Marathon Bet Bookmaker Review: Trust Rating and Feedback on Payout Honesty

Marathon Bet — is a bookmaker with a history worthy of an epic saga. It has been in the betting market since 1997, back when pagers were all the rage and mobile phones were a rarity. The bookmaker has a whole era of sports betting behind it, with hundreds of thousands of winning bets and millions of happy (and not so happy) fans. Its popularity has fluctuated like the form of football teams during the off-season: sometimes peaking, sometimes in deep reserve, but always remaining in the hearts of fans.

Thus, the first decade of the 2000s passed for the company under the banner of rapid growth and expansion. It managed to become a leader in the entertainment industry not only in Russia and the CIS countries, capturing 50% of the regional segment, but also successfully entered the international arena. The bookmaker rapidly expanded its client base and broke all records for traffic to its official website in the .ru domain. However, years of hegemony were replaced by the eve of oblivion in the summer of 2011, when, along with the adoption of a law banning the organization and conduct of gambling using communication means, it became known that the MarathonBet brand was ceasing its activities in Russia.

Having fallen under a ban in its homeland, marathonbet.com continued to operate in the global internet space under a license issued in Curacao (Netherlands Antilles). The comeback happened only in July 2017. At that time, the bookmaker marathonbet.ru officially returned to the legal market of the Russian Federation, once again posing worthy competition to local operators.

Let’s check whether the revival has been beneficial and how the MarathonBet bookmaker performs today. We will evaluate its odds dynamics, margins, betting lines, and spreads. We will analyze user reviews about the support service, website convenience, mobile application, and, of course, the speed of cashing out winnings.

License and Reliability

In the betting industry, where gambling coexists with risk, and fortune is as capricious as spring weather, the task of finding a reliable bookmaker becomes a challenging test for newcomers. However, with our review, solving it will not be difficult. The first line of defense — document verification.

As the analysis showed, Marathon Bet operates under a license from the Federal Tax Service of Russia. This guarantees the legality of servicing clients, transparency of financial operations, and protection of consumer interests at the state level. Additionally, online betting on the website and in the app is conducted through the Unified TSUPIS, while all tax and targeted contributions to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation are monitored by the ERAI.

Having clarified the legal side, let’s move on to the second line of defense — feedback from real people. They serve as a reliable measure of the quality of the bookmaker's service, indicating the level of trust in it and the overall satisfaction of users.

Regarding its reputation, the Russian bookmaker MarathonBet has established itself fairly well, averaging 3.8-4.0 out of 5.0 on rating platforms. Players highly value it for a number of advantages:

● Convenience of the website and technological mobile applications;

● Fast settlement of bets in live and pre-match;

● Beneficial bonuses for increasing the bankroll;

● Flexible and responsive support;

● Easy withdrawal methods;

● A comprehensive line of sporting events.

Among the downsides, there are reports of limits on the maximum bet amount for successful bettors, sometimes unjustified account blocks, and advertising spam. Occasionally, there are lengthy verifications for certain categories of users, caused by distrust of their identity and/or the source of funds in the balance. Most of these issues are resolved through the internal support of the bookmaker or third-party arbitration, but we believe it’s important to be aware of them to be prepared to spend personal time and effort communicating with support representatives.

Official Website

In terms of design, the official website of Marathon Bet resembles a cozy tavern where seasoned players gather, knowing a thing or two about sports betting. There is no place for flashy graphics and trendy features, but it has everything necessary for comfortable betting: convenient navigation, an intuitive interface, and a relatively rich selection of sporting events. Despite its "vintage" appearance, the portal provides a pleasant online interaction experience, allowing users to change the format of odds, the view of the resource, the indication of odds movement, and the display of new blocks during loading.

The homepage and the official Marathon site are designed in a dark cyan color, which dominates the entire design but does not interfere with gameplay. In the upper right corner, there are registration and login buttons, and just below them are chat, quick search, and settings icons. The header also contains the main menu of key sections: "Sports", "Live", "Esports", and "Super Prize". A little lower, there are additional links to results, statistics, applications, and bookmaker promotions.

A bright yet unobtrusive advertising banner is prominently displayed, informing about current loyalty promotions — welcome bonuses, cashback, promo codes, zero margin, and the hottest matches. Its content is duplicated on the right, just below the coupon.

On the left, we see a traditional menu of sports, ranked by discipline, popularity, and timing of the match start. The central part features the betting line with the spread of offered outcomes and their odds.

The footer contains special informational subsections that will be useful to new guests of the establishment, including:

1. 1. About us.
   2. Privacy Policy.
   3. Bookmaker Rules.
   4. Contacts.
   5. Payment.
   6. Mobile site.
   7. Blog and Affiliate Program.

If necessary, by opening "About Us" or "Rules", Marathon visitors can access a full FAQ section, which collects the most popular questions and their answers. For convenience, they are grouped by theme. Detailed guides on account management, responsible gaming, bonus wagering, payments, placing sports bets, betting terms, etc., are also provided. It is commendable that the bookmaker's blog publishes free sports predictions and general recommendations for placing bets.

The only thing we did not like about the website www.marathonbet.ru is the density of information. The pages are loaded with a large amount of text and tables without any "breathing space" between them, making it tiring to comprehend the content due to the complexity of perception.

MarathonBet App and Mobile Version

The mobile version of the Marathon bookmaker's website was developed specifically for those wishing to place bets from portable devices. It is fully adapted to the players' requests and provides the ability to complete all steps in the process of placing bets online — from creating an account to withdrawing winnings to a personal account. However, avid bettors may prefer the MarathonBet app, which can be downloaded for free on a smartphone or tablet.

It is important to note that the Android app cannot be installed from Google Play due to existing restrictions on gambling apps. Alternative sources for downloading Marathon on Android phones include:

● The official website of the bookmaker:

● HUAWEI AppGallery;

● Samsung Galaxy Store;

● NashStore;

● RuStore.

The iOS app can be downloaded via a link from the mobile version of the betting company's website. The redirect leads directly to the Apple Store service, from where the app can be installed on an iPhone with one click.

Both software options have a similar design and functionality. No glitches or malfunctions have been noted in the software operation, and they are regularly updated, with improvements being made. Particularly convenient features in the apps include quick bets, coupon editing, and early payouts.

Account Registration and Verification

Essentially, registering new players at the Marathon bookmaker is no different from creating an account on other Russian bookmakers' platforms. The procedure involves filling out a classic form that requires providing requested data and confirming the actions taken. It will take no more than a couple of minutes.

The next logical step is verifying identity and payment instruments. The simplest way to complete verification is to link an authorized profile from the Unified TSUPIS to the bookmaker's account via a common identifier, namely the mobile phone number.

If you haven't created an account in the Unified Center for Interactive Betting Accounting yet, now is the time to catch up by following these instructions:

1. 1. Open the TSUPIS Wallet app or visit the 1cupis.ru website.
   2. Click the "Register" button.
   3. Enter a valid phone number — an SMS with an activation code will be sent to it.
   4. Follow the system prompts until the process is complete.

After that, you will need to go through identification via State Services or Tinkoff ID by filling out a special form in the TSUPIS Wallet app or in the Personal Account on the ECUPIS web portal. Authentication can also be conducted at land-based betting points of legal bookmakers in Russia, at "Contact" payment system offices, and in the retail network salons of "Svyaznoy".

If everything is done correctly, any citizen of Russia receives one verified profile for quick identification at all legal bookmakers in the country, including Marathon. To verify identity, it will be sufficient to indicate the number connected to the ECUPIS at the registration stage in the bookmaker.

The second option is verification through the standard service "Document Upload". To confirm registration details, an electronic copy of the passport showing the name and registration, as well as a selfie with it in hand, will be required. Sending documents that verify identity is considered a simplified data verification, imposing financial restrictions on the gaming account. The limits concern deposits and withdrawals up to 60,000 rubles — at a time and up to 200,000 rubles — monthly. To lift these limits, full verification through TSUPIS is required.

Betting Options and Odds of the Bookmaker

In terms of the number of sports available for forecasting, Marathon ranks among the top 5 best bookmakers in Russia. The bookmaker's line is mostly a proprietary product, rather than purchased from external providers or borrowed from competitors. This allows for a truly unique selection of betting options before and during matches, long-term bets, as well as markets with increased odds and minimal margins down to zero commission.

The line is filled with events from various disciplines, from popular football, tennis, hockey, and basketball leagues to esports tournaments and more niche areas such as:

● Baseball;

● Golf;

● Gaelic football;

● Cricket;

● Rugby;

● Sumo;

● Chess, darts, etc.

The depth of coverage of competitions is also pleasing. The bookmaker's offerings include not only world, international, and national championships. Bettors can place bets on regional leagues, lower divisions, junior matches, women's, friendly, exhibition, and even amateur games.

In addition to standard forecasts for the winner of a single game or the entire competition, a wide range of secondary markets is also available. These include bets on statistics, combined outcomes, exact scores, intervals, various handicaps, and totals. For example, a mid-tier football match from the European Cup series has about 150-200 options available for betting. This is certainly not a record, but locally for the Russian bookmaker industry, it is a commendable result.

As for the live service, it is also satisfactory, but no more than that. Up to 70-100 games are held online daily, and on weekends, there can be a couple of hundred. The spreads are at a decent level, and odds are updated almost without delays and errors. High-profile events come with video broadcasts, detailed match centers, and infographics. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for secondary games, for which often only basic information about the current score and elapsed time is available.

Marathon's pre-match odds exceed the average benchmark. The margin on leading events ranges from 3.5% to 5% (for key sports), while for lesser-known tournaments, the commission rises to 6-8%. In Live, this figure is a couple of percentage points higher. In terms of the overall size of odds, the platform holds a stable place among the top three bookmakers in Russia, largely thanks to reducing costs to 0% on matches from the first tier of the most prestigious leagues: UCL, UEL, RPL, EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A, NHL, KHL, NBA, Dota 2 DreamLeague, etc.

Payment Methods

Deposits (acceptance of interactive bets), placing forecasts, conducting settlements, and payouts are made in Russian rubles. Other currencies are not accepted.

The maximum and minimum bet amounts are indicated in the coupon. These figures may differ for different events. The maximum win at MarathonBet is up to 17 million rubles, depending on the type of competition and type of bet: single, express, system.

Account Replenishment

As payment methods, the Marathon bookmaker supports:

1. 1. Bank cards Visa, Mastercard, and MIR.
   2. E-wallets Yoomoney and TSUPIS.
   3. Mobile commerce providers MTS, Tele2, Beeline.
   4. Payment systems SBP and SberPay.
   5. "Elexnet" terminals.

Note that the last option is strictly for conducting cash operations. Meanwhile, SberPay and mobile operators are only suitable for depositing funds; withdrawing money through their payment gateways is not possible.

The minimum deposit amount for the gaming balance is 100 rubles. The maximum is determined by the conditions of the chosen payment system and the level of verification obtained, in any case not exceeding 595,000 rubles for a single transaction.

Withdrawal of Funds

In addition to cards and other previously mentioned payment methods, the Marathon bookmaker allows cashing out winnings via bank transfers to specified details. The minimum payout for e-wallets is set at 100 rubles, while for cards, the limit is from 1,000 rubles. According to regulations, withdrawal requests are processed within no more than 48 hours.

Taxation of Winnings

A 13% personal income tax (PIT) is automatically withheld from users by the betting company for winnings equal to or exceeding 15,000 ₽. This occurs upon withdrawal by reducing the withdrawal amount. If the payout is no more than 15,000 rubles, the responsibility for calculating and paying the tax falls on the player.

Marathon Promotions and Bonuses

Speaking of Marathon's bonus program, there is no doubt that the brand stands out as an unrivaled leader among Russian bookmakers in terms of hospitality. Its ongoing arsenal of offerings includes no less than 10 promotions with free bets, express cashback, bet insurance, cashback, and loyalty points.

Rewards are credited for almost any gaming activity. This includes completing registration, making the first deposit, installing the app, winning tournaments, unlocking new levels in the rewards system, and more. Clients can expect not just a couple of boring benefits, but a whole array of bonuses to suit every taste.

Bookmaker Support Contacts

Marathon Bet support consultants are available via email at [email protected], as well as in the online chat on the official website. These are the main communication channels, but not all. A free hotline 8 800 550 20 11 has also been launched, and the brand has a presence on social media and messengers. The support service of the company has mostly earned a positive reputation for the speed of responses and adequacy in addressing complaints.

FAQ

● How does registration at Marathon work?

○ To create an account at the Marathon bookmaker, you need to go to its official website or app, then fill out a form that includes personal data, as well as choose a username and password. Everything is logical and intuitively simple.

● Can I download the bookmaker's app on my phone?

○ Yes, the company has taken care to release a mobile client for devices based on iOS and Android. They can be downloaded from the bookmaker's site or official online stores.

● How to withdraw money from the Marathon bookmaker?

○ You can cash out winnings through the personal account on the website or in the bookmaker's mobile app. To do this, you need to specify your preferred withdrawal method, the desired amount, and confirm the operation.

CHECK TEXT FOR UNIQUENESS: 100%

Ratings

1. Reliability — 4.2.
2. Bonuses and Promotions — 4.9.
3. Payment Convenience — 4.5.
4. Live Line — 4.
5. Pre-Match Line — 4.6.
6. Support Service — 4.8.
7. Odds — 4.6.