Smarkets Offer 0% on All FA Cup Bets This Weekend, in a Bid to Show the Consumer That Betting Margins Are Too High

LONDON, May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Free really does mean free with online betting exchange Smarkets this weekend. Smarkets offer the best odds with the lowest commission, but customers can enjoy an unprecedented 0% commission on all FA Cup markets on Saturday.

Globally millions of pounds will be placed this weekend and patrons through to dabblers will be looking for the best deal. Traditional high street bookmakers can charge up to 16% in hidden fees and online services still leave room for improvement with up to 10% in similar costs to the customer. Smarkets' commission is an industry low of 2% but this is taken to an unparalleled level this weekend with its full commission break.

Jason Trost, Founder and CEO of Smarkets, says: "The FA Cup is the most famous football competition in English football; the first FA Cup was held in 1871. Clubs ranging from the Premiership to the conference divisions have all played their part in making this cup competition become established as one of the country's great sporting institutions.

"This weekend sees Arsenal and Aston Villa face off in this year's FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. The Gunners have, of course, proudly held the trophy for the past 12 months and will be looking to retain the trophy for the second time. Aston Villa's wait for an FA Cup has been rather more substantial. The Villans last lifted the illustrious trophy in 1957 but with Tim Sherwood's men securing Premier League survival Villa can now turn their attentions to ending that run."

FA CUP FINAL FORESIGHT

Currently, the wisdom of crowds, Smarkets' gauge for predicting market results, indicates heavy backing for favourite Arsenal, currently leading the charge at 1.56. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are climbing in probability from 8.4 on Wednesday to 7.2 on Thursday evening, a trend indicating more favour is to come.

Notes to Editors

Launched 2010, Smarkets is an industry-leading betting exchange that makes trading on events secure, efficient and exciting. Smarkets' award-winning technology facilitates market trading that enables users to set their own prices and bet against one another, right up until the end of an event. Forged from trading principles found within the financial markets, Smarkets brings intelligent betting to the forefront of an age-old industry. Headquartered in London, UK, the company has processed over £1 billion pounds worth of transactions for customers across the company's licensed and regulated markets.

• Smarkets is a betting exchange that offers a secure and transparent platform for trading on sporting, political and current affairs events.
• The company was founded in 2008 by a team of finance and software engineering professionals and is backed by T-Venture and Passion Capital.
• Smarkets facilitates peer-to-peer market betting where users set their own odds and bet against each other not only before an event starts but right up until the end of any event.
• The platform offers unparalleled value that combines cutting edge technology with a focus on transparency and treating the customer fairly.

Jason Trost, CEO of Smarkets is available for interview. For more information please contact claire.mcinerney@staturepr.com or paul.hamilton@staturepr.com, +44(0)207-100-0850