Key takeaway: Betfair operates under established regulatory frameworks, accepts traditional currency, and appeals to sports wagering enthusiasts. Polymarket functions as an unregulated, decentralised blockchain platform, offering superior depth in political and contingent-event forecasting. Across European political prediction venues, Polymarket demonstrates stronger order book depth and contract selection.
Two platforms command the European prediction-market landscape: Betfair (the established betting exchange) and Polymarket (the blockchain-based forecasting venue). What distinguishes their respective strengths?
At a glance
| Feature | Polymarket | Betfair |
| Founded | 2020 | 2000 |
| Regulation | Unregulated (decentralised) | FCA, Malta, Gibraltar licensed |
| Currency | USDC (stablecoin) | GBP, EUR, AUD |
| Market types | Politics, crypto, science, culture | Sports, politics, entertainment |
| Fees | ~2% (spread-based) | 2–5% commission on winnings |
| Deposits | USDC, MoonPay | Card, bank transfer, PayPal |
Where Polymarket wins
- Political markets: Polymarket commands substantially greater order-book depth across US electoral forecasts, continental European policy outcomes, and international geopolitical contingencies relative to Betfair
- Transparency: Blockchain-verified settlement provides auditable, immutable transaction records; Betfair's contractual terms may lack equivalent clarity
- Market variety: Digital-asset valuations, machine-learning achievement targets, and empirical breakthroughs—categories absent from Betfair's offerings
- No bookmaker margin: Participant supply and demand establish pricing; Betfair incorporates a house spread into quoted rates
Where Betfair wins
- Sports markets: Live-event wagering constitutes Betfair's principal competitive advantage; Polymarket furnishes minimal coverage of active sporting contests
- Fiat deposits: Traditional currency acceptance eliminates the requirement for stablecoin familiarity or blockchain infrastructure
- Regulation: FCA authorisation, combined with identity verification protocols and player-protection mechanisms, establishes a formal compliance framework
- Track record: Two-and-a-half decades of operational history, with established complaint-handling procedures
Our verdict
For those concentrating on political forecasting venues, Polymarket emerges as the superior option. PolyGram streamlines Polymarket participation whilst removing blockchain friction. Start trading on PolyGram →