Gamesys Sites
The Gamesys sites are Double Bubble Bingo, JackpotJoy, Bally Casino, Monopoly Casino, Rainbow Riches Casino and Virgin Games.
Gamesys Operations Limited is based at Suite 2, Floor 4, Waterport Place, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA.
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Gamesys Casinos 2024
Gamesys Operations Limited isn’t the biggest casino network company in the UK in terms of the number of iGaming sites that it operates, but it’s one of the biggest in terms of the profile of its iGaming sites. How could it not be when it’s the company behind the likes of JackpotJoy and Virgin Games? What the Gamesys Operations Limited platform lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. Some of these casinos and iGaming sites are so famous that you don’t need us to tell you anything about them at all, but let’s take a closer look at them anyway.
JackpotJoy
JackpotJoy rules the roost among the Gamesys Operations Limited family of casinos. Most of the brands on this casino network are big, but JackpotJoy is the biggest. Few bingo and casino sites in the UK enjoy so large a profile as this one. When the site was launched in 2002, it was advertised in television commercials by the late “Carry On” and “Eastenders” star Barbara Windsor, thus ensuring that the casino became a famous name almost immediately. She remained the face of the brand for several years before passing the torch to Paddy McGuinness. The comedian and TV presenter still appears in adverts for the site to this day. JackpotJoy started life as a bingo site but has expanded considerably over the years. Players these days are just as likely to visit the site for its online slots as they are for its bingo games, and they also have Slingo, poker, and live casino games at their fingertips, too. It’s not quite the biggest bingo site in the UK, but it’s easily within the top five and perhaps even the top three.
Double Bubble Bingo
At first glance, Double Bubble Bingo might appear to be the odd one out on the Gamesys Operations Limited casino network. All of the other sites – with the exception of Jackpot Joy – have brand partnerships, whether that’s with Heart Radio or Virgin. Jackpot Joy might not have any brand partnerships, but it gets around that problem by spending big money on TV advertising. Double Bubble Bingo isn’t advertised on television and doesn’t have a big name attached to it, so how has it become so popular in such a short space of time? There are a couple of potential answers to that question. The first is that Double Bubble Bingo is the newest casino site in the Gamesys range, and as the network company already has a reputation for producing quality casinos, it was inevitable that players would want to come and check it out. The second is that Double Bubble Bingo isn’t quite as “unconnected” as it appears to be. The online slots experts among you will already have noticed that the name and logo of the bingo site are identical to that of Double Bubble and Double Bubble Megaways, both of which are very popular online slots by Roxor Gaming. The entire website might look like chewing gum, but that barely matters when the range of games on it is so much fun to play.
Bally Casino
Further down this page is a detailed profile of Gamesys Operations Limited. We don’t like to give away spoilers, but when you read that profile, you’ll find that Gamesys Operations Limited is the property of US-based casino giant Bally’s Corporation, which paid around £2bn to buy the company in 2021. Bally Casino carries the Bally’s Corporation name and logo, and so Bally Casino ought to be seen as a threat to JackpotJoy’s status as the flagship casino and iGaming site on the Gamesys platform. However, we wouldn’t say that Bally Casino has seized the mantle just yet. It launched in August 2023 with a surprising lack of fanfare and in a state that struck us as being only semi-complete, with a reduced portfolio of games compared to its sister sites and very little in the way of promotional clout. It’s grown since then, though, and has displaced Megaways Casino on the Gamesys roster. As successful as Megaways Casino was, Gamesys shut it down to make room for its new All-American brand.
Monopoly Casino
Monopoly Casino comes from the same school of thought as Megaways Casino, which is one of the Gamesys casinos that are sadly no longer with us. If you were new to the world of online casinos, you’d probably associate the name “Monopoly” with the popular traditional board games sold by Hasbro. Versions of Monopoly have existed since 1903, long before the idea of the internet was even a twinkle in the eye of a genius. Since the internet and online casinos came along, though, Monopoly has taken to the format like a duck to water. Playing Monopoly is all about speculating to accumulate, which is the same thing we all do when we play online slots or other casino games. There have been well over a dozen official Monopoly gambling games made up until this point, and all of them are available to play at Monopoly Casino. Whether you’re looking for the latest Monopoly slots, official Monopoly bingo rooms or Monopoly Slingo, you’ll find it all within these four digital walls. You’ll also find everything else that Gamesys Operations Limited has to offer, too because, like Megaways Casino, this is another reskin of the Double Bubble Bingo template.
Rainbow Riches Casino
If you don’t recognise the name “Rainbow Riches,” you’re very late to the online casino party. The Rainbow Riches franchise has been the most popular series of Irish-themed casino games in the business for well over a decade, and the Irish theme is a very crowded market. We’re losing count of how many online slots and other games there are in the Rainbow Riches franchise, but whenever we do need to count, we come to Rainbow Riches Casino and tally them all up in their collection. The Rainbow Riches series is so popular with players that its logo can attract them to brick-and-mortar gaming venues, so it’s no real surprise that it’s just as capable of attracting players to a digital venue. Rainbow Riches Casino hasn’t been treated as a huge priority by Gamesys Operations Limited in the past, but that might be beginning to change. In recent years we’ve seen the brand advertised on television with its “Rainbow Hunter” van, and the site itself has recently had a minor facelift. As with so many of the other casino sites in the Gamesys collection, it’s just the same template and the same games again delivered with a different focus, but why tamper with a winning formula?
Virgin Games
The Virgin logo has been splashed over so many things in the past thirty years that it was inevitable it would one day find its way to online casinos. It’s a boon to Gamesys Operations Limited that when the time eventually came, it was they who were trusted with the world-famous name. Richard Branson’s brand has been used to sell cola, tickets for planes and trains, records and gym memberships in the past, so casino games are just the latest products in an extremely long line. The fact that Virgin Games has been promoted in television commercials underlines the importance of this brand to the casino network company as a whole, even if it doesn’t explain why the commercials are themed around the idea of vampires playing online slots. You won’t necessarily find anything at Virgin Games that you wouldn’t also find if you rooted around in the archives of any of the other online casinos on the network, but the presence of the Virgin name makes the whole experience of playing at this casino feel a little more upmarket. The promotions available at Virgin Games tend to be at the upper end of the Gamesys scale too, so if you’re moving from one Gamesys site to another, it would be worth making this one an early stop on your tour.
About Gamesys Operations Limited
The Latest Gamesys News
: This week marked a major milestone for Gamesys as the company announced its recent acquisition of the former headquarters of the Arcadia Group in London. This strategic move sees Gamesys occupying a notable space previously central to the British retail sector, underlining its expansion and increasing influence within the iGaming industry. The Colegrave House, located in the bustling heart of London near Oxford Street, now serves as the new hub for Gamesys. This iconic building, once the cornerstone of Sir Philip Green’s retail empire, which included well-known brands such as Topshop and Miss Selfridge, represents a pivotal shift in property usage from fashion retail to digital entertainment and technology.
A spokesperson from Gamesys shared their enthusiasm about the new premises, emphasising that the acquisition of such a prominent and spacious site aligns with the company’s growth ambitions and its commitment to further establish its presence in the tech industry. The new space not only offers a prime location but also symbolises the transformative journey of Gamesys from a major player in online gaming to a leading technology company. The move to Colegrave House provides Gamesys with 75,000 square feet of office space, accommodating its growing workforce and operational needs. This development is seen as a proactive step towards adapting to the evolving demands of the digital entertainment landscape, positioning Gamesys at the forefront of the industry’s expansion in London. This relocation is poised to enhance operational efficiencies and foster a creative environment for the team, driving innovation and growth in the coming years.
: This week, Similar Web presented a ranked list of the top casino apps for iPad users in the United Kingdom, showcasing a diverse array of gaming options. Topping the list were solitaire games that offer the chance to win real cash, reflecting a growing trend in mobile gaming where classic games are reimagined for the modern digital era. These include titles like ‘Solitaire Clash: Win Real Cash’ by Aviagames Inc. and ‘Solitaire Card Games’ by Solitaire Games Free Inc., which secured the first and second spots respectively. The list also featured a series of well-known online casinos, indicating a robust presence of traditional gambling experiences in the digital realm. Notably, only one platform from Gamesys made it to the list, with Virgin Games ranking at number 46 out of the top 50 apps. This placement suggests a competitive market where numerous apps vie for user attention, with Virgin Games holding a respectable but unimpressive position.
Other notable entries in the list include ‘Bingo Blitz™ – BINGO Games’ by Playtika Santa Monica, LLC, and ‘Bingo Frenzy-Live Bingo Games’ by VERTEX GAMES PTE. LTD., showcasing the popularity of bingo games among iPad users. The inclusion of various game types in the list reflects the diverse preferences of casino game players in the UK. The ranking by Similar Web provides valuable insights into the current trends in mobile casino gaming, highlighting the blend of traditional and innovative gaming experiences available to iPad users. The prominence of solitaire games at the top of the list is particularly interesting, suggesting a shift towards games that combine classic gameplay with the opportunity to win real money.
: Scott Benton, formerly a Conservative MP representing Blackpool South, is currently in the spotlight due to a potential suspension from Parliament. This follows his involvement in a lobbying scandal where he offered to lobby ministers for a gambling firm. Benton, who first won the Blackpool South seat in 2019, was the first Conservative to represent the area since 1997, succeeding Labour’s Gordon Marsden. His election campaign was heavily influenced by the Brexit sentiment, aligning with the 67.5% leave vote in Blackpool during the 2016 EU referendum. Born in Newport, Wales, Benton, aged 36, initially pursued a career in primary education before transitioning into politics. His political journey includes serving as a councillor in Calderdale, Yorkshire, for eight years and working as a Parliamentary assistant for Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley.
Benton’s tenure in Parliament has not been without controversy. He has been involved in various disputes, particularly on social media. One notable incident occurred in July 2021, where he was accused of fat-shaming a Labour councillor, David Collett. This accusation stemmed from a Twitter exchange where Benton commented on Collett’s physique in response to criticism over accepting free tickets to Euro 2020 football matches from gambling companies. Benton’s acceptance of these tickets, totalling £7,494.60 in value from firms like Entain Operations and Gamesys Group, was scrutinised, especially as he simultaneously advocated for a “super casino” in Blackpool. Despite the allegations, Benton maintained that there was no connection between his acceptance of the tickets and his support for a casino in Blackpool, a stance that has been met with scepticism and criticism.
: Glitzy Bingo recently explored the Gamesys family tree to recommend sites similar to Tombola Bingo for players seeking a new yet familiar gaming environment. While Tombola Bingo stands unique without direct sister sites, several alternatives offer comparable experiences. Sun Bingo, once part of the same brand as Tombola, now operates independently but continues to provide a similar 90-ball bingo experience. Jackpotjoy UK, another Gamesys site, is an excellent alternative with its enjoyable bingo, daily free games, and a mobile app akin to Tombola’s. Heart Bingo, working with Pragmatic Play, offers a more limited selection of bingo games but still provides experiences reminiscent of Tombola. For a unique gaming experience, Happy Tiger stands out as a great alternative to Tombola Arcade, boasting exclusive games.
Fabulous Bingo, a sister site of Sun Bingo, offers an accessible platform with 80 and 90-ball bingo games akin to those on Tombola Bingo. Foxy Bingo parallels Tombola Bingo with its range of 90-ball, 30-ball, and 50-ball games, including unique favourites like Fluffy Favourites Bingo. Double Bubble Bingo, a sister site to Jackpotjoy, is a recent addition to the Gamesys family, featuring daily games and 90-ball bingo similar to Tombola Bingo. Bet365 Bingo, known for its sports range and fun bingo games, offers 90-ball and Blast Bingo games akin to Tombola’s offerings. Lastly, Bingo.com, though not as widely recognized, serves as a notable alternative to Tombola, being one of the oldest bingo sites and a sister site to 32Red. These recommendations by Glitzy Bingo cater to players who appreciate enthralling, accessible, and friendly gaming environments, similar to what Tombola Bingo offers.
: Best New Bingo Sites has recently shed light on a novel and increasingly popular slot tournament known as Slot Masters, which is gaining traction across various UK online casinos, including those within the Gamesys network. Slot Masters distinguishes itself from traditional slot tournaments by offering a unique blend of skill and luck. Unlike conventional tournaments where outcomes are purely chance-based, Slot Masters involves strategic gameplay against two other competitors, incorporating the use of power-ups. These power-ups, which include options to freeze an opponent’s reels, destroy or partially steal their score, or defend against similar attacks, add a layer of strategy to the game. The game is played on the multiplayer slot game ‘Cash In The Keep’, where players aim to amass the highest score possible within a set time frame, typically spanning a day or a weekend. Each player is allocated a limited number of battles, usually two to five, with each battle lasting two minutes.
The strategic use of power-ups, which are activated by spinning up a War Chest on the third reel, is crucial in outmanoeuvring opponents and maximizing one’s score. Slot Masters tournaments are currently available at Foxy Bingo and Ladbrokes, and occasionally at various Gamesys sites. The game’s strategic element significantly enhances the entertainment value for players who enjoy a competitive edge in their online slot experience. However, as of November 2023, Entain sites have ceased running Slot Masters tournaments. This innovative approach to slot gaming offers a fresh and engaging experience for players who relish the combination of skill, strategy, and luck. With its growing popularity and the recent distribution deal signed by game provider HungryBear Gaming with Light & Wonder, Slot Masters is poised to become a staple in the online casino world.
: In a recent article by talkSPORT, the spotlight was cast on 20p Roulette, a distinctive online casino game that has garnered significant attention since its debut. This game is a modern twist on the classic roulette format, which originated in France in the early 18th century and has evolved into various forms, including the European, American, and French versions. 20p Roulette, developed by Inspired Gaming, is a fast-paced variant of European roulette, distinguished by its singular zero pocket, which contrasts with the American version’s single and double zero pockets. The uniqueness of 20p Roulette lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Each chip in the game is valued at 20p, making it an affordable option for players. The game requires a minimum of £1 worth of bets to start, and players can place bets on a variety of numbers and combinations in a single spin.
One of the key highlights of 20p Roulette is its Return to Player rate of 97.30%, which is relatively high for casino games. This indicates a favourable chance of returns for players over time. The game also offers a range of betting options, from 20p bets on single numbers and pairs to £1 bets on larger combinations like columns and dozens. Virgin Games is listed as one of the top sites to experience 20p Roulette. Operated by Gamesys Operations Limited, Virgin Games offers a broad selection of over 400 slots and table games, including 20p Roulette – obviously! talkSPORT also mentioned that the Gamesys site is known for its loyalty rewards, 24/7 support, and the availability of free games, making it an attractive platform for both new and seasoned players.
: In a recent report by iGaming Business, the gaming corporation Bally’s emerged with a contrasting financial narrative for quarter three of 2023. Despite a 9.4% rise in revenue, the company has reported a staggering net loss of £61.8 million. This update sheds light on the complex currents beneath the surface of the gaming industry’s financial streams. The article lays out a clear overview of the unexpected loss incurred by Bally’s, despite the revenue growth. The loss has been pinned down to various factors, including operational costs and expenses linked to recent acquisitions and expansions. It’s a classic case of growing pains in the business world, where expansion efforts do not immediately translate to net profitability.
The year 2023 has been a busy one for Bally’s, marked by ambitious undertakings such as the launch of Bally Casino in the UK, operated by Gamesys. This move signified the company’s foray into the competitive British online gambling market, underscoring its strategy to expand its digital footprint and diversify its portfolio. Yet, such strides have come with significant investments that have, in turn, affected the company’s short-term financial results. The impact of these developments has been substantial enough for Bally’s to revise its full-year guidance, adjusting expectations in the light of quarter three’s figures. It’s an acknowledgement that while the company is broadening its horizons and enhancing its digital and international presence, the cost of such growth is currently overshadowing the revenue gains. This financial portrait, as painted by iGaming Business, highlights the precarious balance companies like Bally’s must maintain as they navigate expansion and strive for profitability.
: Exciting developments are afoot in the world of online gaming, and at the heart of it all is Sam Sedi, the CEO of LiveScore Group. With a vision and determination that are second to none, Sam Sedi is on a mission to build an empire that’s making waves in the industry. Let’s dive into the details of this remarkable journey and the transformation of LiveScore Group. Sam Sedi is no stranger to the world of online gaming, having overseen LiveScore bet’s journey from acquisition by Gamesys in 2017 to its subsequent sale to the Jackpotjoy Group. But that’s not where the story ends. LiveScore Group’s remarkable trajectory continued with its inclusion in a monumental £2 billion merger with Ballys Corporation, cementing its position as a player to watch in the industry.
However, what truly sets Sam Sedi and LiveScore Group apart is their determination to chart an independent course in this dynamic landscape. In a bold move that caught the attention of industry insiders and enthusiasts alike, LiveScore Group emerged as a standalone entity, no longer tethered to the giants of the gaming world. This move signifies a new chapter in the company’s journey, one marked by innovation, agility, and a commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences. As the CEO of LiveScore Group, Sam Sedi is spearheading this exciting transformation. His leadership is characterised by a forward-thinking approach that places the player at the centre of the gaming universe. With a clear focus on user experience, LiveScore Group is poised to revolutionise the way we engage with online gaming, offering a seamless blend of sports, betting, and entertainment.
: One company’s trash is another’s treasure, which seemingly also applies to executive personnel if this week’s happenings in the corporate quarters of the iGaming industry are anything to go by. EGR Global, Gaming Intelligence, and iGaming Business all reported on how the London-listed company Gaming Realms has hired the ex-Gamesys head as their chief product officer. Suki Sandhu has decades of experience within the iGaming world with some of the biggest companies in the industry, including IGT, WynnBet, and PartyGaming, which is now operating under the Entain banner. In his new position, Sandhu has been tasked with enhancing the already robust portfolio of Slingo games as a priority, second to his mission of introducing new elements and concepts to strengthen Gaming Realms’ stake to the claim of being one of the leading suppliers within the industry.
With Sandhu being no stranger to the responsibilities which come with holding senior roles in high-profile companies, no one is cynical about his capacity to achieve his new employer’s objective, especially after his success as a product director for Inspired Entertainment. The CEO of Gaming Realms, Mark Segal was thrilled to welcome Suki Sandhu to the company in a recently circulated press statement which went public on October 10th. Segal believes that his skills and expertise are exactly what the company needs to level up their existing products and bring a few more into the fold so that players from around the globe can benefit from more entertaining and engaging gaming experiences – no pressure there.
: AI has integrated itself into the iGaming industry in a number of ways, from recommending appropriate games to players to detecting fraudulent activity. Now, it is likely that AI will play a larger role in online casino security. On September 27, the website Kalkin Media shared an article highlighting how one of the leading providers of strategic business insights and regulatory guidance, Gambling IQ, is currently betting on the introduction of biometric measures in the UK gambling industry. The company made two proposals to the Gambling Commission and the UK Government which championed AI tech as a mode of verifying digital identities and reducing fraud risks which are faced by online gamblers. Gambling IQ also suggested bringing in biometric checks for land-based gambling premises to ensure underage gamblers are not able to place bets or use gambling terminals, such as slot machines.
Several high-profile companies were mentioned in Gambling IQ’s report, including Gamesys, NetEnt, GamStop, Aspire Global, and Reflex Gaming. You can read the full report via the official Gambling IQ website or read the TLDR take on the report by heading to the Kalkin Media site, which goes into a fair amount of detail on how the biometric tech will function, and the benefits, which will also be noted by gamblers who are at risk of gambling addiction. Gambling IQ stated that the real-time monitoring capacities of their AI models will be able to track changes in behaviour and trigger alerts which will result in immediate intervention, especially with instances of binge gambling.
: Bally’s Corporation (the owner of Bally’s Interactive International, formerly known as the Gamesys Group) has announced that it will be making a £5 million donation to the Community College of Rhode Island Foundation, in a bid to solidify a long-term partnership with the foundation. In a press release, which was shared by PR News Wire on the 14th of September, Bally’s iterated their belief that investment in the foundation will advance higher education, and in turn, provide significant economic opportunities for the Rhode Island workforce. In addition to the significantly generous donation, Bally’s partnership with the foundation will also develop academic programs, focused on gaming, retail, and hospitality. In the not-all-too-distant future, the community college will boast state-of-the-art learning labs and environments which can facilitate on-site training opportunities.
Clearly, Bally’s Corporation has very vested interests in this new venture, but that doesn’t completely deride their benevolence with the foundation. Especially considering that the donation is the largest ever to be received by the CCRI in its 45-year history, and it is also one of the biggest received by community colleges in the US in 2023. Students looking to get into the iGaming industry or hospitality sectors will benefit from the major donation, which has reportedly doubled the CCRI’s endowment; Bally’s employees are also welcome to use the on-site training opportunities to hone their skillsets and talents. Bally’s chairman, Soo Kim, saw it as an honour to partner with the CCRI, especially on such an important and exciting initiative, which will create new jobs and drive economic development.
: On September 4th, iGaming Business published a rather damning report which illustrated that the number of sports bets placed in July by residents of Rhode Island had dipped to a three-year low in July 2023. Sports bettors *only* spent £20.2 million on sports bets in July, which converts to a relatively measly sum of £16 million. For comparison, the figure for July 2022 was £25.2 million, meaning that the figure was down by 19.8%; even compared to June 2022 figures, there was a 14.8% downturn from the total of £23.7 million. Online bookmakers raked in the bulk of the funds (£15.4 million), whereas retail bookmakers only managed to pull £4.9 million onto the books. However, considering that the takings were only split between two bookies, Twin River (£3 million), and Tiverton Casino (£1.9 million), the profits didn’t have to go too many different ways.
This dip in sports bets follows the legalisation of online casinos in Rhode Island, which only happened in June 2022. Currently, Gamesys is the sole casino brand operator active in Rhode Island; Gamesys had the pleasure and privilege of being the operator that introduces slot fans in Rhode Island to the shiny new world of iGaming via its increasingly famous casinos Rainbow Riches Casino and Virgin Casino. While it is unclear if iGaming Business believed Gamesys was to blame for online and retail bookmakers starting to lose their shine and appear a little lacklustre, it was certainly heavily implied in the article, even though it may very well be a case of correlation instead of causation.
: On the 24th of August, King Casino Bonus UK ranked and rated the top six Gamesys online casinos. The only site to receive a 4.3 / 5-star review instead of 4.1 stars was Virgin Games, which has been in operation since 2013. It may have slightly slower payout times compared to the other sites that are featured on the roundup which are capable of giving players access to their winnings in as little as 24 hours, and it might have the second smallest game library with only 960 games within it, but for some reason, which isn’t disclosed in the review, it received the highest star review.
If getting access to the biggest game library is an important factor when you are sizing up Gamesys sites, you will want to acquaint yourself with Monopoly Casino, which gives players first access to all the latest and greatest Monopoly-branded video slot games and live game shows; it also has infinitely more games than the rest of its sister sites by giving members a selection of 1,500 titles. At Jackpotjoy and Double Bubble Bingo, you might have a better selection of bingo games, but both sites only have room for 750 games in the library. When it comes to comparing the sites based on the welcome bonuses, you will find that Double Bubble Bingo, Rainbow Riches Casino and Jackpotjoy are a cut above the other sites; instead of offering a measly welcome deal of 30 free games, you can claim up to £50 in bonuses after making a £10 deposit.
The History of Gamesys
Gamesys Operations Limited was not born yesterday. While it might not be the oldest casino company in the world, it’s a veteran of the industry and celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2021. The world of online casinos looked very different when Gamesys took its first tentative steps into it in 2001, but the company has both survived and thrived since then despite being faced with wave after wave of new rival casino network companies that have emerged during that time. Its success has been down to shrewd manoeuvring within the marketplace, clever branding of its casino websites, and knowing when to make changes to suit the changing world around it. Those changes have been wholesale. In the past, the company we now know as Gamesys has been called Intertain and the JPJ Group, as well as spending a brief period named after its most successful online casino site, JackpotJoy. The Gamesys name arrived in 2019. We’ve become accustomed to calling the company “Gamesys,” but based on past form, we probably shouldn’t get used to it. They could easily change names again more than once before the end of the 2020s.
As you can see from the above image, Gamesys Operations Limited maintains a public website. We’d call it a “customer-facing website,” but the content on it doesn’t seem to be intended for the general public. Instead, it’s a business-focused website providing facts, figures, and investment news about the company. Business-speak is prevalent all over the site, starting with the text on the banner graphic in which Gamesys acknowledges its status as a “Bally’s Corporation Company” and describes itself as a “leading international online gaming operator.” The follow-on text notes that they’re strategically well-positioned for future growth, which sounds a little like an invitation to investors or perhaps even an open door for another corporate takeover. Many of the usual things we’d expect to see on a casino network company’s website aren’t present here. There is not, for example, a company mission statement or a statement about the Gamesys Group’s values. There isn’t a cosy “get to know us” section outlining the company’s history or profiling its senior staff. It’s just wall-to-wall facts, and so while the red-and-white colour scheme might seem warm and inviting, the website itself leaves us a little cold.
Gamesys on Wikipedia
While it isn’t necessarily true to say that having a Wikipedia page is a sign that a casino network company is successful, it’s certainly true that a successful casino network company is more likely to have a Wikipedia entry than an unsuccessful casino network company. With that in mind, the Gamesys Group has a short entry on Wikipedia – and that entry provides a lot more information about the company’s backstory than its official website does.
From the Gamesys Wikipedia, we know that the company’s founders back in 2001 were Robin Tombs, Noel Hayden, and Andrew Dixon. We also know that the Virgin Games brand was acquired at a high cost by Gamesys in 2013, but it briefly parted with Jackpot Joy by selling the casino to the Intertain Group in February 2015 for £425.8m. Gamesys and Jackpot Joy would be reunited in 2019 when Intertain, which would go on to change its name to the JPJ Group, carried out a reverse takeover of Gamesys. Between the takeovers and the reverse takeovers, the history of Gamesys can become quite difficult to follow, but things get a lot easier after March 2021. That’s when Bally’s Corporation, a US-based casino company, acquired Gamesys and all of its subsidiaries for about £2bn.
What is Bally’s Corporation?
As we now know from the above paragraph, Gamesys Operations Limited is no longer a standalone, independent company. Its destiny is controlled from overseas by Bally’s Corporation. The name “Bally’s” might sound familiar to anybody who played physical slot machines and gaming cabinets in the 1980s and 1990s, but the brand and the company behind it has changed and grown beyond all recognition since then. It’s now a Leviathan company with a global presence, offering both iGaming and sports betting in both physical and digital venues. Bally’s Corporation owns fourteen physical casinos split across ten states in the USA and even has its own horse racing track in Colorado.
The number of people who work for Bally’s Corporation, including everyone employed by Gamesys Operations Limited, is close to ten thousand. While the majority of those ten thousand people work on the digital side of things, some of them are tasked with maintaining the company’s 15,000 physical slot machines, five hundred or so table games, and over five thousand hotel rooms attached to its casinos. As if any further proof of the size and power of Bally’s Corporation were needed, the company trades on the Stock Exchange in New York. While they have offices all over the world, Bally’s head office is in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Even though Bally’s owns Gamesys, there’s still an element of Gamesys in charge of Bally’s. That’s because Lee Fenton, who was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Gamesys between 2015 and 2021, is now the Chief Executive Officer of Bally’s Corporation. Bally’s Corporation is not to be confused with Bally Technology, which is another old British gaming company that’s now in American hands under the umbrella of Scientific Games.
Gamesys Group Licenses and Fines
Gamesys Operations Limited has, for the main part, managed to keep its nose clean in terms of staying out of trouble with the UK Gambling Commission, which regulates the hobby in the United Kingdom. However, there has been one notable exception to that. In June 2019, the UKGC investigated Gamesys and found that the company was guilty of breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations Act of 2007 and a failure to comply with Social Responsibility Code 3.4.1, which is a condition of the company’s licence. To be more specific, the UKGC found that on three occasions, Gamesys failed to notice that customers spending large sums of money at its online casinos had been the subject of police investigations in the past and that the money being spent at the casino sites was stolen. It was the view of the UKGC that further identification checks should have been performed on these customers and that all three customers should have been interacted with by Gamesys staff when they showed signs of problem gambling by placing an ever-increasing series of wagers. This was a costly experience for Gamesys, as the company was eventually ordered to make a payment of £690,000 to gambling charities in lieu of a formal financial penalty and was also made to repay £460,472 to the victims of the aforementioned thefts. The failures cost Gamesys £1.2m in total, but worse was to come.
In November 2023, the UK Gambling Commission completed another review of the licence held by Gamesys Operations Limited, and found multiple breaches. Specifically, the operator had failed to adhere to Commission guidance for remote and non-remote casinos, failed to comply with the Social Responsibility Code of Practice, broken a licence condition that’s specific to operators in foreign jurisdictions, and broken anti-money laundering guidelines again. This time, the penalties were worse. Gamesys was fined £6.07m, handed a formal warning in accordance with section 117(a) of the Gambling Act 2005, and had to accept the imposition of further conditions on its licence. It’s to be hoped that the company has learned its lesson this time.
Gamesys Operations Limited’s licence with the UK Gambling Commission is number 38905. The company’s casinos are also licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner under account number RGL 46.
Full List of Gamesys Sites
Active Gamesys Operations Limited Casinos
Below we list all the Gamesys Operations Limited casinos that are actively owned and operated by Gamesys, along with their web addresses.
- Double Bubble Bingo (doublebubblebingo.com)
- Jackpot Joy (jackpotjoy.com)
- Bally Casino (ballycasino.co.uk)
White-Label Gamesys Operations Limited Casinos
These are Gamesys casinos that are owned and operated by Gamesys in partnership with a third party. The names of the third parties involved aren’t always given.
- Monopoly Casino (monopolycasino.com)
- Rainbow Riches Casino (rainbowriches.com)
- Virgin Games (virgingames.com)