Sophisticated, moi? Hell yeah. Sometimes I’ll even change into a clean vest when visiting a new casino. But whether or not GoldenRiviera is the most sophisticated online casino or not isn’t really the main point. The real issue is whether it delivers a great gaming experience with good odds.
The software is by Microgaming, which means you get a great variety of games, which is particularly strong on slots – including Microgaming’s signature progressive jackpot slots such as Treasure Nile and Major Millions. There are also progressive Roulette, Blackjack, CyberStud Poker and SupaJax video Poker games, so if you’re after the big pots, GoldenRiviera is as good a place as any to try. The casino interface and game design is exactly what you expect from Microgaming – not the most sophisticated looks of all casinos, but with excellent navigation and fast gameplay. The ambient sounds are also pretty good, evoking the elegance of the classic European casinos.
There is a no-download, Flash version of the casino available, although the downloading is fairly painless – there’s the option of a “lite” version (3 games + individual downloads) or the full, 12 megabyte version.
It’s important to know that you’re going to get a decent bang for your buck, and Golden Riviera delivers in this department. The payout percentages (i.e., how much you are statistically likely to win back against your dollar/pound) are audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The latest audit figures available are for December 2002:
All games: 97.41%
Table games: 98.95%
Slots: 94.92%
Poker games: 97.49%
Customer service is via toll free phone lines for the US, UK and France, as well as via the casino online messenger service (like email, but quicker).
There are a range of payment and withdrawal methods including Neteller, PrePaid ATM and credit card, as well as a range of currency options.
The sign-up bonuses are good, with up to $100 on your first purchase of $70 – with an extra $10 on top if your first purchase is by Prepaid ATM or Neteller. And if you’re a high roller, there’s a 35% initial bonus on purchases of $500 - $1000. There’s a 12 times wagering requirement (six times the deposit plus six times the bonus) before cashing out.
In addition, there are other ongoing promotions such as “Ladies” and “Gents” evenings, where you’ll get $10 when you deposit $20 in your account.
The verdict? Good bonuses, decent software and good value payouts, with a credible operation. Sophisticated or not, GoldenRiviera is worth checking out.
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