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Vbet is a traditional online bookmaker that has been operating since 2003. The company was first licensed in Curacao but has expanded into the European market. The parent company is licensed in Malta but customers in Great Britain come under the license and regulations of the UK Gambling Commission. This regulatory body is one of the most trusted in the industry so Vbet has shown high standards of compliance to be granted a licence. The core product is sports betting but the Vbet site also features a casino and live casino. The website can be accessed on mobile devices if the browser is mobile-optimised. Vbet is the official betting and gaming partner of Arsenal Football Club who compete in the English Premier League.
The UK Gambling Commission introduce and monitor best practices with regards free bets and bonuses. The Vbet licence is subject to the operator complying with regulations and the regulator can issue fines. Vbet prove they are treating customers fairly with regards bonuses and promotions. New customers can get £10 free bet if they bet £10.
This Vbet welcome offer is subject to the following Terms & Conditions:
The free bet is for an average amount and the offer is transparent and achievable within the timeframe. It is a genuine 100% matched bet bonus because the value of the free bet is the same as the qualifying stake. New custmers have two full weeks to place the qualifying bet and use the free bet. Other operators allow free bets to be used within 30 days but some of these have more stringent staking and odds restrictions. Even though the free bet token is modest in value, the Vbet welcome offer is easy to claim and provides a good incentive to open an account.
Some operators focus on the welcome offer and others have a wide range of promotions for existing customers. Vbet sit somewhere in the middle but are not the most generous operator in terms of the overall package. Several leading UK brands have a welcome offer for a similar value but many more dynamic promotions for current players. Customers with Vbet can fully and partially cash out bets (described below) and at the time of writing enjoy the following ongoing promotions:
Customers who place a correct score bet on a match in the English Premier League, will have 50% of the stake refunded if the match ends 0-0 after 90 minutes and added time. The qualifying stake is from £2 to £50 so the maximum refund is £25. Any free bets or cashed out bets do not count. The refund comes in the form of a free bet token which will expire 14 days after it has been credited. The offer is valid for the 2019/20 Premier League season and when it expires we can expect Vbet to offer something similar. Something like 1 in 10 matches in the ELP are goalless so this bonus is not a massive incentive to place a correct score bet with Vbet but it is a genuine refund.
Existing account holders who have one losing selection in a football accumulator with six legs or more will receive a 100% refund. The qualifying stake is £2 to £50 which equates to the refund. Each selection in the multiple bet must be placed at odds of 1.6 or bigger. The bet can be placed before matches begin and can also include an in-play option. Cashed out bets do not count so in this case there is no refund. The qualifying bet must be settled within 14 days of being staked so cannot include any long-term markets. The free bet stake is not included in any winnings. This concession is a small consolation for missing out on a six-leg acca due to one loser so not a huge incentive.
‘Sports’ is the first option on the main menu on the Vbet Home Page. The main sports page displays current in-play events, the major betting events of the day and promotions for new and existing customers. The upcoming sports events are listed under In-Play and Pre-Match.
Sports bettors can search for an event by entering a keyword or phrase in a search box. Customers can create a list of Favourites and display quick links. In addition to the regular sports, Vbet customers can place wagers on Politics, Chess, Esports and TV and Entertainment specials. The main leagues, mainly related to football, are listed under Top Leagues. Vbet offers odds on over 30 sports and the offer is UK and Europe-facing. The site features a horse racing service covering meetings in the UK and Ireland. In terms of the number of markets the most popular betting sports with Vbet are football, tennis and basketball which are covered below:
Football accounts for more bets than any other sport and at the time of writing over half the upcoming betting options related to football. Vbet offers odds on the main domestic leagues in Europe and South America and many leagues from around the world. English football is by far the most popular for betting. Customers can bet on matches in leagues down to the 10th tier. However, alongside the Champions League, the biggest football competition for global betting is the Premier League in England.
Vbet displays the three-way match outcome after 90 minutes market (Home Win, Draw, Away Win) and a link to the related betting options. This market is compiled with a margin of almost 104% which is marginally below the average. Customers can select from almost 300 markets for a typical match in the English Premier League, which is above average. These betting options appear in the following categories:
The site also features outright betting on a number of Cups and competitions of which the most popular are the English Premier League and Champions League.
Tennis betting is displayed by country and over 10 are covered at any time. Customers with Vbet can bet on matches on the ATP and WTA tours and Challenger and ITF tournaments. More bets are placed in-play than before a match begins. The most popular tennis betting markets are the match result, handicaps and totals. The two-way match winner market has a built-in profit margin of about 5% which compares favourably with the odds from main competitors. Tennis bettors can place ante-post bets on the winners of upcoming Grand Slam tournaments.
Basketball is an important sport for Europe-facing bookmakers like Vbet. There is not a strong domestic league in England but the sport is popular for viewing and betting in many other countries across Europe. The Euroleague brings together the best club sides in Europe and is basketball’s version of the Champions League in football. The most prestigious league in the sport and most popular for betting is the NBA in North America. Customers can bet on the three-way match result with the draw or a two-way market including Overtime. The profit margin for a typical two-way NBA match winner market is almost 5% which is about average for the European market.
Vbet has a mobile-optimised website and an app for iOS and Android devices. The service is fast-loading and navigation is quick and intuitive. The Vbet mobile release is fully functional and replicates the account management and betting features of the desktop format. Mobile customers cannot claim any mobile-specific offers but they do qualify for the welcome offer and any ongoing promotions for existing customers. The speed of the mobile apps means customers can place bets quickly on many in-play events and markets. The mobile in-play service is enhanced by live animations of the action and live match data which is updated as the event progresses.
Vbet offers traditional fixed odds betting for all the popular betting sports in the UK and Europe and some of the more obscure. The site does not offer exchange or spread betting but sports bettors can enjoy the following betting features:
Customers with Vbet can bet on about 1,000 live events each week, across several sports. The most popular sports for in-play betting are football and tennis. At the time of writing customers could not view live streaming but each event displayed an animation of the action. Bettors can also refer to ongoing live match data which gives an impression of the progress of play. Betting is suspended after a significant incident, such as a goal in football or break of serve in tennis. There are now longer delays during matches in the English Premier League which is using the video assistant referee (VAR) for the first time during the 2019/20 season.
Vbet allows customer to cash out or partially cash out bets. This facility is available for selected sports and markets and more are being added over time. The objective is to close a bet during an in-play match before the final result is known. The bet could be one placed in a pre-match market or a bet earlier in the live event. The value of the cash out offer depends on the stake and odds for the original bet and odds at the time of the request. The offer can be rejected so the bet stays open. Customers with Vbet are guaranteed a profit if the odds have gone in favour of the bet. Conversely, the option limits the loss if the odds have moved against the bet.
Customers can transfer funds into a Vbet account using about 15 currencies, including the Euro, Pound Sterling and US Dollar. The selection of currencies for banking reflects the global reach of Vbet but the biggest market is still Europe. Customers can deposit and withdraw funds using debit cards, Bank Transfer, e-Wallets and prepaid cards. Vbet now accepts deposits in Bitcoin which is still rare. Deposits are immediate but withdrawals are subject to delays and most transactions are free, although some providers may impose a charge.
Visitors to the Vbet Home Page who are considering opening an account click REGISTER. The sign up procedure involves entering personal and account details and accepting the Terms & Conditions of the operator. An optional bonus or promo code can activate the welcome offer. New players select a deposit method and enter the amount. When Vbet accepts the deposit, the account balance is updated accordingly. Bettors navigate to the chosen market and click on the odds. The Bet Slip appears and as selections are added, the range of bets is updated. Customers enter the stake unit and bet type and place the bet. Most bets are accepted so the account balance appears with an adjustment for the total stake. If the funds in the account do not cover the total stake, Vbet rejects the bet.
Customers with Vbet can contact support staff using the 24 hour Live Chat facility. There is also email and telephone support and a detailed FAQ section. Vbet is a member of the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS) which independently settles disputes between UK bookmakers and their customers. The site also features banner links to bodies that provide support to problem gamblers.
Since being launched in 2003, the Vbet betting service has become more Europe-facing but the site still has a global audience. The operator has a global site and other domains for customers in the UK and the rest of Europe. Vbet is competing with some trusted and established brands but the support of the UK Gambling Commission points to a reputable firm that operates in the correct way.
There are no major flaws or missing features on the Vbet website but live streaming could enhance the in-play betting service. This operator has customers in many countries but the target market is the UK and Europe. Vbet is strong in most areas and provides a positive betting experience that is not markedly inferior to that of the bigger bookmakers that dominate the market.