BetVictor says 'no more' to online poker

A quick look at the BetVictor website will reveal any number of sports and casino betting options, but poker is nowhere to be found, having undergone a Stalinist purge from the company’s official history.

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BetVictor broke the news to its customers via an email thanking them for their custom over the years. The company followed that up with a frequently asked questions notice. BetVictor’s poker players were told they could either withdraw their account balance by June 7 or transfer their funds to BetVictor’s Sports/Casino wallet.

Non-cashable points are now worthless but unused tickets were redeemed for cash upon closure of the poker site. Rakeback customers were assured they would receive a payment on June 7 for all funds generated over the first week of June. Affiliates were promised that their commissions would be paid as normal following submission of the necessary invoices.

Victor Chandler

BetVictor was founded by betting legend Victor Chandler, who sold the company to UK racing kingpin Michael Tabor in 2014. Chandler stayed on as a consultant to the new owners but recently resurfaced as the founder of a new African-focused mobile sports betting and gaming company called Bet Lion that expects to launch this August. No word on whether the site will offer poker.

About BetVictor

BetVictor Ltd (formerly Victor Chandler International Limited), is an independent bookie. Having initially specialised in online sports betting, the company now incorporates an online casino. The company was originally set up by Victor Chandler before a rebrand to BetVictor. The company is now owned by businessman and racehorse owner Michael Tabor, with operational headquarters in Gibraltar.

The company was founded in 1946 by Chandler's grandfather, William Chandler, after several years ownership of Walthamstow Stadium. William Chandler was succeeded by Victor's father, also named Victor. Victor Sr died suddenly in 1974 and the business passed over to Victor Jr, who at the time was working in the hotel industry in Spain. In 1998 took the historic step of taking his entire business offshore to avoid UK gambling tax, moving the headquarters to Gibraltar.

In 2004, the company was renamed 'VC Bet' for branding reasons, although in late 2008 Chandler himself chose to revert the name to 'Victor Chandler'. In 2012, the company renamed itself again as BetVictor. The company is also a member of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.

In May 2014 businessman and major shareholder of Victor Chandler International, Michael Tabor took over the company. The company now claims to turnover in excess of £1billion and have over a half a million customers in more than 160 different countries.