Boasting a games library of over 1,000 titles and an impressively large non-deposit, ShadowBet has been catching a lot of attention online. It’s a jungle out there in the world of online gaming, but since 2016 this eye-catching up-and-comer has been enchanting players with its generous selection and innovative loyalty system. In this comprehensive ShadowBet review I’ll be digging down deep to see what really sets the casino apart from the crowd and whether or not it’s worth your money.
Full T&Cs apply. Applicable to UK residents only. New players only – offer valid with the first deposit only. Min deposit £10, Skrill/Neteller excluded. Max bet while playing with bonus is £2. Wagering 70x on bonus funds. Free Spins can be used on The Invisible Man or Starburst, available after log in. Free Spins are wager free. 30 daily Free Spins for 10 days in a row. Game weighting applies.
I’ll be breaking up every aspect of the casino experience into different sections and rating them accordingly, to give you the best possible overview of what to expect. So, whether you’re itching to find out about the fabled enormous ShadowBet games library, or get into the nitty gritty of the RTPs, you’ll find what you’re looking from on this page.
Examining the ShadowBet Games Library
As online casinos become more common, they’re having to really push the envelope when it comes to games on offer. Unlike land-based casinos that can only fit a finite number of tables and machines within their walls, the possibilities for online casinos are practically endless. That’s why it’s not too surprising nowadays to see younger casinos like this one hosting over 1,000 games. In this section of the ShadowBet casino review, I’ll be examining the highlights and lowlights of the casino’s library and finding out if quantity can also mean quality.
Slots, Jackpots, and Table Games
If it’s slots you’re after, you’re in luck. Of the 1,000+ games available at ShadowBet, more than 700 of them are slots. The titles on offer run from classic three-reelers, to multi-reel themed video slots that offer multiple ways to win. Among these are movie buff-pleasers like Jumanji, Terminator 2 and Psycho. Music fans can rock out with Jimi Hendrix, Motorhead, and Guns N’ Roses, while console gamers will no doubt get a kick out of the Hitman slot. You’ll also find titles themed around everything from decades to fairy tales. Slot fans can rejoice in the knowledge that they’ll have an abundance of games to explore here.
Alongside the generous slot selection is a modest but pleasing number of table games. You can choose your favourite roulette variant from a collection that includes American roulette, European roulette, and French roulette. Blackjack players will find even more variety, including the branded Deal or No Deal blackjack game. ShadowBet also offers a broader range of poker games than many other casinos I’ve come across. It’s always nice to find all manner of players catered to, and the game selection here has clearly been curated to serve a wide range of tastes.
That said, I have to mention one glaring omission in the games catalogue for the sake of this ShadowBet review, and that’s scratch card games. Sadly, the casino doesn’t yet offer these super popular games, which is a bit unusual for a newer casino. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something the casino adds in the future, but for now, it’s definitely a bit of a downside. What the casino does have, however, is a healthy selection of jackpot games including crowd please Mega Moolah, whose jackpots frequently reach millions of pounds. By and large, it’s a solid line-up of quality gameplay.
Playing Live at ShadowBet
Every so often it’s nice to switch things up and indulge in the live casino experience. Nothing quite beats playing against real players and interacting with live dealers, and ShadowBet’s live suite is definitely one of the best in the business. That’s all thanks to superstar developers, Evolution Gaming, whose multi-award-winning live suites are always a sure sign of a quality casino. Enjoy crystal clear streams and a wide variety of table games, including Dragonara roulette streamed live from the Dragonara casino in Malta. Sadly, Evolution’s wheel of fortune-style game, Dream Catcher, isn’t available at ShadowBet, so fans of that title will have to look elsewhere.
Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming is big business for online casinos nowadays, and any good casino will likely have its own dedicated app and/or a fully mobile optimised website. In ShadowBet’s case, it’s all about the mobile site. This is pretty handy, as you can play straight from your mobile browser without having to download anything onto your device. Unlike a lot of casinos, you’ll be able to access the full games library even when playing mobile. No need to compromise your gameplay, just hundreds of games at your fingertips at all times. Can’t say fairer than that!
Limits to Suit Every Player
Before you start betting, it’s always a good idea to know about a game’s limits. The limits at ShadowBet are every bit as varied as its game selection, meaning it should appeal to a range of players and budgets. A minimum bet on a slot game, for example, can be anything from 1p to £1.50. Maximum bets range from 25p to £1,500. As you can tell from the numbers alone, you’re likely to find a good match for your budget whether you’re pinching pennies or looking to push the boat out.
The variety doesn’t end at the slots, though. Minimum bets across most roulette and blackjack games start at around £1, and maximum bets can reach as high as £2,500 in certain games. You can check out the betting limits of any game by clicking into it, without having to make any bets beforehand. Always familiarise yourself with a game’s betting limits before you lay down any cold, hard cash.
ShadowBet Payout Percentages
RTP – or Return to Player – is a term that’s mentioned a lot when discussing casinos. This refers to the odds of winning over a prolonged period of time. Ideally, the closer a game’s RTP percentage is to 100%, the better your chances of winning. Of course, the house always wins in the end, and your mileage will vary. But RTPs are a simple and effective way of knowing how likely a game is to result in a return before you start playing. To give you an example, slot games typically will have an RTP of between 90% and 98%. Casinos vary a lot in how they reveal their RTP information.
Some casinos are very upfront about their RTPs and will include the percentage clearly alongside the game’s info. Others, on the other hand, can be a bit sneaky when it comes to RTPs. In this regard, determining your ShadowBet payout can be a bit of a mixed bag. The RTPs of a lot of games can be seen by clicking the information symbol of a game before playing, but it isn’t present for others. When in doubt, check the Help or How to Play section of a game for its RTP information.
Payout Rates of the Different Casino Games
.
Classic Slots91.50 - 98.00%
Video Slots96.50 - 99.60%
Roulette94.20 - 97.30%
Blackjack99.40 - 99.50%
Table Games94.50 - 97.30%
Video Poker98.80 - 99.40%
..
.....
Return to Player(%)
* No scratch cards and arcade games available
When you do find the ShadowBet payout information, however, you’ll find that its rates are pretty competitive. This shouldn’t be surprising, as it’s a young casino and competitive payout rates are just one of many ways to attract and keep players. A great deal of its blackjack and video poker games boast RTPs of just over 99%, making them your best bets (so to speak) when it comes to your probability of winning. Its roulette games range from 94% to 97%, which is decent but far from the best I’ve seen.
The ShadowBet Software
If an online casino isn’t user-friendly, then it’s not going to be a good casino. Every aspect of the online casino experience should be crafted with the player’s enjoyment and ease of access in mind. In this regard, I was really happy with what the ShadowBet software had to offer. Games are neatly categorised, and you can search for titles easily. These sound like simple things, but you’d be shocked and dismayed at how many casinos drop the ball on details like these.
If I were to choose something to criticise about the layout of the website, however, it would be the lack of a “recently played” feature. A lot of the newer casinos I’ve visited have included a section that allows you to scroll through the last games you’ve played, and it’s a great way of finding games again if you’ve forgotten the title. Let’s be real, in a library of over 1,000 games, you might have trouble remembering a game’s name. Though I was let down by this one detail, ShadowBet does allow you to check out the latest game releases as well as the most popular games of the moment. This definitely helps to condense the massive library and give you a nice overview of what’s worth playing.
As I mentioned earlier in this ShadowBet review, the live casino is powered by Evolution Gaming. If you’ve ever played at a live online casino before, chances are you’ve seen the name. Evolution dominates the industry when it comes to live gaming, and regularly wins industry awards for its flawless products. Elsewhere in the casino, you’ll find games from big and small developers alike. You can usually find the name of the developer by clicking the information symbol on any game title, and you can browse games by developer if you choose.
The History of ShadowBet Casino
Launched in 2016, ShadowBet is part of the MT SecureTrade Limited family. This mega parent company is behind other popular new casinos like Rizk and Dunder, as well as the pizza-themed Casino Calzone. MT SecureTrade is part of the Gaming Innovation Group, which operates across 35 different countries worldwide.
Notable Facts About the Casino
Though still fresh on the scene, ShadowBet was named the Player’s Choice Casino of 2017 and claimed second place for the Best Casino 2017 prize. This comes as no surprise, as MT SecureTrade-owned casinos regularly rake in awards, especially when it comes to player’s choice and user experience. Fellow MT SecureTrade casino, Rizk, won the Best Player Experience award at the 2016 Casinomeister awards. Coming from such prestigious stock, I’d be shocked if ShadowBet didn’t win more awards as it continues to grow and make a name for itself in the industry.
More Information About ShadowBet
Company
Security
Player Protection
Support
Name: Damigur Holdings Limited
Encryption: 128-bit SSL
Deposit Limits: Available
Phone: Not Available
Head Office: Fino Buildings, Notabile Road, Mriehel BKR 3000, Malta
Problem Gambling Organisations: GamStop, GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous, BeGambleAware
Assessing ShadowBet’s Customer Support
If you run into any issues while gaming, it’s always good to know that there’s a strong customer support system on standby that will help you out. By and large, the customer support at ShadowBet is pretty good. You can contact a representative via chat or email, and they will assist you in either English or German. In my dealings with the casino’s customer service agents for the purposes of this ShadowBet casino review, I found them to be courteous, helpful, and very prompt in their replies.
While the service is good, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. For starters, it’s always helpful to have a contact number for players to call when they wind up in a sticky situation. Problems tend to be solved in a smoother fashion when you’re speaking directly to another human being, and this human touch is something lacking at ShadowBet. Likewise, the casino doesn’t offer 24/7 support, which is a mark against it in my eyes. Given that one of the big draws of online casinos is that you can play at any time, you should have access to support at any time too.
Security and Safety
The cardinal rule of online gambling is to only play at casinos that are properly licenced and accredited. This is something I mention in all my assessments, and this ShadowBet casino review is no different. There are just too many shady outfits online trying to make a quick buck at someone’s expense to trust any old casino you come across. You should always look for a casino’s licence information before joining. At ShadowBet, as with most reputable online casinos, you’ll find this information in the website’s footer. ShadowBet holds a licence from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission which means it passed the rigorous testing of the regulatory body and has been deemed safe.
In addition to licencing, you need to make sure your data is safe. While you’ll always be asked for certain personal details upon signing up with an online casino, your information will never be shared with any third parties. To ensure your data is completely secure, ShadowBet uses SSL encryption. This means you can rest easy knowing your data is in good hands.
Protecting your money and data is one thing but protecting your state of mind and health is another. Addiction will always be the elephant in the room when discussing online gambling, and many casinos are working hard to keep their players safe and their playing habits healthy. ShadowBet has a comprehensive section on responsible gaming, which discusses its initiatives to help players who feel their gambling habits are no longer healthy. This includes allowing players to set limits on their spending and time spent on the website, as well as the ability to set periods of self-exclusion. In the website’s footer you’ll also find links to helpful organisations like Gamblers Anonymous and BeGambleAware, so you never feel like you have to tackle your problems alone.
Bonuses and Benefits
One of the most eye-catching aspects of ShadowBet is its welcome bonus. If you’ve seen the casino pop up during your online travels, you’ve probably seen its banner advertising a £1,000 bonus alongside 200 free spins. As far as welcome bonuses go, that’s a pretty sweet deal. Often when a deal looks this good, it’s let down by restrictive wagering requirements. Thankfully, this isn’t the case for ShadowBet. Before you can withdraw any bonus funds, you’ll have to wager your bonus amount 35x, which is decent enough compared to some other casinos. Just keep in mind that any free spins you’ve been awarded have to be used within 7 days. I’d advise anyone to have a good read over the terms and conditions of a casino’s bonuses before making a deposit, just as a general rule of thumb.
Awards.0/3
Promotions.3/3
Special Games.2/2
Loyalty Scheme.1/1
Extras.1/1
Bonus Points.7
Another fun way ShadowBet rewards its players is through its fully gamified loyalty scheme. Like a lot of newer casinos, ShadowBet has a points system in place. For every game you play, you’ll earn points and after a certain amount of points you level up. When you level up, you earn extra spins and other prizes. On top of this, you’ll be given the opportunity to double your reward or lose it completely. Would you take the risk? Gamified structures like these are simple, fun, and give players way more chances to win.
Bottom Line – A Fun Casino Headed for Success
At the end of the day, I don’t have many negatives to report in this ShadowBet review. Its library is more comprehensive than that of the majority of its competition, and all the games available are of a high quality. You could easily spend hours sampling its wares and, thanks to the loyalty system, earn rewards for doing so. As far as enjoyable casino experiences go, you’ll find no complaints from me.
I’d also like to give credit where its due to the mobile site. It’s not often that you come across a casino that offers a massive game selection on both web and mobile, and its commendable that ShadowBet is so committed to the mobile player that it’s made its full catalogue available. No matter what device you choose to play on, you’re guaranteed a good time.
Full T&Cs apply. Applicable to UK residents only. New players only – offer valid with the first deposit only. Min deposit £10, Skrill/Neteller excluded. Max bet while playing with bonus is £2. Wagering 70x on bonus funds. Free Spins can be used on The Invisible Man or Starburst, available after log in. Free Spins are wager free. 30 daily Free Spins for 10 days in a row. Game weighting applies.
My only issues with ShadowBet are the lack of 24/7 support and the slight lack of transparency when it comes to RTP information. I’m willing to be a little bit lenient, as it’s still a young casino finding its feet. However, if ShadowBet is to become as successful as I think it has the potential to be, it will need to sort out these small problems. All in all, I give this casino my seal of approval and I hope this ShadowBet casino review was of help to you. If you’re interested in finding more highly-rated online casinos, you can check out my my top 10 list.
FAQ
I do my best to cover every aspect of each casino I review, but nobody’s perfect. If you think there’s something I missed, or if you have a question that wasn’t answered in my review, feel free to drop me a line at contact@online-casinos.com I’ll be updating this page regularly with any and all queries. Below are some questions that readers have sent in so far.
What happens if I don’t use my free spins in 7 days?
I’m afraid the free spins operate on a use ‘em or lose ‘em basis. If you don’t use your free spins in the time given, they’ll no longer be accessible to you. As I mentioned elsewhere, always give the terms and conditions of bonuses a thorough read before making a deposit, just so you know what you’re getting yourself in for.