Chumba Casino
If you assume most casinos are much the same, you're going to miss out on some of the most important facts that separate them. Learning about Chumba Casino is a great example of how this works. It's a social casino, which means you can play casino games for entertainment, without worrying about how affordable they are. We check out Chumba Casino here, so you know what's around the corner before you get there.
Software in action at this casino
Deep in the terms and conditions, we found a mention of Playtech games, so we guess you can find some of those there. Aside from those, we noticed plenty of games on the landing page that looked a lot like several other famous ones we have seen from other developers. There are no clear developer names on offer though.
The lobby reveals over 80 games to play
Depending on which casinos you have previously visited, you might say that 80 games is about right or is far lower in number than you've seen elsewhere. Either could be true. Since this is a social gaming casino, it's rather different from any paid ones you might have played at. You'll find slots, jackpot games, and table games included there though.
Join the casino by following their instructions
Choose the button that says create account and go from there. Since this is a social casino, you'll find the signup process is a lot simpler than that seen at a regular casino you can make deposits at.
Does the casino have any signup restrictions?
It does, yes, and you may find out whether you can join or not simply by trying to. We saw a message prohibiting us from signing up when we tried to do so. The homepage does also confirm that Chumba Casino claims to be the #1 social casino in America, so you're able to join if you live in the US. According to the terms and conditions, the only excluded state is that of Washington. You can also play if you live in Canada unless you're in Quebec.
Is it easy to sort through the available games?
Yes, it's fine to do this as there are only just over 80 at the time of writing. You can look at them all in one category or limit them to the slots or table games if you like. The jackpots also get their own area, so if you want to play those, it's easy enough to do so.
Expect lots of slots on all themes
We always like to see plenty of themes in action at online casinos, and we have certainly got that at Chumba Casino. From Kraken's Bounty to Big Bucks Bandits and The Last Empress to Stampede Fury, you'll spot lots of familiar and popular games to check out.
Free games are the order of the day at Chumba Casino
You'll play the game with Gold Coins, which do not have any value. If you win any prizes, they'll be in Gold Coins, which you can then use to play more games. You cannot withdraw any of those coins. They also have Sweepstakes which may lead to real prizes, but you do not need to buy anything to stand a chance of getting some of those.
Paid games don't feature at this casino
You are playing at a social casino, so make sure you are ready to get the most out of that experience. If you want to pay to play for real prizes, this is not the casino for you.
New slot games might occasionally appear
There aren't as many games here as we've seen at other casinos, but there's still a reasonable mix of titles to try. And we guess there is every chance you'll eventually see a few new titles appearing there as well.
What about promotions?
Watch out for a chance of finding some deals if you'd like to buy extra Gold Coins to play with - but remember that you do not need to do this. There is never any reason to spend anything while using their website. Look for extra Gold Coins when signing up for a free account though, as this is a common offer when using these social casinos.
Tournaments didn't factor into the action
We didn't see anything like this on our recent visit anyway, so we guess tournaments aren't featured there.
Do we get to hear about some casino winners?
There are some comments about the casino on the homepage, and they link to TrustPilot to let you read some more. This means there could be a few comments there that relate to Sweepstakes prizes in this case.
Rewards don't feature at Chumba Casino
And that's all we can say on that topic.
Mobile and app-based possibilities
The homepage of the casino reveals that you do not need to make any downloads before using the casino. You can use it on mobile devices if you wish but playing on a PC or Mac is fine too.
You won't be able to play without registration
If you're in the US, signing up is quick enough, and you can then choose a game and begin playing.
Chumba Casino is based on an instant play format
This means you've got no downloads or apps to bother with. Just visit the site, log into your account, and choose a game to play. It couldn't be much easier.
Affiliate information, anyone?
We didn't see anything along these lines, so we guess there is a chance there is no such program at this casino.
You won't find any sporting services, betting, or bookies
Chumba Casino operates as a social gaming casino with Sweepstakes elements involved as well. This means there are no sporting events or racebooks anywhere in view.
There is no access to a blog or forum on the site
You probably won't worry about this, although you can head to the Fan Wall link at the bottom of the site. This links out to their Facebook page, so you can log into your Facebook account and check that out if you want to take the social aspect further.
What about trying some live dealer games?
There are a few table games at the casino, but since this isn't a regular casino you can pay to play at, you won't find the usual live dealers managing some of the table games.
Can you make deposits at Chumba Casino?
No, although you can choose to buy more Gold Coins if you want to. These do not have any real value, and you won't be able to withdraw any prizes won in Gold Coins. You can use any available payment method to purchase more Gold Coins if you wish, so check the available methods in your area if you are thinking of doing this.
Making a withdrawal isn't relevant at this casino
This follows on from what we said above. You won't find any methods for withdrawing as this is a social casino. Even if you were to win lots of Gold Coins, you can only use them to carry on playing other social casino games at Chumba Casino. Sweeps Coins may lead to real prizes, and you may receive some of these while buying Gold Coins. Sweeps Coins can't be purchased on their own.
Bitcoin wasn't mentioned as a potential payment method
Keep an eye on the available payment possibilities if you do decide to buy some more Gold Coins to play with. There might be some alternative methods to look at there.
How easy is it to get some help?
You can read a lot of advice and information in their terms and conditions. There's no help page as there usually would be, but they do provide a page on Sweeps Rules. They also offer a contact page if you need to get in touch with someone for any reason.