RIP BetVictor Poker: 2002 to 2017

On June 7th, BetVictor officially stopped offering poker as part of its online gaming options, with the brand explaining that it would be focussing upon its more profitable sports-betting and casino products, instead. A list of FAQs related to the closure can now been found on the site, as well as a message of thanks for all the “loyal players who’ve chosen to use BetVictor Poker over the years.”
Founded in 1946, UK company BetVictor had been a stalwart of the online poker industry for the past 15 years, but like other operators, has seen the vertical decline in recent times. In 2012, BetVictor Poker moved to the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN), although it was also still being powered by IGT’s Entraction Poker Network. However, that year IGT stopped operating in major international grey markets, such as Russia, Canada, and Israel, leading to a plunge in the network’s liquidity, and subsequent closure.
More recently, BetVictor Poker then moved its online poker product from the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN), with many analysts having expected the brand’s poker business to subsequently join another poker network shortly after. That obviously will not be the case, but allaying any of its customer concerns over the development, the ‘BetVictor Poker Closing FAQs’ explains:
“Players are, in no way, at risk of losing their balances. At the point of closure, any balances still in players’ accounts will be transferred by BetVictor to said players’ Sports/Casino wallet.”
BetVictor Poker shutting its operation comes just a few short weeks after one of the industry’s most innovative and unique poker rooms, PKR, also moved from the Microgaming Poker Network before closing its operation completely. There are some major differences between the two cases, though. Most importantly, UK operator PKR cited “financial difficulties” as the reason behind its closure, and has since filed for bankruptcy. Furthermore, PKR customers were given no advanced notice of the situation, and have now been left in limbo waiting to learn if they will ever have the money left in their accounts returned.