Bet365 Casino Review

bet365 is a huge name in online gaming, providing a sportsbook, bingo, poker rooms and a casino. While they are not backed by any land-based betting shops like many of the other leading UK casinos online, they are still a big player in the UK and Europe. Known for its basic and easy-to-play approach, the casino site is one of the most recognised and widely used out of all online casinos. With a staff of over 1,000, bet365 claims to be the seventh-largest private company in the UK and has a huge player base – 3 million users in over 200 countries – making it a great site for lucrative progressive jackpots.

When it comes to variety of games, bet365 is definitely in the lower category, but out of the 150 provided there are some interesting options to choose from. There are 40 different online slots – including 3-reel, 5-reel and progressive – as well as some intriguing versions of Poker and Blackjack. For table games, they offer Craps and three different kinds of Roulette – Mini, European and 'Roulette Pro'. Bet365 also gives players the chance to participate in their live casino, where Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Sic Bo and Craps can all be found.

Software

A Playtech Casino, bet365.com has both a flash and download version of their casino, with the download software powered by Playtech, who enforce strict measures to ensure their games are running as smoothly and fairly as possible. The site also publishes its payout percentages and software randomness, which are compiled by UK-based Technical Systems Testing (TST).

Graphics-wise, it is plain to see that they have gone for a straight-forward style for each game. There hasn't been too much done to recreate a real-life experience (live dealer casino excluded!), but the layout of the games and easy navigation of the menus makes playing on the site lively and exciting.

Bonuses and Promotions

For new UK players, bet365 is currently offering a 150% first deposit match (valid until 31st December 2010. EDIT: This appears to still be valid, and the £150 is still currently available.), up to the value of £100, making a £100 deposit into £250. This promotion will end soon where it will revert back to its usual 100% bonus up to £100. There is a minimum deposit of £10, but you will need to play through the casino bonus amount 20 times before the extra cash will become available (this can be up to 50, or even 200 times for players in specified countries). Wagers on certain games will not count towards the promotion, while at least 20% of your total wagers must not be spent on Blackjack, Casino Hold 'em, Video Poker and certain slots.

bet365 also runs a 'Comp Points' program, where players can collect points for every £1 (or currency equivalent) they play in the casino. Different games will have a different accumulation rate, with 100 points equalling 1 unit of your chosen currency.

The VIP program rewards loyal players with special prizes and cash bonuses, based on the amount of Comp Points they earn. There are different levels of VIP – bronze, silver and gold – which come with different promotions. bet365 constantly changes these bonuses and rewards – some being one-off promotions and others lasting for two weeks or more.

Money

For players in the UK, bet365 offers nearly all of the main etransfer solutions as well as a good selection of credit cards – all of which have no fee for deposits or withdrawals. However, in certain countries, the fees and transfer methods will vary. Wire transfers and fastbank transfers will carry charges if you make more than one withdrawal request in a 4-week period.

Support

As it runs a casino, poker room and sportsbook, bet365 has a customer support team to match their vast and varied client base, providing phone, email and live chat services. In the UK, there are three different numbers for customer service (two free of charge), and there is also the option of getting one of their representatives to call you back at a suitable time.

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