Europa Casino

Europa Casino is a PlayTech gambling establishment that offers a stylish, sophisticated European look, projecting the essence of Old World refinement through deep blues and shimmering golds. The color scheme is a nice change from the clichéd and often gaudy money-green tints that most casinos use. Famous European landmarks dot the site, including the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa and other places and sites.

The casino has over 100 games of chance, including standards such as Blackjack, Roulette and Craps. Games are easy to access and information regarding rules and methods of play can be accessed through each game. That ames have been deemed to be fair and accurate by Technical Systems Testing North America, Inc (TST). Europa Casino is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. They protect monetary transactions through advanced RSA public/private key encryption, ensuring that personal information is kept private and secure.

Europa Casino, which does not take players from the United States, is owned by Hardway Investments, Ltd located in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Hardway owns 10 online gaming establishments. It possesses a solid reputation for fair play, security and fine customer support.

You can either download the casino software or play the Flash version. The download takes anywhere from two to 10 minutes, depending upon the speed of your Internet connection. The games look fantastic and play quickly and seamlessly. There’s fine action and variety at this casino.

This is a casino sight, which means there is no poker or sportsbook. You will find an array of slots, table games, progressives, Asian games and arcade offerings. Slots range from traditional machines such as the three-reel, three-line 8 Ball Slots to the cutting edge five-reel, three-line Diamond Valley to the glitzy, progressive CineRama slot. If your taste is on the simpler and low-key side, then a game like 8 Ball Slots is for you. If you’re looking to break the bank, then go with one of Europa’s more complex progressive machines, which offer more chances to win and the opportunity to rake in anywhere from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The arcade games are extremely lush and exciting. They include the high rolling Dice Twister and the high-flying Around the World. Progressives are comprised of numerous slots and Caribbean Poker. On the site’s deep blue tables, you can play Sic Bo, Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, European and American Roulette and Red Dog.

I made my first deposit of $100 and entered the casino with about 200 bucks in-hand. I virtually sauntered over to Dice Twister, which is sort of a Keno/Craps game where you can make various types of wagers. I made three wagers. I put money on the mid-range bet (betting that the sum of the dice would be between 9- 12), on all dice showing a mix of odd and even numbers and on one number (three) coming up on any of the dice. I pumped $3.00 in at a time, losing more than winning on my first three rolls. I kept the same bets throughout and hit all three once. I liked the action on this game and the various types of bets offered. I walked away with about $40 more than I had at the beginning.

I then took some cash to the Wild Viking table. Wild Viking was introduced at Europa about a year ago, and it’s proven to be a big hit. It’s a card game that plays like Roulette. In the game, you can place four different types of bets-- Roulette-type wagers, Poker bets, Progressive Jackpot wagers and distinctive Wild Viking bets.

The game is played with a 52-card deck plus two Jokers, and you’re dealt five cards. I tried hitting the near-impossible Wild Viking bet, which is wagering that your first and fifth cards will both be Jokers. I played it because it pays out 1250- 1. I made ten $10 wagers and did not win. It’s not a great bet, but then again most games of chance aren’t. Although I didn’t engage in the many different types of wagering opportunities, I will when I re-visit the table.

With $140 left, I decided to visit the Baccarat table, where, once again, I wagered the same way every time-- $5.00 on the Banker’s Hand. I won two of the first three hands and then lost three straight before recouping my Baccarat loses. I finished the night minus $60, which means the next time I play, I’ll still be wagering with some house cash.

There are numerous bonuses available with the maximum match being 100% and the bonus and deposit play requirements being anywhere from two to 18-times the sum of the bonus and deposit. Over the course of one-year, you can take full advantage of their $2,400 in bonus cash. Non-credit card deposits earn an additional 10% to 15%. First-time deposits of  $1,000 or more receive a $500 bonus and instant consideration for the VIP Club.

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Company & Brand: Hardway Investments, which owns Europa Casino, is well known in the online gaming community. They run 10 different Internet casinos with Europa being one of their most popular.

Software and graphics: PlayTech software is topnotch. It has a vibrant, textured look with nicely delineated graphics.

Game variety: All of the standard casino games are available, along with a fine variety of slots, video and arcade games. Games such as Wild Viking and Dice Twister provide unique combinations and wrinkles on old favorites.

Sign up bonus: Although the sign up bonus is fairly basic—100% on up to $100, Europa Casino goes a step further by allowing customers to get the same deal each month. You must bet 8-times the bonus and deposit amount before withdrawing any cash. Initial deposits of $1,000 or more earn a $500 bonus. With this offer, you’re required to wager 18-times the sum of the bonus and deposit.

Promotions: The “$2,400” yearly bonus is different. You get a 100% match on $100 each month, plus weekly loyalty bonuses of $25 for a total of $2,400 a year. You can get an additional 15% on your deposits if you use payment methods other than credit or debit cards.  There’s also a Comp Points program for those playing with real money.

Customer Support: The Europa Casino site offers more information on games and policies than most. They may be reached 24/7 by toll free phone, e-mail and FAX.

Security & Stability: The Europa Casino is extremely popular and has a good record for security and stability. They use complex and advanced encryption systems to protect your private information, and their games are monitored by the independent testing company TST.

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