The Virgin Bet betting site was launched in 2019 and is part of the multi-billion pound multinational company owned by Richard Branson.
Along with a generous new customer bonus, I’m impressed by the range of promotions that are available to claim here after you've signed up, including Virgin Bet Fives, which is a free-to-play fantasy football-style game.
The live streaming options are another highlight here, particularly the number of tennis streams, covering a wide range of tournaments.
I also like the fact that this relatively new bookmaker offers a range of price boosts across sports such as football, golf, cricket, boxing and basketball.
The Virgin Bet sign up offer is nice and simple. I had to register an account, make a first deposit and then place a £10 bet at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or greater to claim free bets worth £20.
Once my qualifying bet had been settled, I was awarded two £10 free bets, which I could use on any market I liked.
I've used my fair share of bookies over the years, so I know that any free bet offer which doubles your first bet is well worth claiming. Especially when the qualifying odds aren't restrictive.
'Weekly Acca Rewards' mean I can enjoy a free accumulator on a regular basis, with Virgin Bet also creating bespoke free bet offers for the biggest sporting events.
There are also lots of promotions for specific sports such as football and horse racing, while it’s worth checking out the free-to-play games like Virgin Bet Fives as well.
Weekly Acca Rewards is an ideal promotion for keen football punters like myself - and is one of the factors that makes Virgin Bet one of the best football betting sites in the UK.
With this promo, there’s a £5 free accumulator bet available every week when you place four accas worth at least £5 each. These accas need to be priced at 2/1 or bigger and have at least four selections.
I really recommend checking out Virgin Bet Fives. This is a free-to-play game where you get the chance to earn cash after revealing a squad of five football players.
Once the squad is revealed, you earn cash for every goal that is scored by one of your players. A spinning wheel reveals the goal bonus you receive each time.
Virgin Bet also have price boosts available for dozens of football matches each day. I was able to access them by heading to my preferred match, or alternatively tapping on the price boosts tab in the A-Z sports menu for the full list of football odds boosts.
As a big horse racing fan, I’m delighted to see a number of promotions available, which help Virgin Bet compete with the best horse racing betting sites. This includes money back as a free bet if my horse loses in selected races.
It’s also encouraging to see extra each-way places are available on selected races on a daily basis, something that will appeal to long-odds backers.
Best odds guaranteed always goes down well with racing punters and I am able to take an early price when it comes to any UK and Irish meeting, knowing that my selection will be paid at SP if this is bigger.
There are also live racing streams available for all meetings in the UK, Ireland, US, France and South Africa, with Virgin Bet customers able to watch without placing a bet. I only need to have a funded account to watch the racing.
When it comes to the big golf tournaments, I can expect Virgin Bet to run a free £5 bet offer when I stake £10 or more on the event.
Similarly, there will be extra places for each-way golf bettors, meaning I can get paid for up to eight places instead of five for my E/W picks.
I’m also pleased to see price boosts offered on a daily basis for sports such as basketball, boxing, cricket and golf. It’s great that this bookmaker adds extra value across a range of sports.
Special attention is paid to the in-play service at Virgin bet. This is particularly the case for tennis, where live streaming regularly accompanies the live odds.
Even some of the best tennis betting sites don't have this many streams available, so I have to say Virgin Bet is doing a stellar job with this.
I was able to access dozens of live betting markets for each tennis match and I especially like the stats and form guides which can be used to place informed bets.
Football matches tend to have more in-play markets available than all other sports - as you'd expect from a top UK bookmaker. The cash out values are generally on the fair side for football bets as well.
It's easy to filter the in-play options according to the sport, while you can also pinpoint the streaming options using a filter.
Live Streaming | |
Cash Out | |
Acca Insurance | |
Odds Boost | |
Time Out | |
Bet Builder |
Virgin Bet provide a bet builder for football, basketball and American football. I was able to choose a pre-loaded bet builder or to create my own same-game multi.
The minimum number of legs you can add to a bet builder is two, while there is no maximum limit on the number of legs you can combine, which is pretty unique.
However, I would like to see the bet builder made available across more sports, as I'd like to be able to place same-game accas on the likes of cricket and tennis.
Payment Method | Deposit Amount | Withdrawal Amount | Withdraw Time |
---|---|---|---|
£10 min | £10 min | 24 Hours | |
£10 min | £10 min | 24 Hours | |
£10 min | £10 min | 24 Hours | |
£10 min | £10 min | 24 Hours |
Virgin Bet is among the most highly-rated betting apps in the UK, according to user reviews. My own experience of using the app tallies with this.
In the Apple App Store, the average user rating is 4.7 and users are effusive in their praise of the overall mobile betting experience. There are positive comments on the colour-scheme and font, leading to clarity on every page you navigate.
I personally prefer the experience on the app and mobile browser site compared to desktop, where the pages don’t always fit the screen perfectly.
The mobile version of Virgin Bet loads very quickly and there are extra security options available with Touch ID and Face ID.
IOS App | |
Android App | |
Mobile Live Streaming |
I recommend using the Virtual Assistant at Virgin Bet. I was able to type in a message and get an instant response to a range of different queries.
When I needed to use live chat to communicate with a member of staff, I simply typed in ‘Contact Customer Support’ and was promptly connected to an agent, within the space of a few minutes.
There is also email support and a phone contact number available, along with an FAQs section where I was able to find the answers to commonly asked questions.
The most important thing you can do at any betting site is gamble responsibly.
Virgin Bet provide a wide range of tools to help customers stay in control of their betting. It starts by setting a deposit limit if needed, which can be applied daily, weekly or monthly.
Account closure can be achieved at any time, with a cool-off period allowing you to take a break from betting at any time.
A reality check can also be set, meaning you'll get a reminder if you've been betting for a certain length of time.
I always recommend making the most of responsible gambling tools if you need them and only gamble with what you can afford.
Deposit Limits | |
Time Out | |
Stake Limits | |
Profit/Loss Totaliser | |
Self Exclusion |
Promotions are usually the main priority for me when I review a bookmaker and Virgin Bet has promos for numerous different sports. The new customer offer is relatively generous and the Virgin Bet Fives game is unique to this bookie.
I find Virgin Bet to be a refreshing alternative to the more traditional firms, especially as the mobile site and app are so free of clutter and easy-to-use.
This bookie also scores highly for me when it comes to live streaming - and I really like the option to watch live tennis and horse racing almost every day of the week.
Regular bettors will enjoy landing accumulator free bets on a weekly basis as a reward for loyalty, along with the promos that are tailored specifically to big sporting events.
There are a few areas I'd like to see improved, like the number of sports you can place bet builders on. On the whole, however, Virgin Bet gets a big thumbs-up from me.
Yes. Any reputable UK bookmaker should be licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This ensures the bookmaker operates legally, adheres to strict standards, and provides a secure environment for betting, including measures for responsible gambling and the protection of customer funds.
VirginBet have a well-designed betting site and app, offering easy navigation, quick loading times, and intuitive bet placement. Features like in-play betting, live streaming, and fast cash-outs enhance user-friendliness, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable betting experience across devices.
Yes. Like most top UK bookmakers, VirginBet offer regular promotions for existing customers, such as free bets, odds boosts, and loyalty rewards. These promotions help keep customers engaged and often include weekly or monthly offers, special event bonuses, and loyalty programs that reward consistent betting activity.
Very comprehensive. Any respectable bookmaker should cover a wide range of sports, including popular ones like football, horse racing and tennis, as well as niche sports. Virgin offer diverse betting markets within each sport, from standard match outcomes to more specific options like player props and in-play betting opportunities.
Free bets and bonus offers at VirginBet typically come with specific terms and conditions, including minimum odds requirements, expiry dates, restrictions on bet types. It's essential to read these conditions carefully to understand how to qualify for the offer and how to use any winnings derived from it.