BetVictor

BetVictor is a pioneer in the UK gambling space. Originally named Victor Chandler after the founder's son, also the name of his grandson, who acted as the chairman and spokesperson until recently, it is often credited as being one of the first bookmakers to recognise the importance of online gambling, so it is no surprise that it was quick to enter the casino space.

BetVictor Casino exists on the same platform as the BetVictor sportsbook, and you can access both with one account. I have been an on and off user of BetVictor for over 10 years and while most of that time was spent on the sportsbook, I have played my fair share of casino games.

The site is operated by BV Gaming Limited, licensed in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account 39576.

Welcome Offer

There is no casino welcome offer, and that is the first thing a new player should know.

What BetVictor advertises to new customers is a sportsbook deal: money back in free bets, up to £20, if your first bet loses. It is tied to a named fixture and carries a deadline measured in hours rather than weeks, so the offer on the banner when you arrive will be attached to a different match from the one described anywhere else.

Significant Terms: 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in, place your first bet of £10 or more on any pre-event market at odds of 1/1 (2.00+), win single only. Get up to £20 refund in free bets if your 1st bet loses. No wagering requirements.

Two things follow. If you came for the casino, there is nothing here for joining. And the refund is paid as free bets for the sportsbook, so it cannot be staked on slots or tables.

To qualify for any BetVictor promotion you must deposit with a debit card or Apple Pay, and the bonus will not trigger automatically either, so you will need to opt in or follow a specific link.

Slots and Other Games

There are two types of sportsbook casinos: those that go all out and offer an eclectic mix of games with the odd original title, and those that take the cheap option, choosing a single developer and fewer than 500 games.

At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking BetVictor was the latter. It looks fairly streamlined and condensed, and it does not have the exposure of the very biggest names in the market. But that could not be further from the truth, as there are a massive 3,000 games here, with titles from numerous top creators.

You will find studios such as NetEnt, Blueprint Gaming, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play and Big Time Gaming. BetVictor also has a few exclusive titles, including Harry's Reels, which features Harry Redknapp, a former football manager who stars in many of the site's ads, and its own premium roulette table.

There are MegaJackpots, Megaways, WowPots, Mega Drops, Dream Drops and more, ensuring that jackpot seekers are well catered for. BetVictor also has Drop and Win slots and Daily Jackpots. You can find all of these linked on the main BetVictor Casino page, along with other popular gaming categories.

Alongside the main lobby sits a mini games section: short, low commitment games that load in a moment and sit beside the bet slip rather than in a menu. For somebody who is really here for the football, that is exactly the right place to put them.

Banking Options

At the outset of this review, I mentioned that I have been a user of BetVictor for a long time. What I did not mention was that I pretty much gave up on the site.

I had been using PayPal on the site, but then I received a message stating that it would no longer be accepted on BetVictor. I am not sure why. It had been accepted for a long time and was then removed without warning. Maybe it is a regulatory thing. Maybe they were charged fees they did not like or had an issue with the platform.

Whatever the reason, you cannot use PayPal on BetVictor any longer. Payments are fast here and I have never had an issue in that regard, but the absence of PayPal is a huge issue for me.

What remains is debit cards, Apple Pay and bank transfer, and those are also the methods a promotion will qualify on. Withdrawals go back to the method you funded the account with, so in practice that now means a card and a wait at your bank rather than a wallet and a few minutes.

Customer Support

Support runs through a help centre with live chat behind it, staffed by an operation large enough to cover the hours properly, and the account tools are the full set. Across 10 years I have never needed to escalate anything here, which is the most useful thing anyone can report about a support team.

Verdict: BetVictor Casino Review

The games are great, as is the fact that you are always a click away from a decent bingo room selection and a huge sportsbook. Three thousand titles, real exclusives, every jackpot network worth having and a lobby that is better stocked than its understated front page suggests.

This review used to carry top marks, and it no longer does, for two reasons.

The first is that there is now no casino welcome offer at all. The new customer deal is a sportsbook refund attached to a single fixture, it expires within a day or two, and the free bets it pays cannot be used on casino games. For a site that once offered a choice of casino bonuses, that is a real loss to a new player.

The second is the banking. PayPal is not accepted and the overall selection is weak. Considering how impressive everything else is, 4 out of 5 is the right place to land: an excellent casino that has stopped giving anyone a reason to join it.