ShadowBet Casino Review

Review of ShadowBet Casino

You really have to give it to the online casino operators that pick a theme and actually stick to it. There are a lot of sites that have a goofy name or a "theme", but really do nothing to stick to it. At ShadowBet Casino, the casino's operator Damigur Holdings Limited went all out, giving us a dark theme that permeates basically every aspect of the site. On the other hand, am I the only one that thinks that maybe people aren't going to necessarily be attracted to a "shadowy" casino? Well put that aside, because this casino also has a solid library of games, good retention programs for players, and fast payouts, making it one casino well worth your consideration.

Software and game selection

The Shadow Bet website is dark and brooding in nature, with the site's platform being set up through a web-based instant play system. You register, deposit, and play all directly through the casino's website, rather than download a piece of software. The site is easy to navigate whether you access it on your computer or smartphone, as the casino is designed with both platforms in mind.

The game library is powered by the Gaming Innovation Group's platform that is called iGaming Cloud. This gives you access to games from developers like Microgaming, Net Entertainment, Yggdrasil Gaming, Play'n Go, Quickspin, and WMS/SG Interactive, among others. There are hundreds of different video slots to play, with a full selection of themes and features to choose from. The casino offers a series of progressive jackpots, with big prizes like the Mega Moolah, Treasure Nile, and Arabian Nights all available. One ding going against this casino's reputation however is the presence of slots and jackpots from rogue supplier Betsoft Gaming. If you aren't familiar with this company and their sordid history, then check out our report here on why you should not assume that Betsoft games are fair.


The table game selection is impressive, with blackjack, roulette, and poker games all able to be played. The standard versions of the games are pretty straightforward, and while they won't knock your socks off in terms of graphics or features, they're fine if you want a basic table experience. Those looking for the closest thing to the "real deal" will want to check out the live dealer casino. Here you'll find webcast versions of baccarat, blackjack, poker, and roulette. These games are all streamed from studios and allow you to interact with the dealer. I found the selection of live dealer games to be good, and I never had a problem getting a spot at a table.

Promotion system and terms

ShadowBet has a good promotion system in place, with the site rewarding you for maintaining an account and actively playing at the casino. As you wager more, you'll level up and earn free spins and money with the legendary Ouroboros (the ancient depiction of a snake swallowing its own tail) system. When you earn a bonus, you can claim it right away or test your luck with a heads/tails game which is a double or nothing proposition.

Other promotions are also available, with most carrying a standard 35x wagering requirement. One excellent rule is that you play with your cash funds first after claiming a bonus, so if you have an early big win before you dip into the bonus funds you can withdraw your winnings straight away and forfeit the bonus. On the other hand there's a term that only allows you to bet a maximum £2 when you're trying to complete bonus requirements, so you may need to set in for a grind. Table games can be played on bonuses but they also only contribute 8% toward wagering requirements, which is pretty low but to be expected these days as the house doesn't want players getting an advantage over them.

Banking and Customer Support

The banking system isn't as diverse as I've seen at some casinos, but the casino does a good job with what it has. You'll find deposit and withdrawal options that include credit cards, eWallets, and bank transfer. My payout time was within a few hours after I chose an eWallet but if you choose Visa or bank wire, it can take between 1-3 business days. Payouts are capped at £5000 per transaction, though you can queue up multiple transactions, and wins from progressive jackpots exempted from this limit. All in all it is pretty good stuff.

Customer support was cheerful and quick to respond to my request for assistance. I timed the response time at 19 seconds, and I was able to get some information regarding the maximum bonus bet amounts from the team.

Security, responsible gaming, and fairness

ShadowBet protects player information using the industry standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. This takes and scrambles your sensitive information as its transmitted to and from the casino. These days its important to take as many safeguards to protect your information, and we only recommend you play at casinos that have a valid SSL certificate. It is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority.

The casino does have a page dedicated to the topic of responsible gaming, which is to be expected as they operate under a Malta license. The page gives players access to tips, self-assessment tests, and various controls to help those that may need some guidance. Self-exclusion, play limits, and deposit limits are among these controls, and links to counselling groups are also included should you need them.

I was disappointed to note that ShadowBet discloses that it does not legally segregate customer funds from those of the business operations. This means that if the casino were to go out of business, other creditors could claim player funds as part of their debt recovery process before your money was refunded. While this is likely to be a problem caused by the casino's platform provider iGaming Cloud, it would nevertheless be more reassuring to see this meeting the medium or high standards.

There is no single page listing the RTP numbers for the games, nor are there any published payout audits. However you can see the RTP for individual games one at a time by tapping the info icon for each game, which also reveals the relative popularity of the game along with its developer.

Conclusion

ShadowBet Casino is a good online betting site that's worth your time. The brooding theme gives you a sense of adventure, which is accompanied by a huge game library, decent promotion rules, and fast payouts. It could be improved though with the removal of the suspect Betsoft games and better legal segregation of player deposits.