FAQ
- Must I already have a Betfair account?
Yes. If you have not already opened an account, simply register here.
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How do I sign up for Betfair Mobile?
You can register for Betfair Mobile either from this website by clicking here, or directly on your mobile device by entering http://mobile.betfair.com in your phone"s browser.
You will need to have a Betfair account, simply register online, reading and accepting the terms and conditions.
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- Does it matter which mobile network operator I use?
The operator you are with needs to support GPRS/3G, have no restrictions on file download sizes, and not offer a walled garden, e.g. access to just their own content.
Vodafone Ireland and Optus in Australia both limit download sizes - please contact mobile@betfair.com for additional information.
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- Can I run Betfair Mobile on more than one phone?
If you own more than one phone and want to run Betfair Mobile on each of them, you can. Simply follow the sign-up process again for each device and/or phone number to download the application. The subscription is based on your Betfair account rather than on the application itself.
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- Is Betfair Mobile secure?
We have used a variety of techniques and technologies designed to keep your personal data secure. Our software uses 1024-bit encryption keys. These keys are eight times longer than most mobile applications, making our software significantly harder to crack.
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- Help, I've not received my download SMS!
Make sure your mobile is turned on and you have a signal. Check the inbox of your phone as the message might have already been delivered. If all else fails, simply go back to the sign-up page and repeat the process. If this still does not work, contact us
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- Why does Betfair Mobile get blocked from my telecom provider?
Many operators classify the Betfair Mobile site as adult content. This means that the user will be blocked from trying to download the application from the text message until they prove that they are over 18. This is in everyone's best interest. If you have been blocked please call your network provider's customer services team to unblock your phone, this should enable you to download and use Betfair Mobile.
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- How much does Betfair Mobile cost?
Betfair Mobile is free to download to your mobile. There are no additional charges from Betfair for using the product. (Betfair reserves the right to charge for Betfair Mobile in the future, but should this become the case, we will give users notice of this before any charges are introduced. You will however be charged for transmitting data across your network operator's network according to your tariff plan. For more details on the cost of data contact your network operator's customer services or have a look on their website. Betfair is not in a position to give you this advice.
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Do you have a list of phones on which Betfair Mobile works?
We do. You can check whether your mobile phone is supported by looking it up on our compatibility guide. Betfair Mobile is supported on almost all modern phones and PDAs and Blackberrys. To run the application you will need a phone with Java support, with a minimum download size of 144kb, a screen size of at least 120x128, and with a minimum of 250kb of memory (heap).
In addition, your network operator must support GPRS, most provide this information on their website and send you the settings via a text message. If you have a recent phone it is likely to already have this correctly configured. However, if you have changed networks or if you have an older phone, it may require setting up - see troubleshooting.
If you have a PDA such as an HP iPAQ you will need to download Java support for this device.
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- What do I need to run Betfair Mobile?
You must be an existing Betfair account holder. Assuming you already are, you need a device supporting Java (J2ME) and set up for data communications via GPRS and the Internet. You will need to check with your network operator and ask for an HTTP Internet profile that allows Java applications to talk to the Internet. Betfair is not in a position to give you such advice. You can do this easily from most of the operator websites, where you can enter your phone number and have the settings sent to your phone.
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- Can I use Betfair Mobile when I'm not in my own country?
Yes, so long as your mobile network operator supports roaming you should be able to use this service abroad. Contact your mobile network operator for details of which countries you can roam in and to enable your account for roaming. Please be aware that roaming is often excluded from pricing plans, so check with your operator about data charges.
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How do I cancel my subscription?
You can unsubscribe at anytime by clicking here. To unsubscribe means that your Betfair account will no longer be authorised to use Betfair Mobile. Please note that you will have to manually remove the application from your mobile device if you do not want to keep it on your mobile device.
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- What happens when I change my phone number, make or model?
As long as your new phone is a properly configured Java (J2ME) phone you will have no problems. Simply sign-up again with your new or your existing mobile phone number and you will receive a new SMS with the download instructions.
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- What is GPRS?
GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service and is an 'always on', high-speed data service that operates alongside your network providers existing network. You are charged for the quantity of data you download (in megabytes), not how long you are connected.
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- What is Java?
Java is a standards-based software platform on which Betfair Mobile is based. Betfair Mobile uses Java because of its ability to communicate in realtime and to render complex graphics. For more information please visit www.java.com. Java comes in many flavours, J2ME is the mobile edition of Java.
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- Does Betfair Mobile use HTML?
No, HTML needs a web browser such as Opera to be installed on the phone. Only 'smartphones' currently offer such browsers, being devices based on an operating system (Symbian, Windows Mobile, PalmOS) and providing PDA functions. Only a small number of phones in the market are smartphones whereas over 85% of new phones (in the UK) are now Java phones.
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- Does Betfair Mobile use WAP?
No, Betfair Mobile is a Java application that runs on your phone (downloading the software, however, does use WAP.) Applications are faster and much easier to use than WAP, presenting significant advantages for Betfair users.
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- What happens if I receive a call or alert whilst using this Service?
Your phone will still be able to receive inbound voice and SMS traffic. Betfair Mobile will be suspended and it then reconnects automatically once the call has been completed.
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- What happens if the GPRS network drops out?
You will always be able to see the strength of the signal, as our application does not take over the entire screen. If the GPRS service drops out you will have to wait until the signal returns before proceeding. If the signal drops out while Betfair Mobile is talking to the server you will see a "please try again" message. All transactions are confirmed so you'll know if your transaction failed at that point. You can check recent transactions in the 'My Account' section of the software.
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- If I get an error message on the screen, what do I do?
We endeavour to make our error messages self explanatory. However, if the error message does not make it clear what action needs to be taken then please e-mail us at mobile@betfair.com.
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- Does Betfair Mobile work on a Blackberry?
Yes Betfair Mobile now works on certain Blackberrys like the Pearl, Curve and the 8800 only. Older versions of Blackberry are NOT supported.
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- What does the BETA mean in Betfair Mobile BETA?
The BETA indicates that this version of Betfair Mobile is a pre-release version. As we thought you could benefit substantially by having this new way of betting even in this early stage, we decided to provide it to you. However, there are a couple of known issues which are listed here.
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- Is there a maximum or minimum I can upload to Betfair Mobile via my credit/debit card?
This will depend on your settings and currency. By default in the UK, there is a minimum 10 GBP and 9999 GBP maximum.
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- You reference charges for uploading cash from various cards to Betfair Mobile?
Card issuers may charge fees for transactions on certain cards. The latest information, detailing any fees and the cards they apply to, is available on Betfair.com.
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- Can I withdraw via Betfair Mobile?
No - currently you can upload and transfer between wallets, but not withdraw to a given card via Betfair Mobile. We perceive the overriding need on the move is to be able to fund. (You can of course withdraw your winnings on the Betfair website.)
Please also note that if you transfer money into an Australian wallet via web or mobile and you do not go through the full KYC process (Know Your Customer proving you are over 18) then you will NOT be able to withdraw your money via the web.
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- If I select a different language will the currency change to that of that country automatically?
No currency selection is made during registration this is NOT changeable once selected (either via web or Betfair Mobile).
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- Can I bet anywhere via Betfair Mobile?
You are governed by, and have agreed to, Betfair's T&Cs which covers various territory restrictions. You are bound by these laws!
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- Why do I have 2 wallets?
For licensing requirements you have more than one wallet. If you are betting on an Australian governed event anywhere in the world where it is permitted you will need to fund from that wallet. Thus is you receive a message saying you have insufficient funds in a wallet please check the wallet which is active matches the event.
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What do I do if I've a question not listed here?
We have a Getting Started Guide and a Troubleshooting section which are regularly reviewed to capture and answer problems. If these options do not answer your questions simply go to the Contact Us page and choose your preferred method of getting in touch with us. Or simply write an e-mail to mobile@betfair.com.
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- Where is the SMS received on the Blackberry?
The link to download Betfair Mobile is received as a WAP push message on blackberrys (8100,8300,8800) . In this case the link to download Betfair Mobile from will be found in > View folders > WAP Push Messages.
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- Does Betfair Mobile work the same way on a Blackberry as a phone?
Yes Betfair Mobile is the same application, However because it is derived from the mobile application there are some legacy inputs such as to get capital letters you need to scroll through the relevant key, as the 'shift' key does not work.
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