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 dominant players: Betfair (the established betting exchange pioneer) and Polymarket (the decentralised blockchain-powered alternative). 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 depth across US electoral contests, European parliamentary races, and international geopolitical outcomes relative to Betfair's offering
- Transparency: Blockchain-verified settlement ensures complete auditability; Betfair's adjudication procedures can lack clarity
- Market variety: Digital asset valuations, technological breakthroughs, and academic research outcomes find homes on Polymarket; Betfair's scope excludes such categories
- No bookmaker margin: Participant-driven pricing eliminates the traditional vigorish embedded by centralised operators
Where Betfair wins
- Sports markets: Live event wagering represents Betfair's foundational competency; Polymarket's coverage of in-play sporting action remains minimal
- Fiat deposits: Traditional payment methods eliminate the requirement for cryptocurrency familiarity
- Regulation: FCA authorisation delivers statutory safeguards and responsible-betting infrastructure
- Track record: Two-and-a-half decades of continuous operation furnish established conflict-resolution mechanisms
Our verdict
For those targeting political and real-world event forecasting, Polymarket emerges as the superior choice. PolyGram streamlines access to Polymarket without demanding blockchain expertise. Start trading on PolyGram →