40 Oakington Garth, Hull HU7 4NT, Uk,

Is 8xbet trustworthy? Analysis from real players

The online gambling industry is a sprawling, fast-evolving landscape where trust is both a currency and a commodity. Among the myriad platforms vying for attention, 8XBet has emerged as a notable name, particularly due to its high-profile partnerships with football clubs like Manchester City. Launched around 2018, 8XBet markets itself as a premier Asian bookmaker, offering sports betting, casino games, e-sports, and more. However, its rapid rise and subsequent controversies have left many questioning its trustworthiness. To assess this, we turn to the experiences of real players, supplemented by broader insights into the platform’s operations, licensing, and reputation.

The Appeal of 8XBet: What Draws Players In?

For many players, 8XBet’s initial allure lies in its polished presentation and enticing offerings. The platform boasts a wide array of betting options—football, basketball, tennis, and even virtual sports—alongside a casino section featuring slots, table games, and live dealers. Promotional bonuses, such as welcome offers and cashback deals, further sweeten the deal. A player from Vietnam, posting on Trustpilot in 2023, praised 8XBet.soccer as “the official sports betting platform in Vietnam,” citing its Manchester City partnership and legal licensing as reasons for confidence. They described their experience as “amazing” and recommended it to others, highlighting the platform’s user-friendly interface and competitive odds.

This sentiment reflects 8XBet’s strategic branding. By aligning with globally recognized football clubs and enlisting ambassadors like Teddy Sheringham, a former Manchester United star, 8XBet projects an image of legitimacy and prestige. For casual bettors or football fans, this association can be a powerful trust signal, suggesting a level of credibility that smaller, lesser-known platforms might lack. The promise of fast payouts and a seamless mobile experience also appeals to players seeking convenience in a crowded market.

Profile

Red Flags from Player Experiences
However, not all player feedback paints such a rosy picture. A starkly different account emerges from another Trustpilot review, also from 2023, where a user recounted a troubling ordeal. After depositing funds and winning, their account was abruptly blocked, and their winnings canceled. Despite two weeks of correspondence and submitting requested documents, they received no resolution—not even a refund of their initial deposit. The player lamented, “What should I do? Where can I complain about them?” This experience underscores a recurring concern: inconsistent customer service and potential issues with withdrawals.

Such complaints are not isolated. Across forums and review sites, players have flagged delays in payouts, unresponsive support, and, in some cases, outright account closures without explanation. These issues strike at the heart of trustworthiness in online gambling, where players expect transparency and reliability, especially when real money is at stake. The contrast between glowing reviews and these negative experiences suggests a polarized user base—some enjoy smooth sailing, while others hit unexpected roadblocks.

Licensing and Operational Transparency
To dig deeper, we must consider 8XBet’s operational framework. The platform reportedly held a license from the UK Gambling Commission through TGP Europe, a white-label provider, until it became inactive. It also claims a Curacao license, common among online betting sites targeting Asia. While Curacao licenses are legitimate, they are less stringent than those from regulators like the UKGC or Malta Gaming Authority, raising questions about oversight. More troubling is 8XBet’s reported base in Dubai, where gambling is illegal, yet it operated globally—a contradiction that fueled skepticism.

Investigations by outlets like Josimar and the Mail on Sunday have further muddied the waters. Reports suggest fabricated executive identities (e.g., a CEO profile using a stock image linked to unrelated online personas) and a lack of verifiable headquarters. By late 2024, 8XBet’s websites and social media went offline abruptly, leaving players and partners in limbo. This disappearance—whether due to regulatory pressure or internal collapse—casts a long shadow over its trustworthiness, as reliable platforms don’t vanish without notice.

Real Players Weigh In: A Mixed Bag
Player reviews from 2024-2025 are scarce due to 8XBet’s fading presence, but earlier feedback offers clues. On sites like Scamadviser, 8XBet.me earned a moderate trust score, bolstered by an SSL certificate and a domain registered for multiple years—signs of intent to operate long-term. Yet, its hosting in a high-fraud-risk country tempered this positivity. A player on 100bookies.com in 2023 lauded the platform’s “wide range of betting options” and “great promotional deals,” rating it a C- overall but recommending it for recreational users. This suggests that for casual bettors, 8XBet might deliver, but serious gamblers could find it lacking.

Conversely, the Trustpilot user’s blocked account saga aligns with broader criticisms of 8XBet’s customer service. In online gambling, trust hinges on consistent payouts and support—areas where 8XBet appears to falter for some. The absence of recent player reviews post-2024, following the platform’s digital exodus, implies that even satisfied users may have abandoned it, unable to access their accounts or funds.

The Bigger Picture: Context and Caution
8XBet’s story mirrors a broader trend in online gambling: flashy brands leveraging sports sponsorships to mask operational opacity. Its Manchester City deal, while lucrative, drew scrutiny from the Premier League over financial irregularities, though findings remained undisclosed. For players, this suggests a platform that prioritizes marketing over substance—a red flag in an industry where trust is paramount.

So, is 8XBet trustworthy? The answer depends on perspective. For some real players, it delivered a fun, functional experience backed by big-name affiliations. For others, it was a cautionary tale of lost funds and unanswered pleas. The platform’s murky ownership, questionable licensing, and sudden disappearance tip the scales toward skepticism. Without consistent transparency and accountability—hallmarks of trusted operators like 1xBet or Bet365—8XBet remains a gamble within a gamble.

Conclusion: Proceed with Eyes Wide Open
For potential users, 8XBet’s legacy offers a lesson: trust must be earned, not assumed. Real player experiences reveal a platform with potential but plagued by inconsistency and opacity. As of March 23, 2025, with 8XBet largely off the grid, its trustworthiness is a moot point for new players—but a lingering question for those burned by its past. In online betting, where risks are inherent, sticking to well-regulated, transparent alternatives may be the safest bet.