First Impression & Registration
Homepage is Somewhat Confusing At First
This BetStars review found that website design here was not as sharp and focused as it is at many rival bookmakers. If you are a punter who is more used the clear design lines and muted colour scheme of a bookie like Betway, BetStars can seem a little confusing and unfocused. Video content starts to play automatically when you first visit the homepage, which can be somewhat distracting.
Nevertheless, once you get over any initial confusion, the site design follows a pretty standard template. There are three tabs in the top left corner of the homepage which allow for speedier navigation. These are highlights, promotions and results. The highlights tab shows popular bets, along with items such as bets which are eligible for promotional boosts. If you want to see the full list of sports which are available, then you need to click the A-Z tab in the top right corner of the page. Unlike many other bookmakers’ websites, the sports are not conveniently listed along the left side of the page, which detracts from the site’s convenience.
Finding Mainstream Sports is Easy
This BetStars sportsbook review found that the site was simple enough to use, though it took slightly longer to get used to than many other betting websites. Finding less mainstream sports, such as rugby league, proved to be a pretty inconvenient process, with these sports having to be accessed via the A-Z tab. It was easy enough to navigate towards mainstream sports like football, though.
Registration is Very Simple
Much like the findings from our
Betvictor review, registering at the site is very simple. All you need to do is provide an email address, and then choose a username and password. After that, you are taken to a second box on the screen where you confirm your age and agree to the site’s terms and conditions. The process is very simple and can be completed within seconds.
There is a welcome bonus on offer for new customers at BetStars. The bonus consists of £20 of extra bets, which you can claim when you place a first bet of at least £20. You need to deposit £20 in your account to be able to claim the bonus offer. If you are wondering whether you can consider BetStars trustworthy or not, then the simple terms and conditions for the bonus will certainly give you a positive impression of the company.
The bonus is pretty simple to understand in regard to its terms and conditions too. No restrictive wagering requirements are stated, so it is a straightforward process to turn the bonus into real cash winnings with some carefully chosen bets. You will receive your extra bets within 48 hours of your first bet being placed, and you have seven days in which to use them before they become invalid. If you use Skrill or Neteller as your payment methods, you cannot claim the bonus bets.
T&Cs apply, 18+. New customers only. Place RequestABet bets worth a total of at least £10 to get a £5 Free Bet to use on RequestABet. Every Friday. Opt-in required. T&Cs apply
High BetStars Ratings for Bonuses
In addition to the welcome bonus, there is a whole host of other promotional offers available at BetStars. You can claim up to a 100% cash bonus when you place multiple bets, like a Heinz or a Yankee, on horse racing. Accumulator guarantees and accumulator profits boosts are also among the other bonuses on offer. There is also a best odds guarantee in place for all UK and Irish horse racing. The same guarantee is in place for golf events too, highlighting the variety of the bonuses on offer from BetStars.
Is BetStars legal? Is BetStars a good betting site? From the range of bonus offers available, you would have to say yes. Although the initial view of the welcome bonus is that it is a little confusing, the sheer range of other offers more than compensates for that. The BetStars ratings for this category are high, because few other bookies provide as much variety when it comes to promotional offers for their customers. If you’re looking to compare this to another sports bonus, why not take a look at our
BoyleSports review?
Get BetMGM UK Bonus
New cust only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at Evens (1/1) for 2 x £10 Free Bets (min odds 2/1) & 2 x £10 Free Accas (trebles & above at min odds per line 1/2). Expires 14/03/25 23:59. Cannot be used on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
Some BetStars Horse Racing Streams Available on App
There is an app available for you as a BetStars customer, whether you are an Android or Apple (iPad, iPhone, IPod Touch) user. You can find further details about the apps in the help section at the BetStars website. For Android users, the app has been designed for mobile devices running Android 4.4.2 and above, with a minimum screen resolution of 800×480. You need to check that your device is compatible before you attempt to download the app.
There are two streaming providers at BetStars, which affects how you can access the live streaming of horse racing at BetStars. The ‘At the Races’ live streaming feature can be accessed via your mobile device. The ‘Racing UK’ live stream is only available via the desktop site, though. Other than that, all the services which are on offer at the desktop site are available via your app too.
Mobile Site Mimics Desktop Site
If you prefer not to have to download an app, then there is a decent mobile version of the site available. Like the app, it mimics many features of the desktop site. The design of the desktop site, as mentioned earlier, is not outstandingly good, and looks a little cluttered and confusing at times. The same is true of the mobile site, although once you get used to it, it does start to become simpler to use and understand.
Overall, the functionality is good for mobile users at BetStars, whether they are using the app or the mobile site. The design could be a little sharper, though, with the layout of the site needing some work for it to be considered the equal of many of BetStars’ rivals. Nevertheless, BetStars scores a reasonable seven out 10 in this category.
BetStars Poker and Casino are Excellent
There are plenty of extras on offer at BetStars. As the bookmaker is part of the same group as PokerStars, you can access one of the best online poker offerings on the market by clicking on the poker tab at the top of the BetStars homepage. As well as a great range of poker games, there is also the chance to play a number of promotional games and enjoy special offers at the PokerStars site. Former England cricket legend Andrew Flintoff is used as an ambassador for the PokerStars brand.
There is also a BetStars casino website, where you can play an excellent range of slots games and table games. Slots classics like Age of the Gods can be played there, as well as games with progressive jackpots like Stars Mega Spin. Table games such as live roulette and classic blackjack are also available if you like a bit more variety in your gaming.
You can access BetStars’ social media channels via the Facebook and Twitter icons, which are located close to the bottom of the homepage. The Facebook page has a following of just over 58,000 people, and offers up promotional content, such as memes and videos. The Twitter account has almost 22,000 followers, with the content on offer being much the same as that on the Facebook page. There is also a Youtube channel, which replicates the video content on the other social media channels.
This BetStars Review Found Plenty of Details about Payment Methods
You can access detailed information about the payment methods at BetStars by clicking on the tab marked ‘Real Money’. This takes you to a very helpful page where all payment methods are detailed. You are also informed as to which methods can be used to withdraw funds, and which can be used to deposit. On the desktop site, you can also access a function called Fast Deposit, which allows for very speedy processing of any funds that you deposit in your account. This service is not available for punters who use the mobile app, though.
Visa cards are by far the most convenient method that can be used at BetStars. You can both deposit and withdraw funds using Visa cards, and you can take advantage of all the bonuses and promotional offers. Customers who use Skrill and Neteller cannot claim bonus offers at BetStars. Other methods which can be used to both withdraw and deposit funds are Entropay, Neteller, Skrill and PayPal.
Reasonable Withdrawal Times
Other payment methods can only be used to deposit funds in your account. These are Mastercard, Maestro, local bank transfer, Rapid Transfer, PokerStars TopUp, Paysafecard and Neosurf. Others can be used to withdraw, but cannot be used to deposit funds. These are Direct Bank Transfer and WIRECASHOUTS. The website states that the minimum deposit is $10, though this will probably be £10 for UK customers.
Most deposits at the site are processed instantly. Withdrawals can take longer, though. Withdrawals to Visa cards and EntroPay cards are sent for processing within 72 hours after request, and can take three to 10 business days to process. Wire transfers are also sent within 72 hours, and can take two-five days to be completed.
There is an extensive and detailed help section at BetStars, which provides plenty of detail about the services on offer at the site. It can also answer many of your queries, and is much more detailed than the help sections at many other online bookies. The search function in the help section also works well, and you should be able to find answers to almost any general query about the way the site works here.
You can access the customer service page at BetStars by clicking on the tab at the top of the page marked ‘24/7 Customer Service’. Sadly, the only available way to contact BetStars is via email, using the contact form on the website. There is no live chat option available, nor is there a telephone number, something which detracts from the rating awarded to BetStars in this category.
Get BetMGM UK Bonus
New cust only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at Evens (1/1) for 2 x £10 Free Bets (min odds 2/1) & 2 x £10 Free Accas (trebles & above at min odds per line 1/2). Expires 14/03/25 23:59. Cannot be used on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
Bet More to Become a BetStars VIP
You can become a BetStars VIP, opening up a series of benefits. You achieve this by betting more often, basically, as your VIP status is determined by the amount of your bets, the frequency of your betting and the lifetime of your Stars Account. If you have been selected to become a VIP, then you will be informed via email.
While the detailed help section is very good, the lack of live chat and telephone contact options means that we have only awarded BetStars a six out of 10 rating in this category.
Licenses & Safety - Is BetStars Legal?
Is BetStars Legal? Yes! Fully Licensed in the UK
Similar to our
ComeOn review, BetStars is licensed in the UK by the British Gambling Commission. So if you are wondering “Is BetStars legal?”, we can definitely say yes! It is legal for all UK residents over the age of 18 to bet at the site. The licensing arrangements are stated clearly at the bottom of the homepage, and are unambiguous. If you live outside of the United Kingdom, you need to contact customer services to see how the licensing arrangements at BetStars will relate to you, and whether or not you can legally access the sports betting services at the website.
Plenty of Protection for Potential Problem Gamblers
BetStars states on its website that as a company it takes the safety of its customers very seriously. Age checks are in place, involving customers’ names, addresses and age details, to ensure that only those of legal age are betting at the site. There is also an extensive advice section detailing how you can protect your account and personal data by taking some simple steps at home, such as not sharing your computer.
There are also options available for you to limit your account, if you feel that you are falling prey to compulsive and addictive behaviour when it comes to your betting. There is a short questionnaire on the site which helps you to assess and check your own behaviour patterns in relation to your betting. This can be a useful tool to see if you are falling into compulsive patterns of behaviour and need to take steps.
BetStars provides links to the full questionnaire at GamCare and NCP Gambling, both are sites which can provide additional support to compulsive gamblers. This is another reason to consider BetStars trustworthy. A link to Gamblers Anonymous is also available on BetStars’ website. You can take time-outs from your account, self-exclude for long periods or deactivate your account, if you are experiencing problems. Advice on how to do all of this is provided in the help section.
BetStars Review Conclusion
BetStars Scores 77 out of 100 Points in our Test)
This Betstars sports review has awarded this bookmaker a total rating of 77 out of 100, a solidly good all-round score. If you are looking for a good, all-round betting website then BetStars is a reasonable choice. Some live streaming is available, and there is a good range of betting markets and sports available to you as a punter. If you are asking “Is Betstars legal?” We proved that it definitely is! BetStars is fully licensed in the UK.
BetStars Strengths and Weaknesses
BetStars is overall a good betting site, which has some particularly good features. Much of the site’s offerings are solid without being spectacular, though. Customers can certainly enjoy access to plenty of markets, along with some good live betting options, though the range of these is not as great as at other betting sites.
One weakness that this BetStars sportsbook review identified is the design of the website, which does not have the clarity or sharpness of other betting websites. You can get used to the design fairly quickly, so this is not too much of a hardship for you as a customer, but it is a weakness nonetheless.
Another area for improvement is the contact methods that you can use to get in touch with the company when you have a query. Being limited to email via a contact form is a little inconvenient, though BetStars compensates a little for this by having a very detailed help section on the website.
Overall, BetStars offers a reasonably good service to punters. There are better sports betting websites out there, but there is also a significant number that are less good than BetStars.
