Key takeaway: Betfair operates under established regulatory frameworks, accepts traditional currency, and appeals to sports wagering enthusiasts. Polymarket functions without centralised oversight, leverages blockchain infrastructure, and distinguishes itself in political and global-event forecasting. Across European political prediction venues, Polymarket demonstrates superior trading depth and market breadth.
Two platforms command the European prediction-market landscape: Betfair (the established betting exchange pioneer) and Polymarket (the decentralised-finance prediction platform). What separates them?
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 trading volume in US electoral contests, continental European governance, and international affairs compared to Betfair's offerings
- Transparency: Settlement occurs visibly on distributed ledgers; Betfair's adjudication procedures remain less transparent to users
- Market variety: Digital asset valuations, technological breakthroughs, academic achievements — categories absent from Betfair's roster
- No bookmaker margin: Participant-driven pricing eliminates the house spread inherent to traditional betting operations
Where Betfair wins
- Sports markets: Live sports wagering constitutes Betfair's foundational business; Polymarket provides minimal live-event coverage
- Fiat deposits: Conventional banking methods work seamlessly; cryptocurrency familiarity proves unnecessary
- Regulation: FCA authorisation delivers statutory safeguards and gambling-harm mitigation mechanisms
- Track record: Two and a half decades of continuous operation with established complaint-handling procedures
Our verdict
Should your focus centre on political forecasting venues, Polymarket emerges as the superior choice. PolyGram simplifies Polymarket participation by removing blockchain friction. Start trading on PolyGram →