Smarkets
Encyclopedia
Smarkets is a United Kingdom
-based betting exchange
and social network
, founded in 2008 by Americans Jason Trost and Hunter Morris. It operates out of offices in Clerkenwell
, and markets itself as the “simple, social” alternative to its larger rival, Betfair
. Smarkets is backed by a consortium of European investors, including former last.fm
chairman Stefan Glaenzer.
As a betting exchange
, all betting is peer-to-peer rather than against a bookmaker; Smarkets allows traders to agree odds amongst themselves. Establishing a reputation for its political betting , Smarkets also offers betting on sports, current affairs and popular culture.
Smarkets has been listed as one of 10 European start-ups to watch by the Wall Street Journal.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based betting exchange
Betting exchange
A betting exchange is an entity which provides "trading" facilities for retail or bookmaker customers to buy and sell contracts. Contracts are structured as binary options. Some betting exchanges may also offer CFD products...
and social network
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
, founded in 2008 by Americans Jason Trost and Hunter Morris. It operates out of offices in Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...
, and markets itself as the “simple, social” alternative to its larger rival, Betfair
Betfair
Betfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
. Smarkets is backed by a consortium of European investors, including former last.fm
Last.fm
Last.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
chairman Stefan Glaenzer.
As a betting exchange
Betting exchange
A betting exchange is an entity which provides "trading" facilities for retail or bookmaker customers to buy and sell contracts. Contracts are structured as binary options. Some betting exchanges may also offer CFD products...
, all betting is peer-to-peer rather than against a bookmaker; Smarkets allows traders to agree odds amongst themselves. Establishing a reputation for its political betting , Smarkets also offers betting on sports, current affairs and popular culture.
Smarkets has been listed as one of 10 European start-ups to watch by the Wall Street Journal.