Matching, not making a book

The Other Sideof the Bet

You name a price. Another person has to take it. If nobody will, you are not on. That is an exchange — not a bookie, not a bonus shop.

Exchanges we cover How matching works

Betting exchange

You vs other people

You name the price
Back or lay
Commission after a win, not a trim in every quote

Traditional sportsbook

You vs the bookie

Their number or nothing
Back only
The edge is already in the price

vs.

What is actually different

License first
Read the regulator on the operator’s own site before you send money.
A price is an offer
Nothing is a bet until someone takes the other side.
Commission is printed
Many desks take a cut of net winnings. Check their table — not a screenshot from a ranking site.
You keep the risk
The exchange matches. It does not book the other side for you.

Exchanges we cover

All named desks

Real operators, as of September 2026. UK and European matching rooms that typically block US residents, and US exchange-style sports venues that do not. Sporttrade is on the full list as a closed desk. We do not take a cut from any of them.

Betfair Exchange
The deep book
Typically not available to US residents
The deepest consumer matching room. Flutter’s desk. Typically closed to US residents.
Read the review
Smarkets
The other UK ladder
UK/EU exchange; US story is a different product
UK/EU ladder with a published 2% default cut. The US story is a sportsbook and a 2026 filing — not this exchange.
Read the review
Matchbook
The quieter professional book
Typically not available to US residents
A thinner professional book. Net-win commission. Typically not a US desk.
Read the review
ProphetX
US sports, peer-to-peer
US-facing; operator says it is not in Nevada
CFTC sports prediction exchange. US-facing. The operator’s own lobby says it is not in Nevada.
Read the review
Novig
Make the price, or take it
US-facing; help centre excludes some states
US peer-to-peer sports contracts. Make a price or take one. Their help centre, not our card, is the state map.
Read the review

St · Closed

Closed desk

SporttradeA US exchange that already left

Was a real US order-book sports venue.

No longer taking wagers

Read the review

All named desks