Paddy Power Review
Paddy Power Website Layout
Paddy Power has a simple but expansive layout. There is a lot to take in, but it is structured in a way that is accessible. That makes sense, as they probably paid a small fortune to get that look.
The problem is that interacting with that layout isn’t always easy. We have a massive issue with the Paddy Power website, which results from the fact that we use a MacBook with Google Chrome. The only way we can log in is by regularly clearing our cache or by using an “incognito window”. This is an issue that many Mac users and even many Chrome users have reported, and it’s very frustrating.
That’s not all either. During the in-play events, there is a tendency for it to timeout when you’re trying to place a bet. If you have ever rushed toward a particular bet, knowing that you have a short time to place it before the market is suspended (potentially because that bet came in) then you will know how frustrating this can be.
This doesn’t seem to apply to everyone and as far as we know, it is limited to Mac users. It’s also worth noting that Paddy Power have some of the best mobile betting around, although maybe they could have put more money into developing a 100% compatible desktop interface rather than blowing it all on the mobile one.
Promotions
Paddy Power is an all-encompassing betting site, one that targets the casual gambler as much as it targets the hardcore gambler. As a result, you will typically find a wide variety of promotions here, with everything from simple £10 or £20 free bets, to cash-back bets, matched bets and more. They are not the highest we have ever seen, but they are up there, which, again, is down to the vast marketing campaigns that Paddy Power seem to constantly have on the go.
There are also many promotions for mobile users and for users of the Paddy Power casino. This is actually one of the better sports book casino add-ons we have seen, which is in no small part down to their use of exclusive games. These games are added regularly and are not found anywhere else. Some of them are not worth your time, with very poor payouts and limited bonus features, but some of them are fantastic. Their Football Fanatics game, which was released during the last football World Cup (which seems like a lifetime ago now) is a prime example of this.
The Betting Markets Paddy Power Offer
Paddy Power has some of the most extensive markets you will find. Not only does it include all major and minor sports, but the markets available on those sports are like nothing you will find anywhere else.
Typically, on any given cricket game, a sports book will offer Win/Lose markets, Outright markets and Over/Under markets. If it’s a smaller sports book and a smaller game, it might not even offer that. On Paddy Power, however, you can typically find those markets and many more on every major and minor game. There is an extensive range of markets on individual performances, as well as in-play betting on single overs and innings.
Of course, depending on which browser you use, those in-play markets may not be as accessible as you’d like.
Customer Service
In their ads, Paddy Power present themselves as the irreverent, fun bookmaker. They seem to want to be the guy down the pub, the one who tells all the jokes, provides all the tips and is generally a lot of fun. But there is none of that humor when it comes to their customer support and you’re more likely to get incredibly frustrated incredibly fast.
This is far from the best support we have encountered. We have spoken with them several times and none of those occasions were pleasant. We can’t help but think that they have replaced their customer support staff with a chat bot, one that constantly refers to a list of presets and, when all else fails, simply directs you to the terms and conditions.
If you have an issue with Paddy Power, don’t expect to get a satisfying or sane response when you email them.
You will get a better response and a quicker response if you get in touch via social media, especially if you mention them on Twitter (thus exposing their inadequacies for all to see).
However, many such queries result in them telling you to email their customer support, which means you always end up in the same place, and that’s not a good place to be.
Banking Options
There is no shortage of banking options on Paddy Power, as you would expect for such a large player in this industry. You can use everything from PayPal and Skrill to bank transfers, credit cards and debit cards. There are fewer withdrawal options than there are deposit options, and if you use a credit card to deposit then you won’t be able to use it to withdraw.
Withdrawals are processed very quickly, although Paddy Power are one of the many bookmakers to employ occasional ID checks, which are there to limit fraud. Still, these checks are done quickly and Paddy Power usually deal with them without any delay and without any issues.
Summary
Paddy Power is not a flawless sports book. In fact, it is one of the most frustrating ones we have ever dealt with. At times, anyway. And that’s important, because most of the time Paddy Power is solid. It’s hard to get away from the fact that they have the best bonuses and the most extensive markets, and this is what always brings us back to them.
Paddy Power is one of those bookmakers that you want to turn your back on, one of those bookmakers that you want to distance yourself from. You will get annoyed by them. You may swear at them and you will certainly feel like swearing at them. However, when you’re looking for niche markets that you can’t find anywhere else. When you’re looking for exclusive casino games or big promotions, you will return.
Of course, if you don’t have any issues that warrant an email to customer support, and if you use one of the few platforms and browsers that seem to be completely compatible with the Paddy Power setup, then this could easily be one of your favorite bookmakers.
It’s a chance worth taking.