Royal Vegas Casino Review

Hits

• Australian players are welcome!
• Operating since 2000
• Uses state-of-the-art Microgaming software
• Also playable in flash version and on mobile devices
• eCogra certified
• Member of Fortune Lounge group of casinos
• Over 600 high payout games
• Part of the Microgaming progressive jackpot network
• Live dealer games
• Secure banking with lots of options
• Generous Welcome Bonus with very fair terms (for pokies)
• Excellent loyalty rewards program and lots of special promotions
• 24/7 Customer Support

Misses

• Table games count less towards bonus playthrough requirements
• Website Welcome Bonus info could be presented more simply
• Not all information on site is clear enough
• Alphabetized presentation and short descriptions of each game would be helpful

Software and Range of Games

8.9 / 10

Software

It is hard to believe that Royal Vegas Australia has been operating online for a decade and a half because the software and games are as up to date as that of the newest online casinos. For that Royal Vegas can thank Microgaming, the company which has been powering this casino’s games since its inception. The Royal Vegas mobile platform is also powered by Microgaming software. The first thing one might notice about a Microgaming casino is the huge number of games, hundreds more than you will find in most other online casinos. But once you start playing, you might be even more impressed by the superior graphics, sounds, and animations that make every game a thoroughly entertaining experience. Another important consideration is the player’s assurance of a reasonable chance to win every time since the Microgaming name is also synonymous with a secure site and fair games.

The Royal Vegas games can be accessed in your choice of three ways:

• Downloading the software onto your computer

  This quick and easy process will give you full access to all of the Royal Vegas games. However, you will be limited to your own computer with this method.

• Instant play version

  You will still be able to play most of the games, but without necessarily being tied to your own computer and without the bother of downloading. The instant play Flash version works on any browser with no waiting.

• Using your mobile device

  For the ultimate in flexibility and convenience, if you own a mobile device, you can take the Royal Vegas games with you and play on your phone or tablet wherever you are even if there is no computer available. The Royal Vegas mobile gambling apps are compatible with almost any currently used smartphone or tablet device.

More about the Royal Vegas Mobile Games

The Royal Vegas mobile platform is an excellent example of the fact that when a casino was established is not a good indicator of its relevance today. There were no mobile casinos at all in 2000, when Royal Vegas was launched, but today this casino’s mobile platform is as current, if not more so, than the offerings of the most recently opened casinos.

The Royal Vegas mobile apps support play on Apple iOS devices (iPhones and iPads), Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices. For more information on how to download the software onto your specific device, visit www.royalvegas.com/getting-started/mobile. Or, alternatively, the mobile casino is now available in an instant play version, for which no downloading is necessary.

The number of games available to you may vary depending on what type of device you own, but figure on about 45 (more than double the number of games offered initially, so look for the mobile options at this casino to continue to increase). Included are some of the casino’s top pokies like Thunderstruck II, Avalon II, Game of Thrones, Hitman, and The Dark Knight, along with the popular progressive jackpot games Mega Moolah and Treasure Nile. Games other than pokies are also available, for example, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and scratch cards. If you already have a computer account, you keep the same account for when you want to use your mobile device. Or if you don’t already have an account, you can set one up on your mobile phone or tablet and receive the same generous Welcome Bonus (up to AU$1,200) that computer players receive. If you wish, you can do all your banking on your mobile device. Mobile players are entitled to the same loyalty rewards and promotions as online players, including Fortune Lounge membership and invitations to participate in Fortune Lounge

Games

Playing at Royal Vegas Online Casino feels a lot like you really are in one of the mega-size Las Vegas casinos, because it, too, is packed with games of every type imaginable. According to some accounts, the total number is 600+ and others 500+, but either way one thing is for certain; no matter how often you log on to play, you will never run out of options. The 600+ figure is probably more accurate because this is a Microgaming casino, and every month Microgaming introduces new games and Royal Vegas is invariably one of the first casinos to get them. While the majority of the games at Royal Vegas are pokies, this casino caters to all types of gamblers, so regardless of which games are your personal favourites, the tremendous selection and variety are certain to impress.

Pokies

If you love pokies, and what Aussie gambler doesn’t, Royal Vegas is the perfect choice. You can literally play a different pokie machine every day for a year and still not run out of options. Of course, with so many tempting games to choose from, deciding what to play first each time you visit can be a daunting task. On the flip side, you can always look forward to coming back another time to try a different game. But, in due time, some of the games should become your lucky favourites that you will happily play again and again. Simply click on the game to add to your favourites list so it will be easy to find next time.

The pokie games at Royal Vegas are organised in the lobby according to the following categories: classic reel pokies, arcade pokies, video pokies, and progressive jackpot pokies. It would have been helpful with so many games to have them also listed alphabetically within each category and to provide a short description of each game. However, symbols are included showing which games are currently running hot or cold and also which games are available for mobile play.

The 3-reel pokies and fruit machines are popular with players who like traditional games, while the video pokies with cutting edge graphics and sounds, bonus games and other extra features are the best choice for those who like a fast-paced game. In addition, the casino offers 16 progressive jackpot games. Royal Vegas is one of the casinos participating in Microgaming’s multi-casino shared progressive jackpot network. With the tremendous amount of play these games receive from different casinos simultaneously, all contributing to the continually growing jackpot pool, the amounts of some of the top jackpots, get to be enormous. Continuous updates are given on the website of what the top jackpot would pay if on each game if someone were to hit it that second. At the time of preparing this review, Mega Moolah and The Dark Knight both had jackpots approaching $3 million!

Blackjack and Roulette

Pokies may be the mainstay of Royal Vegas Casino, but they are far from the only game. So whenever you feel like switching to something else, whether it be a familiar favourite or a game you have never played before, you certainly can do so. Two of the most popular table games in Las Vegas casinos are roulette and blackjack, and they are equally popular in Royal Vegas Casino. But Royal Vegas players have an advantage in that they get to choose from many more varieties of these games than players in any brick and mortar casino, whether in Vegas or elsewhere. If your past experience with roulette and blackjack has been primarily or exclusively in land-based casinos, it might be a new concept entirely that there is far more than one way to play these games. That is all the more reason to see for yourself the many different variations of these two games (and other popular casino games) you can play at Royal Vegas.

Roulette players can choose American, European, or French roulette. Keep in mind, however, that American roulette is played with both a single zero and a double zero, which gives the house an extra edge. European and French roulette have just a single zero on the wheel. Additional roulette options include Premier Roulette Diamond Edition, an exciting 3-D version of roulette using extra colours, and multi-wheel roulette, a game where your chances to win are multiplied because you can play up to eight wheels at once! Some of the roulette games are offered as Gold Series games with enhanced features to make them more like playing in a real casino.

Blackjack players will find an even bigger variety of games awaiting them. For example, you can play Classic, European, Vegas Downtown, Vegas Strip, or Atlantic City blackjack, and that is by no means the complete list. Some of these games are available in a Gold Series edition. Other options include multi-hand and high limit blackjack. If you are playing a variety of blackjack that is different from the way you are accustomed to playing this game, familiarising yourself with the rules and correct basic strategy beforehand will improve your chances of winning.

Live Dealer Games

There is no better way to replicate the real Las Vegas casino experience short of making the trip than to take advantage of one of the most amazing feats of online gaming technology to date: live dealer games. The majority of online casinos don’t have them, but Royal Vegas offers live dealer blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, and you can even select a Playboy bunny to be your dealer. You can watch a real dealer spin the wheel or deal out the cards in real time, just like in a real casino. You can have a conversation with the dealer and other players just like in a real casino, too. The experience won’t feel at at all like you are using your computer to play. It will feel like you are in Vegas playing in a real casino!

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Security and Fair Play

Even if you had nothing else to go on but this casino’s stellar track record of 15+ years, that fact alone should tell you that Royal Vegas is a casino you can trust. However, with Royal Vegas, there are various other indications that this casino considers security of the site and fair treatment of its players of prime importance. Royal Vegas is owned by Digimedia and licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority. In addition, all of the games have been independently certified for fairness by eCogra.

Only those casinos that meet the strictest standards for security and fair play, like Royal Vegas, receive the eCogra seal of approval. As reported on the website, the random number generators (RNGs) used by Royal Vegas Casino have been found to be fair and random. Furthermore, at the time of preparing this review, eCogra found the average payout for all games combined at Royal Vegas to be an impressive 96.17%. An updated report is issued and posted on the website every month, so you can check the latest findings for yourself.

Banking at Royal Vegas is not only easy but 100% safe. Regardless of whether you choose to play online or on your mobile device, the privacy and security of all financial transactions is ensured through the casino’s use of the same advanced digital encryption technology that banks use.

Promotions and Customer Support

Welcome Bonus: Up to AU$1,200

Almost every legitimate online casino today offers some sort of Welcome Bonus to encourage new players to join. Royal Vegas is no exception in that regard. However, not only the size of the bonus, but the terms and conditions surrounding it vary greatly from one casino to another. You will have a hard time finding any online casino with a Welcome Bonus that is simultaneously as generous and as fair the one offered by Royal Vegas.

The Royal Vegas Welcome Bonus is delivered in three instalments, corresponding to your first three deposits with the casino, as follows:

As you can see, if you make the maximum deposits indicated, the total bonus comes to a whopping AU$1,200. However, in order to receive that much, you will need to deposit a total of AU$2,550. Then, you will have to meet the substantial playthrough requirements for withdrawal. Here are the other important points you need to know about the Royal Vegas Welcome Bonus.

• All three deposits must be made within one week of registration.
• Playthrough requirement for withdrawal: 40x bonus
• Only pokies (including progressives), keno, and scratch cards count 100%. All other games count minimally or not at all.

Due to the very minimal contribution of most other games, the Royal Vegas Welcome Bonus should be regarded as being for pokies only. But considering how most Aussie gamblers love their pokies, we doubt if you will mind. While the wagering requirement for withdrawal of 40x may seem like a lot, it is actually quite reasonable. Many casinos, including those that make you play a multiple of both the bonus and the associated deposit, have higher wagering requirements. More good news is that as soon as all of the required wagering has been completed, the bonus, your deposit, and any associated winnings are all yours to keep.

One word of caution is in order. As great as it would be to receive the maximum bonus of $1,200, it does entail first depositing the rather hefty sum of $2,550 all in the first week of play, and then giving the casino $48,000 ($1,200 x 40) in action. If this is a higher level of play than you can comfortably afford, you should consider making smaller deposits, which will result in a smaller bonus but also less playthrough.

All in all, the Royal Vegas Welcome Bonus is one of the best being offered by any online casino, and mobile players signing up for the first time can take advantage of it, too. The only change that would make this great bonus even better is to make the section of the website describing it shorter and more user friendly.

Loyalty Program

The generous Welcome Bonus you receive when you first sign up with Royal Vegas Casino should give your early playing bankroll a nice jump start. But that is only the beginning of the royal treatment you will continue to receive if you become a regular player. Loyalty points are rewarded for all of your real money play, but at different rates depending on the game. Pokies and parlour games are rewarded at the fastest rate, one credit for each €1 (or equivalent) wagered. The amount you will have to wager in other games to receive one credit ranges from €5 to €100. (See the website for details.) As soon as you accumulate 5,000 points from all of your play combined, they are redeemable for €5.00 cash, with no further wagering required.

In addition, starting on day 1, every Royal Vegas player automatically becomes a member of the casino’s 4-tiered Loyalty Club with a welcome gift of 2,500 free loyalty points. So as you can see, you are already halfway there toward redeeming your first €5 reward before you have played a single game. The four loyalty tiers are Silver (entry level), Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Tier placement is based on level of play the previous month. In order to attain and maintain Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status, the player must have earned a minimum of 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 loyalty points, respectively, during the preceding month.

The higher your level, the bigger your rewards. Starting at the Gold level, players are rewarded with faster earning of loyalty points, a monthly bonus, and a special birthday bonus, with all of these rewards increasing in value as one moves up in tier. VIP status, which is by invitation only, entitles qualifying players to much more, including extra free spins and casino credits, bigger and more frequent bonuses, and exclusive invitations to special events.

On the other hand, Royal Vegas is one casino where you do not necessarily have to be a VIP to be appreciated and rewarded for your loyalty. All players, regardless of level, can redeem loyalty points for cash and take advantage of special weekly, monthly, and seasonal promotions. The weekly promotions consist of deposit match offers and tournament entries, while the monthly and seasonal promotions offer the opportunity to win big prizes like cash, cars, and cruises. Be sure to check the promotions page on the website often, as well as your personal email inbox to see which promotions are currently available to you.

Fortune Lounge

Royal Vegas Australia is one a handful of casinos belonging to the prestigious Fortune Lounge Group. Membership in the Fortune Lounge opens the door to you to extra benefits and privileges which are extended to Fortune Lounge casino players exclusively. These include invitations to compete not only in daily and weekly pokies and blackjack tournaments, but also in special International Slots and Blackjack Leagues Tournaments, as well as be entered in drawings for fabulous prizes. Another big benefit of your Fortune Lounge membership is that if you also play in any other Fortune Lounge casinos, (like the separately reviewed 7 Sultans and Vegas Palms Casinos, for example), loyalty points earned at the different casinos can be combined. As the icing on the cake, every year pokies players have the opportunity to try to win a 5-star cruise!

Customer Support

All players can take advantage of the casino’s 24/7 Customer Support. The service is offered in multiple languages and can be accessed via live chat, phone, email, Skype, I Message, or WhatsApp.