Betsson Sportsbook

You might know the brand name from the Betsson sportsbook, but the Betsson AB group also look after a range of popular online gaming companies that include the likes of BetSafe and CasinoEuro.

Betsson

Betsson are an online gambling brand who have grown to become one of the market leaders in the European sports betting and casino gaming scene.

You might know the brand name from the Betsson sportsbook, but the Betsson AB group also look after a range of popular online gaming companies that include the likes of BetSafe and CasinoEuro.

So how did this firm grow from being a small Swedish sportsbook into becoming a multinational online gambling company?

NOTICE: Betsson Brands Not Available In The UK

In October 2020 Betsson withdrew all brands for UK customers. This decision was made mainly due to increased regulation and tax in the market that made it a less attractive proposition.

Betsson earned less than 3% of their profits from the UK and feel they can more easily earn money in less regulated countries.

To access sport leagues, popular event quick links, settings, the bet builder and promotions, you may find these and more by tapping the ‘A-Z’ mobile button at the top-left of your screen.

As a truly international sports betting provider, regulated for international play from from Malta, Betsson offers site versions in English, Finnish, Icelandic, Greek, Danish, Spanish, Norwegian, German, Turkish, Czech, Swedish, Polish, Portuguese, Italian and Serbian. This is great for a market like Canada, that has such a multi-cultural population. If your first language is not English, you have plenty of options at Betsson.

Yes, Betsson recently added CAD accounts to those currencies it supports.

As you can see below, the bookie’s range of withdrawal options is fairly narrow. However, with all options free of charge and with a minimum withdrawal limit ranging from 10 to 20 €, Betsson offers a fair deal. Make sure you keep in mind that if you want to withdraw using Skrill Moneybookers, your deposit must have been made using the same Moneybookers account.

Betsson sportsbook test

As the name already suggests, Betsson is a bookie with Scandinavian roots. The Swedish company traces its history back to 1963, but has ultimately entered the sports betting market in 2000. While the company headquarters are still located in Stockholm, the bookie mainly operates online through its Maltese subsidiaries. In this review, we will put the Swedish bookie to the test, and we will inform you about the registration process, payment procedures, and the bookie’s sportsbook as well as about the site’s usability. We hope you’ll enjoy the review. Let’s see whether Betsson has got what it takes to be the bookie of your choice!

Registration at Betsson

Before you can place your first bets, you need to sign up with the bookie and open a personalised account. You can find the link to the sign-up form quite easily in the top right corner of the front page. The registration form itself is fairly concise and does not take long to be filled in. As with most bookies, you are required to enter some personal data such as your full name, date of birth, and your physical address as well as a valid email address. In contrast to other bookies, you are only required to create a password, so a default security question and answer are not required. However, you have to give your phone number for further verification purposes, and you also have to select your country’s currency for payment matters. Please keep in mind that by clicking the ‘Create Account’ button, you automatically agree to the bookie’s general terms and conditions, so we strongly recommend you to read the terms and conditions before doing so. If you’re cool with the bookie’s terms, you can proceed to making your first deposit into your new Betsson account.

How to make a deposit into your Betsson account

In order to be able to start betting, you need to pay into your new Betsson account. After your registration, you should have received a verification mail. Once you have clicked on the link in the email, you are directed to the sign-up page, and as soon as you’ve logged in for the first time, you can make your first deposit. Betsson offers 8 different payment methods including Visa and Mastercard for credit card payment as well as other options such as Skrill, Neteller, Entropay, Paysafecard, Sofort transaction, and Maestro.

Unfortunately, the bookie does not provide a list of all payment options including the respective minimum deposit amounts and/or potential fees, so we had a look at some of the most popular options. Credit card payments will be charged with a 2.5% fee and the minimum deposit level is 10 €, while the maximum deposit amount is 1.000 €. If you want to play for high stakes, you will probably have to turn to other options such as Skrill or Neteller for which the maximum deposit amounts are significantly higher ranging from 10.000 € (Skrill) to 37.500 € (Neteller). Furthermore, these options are free of additional charge. The bookie offers a text message notification service so you will be informed as soon as your deposit has been approved. Overall, the payment options provided are all safe and reliable, and the respective deposit levels are fairly average, so Betsson get our sign of approval as far as depositing is concerned.

Usability

A site’s usability can be of vital importance in betting, especially when it comes to bets on live action. If a page is cluttered with pictures and flash animations, for instance, the page load time can be impeded which can in turn result in frustration when you try to place bets on events in play. While Betsson’s front page might fall into this category, this does not really pose a problem as you get to the sports betting section, which is designed in a much simpler fashion, by clicking on ‘sportsbook’ in the main navigation bar at the top of your screen. In general, the main navigation bar includes all the main sections available at Betsson, such as the sportsbook, a casino and live casino, a poker section, and other games including bingo and scratch cards. The sportsbook section is further subdivided into three different categories: the sportsbook, a live betting section, and your bet history, which allows you to keep track of all the bets you have placed at Betsson as well as of currently popular events. While the sportsbook section is designed in lighter shades with a few orange and green highlights, the live betting section is pretty low-keyed. This strong contrast in the background is a nice and subtle indicator to remind you in which section you actually are. As far as the organisation of the various navigation bars and the bet slip is concerned, the bookie adheres to the customary conventions. While the main navigation bar at the top of the page helps you to switch between the main categories (sportsbook, casino, poker etc.), a navigation bar on the left side provides a list of all the available different kinds of sports, and it gives an overview of all currently available markets (at the time of our review, the total number of available markets was around 12 000). The left navigation bar works absolutely flawlessly and in a folder/subfolder system which makes it easy to navigate through the content.

Once you have clicked on the odds that you want to go for, the bet slip will immediately appear on the right-hand side of the page. The bet slip is fairly straightforward and pretty much self-explanatory. You can choose from three options (single, combined, and system) and enter your stakes. In contrast to many other bookies, Betsson does not provide bankers for individual bets on the bet slip.

One feature that we really liked is the fact that the bookie offers a categorisation by markets in addition to the usual listing. For instance, if you feel like placing a few bets on potential goal scorers on a matchday in the Premier League, you can select the option ‘players’ in order to get the respective betting options for all games.

If you have not selected any particular country or league, in other words if you have just opened or refreshed the sportsbook, you will find current live events as well as the most popular events at the centre. Please note that if you click on any of the odds for events in play which are displayed, the bet will not appear on your bet slip, but you will rather be redirected to the live section, which is a wee bit of a nuisance if you want to bet quickly.

Let’s now have a look at the language selection at Betsson before we move on to a more comprehensive analysis of the bookie’s sportsbook.

Language selection at Betsson

Betsson offers a total of 18 different languages, which is a comparatively large number and definitely reflects the bookie’s great ambitions. Most of the languages cover the European market with a focus on Scandinavian countries, but interestingly, Betsson also offers a Peruvian variety of Spanish. Overall, apart from punters from Arab-speaking countries or countries in the Far East, most customers will find their native language represented at Betsson.

The Betsson sportsbook

The sportsbook is the centrepiece of every online bookie site as the range and depth of the offer in regard to the different kinds of sports and markets available are crucial. To start off with, you will definitely get your money’s worth if you bank with Betsson. The bookie provides you with over 30 different sports and further enhances the offer with events in the music business as well as with bets on events in politics and finances. The sportsbook covers mainstream sports as well as fringe sports, such as hurling and biathlon. Furthermore, the number of available leagues and competitions for mainstream sports is quite impressive. For instance, Betsson offers football leagues and competitions in 25 different countries with up to 10 000 markets in total, so it is pretty safe to say that you will find that one match that you are looking for. In terms of betting options per game, the bookie should also meet your expectations, with 80 to 100 different markets for a regular Premier League match. The only thing missing, really, is the option of Asian handicaps, but if that is not something you are desperately looking for, you will definitely be satisfied with the offer at Betsson.

The in-play offer at Betsson does not disappoint either as the bookie provides a fair amount of markets for live events. However, since betsson.com does not give any further statistical live information aside from goals scored, cards, corners, penalties, and number of substitutions, it is a bit hard to read a game or anticipate any sort of momentum, unless you are lucky enough to be provided with a livestream for the respective event.

Overall, Betsson boasts a sportsbook that can definitely sustain comparison with some of the top dogs in the sports betting industry. The Scandinavian bookie provides a great range of events in over 30 different kinds of sports and further enhances the offer with a great variety in markets per event.

Withdrawal

At some point, every successful punter wants to cash out their winnings. Since the various withdrawal options might include potential fees and withdrawal limits, this procedure can sometimes harbour unpleasant surprises. We will now look into the withdrawal process at Betsson, in order to make sure that you won’t get ripped off.

As you can see below, the bookie’s range of withdrawal options is fairly narrow. However, with all options free of charge and with a minimum withdrawal limit ranging from 10 to 20 €, Betsson offers a fair deal. Make sure you keep in mind that if you want to withdraw using Skrill Moneybookers, your deposit must have been made using the same Moneybookers account.

The withdrawal procedure itself is fairly hassle-free one, and if you encounter any problems during the process of cashing out, the customer service, which is also available via live chat at all times, will help you clarify any issues in that regard.

Our verdict on Betsson Sportsbook

Overall, Betsson did not fail to impress us. Especially the scope of the sportsbook, which is the centrepiece of every online bookie page, as well as the depth of the offer with regard to the number of available markets have certainly convinced us that the Scandinavian bookie is a force to be reckoned with in the sports betting industry. Furthermore, the site’s excellent usability complements this impression and adds to a great punting experience. The only area where Betsson has still got some room for improvement is the live betting segment. A lack of detailed statistical information about events in play might discourage punters from placing bets on live events, not least since the regular stats feature on recent form and performances is simply not good enough to get an idea of how a game is progressing. However, if you have access to a live ticker or a stream, the markets for live events at Betsson definitely compensate for the lack of statistical information. To sum up, we can fully recommend this bookie to all sorts of punters; novice or experienced as well as hobby or professional, since the Betsson sportsbook provides enough variety for everyone to put their betting abilities to the test.

Sportsbook, which occupied 26 per cent of total group revenue, finished up at SEK 406.7m (2020: SEK 459m), with mobile down to SEK 322m (2020: SEK 368.3m) to represent 79 per cent (2020: 80 per cent) of that total.

Betsson hits record year despite enduring Q4 struggles

Betsson Group has lauded 2021 as a “record year in terms of revenue and a result that matches the record result from 2018,” despite the gambling group encountering significant headwinds through the final quarter.

In addition to lauding an array of new market launches, M&A activity and implementation of adaptations in response to regulatory changes, Q4 saw the firm cease activity in the Dutch market due to policy changes as well as face “an exceptionally low sportsbook margin”.

Group revenue during October to December dropped seven per cent to SEK 1.59bn (£1.34bn) from SEK 1.76bn (£1.48bn), driven by downfalls of nine per cent and 11 per cent across the casino and sports betting divisions, respectively.

The former saw revenue through the quarter closed at SEK 1.16bn (2020: SEK 1.28bn), with the decrease cited as being driven by the aforementioned Dutch termination as well as regulatory changes in Germany.

Casino accounted for 73 per cent (2020: 75 per cent) of total group revenue, with mobile closing at SEK 926m (2020: 1.02bn) and remaining consistent to generate 80 per cent of the SEK 1.16bn.

Sportsbook, which occupied 26 per cent of total group revenue, finished up at SEK 406.7m (2020: SEK 459m), with mobile down to SEK 322m (2020: SEK 368.3m) to represent 79 per cent (2020: 80 per cent) of that total.

Revenue from other products, which includes poker and bingo, was SEK 22.8m (2020: SEK 19.8m), an increase of 15 per cent, which also remained consistent to represent one per cent of total revenue.

Despite operations in the Swedish market said to be continuing to develop well, Betsson recorded a revenue dip across all Nordic regions through the quarter to close with a drop of 8.4 per cent to SEK 525.2m (2020: SEK 573.5m).

Western Europe, driven by Dutch and German struggles, plummeted 56.7 per cent to SEK 200.1m (2020: SEK 462.1m), with Central & Eastern Europe and Central Asia up 10.6 per cent to SEK 565.7m (2020: SEK 511.4m). The rest of the world surged 40.9 per cent to SEK 303.8 (2020: 215.6m).

Gross profit through the quarter fell 11 per cent to SEK 988.7m (2020: SEK 1.11bn), and EBITDA closed at SEK 307.5m, down 25 per cent from 2020’s SEK 410.5m. Active customers grew 17 per cent to 1.16 million from 989,969.

Pontus Lindwall, president and CEO of Betsson, offered a geographical reflection and outlook: “During the year, significant progress was made in Latin America and the ambition is to cement and strengthen these developments in 2022.

“The acquisitions and investments that were made are developing according to plan and the company is becoming even more efficient in the region, not least thanks to the hub that has been established in Bogotá.

“Betsson’s offering was recently launched in the city of Buenos Aires and in the province of Buenos Aires – two separately regulated areas in Argentina. The plan is also to launch in Mexico during the coming year through our partnership with Big Bola Casinos.

“Significant changes are taking place in how European markets are being regulated. Betsson has an efficient way to handle such changes that, for example, enabled the rapid closure of Dutch operations.

“The Georgian parliament has decided to implement several new restrictions that Betsson is intensively working to adapt to. However, Betsson, together with other players in the market, is in discussions with the authorities to bring about a mitigation of these measures.

“This spring, significant focus will be on North America, where not least the launch of the B2C offering in Colorado is at our doorstep. The company’s preparations are progressing according to plan and there is an excitement over launching a new product on a competitive market.

“The B2C investment will act as a showcase for the B2B offering in the American market. Parallel to the investment in the United States, preparations are taking place in the Canadian market and the goal is to launch Betsafe in the province of Ontario and to offer the Betsson sportsbook as a part of the B2B offering.”

For the full-year, revenue climbed six per cent to SEK 6.67bn (2020: SEK 6.38bn), gross profit increased five per cent to SEK 4.31bn (2020: 4.1bn), and EBITDA rose five per cent to SEK 1.56bn (2020: 1.48bn).

Lindwall added: “2021 was another year where we could see the importance of a strong global and diversified product portfolio featuring local expertise and strong brands. The year 2022 will entail continued investments both in technology and the existing product portfolio.

“A scalable and flexible technical platform combined with highly competent employees and strong commitment create the right conditions for taking full advantage of Betsson’s business model.”

For every 100 EUR wagered on Casino Games, you can receive a maximum of 3 VIP Points (100% Contribution = 3 VIP Points).

FEATURES

• Betsson is offering several deposit methods
• A good quality of odds are on offer, coupled with active sports betting markets
• Dedicated “Statistics & Live Scores” section
• The betting site is offering an excellent all-in-one sportsbook, casino, and live casino app
• Transparent, safe, and reliable
• Two 100% Bonuses are waiting for you

• Fewer payment options than would be expected of a betting site of its stature

• PROS

• Betsson is offering several deposit methods
• A good quality of odds are on offer, coupled with active sports betting markets
• Dedicated “Statistics & Live Scores” section
• The betting site is offering an excellent all-in-one sportsbook, casino, and live casino app
• Transparent, safe, and reliable
• Two 100% Bonuses are waiting for you

• Fewer payment options than would be expected of a betting site of its stature

Also, there is a potentially lucrative Betsson VIP club programme for which every customer is eligible as soon as they sign up. Every casino game and bet you place using real money allows punters to acquire VIP status points. Such points can then be exchanged for cash, with higher VIP levels yielding a better exchange rate.

Summary

Overall for Betsson sportsbook review – there is much to like about Betsson – especially if you are more of a casual gambler. The service and clean user interface make the experience of betting on the site a thoroughly enjoyable one – even when things aren’t going your way. Also, the wide choices of markets available means that you are simply spoilt for choice when making bet selections. The quick response time of Betsson support, as well as the authenticity of its gambling license both mean that you can play without any fears over your safety – a fact that cannot be overlooked.

And yet, for all of the sites many redeeming features, problems do still remain. For one, the exclusion of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate payment method will put several players off straight away. But here you can find bookmakers which accepts cryptocurrency betting. There is also the problem of the odds, which remain relatively unremarkable.

But both of these gripes are only relevant for a certain type of user. To the vast majority of punters who frequent the site, Betsson simply has everything you could ever need or want in an online bookmaker. And so, in that vein, it gets a thumbs up from us.