Paddy Power vs Betway

Quick verdict: who should pick which

Choose Paddy Power if you want the widest set of Irish-friendly payment methods — including Apple Pay and Revolut Pay — plus a slightly higher-rated app and withdrawals score. It's also the choice if you lean on Bet Builder and want live streaming built in.

Choose Betway if the deciding factor is odds margin. Across our 195-market sample Betway's average margin came in at roughly 6.32% versus Paddy Power's 6.93%, and Betway landed the best price on a marginally higher share of markets (13.8% vs 12.3%).

Avoid Betway if you specifically want Apple Pay, Revolut Pay or live streaming from the sportsbook, as those aren't in its listed feature and payment set. Avoid Paddy Power if you rank average price above everything else, where Betway's data is a shade sharper.

Head-to-head comparison table

The table pulls together the key BETAURO scores and factual data for both operators.

• Founded: Paddy Power 1988 — Betway 2006
• Licence & safety score: Paddy Power 9.2 — Betway 9.0
• Odds score: Paddy Power 7.8 — Betway 7.9
• Average margin (195-market sample): Paddy Power 6.93% — Betway 6.32%
• Best-price share: Paddy Power 12.3% — Betway 13.8%
• Market coverage: Paddy Power 8.3 — Betway 8.4
• Sports depth: Paddy Power 8.4 — Betway 8.5
• Live capability: Paddy Power 8.2 — Betway 8.3
• Bet Builder: Paddy Power 8.0 — Betway 7.8
• Payments score: Paddy Power 8.5 — Betway 8.6
• Withdrawals score: Paddy Power 8.6 — Betway 8.4
• App score: Paddy Power 8.8 — Betway 8.7
• Features score: Paddy Power 8.4 — Betway 8.2
• Support score: Paddy Power 8.0 — Betway 8.1
• Minimum deposit: both €10
• Withdrawal time: both quoted 0–24h

The scores sit close on almost every line. That tells you this is a genuine toss-up decided by two or three specific factors rather than a clear overall winner.

Odds and margins: the case for Betway

Odds are where Betway earns its slight edge. From a shared 195-market sample, Betway's average margin was about 6.32% against Paddy Power's 6.93%. Lower margin means the bookmaker takes a smaller cut across pricing, so over many bets you keep more of the theoretical value.

Betway also returned the best available price on around 13.8% of sampled markets versus Paddy Power's 12.3%. Neither figure means one book is consistently top-priced — you'll still find Paddy Power beating Betway on plenty of individual selections — but if you shop a single book and value pricing above features, the data tilts toward Betway.

On the BETAURO score, though, it's near level: Betway 7.9 to Paddy Power 7.8. Serious value hunters should compare live prices per market rather than commit to one book. You can cross-check current numbers on our betting odds Ireland pages before you back anything.

Payments and withdrawals: the case for Paddy Power

Payment flexibility is Paddy Power's clearest win. It lists Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay and Revolut Pay — the last two matter a lot for Irish bettors who run day-to-day spending through Revolut or top up straight from an iPhone. Betway's listed methods are Debit Card and PayPal only.

Both accept a €10 minimum deposit and both quote withdrawal processing of 0–24 hours, so on speed the published data is level. On the BETAURO withdrawals score Paddy Power is marginally ahead at 8.6 to Betway's 8.4, while Betway takes the payments score by 8.6 to 8.5 — reflecting a broadly equal setup with different strengths.

If a specific method is a dealbreaker, that decides it. Want Revolut Pay or Apple Pay? Paddy Power is the only one here that lists them. Happy with card or PayPal? Either works, and you can check wider options on our Revolut Pay betting sites and Apple Pay betting sites lists.

Apps and live betting

Both operators have iOS and Android apps. Paddy Power scores 8.8 for its app to Betway's 8.7 — close enough that either will feel polished on a phone, which is where most Irish punters place bets during a match.

On live capability the numbers are again tight: Betway 8.3, Paddy Power 8.2. Both list Live Betting and Cash Out, so you can trade in-running on football, tennis, racing and more, and take an early return before an event settles.

The difference is Live Streaming. Paddy Power lists it as a feature; Betway does not. If you like watching in-play — say an ATP or WTA match or a mid-week Champions League tie — alongside your bet slip, Paddy Power covers that in-house. See more streaming options on our Live Streaming betting sites page.

Bet Builder and features

Both bookmakers offer Bet Builder, so you can combine multiple selections from the same match — shots, cards, goalscorers, corners — into one price. Paddy Power's Bet Builder score is a touch higher at 8.0 to Betway's 7.8, and its overall features score leads 8.4 to 8.2.

Paddy Power's feature set also lists Fast Payout and Live Streaming, which Betway's does not. Betway's listed features are Live Betting, Cash Out, Bet Builder and Mobile Betting. Both give you the core in-play tools; Paddy Power simply lists more extras.

If you build multi-leg same-game bets around Premier League or GAA fixtures, either handles the basics. For streaming plus builder in one place, Paddy Power is the fuller package on the listed data.

Sports and competitions covered

Both cover the sports Irish bettors follow most: Football, Horse Racing, GAA, Rugby, Tennis and Golf. Sports depth scores are all but identical — Betway 8.5, Paddy Power 8.4 — as is market coverage at 8.4 and 8.3.

For football you'll find the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A, Ligue 1, Copa Libertadores and the World Cup across both. Tennis punters get ATP and WTA Tour markets. Racing and GAA — the bread and butter for a lot of Irish accounts — are well served on each.

Because the depth is so close, sport choice rarely decides this one. If you bet a niche market heavily, check it exists on both first via our Football betting sites and GAA betting sites pages.

Licence and safety in Ireland

Both operators are licensed. Paddy Power is listed under the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), the body overseeing the Irish market, and carries the higher BETAURO licence and safety score at 9.2 to Betway's 9.0. The minimum betting age in Ireland is 18.

We base safety judgments on regulatory status and register checks in the supplied data, not on any first-hand account activity. On that basis both sit at the top end of the safety scale, with Paddy Power fractionally ahead. Either is a reasonable choice for a compliant, regulated account in Ireland.

For the wider picture, our legal betting sites Ireland page lists operators by regulatory standing.