Virgin Bet

Virgin Bet (virginbet.com) is operated by Virgin Bet Limited from 3.01 World Trade Center, 6 Bayside Road, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA.
Virgin Bet Sister Sites 2026
Virgin Bet is owned by Virgin Bet Limited and is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the only iGaming site owned by the company. That means there aren’t any Virgin Bet sister sites. You’ve come here looking for Virgin Bet sister sites, though, and so we’re determined to give you some. We’ve picked out some big-name sites from other operators and platforms that offer similar games and services to Virgin Bet, so for the purposes of this page, consider them alternative Virgin Bet sister sites.
Virgin Games
It seems bizarre that Virgin Games and Virgin Bet aren’t owned by the same casino operator, but that’s the way the rights to the name have been divided. Rather than being under the auspices of Virgin Bet Limited, Virgin Games is owned and operated by Gamesys Operations Limited. It is, if we’re honest, not a great alternative to Virgin Bet, as it covers barely any of the same ground. Virgin Bet is a sports betting website. Virgin Games is all about slots and live dealers. We wouldn’t normally include a site like Virgin Games on a list of replacement Virgin Bet sister sites, but knowing there’s another Virgin-branded iGaming site out there and leaving it off the list would have felt even more ridiculous. If you’re someone who enjoys slots, Slingo, bingo and live casino games as much as you enjoy sports betting, you might be pleased to know that Virgin Games has a range of promotions against which it imposes absolutely no wagering requirements whatsoever and pays out all winnings as instantly-withdrawable cash. It’s a powerful proposition and is worthy of the Virgin name.

Betfair
The primary purpose of Virgin Bet is sports betting. It offers slots and casino games, too, but they’re very much a secondary concern. Virgin Bet is a site for people who are serious about betting on sporting events, and that’s what makes Betfair worthy of mention if we’re talking about alternative Virgin Bet sister sites. In the eyes of many players and customers, Betfair offers the ultimate level of professionalism as far as sports betting matters are concerned. The Betfair Exchange is the envy of the industry, and the long list of sports and other matters that the Betfair website offers odds on is almost overwhelming. There was almost no need for Betfair to start offering slots, poker, bingo, virtual sports betting and all the other things it’s started offering in the past few years, but it’s started doing it anyway. Betfair might not offer much in the way of personality or charisma, but not everybody wants their preferred betting site to perform a song and dance act for them. Betfair is as solid as they come, and if you’re looking to move on from Virgin Bet, it would likely be an excellent choice.

Paddy Power
You’re looking for Virgin Bet sister sites because you want to find a new sports betting site with a name and reputation you can trust. Names in the sports betting world don’t come much bigger than Paddy Power. The Irish betting company has never come across a promotional stunt idea that it didn’t like the sound of, whether we’re talking about offering odds on the assassination of US President Donald Trump or sponsoring billboards to troll Boris Johnson. Paddy Power almost doesn’t need to advertise because the brand is already so notorious, but it regularly appears on TV commercials anyway. Having established itself as a successful sports betting brand several years ago, Paddy Power now offers several sub-brands for people interested in other types of iGaming. There’s Paddy Power Poker, Paddy Power Bingo, Paddy Power Lotteries and Paddy Power Games for those in search of slots. This gambling company, which has never knowingly taken its tongue out of its cheek, would love to become your new home for whatever type of gaming you’re after.

Bet365
Bet365 uses the same colour scheme as Paddy Power, but that’s about all these two stand-in Virgin Bet sister sites have in common. Bet365 is every bit as serious as Paddy Power is whimsical. The brand is well-known among English football fans for its long-standing sponsorship of both Stoke City Football Club and the team’s stadium, although the sponsorship isn’t as eye-catching as it once was now the team no longer plays in the Premier League. The Bet365 website might look a little austere, but you’ll find a fantastic range of iGaming options waiting for you if you take the time to look through it. There’s a live casino, a slots casino, an area for fantasy sports betting, bingo, poker, Vegas-style games and more. There’s even a special area for in-play live betting, which is one of the features that Bet365 built its reputation on. Most importantly of all, though, Bet365 has one of the broadest and deepest sportsbooks you’re ever likely to see. It almost goes without saying that the site covers all the latest big football, horse racing, boxing and golf events, but at Bet365, you can also bet on cycling, esports, MMA, Australian Rules football, Gaelic sports and more beyond. If you can’t bet on something at Bet365, you probably can’t legally bet on it anywhere.

Sky Bet
When we were discussing Paddy Power, we described it as an iGaming company that doesn’t need to advertise. The same is true of Sky Bet, albeit for very different reasons. Paddy Power doesn’t need to advertise formally because it’s so good at publicity stunts. Sky Bet doesn’t need to advertise because it’s advertised both by proxy and by default every time a sporting fixture is broadcast live on Sky television – which is several times per day, every day. Sky Bet sponsors every professional football division in England save for the Premier League and has far more sponsorships beyond that. The people behind Sky Bet (Flutter Entertainment, for those interested) want the brand to become synonymous with sports betting and sports generally, and they’ve pretty much achieved their aim. It wouldn’t be right to reel off a list of alternative Virgin Bet sister sites without mentioning Sky Bet. It’s one of the biggest, most respected and most trusted sports betting sites in the UK, and it also serves as a gateway to Sky’s other iGaming and betting brands like Sky Vegas, Sky Poker, Sky Casino and Sky Bingo.

Virgin Bet News
: The Virgin Bet sister sites definitely backed the right proverbial horse by supporting the New Year’s Day event at Musselburgh Racecourse, which officially sold out ahead of the action. With a crowd capacity of 6,750 now locked in, there was no squeezing in last-minute hopefuls this time round. Organisers had to wave the warning flag to steer clear of shady resellers flogging fake tickets. Between the six-race lineup and over £125k in prize pots, it’s no shock that punters have filled the place out like it’s a royal wedding. The two Virgin Bet-titled centrepieces, the Auld Reekie Handicap Chase and Hogmaneigh Hurdle, both promised a few gutsy sprints and big wins, plus they went live on ITV1 for anyone left on the sofa with a sore head and no ticket.

As for what else you got if you were lucky enough to get in the gates, it was less tweed and tea and more full-throttle knees-up. Traditional music mingled with DJs, pipers, and a ceilidh band called Kilter, soundtracking what shaped up to be more rave than race. There was also the Winter Style Awards lurking among the betting slips and sausage rolls, where spotters eyeind up anyone dressed like they’ve got their life together. The winner bagged a prize worth over £800, which’ll probably cover one round at the bar and a new coat. Gates opened at 10.30am, the first race kicked off at 12.30pm, and the party limped along ‘til late afternoon. Whether punters were there for the horses or just in it for the booze and bagpipes, there was not much else quite like it to ring in the new year.
: Free Bets have decided that Virgin Bet’s latest sign-up bonus is worth more than a passing glance. As they put it, Free Bets found enough value in Virgin Bet’s welcome offer to share it with their readers. And it’s not hard to see why they gave it a platform. New players can stake a tenner and land £30 in free bets, which is split between general sportsbook use and a Bet Builder wager. No, it won’t change your life, but for those who already plan to bet anyway, it’s a fairly low-hassle start. The only real hitch is you’ve got to be quick on the uptake; you’ve got seven days to claim and spend the free bets once they’re in your account. They’ve made it easy enough to get going though, especially if you’ve got Apple Pay or a debit card ready to go.
Despite Virgin Bet still feeling a bit fresh-faced compared to older bookmakers, it’s managed to win a few over thanks to its mobile setup and regular odds boosts. There’s no loyalty scheme yet, which some might grumble about, but the interface seems to be doing enough to keep people betting. The sportsbook’s built on the same software used by a few other reliable sites, and although the range of markets leans heavily on football and racing, there’s enough tucked away for niche sport fans too. We’d be lying if we said it was perfect, but if you’re looking to stretch a ten quid punt into something a bit more interesting, it’s one of the better options floating around at the minute. Virgin might be trying to fly people to the edge of space, but for now, they seem fairly grounded in the world of UK betting.
: Virgin Bet has landed a flattering nod from eSports News, who’ve labelled it as one of the best sports betting apps in the UK. That’ll raise a few eyebrows, considering the usual fanfare surrounds the flashier names like William Hill and Paddy Power. But Virgin Bet’s been quietly stockpiling points on the live football betting front, thanks to its coverage of everything from Bundesliga showdowns to virtual FIFA tournaments. You won’t find EPL or EFL streams, but what it does show is slick enough to tempt punters into settling down with it for their in-play fix. Access to live odds is ridiculously easy, the streaming button’s right where you’d expect it to be, and the Bet Builder features feel intuitive without being dressed up like a show pony. Not everything needs a neon halo, after all. It’s practical, fast, and doesn’t clog your screen with junk.

That said, there’s no app-exclusive promo luring in new sign-ups, which’ll bug a few who are used to the usual Bet X, Get Y routines. You can still grab free bets and boost your odds, but you’ll have to dig a little. As for the rest of the leaderboard, it’s William Hill that’s romping ahead when it comes to coverage and market diversity, while Betfred’s got its hands full offering 300+ markets per match, which feels a bit overkill if you’re just backing corners or first goalscorers. Coral’s earned a mention too for chucking in a Popular Picks tab, showing what everyone else is betting on, which is either a helpful nudge or just another way to confirm we’re all guessing. Either way, Virgin Bet punching into the top tier shows there’s still space for less shouty apps to earn their keep. Just don’t expect bells and whistles every five seconds.
: Some of the Virgin Bet sister sites have juiced up their casino promo pages with irresistible free spin offers. The latest one is tied to Cash Strike Power Force 5, and it’s running until just before midnight on Thursday. The setup is straightforward enough: place a qualifying wager, wait a couple of hours, and a pop-up will let you know when your spins are ready to collect. There’s something oddly satisfying about a promo that doesn’t try to overcomplicate things with endless small print or baffling tiers of rewards. You tap to collect, load up the game, and off you go. Of course, there’s no guarantee those spins will lead to anything worth bragging about, but that’s part of the appeal for many – it’s a quick little boost that doesn’t demand much effort or planning.
The promo itself feels geared towards casual players who want a reason to log in midweek rather than hardcore bonus hunters who track RTP tables like stock charts. It’s a little nudge to keep the reels spinning, and judging by the fuss it’s caused already, it’s doing its job. There’s also the unspoken promise that more of these bite-sized perks are likely on the way, given how regularly the sister sites have been updating their casino pages recently. Whether that’s a good thing or just another way to keep punters in the habit is up for debate. Still, as far as low-effort incentives go, this one isn’t half bad. A wager here, a free spin there, and you might find yourself sinking a few more hours into Power Force 5 than you originally planned. Not that many will mind if the reels decide to be generous for once.
: This week, the ink dried on an exclusive partnership deal between Virgin Bet and TNT Sports. Not the sort of duo you’d expect to see sharing a pint, but here we are. It’s a bit of a play for the in-play betting crowd, with Virgin Bet hoping this hook-up pulls in footie fans already glued to TNT broadcasts. The idea is, if you’re already shouting at the telly, you might as well have a punt lined up with the same brand that’s splashed across the screen. It’s slick timing too, landing right in the thick of the Champions League, Europa League, and that Thursday night football you half-watch while doomscrolling. There’ll be branding, promotions, probably a few shout-outs in the build-up and half-time mutterings from the pundits. The usual bits. But it’s the extra match previews and Virgin Bet-exclusive stuff they’re banking on to draw some eyes, or at least a few thumbs on screens.

There’s also talk of some special content for Virgin Bet customers, which sounds vague for now, though we’re guessing it’ll be stats, form chatter and the odd odds boost. Whether it actually changes how people bet or just gives them a new logo to look at mid-match is anyone’s guess. But it does nudge Virgin Bet a bit further into the telly sports club. Most brands are already lining up behind big broadcasters or leagues, so in a way, it’s more of a catch-up than a leap ahead. Still, fair play for getting in while TNT are building momentum. We’ll see if it sticks or just becomes background noise while everyone checks if their 6-fold is still alive after 70 minutes of nil-nil. Either way, it’s a clever shuffle, even if it won’t rewrite the rulebook.
: Sports Mole has unveiled an extra-special betting offer from the Virgin Bet sister sites which has been laid out for Ladies Day at Epsom Derby. To tie in with the start of the festival, new players can snap up £20 in free bets simply by signing up and placing a qualifying wager of at least £10. While bets must be placed on non-virtual sportsbook markets and settled within a fortnight, the bonus has been timed to land just in time for one of the most competitive fixtures of the day, the Debenhams Handicap Stakes. Run over 7 furlongs and 3 yards, the race demands stamina and speed in equal measure and has built up a reputation for attracting a strong field of three-year-olds with plenty to prove.
This year’s prize pot sits just shy of £74,000, with more than half that set aside for the winner. The race takes place at 5:10 pm on 6 June and is expected to draw around 23 contenders. The offer from Virgin Bet adds extra value to those looking to test their predictions on a field that has historically rewarded both tactical skill and raw speed. Runners from past editions include Bowman, Spanish Star, and two-time winner Rhoscolyn, each bringing a different profile to the track but all able to handle the unique demands of this early summer challenge. Punters can take advantage of the welcome promotion without needing a code, and the free bets can be used across other qualifying sports once the initial requirement is fulfilled.
Can Virgin Bet Be Trusted?

★★★★★
Virgin Bet is a 4-star trusted casino.
| 1. Licenses and Fines | Virgin Bet holds UK Gambling Commission licence 54310. The licence is clean. |
| 2. Accepts UK players? | Virgin Bet is open to players in the UK. |
| 3. Trustpilot Score | After more than 3500 reviews, Virgin Bet holds a subpar Trustpilot score of 2.5 out of 5.0. |
| 4. Operator Name & Location | Home for Virgin Bet Limited is Gibraltar. |
| 5. Bonus Terms | There are no wagering requirements on sports betting bonuses at Virgin Bet, but stakes aren’t returned. |
| 6. Customer Support | Email and live chat are both provided, but you can’t speak to anyone at Virgin Bet over the phone. |
| 7. Withdrawal Speed & Options | Debit cards, PayPal, Trustly or bank transfers. PayPal withdrawals should be instant. |
| 8. Number of Sister Sites | There aren’t any Virgin Bet sister sites. |
| 9. Games portfolio | Virgin Bet is serious about sports betting, but there’s a moderately large casino attached to it. |
| 10. On GamStop? | This site is on GamStop. |
| Overall SCORE > | ★★★★★ – 4/5 Stars |
Virgin Bet Review 2026
There are, as we discussed further up this page, two Virgin-branded iGaming sites available to you; Virgin Games, and Virgin Bet. Why they’re not on the same casino network is anybody’s guess, but they’re not. On paper, Virgin Games is there for people who enjoy slots and casino games, and Virgin Bet is there for people who prefer betting on sports. In reality, Virgin Bet treads on the toes of its counterpart a little by also offering casino games. Does that make Virgin Bet a better all-around iGaming site than its near-namesake? Read this review to find out.

Virgin Bet Welcome Offers
Considering that Richard Branson is one of the richest people on the planet, he could probably have afforded to be a little more generous with this welcome promotion. For all new players at this sportsbook who place a bet of £10 or more on odds of 1.5 or higher, there are 2x £10 bets up for grabs. The qualifying bet must be settled within 14 days of a player registering a new account. Once settled, the free bets will be issued as non-withdrawable free bet tokens, which will remain available for 7 days before they expire. The free bets can be used on any of the betting markets available at Virgin Bet.
Virgin Bet is owned by Virgin Bet Limited
Virgin Bet, not to be mistaken for Virgin Games, which is a part of Gamesys portfolio of online casino brands, is operated by Virgin Bet Limited; a relatively new sportsbook and casino brand operator, which is operating from the shores of Gibraltar. In May 2019, Virgin Bet Limited became UK Gambling Commission approved when they acquired their online casino, real event betting and virtual event betting licence. Additionally, Virgin Bet is also licenced by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, although, for UK players, that doesn’t bring all too much reassurance at all, given the lax gambling laws in Gibraltar, where many offshore casino brand operators choose to bed down.
At the time of writing, there are no Virgin Bet sister sites to speak of, and there is very limited public information about the brand operator behind Virgin Bet, bar their location and licence. However, that comes as no surprise, given that the sportsbook and casino are riding off the renown of the global Virgin brand.
Ongoing Promotions
The long and short of this category is that Virgin Bet does have other promotions, but those promotions change regularly, and are often specific to the sporting events of the week or even the day you’ve visited the site on. Others are seasonal – there will be special bets and bonuses available around the time of Cheltenham Festival, for example. However, a few of the promotions are permanent, like the offer of a free £5 acca bet for every four £5 accas you place. If you’ve come to use the casino, you can generally get ten free spins per day on a selected slots game by making a deposit of £10 or more, and those spins will usually come without any wagering requirements attached to them.
What are the Pros and Cons of Virgin Bet?
Pros: Virgin Bet offers a permanent “Best Odds Guarantee” on horse racing, and allows players to watch those horse races live. There are ways to get instant withdrawals from this betting site, which can’t be said of many of its peers.
Cons: The site isn’t as easy to navigate as it perhaps could be. We’ve noted fewer in-play betting opportunities here than we’d expect to find at a supposedly top sports betting brand with such high name value.
Featured Slots and Casino Games
As implied by the title, Virgin Bet is a sportsbook first, and a casino second. If you can get to grips with the incredibly jumpy and erratic design of the sportsbook, there are plenty of advantages to using it to bet on. The most featured sports include football, horse racing, tennis and virtual sports, but there is decent coverage of more niche sports in the UK market, such as speedway, water polo, GAA hurling and Futsal. ACCA bets aren’t just supported, they are encouraged by the various promotions at Virgin Bet. In the casino section, the featured games list doesn’t embrace all too many brand-new titles. Instead, Virgin Bet put some classics in the spotlight, including Fishin Frenzy The Big Catch, Secrets of the Phoenix, 10p Roulette, The Goonies Jackpot King, Eye of Horus, Gold Cash Free Spins and Rick and Morty Megaways.
In total, there are 445 online slot games to choose from, 23 instant win games, and 40 live casino games. The best of the live casino games include Monopoly Big Baller, Gold Bar Roulette, Virgin Bet Blackjack 2, Crazy Time, Crazy Coin Flip and Teen Patti.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
Players can deposit as little as £5 at the Virgin Bet sister sites via a very limited range of payment methods. Currently, the only ways to fund your account are via Visa, Mastercard or PayPal. For withdrawals, the minimum is £10, the processing time is 24 hours, and after that, players withdrawing to PayPal can expect the funds almost immediately, whereas, with all other withdrawal options, the process can take up to three working days to complete. While Trustly is listed as an additional option, no information is provided about timescales for Trustly withdrawals.
Virgin Bet Customer Support and License
You can speak to Virgin Bet either through live chat or via email. You have to get past the chat bot to speak to a real person, but it’s not too arduous a process. The site used to offer telephone-based support, but this has been discontinued. The licence that covers Virgin Bet is UK Gambling Commission licence no. 54310, and is clean as of the time of writing. There are no Virgin Bet sister sites at the moment, but this same licence would cover any new casinos that might appear on this network in the future.
Virgin Bet – The Verdict
If Virgin Bet tidied up the sportsbook’s layout, diversified the online casino side, improved banking flexibility, and offered a welcome bonus to casino fans, it would easily be one of the best sportsbooks out there. It certainly goes out of the way for sports bettors with regular offers of free bets and fun daily games. The friendly and helpful customer care is also a major plus point.

What are players saying about Virgin Bet?
Here are our condensed/reader’s digest summaries of recent player reviews of Virgin Bet.
- 23-Jan-2025 by John:
Overall, the service is below par. Bet builders don’t offer cash-out options, football bet settlements are slow, and there aren’t enough choices for bet builders. Other bookmakers offer features like supersub, which Virgin Bet lacks. – source: Trustpilot - 22-Jan-2025 by Garry:
After two years as a customer, the service has taken a nosedive over the past couple of months. Blackjack has been impossible to win at, with the banker consistently hitting 21. Bonus offers always require chasing up, which never used to be the case. Sadly, loyalty seems to mean nothing these days. Very disappointed. – source: Trustpilot - 21-Jan-2025 by Connor:
Withdrawals aren’t instant unless you’re in a loss, in which case it’s more of a refund. I’m around £1,000 down. Playing 40p spins is very hit or miss. Turning £20 into more than £50 rarely happens, and bonuses usually pay less than 10x. It’s not the worst casino, but other sites seem to have better returns on the same slots. – source: Trustpilot - 18-Jan-2025 by Connor:
I usually don’t leave positive reviews, but the Virgin Fives feature inspired me to. Initially, I received small amounts like 10p or 20p per goal, but since returning, I’ve had weeks with £50 and £20 per goal. Of course, there are bad weeks too, but the feature has kept me entertained. The site provides the best gambling experience I’ve had so far, though I still find the industry’s nature morally questionable, which is why I’ve given four stars instead of five. – source: Trustpilot - 18-Jan-2025 by Keith:
It’s refreshing to find a decent site like Virgin Bet. It’s easy to navigate, withdrawals are fast, and the graphics are excellent. I’m only two days in, but so far, it’s been a positive experience. Highly recommended based on what I’ve seen so far. – source: Trustpilot - 17-Jan-2025 by Mick:
I’ve been using the Virgin Fives feature for over a year, but I only ever receive 10p per goal. It’s frustrating and feels like the app might have some issues. Very disappointing. – source: Trustpilot - 17-Jan-2025 by Peter:
I’ve used Virgin Bet for quite some time and enjoy the Virgin Fives feature. While I’ve occasionally had better rewards like £2 per goal, for the most part, I only ever get 10p per goal, which makes me question how random the process really is. Overall, it’s a decent site, but this aspect could use improvement. – source: Trustpilot - 16-Jan-2025 by Mark:
This site feels rigged. The slots lag and freeze frequently, and gameplay is consistently frustrating. There are so many better sites to use—don’t waste your time registering here. – source: Trustpilot - 13-Jan-2025 by Michael:
I didn’t think I’d find a worse experience than Sky Vegas, but Virgin Bet proved me wrong. It doesn’t even give you a fair chance—completely awful. – source: Trustpilot - 19-Jan-2025 by Phil:
I played the 12 Masks of Fire game and hit a bonus round at £9 per spin, only to have zero rewards from the bonus feature. I’ve never seen such bad luck, even on lower stakes. That said, I’ve had smooth withdrawals in the past and generally like Virgin Bet. It was just a very disheartening experience this time. – source: Trustpilot
Virgin Bet – A Deeper Dive
About Virgin Bet and the Virgin Brand
On Virgin’s main site, they have a small section dedicated to each of the Virgin betting and gaming brands. The Virgin Bet betting site was created due to the company’s passion for sports and sports betting. The betting app is available in the UK and claims to offer players a massive range of markets across the sporting industry. This betting site is now one of the most popular betting providers in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sites in the industry. As of 2019, when the Virgin Bet site was first released, it has been climbing its way up the gambling charts in the UK and was soon recognised as a worthy competitor for other bookmaking brands and sites.
The Virgin Group Ltd itself was founded much longer ago, in 1970, originally as a record shop. A few years later, company founder Richard Branson opened a recording studio called The Manor. In the mid 1970’s, was the launch of Virgin Records and Virgin Music Publishing in the UK. After many years and many other brands being established, including the likes of Virgin Casino and Virgin Poker, Virgin Bet is launched in 2019. Virgin Bet is licensed in both Great Britain by the Gambling Commission, as well as in Gibraltar, by the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner. The site is also operated by Virgin Bet Ltd, which is a standalone company made specifically for the purpose of this site.

Virgin Bet sponsorships
For a popular company like Virgin, they will undoubtedly have no struggle bagging sponsorships and expanding their name and popularity. Many online casino brands and betting brands tend to sponsor sporting events, since it fits within their target audience reach and is relevant to the community they reside within. In July 2021, Virgin Bet were announced as the newest sponsor of the Ayr Gold Cup. This is Scotland’s top flat horse racing event. The Ayr Gold Cup Festival ran for three days, from September the 16th to September the 18th. The footage was aired on ITV Racing on the 18th of September and was shown live – it was said to be the main event of the day on this TV channel. As well as the Ayr Gold Cup, the Virgin Bet sportsbook brand sponsored seven other races across the week. This included the Ayr Silver Cup, the Firth of Clyde Stakes, and the Doonside Cup Listed Race. Virgin Bet also sponsored the Kilkerran Cup and the Ayr Bronze Cup later in the event.
David Brown, the Managing Director of Ayr Racecourse mentioned that he was “thrilled” that Virgin Bet had chosen to sponsor the Ayr Gold Cup, which is “one of the most prestigious sprint handicaps in the racing calendar.” He added that sponsorship never used to be as “important to racing” as it is now. Additionally, James McKay, the Sportsbook Director at Virgin Bet said that they are “excited to announce Virgin Bet’s new partnership with Ayr Racecourse” as they know how much their customers “enjoy the excitement of premier racing events at the most historic racecourses”. The Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup was a big moment in the flat-racing season. The live streaming on ITV Racing will have likely gained a lot of traction from viewers that may have introduced the site to new players or reminded existing players that it exists. This is a useful way for brands to grow their popularity and recognition without putting too much effort into an advertisement.
Virgin Bet TV adverts and social media
There are no available TV advertisements for Virgin Bet, although their sister site Virgin Games has gained huge popularity with their ambassador and mascot ‘Vlad’, who appears in a series of videos advertising the Virgin Games site. Since Virgin Bet is a sportsbook betting site, they perhaps have a lesser need for brand mascots and video adverts since many of their customers will know of it through the popular Virgin brand already. Since the Virgin Bet site focuses less on gaming, video adverts are not as necessary to promote it as you generally know what you are getting with a sportsbook site. Also, due to the Virgin Group’s already huge amount of popularity, both inside and outside of the gaming industry, Virgin Bet likely do not need to rely on additional, personalised adverts to gain customers.
Virgin Bet has a verified Facebook page with over 5k page likes, but has not posted any content since the end of 2019, other than to change their profile and cover photos. On the profile picture post, there are over 50 comments with many negative comments directed towards the account, complaining of issues with the betting site, as well as customers being unable to use the app version. Often, social media pages like this offer customers and players the chance to voice their opinion publicly without having to contact a customer service team, so this could be beneficial or detrimental to the brand and its reputation. However, people can also use social media to share their positive experiences with betting and gaming sites, which could introduce new players to the site and draw new people to it with their recommendations through social media.
The verified Instagram account follows the same fate, and with 400 followers, has not been active since 2019. The Twitter account on the other hand, which is verified with just under 2k followers, was active last in March 2020, but has not posted since. The content that was posted included promotional offers, results from certain sporting events, as well as other related interactional content that engages their followers and fans of the sport. This type of content is perfect for the social media pages of a betting or gambling website, as it provides players with up-to-date news and knowledge about the happenings of the site and company. Hopefully, Virgin Bet return to social media with more of this content to keep their customers engaged.




