Dove Bingo Review:

The online bingo market is crowded in 2017 to say the very least, as more and more brands are launching in an attempt to get a slice of the pie. Dove Bingo is one of a number of new sites to launch in the past couple of years, but arriving as it does among a deluge of cookie-cutter sites, the question is, does it have the wings to soar above the industry’s biggest names.

No matter what anyone says, security and safety is of the utmost important when you choose to gamble online, whether it is via an online bingo site or otherwise.

On this front, Dove Bingo does all it can to be seen as reputable as possible. Both the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) stand behind Dove Bingo, which certifies that it meets both governing bodies’ strict conditions for operation.

In terms of third-party certification, there isn’t too much to write home about at Dove Bingo, as all we could see is that the site has received SQS approval. Outside of this, information on the security and safety measures undertaken by Dove Bingo is pretty scarce. While it’s generally regarded as a safe site, you can’t help but think that Jumpman Gaming could have done more when it comes to displaying trust indicators that could alleviate any concerns that users might have.

Deposit and withdrawal options at Dove Bingo really are some what basic, not a great thing in our eyes. Except PayPal bingo there are no supported e-wallets and choice is limited when it comes to bankroll control, with the minimum withdrawal being a rather hefty £30.

High-quality promotions are the backbone of any great online bingo brand, which is why it’s disappointing to see that the bonus here is nothing short of bland.

For your first deposit of £10, you’ll see it matched by a further £20 bonus which is lower than the  £30 and £40 you can get from most of our reviewed bingo rooms. Perhaps It’s not the worst bonus we’ve ever seen, especially as bingo bonuses tend to be a lot lower than casino welcome offers. But it’s hardly compelling. In order to release your cash, you’ll need to wager it four times (4x) on bingo games, which again is pretty standard. Usually promotions are available even for players that choose to play bingo without giving their card details.

There’s also a week of free bingo in the Newbies Room to sweeten the deal. But if you’re looking for a cash-loaded playing incentive, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Regular promotions at Dove Bingo don’t improve too much on the that initial offer, either. Again, you’ll find the industry-standard weekly jackpot games, slot promos, and so on. It’s all just a bit uninspiring. We’ve seen the offers here repeated on countless 15 Network sites over the years.

Moving on to the final aspect of Dove Bingo’s promotional efforts, you have to take in the VIP scheme, but once again you can’t expect too much from it. Very little information is offered up regarding the contents of the loyalty program initially, as the pages simply states, “as you climb through the 5 different VIP levels from Member to Black VIP, you will gain fantastic rewards including: Higher re-load bonuses, Cash back, Birthday bonus, Mystery gifts, and Access to exclusive VIP only games and jackpots”.

Summarizing matters, beginners might find something worthwhile within the bonuses and promotions, but anyone with any real experience of playing online bingo will probably find what’s here to be snooze-inducing.

With Dove Bingo, it’s really a case of when it rains it pours, as the game selection here falls short of being spectacular.

In terms of bingo game choice, all you have to work with is 90-ball bingo and 75-ball bingo, which is pretty slim pickings by anyone’s standards. What makes matters worse is the fact that the player numbers are low, which means that in spite of playing patterns ranging from Aeroplane, Anchor and Arrow through to Xmas Tree, excitement is pretty thin on the ground.

When an online bingo site isn’t able to deliver bingo in abundance, alarm bells start to ring, as this is a clear indication that a platform simply isn’t up to muster.

At first we thought that there weren’t even any slots to make up for that lack if bingo, but it just turns out they are rather well hidden. To find the selection you’ll need to open the bingo lobby, ignore the Instants tab, and instead click on the View All Games button on the top-right. That opens another pop-out window, where you’ll have to click on the A-Z Games tab on the far-right of the menu to view the full selection. Dove Bingo could do themselves a favour by adding a “Slots” menu item to the homepage of the site.

Once you’ve located this treasure trove of spinners you’ll be happy to see some great NetEnt slots, including Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Jack and the Beanstalk.

It may not be quite enough to make up for the lack of bingo thrills, but at least the majority of slots are sourced from the preeminent casino software development company.

A well-conceived mobile bingo product is no longer a bonus, it is an absolute necessity for any serious bingo operator. Unfortunately, when it comes to mobile bingo, Dove Bingo really does shoot wide of the mark. For a start there is no app for iOS or Android, which in and of itself is not necessarily a major problem – as long as the mobile site is up to scratch.

However while it may feature the same games and features as the full-fat site, the mobile version is pretty poorly constructed. Text-heavy is probably an apt way to describe the platform. In appearance, entertainment, and execution, Dove Bingo’s mobile offering can’t hold a candle to the likes of Gala and BGO Bingo.