What Happened To Royal Panda? Brand Exits From The UK January 2020

Royal Panda closed to the UK at the end of January 2020 in what was a shock to many customers.  It is not uncommon for brands to exit the United Kingdom, especially in light of Brexit, tax changes and increased regulation, but this is one that will be sorely missed by their fleet of loyal customers.

The brand were much loved as they tried to do something different to others with a strong focus on loyalty and rewards.  When they launched in 2014 they were one of the first modern new style casino sites to come online and saw customers fed up with clunky old casinos flocking to them.  They prided themselves on having clear and honest approach and terms, long before it was required by law.

RP launched their sportsbook a few years later and this was also well received allowing them to become one of the best all-round sites for both sports betting and gaming.  Customers will struggle to find a good replacement as they did have a unique approach.

Bets and deposits will not be accepted after the 20th January 2020 and accounts will be closed on the 31st.  If you have funds in your wallet after this date you will need to contact them directly to request a withdrawal.

LeoVegas Acquisition Signaled Exit On The Cards

Royal Panda were acquired by the LeoVegas group in 2017 for €60 million with a €60 million earn-out additional payment.  On the face of it this was a good move as both brands has a similar vibe and ethos and RP were much stronger in the UK than Leo.

Those in the know, however, immediately saw a red light given LeoVegas historical ambiguous attitude to the United Kingdom.  Despite the UK being Royal Panda’s biggest single market, representing 50% of revenue in 2017, it seemed likely Leo would try to use RP’s experience in the market to replicate their success, before eventually culling it to strengthen their own position.

Indeed, customers of Royal Panda are now being redirected to LeoVegas in what they hope will significantly increase their UK base.

A Brand That Will Be Missed

Of course if you live outside of the UK you can still bet and play with Royal Panda but if you are in Britain you no longer can.  This doesn’t mean they will never come back, but it is unlikely in the near future at least.

Reading reviews and testimonials online it is clear to see the company was well liked by players for their honest approach.  They were also well known for having good promotions and loyalty schemes as well as over 850 games and jackpots from leading providers.  Then again in the last year or so since the Leo merger some have noticed the brand begin to change and become more corporate, so perhaps for many it is the time to move on.

Royal Panda are not alone either, with a spate of exits or closures in the last year, that includes ComeOn and Mustardbet. Luckily there are plenty more fish in the see and unlike a few years back when good casino-sportsbooks were difficult to come by, now many have caught up and there are a range of good options, including, Karamba, Casumo, 32Red and EnergyBet, who all now have products just as good, or arguably better.