Are you interested in playing casino games but not near an actual casino? Does a trip to Las Vegas to visit the casinos sound interesting, if you just had the time and money? Throughout the United States, people are taking “staycations” instead of vacations. It’s become a time when we’ve realized that we need to learn to deal with our finances in a different manner and the vacation and entertainment budgets have suffered.
Now, here’s the thing. I’m not against a Las Vegas vacation. It can be a great way to enjoy the city, the casinos and the nightlife. But I just can’t plan a trip to Vegas every time I want to play a slot game or some video poker. What I want is to be able to relax with round of slots or a little time at a video poker machine when I come home from work. And I don’t really want to risk that much money.
Which is where a free online casino comes in. All I need to play at an online casino is a good internet connection. Really, that’s about it. Now, I can sign up for an account and make a deposit and play casino games for real money. Just like I would in Las Vegas. But many people don’t realize that with an online casino, you can play a wide selection of casino games over the internet without even making a deposit. Now this practice play or fun play mode offered by the top online casinos won’t allow you to win real money, but many people find that taking a little time during the day to play free slots or practice video poker strategy can be relaxing. And if you want to play for real money, it only take a few minutes to make a deposit at the online casino. Since you aren’t paying for airline tickets and a hotel room, you’ll actually spend far less money than you would on a Las Vegas vacation but still get all the gambling fun you want.
November 17th, 2011 in
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ClubUSACasino.com, which is part of the renowned Club World Casinos Group, has been in operation since 2004. Since then, the site has been providing players in the US and abroad with top-notch online gambling. Their software, provided by RealTime Gaming, is tested regularly by TST (Technical Systems Testing), and each year the site is awarded with the TST Certificate of Safe and Fair Gaming.
Club USA Casino is, as the name would suggest, a US-friendly online casino.It possesses some great qualities, but is also weighted down by the heft of a few poor choices that keep it from being the best on the web.
Visual Style/Graphics
The first thing players will be greeted with is, naturally, the ‘lobby’. The site is slick, make no mistake. It features beautiful, scantily clad cartoon women – proving that they at least understand to whom they are primarily marketing. The layout is very user friendly, forsaking a mock lobby in exchange for a simple menu.
Here’s a look:
Now, the visual style of the games should come as no surprise to any one with cursory knowledge of RealTime Gaming’s software suite. The Table Games have been designed to carry a life-like look to their physical counterparts. While not so convincing as to actually make some one feel as though one could reach out and touch the felt, the table games still look less cartoony than many other online table games.
The slots are what one would expect; colorful, mostly eye-pleasing, and with enough diversity in symbols to make trying out each machine a worthwhile venture. These aren’t Vegas Technology machines, and so very rarely will players notice the same symbols showing up on different machines.
Variety of Games
Players looking for quantity as well as quality will be pleased, as there are more than 120 games just waiting to be played. Club USA’s games run the gamut, and there is literally something for every one. Here’s a brief breakdown for the curious:
- Online Slots: The bulk of the site’s games come in the form of their online slots. There are over 70, and they come in 3 Reel Classic Style, 5 Reel Video Slot Style, and the proprietary (and popular) Real-Series Slot Style.
- Table Games: There are 16 Table Games just begging for the attention of casual players and high rollers alike. These are strictly card games such as Poker and Blackjack.
- Video Poker: There are 10 Video Poker Machines, and while that number sounds impressive… the lack of any real visual distinction from one machine to the next leaves a lot to be desired. Frankly the machines are rather ugly, and it can be hard to stare at them for too long.
- Specialty Games: One thing to love about RealTime Gaming is that they always provide players with some strong Specialty Games. At Club USA there are 11 to choose from. Along with Bingo, Keno, and Scratch Cards, players will also find American and European Roulette.
That’s a lot of games, and I didn’t even include the slew of Progressive Jackpot games players can find. But some things are better discovered on our own, right?
Promotions
This is where, to me, Club USA falls flat on its face. It doesn’t stay down there, sucking up the dirt and grime, but it does slip in ranking while it struggles back onto its feet as other casinos pass it by. There are two distinct Welcome Bonuses, and while that alone is fine… they’re not very generous.
- Slots-Specific Welcome Bonus: When new players with a taste for slots join, they get a 100% Match Bonus on a first deposit up to $777.
- Table Games Welcome Bonus: When players with a hankering for table games join, they get a 100% Match Bonus on a first deposit up to $150.
While it is nice to have options, the incentives are rather low. When one considers the Welcome Bonuses of other online casinos (some offering up to $10,000 in deposit bonuses), well, one can’t help but feel a little cheated.
Overall
Club USA Casino is a fine online casino, and the fact that it is still US-Friendly will go a long way in keeping it popular here in the states. However, given the bland visuals on several of their games (namely Video Poker) and their disappointing Welcome Bonuses… I might be inclined to direct players elsewhere.
Of course, it all comes down to what you want most out of an online casino. If you want friendly customer service that is available 24/7, Club USA has you covered. If you want safe, secure gaming, Club USA has you covered. More importantly, if you live in the US and want to gamble online… You get the point.
Casino Win Palace is one of the best US-friendly online casinos still around after Black Friday, and bless them for that. Licensed in Curacao, and owned and operated by Lodolia Investments Ltd, Casino Win Palace is also a member of the revered Affactive Affiliates Group. As such, the site does everything it can in order to uphold the excellence one might expect from casinos in the groups – from 24/7 friendly customer service to state-of-the-art security systems, players never have to worry about a thing when playing at Casino Win Palace.
So, how do they stack up against other US-friendly online casinos?
Visual Style/Graphics
For better or for worse, ‘basic’ could very well be the best word to use when describing Casino Win Palace. The casino lobby avoids trying to simulate an actual lobby, something fairly popular amongst the site’s contemporaries. Instead Casino Win Palace opted to just provide an easy-to-navigate menu that runs along the left side of the game window.
As for games, we kind of get a mixed bag here. The Table Games (such as Blackjack) are all played on extremely convincing 3D simulated casino tables. They look so real, one might actually be able to feel the felt that lines their surfaces. On the other hand, all of the Video Poker games (and a few of the slots) offer nothing in the way of variety, and are, frankly, rather ugly.
Variety of Games
There are over 90 games for players to enjoy at Casino Win Palace. As you will see, though, it seems to sway more in favor of online slots players more than any one else:
- 58 total Real-Series Online Slots
- 19 Total Video Poker Machines
- 15 Total Table Games (such as Baccarat and War)
- 6 Specialty Games (such as Bingo and Keno)
Undoubtedly there are enough games to keep even the most die-hard online gambler satisfied.
Promotions
Players get their choice of many a superb bonus. There are easily six Welcome Bonuses, all of which target different kinds of players. I’ll only be taking a look at three of them, however.
- $1,000 Welcome Bonus: Get a 200% Match Bonus on your first two deposits up to $500 a piece.
- $3,000 Slots-Specific Bonus: Get a massive 300% Match Bonus up to $3,000 on your first deposit. Funds can only be wagered at any of the online slots games.
- High Roller Bonus: For those who live dangerously, when you make your first deposit of at least $750 (but you can go higher, of course) you will receive a 200% Match Bonus up to $2,000.
There are, as I’ve said, other Welcome Bonuses. Players interested should check the options out before signing up. In addition, Casino Win Palace also offers Weekly Bonuses that change from week-to-week.
Overall
Casino Win Palace offers players a very generous selection of games to choose from, and for the most part they all look fabulous. The only advice I would give would be to remove some of the uglier, more dated games.
Another thing that should be mentioned is that in the Instant Play version of the online casino, some of the games listed are not offered to players. There is also no option to turn down (or turn off) the audio, and on some of the games this can be quite a missed opportunity.
All in all, I would say that my experience at Casino Win Palace was about average. I have no qualms recommending it to any one in need of a good online casino, but that does not mean I wouldn’t have one or two suggestions of other sites as well. All the same, I would say the site is definitely worth checking out.
HighNoonCasino.com has been providing players with superb online gaming since it opened for business in 2004. Operating out of the UK the site still accepts US players, which is one reason why we have chosen it to be one of the best online casinos for the US. But how does it stack up compared to others?
Visual Style/Graphics
The site is Wild West Themed, and it pulls off the potentially silly visual style perfectly. Menus roll out in cow skin maps, or in entertaining shooting gallery set-ups. Never has been picking a game to play been so entertaining. And speaking of the games…
They are powered by software developed by RealTime Gaming, which is one of the last companies still allowing their software to be played by members of the United States. You’ll be familiar with them as they have also supplied the software for the last few casinos we’ve reviewed here, but I’ll provide you with a refresher.
RealTime Gaming provides software that, visually, rests in the seeming “No Man’s Land” between the trenches of Traditional and Progressive casino software. Typically. At Highnooncasino.com, the graphics on the slots, video poker, and various table games seems mostly in keeping with software one might find from companies like Vegas Technology. The visuals of the games at High Noon are a little more subdued than are similar games provided by RTG at other sites.
Simplistic is a good word, and not at all meant to be implied as an insult.
Variety of Games
HighNoonCasino.com has more than 50 titles to be enjoyed by players. The offerings are varied enough in terms of “types” that there is bound to be something for any taste. They offer anything from Roulette to Poker, Slots to Keno, and everything in between (even Scratch Cards). About the only thing that isn’t offered is Online Bingo, a huge hit in Britain but not as much here in America.
Bonuses and Promotions
HighNoonCasino.com offers new players two distinct welcome bonuses, tailored to specific tastes. One aims to please the table games players in the crowd, while the second aims to please players of slots and other specialty games.
- Welcome Bonus One: 100% Match Bonus on deposits up to $500. Good on Blackjack, Video Poker, and other table/card games.
- Welcome Bonus Two: 200% Match Bonus on deposits of up to $2,000. Good on Slots, Real Slots, Keno, and Scratch Cards.
Not only that, but players can try out the games at no risk with a no-deposit bonus of $60 in free chips. That bonus is subject to certain restrictions, of course. All three bonuses require special welcome bonus codes, which are provided for the players upon signing up.
Overall
HighNoonCasino.com may not have the largest selection of games, but they have more than many other sites. Not only that, but the quality of their games is fairly superb across the board – something some other sites cannot claim.
I would certainly recommend the site to any one looking for a US-friendly online casino, especially slots players. The welcome bonuses provided by HighNoonCasino.com alone are incentive enough to join, so players need not hesitate.
Owned and operated by the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Bodog Casino has been offering up some of the finest online gambling to members of the US (and abroad) for well over a decade. They are, without a doubt, one of the best online casinos servicing the US. In fact, the site garners nothing but acclaim and support from notable websites such as Wizardofodds.com, casinomeister.com, and egrmagazine.com.
They are eCOGRA certified and their casino games software has been meticulously tested for fairness by TST Systems, an independent software testing firm.
But how is the casino?
Visual Style/Graphics
Much like CherryRed (who I reviewed a few weeks back) Bodog runs the popular RealTime Gaming software. I originally gave some of the software a hard time in the CherryRed review, and while some of the problems still hold true (we’ll get to that) I do not consider them as damning as they were last time.
I think a part of my good grace towards some of the ugly software comes from a recent bout of experience with the games from Vegas Technology. They are an equally popular supplier of online gaming software, and carry their own fanbase. Unfortunately I find their software to be dated and ugly. Fortunately, by comparison, the RealTime Gaming software is the pretty sister in this respect.
Where the Table Games and Video Poker are still as strong in appearance as one might expect, so, too, are the slots. Now, that isn’t to say that they come anywhere near the slots at SlotLand or WinADay — but they’re leagues easier to look at than the slots from Vegas Technology. In fact, I would say they look like the older brother to Vegas Tech’s slots — and still, they are the younger brother to WinADay’s. They are the middle child. Have a look:
Vegas Tech's unflattering slots...
... And Bodog's hotter alternative.
It is nice not having to see all the same symbols. It is an experience that Vegas Tech-run casinos should consider offering their patrons.
But I digress.
Variety of Games
Bodog comes out swinging on this count. The site offers 70+ games, mostly in the realm of slots games. Of course, the site is most known for its Poker. Any one looking to enjoy online poker in America need look no further. Bodog has you covered.
Every one else looking for anything else? Bodog has you covered, too. From Craps to Roulette, Slots to Video Poker — If Bodog doesn’t have what you’re looking for, it doesn’t exist.
Bonuses and Promotions
So, time to get to the real meat of the issue: What does Bodog offer its players in terms of casino bonuses?
For starters, Bodog offers a Welcome Bonus that really relies on the player to make it worthwhile. It might not sound like much at first, but for your initial deposit of $20 or more Bodog will give you a 10% bonus. The amount you get back is entirely up to you. It’s not visibly as generous as some others online, but it also doesn’t impose a ridiculously high limit for players to meet before they get it. In these economic times, that’s a plus.
Bodog also offers $100 for every friend a member refers. Some sites do the same, but they limit it to one referral per member. Not Bodog Casino.
As an added bonus, every game offers cash-back comps. There are requirements to be met (wagering requirements, play through requirements, etc.), but mostly they’re pretty fair.
Overall
The gang behind Bodog Casino really is out to give players something worth praising, and I would dare say they have done just that. They offer a wealth of games to choose from, provide plenty of incentives for their members to remain members, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Customer Service is the name of the game at Bodog, and their courteous team of Customer Service Reps will work as quickly as possible to get to any complaints/concerns one might have.
This desire to provide high quality care and liberal play value goes a long way, especially when one considers how lucky players in the US are to so much as get accepted into an online casino. At Bodog Casino, it legitimately feels as though they’re catering specifically to us.
GoCasino.com is regarded as one of the very best online casinos for US players. It is home to easily a few million players (including gamblers in countries outside of the US), and at any given time can boast thousands of players online at the same time. It ranks #1 on many top 10 lists around the internet, and rarely is a bad word muttered.
I found its acclaim to be, for the most part, well-earned. It falls victim to a few rough patches, as do all casinos, but it doesn’t suffer dearly due to any of them. Its software has been supplied by who else but Vegas Technology, the same software providers behind last week’s Online Casino Spotlight subject, SuperSlots.com. In fact, the two are sister-sites, and do not differ in many drastic ways. Why did I pick it then?
I’ll be honest: There aren’t a lot of online casinos allowing US players these days. The majority of the ones out there run Vegas Technology software. While they offer mostly the same games, that isn’t to say one cannot be better than another. What is it that makes GoCasino.com better than, say, SuperSlots.com then?
A big difference rests in the generous Welcome Bonus at GoCasino.com. For new players’ first 20 deposits, GoCasino.com will award up to $20,000 in bonuses. Of course there are requirements, limits, and so on — but every online casino operates that way, and $20,000 goes a long way at GoCasino.com. If nothing else, it’s another $20,000 to play with that you won’t actually deposit out of pocket.
But how is everything else at GoCasino.com?
Visual Design
Unlike similar sites such as SuperSlots or EnglishHarbour, GoCasino skips the attempt to simulate the exact experience of going to a casino. Their lobby forsakes the typical design that emulates an actual, brick-and-mortar Casino’s lobby. Instead, it provides a simple video game-style menu. Behold:
Simple, yet visually interesting. It works.
The visual variety of the games… well, that’s a mixed bag. From type-to-type there is an appropriate difference. For instance, slots have a visual style completely removed from, say, craps or video poker. Within the types, though, there is little difference. To illustrate my point, I will use screenshots from two different slots games, one is called Northern Lights and the other is called Birds of Paradise. Without looking at the names, going only by the symbols… can you tell the difference?
The point in that exercise being this: Why have so many different slots games (there are easily over 30) when there really isn’t anything to set one apart from another? To offer variety, sure… but shouldn’t there be actual variety, not just perceived variety?
Audio Design
If you’ve read last weeks online casino review, you know what to expect. GoCasino.com suffers from the same poorly designed audio — frankly lazy audio — that plagues 90% of online casinos running Vegas Technology software. I know that Vegas Technology only makes the games, and the design of the sites are up to the brand behind them… but the fact that one usually accompanies the other seems much too coincidental.
All I can say about the audio is: Turn down both audio choices in the options, turn up your iPod, and play to your heart’s content.
Overall
GoCasino.com is certainly one of the best Us friendly online casinos, even after one considers the audible assault that is typical of many of its sister-sites. Its generous bonuses and great customer service are what set it apart from similar sites, reliably planting it on the top of most site’s top 10 lists. But it isn’t the best, and I firmly believe if it used a stronger software package it very well would be.
As it stands, it is a great place for gamblers — new or seasoned. If you must rely on the small sampling of sites we have been left with in light of our policy regarding online gambling regulation, GoCasino.com is certainly a fantastic place to end up.
Just turn the sound off.
Superslots.com is part of English Harbour New Ventures, the popular brand of online casinos that services both the UK and the US — as well as Europe. A few of its sister-sites include English Harbour Casino and Caribbean Gold Casino, and if you have visited either site… you probably know what to expect. For this review, I will be looking at the layout/design of the site as a whole, as well as in terms of three main popular games on the site. Shall we?
Visual Design
I will start with dissecting the Lobby, as it will be (more than likely) the first thing a player sees. “Swanky” is the first word that comes to mind upon seeing it — what, with all its royal purple and crystal decor. It certainly exudes a sort of decadence that one will find synonymous with Las Vegas. Behold:
Tell me that isn’t swanky. You can’t, so let’s move on.
The games do not fare quite as well, visually speaking. Any one who has played the games developed by Vegas Technology can vouch for me when I claim that the games hold no real visual punch. They may be fun, they may have some of the most user-friendly interfaces around… but pretty, they are not. Here are a few screenshots, (not so much) for your viewing pleasure:
Black Jack, perhaps the most elegant looking game on-site.
Northern Lights, a slot offered on-site. Not Ugly, just... boring. Like some one's less-attractive sister.
The world has yet to be offered a visually appealing Video Poker Game. Aces and Faces ain't it.
The thing that excuses the lackluster visual design for the games at Superslots.com is that the interfaces are quite user-friendly. It sounds like no big deal, but it really is. There are many sites that get caught up in the presentation and forget to make a slots game that any one can start up and immediately know how to play. So kudos must be given.
Audio Design
This is probably a section I could just start leaving out, as there are very few sites that don’t take a hit in this category. No matter how many sites I visit, no matter how drastically they differ visually, or in terms of game offerings… they all suffer the same (or nearly the same) unforgivably bad audio problems.
The site loops (poorly) a track that replicates the sound of a moderately busy casino. You know the drill; chatter, random machines going off… but the clip is, maybe, five seconds long. When it loops, it first stops abruptly leaving a pause in between the beginning and the ending of the track. This means that every six seconds you hear the audio equivalent of a pothole.
In fact, that might be the best way to put it. Listening to this site is like driving your ears down a pothole ridden stretch of highway.
Sadly, the games do not sound much better. The slots recycle all of the same sounds (save for one unique sound effect per game), and the table games aren’t faring any better. Black Jack alone is riddled with strange computer voice-overs that announce whether a player is standing or asking for a hit, and wins and losses are heralded by bizarre little ditties that last all of one second.
It’s a moot point, though, as players can disable the audio and instead pipe in whatever is playing on their iTunes at the time. Still, it’s a shame that sites (especially those in the English Harbour Family) don’t attempt some semblance of competent audio engineering. Anything to elevate your site above the others is a valuable asset, and worth however many minutes its takes to achieve better than this current result.
Overall Impression
There aren’t a lot of things to dislike about superslots.com, but there are enough to keep me from really recommending it. Maybe it’s the fact that I see so many sites running the Vegas Technology games packages, and so few of them do anything to really distinguish themselves from the pack. It’s hard for me to deem any of these sites as being worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the title “best online casino“. In fact, they’re merely serviceable, and Superslots.com does not prove itself to be any different.
Yes, the site provides fair and secure online gambling. Yes, too, does it accept US players without giving them the shaft. These are not rare qualities in online casinos, though. They are certainly not enough to elevate sites like Superslots.com above the rest of the offerings.
At the end of the day, sites like these feel like the McDonald’s or Burger King of online gambling. What you really want are the 5-Star restaurants, and those are what I really want to provide for you guys. Some times it’s worth knowing what sites aren’t that, and I feel as though I have still done my job well. If I can’t steer you to the finest sites every time, I can at least say I do what I can to help you steer clear from the average or the below-average.
Consider this site one to just skip over, especially if you already have a site you’re fond of. This one won’t likely be a suitable replacement, nor will it be a step up.
For those of us who are enamored with online slots games, the Mecca of online casinos to which we travel is undoubtedly Winadaycasino.com. Though they do not feature as many slots games as some other sites, there can be no arguing that they have the market cornered on unique slots. It is this collection of one-of-a-kind slots that keep me returning to WinADay, in fact. As such, I thought I would treat every one to a breakdown of a few of the games they have to offer.
To keep it fair, I have chosen three to spotlight. They are all of varying quality, and I will to touch upon their strengths and faults as I move from game-to-game.
Wheeler Dealer
Wheeler Dealer represents the average play experience at WinADay. With its unique interface, and a simplistic bonus round, it manages to be very fun without being complicated (look to Jackpot Jinni for an example of a muddled interface).
This 3 Reel slot provides six pay lines, which I actually consider one of its weaknesses. While the sparse pay lines allow for a potentially longer play time, it also makes his harder to fetch big payoffs. I played for thirty minutes, and in that time I only got two wins that totaled around $400. It isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but it does spoil the fun of a big win when I remember that I have easily paid more trying to get it.
The bonus round, as I mentioned, is rather simplistic. Once you collect six diamonds (by getting three or more to appear on the reels), the symbols all turn “diamond blue”. Whatever you win equates to the multiplier combined with whatever you wagered on your last normal spin. It should be noted that one of my “big” wins was a product of this bonus round.
Still, it’s a fun little number.
Win A Fortune
An obvious parody of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, this slot shows a real potential for variety. If that’s your thing, this is probably your game.
See, the titular wheel has two rotating parts. There is the outer wheel, which decides which of the game’s symbols is going to play the part of the wild card. The inner wheel determines what the score multiplier for bonus rounds will be. Both are changed once their respective symbols are revealed on any one of the reels.
The bonus round for this game, a Double or Nothing feature, serves as its greatest weakness. Much like WinADayCasino.com’s game Busted, players take the money they earned before the bonus and attempt to double it. This is supposedly done by hitting the “Spin/Double” button at the right time, making it land on “Double” instead of landing on “Lose”. I say supposedly because I had several chances to try this out, and only once did I ever land on “Double” – no matter when I pressed the button. I’m sure it isn’t a cheap trick, but it sure feels like one, and that’s no fun.
Leprechaun Luck
I have saved the best for last. Leprechaun Luck is a truly great slot that equally impresses with its visuals, as well as with its game play.
The bonus round here is truly something to treasure. Instead of some measly free roll, or some chance to double (read: lose) money, the bonus game here is exactly that. After collecting four symbols (shoes, a hat, a harp, and a horse shoe – all with a die in the bottom corner), the interface transforms into a game board that resembles Chutes and Ladders. The object is to get the Leprechaun from point A to point B, hopefully claiming bonuses as you go.
The Spin button now acts as a way to roll the virtual dice. However many dots are on the dice, that’s how many spaces the Leprechaun moves. If our hero lands on a multiplier green clover, that bonus will be applied to your winnings once the bonus game ends. If he lands on a blue clover, he advances to the next string of places above him. If he lands on the red clover, or if he crosses the finish line, the bonus game ends.
I love this game the most, as I feel as though I am actually winning when I play it. There are 31 pay lines, so there’s plenty of opportunity to win big. Add to that the multipliers in the bonus game are rather large (I landed on one that multiplied by wager by 70!).
Long story short, it’s just a fun game.
Overall
If you love slots, and you are tired of the same games offered by companies like Microgaming and Vegas Technology, this is the site for you. These are the slots for you. You owe it to yourself to play at WinADayCasino.com.
For this week’s Online Casino Spotlight, I have chosen to give you all a rundown on the popular cherryredcasino.com. You’ll notice that this is a much more detailed and thorough spotlight than I gave you last week. I am still fine tuning the concept, but I do like the idea of giving you all the most information I can. Expect this level of information with each installment from here on out.
That said, how does Cherry Red stack up?
Visual Style/Graphics
This particular area is kind of a mixed bag, though the bag is mostly filled with good things.
First and foremost, the website itself looks great! The overriding color scheme is a mix of red and black, with a few flourishes of gold for posterity. The effect pays homage to Sin City quite nicely. The flash video that plays on the front-page is also a nice touch. It is professionally done, and incorporates a lot of neat digital art and design tricks.
Where the site slightly fumbles is in regards to the look of the games. This is kind of a big deal, as players will spend more time watching the games rather than the introduction video (one would hope).
The table games, video poker, and specialty games all look great. The table and specialty games in particular looks gorgeous. They are designed to look like their Vegas counter parts. Classy, traditional, and elegant. The slots games, though… This is where the site takes a hit.
The slots are simplistic at best, especially when compared to the visual styles of most slots games on the web these days. These slots look like they would be right at home on personal computers from the 90s. Frankly, they are ugly. Behold:
Could you look at this for hours on end? Me neither.
This is probably the better looking slot on the site, which is troubling considering they make up the majority of the site’s offerings. Poor form, Cherry Red. Poor form.
Variety of Games
Cherry Red knocks it out of the park on this one. They offer players 53 total games to choose from. This is pretty fair, and while it isn’t an absurd amount… it is just right. There aren’t too many choices to allow for confusion, but there aren’t too few to allow one to get disinterested easily.
As I mentioned in the Visuals section, the majority of the games consist of slots. They range from 3-5 reel systems, and they’re all user-friendly in their play design. If only they were prettier, I’d have an easier time recommending them to you guys.
There are also 14 table games (including Poker and Blackjack), 14 unique video poker games, and 4 specialty games (which include Keno and Roulette). They play just as easily, offer as much fun, and are much more splendid to look at. They are easily the shining spots of the site.
Bonuses/Incentives
This is what players really want to know about. It’s not as though gamblers have never ignored an ugly interface. It is unlikely that online gamblers have refused a site their patronage because of lousy online casino bonuses. Fortunately for Cherry Red (and the players), they have incentives down to a science. There are too many for me to list here in any great detail, but I will touch on a few — just to whet your appetites.
What site would be complete without a great welcome bonus? Cherry Red offers new players to take advantage of their $7,777 Welcome Bonus. How it works is simple: You join, and you get a 100% Match Bonus of up to $777 on your first ten deposits. Pretty nice, right? Well the bonuses don’t stop once you get into the door.
Every week, Cherry Red makes available 10 coupons that add up to $5,000 in bonuses. Players can use these coupons every Tuesday and Thursday of every week. That’s over $200,000 in coupons a year!
The site also offers incentives every weekend, on special occasions (such as holidays), and so on. It’s almost insane how many promotions/bonuses/incentives they offer players.
Overall
The experience I had at Cherry Red Casino was favorable. I won’t lie and say that it is the best online casino I have ever frequented, and I honestly don’t expect to return all that frequently. I already have a preferred casino, though, so that could be my reason for saying that. I also enjoy slots, and the less-than-thrilling offerings here didn’t impress me. Your mileage may vary, and you might decide it is the perfect place for you.
You could certainly do worse. You could also do better. In the end, it all boils down to preferences.
As it stands, I would place Cherryredcasino.com in the middle of the pack; a 5 or 6/10. It’s not breaking any new ground, but it’s not entirely stuck in the dark ages. It simply is what it is. If that’s enough for you, I can’t recommend it enough.
What. A. Disaster.
There is almost no other way to describe the fallout from the raids on three of the largest online poker companies on Black Friday. The move on behalf of the Department of Justice to shut down those sites has not only effected online poker players, but online gamblers of all other sorts — abroad, and here in the US.
I recently blogged about the potentially detrimental effects of the US’ stance on online gambling. At which point I made a mention of Antigua, and how they have harbored ill will against us due to our penchant for ignoring the rules set up by the World Trade Organization. They have already gotten the WTO involved with a dispute before, at which point it was decided that the US owed Antigua compensation for the negative effects our raids had on their economy — only we never paid them. They’re still waiting for the money.
In their defense, they have waited for some time. This makes it understandable as to why their patience has worn completely thin, in light of our more recent raids.
You see, Antigua licenses Absolute Poker. You’ll recall that Absolute was one of the three companies the DOJ raided on grounds of money laundering, as well as ignoring the UIGEA (Unfair Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) which was established in 2006. They have decided that the grounds upon which their licensee was raided are, at best, shaky.
Having decided that they can no longer sit and wait for our attitudes to shift, the buzz is that Antigua is looking to have the WTO crack down on us once more — and this time it is expected that the punishment will be more severe. Apart from hitting our collective wallet harder, what else could be the result of such an intervention by the WTO?
Such a question has an uncertain answer, though it isn’t hard to imagine. Perhaps we will only suffer another slap on the wrist, with the ruling that we owe Antigua more money (take a number, guys). Maybe any online casino who is still doing business with America will decide to jump ship, as Microgaming has ordered its casinos to do? At worst, this negative back-and-forth could serve to only worsen lawmakers’ opinions of the online gambling industry and lead to further restrictions for online casinos in the US.
In the words of the great Joe Strummer, “The future is unwritten.” For our sake, let’s hope this story has a happy ending.
