Based in Hammersmith, London, BETFAIR started out as a betting exchange, where players could bet for and against sporting events.

Until it came along, punters could only take one side of a bet: they could only wager that a horse would come first - or at least in the first three - not that it might lose. Similarly, they could bet on a football team winning a fixture, not on it losing.

BETFAIR changed the landscape of betting. It is now the  largest betting exchange in the world, and claims to have over four million customers. Its turnover is in excess of £50 million each week.

BETFAIR makes its money by charging a commission on all winning bets. Its casino operates just like any other on-line casino. Where it does differ, however, is in the range of games it offers. Players can take part in all the usual games that one might expect from a casino: poker, blackjack, roulette and baccarat, for example, but in addition, BETFAIR offers EXCHANGE games, where the player can bet on or against the house.

Take blackjack, for example. Five hands are dealt - one to each of four automated player and one to the dealer. Instead of the player deciding whether to HIT or STAND in the game, each player automatically plays a PERFECT game using a strategy devised by wizardofodds.com (available to view on the BETFAIR website). There are up to seven rounds of betting in each game, allowing the player to BACK or LAY each player - [plus the dealer]  - as the game progresses. In addition there are four other bets, including DEALER WINS OR TIES ALL  and 1 OR MORE PLAYERS HAS 5 CARDS.

As an alternative to the normal blackjack, EXCHANGE BLACKJACK is interesting and innovative.

As well as all this, BETFAIR also offers NO HOUSE EDGE games where the house has no advantage. In this version of roulette, for example, there is no zero. The downside, though, is that betting limits are very low.

Nevertheless, given the wide range of games available, it would be a short-sighted punter who ignored BETFAIR.

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