TLC Bet Review
TLC Bet can trace its origins to 2010 when it launched with a focus on Asian markets. TLC Bet is based in the Philippines so this Asian tilt made and continues to make sense. In the past couple of years however, TLC Bet has begun to make inroads into Europe and hence we felt it was time to shine a light on this growing presence on the UK online gambling scene.
When we say TLC is based in the Philippines it’s like saying Apple is based in the US. Sure, Apple has their corporate headquarters in some bizarre looking ego-trip of an office building in Cupertino but that iPhone you’re using to access TLC Bet was made, like all its predecessors, in China. The point being that globalization has blurred the lines regarding where a company is actually from and we bring this up because the Philippine-based TLC Bet is actually owned by a UK venture called Welton Holdings Limited. The dichotomy of the TLC corporate structure explains why they would A) start by focusing on the Asian market and B) migrate toward the European market once they got their sea legs under them.
From where we’re standing though it doesn’t matter so much where they’re from as what they offer and in this review we’ll take a look at those offerings.
In-Play Betting
TLC Bet is serious about in-play betting. Their site is actually tailored toward accommodating the in-play bettor, although if you like to mix things up a bit with a variety of in-play and more traditional betting you can certainly do that too. TLC’s in-play roster features all the most popular sports including:
- Football
- Golf
- Horse Racing
- Tennis
- Cricket
- Australian Rules Football
- Darts
- American Football
- Baseball
- Basketball (American and international)
- Cycling
- Ice Hockey
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Volleyball
- And more…
The number of available markets is also impressive and you’ll have no trouble locating them as they’re arranged in alphabetical order down the left column of the page. As far as odds are concerned the site offer fairly competitive odds on football and tennis though their Asian handicaps typically carry shorter odds.
TLC Bet Free Bet, TLC Bet Bonus and Promotional Offers
While TLC offer a commendable variety of in-play options, strong markets and reasonable odds one area where they really miss the net altogether is in their TLC Bet free bet bonuses and other promotional offers. Simply put there aren’t any. As shocking as it is to actually write that it’s true. The company offer a £20.00 TLC Bet free bet for new customers but they even make you jump through several hoops to claim that. We’re certain that the complex process of claiming the so-called TLC Bet free bet has caused more than a few new customers to just throw in the towel and leave the TLC Bet bonus unclaimed. What the company directors are thinking it’s hard to fathom but perhaps as they become more firmly entrenched in European markets their attitude toward giving something back to the local punters – maybe a TLC Bet sign up bonus that’s easy to claim – will change.
Deposit and Payment Information
TLC Bet land somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to depositing and payment options: better than some, not as good as others. Still we’re not going to quibble because the options they do offer are reliable and easy to work with. For deposits, those options include:
- MasterCard debit
- Neteller
- Neteller-1 Pay
- Skrill Moneybooker
- VISA debit
Their payment options list is the same with the exception of Neteller-1 Pay which is not offered.
What We Like About TLC Bet
We like the idea of the £20.00 TLC Bet free bet. We like that they offer a dizzying array of sports for in-play action. We like that they offer basically competitive odds on most events. We like that they offer numerous markets for the various events. We like that their customer service department is more accessible than some other websites and we like that they’re moving into the European market because, hey, you can never have enough betting websites if you’re a dedicated punter. We also like that the company offers live streaming of most major events.
What We’re Not Crazy About
Did we mention that they don’t offer any type of free bet or TLC Bet bonus on any of the events they cover? They also make the TLC Bet sign up bonus very difficult to claim. That may fly in the East where a different mindset tends to prevail amongst gamblers but it’s not going to fly in the West. If the company are serious about generating interest in the European market they’re going to have to reach out to punters. Free bets and promos are the way to do that.
TLC Bet Bookmaker Conclusion
TLC Bet have a lot going for them. For a company that’s only been around a few years they’ve managed to gain credibility and with it a foothold in the Asian market. They’re to be congratulated for that. As we state above we’re also impressed with the breadth and variety of their in-play offerings and their odds and markets are in line with many other online betting sites. Where we stand apart is in their decision to seemingly hope punters will look the other way when it comes to the missing TLC Bet bonus and free bets as well as how hard it is to claim the TLC Bet sign up bonus.
In general the experience of the TLC Bet website was a positive one though. The site was easy to navigate even if the overall graphic experience was a bit more jarring than we’d like to see. Still, everything works as advertised. We experienced no glitches at any point though as we’ve said, claiming the TLC Bet sign up bonus was not as easy as it should be. On the other hand payments were handled quickly and accurately. It should also be noted that the company have gone to great pains to make their site mobile friendly.