Betfred
Betfred is a family-owned British bookmaker with a large shop estate and a growing South African arm. Licence, products and our view.
Licensed in the UK and South Africa
- Founded
- 1967, Salford
- Owner
- The Done family
- Licences
- UK Gambling Commission; South African provincial licences
- Products
- Sports betting, casino, bingo, lotto betting; betting shops
Licence and background
Fred and Peter Done opened their first shop in Salford in 1967, and the business is still family-owned. Betfred holds a UK Gambling Commission licence and, since buying into the South African market, provincial licences there as well.
In 2026 the company said it would close 132 UK shops after the increase in gambling duties.
What you get
Betfred leans on football coupons, racing and long-running concessions such as Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven on first goalscorer bets. Lotto betting and in-shop cash services are popular with its retail base. The online casino covers the usual slots and live tables.
The website is functional and a little dated; the app is better.
Our take
Good value for football accumulator and goalscorer bettors who use the concessions, and a natural choice for existing shop customers. Less compelling for in-play depth or for casino players. South African customers get a separate, locally licensed site.