Silver Sands Casino
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It’s rare that you come across a casino that specifically caters to its South African clientele. But Silver Sands was initially owned by a South African businessman and has kept true to its original demographic. Although US and UK players can’t play at this casino, many international players are welcomed with open arms.
The entire casino is provided by RealTime Gaming, so you’ll find some of the software company’s unique slot game enhancements like the Win-Win Feature in addition to some progressive jackpot games and plenty of lower-level (€1000 – €3000) prize offerings. You also have the option of an instant-play platform, or you can download the casino.
Plenty of bonus offers will keep those reels in motion and payments are approved between 48 and 72 hours with some e-wallet options that may help you to get your cash in hand quickly. One free monthly bank wire may be an appealing alternative to you as well.
Silver Sands Casino offers a wide range of games from slot options to live dealer games. Play table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps. Enjoy video poker games, such as Deuces Wild. Silver Sands Casino is certainly not a newcomer to the online casino industry. This online casino was established 1999 and is owned by Paxson Marketing Ltd. The casino is available in four languages at this time, which are English, German, Spanish and French. The casino is licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. It’s rare that you come across a casino that specifically caters to its South African clientele. But Silver Sands was initially owned by a South African businessman and has kept true to its original demographic. Although US and UK players can’t play at this casino, many international players are welcomed with open arms. Authorized by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the Silversands Casino is one of Africa's most established web based betting substances, bringing your preferred club games right to the solace of your own home. Silver Sands casino offers a responsive design making its African online casino compatible with mobile devices. Thus, can you play on the go wherever you are, and the list of devices supported include Windows, Apple, Android and Blackberry, iPads and iPods are also supported and all tablets.
I do need to bring to your attention that Silver Sands had some past payment issues, with several complaints lodged by players. The majority of the problems were under previous management by the Virtual Group. Since then, Paxson Marketing has taken over, and although there seem to be fewer negative comments publicly posted, there are still some lingering issues with withdrawals.
In this review, I am looking at each of the casino’s services objectively based on what’s currently being offered to players. But I always suggest that you contact customer service to get answers to your specific questions and to confirm cash-out timelines and eligibility based on your residence and method of payment.
Who Can Play at the Silver Sands Casino?
Silver Sands was previously part of the Crystal Palace/Virtual Group and had several complaints lodged against it. In recent years, it was taken over by Paxson Marketing, a company that has secured Kahnawake Gaming Commission licensing and regulation. Other licenses held by Paxson include Apollo Slots, Jackpot Cash, and White Lotus.
Aside from that information, things are vague. The terms and conditions section that should spell out the restricted areas is, instead, a bonus-term only area. There is a disclaimer section that lists a few of the standard conditions, but nothing is spelled out as far as restricted countries and jurisdictions go.
I do know that US and UK players are restricted from using the site, and it does primarily cater to the South African clientele conducting financial transactions in ZAR, EUR, and GBP.
According to the Ask Gamblers forum, the following is the complete list of locations where residents are prohibited from using the Silver Sands service:
- Afghanistan
- American Samoa
- Angola
- Bhutan
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- China
- Cook Islands
- Cuba
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Guam
- Vatican City
- Hong Kong
- Iran
- Iraq
- North Korea
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Macau
- Marshall Islands
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Niue
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- Northern Mariana Islands
- Philippines
- Puerto Rico
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Thailand
- the United Kingdom
- United States
- US Minor Outlying Islands
- Uzbekistan
- US Virgin Islands
- Zimbabwe
Software Suppliers
If you like RealTime Gaming…you’ll like Silver Sands.
If you don’t like RealTime Gaming…not so much.
RealTime Gaming (RTG) is the only software company used in the Silver Sands Casino. It provides slots, video poker, table games, and a few specialty games, but no live casino.
You will find some jackpot games like Caribbean Stud Poker and Aztec’s Millions along with RTG’s custom features. RTG is known for its “extras” like the Win-Win Feature and Win Guarantee games.
The Good Stuff
Caters to South African players
There are very few websites out there that cater their service to meet the needs of South African players specifically. But Silver Sands started out with that objective and has maintained it. Banking transactions can be conducted in the Rand as well as the Euro and British Sterling.
Skrill and Neteller Bonuses
Typically you run across casinos that exempt Skrill and Neteller users from accepting any deposit match offers, but Silver Sands offers something special for these customers. I found that the Skrill and Neteller bonus had even better value than the regular welcome rewards. It provides 50 free spins, and the deposit match rollover is only 15x, whereas it’s 30x with everything else.
Video Poker
Markets to its South African customers, offers a special bonus to Skrill and Neteller users…these are rarities, and here’s one more: not only are there 14 different games, but there are four variations of each providing 1-, 3-, 10-, and 52-hand possibilities. Now, video poker is certainly not exclusive to this casino, but it’s not readily available everywhere, and when it is, there are only a few choices.
The Bad Stuff
Customer Service
Let’s start with the fact that there isn’t a phone number available. I know that not every casino has one, but it does provide a higher level of service. From there, I need to reiterate that there have been past payment issues associated with this website, so I would think that the new management would do everything possible to go above and beyond to earn back a good reputation status. I also want to mention my own experience. I found a lot of banking information to be missing from this casino and wanted to get a complete picture. I reached out via live chat and received no response. I watched the status change from “online” to an agent’s name and still was left hanging. I sent a second message that was also never responded to, so need I say more?
Mobile Casino
Less than 50% of the instant-play games — 86 out of 176 — convert to a mobile format. It’s not the games that I have the problem with, though. The mobile casino isn’t a replica of the full website. It’s an entirely new platform and product and is lacking in the vital information that players need to review. I clicked on “contact” and got a blank page. I clicked on “promotions,” and again, a blank page was staring me in the face. I was able to access the games, but pretty much nothing else. It surprised me, as Silver Sands heavily promotes its mobile experience. It’s mentioned several times on the site, and there’s even a QR code for mobile scanning and fast access.
Game Selection
Keep in mind that this is a relatively small casino. We’re talking under 200 games in the full instant-play version and less than 100 on mobile. So, even though there’s a smattering of games in different categories like “specialty” and “table,” the variety is limited.
RealTime Gaming (RTG) is responsible for the entire gaming platform. This can be a good thing or a detriment depending on the player’s view. I know that many loyal online slot players seek out RTG games, as they prefer the style. But other people appreciate a more extensive range of options that casinos who use multiple software providers offer to them.
The appeal of RTG slots are the unique enhancements like the Win-Win feature that you’ll find on a game like Bubble Bubble, or the Feature Guarantee that’s incorporated into one version of Aztec’s Treasure.
These “extras” require a bet on every pay line, but can ultimately pay off in the end. The Win-Win feature is a guarantee that the bonus round will provide substantial benefit. If you’re playing and leave a bonus round with a result that’s less than ten times your stake, the Win-Win insurance kicks in and you get a bump in the credits to offset the difference.
The Feature Guarantee is helpful to those who enjoy bonus rounds. It ensures that you’ll get to play them before you reach a specified number of spins. If you’ve ever bet on a slot that was a dud and kept you spinning and spinning without you triggering the bonus round, you know how frustrating it can be, as your credits seem to deplete quickly. The Feature Guarantee will keep you more engaged, and while it doesn’t have the backup of the Win-Win feature, you should still be able to claim some extra credits on a regular basis.
Silver Sands doesn’t offer live casino tables, but you can select from Slots, Video Poker, Table Games, and Specialty.
Video Poker
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Technically, 56 games are included in the video poker area, with three of them in the mobile casino. However, there are really only 14, and they’re offered in different multi-hand variations:
- Aces and Eights
- All American Poker
- Bonus Deuces Wild
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Deluxe
- Deuces Wild
- Double Bonus
- Double Double Bonus
- Double Jackpot
- Double Double Jackpot
- Jacks or Better
- Joker Poker
- Loose Deuces
- Sevens Wild
Table Games
I will say that, for a relatively small casino, the table game section was creatively compiled, even though there are only 14 games (three on mobile). You won’t have to scroll through a dozen of the same blackjack tables with different table limits. Instead, you can pull up some harder-to-find options like Three Card Rummy and Face Up 21.
Two progressive jackpot tables are also in the mix. Caribbean Hold ‘em Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker were each boasting a more-than-€117,000 jackpot when I reviewed Silver Sands.
You may note that craps and roulette are missing, but hold tight; they’ll pop up for you in the Specialty area.
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Blackjack & Perfect Pairs
- Caribbean Hold ‘em Poker
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- European Blackjack
- Face Up 21
- Match Play 21
- Pai Gow Poker
- Pontoon
- Suit ‘Em Up Blackjack
- Super 21
- Tri Card Poker
- Vegas Three Card Rummy
Slots
I’ve already touched on the appeal of the slot games and the special features that only RTG provides for its players.
There is another benefit to its gaming, though. Silver Sands only relegates three progressive jackpot games to their own section but provides many more, albeit with smaller payouts. You’ll find many of the slot games with posted prizes in the €2,000 or more range.
I counted 98 slot games in the instant-play casino, with 67 of them available on smartphones and tablets.
While Aztec’s Millions is the only millionaire-maker, the other two games provide respectable jackpots of €710K+ and €251K+ respectively.
- Aztec’s Millions
- Megasaur
- Spirit of the Inca
- Lucky 6
- Orc vs. Elf (3D)
- Derby Dollars
- Super 6
- The Big Bopper
- Aladdin’s Wishes
- Lucha Libre
- Aztec’s Treasure
- Caesar’s Empire
- Cash Bandits
- Football Frenzy!
- Count Spectacular
- Ghost Ship
- Naughty or Nice
- Megasaur
- Megaquarium
- Purrfect Pets
- Elf Wars
- Loch Ness Loot
- High Fashion
- Sweet 16
- Rudolph’s Revenge
- Penguin Power!
- Rain Dance
Specialty Games
It’s an odd specialty games section, as there is only one scratch card and one keno game, but hey, one is better than none, right?
- American Roulette
- Craps
- European Roulette
- Keno
- Treasure Tree
Promotions
Silver Sands promotions are broken down into three types: Welcome Bonus, New (or special) Promotions, and ongoing offers.
Before I get into the details on these promotional offers, I do want to let you know that you can’t get any information on promotions on the mobile website. I pulled it up on my iPad, and while I was able to get to the games, when I clicked on “promotions,” the page was empty.
The rollover for deposit matches is a relatively standard one at 30x on the deposit plus the bonus cash amount combined. It’s also a sticky bonus, meaning that it’s not cashable. If you receive €20 in bonus play cash, that €20 will then be deducted from your net winnings as long as you comply with the wagering requirement first. It won’t be factored into your withdrawal.
Roulette, craps, baccarat, pontoon, war, sic bo, blackjack, and video poker do not count as games that will offset your rollover.
Welcome Bonus
You do need to provide a coupon code every time you claim a part of this reward. Everything is listed for you in the promotions area on the main website, not on the mobile site.
- Deposit One: 100% up to €400
- Deposit Two: 75% up to €300
- Deposit Three: 50% up to €300
New Promotions
Special Skrill or Neteller Offer: 100% Bonus up to €500 and 50 Free Spins on Count Spectacular game
Obviously, this is a promotion for Skrill or Neteller payment users, and I think it’s better than the original welcome bonus. The rollover on this award is only 15x on the deposit/bonus combo, as opposed to 30. Free spins winnings then undergo a 30x wagering requirement before cash-out is possible.
Facebook and a No Deposit Bonus
Sharing the Silver Sands Casino Facebook page can pay off for you with a €10 No Deposit bonus. Free money rewards come with a 60x playthrough a limit of two times the bonus that can be withdrawn.
Ongoing Promotions – Consistent Weekly Offers
- Mondays – Cash Back Day – if you deposit at least €100 on Mondays, you can get 40% of your deposit back if you’re unsuccessful in your gaming that day.
- Wednesdays – Crazy Wednesday – new coupons are issued weekly with different reload bonus offers.
- Super Slots Tournaments – limited information is available, so you’ll have to check your player’s account area to see what’s available to you as far as tournament opportunities.
- Weekly Promotions – different customized opportunities are sent to players via email.
Banking
There’s nothing incredibly different about the banking setup on silversandscasino.com. It has a basic list of options, most of which are fee-free. The only anomaly is with the bank wires. Silver Sands provides one free per month, and then they run €35 per transfer after that.
Bank wires do require at least a €500 transfer, though, and take 2-7 days for receipt.
As far as minimum amounts or other information goes, none of that is posted and customer service was non-responsive when I reached out to them to help me fill in the blanks.
Deposit Methods
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Skrill
- Neteller
- EcoPayz
- Bank Wire
Withdrawal Methods
- Visa Credit (only)
- Skrill
- Bank Transfer
- Bank Wire
VIP Program
I didn’t find a VIP or a traditional loyalty program available for players.
Customer Service
My experience with Silver Sands Casino? In one word — nonresponsive.
I reached out to them using their live chat function and waited over 20 minutes, and no one responded. I did note that the status changed from reading “online” to a support agent’s name, but they never answered my question, and I did send a few messages, just to be sure.
The other way to reach (or not) Silver Sands is by email at [email protected]
Would I Play at the Silver Sands Casino?
I started this review out by bringing the past payment issues to your attention but proceeded to offer you an unbiased look at the current product. I systematically went through the website and looked at each of the services individually, including the bonuses, customer service, banking, and the casino itself.
Starting out with the look, it’s a very dated and cluttered website. There’s so much promotional-type information that it’s not a warm, inviting casino.
It does, however, provide links to licensing and all of its independent testing for fair gaming and I appreciate that transparency. It does offset some of the past negatives by showing new players that there are other regulatory agencies involved and overseeing casino operations.
Getting into banking, the turnaround time of 48 to 72 hours is long, but not the worst I’ve seen. Players these days are looking for 24 hours or less, but there are still those sites that take their own sweet time, and it could be weeks before customers have cash in their hands. So, I can’t really knock Silver Sands for their internal processing timeline.
What I’m not as thrilled about, though, is the missing banking information. Not only are the terms and conditions abbreviated and lacking in most areas, including financial services, but the banking section is as well. It doesn’t outline minimum amounts or much of anything aside from descriptions of Neteller, Skrill, and the other payment options.
I’ll segue from there to customer service, as I did contact the department to inquire about the banking information and never received a response, and that was via live chat. It was disappointing, as I was already confused about the limited particulars and was hoping to get some definitive answers.
Bonuses are relatively middle-of-the-road. I think the customized Skrill and Neteller offer is beneficial, and there’s mention of slot tournaments which add to the overall casino experience.
The casino itself is solely a RealTime Gaming product, so experienced players know what that includes. There are some well-known titles like Aztec’s Millions, Rudolph’s Revenge, and Megaquarium. There’s also the special features that can only be found on RTG slots.
While it’s not a large casino, it is enough. There are nearly 200 games that cover a wide range of possibilities and categories. The only thing that’s missing is a live casino.
Mobile players may be disappointed, though. With only 86 instant-play games, including just three tables, the choices are limited. Smartphone and tablet users should probably register an account using their regular computer or laptop first, as most of the information is missing in mobile format, aside from the games themselves.
I know that dedicated RTG players will appreciate the options on silversandscasino.com, but I would advise getting banking information clarified first to avoid any financial concerns or questions.
This review was made by: LegitGamblingSites.com Rating: 2.87 out of 5