Betfair Expert Fee (ex Premium Charge)
As of January 6, 2025, Betfair has introduced the Betfair Expert Fee, replacing the previous Premium Charge. This change affects a very small percentage of users who consistently generate significant long-term profits on the platform.
Betfair Expert Fee vs Premium Charge
The Expert Fee is a new, more dynamic pricing structure designed to reflect a trader’s recent performance on the Betfair Exchange. Instead of calculating fees based on lifetime profitability, Betfair now evaluates the gross profit from the last 52 active weeks to determine the applicable rate.
This system allows for more flexibility, as the fee adjusts based on profitability and can even return to 0% if a trader’s profits decline. Additionally, the Expert Fee is capped at 40%, eliminating the previous 50% and 60% rates under the Premium Charge.
By implementing this model, Betfair has reduced the number of traders subject to additional fees, ultimately lowering costs for many consistent, long-term winners.
Who is Affected by the Betfair Expert Fee?
At the start of each week, Betfair will assess whether an account qualifies for the Expert Fee based on the following three conditions:
- Last 52 Active Week Gross P&L > £25,000
- Lifetime Gross P&L > £0 (the account must be profitable overall)
- Lifetime Markets Bet > 100 (the account must have been active in at least 100 different markets)
Only accounts that meet all three criteria will be subject to the fee.
How is the Expert Fee Calculated?
If an account qualifies for the Expert Fee, Betfair will calculate the fee rate at the start of each week based on the Last 52 Active Week Gross P&L (total gross profit in the last 52 weeks). The fee structure is as follows:
This means that only users who exceed £25,000 in profit over the past year will pay this fee, with higher profits leading to higher fee percentages.
How and When is the Fee Applied?
- At the start of each week, Betfair determines whether an account qualifies.
- The fee is deducted on a weekly basis based on the previous week’s profits.
- Users will be notified via email if they qualify for the Expert Fee.
Customers who qualify for the Expert Fee will be notified by email before any charges are applied. Upon initial qualification, the first charge will be refunded as a goodwill gesture.
If a customer later qualifies for a higher fee rate, they will receive a new notification and a one-week grace period before the higher rate is applied. However, these notifications and grace periods do not apply to those who were previously subject to the Premium Charge.
Preventing the Expert Fee
Betfair actively monitors activities aimed at avoiding the Expert Fee. The following cases may lead to adjustments:
- Multiple accounts operated by the same individual or group
- API subscriptions or master accounts with linked sub-accounts
If Betfair identifies multiple accounts being used to bypass the fee, they reserve the right to treat them as a single customer and apply the appropriate charges.
Why Has Betfair Introduced the Expert Fee?
The Expert Fee ensures that high-profit traders contribute a fair share to the platform. It targets only the most successful users, while the vast majority of traders are unaffected. Unlike the Premium Charge, the Expert Fee brings more transparency by clearly outlining the criteria and fee rates.
Conclusion
The Betfair Expert Fee is only relevant to a small percentage of highly profitable traders. If your Last 52 Active Week Gross P&L is below £25,000, you won’t be charged anything. However, if you consistently generate high profits, it’s important to understand how this fee may affect your earnings.
At the time of writing, it is not yet clear whether the Expert Fee applies worldwide or is limited to UK customers.
For the latest updates visit Betfair Expert Fee official page.
For additional exchanges, check other Betting Exchange sites.
Note: The information presented is valid as of the date of publication and may be subject to future changes. We recommend checking Betfair’s terms and conditions regularly for updates.
