Welcome Bonus
In terms of bonuses, 888 casino lets players choose one of two attractive sign-up offers:
- 1st deposit – 100% match up to $200 /£100 /€140 (= R2000)
- Premium Player Package – 1st deposit 100% match up to $100 (= R1,000) and then 2nd to 5th deposit 30% match up w ithin the same week, totaling $1,500 premium bonuses (= R15,000)
Players have to choose between one of the two starting bonus options listed above, and can’t switch after making the choice. For the regular first deposit bonus to be unlocked players have to wager the bonus 30 times.
The second 888.com bonus option – the Premium Player Package – is attractive mostly for very active players, since all deposits have to be made within the first week. The wagering requirements are lenient though: the bonuses of the 2nd to 5th withdrawal have to be wagered only 3 times. That needs to be played through within a week, so that’s something to take into account.
Another point to consider is that the 888 casino bonus playthrough requirements aren’t the same for all games. There are different rules for Blackjack, certain forms of Poker, and Roulette.
Games
While 888.com is one of the oldest online casinos, the selection of games isn’t overwhelmingly large. All the classics are there, such as Blackjack, slots, Roulette and various forms of regular and high adrenaline poker. As a nice addition, 888 casino also has a free book on Poker playing and strategy available through the website. Another great feature of poker playing at 888.com is that you can play private, public or with a group, and you can reserve a private table.
Slot games come in many forms at 888. Great looking 3D slots and a large variety of themed slot games are available such as Bejeweled (based on a very popular facebook game) , as well as progressive jackpots. The largest one at the time of writing was over $200,000. 888.com also offers Bingo and sports betting, making it a well-rounded choice for South African players..
The software provider of 888.com is 888games. As a founding member of eCogra, 888.com excels at safety and security. Games are tested independently for fairness, security, and randomness, and results are published on the website. Payout rates are over 97% – also publicly on display on the website.
Platform
There are about 150 instant play games available through 888.com, and about 200 downloadable games. There’s good support for Mac and Linux computers available, which is quite a rare feature amongst online casinos. You still can’t play as many games as you can with a Windows computer, but there are still quite a few options.
Live casino seems to be one of the most popular platforms at 888 casino. Players can choose their favorite dealer and interact with them as if they were in a real casino, but from the comfort of their home
Mobile
For players who like to play while on the go there’s 888 mobile, which supports Android and iOS devices. The 888 mobile portal is accessible either by visiting the website through a phone browser or by downloading the free app via the Apple app store or Google Play. 888 mobile currently offers more than 100 games, including 888 Flash games, and 888 download games.
Promotions
There are a ton of promotions and cool prizes available on 888.com. There’s literally one for every day. Most of them consist of bonuses by random draw or center around specific themed slot games, and they change every month. But there are a few steady, structured promotions, such as:
- Refer-a-Friend Bonus - Get $100 per referred friend
- VIP program - A 3 tiered VIP program for loyal players
The Refer-a-Friend Bonus is quite generous, double what you usually see at online casinos. The VIP program offers cool prizes like trips to Vegas and special international events on top of the usual benefits, which include increased bonuses and getting your own account manager.
Customer Support
888 casino has various channels that provide 24/7 support:
- E-mail: Online contact form
- Live Chat
- South Africa: 0800 980 442
- International: +12684844868
Banking
There are over 15 payment methods at 888.com, with support for international methods such as Neteller, Skrill, Visa cards and wire transfer. Withdrawal times vary between 2 and 10 days.
The Bottom line about 888
888 casino is one of the oldest and most reputable online casinos around, making it an excellent and safe choice for South African players. They put high emphasis on safety and excel at satisfying their customers with cool events and VIP trips.
Having won “Casino of the Year” in 2005, 2006 and 2007 we can confirm that this level of quality is still present today, and that despite its age, 888.com doesn’t feel dated. In fact, quite the opposite. Try your luck at 888 today.