Betfred
Betfred is an online sportsbook and casino operated by Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited. The operator has been licensed in the UK since 2014 but has faced a regulatory penalty for technical failings.
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About
Betfred is a well-known gambling brand that operates the website betfred.com. The site is run by Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited, which holds an active licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) under account number 39544. The company has been authorised to operate in Great Britain since 1 November 2014.
According to its website, Betfred offers a wide range of products including sports betting, casino games, live dealer tables, bingo, and lotteries. The site promotes itself as 'The Bonus King' and advertises features like cash out, best odds guaranteed on horse racing, and various welcome offers. These are marketing claims and should be viewed as such.
Features & Offerings
Key Offerings
- Slots
- Live casino
Main Features
- Sports welcome offer of £50 in free bets
- Casino welcome bonus up to 200 free spins
- Live betting
- Cash out
- Best odds guaranteed on horse racing
- Acca insurance
Incentives
According to their website (checked 18 Feb 2026):
Welcome Offers
New players get a free bet welcome package split across sports and acca bets, triggered by placing an initial qualifying sports bet on a Debit Card deposit.
Conditions Explained
The qualifying bet must be placed on Sports at odds of evens (2.0) or greater within 7 days of registering. The free bets are split: one portion is for standard sports bets and the other is specifically for acca bets (multi-selection bets). Both portions arrive within 10 hours of the qualifying bet settling and expire after 7 days, so don't leave them sitting unused. Debit Card is required to deposit, and not all payment methods qualify.
Ongoing Promotions
Existing players can access sports cashback on losing Bet Builder wagers and a prize draw giving away Las Vegas holidays on selected casino games.
Conditions Explained
The Champions League cashback offer requires you to opt in and build your own bet with at least 3 selections at combined odds of 3/1 (4.0) or greater. If it loses, you get your stake back as a Free Bet, up to a maximum of £5. Pre-built Bet Builders don't count. The Las Vegas prize draw runs on selected games only, and you must opt in within the game itself. Winners must be aged 21 or over to use the trip, there's no cash alternative, and you have to book within 2 months and travel within 12 months of winning.
Can You Trust Betfred?
Positive Signals
- UKGC licensed since 2014
- Uses IBAS for dispute resolution
- Established domain registered in 2003
Concerns
- Operator fined £240,000 in 2025 for technical standards breach
What Users Say
Betfred has a 'Average' Trustpilot rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars from over 12,000 reviews. User feedback is very mixed, with strong opinions on both sides. There isn't a clear consensus on the brand's quality.
Common Themes
Common complaints focus on a slow or outdated website and app experience. Some users also report frustrations with bonus terms and the withdrawal process.
Regulatory Context
The operator's £240,000 fine was for a breach of technical standards. This aligns with some user complaints about a 'glitchy' and 'slow' website and app. While it's not confirmed that these user experiences are directly related to the regulatory action, both point to potential technical issues with the platform.
Sample Reviews
"The interface is very clunky compared to others. The lack of inplay cash out is also borderline criminal especially given that all other bookies effectively provide this."
"I signed up and it didn't give me my 200 free spins for signing up"
Source: Trustpilot
UKGC Licence Status
The operator, Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited, holds several active UKGC licences. These include Bingo, Casino, General Betting Standard (Real Event), General Betting Standard (Virtual Event), and Pool Betting. This combination of licences permits it to offer a full suite of online gambling products, from slots and table games to sports betting on real and simulated events.
If you have a complaint about Betfred that you can't resolve directly, you can use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. The operator is registered with IBAS (Independent Betting Adjudication Service), which provides impartial rulings on disputes between customers and gambling companies.
Regulatory Actions
The UKGC took regulatory action against Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited on 20 May 2025. The operator received a financial penalty of £240,000 for breaching licence conditions related to technical standards. The Commission noted that the company proactively reported the breach and cooperated with the investigation.
Site Assessment
Licensed Operator
The licensed operator behind Betfred is Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited. It's a Gibraltar-based company that has held a UKGC licence for over a decade, allowing it to serve customers in Great Britain.
This long-standing licence shows an established presence in the UK market. However, the company's regulatory record isn't clean, as shown by the financial penalty it received from the UKGC.