Bethard is a relatively new traditional online bookmaker based in Malta. The parent company is based in and operate under this organisation. Operations in Great Britain are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission which is one of the most trusted gaming regulatory bodies in the world. The Core product is sports betting but the Bethard site also features a casino and live casino. Odds are on offer in pre-match, live and ante-post betting. Customers have access to the service using desktop computers and mobile devices. The operator has a welcome offer and a limited number of ongoing promotions for existing customers across the product range.
Bethard’s operations are monitored by the UK Gambling Commission which has introduced stringent compliance rules in respect of welcome bonuses and free bets. The Bethard welcome offer of up to £50 in the form of real cash has met the criteria for compliance set and policed by the regulatory body. The Commission can issue heavy fines and revoke licenses which Bethard are committed to fairness and transparency wit regards the welcome offer. The bonus on offer to new customers is subject to the following Terms & Conditions:
The value of the welcome offer is quite generous. However, to earn the maximum bonus of £50 new customers must stake £1000 which might be beyond the budget of recreational players. The odds requirements are not too restrictive and the welcome offer is a good incentive to open an account with Bethard, make a deposit and bet. The first deposit activates the bonus and the initial bets qualify new customers. The welcome offer is clear and transparent and not difficult to achieve. Other operators offer more lucrative welcome bonuses but the rules are more difficult which negates the benefits of the bonus.
Casino customers with Bethard can claim free spins from a total bank of 100,000. There is also a process for collecting tokens which can be used for placing casino bets. However, at the time of writing there were no dynamic sports and event-related offers for existing customers. There was deposit offer exclusive to deposits with Trustly. Customers select the offer, make a deposit with this payment method for at least £50 and claim £5 in the form of a free bet. The qualifying bet must be placed at odds of 2.0 or bigger. The bonus can be withdrawn immediately once the deposit has been bet once. This deposit offer complements the new customer welcome bonus.
‘Sports’ is the main option on the main menu on the Bethard Homepage. The sports page shows Quick Links which take users to the main betting events of the day. These links are often dominated by football fixtures but other sports do feature. The page shows the biggest fixtures of the day and a number of current live betting options. The range of sports is designed for the mainland Europe market. It also includes some sports that are popular in the UK but not really so in other parts of the world.
Bethard offers odds on about 50 sports which appear in a list in no apparent particular order. However, the most popular betting sports of football, tennis and ice hockey appear at the top of the list. In addition to the regular sports, customers with Bethard can also place bets on Politics and TV Specials. The three main betting sports are covered in more detail below:
In line with most online bookmakers, football is the most popular betting sport with Bethard. The operator offers betting markets from over 200 leagues and competitions from all around the world. The most bet on leagues are the main domestic ones in Europe and South America. The biggest leagues for betting are the Premier League in England and the Champions League. During international breaks, football betting turnover stays at a high level because there are matches between European nations.
Bethard displays the match result market and the options are Home Win, Draw and Away Win. This market is settled on the result after 90 minutes and extra-time and penalties do not count. The date and time for each match are shown and there is a link to some statistics. There is also a link to additional markets of which there are about 120 in total. These betting options are displayed under the following headings:
The range of markets is comprehensive but other operators publish more. However, Bethard concentrates on the most popular markets and do not offer some of the more exotic. The Bethard football service attracts new customers who register, make an initial deposit and bet on football matches. The site also offers ante-post betting on the outright winner of several leagues and Cups. The most bet on events are the Premier League, Champions League and the winner of the finals of the European Championships and the next World Cup. Odds are updated after each round of matches or qualifying fixtures. Customers can also place accumulators on the winner of several tournaments, as long as they are not related.
There is little to fault with the Bethard tennis service with regards the number of tournaments and betting markets. The site presents odds for tournaments on the ATP and WTA tours, which are the leading professional tours for men and women. Customers can bet on matches in the singles and doubles for both genders. Bethard also offers odds for events on the Challenger Tour and International Tennis Federation events. No other online bookmaker covers more tournaments each week so in terms of quality and quantity tennis betting with Bethard is excellent.
Bethard displays the two-way match winner market with a link to the additional markets of which there are about 40 at most in total. These related betting options are shown in the categories of All Markets, Main, Sets, Fast Markets and Specials. Tennis is a volatile betting sport which means Bethard may display both players as the favourite and underdog at different stages of a match. Outright betting is also featured with odds for the outright winner of Grand Slam tournaments such as the Wimbledon Championships at the start of August. The betting markets are updated during the tournament to reflect results and current form.
Ice hockey is the third option on the list of betting sports which suggests only football and tennis generate more bets. Customers can bet on some domestic leagues in Europe but the biggest betting competition is the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. The betting options for a typical ice hockey fixture include the match winner, handicaps and totals and period betting. Players with Bethard can also bet on the outright winner of the NHL with odds changing after each round of fixtures. In jury news also causes ice hockey betting fluctuations with Bethard.
There is no downloadable app for Android devices but the PC website can be installed on Android smartphones and tablets. The app is available when there is 25MB of free space and the mobile version must be 4.0 or higher. The Bethard mobile version for Android is fully functional which means customers can claim the welcome bonus. The range of sports available on the PC website can also be located on the mobile release. Any promotion that appears on the Bethard website will also apply to mobile users but there are no mobile-specific offers.
There is a Bethard downloadable app for iOS users because the App Store for this technology has not banned any gambling related app information. Potential mobile customers must search for ‘Bethard’ on the App Store. When the app has been located customers begin the installation process and in time mobile users can bet on any market with Bethard. iOS users can claim the welcome bonus but the mobile site does not feature any mobile-specific offers. The SBTech range of markets is comprehensive and mobile customers have access to all the odds.
Customers can enjoy the several features found at Bethard and many online bookmaker competitors. These are common features that add to the betting experience and give customers a chance to beat the bookmakers. Three of the most popular sorts betting elements of the Bethard service are described below:
‘Live Betting’ is the second option on the main menu on the Bethard Homepage. At the time of writing there were over 60 live events. The majority of these events were related to tennis and several were for football fixtures. During the seasons in Europe football dominates the Bethard live betting service. Live bettors can place bets on over 1,000 football matches during the season. There is some live streaming but players can always view a graphical representation of the play and refer to live match data. Betting is suspended after a key event such as a goal, sending off or penalty. The betting markets soon reappear with amended odds which reflect the progress of play.
Customers with Bethard can close outstanding bets early to ensure a known profit or limit the loss. Bets are settled before the end of a game and the odds reflect the current score. The cash out value depends on the original stake and odds and the current odds when the request is made. Players can accept the cash out value or reject the offer and allow bets to run until the end of the event or at a later stage. Cash out betting gives customers control over pre-match bets or earlier bets during a live betting event. Bookmakers encourage cashing out because the odds move in their favour but it is still a good option to insure against the bet moving against the selection.
Bethard presents a good range of banking methods including popular debit cards, leading e-Wallets and prepaid safe cards. Some deposit options are not valid for the welcome bonus. Most transactions are free of charge, deposits are immediate but withdrawals are subject to delays depending on the method. The banking methods with Bethard include some of the most reliable and trusted brands which ensure safe and secure transfers.
Potential new customers visit the Bethard Homepage and click ‘CREATE ACCOUNT’. The registration process involves entering an optional promo code and specifying a username and Password. Once the Terms & Conditions have been accepted the account is created. New customers then choose a deposit method and the initial amount. The account balance is updated immediately and the new account holder can begin to bet. Players add selections to the Betting Slip and the bettor enters the stake and places a bet. The account balance reflects the stake unit of the bet.
The Bethard service includes excellent customer services features. Live Chat is available 24 hours a day and customers can contact support staff by email. There is a decent FAQ section which covers the main betting and account functions.
Bethard is a relatively new betting brand which is entering a crowded and competitive market. The welcome offer is clear and achievable and there is some value in the betting odds. Live streaming of more events would enhance a good betting experience with no major weaknesses or flaws.
Bethard offers customers a full range of betting sports, leagues and markets. The welcome offer is decent but the main strength of the operation is the value in the odds which is better than with some of the bigger more established betting brands.