Dotty Bingo Review:

Dotty Bingo isn’t the most high-profile bingo brand around, although it has garnered positive reviews since its launch in 2010.

It is another of the Broadway Gaming family of bingo sites that includes Butlers Bingo, Rosy Bingo and Glossy Bingo. So, while its name may not be familiar to most, it has the pedigree to make it well worth a closer look.

The Microgaming software ensures a solid and stable bingo platform, a decent-sized network of players, and a back catalogue containing hundreds of top-quality slots. But does Dotty offer anything that can’t be found on its better-known sister sites?

One of the battles Dotty Bingo faces in attracting players in a crowded marketplace is its relative lack of name recognition. So, why trust a name like Dotty when brands like Gala, Coral and 888 exist?

The lack of a big brand name is something that worries some players. But as part of the Microgaming network of bingo sites, not to mention the smaller network of bingo brands operated by Broadway Gaming, we’re not exactly dealing with a complete unknown.

One thing that immediately scores a big plus in our book is the fact that Dotty provides direct homepage links to its licenses with the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, so anyone can check that everything is up-to-date and above board. There’s also a link to its latest eCogra certificate, attesting to the fact that Dotty’s games are random, that it is honest and fair with players, and that funds and data are well protected.

Dotty’s transparency and clarity in this area is an example that all other operators, from the biggest on down, should follow.

Of the 40 or so player reviews on TrustPilot, most are positive, although there is some concern raised about automatic opt-in on bonuses for new deposits. It’s good to see Dotty interacting with customers, although it would be better if they engaged more with the negative reviewers as well.

Thousands of players have played at Dotty Bingo since 2010 and no major incidents have ever been reported, to our knowledge, so we feel safe to call it one of UK’s most trusted bingo sites.

You can use Skrill, Neteller, debit cards and Paysafecard, but PayPal and other payment methods are not currently supported.

There’s plenty going on a Dotty Bingo, with promotions slated to run throughout each month. You can check on that smart Microgaming Network promotions calendar for details of upcoming events and bonuses, which can include extra bonus cash, competitions, and special bingo jackpots. 

But let’s start at the beginning. By default, new players can also take advantage of the PlayRight-exclusive £40 bonus for deposits of £10 or more, which is a pretty decent way to start life in their bingo rooms. The bonus is capped at £100, so you can get even more if you’re thinking of making a bigger deposit.

The bonus amount is subject to a 5x wagering requirement before you can withdraw from the bonus, or any winnings that flow from it. The wagering requirement is a little high compared to the 4x industry average, but if you’re intending to stick around, it’s not exactly an insurmountable hurdle, and means you can play plenty of free bingo along the way.

The best part of the Dotty Bingo experience is probably their VIP section and the number of player promotions they throw in. For each of the five levels of loyalty, there is a generous reward given to players on set days of the week. In common with all Broadway sites, the precise benefits you’re in line to get are clearly stated on the VIP page. Too many sites are vague in this regard, so full marks to Dotty.

All players can indulge in the benefits of the various daily, weekly and monthly promotions that run around the year.

On top of these special promotions, the site includes multiple jackpots that you can win by playing bingo games, including the weekly £1,000 Jackpot Got to Go, the twice-monthly progressive, The Big One, and the end-of-month Blow Out, with its enormous £10,000 jackpot. It’s a chance for big bucks in return for a tiny investment.

Overall, the range of promotions on Dotty is strong and well-organised, as it is on all Broadway sites. If there’s a problem, it’s the lack of reload bonuses, although weekly 50% bingo and slots deposit bonuses kick in once you reach level 2 of the VIP scheme.

No matter how good the promotions on offer, your enjoyment is always going to rest on the quality of the games on offer.

We had mixed feelings about the design of the site. On one hand, it’s clean and uncluttered, with no distracting banners or menu items. Everything is easy to find, so not even the greenest of newbies will have trouble getting stuck into the action. But we find the red background a bit gloomy, and it’s all a little basic and no-nonsense.

The top menu contains quick links to the Account, VIP, and Help sections, as well as the handy bingo calendar, which makes it easy to find any scheduled jackpot games.

The game selection at Dotty Bingo is the one factor that worries us a bit. While other sites put on multiple versions of bingo, Dotty only offers the 75- and 90-ball variations, and this will be too little choice for some players. The usual chat games are available, though not too widely. It’s also worth noting that you are required to purchase a minimum of four tickets to be eligible to win bonus prizes from chat games.

While the bingo offering is adequate, one big advantage Dotty has as its disposal is a wide and high-quality selection of slots.

The site does, on the other hand, offer a number of exciting slots and instant-play games, which can be accessed from the left-hand menu in the lobby. There are 173 slots on offer, with big-name titles from the Microgaming stable, including the biggest progressive jackpot game, Mega Moolah, as well as player favourites, such as Terminator 2, Avalon 2, and Dragonz.

Dotty doesn’t have a mobile app to download, but instead offers its platform to mobile players through the responsive website. According to their terms and conditions, not every mobile device is supported, which will be a little disappointing for some players, but if you’re playing on an iOS or Android device, you should be able to log-in to your account through your phone’s browser in the usual way.

The features are exactly the same when you’re playing on mobile, because you are essentially playing on the website as normal – that means you can still play with the same bankroll through your online account, even when you’re playing on a smartphone or tablet.

All of the bingo rooms available on the desktop site can be played from your phone, so you won’t miss out on any of the big jackpot games, wherever you are. But the slots catalogue is reduced to HTML5 games only, which takes the total down to about 80 slots.