Key takeaway: Betfair is regulated, fiat-friendly, and suited for sports bettors. Polymarket is unregulated, blockchain-based, and excels at political and real-world event prediction. For European political markets, Polymarket wins on liquidity and variety.
The prediction market landscape in Europe is shaped by two major contenders: Betfair (the pioneering betting exchange) and Polymarket (the blockchain-powered prediction platform). What sets them apart?
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 superior liquidity across US electoral contests, European parliamentary races, and geopolitical developments relative to Betfair
- Transparency: Blockchain-verified settlement ensures complete auditability; Betfair's terms of service can lack clarity
- Market variety: Digital asset valuations, technological breakthroughs, and academic research outcomes sit outside Betfair's remit
- No bookmaker margin: Participant-driven pricing eliminates the house edge inherent in traditional bookmaking
Where Betfair wins
- Sports markets: Live sports wagering represents Betfair's principal advantage; Polymarket provides minimal coverage of in-play sporting action
- Fiat deposits: Traditional currency funding requires no cryptocurrency familiarity on Betfair
- Regulation: FCA authorisation provides statutory safeguards and gambling harm prevention mechanisms
- Track record: A quarter-century of market presence, coupled with established complaint handling procedures
Our verdict
Should your focus centre on political prediction markets, Polymarket emerges as the superior choice. PolyGram simplifies Polymarket participation without requiring cryptocurrency expertise. Start trading on PolyGram →