Café Casino Review
Gambling should be relaxing. That might not sound quite right: there’s clearly a lot of tension and excitement when there’s big money on the line and the promise of a jackpot that could come at any moment. But for the vast majority of people, a trip to the casino is supposed to be about recreation, relieving stress rather than causing it.
That’s the atmosphere that the owners of Café Casino are trying to foster. Using a muted, calming color scheme and imagery that makes you think more of a trip to a local coffee house than a breathtaking resort, this is an easygoing site that is fairly welcoming to players regardless of their experience level. But make no mistake: there are still plenty of excellent and exciting games here for you to win big on.
New Site from Established Group
Café Casino launched in 2016, making them one of the newest Internet gambling sites on the market at the time of this writing. In many cases, there are pros and cons to joining such a new site. There’s certainly excitement when you try a new operation, and the owners are usually happy to offer some huge bonuses in order to attract their first players. But without a track record for you to rely on, how can you know if they will be trustworthy?
That isn’t a problem here, as Café is part of the Betting Partners network, which also works with sites like Bovada and Bodog. This offers players a bit more security than you would find at most new entries to the business, as the association with some leading names suggests that ownership is serious about providing a professional operation from start to finish. The site is also licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and has been audited and tested by independent labs to ensure that their games are random and fair.
Innovative Slots Join Classics
Speaking of games, it’s time to take a closer look at what Café Casino has to offer. Here, you’ll find a mix of games from various providers, most notably Rival and Realtime Gaming (RTG). These two software providers offer up very different styles of gaming, particularly when it comes to their slots.
RTG offers up a classic selection of slot machines that have proven popular for many years across dozens of online casinos. The most well-known of these games are the Real Series machines, each of which are based on the same basic framework. However, they include numerous themes and special features, making them each unique titles (even if veteran players will recognize the similarities between them).
On the other hand, Rival has been one of the most innovative developers out there, something that can most clearly be seen in their i-Slots series. These machines combine basic slot machine play with storytelling features, where players unlock more and more of a story by completing various in-game tasks. This makes it a lot of fun to come back to these games time and time again in an effort to see what happens to your favorite characters.
Put that all together, and you get a very strong collection of slots that stands up well to most of the competition. Between the various gaming lines, you’ll find a number of highly regarded titles, including the following:
- As the Reels Turn
- Heavyweight Gold
- Reel Crime
- The Back Nine
- Spy Game
- Caesar’s Empire
- Crystal Waters
- Lion’s Lair
- Red Sands
- Fruit Frenzy
Excellent Game Selection
As at most online gaming sites, slots definitely make up the majority of your choices here. However, the use of RTG software means that you’ll be able to play a great number of table games and other selections as well. For instance, you don’t just have blackjack as an option, but several different variants of the game, including Single Deck Blackjack, European Blackjack, and a version with the Perfect Pairs side bet.
Plenty of other opportunities exist for table game players as well. Here are a few of the most popular titles you may have played at live casinos:
- Baccarat
- Craps
- American Roulette
- European Roulette
- Let ‘em Ride (Let It Ride)
- Pai Gow Poker
- Tri Card Poker (Three Card Poker)
Plenty of video poker options are offered up as well, including classics like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Joker Poker. Many of these games are presented in a variety of different formats, ranging from single-hand machines to those that allow you to play 52 hands at once. In addition, you can find scratch cards, bingo games, keno and more as you work your way through the software.
Big Bonuses for New Players
As with most new sites, Café Casino is looking to attract new players with their bonus offerings. There are a few different options available depending on exactly what you’re looking for, but we think most players will find that at least one of these promotions is worth taking.
Let’s start with everyone’s favorite reward: free stuff! When you first sign up for an account here, you’ll be given $10 in free chips that you can use in the casino (just use the bonus code CHIP10). You can use this money to play on any game you want, but it does come with a 60x wagering requirement. In addition, you’ll only be able to keep a maximum of $125 off of this promotion, meaning that you can’t dream of winning a jackpot while on this promo. Still, it’s a free offer, so even with its restrictions, we imagine many players will want to give this one a shot.
Latest Café Casino Bonuses and Promotions
Next up is a 500% matching bonus worth as much as $5,000. This is a cashable bonus, meaning that you’ll be able to withdraw not only your winnings, but any bonus funds left over once you’ve cleared the promotion. In this case, there is a 35x playthrough requirement on the combined bonus and deposit amount, and you’ll be limited to cashing out no more than ten times the amount you’ve deposited.
That maximum cash out clause is a growing trend, and not one we’re a big fan of. However, this site gives you a way around it via their No-Max Welcome Bonus, which is also cashable. This version of the promotion only offers a 100% match of up to $1,000, but comes with absolutely no maximum withdrawal. As an added benefit, there’s also only a 25x playthrough requirement, far lower than the one in the larger offer.
We should note that not all games contribute equally to these bonuses. While all slots, scratch cards, keno and other “specialty” games count for their full amount, other games contribute just 5% to 20% of their bets towards your wagering requirement.
Filling Up Your Cup
If you’re ready to make your first deposit here, you’ll find that common options are provided for, most notably the use of Visa or MasterCard credit cards. In addition, you’ll be able to make deposits by Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that offers a level of security and anonymity you won’t find in traditional payment methods. Bitcoin is also a fast and easy withdrawal method, though alternatives are available and are processed in a timely manner.
Most play on this site is conducted through an instant play, no download software platform that you can access directly from your web browser. No special software is necessary; it’s always best to keep your browser up to date to ensure compatibility, however. As for mobile play, there is little talk of compatibility on the casino’s website; however, many games are mobile-optimized, and the site is easy to navigate on smartphones and tablets.
A Recipe for Success
Café Casino is new enough that we can’t yet say if it will be a major player in the online gambling world. However, it certainly has a lot of elements working for it towards that goal. Any site with good game selection, great bonus options, and the backing of a well-known network has a chance to make its mark, making this one of the sites we’ll be keeping a close eye on in 2016. If you’re looking for a new site to add to your rotation or a place to get started with Internet gaming, we’d recommend giving Café a shot.