Who Owns BGO Casino?

By Alex Smith, Last updated Mar 22, 2024

BGO Casino, until 2021, was one of the world’s leading online casinos. The brand focused primarily on the UK market. They held an online gambling license from the UK’s Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

However, their online gambling license was suspended a while ago. This led to the immediate shutdown of the online casino, and they are now no longer able to accept players.

We will look at who used to own BGO Casino on this page. We will also take a look at what happened to the brand.

Who Owned BGO Casino?

BGO Casino was owned and operated by a company called BGO Entertainment LTD. They were a French-based company located in Le Val, Franche-Comte. Crunchbase.com lists BGO Casino as having 500-100 members of staff.

Later on, BGO Casino was acquired by Playtech. BGO Casino ran exclusively on Playtech’s online gambling network for many years. However, the acquisition didn’t restrict players to only playing Playtech’s games. Games from other leading game developers and software providers were also available, including NetEnt and Big Time Gaming.

What Happened to the Online Casino?

On the 15th of October 2021, the UK’s Gambling Commission released the following statement:

“The Gambling Commission has suspended the operating license of BGO Entertainment Limited (operating license no 039533-R-319369-021) as it reviews section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act).

The review and consequent suspension follow concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to the Act, not following the conditions of their license, and that the Licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities. Failing to protect consumers was a key consideration in the suspension decision.

Pursuant to section 118 (2) of the Act (opens in a new tab), the Commission has determined to suspend the above operating license.

We have made it clear to the operator that during the suspension, we expect it to focus on treating consumers fairly and keeping them fully informed of any developments which impact them.

The suspension does not prevent the operator from allowing consumers to access their accounts and withdrawing funds. BGO Entertainment Limited – which operates bgo.com, m.bgo.com, powerspins.com, vegasluck.com, and chilli.com – can be contacted through its websites.

The suspension takes place immediately.”

As a result, BGO Casino shut its doors the following day. BGO Entertainment Limited also surrendered its Gambling Commission operating license. This meant they were unable to accept any new players.

What Happened Next? Did the Alderney Gambling Control Commission Step In?

Towards the end of 2021, BGO Casino announced that they were putting their player database up for sale. This was first announced by iGaming Business. A member of the BGO Entertainment Ltd board team told them:

“Operating in a regulated environment where the issued fines are not proportional versus the size of the operation makes little sense for BGO.”

“It is with regret that BGO surrendered its license after nine successful years, but it was the right decision to protect the players, staff, and affiliate partners from a potential default. We welcome offers on the database and brand from other operators with a remaining appetite for the market.”

It is clear that BGO Casino was unhappy with the decision of the UKGC to fine them. However, it was the UKGC, not the AGCC, that handed out the fine.

According to news reports, the player databases at BGO Casino included some 430,000 active player accounts. These players were all from the United Kingdom. They also included players from other BGO Entertainment Ltd properties, including Power Spins, Vegasluck, and Chilli.com.

Other reports show that these accounts have generated a staggering £300m in the last couple of years. Reports also stated that the BGO.com domain name was also being put up for sale.

Was BGO Casino Good?

BGO Casino was regarded as a pretty solid online casino. They were well-regulated — something that, in retrospect, turns out to have been their downfall. They were regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the UK’s Gambling Commission. BGO Entertainment had offices in several countries. This is something that is typical of many online casinos.

Many players perceived the site to be a decent place to play. BGO Casino offered a wide variety of games, they had many different types of games, and their customer support team was responsive.

Like many online casinos owned by BGO Entertainment (including Vegas Luck Casino, Chili Casino, and Power Spins Casino), the site ran on Playtech’s software. This meant the full selection of Playtech games was available.

There was also a BGO mobile casino app that was developed, again, using Playtech’s software. It was available to iOS and Android users, and it allowed users to enjoy their favourite live dealer games and video slots from their mobile devices. The app was free to install and received largely positive reviews from players.

Unfortunately, players were left in the dark once the British Gambling Commission handed out the find. The UK Gambling Commission immediately suspended the operating online gambling license of BGO Casino. This meant players could no longer log in to their accounts to play casino games or slot games. However, withdrawals could still be processed.

Did their Bingo Operations Shut Down Too?

Yes, when BGO Casino closed, it stopped operating all of its online gambling properties. This means the bingo facilities at BGO Casino were permanently shut. The bingo facilities were also shut at other BGO Entertainment brands, including Power Spins and Chili Casino.

What Other Online Casinos Can I Play At?

If you would like to play casino games at online casinos that are safe, the Accredited list of online casinos at Casinomeister should be your first port of call. All of these casinos have been hand-picked by our team of online gambling experts. Most of them are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (the British Gambling Commission).

In order for an online casino to be added to the Accredited list, it must undergo what is known as its Baptism by Fire. This is a lengthy testing process that usually lasts a minimum of three months. Our members and online gambling experts will thoroughly test out the online casino during this time. We look at everything, from the free spins promotions and casino games available to the payout speeds and customer support facilities.

As an added bonus, if you play at an Accredited casino and run into any problems, we can act as a trusted, independent intermediary for you. That means that if the online casino doesn’t resolve your complaint, you can bring it directly to us. We will liaise directly with the online casino and make a decision that Accredited online casinos have agreed to stick to.

FAQs

Are any online casinos owned by BGO Entertainment today?

No, all of the online gambling properties owned and operated by BGO Entertainment have now shut down. These include some pretty big name brands, including Chili Casino and Power Spins. Unfortunately, when the UKGC decided to cancel the online gambling license handed out to BGO Entertainment, it affected all of their brands.

One of the BGO Entertainment board members even went as far as to say that it wasn’t economically viable to operate in a jurisdiction where the fines handed out to companies are disproportionate to the income they generate.

It seems unlikely that BGO Entertainment will open any more online gambling properties in the future.

Why did BGO shut down?

On the 15th of October 2021, the UK’s Gambling Commission released the following statement:

“The Gambling Commission has suspended the operating license of BGO Entertainment Limited (operating license no 039533-R-319369-021) as it carries out a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act).

The review and consequent suspension follow concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to the Act, not in accordance with the conditions of their license, and that the Licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities. Failing to protect consumers was a key consideration in the suspension decision.

Pursuant to section 118 (2) of the Act (opens in a new tab), the Commission has determined to suspend the above operating license.

We have made it clear to the operator that during the course of the suspension, we expect it to focus on treating consumers fairly and keeping them fully informed of any developments which impact them.

The suspension does not prevent the operator from allowing consumers to access their accounts and withdrawing funds. BGO Entertainment Limited – which operates bgo.com, m.bgo.com, powerspins.com, vegasluck.com, and chilli.com – can be contacted through its websites.

The suspension takes place immediately.”

Were there free spins bonuses and promotions at BGO?

Yes, BGO ran frequent free spins bonuses and promotions. For example, players were able to claim a number of free spins upon registering on the site. When new games were released, the online casino often ran special bonuses and promotions that awarded players free spins on these games in return for a small deposit.

We want to be fair to BGO Casino (and their other properties like Chilli Casino); their bonuses and promotions were pretty impressive. They liked to look after their players, which is one reason why many will feel sad to see them go.

Was there a live dealer casino at BGO?

Yes, players art BGO could enjoy live dealer games from a number of game developers. Playtech and NetEnt were the two most prominent names that made the cut. One of the reasons why many players enjoyed playing live dealer games at BGO was that the betting limits were quite low. This applied to many of the live dealer games they offered.

What this meant was that players were able to enjoy their favourite live dealer games without needing to stake much. For example, some of the roulette games could be played for as little as 10 cents per chip.

Who is BGO Entertainment?

BGO Entertainment was an online gambling company that operated a number of online casinos. They ran Chilli Casino, Power Spins, and BGO – among others. They were a French-based company that held online gambling licenses from the UK’s Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

Unfortunately, BGO Entertainment (including their brands BGO and Chilli Casino) were found to be in breach of their online gambling license terms and conditions. This led the UKGC to withdraw its license. When this happened, the online gambling company ceased operating and shut its websites down.

Today, their player database is reportedly up for sale. Their domain names are also up for auction on Godaddy.

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