Betway Sports Review
Reviewed By James Molloy
Betway is owned and managed by Betway Limited, a company registered in Malta. The operation for residents of Canada is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority. The brand was launched in 2005 and has grown into a global fixed odds bookmaker.
The key service is sports betting but this online betting site also features an online casino, eSports and Vegas games. Betway have a major partnership with West Ham United Football Club, who play in the Premier League in England. In 2015, Betway launched an eSports portal with Ninjas in Pyjamas, a professional Counter Strike team.
Read on through our Betway review to find out what this leading bookmaker has to offer Canadians.
| Pros | Cons |
| Generous welcome bonus up to $200 | No live streaming of the English Premier League for contract reasons |
| Betting on about 30 sports categories | Limited loyalty promotions |
| Enhanced odds through Betway Boosts | |
| Weekly Free Bet Club | |
| In-play betting platform with cash out facility |
Betway Sports Welcome Bonus
Residents of Canada who register with Betway can activate the welcome bonus and bonus code offer. This comes in the form of a 100% match deposit bonus up to $200. The value of the bonus equates to the qualifying deposit. The minimum deposit is $10 which earns the player a $10. New customers must opt-in to claim the bonus which is based on the first deposit made within 7 days of registering.
The wagering requirements are 5 times the deposit and bonus, which expires after 7 days. The bonus must be rolled over with bets at odds of 1.75 or bigger. The contribution to the wagering requirements depends on the odds for the qualifying bets. Any cash balances can be withdrawn at any time once you wager enough to meet the requirements. The Betway welcome offer for residents of Canada has demanding restrictions but the offer is feasible within the timeframes.
Promotions & Free Bets from Betway
At the time of writing, customers with Betway Canada could not enjoy the benefits of any loyalty promotions. However, the weekly Free Bet Club credits existing members with a 410 free bet on a weekly basis. A feature called Betway Boost provides enhanced odds for multiple bets that bring together a number of match outcomes. The Betway Boost involves fixtures in selected sports, including soccer and ice hockey.
Want an exclusive deal? We have the latest Betway Promo Codes.
Betway Free Bets
Existing customers located in Canada can opt-in to the Betway weekly Free Bet Club. The qualifying bet is a $25 single line multiple with at least three selections. The minimum combined odds must be 2/1 or bigger. Any qualifying week is Saturday to Friday. Betway credits the first $5 free bet on the following Saturday and the second $5 free bet is credited on the next Monday. Any winnings from the free bets do not include the stake. There are also refunds linked to three-point scores on selected matches in NBA basketball.
Sports and Markets Available at Betway
‘Sports’ is the first option on the main menu. Clicking this option takes users to the sportsbook, where there are quick links to the main betting events and leagues of the day. The ‘All Sports’ menu lists about 30 betting categories which are displayed initially by order of popularity and then in alphabetical order. The main sportsbook page also highlights the welcome bonuses across the full product range and the current in-play betting highlights.
The most popular betting sports are soccer, tennis and ice hockey. The most frequently bet-on leagues are the English Premier League in soccer and NHL in ice hockey, which is of course Canada’s national sport. Basketball, baseball and American Football prove hugely popular at collegiate level and in the professional leagues - the NBA, MLB and NFL. Global sports such as golf and boxing are also popular for betting.
In addition to sports betting, customers with Betway in Canada can also place wagers on Politics and TV and Awards Specials. The Ninjas in Pyjamas-sponsored portal provides a comprehensive eSports betting service, featuring many individual team games and tournaments. Customers have access to a full horse racing service as well on meetings in the UK and Ireland and other overseas races. Another perk of the sportsbook is that the horse racing section is linked to Timeform, which means it includes a huge amount of info for each race.
Betway Betting Features
There are lots of features at Betway, but the first stop for us it the #BetYourWay feature. This is where you can tweet Betway to create a bet for you or you can simply create your own from within the bookmaker.
It's probably most popular with soccer betting and here you can choose from about 50 markets to build your bet. It's a brilliant layout and with each pick you add, you see the price for your bet adjust accordingly. You can use it with other sports as well, but you're likely going to have to Tweet the Betway team as the on-site builder only works per single match.
Betway Sports' cash out option allows in-play bettors to close a bet before the final outcome. The objective is to take a guaranteed win or accept a fixed loss regardless of the how the bet ultimately performs. Cash out values depends on the stake and odds of the original bet and the betting market when the bet is cashed out. The more the bet is right, the higher the value of the payout.
Customers can create personalised multiples using the bet builder facility. Bettors devise unique soccer bets by combining outcomes from a match and Betway offers odds. Some of the match events are linked so Betway adjusts the odds accordingly. The service is currently available for selected soccer matches but could be extended to other sports.
The final thing we wanted to mention for features is that of the Betway blog (Betway Insider). This section of the site is packed with great articles linked to upcoming matches, races and potential betting markets. The writers are all clued up and they make for great reading. If you're new to betting and need some tips before visiting the Betway sportsbook, this would be a great place to start!
In-Play Betting
The In-Play betting page displays the current live events by sport and upcoming events. The most popular sports for in-play betting are soccer, tennis and ice hockey. You have access to a graphical picture of the progress of play and match data when live betting so you can keep track of everything. Betway Canada takes down the odds after a key event such as a goal in soccer and ice hockey and displays the latest odds after a short delay before live betting can resume.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is provided for horse racing in the UK and Ireland. All you need to do to watch a race is place a bet on that race of C$1 or more and you will get access, although only for that specific race.
Registration Process at Betway
Potential new Betway customers in Canada can click ‘Register’ on the Homepage to open up a Betway account. There are three registration sections: Account Information, Personal Details and Contact Details.
From there, you have options to set account limits and the banking currency. Customers click a button to confirm they are of legal age to gamble before acceptance of the welcome bonus and general terms & conditions. The registration process is quick and seamless.
Depositing and Withdrawing at Betway
Given the size of the bookmaker, it should come as little surprise to hear that there are a lot of ways in which you can bank at Betway. Of course, Visa and Mastercard will be the most popular methods among users, but there are plenty of alternatives. Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Astro Pay and Paysafecard are just some of the deposit and withdrawal methods available.
There are no fees involved with any of the banking methods on-site and this includes withdrawals. The minimum deposit is C$10 and withdrawals also start from just C$10, although not all methods can be used to withdraw back to. If you find that this is the case with your deposit method, you will need to upload a banking method that is acceptable to get your money.
Withdrawal times range from 1 to 7 days, although we noticed that Visa and the e-wallets are usually completed within just a few hours.
Betway Sports Betting Experience
Customers with Betway in Canada can benefit from an outstanding sports betting experience on PC, mobile and tablet platforms. The site is easy to navigate using links and menu options. The betting categories are clearly displayed on the Quick Links and All Sports menus, though there is no search facility. The main current betting events appear under Highlights. There are banner links to the current welcome bonuses and the Free Bet Club.
Mobile App
Mobile users can download the Betway sports app to iPhone and Android devices. The website can also be used on mobile devices when the browser is correctly optimised although the betting app will make for a more seamless experience. The Betway app fully replicates the website so mobile punters won't miss out on anything. There are no mobile-specific Betway bonus offers but mobile users can claim the welcome bonus and benefit from any ongoing promotions for current players
Betting Odds at Betway
This table shows the margins for the main betting market with the three most popular betting sports:
| Sport | Market | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Soccer | Match winner 3-way | 105.38% |
| Ice Hockey | Match winner 3-way | 108.98% |
| Tennis | Match winner 2-way | 108.28% |
The margins across the three sports are above average for the market in Canada.
Betway Customer Support
The betting site features a comprehensive customer support facility which covers the main account and sports betting operations. Customers can contact the support team using Live Chat Canada. There is also a Canada contact number and email support. Customer support staff are friendly and provide quick responses.
| Social: |
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| Available Hours: | 24/7 |
| Phone: | +44 080 823 8984 |
VIP/Loyalty Programme
There is no formal VIP or loyalty programme but current players can benefit from the weekly Free Bet Club and event and sports-specific ongoing promotions. New players can activate the welcome bonus for up to $200 which is relatively generous. The site does often feature sport and event specific promotions which are generally time specific with expiry dates.
Betway Responsible Gambling Features
It's clear from the off that Betway takes their responsible gambling role very seriously. They have a section on the site that explains everything they do and how they can help people who need assistance controlling their online gambling.
In terms of features, they have included deposits limits, session reminders, take a break limits, self-exclusion and account closures. They've also a list of sites and resources that people can access to not only get help but also how to help those close to them (loved ones, friends etc.) get the support they need.
Our Verdict
Since being launched in 2005, Betway has grown into a successful global betting brand with customers in Europe, North America and other parts of the world. The site and mobile app provide an excellent range of betting opportunities in pre-match, in-play and futures markets.
The absence of ongoing promotions is offset by a generous welcome offer and the weekly Free Bet Club. The site and mobile app look good and work well. Overall, Betway is a solid choice and a good destination for sports betting.
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FAQ
Does Betway have a minimum withdrawal amount?
The minimum withdrawal with Betway is $10.
How good is the selection of games at Betway?
Betway offers an excellent range of sports, leagues and markets.
Does Betway have a mobile betting app?
Customers can download the Betway mobile app to iPhone and Android devices.
Is it safe to play at Betway?
Betway provides a safe and secure betting environment.
What is the average withdrawal time at Betway?
Withdrawals are sub to standard delays of 1 to 6 business days.
Where does Betway hold its licence?
Betway is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority.
Contributors
Hi, I'm James Molloy
"I've worked in the betting industry on product, operations and customer service for several years. A class operator will deliver on many aspects and we cover them all."
- Sports Betting
- Football
- Online UX
Reviewer since October 2015
