Against the Odds - Case Study of Betfair.com

Betfair can claim to be Britain’s greatest dot com success story. Launched in 2000 its radical innovation was that it enabled people to bet (wager) directly against each other thus cutting out the dominant bookmakers. Rejected by venture capitalists, Betfair raised £1 million (UK Pounds) from private investors and successfully entered the oligopolistic UK betting industry. By 2005 it had made such an impact that it was rumoured to be preparing for an IPO which would value the company at £700 million.

The case study analyses the entrepreneurs behind Betfair, its start-up and rapid growth, the product innovation Betfair has brought, its impact on the UK betting industry, the challenges it has faced and its future prospects. Analysis of the case requires the use of theory from entrepreneurship, economics and e-commerce.