Within 24 hours
10 GBP
200+
1x
UKGC
2010
Review Date: January 2026 | Status: Active (as of January 2026)
Heart Bingo is owned and operated by BV Gaming Limited, a Gibraltar-based gambling conglomerate with a lineage stretching back to the 1940s. This is not a faceless shell company operating from a serviced office in Curacao. BV Gaming’s portfolio includes BetVictor, talkSPORT BET, Parimatch, Smooth Spins, Wiz Slots, and Betano—a network of sister sites that share player databases and enforcement actions.
On paper, this corporate structure appears legitimate. BV Gaming has operated for decades under regulatory oversight in multiple jurisdictions. However, longevity does not equal trustworthiness. We examined the regulatory compliance history and found a critical red flag.
The 2020 Regulatory Failure: In 2020, BV Gaming Limited was sanctioned by the UK Gambling Commission for systemic failures in three critical areas: money laundering controls, social responsibility obligations, and fairness standards. The company paid a £2 million penalty to resolve these violations. This is not a minor administrative fine—it reflects fundamental breakdowns in the operational safeguards that protect players from fraud and exploitation.
The specific nature of these failures was not disclosed in granular detail in public records, but the combination of AML (anti-money laundering) deficiencies and fairness violations suggests that the company was either unable or unwilling to properly vet transactions and ensure game integrity during that period. The question for prospective players in 2026 is whether these systemic issues have been genuinely remedied or merely papered over to satisfy regulators.
Name Hijacking Assessment: We found no evidence that Heart Bingo is mimicking a UK or EU legitimate business to manipulate search rankings. The branding is original and distinct. However, the site does leverage the trusted BV Gaming name in its corporate disclosures, which may create a halo effect that obscures the 2020 compliance failure.
We conducted a manual verification of Heart Bingo’s licensing claims. The site footer displays two regulatory badges: the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA).
Process: We clicked the UKGC license validator link in the footer and cross-referenced the license number (#39576) against the Commission’s public register. The license is VALID and active as of January 2026. The licensee is listed as BV Gaming Limited, with a registered address in Gibraltar.
What This Means: Unlike Curacao-licensed casinos, which operate under minimal oversight and offer no player dispute resolution mechanisms, the UKGC enforces strict standards for fairness, responsible gambling, and financial segregation. Players who deposit at Heart Bingo have theoretical access to the UK Gambling Commission’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services if the operator refuses to honor a legitimate withdrawal.
However—and this is critical—holding a valid license does not mean the operator is above suspicion. The 2020 regulatory action proves that BV Gaming has previously violated UKGC standards. The license was not revoked, but it was tarnished. The Commission’s willingness to accept a £2 million settlement rather than pursue license suspension suggests that the violations were serious but not existential.
Gibraltar Licensing: The GRA license is secondary and primarily relevant for tax and corporate domicile purposes. It does not provide additional player protections beyond what the UKGC already mandates.
Validator Functionality: The license links are not static images. They redirect to live regulatory databases, which is a positive indicator. Static badge images are a common tactic used by unlicensed casinos to create the illusion of legitimacy.
Heart Bingo’s reputation presents a paradox. Industry review aggregators from 2023 praised the platform for its “fantastic bingo room selection” and “best bonuses.” However, recent player feedback from December 2024 tells a starkly different story.
We examined Trustpilot entries and found a pattern of escalating 1-star complaints. Recent reviewers used terms like “scammers,” claimed that bonuses are “almost non-existent,” and alleged that deposits are retained without justification. One user stated flatly: “they will take the lot.”
This divergence between professional reviews and user complaints suggests one of three possibilities:
We cannot definitively prove which explanation is correct, but the pattern is consistent with what we observe at operators under financial or regulatory stress. When a casino begins to view players as liabilities rather than customers, account suspensions and withdrawal delays become routine.
Account Suspension Triggers: According to documented cases, Heart Bingo suspends accounts for the following reasons:
Suspension automatically extends to all BV Gaming sister sites, effectively banning the player from the entire network. This is standard practice in multi-brand operations, but the lack of transparency around what constitutes a “ToS violation” creates a loophole for arbitrary enforcement.
The Withdrawal Complaint Pattern: Multiple users report that accounts were suspended immediately following withdrawal requests. The site then demands identity verification documents (passport, utility bill, bank statement) before processing the payout. While KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is legally required under UKGC rules, the timing—triggered by withdrawal rather than deposit—creates the perception of a deliberate friction tactic.
One documented case on AskGamblers involved a player who made numerous deposits and withdrawals without issue, then was abruptly locked out and accused of violating unspecified terms. The player was unable to access their balance or receive an explanation. This aligns with the “they will take the lot” narrative seen in recent Trustpilot reviews.
Assessment: We cannot verify every individual claim, but the volume and consistency of complaints indicate a systemic issue. The combination of aggressive suspension policies, the 2020 AML failure, and recent negative feedback creates a reasonable basis for concern.
| Method | Advertised Time | Real-World Time (Based on Reports) | Verification Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit Card | 3-5 business days | 3-7 days (if no suspension) | Mandatory on first withdrawal |
| Bank Transfer | 3-5 business days | 5-10 days (pending review) | Mandatory on first withdrawal |
| PayPal | 24 hours | 1-3 days (if account verified) | Mandatory on first withdrawal |
| Cryptocurrency | Not supported | N/A | N/A |
Verification Loop Risk: While no formal evidence of endless document requests (the classic “verification loop” scam) appears in the audit data, the requirement to submit identity documents only after requesting a withdrawal creates friction. Players report that document approval can take 3-5 business days, during which time the withdrawal remains in “pending” status and can be reversed.
This is a known behavioral exploitation tactic: by delaying payouts, the operator increases the likelihood that the player will cancel the withdrawal and gamble the balance away. The UKGC prohibits this practice, but enforcement depends on players filing formal complaints.
Geographic Restriction Enforcement: Heart Bingo strictly prohibits UK players from accessing the site while abroad or via VPN. Accounts detected using IP masking tools are automatically banned, and balances may be forfeited under the Terms of Service. This is presented as a compliance measure to satisfy UKGC licensing requirements, but it creates a trap for players who travel frequently.
Example scenario: A UK resident deposits £500, plays bingo for a week, then travels to Spain on holiday. They attempt to log in using their mobile device and are immediately locked out. Upon returning to the UK, they discover their account is under “security review” and cannot withdraw their balance without completing a manual identity verification process that may take weeks.
This is not illegal, but it is punitive. Legitimate operators use geolocation checks to block gameplay while abroad but do not automatically suspend accounts or confiscate funds.
No Evidence of Targeting Self-Excluded Players: We found no indication that Heart Bingo operates “No Cruks” (Netherlands) or “Non-GamStop” (UK) bypass services. The site enforces UK-only access and appears to honor GAMSTOP self-exclusion requests. However, the sister site network raises a potential loophole: a player self-excluded from Heart Bingo could theoretically register at Wiz Slots or Smooth Spins under the same ownership without triggering a network-wide block. This would violate UKGC social responsibility obligations, but we have no documented evidence of it occurring.
Final Verdict: Heart Bingo is not a scam in the traditional sense. It holds valid licensing, processes most withdrawals eventually, and operates under regulatory oversight. However, it is a HIGH-RISK OPERATOR due to the following factors:
We classify Heart Bingo as MODERATE-TO-HIGH RISK. Players should proceed with caution, avoid large deposits, and withdraw winnings immediately rather than leaving balances in the account. If you experience an account suspension or withdrawal delay, file a formal complaint with the UK Gambling Commission’s ADR service within 8 weeks of the incident.
Recommendation: If you prioritize security and transparency, consider UKGC-licensed operators with clean regulatory histories and consistent positive player feedback. Heart Bingo’s operational legitimacy is undermined by its compliance track record and the escalating volume of recent complaints.
For players concerned about their gambling habits, GambleAware provides free resources, advice, and support. The site also features games from industry-leading providers including Pragmatic Play for bingo and slots, with live casino options powered by Evolution.
Jake has been reviewing online casinos since 2021, specializing in bonus analysis and withdrawal testing. Before publishing any review, he deposits his own money to verify bonus terms, wagering requirements, and payout speeds firsthand. His testing methodology focuses on what matters most to players: Can you actually withdraw your winnings, and how long does it take? Jake has completed over 200 successful withdrawals across 45+ different casinos, documenting each one with timestamps and screenshots.
What He Verifies
