All change at online betting giant BetVictor. The Gibraltar-based online casino and sports gambling operator is being rebranded as BVGroup. The business, which was established in 1946, has seen many changes in its almost eighty-year history. Starting out life as simple ‘turf accountants’, they have become one of the leading names in internet and mobile gambling in recent years. This family company was set up by William Chandler Senior and was run by Victor Chandler Senior and Victor Chandler Junior for decades.
The rebrand will see the group dropping the family name at a corporate level; they want to position themselves as a multi-brand gambling operator. They are not only a consumer-facingorganisation but also a B2B technology solutions provider. Look out for a new logo and corporate website, which will reflect the name change.
Chief Executive Andreas Meinrad said: “During our 75-plus years in business, we have established ourselves as one of the most reputable gambling companies in the world“.
“Our new identity, BVGroup, helps us define ourselves more effectively, highlighting how far the company has come from its bookmaker beginnings.“
“While we remain intensely proud of our heritage, our focus is always on the future and how we can continue to innovate and grow to best serve our customers and partners. BVGroup is an exciting development in the progress of the company.“
The flagship business-to-consumer brand is BetVictor. With its highly recognisable TV and radio ads, the online betting platform is well known throughout the UK. The ‘Hey Harry’ campaign has punters asking Harry Redknapp for his betting advice. However, he constantlygets distracted when answering, so the advice is to make your best bet at Bet Victor.
BetVictor positions itself as ‘the gentleman’s bookies’ and prides itself on exemplary customer care. In addition, it has a reputation for highly favourable odds. It has not had a high street presence for quite some time but does offer customers the full range of online casino table games and slots. BetVictor is regarded as one of the UK’s best online casino sites and has consistently good reviews across a wide range of criteria.
The change of name is not the first one for this long-established gambling company. In 2012 it rebranded from Victor Chandler to BetVictor,and it has captured the public’s attention with its cheeky advertising.
After the 2012 rebrand, Michael Tabor, who had been a significant shareholder in Victor Chandler International, purchased the business in 2014. As a result, Victor Chandler, the grandson of founder William Chandler, left the group. It was at this time that Meinrad joined the business as CEO from Bwin-party. He has been in the position for the last nine years and has overseen considerable change and growth in the business.
Under his leadership, BetVictor has diversified into many new areas outside of its original remit. This includes supporting online media brand launches. The company now has customers in 150 countries around the world and directly employs 400 people with offices in London and Budapest. The business has consistently demonstrated a pioneering spirit and commitment to technological advancement.
In recent years it has created cutting-edgepartnerships. For example, BVGroup worked with UK radio station Heart to launch Heart Bingo and with Talksport radio to run its Talksport Bet platform. However, it is not only in the UK where the company has created innovative collaborations. It linked up with the newspaper Bild to roll out BildBet in Germany.
BVGroup is a licensed operator in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Malta. They are also licensed in the newly opened Ontario, Canada regulated market but have yet to break into the US market.
BVGroup has not yet confirmed how the name change will affect the consumer-facing loop side of the business in the UK.
They may need to be asking: “Hey Harry, what’s your advice on changing our name in our advertising?”
