There are two Gala online casinos: Gala International Casino, and this one, Gala Casino. The former has Boss Media software and lots of games. This, however, is very much the ‘lite’ version. It’s a no-download Flash casino, and its small, minimalist ethos is mirrored by the interface and the limited selection of games. However, the design is very user friendly, with features such as a play history.
Games include just four slots, single zero roulette, blackjack, Stud poker, baccarat, Lucky Dice and money wheel. There are also exclusive games such as Winning Circles and Atlantis Gold scratch card. Winning Circles is billed as the world’s first “territorial” betting game. Suffice to say, it’s a more interesting than usual game of chance.
There are public and private tables, and the croupiers have English accents. There’s a very UK feel to this casino, and you would have to assume they are not interested in the US market, because there’s little in the way of alternative deposit and withdrawal methods besides credit and debit cards. The Sterling denomination and the fact that there’s only a UK and a non-UK customer service phone line backs this up, but the customer service isn’t exactly going out of its way to please – no indication is given of response times for email enquiries (available 9am – 12midnight GMT), and the (non-toll free) phone line is only available during office hours!
The FAQs say the casino is audited, but whether independently, how frequently and by who we’re left to guess. However, the Gala brand and the Gibraltar licence are points in its favour. The casino holds funds in a trust – so deposits are held entirely separately to any accounts owned by Gala and is secured under various guarantees. Gala only receives the funds when you have spent them.
Gala isn’t exactly giving away the shirt off its back with the bonuses: There is an initial deposit bonus….if you’re lucky. The first 50 players who upgrade to full membership and deposit at least £50 this week get a £50 complimentary stake. If you’re lucky enough to be one of the first 50, there’s still a 10 wagering requirement. However, members can play Casino Scratch for free every day, for prizes up to £10,000, and there are other promotions, such as a Valentine’s Day trip to Prague, at time of writing.
Overall, this is a very minimalist casino for the casual punter, and the best aspect of it is the simplicity and ease of use. If you’re after a bigger selection of games and a more sophisticated playing experience, there’s always Gala’s downloadable casino – Gala International Casino, which offers games such as American Roulette and casino Brag. Gala International also comes with an initial deposit match bonus of £25.
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