Sun Bets Casino is the gaming product of the UK’s most iconic newspaper – the very same paper with over 6 million daily readers. The site was launched in 2016 with the help of Tabcorp, Australia’s biggest bookmaker. So far, the site has attracted wide acclaim from all parts of the internet for its outstanding casino, vegas and sports products. With a stamp of approval from the UK Gambling Commision, the casino is 100% licensed and ready to accept bets from all UK and Ireland based players. And in keeping with the brand, the site maintains the same sensationalised red palette and punchy tabloid style fonts. How does this online casino compare with everything else out there? Read the SunBets Casino review to find out!
Welcome Bonus
Upon joining the site, you won’t need any special documentation to verify your account – but we do suggest you keep identification handy in case you win big. This welcome bonus is pretty much the headline stealer here: a massive 100% deposit match up to £400. This is an exclusive bonus that gives you 4 times more than the standard welcome bonus.
For such a giant bonus, the terms are generous; the minimum deposit required to activate the bonus is just £10. To withdraw the deposit match in real cash, you will need to wager the bonus a total of 40 times (40x) which is around the industry average. Payment options are sadly, slimmer than on some other casino sites; only debit cards and credit cards are currently accepted.
Some of the games do not contribute 100% to the wagering requirements of the bonus, specifically video poker, table and live games, all of which will only contribute 10% to any bonus. Minimal risk roulette bets will not count towards any bonus wagering requirement either. It is also worth noting that you have 30 days to meet any bonus turnover requirement before any bonus expires.
The bonus is only available to players located in the UK or Ireland.
Range of Games
SunBets Casino is powered by the outstanding Playtech software, which means you have well over 200 games available at your fingertips. One moment you could be spinning on top movie/TV title slots like American Dad or Robocop. The next, you could be playing for a life changing jackpot in the excellent Age of the Gods slot series. This is also one of the Playtech sites that features the new Superman and Batman slots based on classic series and more recent films. These games come with four progressive prize pots and a jackpot round that can be triggered on any value spin.
Table game enthusiasts will also find plenty of virtual gaming options available. Love your roulette games? You can enjoy six different varieties including European Roulette, American Roulette and the immersive 3D Roulette. If you prefer to play for profit using your card skills, there’s a range of blackjack games available including the popular Blackjack Surrender and Blackjack Multihand.
Make sure you stop by the live casino lounge for the most authentic casino experience. Play with real live dealers on games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat and casino hold’em. All games are streamed directly to your device in stunning HD. There are also a number of live casino promotions that we will cover later.
Layout and Usability
Simple but effective is probably the easiest way to describe the SunBets homepage. The main banner is reserved for a generous welcome bonus. Scroll further down the page and you find the games selection. To help you find your perfect slot or table game, the site comes equipped with a search bar and some useful categories. Above the aforementioned welcome banner, you will also find the links to the promotions page and support options.
Other helpful quality of life design choices include a description for each slot, progressive jackpots displayed on the face of the game and a range of screenshots to give you a preview. All of these little touches combine to create an effortless casino gaming experience.
Want to take your gaming on the go? Just pull out your smartphone or tablet; the mobile version of the casino is arguably better than the PC counterpart with faster loading times, improved ease of use and even more responsive gameplay.
To play mobile, all you have to do is head to the homepage in a compatible mobile web browser like Chrome or Firefox. With an instant play mobile casino like this one, you won’t need to download any additional software or plugins, meaning you can get to the fun faster. And as an added bonus, the site works on both Android and Apple phones/tablets, so there’s no need to get a specialised device just to enjoy the site.
If you would prefer to skip the web browser step entirely, then you can download the Sun Bets android app or iOS app in their respective app stores. With the app already downloaded onto your phone, you can access first class casino action with a mere tap.
Promotions for Existing Customers
SunBets Casino were hosting two promotions during our review of the site and both will appeal to table gamers specifically. The first promotion called “Black Friday” gives you the chance to land a £10 roulette bonus every Friday. To activate the bonus, you simply have to spin the roulette wheel and win on black three times in a row – you will then be awarded a bonus within ten minutes of landing your final black win. That’s certainly a fantastic way to kickstart your weekend.
The second regular promotion is called “Winning Wednesday” and this one will definitely excite any blackjack lovers. There’s £50 cash bonus up for grabs if you land a Blackjack twice in a row in the live casino. The best bit about this bonus? There’s no wagering requirements attached – which means you can withdraw straight away if you so please.
Aside from these weekly offers however, the promotion page is a little bare. Other promos like free spins, reload bonuses and cashback offers are not advertised. A little bit more variety in their promotions would make Sun Bets an even more attractive option.
VIP/Loyalty Scheme
To reward the most loyal players, the casino does offer its very own VIP club. However, entry to the club does not require a certain amount of wagering or total bets placed; instead, entry is via an invite from the dedicated VIP team. Some of the benefits you should expect to find include greater levels of support, prioritised withdrawals and even exclusive access to a telephone betting system. There was no information available with regards to any special bonus treatment or access to VIP only promotions however.
Special Features
Playtech is the main content provider available on the site and their range of world class games are sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. While we would like to see more variety from other software developers like NetEnt and Microgaming on the casino product, if we had to choose only one provider then Playtech would be our first choice.
For your live gaming kicks, Playtech is also on hand with their deluxe range of live rooms and tables.
In terms of more fun gaming elements like awards, achievements and trophies – Sun Bets Casino does not currently have these enabled for their casino product (although you can earn Quickspin achievements in the vegas section). The site would benefit greatly from some added gamification and with the industry evolving, we could expect to see such elements in the future.
Other Betting Options
If you want to add a little bit of variety to your gaming, then you will be pleased to know that SunBets offer several different gaming products. First of all, they offer a sportsbook – giving you the chance to take a break from the slots and bet on sports such as football, tennis and racing. And if you want a more classical Vegas style casino experience, they also offer a Vegas product with providers like NetEnt and Microgaming joining forces. The Vegas section of the site has over 500 slots available and is well worth a look for any slots player.
Conclusion
Sun Bets Casino is a joy to play from the moment you sign up. An excellent gaming selection, generous welcome bonus and top design really make this site stand out from what is fast becoming an overcrowded market. However, that doesn’t mean to say the site is perfect – a lack of promotions and just a solitary software provider on their casino product muddies otherwise crystal clear waters. Admittedly, that second point is negated when you take into account their fabulous Vegas offering. But that does beg the question why they just don’t combine the two – it would make navigation much easier.
Despite these minor niggles – all in all, this is a scorching hot experience from one of the UK’s best loved news brands. Have a punt on SunBets Casino – you won’t regret it!
