The All Encompassing 888casino Review

In order to assess the game selection, there are various factors to consider. Of course, the number of games is important, so is the variety you can choose from. What’s more, the selection of live games and mobile games is important. I have also looked into the betting limits, as well as the potential jackpots to play for.

Variety and Quantity of Games

With more than 300 games in the collection, there is plenty of choice for all types of players. As with most casinos, the bulk of this number is made up of slots, with around 180 on offer. Amongst these, there are nearly 30 jackpot slots, with some massive amounts to be won. Probably the most well known amongst the 888 slot collection is Millionaire Genie. The jackpot regularly reaches into millions. There are plenty of classic slots, along with video slots and there are a variety of themes to choose from, including movie themed games like The Big Lebowski and A Nightmare on Elm Street, to TV favourites like South Park. You can take your pick from games with 1-20 paylines, 25+ lines and all pays, like Raging Rhino, with its enormous 4096 winning combinations. The majority of the slots have bonus games and free spin features, adding extra fun and excitement to the games.

It’s not all about slots, though. There are around 100 other games in the collection. The operator has been ranked by our experts as one of the top blackjack sites for Irish players as it offers more than 50 variations of the popular card game, such as Multihand Blackjack and Spanish 21. The collection grows even further with many roulette variations, such as 3D Roulette and Deal or No Deal Roulette. There are also video poker games and casino poker games, such as Red Dog, Triple Card Poker, and Caribbean Poker, with their big progressive jackpots. An interesting feature of the 888 Casino game collection is that the majority can be played in free money mode. So you can try out whichever games take your fancy before spending any real money. Live games are not available in play money mode, however, along with a small selection of other games.

Top Marks for the Live Dealer Games

The quality and quantity of live games is second to none. The games are provided by Evolution Gaming, which has recently scooped the EGR award for Best Live Casino Software Supplier for the 6th year in a row. There are numerous roulette and blackjack games, as well as baccarat, Casino Hold’em, and Three Card Poker. You can find out more about live casinos in our dedicated review.

What About Mobile Games?

For players who enjoy their casino games on the go, the 888 mobile app does not disappoint. There’s a good selection of games, including slots, roulette and blackjack. There are also many live dealer games available. To find out more about the mobile games, compatible devices and where you can get the app, you should check our guide to the best mobile casino sites in Ireland.

An Overview of Minimum and Maximum Betting Limits

For all slot games, the minimum and maximum betting limits are clearly displayed in the main lobby. There is a variety of limits, with something to suit all budgets. There are many games with a minimum betting limit of just 0.01 per payline and those which stretch to a minimum of €1.25 per spin. At the other end of the spectrum, when it comes to maximum betting limits, these vary from €1.50 per spin to €500.

All blackjack games have a minimum bet limit of €1, but most offer you the option to choose your betting limit, either standard, high roller or VIP. By selecting VIP, the minimum bet limit becomes €10. The maximum bet varies depending on the variant you play. Take Spanish 21 for example, the maximum bet in this game is €500. This differs greatly from Multihand Blackjack, where maximum bets of €10,000 can be played with VIP betting limits. Roulette works in a similar way, in that you can select your betting limit minimum as either €1, €5 or €10 in most games. There are also low stakes games, where a minimum bet of 0.50 is possible. Maximum bets of between €300 and €2,000 can be placed on roulette games.

Reassuring Payout Rates Across All Games

The amount that a casino pays out across its games is important in assessing its overall value. It can be a good indicator of the fairness and integrity of games. A good casino will list the theoretical RTP of its games as well as publishing actual payout rates as certified by independent testing authorities. 888casino includes Return-to-Player ratios in its game descriptions. It also publish its actual payout rates as tested by eCOGRA. The most recent report showed an overall payout rate of 96.6% across all games.

When it comes to table games like blackjack and roulette, the theoretical RTP tends to be in the high nineties and is dependant on the rules for the particular game. The same is true for games such as video poker, baccarat and craps. With slots however, there can be a much bigger variance in the payout rates, with some reaching over 97%. On the other hand, there are those that come in at below 92%, so there is a great deal of deviation across the board. The eCOGRA payout report showed the actual payout rate for classic slots to be 93.61%, with video slots producing a slightly higher return to player rate of 94.97%. Across all games, both the theoretical and the actual payout rates for 888casino games are very good for players.

A Look at the Website and Software

Unlike many other online casinos, the software powering 888casino is its own proprietary software, developed by Dragonfish, the software development arm of the 888 Group. This enables them to create unique games that cater to what players want. It also means they can provide games that are found at very few other casinos.

Some popular Dragonfish games, such as Millionaire Genie, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Dawn of the Dinosaurs will not be found at the many Playtech and Microgaming powered casinos. In addition to its own unique games, the casino also features some of the most popular games from other leading software providers, to offer a top game portfolio to its customers.

Players can choose from popular NetEnt games, such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Jack & the Beanstalk. There are also games from Williams Interactive, such as Zeus and Black Knight 2, as well as Barcrest games, like the much loved Rainbow Riches. The game portfolio is regularly updated, with new titles added often, keeping the game collection interesting and exciting.

The casino games can be accessed in instant play mode using Flash, directly in the browser. Alternatively, the software can be downloaded within a couple of minutes, free of charge, on Microsoft Windows operating systems. Both versions offer a neat, easy to navigate lay out, with games handily listed under separate categories. There is also the option to customise the game lobby, giving you quick and easy access to your favourite games. The layout on both the downloadable and the instant play versions is virtually identical, however there are some differences between the two. The games run better on the downloadable software, and there are nearly 30 more in the collection than on the instant play option. Games such as Deal or No Deal Roulette, Double Exposure Blackjack and craps preform better on the downloaded software. I also found that the games loaded slightly quicker on the downloaded software than playing in instant play mode in the browser. Although, in fairness, there was only a slight difference and overall games loaded very quickly across all software versions.

The casino software is also available for Android and iOS mobile devices. There is a downloadable native app for both operating systems, as well as a web app, allowing access directly in the browser of the mobile device. The games available for mobile are limited compared to playing on a PC, but there is still a good selection compared to some other mobile casino offerings.

Interesting Info About the Casino

The casino is part of the 888 Group, one of the most successful online gambling corporations in the world. As you’d expect from such a renowned company, no corners are cut when it comes to providing top class customer care and support. Also, safety and security are treated with the utmost importance, providing a gaming environment where players are fully protected.

An Overview of the Company Behind 888casino

The casino is operated by Cassava Enterprises (Gibraltar) Limited, a subsidiary of the market leading group 888 Holdings PLC. The company is a world renowned provider of online gambling sites, including poker, sports betting and bingo. The company’s head office is based in Gibraltar and it has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2005. The 888 Group has won numerous awards across its many sites, including Best Casino of the Year, Best Bingo Operator of the Year and Best Poker Operator, an impressive three years in a row. Perhaps the most prestigious award for the company was the overall Operator of the Year title at the 2013 EGR awards. 888 has sponsored numerous international sporting teams and events. It has also sponsored some of the world’s leading snooker players, including John Higgins.

My Experience with Customer Support

If you ever need any help and support, there are various options available to find the answers you need. For starters, there is a detailed help page, which lists the most frequently asked questions. A quick look through this page could save you needing to contact the casino and resolve your query straight away. I found this feature very useful. As regards contacting the casino, this can be done through email and live chat. Email response times are not clearly published on the site, having submitted a couple of queries through email, I got a generic message advising I would be contacted “as soon as possible”. The good news however, is that each and every time I sent an email to the support team, I had a response back within an hour. Live chat, in my opinion is the easiest way to contact the customer support team.

Licensing and Security – Player Protection is Top Priority at 888

The casino holds a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. The commission strictly monitors and regulates online casinos and the company has to adhere to strict standards regarding player protection in order to maintain its licence. The casino also holds a licence from the Remote Gambling Authority of Gibraltar, enabling it to legally provide services to players in other countries across the world. The website is tested and certified by McAfee, one of the world’s most renowned and trusted computer security companies. It regularly tests the site to ensure there is no malware, no malicious links and no viruses present. The casino also uses the latest encryption technology, 128-bit SSL, to ensure financial details and transactions are strictly protected and secure.

Technical security at 888 is certified by the organisation e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA). The eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal of approval is awarded where games are fair, where the casino operates honestly and behaves responsibly and where monetary deposits are safe. The independent agency tests the fairness and integrity of the games offered by the casino. It monitors the random number generators and produces payout reports confirming the actual amount of money returned to players. These results show the breakdown of results for different game categories, as well as an overall payout rate across all games. The results are published on the casino website, providing clarity and confirmation regarding the fairness of games and the actual percentage of money returned to players.

888 is a socially responsible operator, and it takes various measures to ensure the protection of its players, including its dedicated 888 Responsible program. It complys with the guidelines published by eCOGRA regarding player protection and has implemented various policies and tools such as self-limits and self-exclusion, along with the protection of minors and the prevention of compulsive gambling. With regards to protecting minors, it employs cutting edge verification systems to ensure that anyone under the age of 18 cannot play its games. When is comes to problem gambling, the company has implemented an extensive training program for all 888 employees teaching them how to identify compulsive gambling, and how to take appropriate actions to help such players. The company provides options to set self-imposed limits on how much money can be deposited, by simply contacting the customer service team. What’s more, it also provides the option to take a break for a set period of time or to self-exclude entirely. 888 promotes various organisations that help players who are affected by compulsive gambling, such as Gamblers Anonymous, the Gambling Therapy Helpline and GamCare. In fact, the company has been certified by GamCare, one of the leading authorities on problem gambling, which acknowledged and rewarded the company’s dedication and commitment to protecting players and operating responsibly.

Top of the Shop for Bonus Points

When it comes to bonus points, 888casino is a clear winner. It got the maximum 3 bonus points for its awards, thanks to the sheer volumes of top industry awards it has received year after year. As regards to promotions, the company offers so much choice compared to some other casinos, with regular promos offering something to benefit from each and every day.

• Awards . 3/3

• Promotions . 3/3

• Special Games . 1/2

• Loyalty Scheme . 1/1

• Extras . 1/1

• Bonus­­ Points . 9

The casino provides a rewarding loyalty program, where players earn comp points when they wager. What’s more, it offers a very appealing VIP program, earning 888 an extra bonus point. Another bonus point was awarded for the game collection. Not only is there a huge selection of games, many of which are exclusive to the casino, but it also includes player favourites from other game developers, providing a great choice all round. Finally, an extra bonus point was awarded for the huge commitment the company has displayed towards preventing problem gambling, with its dedicated 888 Responsible program. With a total of nine bonus points out of a possible 10, 888 beats the competition hands down.

My Overall Conclusion – A Great Casino All Round

It comes as no surprise that 888 often appears on our top casino ranking. It offers the full package, great games with big jackpots, a wide variety of safe and secure payment methods and high payout rates. What’s more, the customer service team is easily accessible, and the company treats its players’ safety and protection as a top priority. There is a great quality app available for Android and iOS users, with a good selection of games and a fully functioning cashier. The only downside here is that the app is not currently available for Blackberry and Windows Phones. However, there are very few casinos who do have apps available for these devices, so it can’t be seen as a major disadvantage.

The Live Casino games, provided by the market leading Evolution Gaming are pure quality. There is a huge choice of games, with some interesting and exciting variants. From sports roulette to the award-winning Immersive Roulette, there is never a dull moment playing live dealer games. Finally, the bonuses and promotions on offer are the real feather in the cap for 888casino. With a massive selection of regular promotions, there are always rewards and benefits to be had, making your playing experience even sweeter.

Questions and Answers

If you have any questions about anything covered in this review, or indeed any other queries you would like to raise, please feel free to email us at contact@online-casinos.com. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions from our readers.

Are 888casino games available for Mac?

Currently, there is no downloadable software available for Mac. However, the instant play version can be used directly in the browser. The minimum operating system requirement is Mac OS X 10.6.8 and you will need to have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed.

Which are the best slots at 888casino?

This is a tough question to answer as it really depends on your own personal taste. There are a variety of classic and video slots. What's more, there are plenty of big money progressive jackpots. You'll also find classic-themed slots, sports-themed games and machines based on film and TV characters. If you need more help deciding which is the best slot for you, nearly all games are available in play for fun mode, so you can try them out before playing with real money.