Fitzdares has a long history in the UK betting industry in a number of guises. The company went online in 2005 and acquired the Sutherlands sportsbook in 2016. The operation creates the image of an exclusive community, even though there is a standard registration procedure.
The site is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and has a separate licence in Ireland. The core product is sports betting but the site also features casino table games and a live casino. The site can be accessed using PCs but Fitzdares have also developed an award-winning app, launched in 2018. At the time of writing there is no welcome bonus.
Fitzdares is presented as a traditional gentleman’s bookmaker that moved online. The company still offers a Private Office Service and bets can be placed using the company website and mobile app. Welcome bonuses are relatively new features of betting and Fitzdares have decided not to introduce a sign up offer. Most UK-facing bookmakers offer such promotions, but this is not the case with Fitzdares. The operator competes by offering an individual experience on a limited range of sports. The betting categories are designed for the UK market.
When the review was completed, Fitzdares had one ongoing promotion for existing customers. The site offered a 10% refund every week on all in-play tennis losses. This offer is subject to the following Terms & Conditions:
This promotion could be lucrative but any refunds are based on net losses. If a customer loses £1,000 in any week betting in-play on tennis, the refund is £100. The refund is transparent and easy to activate but does not compensate for significant tennis losses.
It is rare for a UK operator not to have a welcome bonus and this ongoing promotion is not too attractive for small-staking customers. Fitzdares have decided not to invest in a package of promotions so there could be some value in the odds and this issue will be covered later in the review.
Fitzdares offers customer 27 betting categories. In addition to the regular sports customers can place wagers on Politics, Virtuals and TV Specials. The main menu on the Home Page has a link to the All-Sports menu and the In-Play interface. The most popular betting sports are displayed on the menu and sports are listed in a horizontal box that can be accessed from the main menu.
By default odds are displayed in fractional format but this can easily be changed to decimals. The most popular betting sports with Fitzdares are football, horse racing and tennis. Here is some information about the betting service for these sports:
Football is the most popular betting sports with Fitzdares. Customers can access football betting through the Featured Leagues and Featured Matches. The featured leagues include the main dome leagues in Europe, the Champions League and the Europa League.
The most bet on competition is the Premier League in England. Fitzdares displays the full time result for each fixture and there is a link to over 120 related markets which appear under the following headings:
The three-way match result market has a built-in profit margin of 3.6% which is below the average. Recreational customers may not notice the difference, but seasoned professionals will gravitate to the bookmakers that offer the best odds.
Fitzdares was a traditional UK bookmaker that took telephone bets. Horse racing was the core betting product before the company went online. UK customers probably expect a decent horse racing service and Fitzdares have delivered. Horse racing is the first option on the sports menu which reflects how important the sport is to this operator. Customer can bet on meetings is the UK and some international fixtures.
The range of betting markets is limited to win or each way. Customers take the price at the time of the bet placement. The only other race betting options are bets on the First favourite or Second Favourite. There is no forecast betting and customers cannot place accumulator and system bets. There are betting markets for future races, including the championship races at the Cheltenham Festival and a range of horse racing specials. However the choice of market is limited.
At the time of writing customers could select betting from 25 tennis tournaments. The site features odds for the ATP and WTA tours, Challenger tournaments and International Tennis Federation (ITF) matches. Fitzdares displays the match result and a link to up to 16 related markets, include set and match correct score, totals and handicaps. The match result market has a built-in margin of 6.43% which offer slightly more value than the average. Customers can bet on the outright winner of upcoming major tournaments in ante post markets.
Fitzdares have created an award-winning mobile app which replicates the website service. The app is fast and intuitive and offers all the account management and sports betting functions that can be found on the website. There is a downloadable version for both Android and iOS platforms.
Customers request to be a proposing member through the app. If the application is accepted the new customers has access to competitive prices, Best Odds Guaranteed and a range of events and bonuses. There are no mobile-specific offers other than those associated with the VIP programme. However, new mobile customers can claim the standard welcome bonus and the current ongoing promotions for new customers.
Fitzdares offers an exclusive betting experience but it is still a regular fixed-odds bookmaker so customers can benefit from the following betting services:
Customers with Fitzdares can cash out bets during a live event. The qualifying bets are pre-match bets or wagers placed earlier during the in-play event. The purpose of cash out betting is to give customers control of their bets. They can take a profit before the final outcome is known or limit the liability. In football, a bet on the team to win can be cashed out for a profit if they score the first goal. Conversely, the bet can be cashed to limit the loss if the backed team concedes the first goal.
Cashing out works in favour of Fitzdares but some customers like the option to take the profit before bets expire. Cash out is insurance against the match score going against the original bet. The cash out value is based on the original bet and the odds at the time of the cash out request. Bets cannot be partially cashed out. Customers have the option of accepting the cash out offer or rejecting it so the bet stays open. Cash out requests can be made whenever a market is not suspended.
‘In-Play’ is the first option on the main menu on the Home Page. Clicking the link takes customers to the in-play betting interface. At the time of writing there were live events for football, tennis, basketball and snooker. There is no live streaming or an animation of the action and match data is limited. Customers can bet on about 20 in-play betting markets for a typical football fixture.
Betting is suspended after a key incident, such as a goal in football or break of serve in tennis. The amended odds reappear after a short delay and live betting can continue. The cash out option described below is not available when a market has been suspended. There are some period betting markets which allow customers to bet on short term outcomes. Bets are settled once the result is known.
Create A bet is Fitzdares customised betting service. It applies to football matches and customers select options from up to seven markets. These combinations are not available in the regular betting. Some of the events are related such as result and goalscorer. Multiples including related markets are not paid out sat the full odds but are adjusted downwards. As each selection is added, the combined odds are shown on the Bet Slip and customer can place the bet or add additional options.
The deposit methods with Fitzdares are limited to debit cards. Customers can deposit funds using any e-Wallets, prepaid cards or by Bank Transfer. The minimum deposit is £10 and the maximum deposit is £40,000. Deposits are instant and the provider may impose a fee. The minimum withdrawal is £10.00 but there is no fixed maximum. There are delays depending on the method. Fitzdares impose a nominal charge when customers want to withdraw funds from a dormant account. The provider may also make a charge for carrying out the transaction.
Proposing members join Fitzdares by completing the registration screen and through the app. There is a procedure for opening an account on the website. Potential new customers click ‘join’ on the Fitzdares Home Page. They complete the registration screen, including specifying a Username and Password. Once the required field have been populated, users click ‘join Fitzdares’ The account is confirmed after a short delay and customers can fund the account.
New customers are prompted to make an initial deposit. The method and amount is selected and the user transfers the funds. Fitzdares update the account balance to reflect the deposit and betting can begin
Bettors navigate to the sport using the menus. Once the odds in a market is clicked, the betting options appear on the Bet Slip. As more legs are added the possible bets appear on the slip, including multiples and system bets. Customers select the bet and specify the stake and place the bet. Fitzdares confirm the bet and update the account to reflect the bet. Customers deposit more funds once when needed.
Customers have access to support using an email form and generic email address. Fitzdares provide detailed betting rules for all the betting sports. There is no Live Chat or Help facility. The site features bank links to bodies that provide support to problem gamblers. Fitzdares is a member of the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS) which settles disputes between bookmakers and their customers. Proposing members can use live chat on the mobile app.
Fitzdares under different names has a long history of providing betting services in the UK. The company went online in 2005 and the purchase of Sunderland’s in 2018 was a key event. The site tries to differentiate the service but fundamentally Fitzdares is a fixed odds bookmaker. Sports betting is the major product but customers can play table games and have access to a live casino. The in-play interface is basic and there is no live streaming.
Customers can open an account by becoming a proposing member on the website or using the mobile opp. Proposing members enjoy a VIP experience with bonuses and promotions. Customers who join on the website and using the app only have access to the ongoing tennis promotion and there is no welcome bonus.
Some important services are missing but the odds are competitive. Fitzdares has tried to establish an exclusive service with bonuses for proposing members. Despite some flaws it is a good destination for online betting.