Overview
Virgin is one of the most recognisable names in entertainment, with Virgin Media one of the UK’s highest profile providers of broadband, phone and TV services. Perhaps it is only natural that they chose to branch out into online casino gaming, and their offer is as compelling as anything else in the company’s stable.
Established back in 2004, Virgin Games has form. On top of the Virgin brand value, which implies a certain level of quality in everything they do, from airlines to cola, their games division has built a reputation for exceptional gaming, decent promotions and a thoroughly enjoyable gambling experience.
Claim BonusPros & Cons
- Established brand, online since 2004
- Good range of games, including from NetEnt, WMS and IGT
- 24/7 customer support
- Mobile and live casinos available
- SSL encrypted security
- Strictly limited to UK players
- Self-exclusion option excludes from entire casino family
- Some games lag during peak playing times
Welcome Bonus and Special Offers
The 200% Welcome Bonus is just the beginning – make your first of deposit £10 and get playing with £30!
Virgin Games runs a fairly typical sign up bonus for new players, with a 200% deposit up to a maximum of £200. There’s a 30 day expiry on the bonus so you better act quickly to take advantage of it, but the wagering requirement of 4x is substantially lower than what you’ll find at other similar casinos.
That means you only need to rollover your wagers four times before you can withdraw through one of the many supported payment methods. Note that this is four times the amount of the bonus you receive, so in the case of a £100 bonus, you’ll need to clear £400 in wagers before you’re eligible for a withdrawal.
To make things a little spicier, they’ve also thrown in 21 free spins on Secrets of the Phoenix, alongside the deposit bonus. The minimum deposit required to trigger the bonus is £10, which will leave you with £30 of gambling money in your hand, plus the 21 free spins you can put to work for your bankroll.
Promotions
Virgin Games have a reputation amongst players for great ongoing promotions, with cashback, free spins and other rewards available from time to time. Some players report logging in to find free credit has been added to their account, as a reward for choosing to carry on playing at Virgin Games, which is definitely a nice touch. There’s even a free £20 if you refer a friend – something you’ll probably be doing anyway, if you sign up for an account here.
These promotions range in structure and their corresponding terms and conditions, but there’s always something available, and you can find details of ongoing promotions within your Virgin Games account.
Software and Games
Any online casino is only as good as its games. Luckily, with Virgin Games, this is taken care of by some of the best games developers in the world. NetEnt, WMS, IGT and Gamesys work in harmony to provide Virgin Games with some truly breathtaking games, including an impressive lineup of slots that is fit to rival virtually any competitor. Secrets of the Phoenix and Zeus III are big draws, especially for new slots players, supported by the likes of Reel Rush and King of Slots.
While the selection of slots is tantalising, it’s not all Virgin Games has on offer. There’s also a full suite of table games, ranging from time-tested classics to the more obscure, if that’s your bag. Roulette, blackjack and video poker sit alongside keno, craps and others to provide a wide selection of games fit to hold the attention of the most dedicated gambler.
The casino is fully instant play, which means you can access the games directly in your browser, whatever device you’re using. This is extra convenient for mobile players too, who don’t need to download an app or install any software to get started.
Mobile Casino
There’s no need to download an app of any sort to access the casino, and you can simply proceed on mobile as you would on your desktop device. The website has a mobile version that is detected automatically in your browser for a fully responsive experience, and in seconds, you can be up and running with your favourite games from the Virgin Games catalogue.
For those who prefer the more immersive experience of app based gaming, there is an app available for iOS devices. It’s equally easy to use, and allows you to access your gaming account from your phone’s home screen, which is pretty neat if you like to play in a hurry. The app benefits from a streamlined, simplistic design, without looking cheap or underdeveloped.
Android players might find themselves a little limited without a dedicated app of their own, and there have been some reports of slightly sluggish game load times during peak playing hours.
You won’t find the full selection of games, but there are still plenty of favourites to keep you going. The slimmed down portfolio for mobile games is typical of most online casinos, largely because they choose to carry only those games that offer the best experience on mobile and tablet devices. But you won’t feel you’re missing out, with the likes of Rainbow Riches, Deal or No Deal, Zeus III and a selection of table game favourites to keep you busy.
Deposit and Withdrawal
A huge range of payment methods are supported for deposit and withdrawals, so you shouldn’t have any problems finding the most convenient way to move money to and from your gaming account. On the deposit side, the usual selection of credit and debit cards is supported, including Visa, MasterCard and Maestro. Neteller and Skrill ensure those playing from e-wallets have the support they need, while the option to deposit via PayPal is a real bonus.
If you make a deposit using PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and paysafecard and it’ll show instantly in your Virgin Games account. You can set a deposit limit at it’ll help you stay in control of how much you play.
On the withdrawal side, Mastercard, Visa, Skrill and Neteller are still represented, and PayPal can equally be used for cashout. Anecdotally, players suggest that cash out by PayPal can take just a matter of hours, which is lightning quick compared to industry norms.
Virgin Games pride themselves on quick withdrawals. They aim to authorise all withdrawal requests within 24 hours.
Security & Trustworthiness
Security and trustworthiness is arguably Virgin Games’ strongest suit. Right off the bat, you’ve got the benefit of playing with a known, trusted brand name – something that can’t easily be overlooked in the online gambling sector. Their service is licensed and regulated in the UK by the Gambling Commission, as well as by the equivalent authorities in Gibraltar, providing a dual layer of regulation for additional peace of mind.
Payments are incredibly secure, thanks to the SSL encryption used throughout the site. Third party payment processors, particularly PayPal, add an additional layer of comfort for most players, so there’s zero risk of your information going awry.
The site is operated by Gamesys (Gibraltar) Limited, a company responsible for running several other well-known casino brands including JackpotJoy and StarSpins. While there is the occasional complaint about Virgin Games, usually arising from support issues, the overwhelmingly vast majority of player reports on online forums hold this casino in the highest of regards.
Customer Support
Virgin Media’s customer support function is as good as you’d expect from a company that handles millions of service queries every year. Live chat is probably the easiest way to get in touch with support, and it’s available around the clock, no matter when you choose to play. In most cases, this will be sufficient to get you the help you need, but there are still some other options available if you need to use them.
There are comprehensive FAQs on site to help you out as a first port of call, or you can fire a quick email to the support desk (support@virgingames.com) if you’ve got a more complicated enquiry or you don’t have the time to live chat in the here and now. If all else fails, you can pick up the phone for old times’ sake, and give them a ring on their freephone number 0800 083 1833.
Conclusion
It’s rare to find an online casino with the reputation and brand power of Virgin Games. While run as a separate, arm’s length entity, this casino still carries with it the Virgin ethos of putting the customer at the core of what they do, and this is obvious from the moment you sign up.
From the generous bonus offer, which you’ll find hard to beat with its ultra-low wagering requirements, through to the ongoing promotions, the game selection and the customer support, Virgin Games is the complete package. It’s also one of the few online casinos that gets the balance exactly right through their mobile offering, whether you’re playing in-browser or through the app for iOS.
From our experience, Virgin Games is the real deal, offering a strong gambling experience, coupled with that essential trustworthiness, that separates them from the competition.
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