Genesis Casino Review

Review of Genesis Casino

In all the years that I've been reviewing online betting sites, I'm extremely surprised that I've never come across a spot named Genesis Casino. With all of the different names out there, I'd have figured this would have been one of the oldest brands around. Surprisingly, this sister site to Casino Cruise and a few others only went live in late 2018. Offering a slick website, good slate of games, and varied banking options, Genesis Casino makes for a good betting site, albeit one with some drawbacks that you should know about.

Software and game selection

Genesis Casino is built using a web-based platform, meaning that you're going to access the site using your favourite web browser, whether that be on a PC, Mac, or mobile phone or tablet. As with its sister sites, I found the design attractive and easy to navigate. Mobile support is fully-baked in, and the site looks very smart on my iPhone screen. Registering, depositing, and getting set with an introductory bonus took just a few minutes, and I was quickly off to play.

The library of games on offer here is impressive, as you'll find titles from the likes of major developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Play'n Go, Quickspin, Nyx Interactive, and more. There is a selection of more than 1000 slot machines, which includes some real gems and latest releases. One of the highlights are the slew of progressive jackpots, which give you the opportunity to win seven and eight figure prizes on games like Mega Moolah.

Table games are also available, providing punters with a nice variety of titles like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker. Covered in this area are multiple variants, which helps add more games to the library. I was also pleased to see a large live dealer section, which provides webcast versions of table games and specialty titles. The games are broadcast in high definition by Evolution Gaming and are of high quality. I am finding myself playing more and more live dealer games these days as technology has enabled the ambition of the game studios.

Banking and customer support

To me, banking is one of the top concerns for any online casino. You want to make sure that you safely get your winnings, and that you get them fast. I think it is fair to say that Genesis Casino can definitely improve in this area, especially in the withdrawal speed department. Genesis supports a wide variety of eWallets, bank transfers, and credit cards for moving funds to and from the casino, and it also offers many local in-game currencies. However when it came time to cash out with a test withdrawal I was dismayed to find that the casino held my small withdrawal pending for around 48 hours before authorising it for payment. Frankly I do not think that is acceptable for a casino licensed in first tier jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and Sweden.

Furthermore there are limits on withdrawals of €5000 per week and €22,000 per month, which is a bit light if you're a high roller. The casino claims that VIPs may get higher limits, but I was unable to ascertain as to what these limits are. On a more positive note, large progressive jackpot wins are not subject to these withdrawal limits.

Customer support is available through email, live chat, and telephone, though reps are not available for live chat or phone assistance at all hours of the day. I like instant gratification, so the live chat is what I used to ask about some specifics related to the banking options. I was impressed with the speed of the response which was under a minute, and the rep I spoke with seemed eager to help me. As is typical for casino support they really tried very hard to convince me to make a deposit at the same time.

Security, fairness, and responsible gaming

As with all major betting sites these days, Genesis Casino uses SSL technology to encrypt data as it travels between your computer and their servers. This ensures that your personal information, gameplay, and financial transactions cannot be spied on or intercepted along the way. It is considered responsible practice for any website that values their visitor's privacy and security.

Audited payout ratios aren't published by the casino, at least in any area that I could find. Many of the casino's game suppliers do publish their RTP values though, but you need to check each game individually as you play. I was disappointed to find that Genesis has chosen to go for the lower RTP setting for their Play'n Go slots, which typically means a return in the range of 93-94% instead of the normal 96-97%.

As mentioned earlier the casino holds gaming licenses through Sweden, Malta, and the United Kingdom, and all three are good at holding operators responsible for their activities. This means that if you have an issue with the casino, you can file a report with an independent arbitrator and expect a fair resolution. As part of the UKGC licensing conditions the casino is required to disclose the level of protection that they apply to player funds while they are deposited at the casino. In this case that level is classed as basic or, as we have been urging the UKGC to re-classify for some time, more accurately described as effectively none. That means that if the casino went belly-up the operator's creditors could seize player deposits to recover their debts. As usual we advise players that they are safer playing at the small number of casinos that disclose that they meet what the UKGC classes as medium or high protection if at all possible.

There is a page dedicated to providing players with information on responsible betting on the Genesis website. A lot of the stuff you'll read here is cookie-cutter verbiage that you see from other online casinos, but the info is still good. More importantly there are account controls that allow you to set restrictions like deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, and self-exclusion available if you need them. As always, links to counselling groups are also included.

Conclusion

Genesis Casino is a solid online betting site, albeit with a number of areas that it could definitely improve on. Overall, it does a good job of giving us a large library of games with decent support, and varied payout options. However among several small deficiencies, the relatively slow payout speed, choice to offer reduced RTP games, and the lack of protection for player funds all combine to take away some of the shine from this casino.