BetVictor

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

History

The company was founded by William Chandler who owned Walthamstow Stadium which he opened in 1931.^[1] After the death of William Chandler in 1946 the business was passed to his five sons with Charles and Percy managing Walthamstow Stadium whilst the bookmaking business passed to Victor Sr. and Jack. The remaining son Ronnie trained greyhounds.^[1]

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 off-shore to avoid UK gambling tax, moving the headquarters to Gibraltar.^[2] It has been argued this was a cause for Gordon Brown abolishing gambling tax in his 2001 budget.^[3]
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'.^[4] In 2012, the company renamed itself again as BetVictor. The company is also a member of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association^[5]

In May 2014 businessman and major shareholder of Victor Chandler International, Michael Tabor took over the company.^[6] The company now claims to turn over in excess of £1billion and have over a half a million customers in more than 160 different countries.^[7]

Sponsorship

BetVictor has sponsored several sporting events over the years, most notably the grade 1 listed Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot racecourse. In 2013 BetVictor became the sponsor for the Welsh Open snooker and the World Matchplay Darts, both of which continued into 2014, with the addition of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

In 2004 and 2005 Victor Chandler International ran a televised poker tournament called the Victor Chandler Poker Cup which became established as one of the richest events on the circuit. With £250,000 to the tournament's first winner, Harry Demetriou and then £200,000 won in its second year by Tony Bloom, the competition attracted well known professionals from all over the world. There were also celebrity appearances from John McCririck, Teddy Sheringham, Ken Doherty and EastEnders' actor Michael Greco.^[8]

In 2014, BetVictor signed Michael Owen as Brand Ambassador on a three-year deal.

On the 1st of July, 2016, BetVictor became an official partner of Liverpool Football Club.

References