Bet365 vs 888casino: Comparing Giants — And Why ZunaBet Is Emerging

by · Blockonomi

The online gambling industry has been dominated by a handful of major brands for years. Bet365 and 888casino sit near the top of that list, each with millions of users and decades of history. But in 2026, a new platform called ZunaBet is starting to enter the conversation — and for good reason.

Bet365: The Sports Betting Powerhouse

Table of Contents

Toggle

Bet365 is one of the most recognised online gambling platforms in the world. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in the UK, it operates across dozens of regulated markets and holds licences in jurisdictions including the UK, Malta, Gibraltar, and Australia.

Its sportsbook is the core product. Bet365 covers a huge range of sports with competitive odds, in-play betting, and live streaming built into the platform. The casino side includes slots, live dealer tables, and virtual games, though it sits behind the sportsbook in terms of prominence.

The platform is heavily fiat-focused. Deposits and withdrawals run through credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill. Crypto is not supported. Bet365 is a regulated, traditional operator — it works well for mainstream users in licensed markets, but it is not designed with crypto users in mind.

The loyalty setup is relatively standard. There is a points-based rewards programme, but it lacks the gamified structure that newer platforms have moved toward.

888casino: A Established All-Rounder

888casino launched in 1997 and is one of the longest-running online casino brands still operating. It is publicly listed and regulated across several major markets including the UK, Spain, Italy, and New Jersey.

Its casino library is solid, with several thousand games covering slots, RNG table games, and live dealer content from providers including Evolution. The sportsbook, offered through 888sport, covers major global sports and runs as a separate product.

888casino supports fiat payments across the usual methods. Like Bet365, it does not support cryptocurrency. Its loyalty programme uses a points system with tier-based rewards, but it is broadly similar to what most traditional casinos have offered for years.

888casino is a reliable, well-regulated platform with a strong track record. It serves its existing user base well, but it has not moved aggressively toward newer payment infrastructure or gamified engagement systems.

What Both Platforms Have in Common

Bet365 and 888casino are both large, established, and built for the mainstream. They are strong choices for players in regulated markets who prefer familiar payment methods and well-known brand names.

But they also share some limitations. Neither supports cryptocurrency. Neither has built a modern loyalty system that goes beyond a standard points programme. And both were designed for an era when fiat banking and desktop play were the defaults.

That landscape is shifting. A growing segment of online casino and sportsbook users wants faster payments, lower fees, and platforms that feel built for 2026 rather than 2006.

ZunaBet: The New Platform Gaining Attention

ZunaBet launched in 2026 and is owned by Strathvale Group Ltd, operating under an Anjouan gaming licence. The team behind it brings over 20 years of combined industry experience. It is crypto-first by design, and it is being watched as one of the more interesting new platforms to enter the market.

ZunaBet Slots

The game library stands out immediately. ZunaBet offers over 11,000 games from more than 63 providers, including Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Evolution, Yggdrasil, and BGaming. That puts it among the larger casino libraries available at any platform, crypto-focused or otherwise. The library covers slots, RNG table games, and a full live dealer section.

Zunabet eSports

The sportsbook is fully integrated rather than bolted on. It covers major global sports including football, basketball, tennis, and NHL, alongside esports markets for CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports and combat sports are also included, making ZunaBet a genuine hybrid platform rather than a casino that happens to have a few sports markets.

Crypto vs Traditional: A Real Difference

This is where ZunaBet separates itself most clearly from Bet365 and 888casino.

ZunaBet supports over 20 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT across multiple chains, Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, and XRP. There are no platform processing fees, withdrawals are fast, and the infrastructure is built around crypto from the ground up rather than added as an afterthought.

ZunaBet Payments

For users who already hold and use cryptocurrency, this matters. Traditional platforms like Bet365 and 888casino require conversion to fiat before depositing, which adds friction, fees, and time. ZunaBet removes that entirely.

Mobile apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS, with a dark-themed HTML5 interface designed for fast loading across all devices. 24/7 live chat support is included.

The Welcome Bonus

ZunaBet’s welcome offer runs across three deposits and totals up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins. The first deposit gets a 100% match up to $2,000 plus 25 spins. The second gets a 50% match up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. The third gets a 100% match up to $1,500 plus 25 spins.

ZunaBet Welcome Bonus

Bet365 and 888casino both offer welcome bonuses, but neither reaches this level across a multi-deposit structure. ZunaBet’s offer is designed to reward players over their first few sessions rather than front-loading a single deposit match.

The Loyalty Programme: A Different Approach

The loyalty gap between ZunaBet and its older competitors is significant.

Bet365 and 888casino both use points-based systems where players accumulate credits over time and redeem them for bonuses or free spins. These programmes work, but they are not particularly engaging or transparent.

ZunaBet uses a dragon evolution system with six named tiers: Squire, Warden, Champion, Divine, Knight, and Ultimate. Each tier carries a defined rakeback percentage, starting at 1% for Squire and reaching 20% for Ultimate. Benefits also include tier-based free spins up to 1,000, VIP club access, double wheel spins, and a gamified mascot called Zuno that gives the programme a distinct identity.

ZunaBet VIP Levels

Rakeback is a straightforward mechanic — players get a percentage of their losses returned. At 20% for top-tier players, that is a meaningful ongoing benefit. The structure is clear, the tiers are named and visible, and the gamified framing makes progression feel rewarding in a way that a generic points counter does not.

Two Different Eras of Platform Design

Bet365 and 888casino are products of a specific era in online gambling. They were built when fiat banking was the only real option, when loyalty meant a points balance, and when the sportsbook and casino were often treated as separate products. Both have evolved, but they carry the weight of legacy infrastructure.

ZunaBet is built without that weight. It launched with crypto payments as the default, a loyalty system designed around visible progression and real rakeback, an integrated sportsbook that covers esports alongside traditional markets, and a game library that matches or exceeds what the established giants offer.

For a new generation of players who use crypto as a matter of habit, who want to see exactly what they are earning through loyalty, and who expect a platform to feel modern rather than familiar, ZunaBet represents what online gambling looks like in 2026.

Bet365 and 888casino are not going anywhere. But the conversation around which platforms are worth paying attention to is starting to include names that did not exist two years ago. ZunaBet is one of them.

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Advertise Here