By Smarkets does not give free bets; it gives up its commission for sixty days with the code COMMFREE, which is worth exactly what you win on the exchange. This Smarkets review covers the betting exchange since 2010: backing and laying against other customers, in-play trading, the 2% standard commission and a Smarkets welcome offer of 0% commission for 60 days with the promo code COMMFREE after a £10 first deposit by debit card or instant banking. We backed, laid, traded in-play and withdrew; how an exchange works, the markets, the app and the payouts follow.
Smarkets is a betting exchange: you back an outcome or lay it against other customers, at whatever price the market settles on, and Smarkets takes a commission on net winnings, 2% as standard. That commission is the whole business model, which is why the sign-up offer is a commission holiday rather than a free bet.
With the code COMMFREE new customers pay 0% for 60 days. We opened the account, backed and laid on football and racing, and withdrew, and this review explains what an exchange asks of you.
Smarkets at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Betting exchange: back and lay against other customers |
| Standard commission | 2% on net winnings per market |
| Sign-up offer | 0% commission for 60 days |
| Promo code | COMMFREE |
| Sister product | SBK sportsbook, priced from the exchange |
| Withdrawal speed | Usually within 1 to 3 working days |
| App | iOS and Android |
| Support | Live chat and email |
| PlayGuy score | 71/100 |
Smarkets sign-up offer: what you actually get
Register with the code COMMFREE, make a first deposit of at least £10 by debit card or instant banking, and every market you win on for 60 days is settled without the 2% commission. There is no free bet and nothing to wager; the value is the commission you keep, which grows with how much you win. After the holiday the standard 2% applies.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Offer | 0% commission for 60 days |
| Code | COMMFREE |
| First deposit | £10 minimum by debit card or instant banking |
| After the offer | 2% commission on net winnings per market |
| Free bets | None; the offer is the commission holiday |
| Lay betting | Available from day one |
What 0% commission is worth
On £500 of net winnings over the 60 days, the standard 2% would cost £10; on £5,000 it would cost £100. The offer suits punters who trade actively or lay favourites, and it is worth nothing to someone who never wins a market, so treat it as a discount rather than a bonus.
How to claim the Smarkets offer
- Register with COMMFREE Use the Play button and enter the code at registration.
- Deposit Debit card or bank transfer.
- Back or lay Choose a market, set your price or take the best available, and match against other customers.
- Trade in-play if you like Prices move; you can close out for a profit or loss.
- Withdraw Free, back to your deposit method.
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Markets, racing and betting features
Smarkets lists football from the Premier League to the lower leagues and Europe, UK and Irish racing, tennis, golf, cricket, rugby, basketball, American football, esports and political markets, all as back-and-lay exchange markets with liquidity concentrated on the big events. In-play trading runs on the main sports, and matched bets can be closed out at the current price.
| Category | What you get |
|---|---|
| Sports covered | Football, racing, tennis, golf, cricket, rugby, basketball, American football, esports, politics |
| Horse racing | UK and Irish racing with back and lay markets |
| In-play and streaming | In-play trading on the main sports |
| Cash out | Close out matched positions at the current price |
| Bet builder and accas | No accas on the exchange; SBK offers them |
| Odds and boosts | Prices set by the market; 2% commission on winnings |
Payments and withdrawals
Debit cards and bank transfer for deposits; withdrawals are free and usually arrive within one to three working days.
| Method | Deposit | Withdrawal time |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card | Yes | 1 to 3 working days |
| Bank transfer | Yes | 1 to 3 working days |
Promotions for existing players
Commission is the only ongoing cost; promotions are rare and the value sits in the prices and the low commission.
Mobile
iOS and Android apps for the exchange, with SBK available as a separate app.
Is Smarkets safe?
Yes. Smarkets is licensed by the Gambling Commission and has run its exchange since 2010. Deposit limits, time-outs and GamStop are in the account. Support is live chat and email.
Smarkets compared
| Site | Welcome offer | Wagering | Where it wins | Our review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smarkets | 0% commission for 60 days, code COMMFREE | n/a | The exchange itself | Smarkets review |
| SBK | Bet £20, get £50 | 3.0 qualifying odds | Sportsbook on the same prices | SBK review |
| Matchbook Exchange | 0% commission for 110 days, code COMMFREE110 | n/a | Rival exchange with a longer holiday |
Pros and cons
What we like
Prices set by the market; lay betting; 2% standard commission; a 60-day commission holiday; a clean app.
What could be better
No free bets; liquidity thins on smaller markets; an exchange takes more understanding than a sportsbook; no phone line.
Our verdict
Smarkets is the exchange for punters who want to lay, trade and pay as little commission as possible. The COMMFREE offer is a discount, not a bonus, and it is worth exactly what you win.
PlayGuy verdict, 71/100
| Category | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up offer | 6/10 | Valuable to winners, nothing to others. |
| Markets and features | 8/10 | Full exchange with in-play trading. |
| Trust and usability | 7/10 | Licensed since 2010; chat and email. |
| Overall | 71/100 | For traders and layers. |
Smarkets FAQs
What is the Smarkets promo code?
COMMFREE, which sets your commission to 0% for 60 days from registration.
What is the standard commission?
2% on net winnings per market.
Can I lay bets?
Yes, laying is the point of an exchange.
Are there free bets?
No; the offer is a commission holiday.
Is Smarkets the same as SBK?
Same company: Smarkets is the exchange, SBK the sportsbook priced from it.
Is Smarkets licensed?
Yes, by the Gambling Commission.
What is the Smarkets bonus code for September 2026?
The Smarkets bonus code for September 2026 is COMMFREE. Enter it at registration or in the cashier before your first deposit to link your account to the current offer: 0% commission for 60 days.
Does Smarkets give free bets to new customers?
The current Smarkets welcome is 0% commission for 60 days; see the terms above for how it is credited and used.
How do I withdraw from Smarkets?
Open the cashier in your account, choose Withdraw, pick the method and amount and confirm. Smarkets pays out by debit cards, bank transfer. In our test the money arrived in 1 to 3 working days. Your first withdrawal waits for identity verification, so upload ID and proof of address early, and withdraw to the method you deposited with where you can.
How do I log in to Smarkets?
Use the Play button on this page to reach the official Smarkets UK site or the Smarkets app (iOS and Android), then enter the email or username and password you registered with. If you have forgotten the password, the Forgotten password link sends a reset to your registered email; two-step verification, where offered, is worth switching on in the account settings.
What do reviews say about Smarkets?
In our own review Smarkets scores 71/100, and we rate it best for laying and trading with low commission. Player reviews on the App Store, Google Play and Trustpilot tend to split on the same lines as ours: praise for prices and free bets, complaints about verification delays on first withdrawals. Read the most recent ones, as operators change platforms and terms, and treat any review that promises guaranteed wins as spam.
