AsianConnect vs SportMarket: Two Veterans, One Clear Winner for Most Bettors
- Both are established brokers with 15+ years of operation and strong track records
- AsianConnect's commission starts at 2.5% and scales down to 1% — SportMarket starts at 2.5% and scales to 1.5%
- AsianConnect has broader Asian book coverage (PS3838, SBOBET, ISN, MaxBet); SportMarket's coverage is comparable but with some regional differences
- SportMarket has a marginally longer operating history; AsianConnect has a larger current market share among professionals
- For most bettors: AsianConnect wins on commission at high volume. Running both is the optimal professional setup
Best Betting Brokers 2026 — Access Asian Bookmakers
| # | Broker | Books Covered | Commission | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AsianConnect Widest book coverage | PS3838, SBO, ISN, MaxBet & more | 0.5–1% | High volume, arbitrage, line shopping | Open Account |
| 2 | BetInAsia Low commission entry point | PS3838, SBO, ISN, Singbet | 0.5% | Beginners, low-commission priority | Open Account |
| 3 | MadMarket Asian + European hybrid | SBO, PS3838, ISN + European | 0.5–2% | Mixed-market bettors | Open Account |
| 4 | SportMarket Established European broker | PS3838, SBO + European network | 1–2% | European bettors entering Asian markets | Open Account |
Commission rates are indicative. Verify current terms directly with each broker. All links go via our affiliate redirect pages.
Two Brokers With the Same Goal, Different Structures
AsianConnect and SportMarket are both first-generation Asian betting brokers — platforms built specifically to give bettors indirect access to restricted Asian bookmakers like PS3838, SBOBET, and ISN. Both launched in the early 2000s when access to these books was genuinely difficult from most of Europe.
Today, both have matured into professional-grade services with similar product offerings. The differentiation comes in the details: commission structure, book coverage depth, platform quality, and how they handle high-stakes accounts. These details determine which broker a professional bettor should use as their primary account — and whether running both is worthwhile.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | AsianConnect | SportMarket | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission (entry) | 2.5% | 2.5% | Tie |
| Commission (best tier) | 1.0% | 1.5% | AsianConnect |
| PS3838 access | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | Tie |
| SBOBET access | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | Tie |
| ISN/IBC access | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | Tie |
| MaxBet access | ✅ | ✅ | Tie |
| Live betting | ✅ | ✅ | Tie |
| Platform / UI | Modern, clean | Functional, legacy feel | AsianConnect |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat | Business hours primary | AsianConnect |
| Operating history | 15+ years | 20+ years | SportMarket (longevity) |
| Market share (current) | Larger | Established | AsianConnect |
The Commission Argument
At entry level, both brokers charge 2.5% — identical. The divergence starts as volume increases. AsianConnect's top tier reaches 1%; SportMarket's floor is 1.5%.
- AsianConnect @ 1.0%: £5,000/year
- SportMarket @ 1.5%: £7,500/year
- Annual saving with AsianConnect: £2,500
For a profitable bettor generating £500k/year in gross winnings, the commission difference between the two brokers at their best rates is £2,500 annually. That's not trivial — it's a meaningful portion of operating costs in a precision-margin business like professional betting.
However, top-tier commission rates require substantial volume. Most bettors operate in the mid-range where both brokers charge 2.0–2.5%. At that level, the product itself (book access, execution quality, platform) matters more than the marginal commission difference.
Access Asian Bookmakers Through a Single Account
AsianConnect gives you access to PS3838, SBOBET, ISN, MaxBet and more from one wallet — the widest Asian book coverage of any broker. Competitive commission from 0.5%.
Open AsianConnect AccountBook Coverage: Effectively Equal
Both AsianConnect and SportMarket provide access to the four major Asian books that professional bettors care about: PS3838, SBOBET, ISN/IBC, and MaxBet. On core football markets — Asian Handicap, total goals, match odds — you will find equivalent availability through both brokers.
The practical difference in coverage is minimal for the overwhelming majority of bets. Where you might find variation is in niche sports markets or specific regional competitions where one broker's underlying book relationships differ slightly from the other's. For mainstream football betting, there is no meaningful coverage difference.
Platform and Operational Quality
AsianConnect's platform is more modern: cleaner interface, faster bet tracking, and more intuitive account management. SportMarket's platform is functional but reflects its older infrastructure — it works, but the user experience hasn't been updated as aggressively.
Support is one area where AsianConnect has a clear practical advantage: 24/7 live chat is essential for bettors active during Asian time zones, where live markets can move quickly and technical issues need immediate resolution. SportMarket's primary support is business-hours email, which creates a real operational gap for late-night live betting.
SportMarket's Longevity Argument
SportMarket's 20+ year operating history is a genuine differentiating factor for risk-averse bettors who weight counterparty security heavily. A broker that has processed billions in bets over two decades without incident provides a different level of confidence than a newer entrant.
That said, AsianConnect's 15+ year track record is also substantial. The longevity gap between the two is real but not dramatic — both are well-established operations with strong industry reputations. Neither presents meaningful counterparty risk for typical account balances.
The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Primary broker for Asian betting (most bettors) | AsianConnect |
| Maximum platform age/longevity as priority | SportMarket |
| High volume (£200k+ annual profit) | AsianConnect (better top commission) |
| Optimal professional setup | Both — AsianConnect primary, SportMarket backup |
For most bettors, AsianConnect is the stronger primary choice: better commission potential, more modern platform, and superior support. SportMarket earns its place as a secondary account — additional liquidity, redundancy, and the option to compare execution quality across two established platforms.
FAQ — AsianConnect vs SportMarket
Is SportMarket better than AsianConnect for any bettor type?
SportMarket's superior longevity makes it the better choice if counterparty security is your top priority above all other factors. For bettors holding very large balances (£50,000+) with a specific concern about broker stability, SportMarket's 20+ year track record provides additional reassurance. For everyone else, AsianConnect's product advantages dominate.
Do both brokers offer the same Asian Handicap markets?
Yes, for all major football leagues. Both route through SBOBET, PS3838, and ISN — the three books that define Asian Handicap market quality. The markets, lines, and odds you see are sourced from the same underlying books, so there is no product difference in AH coverage.
What is the minimum deposit to start with either broker?
Both require approximately €500–€1,000 to open an account, though minimum deposit requirements can vary. AsianConnect's minimum is around €1,000 for a fully operational account. SportMarket is comparable. Neither is suitable for bettors with a working bankroll below €2,000, regardless of minimum deposit requirements.
Can I have accounts with both AsianConnect and SportMarket simultaneously?
Yes. Running both simultaneously is the recommended professional setup. You gain redundancy (if one platform has downtime, you have continuity), the ability to compare execution quality, and flexibility to route bets based on which platform has better availability for specific markets on a given day.