Betfair unveils new Expert Fee system as premium charge structure scrapped 

Betfair has announced its plans to scrap its existing premium charge and replace it with a new ‘Expert Fee’, in a move the exchange said would half the number of users who pay additional fees.

Betfair’s most profitable customers will pay a weekly top-up on top of standard commission to ensure the total amount paid by the customer is equal to a specific percentage of their respective gross profit. 

The move is expected to slash the number of Betfair customers paying the charge by half as well as resulting in lower costs for others. 

The change will come into effect from 6 January, with the previously implemented lifetime earnings limit replaced with a new 52-week system.

In turn, profit and loss over a 52-week period will determine the rate the user will pay. 

The rate is adjustable depending on each user’s rate of profitability, but will now be capped at 40%, unlike the previous system, which could see rates as high as 60%. 

The Expert Fee is separated into three bands, with those who make a profit up to £25,000 in 52 weeks will not pay any extra commission other than the standard base rate. 

Those who generate between £25,000 and £100,000 will be expected to contribute at the 20% rate, while those with a profit surpassing £100,000 within a 52-week active period will be face the highest rate of 40%. 

Users can move between bands depending on their performance over those 52 weeks. 

Betfair has also introduced ‘The Buffer’, designed to factor in any losses or additional commission generated since a user last paid the Expert Fee, or moved to a new rate altogether. 

Those looking to keep tabs on their fees can remain up to date via the Expert Fee tab on the dashboard, which can be found on the Betfair site from 13 January 2025

The implementation of the Expert Fee in January brings an end to 16 years of Betfair’s premium charge system. 

Three years later, in 2011, the exchange introduced super premium charges that could reach rates as high as 60% for the most successful traders. 

To qualify for such a rate, the customer’s account would have exceeded £250,000 in net profits, with a total commission that is less than 40% of lifetime gross profits as well as having bet in more than 1,000 markets. 

Betfair managing director Richard Hayward said: “This change greatly reduces the number of customers who will pay any additional fees and is the first of many improvements coming for the exchange in 2025.

“We have more developments aimed at enhancing the experience for customers and building liquidity for all.”