WhichBookmakerHead to head · International · verified August 2026
Betfair Exchange vs Parimatch
Betfair Exchange takes it by 1.3 points overall, but Parimatch still wins specific cases.
Pillar scores
Side by side
| Criterion | Betfair Exchange | Parimatch |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.8 | 7.5 |
| Typical margin | No margin — a 2–5% commission on net winnings replaces the bookmaker edge | Around 5% on cricket and football |
| Licences | UKGC (UK), Irish licence, multiple European licences | Curaçao eGaming, selected national licences |
| Min. deposit | £5 | ₹300 equivalent |
| Sports | 30+ sports; liquidity concentrated in football, horse racing and tennis | Cricket-led, plus kabaddi, football, tennis and esports |
| Features | Peer-to-peer exchange, Lay betting, Cash Out, API, Commission tiers | UPI payments, IPL specials, Live streaming, INR accounts |
| Founded | 2000 | 1994 |
| Best for | Best prices, Lay betting, No restrictions | Cricket, India, UPI payments |
What the price difference actually costs
Betfair Exchange builds about 3.5% into its prices; Parimatch about 5.0%. That gap of 1.5 percentage points is not an abstraction — it is money that leaves your account on every settled bet, win or lose.
Indicative cost of the gap
Stake $5,000 across a season and the difference between them is roughly $75 — in Betfair Exchange's favour.
A simplified illustration on total turnover, not a prediction. It ignores which bets you win, because the margin is charged either way — that is precisely the point.
A welcome offer is paid once. This gap is paid every time you bet, which is why we weight price at 30% of the score and most comparison sites do not weight it at all.
Our verdict
Choose Betfair Exchange if you want best prices · lay betting · no restrictions. It comes out ahead on odds, trust, markets, platform, payouts in our scoring, and its licensing position in International is UKGC (UK).
Choose Parimatch if you want cricket · india · upi payments.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Betfair Exchange or Parimatch?
Betfair Exchange scores higher overall (8.8 vs 7.5). Parimatch can still be the better choice for cricket.
Is Betfair Exchange safe and licensed?
Betfair Exchange holds these licences: UKGC (UK), Irish licence, multiple European licences. Our trust score for it is 9.2/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.
Is Parimatch safe and licensed?
Parimatch holds these licences: Curaçao eGaming, selected national licences. Our trust score for it is 6.8/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.