and not just players who use mobile devices to deposit funds and bet.
At the time of writing existing customers with Bethard could not claim any ongoing and dynamic offers. Casino players could claim a deposit offer and Bethard are giving away 100,000 spins on some of their favourite slots. Players in the live casino can compete for a share of a £10,000 prize fund. Customers receive 1 point for each £20 staked which can be used to enter the competition. Existing players can also collect points that activate casino bonuses.
It is rare for an operator that focuses on sport does not offer existing customers a package of dynamic sports and event related bonuses. The casino offers provide a good incentive to play casino games but will not entice sports bettors to place bets. As a new operator Bethard may be assessing their options with marketing investment and more promotions could be added in the fullness of time. Alternatively, Bethard may be looking to compete in the value in their odds.
The mobile app for iOS devices can be installed from the App Store or website when the browser is mobile-optimised. The app will work for 8.0 or higher versions of the operating software. There are minimum space requirements on the iPad and iPhone. The iOS app is fully functional which means new customers can claim welcome offer directly from the app. There are no mobile specific bonuses but the standard offers are available.
Unlike many other Android betting apps, Bethard Android app is not available in the Play Store so it can only be downloaded from the website, which adds an extra step to the installation process. The Android app has all the functions of the desktop version of the website. The app features the main elements of the PC version such as pre-match, in-play and ante-post betting and cash out betting. The app is easy to navigate and markets can be located with a small number of taps. The Android mobile release is suited to in-play betting, especially for sports like football and tennis. Mobile versions of 4.0 or higher are required and there are minimum requirements in terms of storage.
The Bethard service includes an excellent range of casino and live casino games. However, the origins and core product are sports betting. The founders had a background in sports betting and the other products were offered to compete with other brands who offer more than sports betting. Customers can bet on a wide range of sports which is complemented by the following betting services:
Customers with Bethard can cash out bets before expiry and the final outcome is known. The purpose of cash out betting is to ensure a known profit or limit the loss. Pre-match and earlier live bets can be cashed out which can also apply for accumulators before the last selection has taken place. Bets can be fully or partially cashed out or the cash out offer can be rejected.
The value is based on the original stake and odds and the odds at the time of the cash out offer. Cash out betting is available for a selection of sports and markets and more could be added in the future. The relatively new operator is assessing the value of cash out betting and a trading decision will determine how it is extended to other sports.
‘Live Betting’ is the second option on the main menu of the Bethard Homepage. This service is Bethard’s version of in-play betting with a different name. At the time of writing there were 20 current live events and most of these related to tennis. During the regular season in Europe the live betting schedule is dominated by football fixtures. Bethard offers customers over 50 live betting options for a typical football match. The most popular live markets are the match winner, handicaps and number of goals. In tennis, the same markets attract the most interest.
Bethard does not provide live streaming but customers can view a graphical representation of the action and live match data. Betting is suspended after an important incident such as a goal, penalty and sending-off in football and break of serve or set result in tennis.
The betting markets reappear after a few seconds with the updated odds which reflect the score and progress of the match. However, please bear in mind if there are any mistakes with the scoring and match information, Bethard are not responsible for any betting decisions. If bets are settled incorrectly there will be amendments based on the current correct score
Pulse betting is an extension of live betting. The most popular live bets expire after the end of the match and it takes some time before the outcome is decided. Pulse betting is akin to spot betting because it involves incidents over the next 30 seconds or two minutes. The most common types of bet in football are the team to win the next corner or throw-in. In tennis popular pulse bets are on the winner of the next point. These markets are settled immediately and accounts are updated immediately. Customers have the betting funds to repeat the bet continually during a live betting event. This type of betting is more like bingo than sports betting.
‘Sports’ is the first option on the Bethard main menu on the Homepage. Customers generally join the site to bet on sports and may then move into casino betting. The sports product is designed for customers in the UK and the rest of Europe. The main sports page displays the three-way match market for the biggest football fixtures of the day. Even though it is the close season in the main domestic leagues in Europe, football still dominates the Bethard sports betting service.
Customers can use Quick links to locate the most important leagues and fixtures of the day. These links are usually related to football and tennis and to a lesser extent other sports. There is also a complete list of betting sports which is displayed in order of betting interest. In addition to the main betting sports, players with Bethard can also place wagers on Politics and TV Specials. The most popular betting sports are football, tennis and horse racing which are described below.
Football is by far the most popular betting sport with Bethard and the highest turnover competitions are the Premier League in England and the Champions League. Bethard displays the three-way match result for all fixtures with a link to additional markets which total about 100 under the following headings:
Handicaps and Asian handicaps are popular in addition to more exotic bets such as the first scorer and correct score, offered by a limited number of football betting apps. The match winner odds are compiled with a margin of about 5% which is average for the market. Customers can place ante post bets on the major leagues in Europe and international tournaments like the World Cup.
Bethard offers customers horse racing betting from meetings in the UK and Ireland and some of the major international races and fixtures. Bettors can take a board price or have bets settled at the Starting Price. However, Bethard does not promise Best Odds Guaranteed on horse racing in the UK and Ireland. There is ante post betting on the major races at the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot and standalone races such as the Grand National over jumps and Derby on the Flat.
There are more live betting bets placed with Bethard than in pre-match markets. The operator publishes odds for main tour events and tournaments further down the pyramid. The most popular markets are the match winner, total number of games and set and match handicaps. Bethard’s customers can place outright bets on the winner of upcoming Grand Slam tournaments. Two way match odds are compiled with a margin of about 3% which is standard for the industry.
Customers with Bethard can transfer funds using debit and credit cards, e-Wallets, prepaid safe cards and Wire Bank Transfer. Deposits carry no charge and are immediate while withdrawals are subject to standard delays and are generally free. Minimum and maximum limits apply to funds entering and leaving an account.
Bethard is a relatively young online bookmaker and some of the elements of established sportsbooks are absent. However, in time there should be live streaming and a more comprehensive range of betting options across all sports.
The service provides a decent betting experience which will be enhanced when some or all of the missing features are added when Bethard becomes more established. The operator is showing the potential to become a bigger player in the UK and European online bookmaking market.