Company History
2010
November
Betfair announces a landmark sponsorship deal with Richmond Greyhound Race Club, ending 10 years of exclusive on-course TAB advertising in NSW.
October
Shares in Betfair Group plc begin trading on the London Stock Exchange.
September
Betfair UK announces its intention to list on the London Stock Exchange
April
Relaunch of the Betfair Starting Price (SP) product
February
Betfair reaches agreement with the Tasmanian Government to keep its operations there for a further 10 years.
2009
October
Betfair and SKY Channel sign deal to export Australian racing to international audience
January
Verdasco vs Nadal Australian Open Tennis Semi Final reaches a record $56 million in matched bets.
Betfair signs sponsorship agreements with 25 thoroughbred race clubs in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and a major sponsorship with Greyhound Racing NSW.
2008
November
Melbourne's Sandown Racecourse is renamed Betfair Park in a three-year sponsorship deal.
October
In response to further section 92 proceedings issued by Betfair, the NSW and Victorian governments announce that they will remove long-standing restrictions on advertising by licensed interstate wagering companies. Competition begins.
In-running betting launched on Australian horseracing
Major sponsorship deal announced with Cricket Australia
April
Betfair announces agency agreement with Tote Tasmania to allow Betfair customers to bet directly with Tote Tasmania (into the SuperTAB pool) via their Betfair accounts.
March
In a landmark case under section 92 of the Constitution (dealing with freedom of trade between the States) the High Court unanimously rules in Betfair's favour, rendering invalid WA's laws that banned the state's residents from using betting exchanges and banned betting exchanges from covering WA racing.
2007
October
Australian Racing Board amends Australian Rules of Racing to remove the ban on betting exchanges being used on race courses.
2006
August
The first bet is matched on the Australian exchange. There have since been more than 350 million bets placed and more than two million calls have been taken. Around 400,000 unique markets have been settled.
June/July
The market operations team manages its first market and shortly after the first telephone betting calls are taken by Betfair Australia staff.
February
Betfair awarded a non-exclusive licence by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission to conduct Australia's first betting exchange. Betfair begins recruitment of operational staff.
2004
Betfair signs a joint venture agreement with Australia's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited. (That same 50 per cent interest is now held by Crown Limited.)
2003
November
Betfair signs training initiative with GamCare, the charity which promotes responsible attitudes to gambling.
Betfair launches site translations in German, Danish, Greek, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Chinese.
June
Betfair signs landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UK Jockey Club, aimed at protecting and maintaining the integrity of horseracing.
April
Betfair wins Queen's Award for Enterprise, in the Innovation category, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and following a full assessment by the Department of Trade and Industry.
2002
October
The co-founders of Betfair, Andrew Black and Edward Wray, are named Ernst and Young Emerging Entrepreneurs of the Year.
September
Betfair moves to its new offices in Hammersmith, London.
July
Betfair becomes the shirt sponsor of Fulham Football Club
2001
December
Betfair merges with Flutter.com.
October
Betfair launches its telephone betting service.
June
Betfair becomes the exclusive betting exchange provider for the Racing Post's website.
May
Betfair manages its first in-running soccer market - Alaves v Liverpool in the UEFA Cup Final.
2000
October
Betfair places its first advertisement.
June
The Sporting Exchange launches Betfair. Betfair's first market is on The Oaks, won by Love Divine.
1999
August
The parent company, The Sporting Exchange Limited, is formed to develop the betting exchange platform.
1998
July
Bert meets Edward Wray to discuss his idea and the two agree to work together.
January
Andrew (Bert) Black develops his idea of a betting exchange.