Virgin Games

Virgin Games sister sites include Double Bubble Bingo, Jackpotjoy, Bally Casino, Monopoly Casino and Rainbow Riches Casino.
Virgin Games (virgingames.com) is operated by Gamesys Operations Limited, Suite 2, Floor 4, Waterport Place, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA.

Virgin Games Sister Sites

Some of the biggest casinos and iGaming sites in the UK are Virgin Games sister sites. JackpotJoy is the most obvious example of that, but the recent addition of Bally Casino – a site that’s destined to be enormous – is another reminder of the awesome power of Gamesys Operations Limited. We’ve provided outlines of all the top Virgin Games sister sites below, but we appreciate that some of you will be looking for a deeper dive. If you’re one of them, check out our Gamesys Operations page for everything you need to know about all of the casinos and the company that operates them. Here, the Virgin Games sister sites we’re going to look at are Rainbow Riches Casino, Double Bubble Bingo, Monopoly Casino and JackpotJoy.

Rainbow Riches Casino

Almost every member of the Virgin Games sister sites family has a niche. In the case of Rainbow Riches Casino, the niche is that it’s a whole casino site dedicated to one of the most popular and celebrated series of online slots in history. If you’ve never heard of Rainbow Riches before, we can only assume that you absolutely detest Irish-themed slots or you’re very new to the hobby. You’d struggle to avoid the Rainbow Riches name and logo if you did all your gambling in the offline world rather than the online world, as the draw of the brand is such that it’s even used in brick-and-mortar gaming venues. Since the very first Rainbow Riches slot was released by Bally well over a decade ago, the range has grown to include more than a dozen titles. You’ll find all of them at Rainbow Riches Casino, which tends to get the latest releases a little before other casino sites do. That’s one of the biggest perks to playing here.

Rainbow Riches Casino is becoming an increasingly big deal among the Virgin Games sister sites and has even been advertised on television within the past twelve months, but don’t go thinking it’s a one-trick pony. There are more than three hundred other online slots at this casino, along with Slingo games, poker, bingo, a live casino and a few other exclusive treats. Best of all, anything you win at Rainbow Riches Casino is yours to keep. The site doesn’t believe in wagering requirements, and it even offers a few free-to-play games every day. The site is a little dated and shabby, but that’s a minor concern when it has so much to offer.

Double Bubble Bingo

The Double Bubble range of online slots isn’t as popular as the Rainbow Riches range of online slots. That means most players are less likely to be familiar with the inspiration behind Double Bubble Bingo than they are with the inspiration behind Rainbow Riches Casino – but you still won’t miss the neon pink and green branding either way. Once you’ve seen the bright colours of this member of the Virgin Games sister sites family, you’ll never forget it – and that’s the whole idea. The Double Bubble slots mimic the style of a well-known brand of bubble gum that’s available in the UK and use that style as a motif. The website follows suit. Be aware, though, that if you’re tempted to come to Double Bubble Bingo because you’re a big online bingo fan, you might find yourself a little disappointed. This site does bingo (there’s a clue right there in the name), but it doesn’t specialise in it, and there’s a whole lot else it does on top.

Most of the Virgin Games sister sites offer a similar range of games. That means Double Bubble Bingo has a near-identical iGaming portfolio to that of Rainbow Riches Casino – around 400-or-so slots plus Slingo, live casino games, poker rooms, general casino games and (of course) bingo. It makes the same promises as the other Virgin Games sister sites, too – anything you win at Double Bubble Bingo is yours to keep, and you’ll never find yourself tied to any wagering requirements. That even goes for new players, who can get either £50 of free bingo tickets or fifty free spins to use on the slots in return for their first deposit of at least £10. You don’t even have to spend money to have a good time at Double Bubble Bingo – you can play the free games every day instead if you’d prefer.

Monopoly Casino

If you’re reading this page in order, you’ll have spotted the pattern of the Virgin Games sister sites by now. They take famous properties from either iGaming or regular gaming and then build online casinos around them. None of the Virgin Games sister sites, however, is connected to as big a name as Monopoly. This is the board game that’s been entertaining families and causing arguments at Christmas for more than one hundred years. Ownership of the Monopoly name and logo currently belongs to Hasbro, and it’s no small feather in the cap of Gamesys Operations Limited that the casino network company has been allowed to use it to develop this casino site. Monopoly Casino is one of the most popular sites of its kind in the UK and comes with that same promise of free games every day, no withdrawal charges ever, and no wagering requirements. It’s more of what you’ve already seen from the other Virgin Casino sister sites, but with a more famous logo slapped on it.

We don’t mean to do Monopoly Casino a disservice with the final remark in our last paragraph – having the Monopoly logo attached is a big deal. The famous name has been used to sell several casino games in the past, and you’ll find all of those casino games here. There are Monopoly-branded slots, Monopoly-branded bingo rooms, plus a whole lot more that you’re free to explore. If it makes it easier for you to do so, you can spend and play through £10 as a new player to receive fifty pounds worth of free bingo games. Those of you who don’t care for bingo can opt to receive thirty free spins on the Monopoly Casino slots instead. Some of the games at Monopoly Casino are exclusive to the site, so if you’re looking for excitement that you won’t find elsewhere, this is a good option for you.

Jackpotjoy

Jackpotjoy is one of the most popular online casinos the UK has ever seen. Even on a casino network company packed with as many star names as Gamesys Operations Limited, Jackpotjoy stands out. None of the Virgin Games sister sites can touch it when it comes to brand recognition – not even Virgin Games itself. We can pin at least some of that on the fame of the people who’ve advertised the casino on television. The dearly departed EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor was the first star to dress up in blue and become the face of Jackpotjoy on television, but when she retired, Paddy McGuinness picked up the baton. He had a good two-year run as the brand’s mascot, but the deal has now come to an end. Despite everything we’ve just said about Jackpotjoy, though, it’s a fairly unremarkable casino site when compared with the other Virgin Games sister sites.

All of the promotions at Jackpotjoy would sound fantastic if we hadn’t already seen them at the other casino sites in the family. The “Play through £10, get £50 of free bingo” promotion is no less potent here than it is elsewhere, but nor is it any better. The same can be said of the offer of daily free games or the commitment to avoiding wagering requirements. All of these promises put the Gamesys Operations Limited casinos head and shoulders above most other UK-facing casino sites but mean that none of them stands out on their own network. As the flagship site in the range, we’d like to see Jackpotjoy stand out a little more than it does. Don’t get us wrong; it’s a great casino – we just feel it ought to shine a little brighter.

Virgin Games News

30th August 2024: There have been far too many negative reviews on the Virgin Games Trustpilot page for it to be a coincidence instead of a stark sign that the platform isn’t all it is hyped up to be. Users have consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the platform, citing poor returns on their investments and a perceived lack of transparency and fairness in gameplay. One user, Stephen R Kay, reported a dismally low return to player ratio, stating that for every £10 played, the average win was less than £1, with small wins rarely compensating for the larger losses. This sentiment was echoed by another user, “cheekyace,” who lamented the acquisition of Virgin Games sister sites by Bally Corporation, suggesting that the takeover had led to even poorer game performance and RTP.

Another member complained that after 150 spins on an online slot game, his only return was 40p, and there were no bonuses in sight. Another review highlighted a perceived lack of fair play in live casino games, with a user named Jason Doerr observing a blackjack dealer losing only twice over a two-hour session, which raised questions about game integrity. However, not all feedback was negative. A reviewer named just me marie praised the site for its enjoyable games and excellent customer support, and Gemma Richardson appreciated the £50 in bonuses and wins she received after rejoining the site following a break. These positive comments, however, are vastly outnumbered by the critical reviews. Far too many players report that it is increasingly difficult to achieve significant wins, and many have called for the platform to be scrutinised or even shut down due to their negative experiences.

3rd August 2024: Virgin Games recently offered an insightful look into the iconic Rainbow Riches slots series through a dedicated blog post. The series, launched in 2006 by Barcrest, has been a cornerstone in the online gaming scene, attracting players with its quintessential charm and always endearing bonus features. The blog highlights how to engage with the Rainbow Riches games, starting with how to choose between the ever-growing selection of casino games and how to set bet sizes. Once you’re ready to play, as the blog details, you will engage with the base game reels in the usual way, matching symbols across pay lines to trigger payouts. Scatter symbols and wild symbols frequently appear to increase the chance of winning. However, in most Rainbow Riches games the bonus rounds offer the most substantial rewards which can be up to 500 times the wager.

Among the standout games, the original Rainbow Riches remains a fan favourite for its low entry cost and exciting bonus features. The Rainbow Riches Megaways version, introduced in 2019 by Big Time Gaming, revolutionises the experience with up to 117,649 pay lines and features like Cascading Reels and Free Spins Bonuses. Further diversifying the gameplay experience, Rainbow Riches: Cluster Magic presents a grid-based game where winning clusters trigger cascades, potentially leading to successive wins. This game also offers unique bonuses such as Persisting Wilds and Infinity Spins. Another variant, Rainbow Riches: Pick ‘n’ Mix, allows players to customise their gaming experience with selectable bonus rounds, introduced in 2016. Additionally, the 2020 launch of Rainbow Riches: Jackpot O’ Luck offers a progressive jackpot and up to 25 free spins.

5th July 2024: Recognising that slot fans frequently select games that match their mood or the season, Virgin Games has rolled out a list of top ‘sizzling summer slots’ to keep the excitement blazing, regardless of what the British summer throws at us. Among the highlighted slots, ‘Sizzling Hot Deluxe: 10 Win Ways’ was dubbed as one of the hottest games – for more reasons than one. This sequel to the 2007 classic was released by Novomatic in May 2022 and offers a scorching experience with up to 251,957 paylines and cascading symbols that can trigger a chain of wins across its dual play areas. Another heated favourite is ‘Blazin’ Hot 7’s: Big Bonus’ by Light & Wonder. This slot revives the traditional fruit machine aesthetic with symbols like watermelons, cherries, and the iconic BAR, available to play from just 20p. With Wild symbols and the possibility of winning up to 12 free spins, it promises both nostalgia and fresh excitement.

For those who fancy a virtual trip to the seaside, ‘Fun on the Seafront’ evokes classic British beach holidays. The Raining Reels feature, where winning symbols are replaced by new ones, can potentially lead to multiple payouts from a single spin. The multiplier increases with each cascade, potentially reaching up to 20x. Spicing things up further, ‘Chilli Heat Megaways’ by Pragmatic Play offers a fiery slot experience with up to 200,704 ways to win. The game features a re-spin bonus triggered by six Money symbols, during which players can win instant cash prizes and multipliers. Lastly, ‘Tiki Island’ by Roxor Gaming transports players to a tropical paradise with engaging bonus rounds and the potential for substantial wins.

9th June 2024: It seems strange to see the legitimacy of the Virgin Games sister sites being brought into question on sites such as Scams.info; so it was far from surprising that the website’s reviewers recently concluded that the platforms are safe and secure as they come. Virgin Games, originally a part of Richard Branson’s Virgin brand, is highly regarded in the industry. Now under the management of Gamesys, the platform continues to be innovative and customer-focused. One of its main strengths is the extensive range of games available, boasting over 900 titles including slots, blackjack, poker, bingo, and a live casino. The site offers a welcome bonus of 30 free spins on the popular Double Bubble slot game, a modest but appealing offer due to its fair and achievable terms.

Safety is a top priority at Virgin Games, as evidenced by its licenses from both the UK Gambling Commission and the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, ensuring strict regulatory compliance. Additionally, the platform employs advanced encryption technologies to protect user data, with games regularly audited for fairness by independent bodies like eCOGRA. This robust security framework reassures players of the site’s integrity. Customer support is another strong point, with 24/7 availability via live chat and email, ensuring players can get assistance whenever needed. The site’s usability is praised for its minimalistic design, making navigation straightforward whether on desktop or through the sleek, high-performing mobile app. However, the platform does have some weaknesses. Scams.info pointed out that the range of payment methods is somewhat limited, primarily accepting Visa, Mastercard, and Apple Pay, which might not cater to all players’ preferences. Despite this minor drawback, Virgin Games’ strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

13th May 2024: Virgin Games is continually improving its offerings to members. This week, they have shared valuable insights into the top games that promise the best odds of winning. Featured prominently are slots like ‘Secrets of the Phoenix’ and ‘Golden Jungle’. ‘Secrets of the Phoenix’ offers players a dynamic experience with features like Free Spins Bonus and Cascading Reels; both features can lead to dramatic wins for players utilising the slot game’s 25 pay lines. Similarly, ‘Golden Jungle’ entices with its rich visual design and rewarding bonus features including Locked Wilds and multiple scatter opportunities. For those favouring traditional casino games, Virgin Games recommends ‘3D Roulette’ and ‘Multi-hand Blackjack’. ‘3D Roulette’ stands out with its immersive graphics and a broad range of betting options, from simple colours to complex French bets. ‘Multi-hand Blackjack’ offers a thrilling challenge, allowing players to manage several hands simultaneously, significantly increasing the chances of a win.

Live casino options are not overlooked in the blog, with ‘Live Blackjack’ and ‘Live Roulette’ being the top suggestions. ‘Live Blackjack’ supports up to seven players at once and includes side bets like Perfect Pairs and 21+3, which could pay out if your initial cards form a pair or a qualifying poker hand. ‘Live Roulette’ introduces features like HD video, slow-motion replays, and the ability to save favourite bets, streamlining the betting process for regular players. Lastly, poker fans have ‘Wild Seat Poker’ to look forward to, where they can engage in intense gameplay with the chance to unlock mystery prizes and substantial jackpots.

16th April 2024: On April 15, Gambling.com shared insights into the enhancements at Virgin Games, illustrating why the platform is now a top choice for online gaming. Recently, Virgin Games has undergone extensive updates aimed at improving user experience and increasing the variety of games available. These upgrades have transformed the platform into a more pleasant and engaging environment for gamers. The overhaul includes the introduction of a wider array of games, appealing to a broader audience. Players can now enjoy an enriched selection that ranges from classic slots to immersive live casino experiences. This expansion ensures that the Virgin Games sister sites cater to all tastes and preferences, keeping the excitement alive with new and updated titles. Another pivotal improvement is the streamlined user interface, which makes navigation simpler and more intuitive. This enhancement makes the platform more accessible and reduces the learning curve for new users. The redesign focuses on providing a seamless experience, whether one is playing games, exploring new options, or managing their accounts.

Virgin Games has also strengthened its commitment to responsible gaming, a move that reassures players of its dedication to providing a safe and fair gaming environment. The platform now offers more enhanced tools and resources to help players manage their gaming habits effectively, promoting a balanced approach to online gambling. For new players considering where to enjoy their next gaming experience, the overhauled Virgin Games site offers an enticing combination of wide-ranging game options, user-friendly design, and a strong focus on player safety. It’s a far cry from the dated experience provided before the overhaul!

5th January 2024: This week, Games Promo Code, typically known for sharing promotional codes for various online casinos, took a different turn by outlining the process of joining Virgin Games. The article meticulously details each step of the registration process, from the initial click on the ‘Join Now’ button to the final verification of identity. It emphasises the importance of providing accurate information for identity verification and highlights the ease of picking a username and setting up a password. The article also touches upon the welcome bonus offered by Virgin Games, which currently includes 30 Free Spins on Double Bubble for new members who opt in and meet the minimum deposit and wager requirements. Additionally, it covers the process of registering on Virgin Games sister sites via mobile, assuring users of a seamless experience on the mobile version of the platform.

While the article is comprehensive in explaining the registration process, it’s somewhat surprising that such a detailed guide was deemed necessary. The process of opening an account on Virgin Games, or any online gaming platform for that matter, is typically straightforward and intuitive. The step-by-step breakdown, while informative, might seem excessive for an action that many would consider to be common sense or hardly rocket science. Furthermore, the article briefly mentions the variety of casino games available once an account is opened, the range of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, and the customer service options available to account holders. Overall, while the article provides a thorough guide to joining Virgin Games, its necessity is questionable given the simplicity and user-friendliness of most online casino registration processes.

Can Virgin Games Be Trusted?

★★★★★

Virgin Games is a 3-star trusted casino.

1. Licenses and Fines	Covered by UK Gambling Commission licence #38905. The operator has been fined as per the information in the full review below.
2. Accepts UK players?	Virgin Games is UK-focused.
3. Trustpilot Score	After more than 1800 reviews, Virgin Games has a horrific average score of 1.3 out of 5.0.
4. Operator Name & Location	Gamesys Operations Limited is a Gibraltar-based operator.
5. Bonus Terms	Virgin Games doesn’t impose playthrough requirements on bonuses.
6. Customer Support	The casino’s phone support service has been discontinued, but players can still get in touch via live chat or by raising a ticket.
7. Withdrawal Speed & Options	No support for methods other than debit cards or bank transfers. Same-day withdrawals are possible for Visa customers.
8. Number of Sister Sites	There are five Virgin Games sister sites on the Gamesys platform.
9. Games portfolio	Close to 1000 slots and bingo games, but also poker, Slingo, live games shows and more.
10. On GamStop?	You’d need to get your binoculars out to spot the tiny GamStop logo in the footer of the Virgin Games website.
Overall SCORE >	★★★★★ – 3/5 Stars

Virgin Games Review 2024

Virgin Games has been around for a long time but was acquired by Gamesys Operations Limited in 2013. That means it recently celebrated ten years with the casino network company, during which time it’s flourished and grown immeasurably. Today, though, there are several Virgin Games sister sites for the casino to compete against, along with plenty of competition from elsewhere. How does the current version of the casino stack up in that context? This review will tell you.

Virgin Games Welcome Bonus

Virgin Games prides itself on offering very favourable bonus terms (more on that in a moment). The trade-off is that the promotions it offers aren’t anything to write home about. If you’re new to Virgin Games, the way to get a welcome bonus is to deposit £10 and then play through it within thirty days of registering your account with the casino. In return, you’ll get thirty free spins to use on selected slots. Should you win anything from those thirty free spins, you can keep it without having to wager it again. If slots aren’t for you, you could choose to accept fifty free bingo tickets instead. The same terms and conditions apply – if you win anything, it’ll be yours to keep.

Virgin Games and Gamesys Operations Limited

Gamesys, as you’ll already know if you’ve browsed our list of Virgin Games sister sites at the top of this page, is an enormously important casino network company. It operates casinos connected to some of the biggest brand names in the gaming and iGaming sectors, from Monopoly to Rainbow Riches. However, since October 2021, it has owners of its own. Gamesys was an independent company when it was founded in 2001, but the name, brand, and everything that comes with it now belongs to the US-based casino operator Bally’s Corporation. It was reported in the press at the time of the deal that the takeover was worth £2.7bn. It was an enormous acquisition even by the standards of the casino network companies (which have a tendency to eat each other), but it wasn’t the first time the Gamesys Group had changed hands for big money.

Between its 2001 founding and 2019, Gamesys Operations Limited governed itself. It was still a mover and shaker even then, paying big money to acquire Virgin Games and financing the deal by selling Jackpotjoy for over £420m in 2015. Looking at the fortunes of the two iGaming brands since then, it might have been a better idea to keep hold of Jackpotjoy. Despite that small strategic error, Gamesys Operations Limited trundled along nicely until 2019, when it was the subject of a reverse takeover by the JPJ Group – which was the group that had formed around the Jackpotjoy asset. Having been sold off by Gamesys four years earlier, Jackpotjoy came back and bought its former owner. The move gave the company an unusual structure, which was only resolved and normalised when Bally’s Corporation got involved in 2021.

According to the latest figures available, Gamesys Operations Limited makes more than £720m a year in revenue for a net income of around £67m. It’s thought that around 1300 people work for the company. They’re split across eight countries; the UK, the US, Austria, Estonia, Czechia, Malta, Gibraltar and Spain. It’s too early to say whether the Bally’s Corporation takeover will help or hinder the company, but it wouldn’t make sense for Bally’s to pay so much money for the property if it didn’t intend to do anything with it. The story of Gamesys in its 20+ years of operations so far has been one of success. We see no reason why that can’t continue for another twenty years or even beyond that.

Monthly Promotions at Virgin Games

Earlier on, we said that Virgin Games prides itself on the terms and conditions of its promotions. What we meant by that is that the site promises to pay all wins out as cash in perpetuity. You’ll never have to deal with any wagering requirements, your winnings are uncapped, and your withdrawals aren’t subject to any fees. It sounds like a great set of terms and conditions until you hear this – there aren’t any promotions aside from the welcome promotion. Once you’ve had the welcome promotion, you’ll never see another perk. This hasn’t always been the case with Virgin Games, so as we know it’s changed before we hope it changes again in the future.

What are the Pros and Cons of Virgin Games?

Pros: Virgin Games doesn’t impose any wagering requirements on bonus funds. The site hosts regular poker tournaments and contains a collection of exclusive games. Withdrawals can be quick so long as you have the right debit card to take advantage of them.

Cons: Once the welcome bonus has been used, there aren’t any other promotions or perks to play for. The lack of support for PayPal, Trustly, or other modern payment methods feels restrictive. It’s rare to see a big-name casino have such a low Trustpilot score after so many reviews, so players at Virgin Games don’t seem to be having the best of times.  

Featured Slots and Casino Games

Virgin Games lists its online slots before any of its other gaming categories, so we can assume that slots are the site’s reason to be. There are about nine hundred online slots to choose from, but the four that get feature space go as follows:-

Secrets of the Phoenix: This Roxor Gaming slot has a name that implies it might be connected to the world of Harry Potter, but it isn’t. Instead, it’s a fairly basic Aztec-themed slot that was released in early 2017. Secrets of the Phoenix offers 94.98% RTP with medium volatility and contains no bonuses other than a fairly bland free spins and multipliers feature. 

Double Bubble Jackpot: This is the kind of game we’d expect to see featured at Double Bubble Bingo, one of the Virgin Games sister sites, but we digress. This is another Roxor Gaming slot and is exclusive to this casino network family. Unfortunately, it looks a little dated because it’s based on the 2006 original. Looks aren’t everything, though, and the simple truth is that plenty of people will be interested in this traditional-style, cartoonish slot and its massive volatility because it theoretically offers a jackpot of more than £2m. 

Cleopatra: There are hundreds of Egyptian-themed slots out there, but IGT’s Cleopatra remains the most popular of them despite looking long past its best. The 2D style of this 2012 release hasn’t been in vogue for quite some time, but getting an x3 multiplier during free spins is still a potent bonus. Cleopatra isn’t flashy, but with 95.7% RTP and average volatility, it still offers a fair reward for standard gameplay.

Rainbow Riches: A warm welcome to the ten or so of you who’ve spent every year since 2009 hiding under a rock and have never heard of Rainbow Riches before. The world’s most popular Irish-themed slot comes from Barcrest and is as popular now as its ever been despite the fact that 95% RTP is considered a little low these days. From its cute leprechaun mascot to its “road to riches” bonus round, Rainbow Riches is a casino game without equal. 

Deposits and Withdrawal Methods

Options for deposit and withdrawal at Virgin Games are surprisingly limited. The site used to deal in PayPal but doesn’t anymore, so if you’re a new player, the only options available to you are Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, Visa Electron and Apple Pay. Withdrawals to debit cards take 24 hours to process and up to 3 working days to deliver. Withdrawals directly to bank accounts might be a little quicker, with a 24-hour processing time followed by one working day to deliver. There are no instant withdrawal methods open to players at Virgin Games and no support for e-wallets. Needless to say, this is subpar by the standards of the 2020s. Visa cardholders with Faster Payout transactions enabled might have better luck in terms of speed.

Customer Support and Licensing

Virgin Games stopped offering telephone-based assistance in 2023, so players are limited to using the ticket-raising service or live chat, which is at least available around the clock. As a Gamesys casino, Virgin Games is covered by UK Gambling Commission licence no. 38905. The operator had to pay a massive fine of £6.07m in late 2023 after accepting a charge of breaking several licence conditions, including those that prevent money laundering and govern interactions with customers. As well as the fine, Gamesys received a formal warning and extra conditions to abide by. The licence, while tarnished, remains in force and covers the Virgin Games sister sites, too.

Virgin Games – The Verdict

Virgin Games should be better than it is. It gets everything right with the terms and conditions of its promotions but then lets itself down by not offering enough promotions. There are multiple gaming categories on the site, but not quite enough games in any of them. On top of that, the payment and withdrawal methods are stuck in the past. We don’t hate Virgin Games – we think it’s actually quite good – but “quite good” isn’t good enough for a brand of this size. Given how many players there are actively complaining about the site on review websites, we’d suggest that there are improvements that Gamesys could and should make here.

What are players saying about Virgin Games?

Here are our condensed/reader’s digest summaries of recent player reviews of Virgin Games. The reviews are real, but we’ve edited the comments to keep them brief and on-topic.

• 17-May-2024 by J P:
  Absolute rubbish! I play every single day and have lost hundreds of pounds without winning anything back. I bet from 75p to £3, but they just take my money without any return. It’s obvious this site is just out to take your money. They show you jackpots, but you never actually win them. Don’t waste your money here. – source: Trustpilot
• 14-May-2024 by Paul:
  Virgin Games is just about grabbing your money. The bonuses are empty and don’t give anything back. I’ve wasted a lot of money here and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. – source: Trustpilot
• 14-May-2024 by Paul H:
  I registered, got verified, deposited money, and gambled. I won, but when I tried to withdraw, they cancelled my account. I spent five days sending selfies and videos, but they made it impossible to withdraw. They permanently cancelled my account. Next step, Gambling Commission and court. – source: Trustpilot
• 13-May-2024 by Mark:
  Virgin Games just wants your money. You keep losing every time you top up. Maybe a small win, but never enough to withdraw. I deleted the app because it’s no fun. Try another site that’s not always on your phone sending you notifications. – source: Trustpilot
• 12-May-2024 by Rhys:
  Stay away from Virgin Games. I won money last Monday, but they haven’t paid me out yet because they need the tech team to look into it. They’re quick to take your money, but when you win, there’s always an issue. Customer service just blames a third party. Stay away. – source: Trustpilot
• 11-May-2024 by Steve:
  Virgin Games has deadspin after deadspin. They give so many free games to people looking for free money, paying customers never get a chance to win. The random number generator seems off. You can deposit loads and get nothing but deadspins. This site is a disgrace. – source: Trustpilot
• 11-May-2024 by Cindy:
  Worst site ever. Just a greedy site. Stay clear. – source: Trustpilot
• 10-May-2024 by Jim:
  Absolutely criminal. I’ve never seen such losses. It’s loss after loss, never winning anything. The games have terrible RTPs. Customer service is rude. The games are hard to win, and the site is laggy and crashes, especially when you win. Don’t trust this site. Avoid. – source: Trustpilot
• 08-May-2024 by Ayten:
  Never use this casino. I deposited more than I won, and when I withdrew, they suspended my account and asked for documents. It’s been five weeks with no updates. I’m reporting them to the Gambling Commission. Do not use this casino. – source: Trustpilot
• 06-May-2024 by Craig:
  My advice to anyone thinking of signing up is to take your first win and close your account. They won’t let you win after that. It’s ridiculous. – source: Trustpilot

Virgin Games in the Press

Richard Branson and Virgin Games

Virgin Games, a popular online casino run by the Virgin brand, is a site under the same management and is also related to other companies such as Virgin Bet, Virgin Red, and Virgin Casino. Richard Branson, the well-known founder of the Virgin company, now owns and controls over 400 companies under this group, covering all different fields. Being one of the richest and most successful people in the world, thanks to the multitude of companies Richard Branson owns, you would expect Virgin Games to be one of the most popular online casinos out there. However, with only 3,000 Instagram followers, and 9,000 Twitter followers, the Virgin Games brand may not be one of Richard Branson’s top priorities.

In March of 2020, the Twitter account for Virgin Games was very active and regularly held mini-contests for their followers to participate in, resulting in winning a small prize which could be redeemed on the Virgin Games casino, such as £5 to spend or 500 V* points, but has not been active since. This social media presence could have been beneficial for the casino, and perhaps a revisit to their social media accounts could boost the casino’s interaction – especially with the addition of giveaways and contests, this could be super popular.

Jon Pointing as Vlad in the Virgin Games Adverts

Virgin Games is big on its video advertisements, focusing majorly on the catchy slogan “#LiveALittle”. The YouTube channel for Virgin Games has 1.4k subscribers, and only features videos posted three years ago (except for one single video posted 11 months ago), so they have not kept up to date with their consistent video posting. Their channel and adverts feature a vampire character named Vladimir, played by actor Jon Pointing. Jon Pointing is an actor who has featured in multiple small-budget and niche TV shows and films, such as ‘PlsLike’ and ‘The Great Unwashed’. He also starred in the 2016 Weetabix advert, which gained a lot of popularity for this appearance.

While Virgin Games do not have many celebrity appearances, showing the familiar face of Jon Pointing in these adverts would have been beneficial for growing and improving audience traffic. These comedic, advert-style videos show Vlad in different real-life scenarios, like working at different jobs or visiting the laundrette, and during these scenarios, Vlad is telling the viewer how he has discovered Virgin Games and loves to play on the mobile site in his spare time. This not only shows us that this casino is available for mobile use, but it can also be played on the go and in real-life scenarios, just like in Vlad’s ads! The humorous scenarios shown in these adverts are light-hearted and not too serious but still manage to advertise the casino as being fun and accessible while occasionally showcasing the perks and promotions. Also, Vladimir’s unique and charismatic personality makes the adverts more enjoyable and allows them to stand out from other online casino adverts, meaning that when someone decides to play online gambling, they may choose Virgin Games simply because of the adverts themselves.

Newest Virgin Games Ad

The newest video on the Virgin Games YouTube channel was uploaded 11 months ago, once again featuring Vlad playing the online casino on his mobile phone – but this time, he is talking on the phone to customer service to query the promotional offer. The offer states that one single deposit unlocks the daily free game “forever”; since Vlad is a vampire, he is ensuring this deal means ‘forever as he will be around for a very long time – more than the average Virgin Games player.

This satirical joke is clever and manages to advertise the promotion in a unique way while also still using their recurring character Vlad to show off the game. The collection of videos featuring Vlad is fun and provides another reason to remember Virgin Games as being a popular casino by essentially creating a mascot that can be linked to the website. On Virgin’s company website, Vladimir is also featured there to reinforce how much he is the mascot for this particular branch of Virgin brands.

Virgin Media and Sponsors

Since Virgin Games was first launched in 2003, it has registered over a whopping 2.7 million users and given out over £40 million in cash prizes. Virgin Gaming has partnered with some of the top brands in the world, including the likes of Dr Pepper, Pizza Hut, Proctor & Gamble, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox. Since Virgin Games is part of the Virgin brand, there is not necessarily the need for any big celebrity sponsorships, as the founder is a huge celebrity himself. Instead, the popularity of Virgin Games likely relies heavily on the Virgin brand itself, especially Virgin Media. Virgin Media are partnered with many brands and groups that bring enough publicity to cover the other smaller brands, such as the Virgin Games casino website.

For example, Virgin Media has sponsored the BAFTA TV Awards since 2016, which is bound to gather a large amount of televised publicity for the brand and all of its smaller companies. Virgin Media is also partnered with Southampton Football Club and has been since 2016, with their logo shown on the football strips to draw in more publicity and attention. Not only that, but Virgin Media has also sponsored the UK’s largest gaming event, EGX, for almost a decade and additionally became a gold tier sponsor for the British Paralympic Association in 2018. However, even with all of these sponsors and partnerships, Virgin Media have still been seen to use celebrities in their media adverts to promote the new products; in 2013, a batch of new television adverts, including David Tennant, was shown on ITV and other popular UK television broadcasters. With David Tennant being very well-known for the likes of Doctor Who and Broadchurch, this choice of celebrity is a good one to draw more attention. With Virgin Games not being the key product under the Virgin brand, as long as consumers know what the Virgin brand is, they will eventually learn about the online casino and one day may come to discover it themselves.