Casino Mate Review

Casino Mate is an online gambling establishment that was sprung from the defunct Vegas Partner Lounge network of Microgaming casinos. The name alone tells our Australian readers that this casino is meant for them, but there are a few red flags that make it a questionable recommendation.

Various software and videogames

This online gambling establishment offers games created by a number of different software developers. The most popular of them is Microgaming's Quickfire, which is a web-based version of their software. That means you may choose from a wide variety of games, including those that have been around for a long time like Thunderstruck, Immortal Romance, Avalon, and Break da Bank Again, and some that are more recent like Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, and Playboy. It does, however, bring up the obvious fact that no Australian player may play any of these games: the casino is otherwise unsuitable for Australians. Learn more about Casino Mate on https://exycasinos.com/real-money-casinos/casino-mate/.

There is, however, a respectable variety of games from other providers that do accept Australians, like Quickspin and Play'n Go. However, the availability of games from the banned suppliers Betsoft and Pragmatic Play is a major drawback. We continue to have major concerns regarding the randomness and fairness of the games and/or progressive jackpots offered by both providers and advise players to stay away from any and all games by these companies.

Those interested in chasing progressive jackpots can do so on a select Play'n Go titles and the Microgaming jackpot series, which includes Mega Moolah and Major Millions (if you can access them). In addition, Betsoft jackpots are many; nevertheless, our 2016 analysis proved that they do not always pay out properly, therefore we strongly advise you to avoid them.

The site displays adequately on both desktop PCs and mobile or tablet devices. In addition to slots, it also has video poker and other table games, although the domination of Betsoft's software once again proves to be a drawback. There isn't much of a selection if you can't play Microgaming games and don't want to play Betsoft's. There are also no live games available for those who prefer this type of play to computer-generated randomness.

Banking choices and customer support

24/7 access to customer service by phone, email, and chat. Customers in Australia and New Zealand can contact a toll-free number for local help, and international customers can dial an international direct-dial number (although long-distance charges may apply).

All the usual banking methods, such major credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers, are available at Casino Mate. While deposits are processed instantaneously, withdrawals are held for a minimum of 24 hours before being processed. This casino only processes withdrawals Monday through Thursday (wouldn't we all love a three day weekend every week? ), so if you request a withdrawal on a Friday, you won't receive your funds until the following Monday. While this policy is ostensibly advertised as a player-friendly feature that allows them to undo a withdrawal and make a new deposit if they change their mind, I think we can all agree that the underlying motive behind it is not in the best interest of the player.

This casino has a weekly withdrawal cap of $10,000, while winners of networked progressive jackpots are exempt. In other words, if you were to win the Mega Moolah jackpot at this casino, you would receive your winnings all at once instead of receiving smaller amounts over the course of several years. However, I did discover a potentially alarming stipulation attached to the incentives at this casino: the amount you may win while using a bonus may be capped. Bonuses that have a maximum withdrawal amount attached to them should be avoided at all costs before being claimed at this casino.

Safety, honesty, and gaming responsibly

When transmitting sensitive information (such as credit card numbers) over the internet, Casino Mate always employs SSL encryption for your protection. However, there are a few additional things about this casino that bother me. I've already called attention to the usage of Betsoft and Pragmatic Play, two game developers with serious credibility issues (aka TopGame). The casino also does not disclose audits of its game outcomes or give any information on the fairness of its games.

This gambling establishment used to have eCOGRA accreditation and release monthly payment audits while it was a member of the Vegas Partner Lounge group. It also used to have a valid licence to conduct business in Malta. It's evident that period is long gone; I was unable to locate even the most fundamental details, such as the casino's operator's identity or confirmation that it complies with relevant licencing and regulatory requirements. Current operator is obviously making great efforts to keep their name secret, perhaps to avoid repercussions from Australian authorities who have lately threatened to implement sanctions against offshore operators who continue to accept Australian consumers at their casinos.

Setting deposit restrictions on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, requesting cool-off intervals, and even completely self-excluding yourself are all ways that responsible gambling is partially handled. However, I qualify that statement with the caveat that you'll need to get in touch with support in order to make any changes to your account's security settings; the casino itself doesn't offer any such options.

Summary

Casino Mate incurred expenses because to its choice to leave the Vegas Partner Lounge and enter into areas such as Australia. The game library is respectable, unless you're an Australian player, in which case you'll have to make due with a small selection of high-quality games and a large number of titles from questionable game studios. This is the main reason why I can't endorse this gambling establishment: it's a bad option for Australians, and players from other countries have access to far larger and more reputable gambling establishments.