How Do We Review Crypto Casinos?
So, you’re looking to play at an online crypto casino? There are several things to consider before doing so – and the CryptoSpinners team is here to help you. Below, we’ve listed and explained what you should look at before choosing which casino to play at. Our exclusive reviews cover all of these topics and more.
1. We look at which cryptocurrencies they accept
While everyone has heard of Bitcoin, and probably Ethereum and Dogecoin, these days there are literally hundreds of cryptocurrencies. However, relatively few are accepted at crypto casinos, and those that are all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Our easy-to-follow reviews will let you know which casinos accept which cryptos, while our detailed guides will tell you everything you need to know about each cryptocurrency.
2. We find out what bonuses and promotions they offer
Next, we come to bonuses – one of the main attractions of online casinos. There are several different kinds of rewards you can find at crypto casinos. Some are one-time offers, while others are recurring.
Welcome bonus
Everyone loves a great welcome bonus, right? This will be the first offer you encounter, and it’s like a “thank you” for signing up. Usually, the casino will match your first deposit up to a certain amount, and they’ll often throw in some free spins on popular slot games too.
Some welcome packages may even offer incentives covering your first two to four deposits. Occasionally, there may even be a no-deposit bonus element, which you can claim simply by signing up and opting in.
Free spins
Our favorite thing about free spins is that they are frequently available for a wide range of slot games. They allow you to spin the reels without risking any of your own crypto or money and are a great way to check out a new game.
You’ll find free spins offers included in welcome bonuses and as stand-alone promotions. For example, many casinos dish out free spins in exchange for a specified deposit or wager on a certain day each week.
Offers and promotions
Recurring offers and promotions are a great way to get more play and make your funds go further. These typically occur in the form of weekly reload bonuses or cashback deals. For instance, you can often get a partial match bonus, free spins, or both with a weekly top-up if you deposit a minimum amount.
A cashback program pays back a certain percentage of any losses incurred at a casino, usually covering the past week or day. Normally, you can expect it to be between 5%-15%. Slot tournaments are also another popular event offered by casinos – giving you the chance to win daily, weekly, or monthly prizes simply for playing your favorite games.
VIP programs
Many casinos offer VIP programs. These are geared towards rewarding the most loyal, long-term players. To be eligible for a VIP program, you’ll often need to collect a certain number of points, while others are invite-only.
Perks commonly enjoyed by VIPs include faster withdrawals, lower wagering requirements, exclusive bonuses and prizes, special event invites, better cashback percentages, and higher deposit/withdrawal limits.
Here at CryptoSpinners, we look for the best, most rewarding VIP and loyalty programs, and let you know exactly where to find them and how to qualify.
3. We check the choice of games and providers on offer
It goes without saying, that a casino wouldn’t be much fun without a wide choice of great games. But, whether we’re talking slots, poker, live casino, or game shows, it doesn’t matter how many there are if they are of poor quality.
Online slots selection
Slot machines are by far the most popular category of online casino games. You only need to make a small deposit, and you’ll have an entire world of amazing slots to choose from.
When it comes to slot game themes, you’ll find everything imaginable (and some that are beyond most peoples’ imagination!). Some of the most popular are ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology, Aztec and Mayan adventures, science fiction, seasonal holidays like Christmas and Halloween, and the macabre – particularly zombies!
You’ll also find many officially licensed slots developed in partnership with big pop culture names, especially bands, movies, TV series, and celebrities. Oh, and let’s not forget, there are hundreds of slots out there that keep it old-school fruit machine style.
But, as we said, quantity doesn’t matter much unless the quality is high. That’s why the CryptoSpinners team thoroughly examines the slot games on offer at every casino they review.
Poker rooms
Almost everyone has heard of poker, and maybe even played a game or two – indeed, it’s always been one of the most popular casino offerings. But, poker isn’t just a single game. In fact, there are many different versions, themes, and styles. Some of the most popular include Texas Hold ’em, Omaha, seven-card stud, and five-card draw.
Most online casinos offer two different ways to play poker. One is to play video poker games, in which you pit your skills against a computer in RNG (random number generator) based games. Alternatively, you can play against real people in real-time live poker rooms.
Live dealer tables
Live dealer tables are broadcast from state-of-the-art studios, in real-time, and provide the most authentic real casino experience possible. Instead of playing against a computer, you get to play with real people. Most casinos now offer a wide variety of live dealer table games including poker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat with different variations.
At larger casinos, you’ll also find a growing range game shows in the live dealer area. These literally give you the chance to star as a contestant in TV-style game shows, including officially licensed versions of popular franchises like Deal or No Deal and Monopoly Live.
Game providers available
A crucial aspect determining the quality of your play experience is who makes the games. Some of the most popular slot developers include NetEnt, Microgaming, Big Time Gaming, Play’n Go, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, and Quickspin. Meanwhile, Evolution Gaming is well-known for its very polished live casino games.
Exclusives games and branded tables
More and more big online casinos are starting to offer a limited selection of exclusive games. These are normally developed in partnership with one of the major game providers.
4. We make sure they have good customer support
While you’re unlikely to run into any problems at good online casinos, if something does go wrong, or you have a question, responsive customer service is essential. The CryptoSpinners team particularly takes account of the contact methods provided, like live chat, email, and phone.
Additionally, we put customer support through its paces – checking response times, professionalism, and their effectiveness at solving the issue. Finally, we also look for other support resources, like a comprehensive FAQ page.
5. We download and test mobile applications
Although not every casino has a mobile app, for those that do, we test them. We review the design and functionality and make sure they run smoothly. An app laced with bugs is never fun.
6. We learn about their Responsible Gaming program
We believe that online gambling should always be entertaining and a positive experience – it should never be allowed to develop into a problem for players. To make sure a casino shares our viewpoint, we thoroughly examine their Responsible Gambling policy and resources.
Our goal is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of what responsible gaming tools and resources are available, how to use them, how to identify if you are at risk of developing gambling problems, and where to get help if you need it.
7. We assess how safe they are
When playing at any casino, safety and trust should always be high priorities. You want to know your personal information is safe, and of course, you need to know the casino will pay out when you win.
This is why we look into where the casino is based, which company runs it, and if they have a license and other accreditations – like from respected industry bodies. When it comes to licenses there are a growing number of national and state regulators that issue them.
Two of the most famous are the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). Many casinos are also licensed in Curacao – part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the Caribbean. In the United States, each state which allows online gambling, like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Nevada, has its own regulatory authority.
Besides supporting cryptocurrency payments, most crypto casinos don’t differ a huge amount from other online casinos. You’ll still find a welcome bonus and the great games you know and love.
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The Different Types of Crypto Casinos We Review
‘Crypto casinos’ can be divided into two main categories. Some are pure crypto casinos that only accept cryptocurrencies. However, most of today’s crypto casinos are hybrids that support both crypto and fiat currencies.
Purely Crypto Casinos
These casinos are normally decentralized blockchain-based platforms. This means all play takes place on-chain, and games are ‘provably fair‘ – i.e., players can actually check the hashes of each round. These casinos usually only accept cryptocurrencies and often have their own native token. Although purely crypto casinos are still the minority, and game choice is limited, they are rapidly gaining popularity as blockchain tech and Web3 mature.
Crypto-Fiat Hybrid Casinos
The vast majority of today’s ‘crypto casinos’ are actually centralized hybrid crypto-fiat sites. They usually accept deposits and withdrawals in a wide range of cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies, and support methods like Visa and Mastercard, PayPal, various e-wallets, and bank transfers. These casinos will offer the same huge choice of games you’re used to, from familiar developers, but may also offer a number of blockchain-based, provably fair games too.
Crypto Casinos Red Flags to Watch Out For
We recommend you use this guide to help you find the best crypto casinos, where you can enjoy playing safely. We only review and recommend legal, licensed casinos, and our experts thoroughly review each and every one. However, if you’re doing your own research, here are some red flags to look out for.
Be wary of brand new casinos for which you can’t find any information or reviews. We encourage you to stick to established casinos with lots of positive reviews. And, when it comes to reviews, make sure they are genuine. If they have all been posted on the same day, or sound like they were all written by the same person, there’s a good chance they are fake.
Also, keep in mind the age-old adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” If you see bonus offers like a 300% deposit match, proceed with caution. Always read the terms and conditions for promotional offers – paying close attention to things like withdrawal conditions, wagering requirements, game limitations, and expiry dates.
Finally, check out the contact options. If a casino doesn’t offer several convenient ways to get in touch, like live chat, email, and phone, then avoid them. There’s probably a reason they don’t want players contacting them.
Crypto casinos are generally even safer than standard online casinos, due to the very nature of cryptocurrency itself.
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Conclusion
As the popularity of cryptocurrency grows, so too will crypto casinos. In fact, moving forward, we expect most online casinos to start supporting at least the major cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin – following the hybrid crypto-fiat model. In terms of product offering, these casinos will remain essentially the same as the online casinos we already know and love. Of course, we’ll also see many more decentralized, blockchain-based, pure crypto casinos launch and grow.
So, as the world moves into the Web3 era and online casinos become ever more popular, use our reviews and guides to get the most from your crypto.