Marathon Bookmaker Review in Belarus: Reliability Rating and Review Check

The branch of the former Russian, and today already international bookmaker Marathon has been represented in Belarus since 2003. The platform does not limit clients in their choice of entertainment to just sports betting, allowing them to play online casino slots, try their luck with live dealers, and expand options for making predictions using a bet constructor. The organization of local operations in the Belarusian iGaming market is implemented both through a stationary network of physical clubs and on the official website marathonbet.by. The latter has a fully functional mobile version, not to mention native applications for devices running iOS and Android.

From the MarathonBet review, readers will learn in detail: under which license the company operates, what real people write in reviews about it, how profitable and comfortable the proposed gaming conditions are. We will discuss registration and account verification issues, analyze the convenience of payments, and see what local bonuses are like. In the end, we will evaluate the quality of customer support and compare all the pros and cons of this bookmaker.

License and Security

When a new bookmaker comes to our table for dissection, we always start studying its anatomy with the license. It is a true X-ray that reveals the internal structure of the bookmaker, illuminating its skeleton, bones, and joints. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the legality of the platform, its accountability to the state, and thus the degree of reliability. In this regard, Marathon is doing well.

The bookmaker operates in the gambling business under license No. 33120/171. The special permit document No. 390 is registered with the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. Everything is official and transparent:

1. 1. LLC "Marathon Bookmaker" is assigned UNP 190436996.
   2. The limited liability company was registered by the resolution of the Minsk City Executive Committee on 06.05.2022 under No. 190436996.
   3. The guarantor of the operator's solvency is JSC "Belinvestbank": BIC — BLBBBY2X, UNP 190436996, OKPO 37590462.

It is quite clear that in the context of legal (formal) institutionalization, there are no claims against the betting company. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about its reputation among regular clients.

The review revealed that the reviews about MarathonBet Belarus are far from being laudatory odes. Users unanimously complain about the reduction of maximum bets and odds, problematic verification, delays with payouts, and lackluster customer support. Such an attitude towards its own audience is puzzling, as most complaints on the forums of influential ratings of the best bookmakers remain ignored even despite the presence of authorized mediators from the company.

We hope that in the foreseeable future, the company will reconsider its policy regarding dissatisfied bettors and take their feedback into account to improve the service. Some positive shifts in this regard are already being observed thanks to cooperation with external observers in resolving conflict situations.

Official Website

For those interested in learning more about the official website of MarathonBet in Belarus, read our review of its Russian counterpart, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. There are virtually no differences between the web resources, except for color schemes and the catalog of Entertainment products. For residents of the Eastern European state, it is significantly larger, as local legislation is favorable towards organizers of gambling entertainment in the field of digital casinos.

In Belarus, gambling is legal, so the website www.marathonbet.by offers a rich selection of video slots, card and roulette tables with real dealers, fantasy sports, and lotteries. As for classic bookmaker bets, they are also offered in abundance. Football, basketball, hockey, tennis, esports, and exotic options are presented with an extensive listing of leagues, tournaments, and championships of all calibers.

For sports analysts, there are full sections "Statistics" and "Results." Match cards are supplemented with summaries about teams, athletes, and their history of confrontations. In live betting, a tracker with infographics and TV broadcasts of ongoing games is displayed, and you can view the schedule of upcoming events.

Overall, the official website MarathonBet.by is an absolute copy of the same-named portal on the .ru domain:

● The same slightly outdated but functional design on a common framework;

● Almost identical content with thematic material;

● A similar player account and accompanying tabs;

● Identical features — editing already made bets, CashOut option, zero margin on a number of top matches of the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, Russian Premier League, KHL, NHL, NBA.

For newcomers, the Marathon bookmaker's website has a detailed "Rules" section with passive support, where answers to the most frequently asked questions from bettors and gamblers are collected. If this is not enough, you can always get advice in the live chat, by phone, or by email.

Marathon Bet App and Mobile Version

The mobile portal of the Marathon bookmaker is an exact copy of the desktop web service, its pocket version that works great with touch screens. The adaptive interface is made as convenient as possible so that users can place bets with one hand while the other is occupied with something more important, such as a sausage sandwich. It has no significant optimization issues, but for the best experience of interactive interaction, it is advisable to download the MarathonBet app to your phone. This can be done via links from the company's official website.

The Android app is not available in the Google Play store due to restrictions imposed by the marketplace on programs containing gambling. Therefore, the optimal way to install the software on a smartphone is to download it from the bookmaker's platform, first accessing it from a suitable portable device.

In the case of iPhones, downloading Marathon is even easier, as the software is freely distributed through the App Store. The design, layout, and navigation in the mobile client are the same as in the Android version. The main advantage of the iOS edition is that before installing the software on the device, you can study reviews about it on the Apple App Store website.

Both editions of the downloadable software solutions are quite comfortable for everyday use:

1. 1. In the upper right corner, there is a registration and login button. After logging in, the bettor can make a deposit or withdraw funds, view the betting history and gaming balance status, adjust the necessary settings, and contact support. In addition to the login and password, access to the account is also possible through biometrics, which increases the security and confidentiality of the bookmaker's clients' data.
   2. The central place is occupied by the Live feed with a list of matches that are currently ongoing, and right above it is the section with categories of sports disciplines, where the betting line is displayed. If you tap on the "Sports" menu, the pre-match section with quick search for events by competition name, league, tournament, or championship will load.
   3. Under the "Sports" button in the upper left corner, there is a combo box that hides and displays groups of sections with additional subdivisions of the bookmaker, instructions for managing the account, and general rules for accepting bets online when clicked.

Interestingly, despite having the same set of tools, the app looks much more modern than the official Marathon bookmaker website.

Registration and Account Verification

The process of creating an account starts with clicking the red "Registration" button. The bookmaker does not provide a simplified procedure for new players, so all personal data must be filled out at once, without stepping away from the checkout.

In the registration form that appears on the screen, the future client specifies:

● Surname, first name, patronymic;

● Full date of birth;

● Residential address with registration and city index;

● Active phone number;

● Email address;

● Security question for profile recovery;

● Desired username and password;

● Promocode (if available).

It is also recommended to set the appropriate time zone and choose the preferred type of odds (decimal or fractional). In addition, before completing registration, the player is required to accept the agreement that they are familiar with the Personal Data Processing Procedure, Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy of the "Marathon" bookmaker company, and also confirms that they are at least 21 years old. We advise taking this moment seriously by studying the content of the offer agreement.

Once the first login to MarathonBet is completed, the only thing left is to pass verification to be able to make a deposit and start betting with real money. To complete the verification, you need to prepare electronic copies of mandatory documents. They are listed on the website in a special form that pops up in the personal account as a reminder on a yellow background. Verification can also be carried out through a separate menu in the personal account called "Upload Documents."

Materials are added by the "Select Files" team. Keep in mind that it is important to upload all 4 images simultaneously, following the bookmaker's instructions. Then, a checkbox is ticked at the bottom, and "Submit" is clicked.

Verification usually takes no longer than a couple of hours, and it can be completed by both citizens of the Republic of Belarus and residents of the country. A notification about the completion of the process is sent in an email. At the same time, the message about the need to provide documents will disappear from the bookmaker's website in the personal account.

Betting Options and Bookmaker Odds

The betting line of the iGaming company Marathon is rightly considered one of the best in Belarus. The operator accepts bets on the outcomes of over 40 sports, casino games, as well as cultural and social events, such as the Oscar awards ceremony or elections in the USA. A separate section of the platform is dedicated to predictions on esports and virtual disciplines, with unique events and special markets available.

Traditionally, football receives the most attention. Its popularity is due to the wide range of betting options, which includes not only main outcomes but also numerous additional bets. Bets are available on:

● Statistical indicators (fouls, corners, cards);

● Handicaps and totals;

● Comparison by halves;

● Intervals;

● Alternative goals;

● Different combinations of match outcomes.

In top matches, you can bet on over 700+ variations of game situations, while secondary matches typically feature at least 150 markets. The coverage of competitions goes far beyond the leading leagues, covering lesser-known divisions, regional tournaments, exotic cups, friendly matches, youth championships, and amateur events.

The conditions for placing bets are equally attractive for other sports. Marathon offers in-depth pre-match coverage of hockey, tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball, motorsports, and martial arts. There is a wealth of "overseas" options such as golf, cricket, squash, or sumo. Esports enthusiasts will also find plenty to bet on, choosing events from among 7 popular games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, LoL, Call of Duty, King of Glory, Starcraft 2, and Valorant.

The live platform of the bookmaker is quite extensive and features a wealth of outcomes. For example:

1. 1. In football matches of prestigious championships, you can bet on statistical characteristics and rare individual indicators.
   2. In basketball, during games, you can buy additional handicaps and totals, predict the outcomes of quarters, and include points, rebounds, and assists in your coupon.
   3. In tennis divisions, not only of the largest tournaments but also challengers, there are betting options for each point played in a game, exact scores, and basic sets.

Speaking of the downsides of betting in real-time, there is a noticeable lack of video broadcasts and occasional delays in loading odds. The latter factor sometimes leads to predictions during ranking matches not being accepted for a while, forcing players to wait until the dashboard updates properly.

Marathon Bet odds are mostly high due to a low margin. The average commission of the bookmaker rarely exceeds 6%, more often fluctuating in the range of 2.5-5%. There are even events with zero margin on the most prestigious matches of the day.

Payment Methods

The Marathon bookmaker supports popular payment methods in Belarus, except for cryptocurrencies. Payments are made exclusively in the national currency. After making a deposit, the minimum online bet is 1.34 BYN, while in retail betting points, coupons with stakes starting from 80 kopecks are accepted.

Account Top-Up

Users registered on the marathonbet.by bookmaker's website are offered the following options for topping up their gaming account:

● Bank cards Maestro, Visa, Mastercard — via ArtPay and ERIP;

● Electronic wallet QIWI;

● Bank transfer;

● RUP Belpost;

● Payment system "Pay", including transactions via QR code.

In addition, cash transactions can be made at the brand's stationary clubs via cash registers, for which the minimum deposit is set at 0.93 BYN. For other methods, the minimum deposit amount varies from 1.55 to 3.56 Belarusian rubles.

Funds are credited to the balance instantly. The only financial instrument that may have delays of up to one business day is the hardware-software complex ArtPay.

Withdrawal of Funds

Withdrawal of funds from the bookmaker is provided to a bank card, via cashless payment, through cash registers (Marathon retail points), and the electronic payment system "Pay". The minimum amount for cashing out winnings depends on the chosen gateway:

● 3.11 BYN — for bank cards using ArtPay;

● 15.53 BYN — to bank cards via the ERIP system;

● 62.14 BYN — for bank (cashless) transfer;

● 0.93 BYN — at Marathon betting points.

● 3.56 BYN — for the "Pay" payment solution.

There are no upper limits. The application review period does not exceed 72 hours.

Taxation of Winnings

In accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus, a 4% income tax is withheld from the requested amount when withdrawing money from the bookmaker. At the same time, there are no accompanying transaction fees from Marathon Bet.

Promotions and Bonuses of Marathon Bet in Belarus

The Marathon bookmaker provides little encouragement for Belarusian bettors, mainly focusing on the interests of online casino visitors. The selection of bonuses for sports analysts is meager. As of early 2024, the "Risk-Free First Bet up to 100 BYN", "Anti-Express", and an unclear loyalty program are in effect. Such "privileges" are unlikely to motivate even yesterday's newcomers to place bets.

Contact Information for the Bookmaker's Support Service

As noted earlier, the support at Marathon bookmaker is not very good. The online chat on the company's website and app works the most efficiently and quickly, with responses to questions provided within 2-15 minutes. The hotline (+375 17 300 90 01) is less effective, and the email support operators take the longest to resolve issues: [email protected].

FAQ

● How does registration work at Marathon Bookmaker Belarus?

○ The account creation procedure involves several steps: visiting the official website or app of the bookmaker, filling out the registration form, including personal data, mobile number, and email address. Next, identity verification follows through document uploads.

● Is there an app from the bookmaker to download on the phone?

○ Yes, MarathonBet has its own apps for Android device users and iOS devices.

● How to withdraw money from the MarathonBet account in Belarus?

○ The standard instruction for cashing out funds involves logging into the bookmaker's personal account, selecting the section for withdrawing money, determining the payment method, and specifying the desired amount. 

TEXT CHECK FOR UNIQUENESS: 99.34%

Ratings

1. Reliability — 3.8.
2. Bonuses and promotions — 3.
3. Payment convenience — 3.5.
4. Live line — 4.7.
5. Pre-match line — 5.
6. Customer support — 4.
7. Odds — 5.