Overview
Founded in 2005, Malta-based casino Karamba has become renowned for doing things a little differently. Home to arguably the biggest selection of instant win and scratch card games anywhere online, Karamba is a casino that has carved out a definite niche, for providing a hugely entertaining gaming experience. The Karamba parrot is an instantly recognisable mascot, and you’ll find him constantly casting a fun-loving eye over proceedings – a sign of things to come for a casino that puts player entertainment first. Owned and operated by ASG Technologies Ltd., Karamba is a licensed, trustworthy place to play, and quickly becoming one of the more recognisable names in online casinos.
Safety and Trustworthiness
While 2005 might not feel like forever ago, it’s a long time to have been around in the online gambling space. Casinos come and go, and the industry as a whole can only claim to be a couple of decades old. So to have any casino brand that has been around for over a decade, and that still has its reputation in tact, you know you’re looking at a reliable place to play online.
Karamba is based in Malta, and holds a licence from the Malta Gaming Authority. For players from the UK, they are also regulated and licensed from the UK Gambling Commission, broadly regarded as one of the strictest governing authorities in the world. On top of that, their games are independently audited by iTech Labs, one of the most respected auditors of random number generators. Having certified their games as ‘fair’, that’s another tick in the box for Karamba as a trustworthy place to play.
Parent company ASG Technologies Ltd. also brings a wealth of experience to the operation. As well as Karamba, the company is also responsible for Hopa Casino, which it setup in 2009. With extensive experience of running casinos, and two distinct brands serving their own segments of the online gambling market, it’s fair to say the team behind Karamba have all of the credentials of a trusted casino operator.
As with any online casino, you’ll find plenty of complaints about Karamba if you know where to look. Players with difficulties withdrawing their money, or players unhappy about being denied invalid bonus claims. This is par for the course, and most casinos have their fair share of bad press. But when you consider the number of players to have taken Karamba for a spin over the last 10-plus years, it starts to look less concerning. While there are some complaints and grumbles on public forums, these don’t tend to be about the same issue, and seem standard for any online casino.
Karamba also benefits from industry-leading 128 bit SSL encryption, designed to secure your personal information while using their platform. Payments are handled through independently secured third party payment processors, for an additional layer of security – even with the most efficient of supercomputers, a hacker is going to seriously struggle to make any headway here.
All in all, Karamba is a secure, trustworthy place to play.
Deposits & Withdrawals
Karamba supports a wide range of payment methods for both deposit and withdrawal. Typically, the pending time for withdrawals is 48 hours, which is about average, with a further 24 hours to payout to ewallets, and between 2-5 days for credit and debit card withdrawals. PayPal is one notable absence, but there’s more than enough for most players between the likes of Skrill and Neteller, and the range of supported debit cards.
Bonuses
Karamba’s welcome bonus comes in the form of 100 free spins, plus a 100% deposit bonus match up to a total of £200. On the face of it, this sounds enticing enough. The offer is split across the first three deposits, which must be made in qualifying amounts over the first three days of the offer. The second and third deposits must be of a minimum of £20 to qualify, with the minimum deposit on the first standing at £10.
Spins are allocated as 20 on the first deposit, along with the 100% deposit match. The second deposit of £20 or more attracts a further 40 spins, while the remaining 40 free spins are paid on day three following a third deposit. So in order to trigger the maximum bonus, you need to deposit a minimum of £240 across those first three deposits.
Bonuses and winnings must be wagered 35x before any withdrawals can be triggered. This feels a little steep, but is broadly comparable with other similar welcome offers. It’s also worth noting that spins expire 24 hours after they’ve been issued, so you need to get your skates on if you’re to take full advantage.
NetEnt games contribute 50% towards the wagering requirements, along with a number of other slots titles, while most table games have 0% contribution. All other games, with the exception of Magic Spinner (10%) count 100% towards the wagering requirement. It is important that you check the wagering contributions table before choosing games to play through with your bonus, so you can be as efficient as possible in overcoming that 35x wagering hurdle.
The welcome bonus is a decent handshake for new players, and it’s within the realms of possibility that players can withdraw from the bonus in the black. Even if it doesn’t work out for you winnings-wise, it’s a good start to life at Karamba, and the perfect introduction to the selection of games, promotions and jackpots their casino has to offer.
Game Selection
Karamba offers games from a range of different software providers, including some of the leading names in slots games. For starters, you’ll find titles from NetEnt, Microgaming and NextGen Gaming, three companies that boast some of the biggest slots games in the world between them. Then there’s the NeoGaming platform, which allows Karamba to offer access to a wide selection of slots and instant win games.
In terms of slots games, look out for famous names like Immortal Romance, Avalon, Thunderstruck II and Jurassic Park, a handful amongst many of the world-beating slots you’ll find here. Keep an eye out for the progressive slots at Karamba – that’s where you’ll find the biggest jackpots, often ranging up into the millions of pounds, waiting to be scooped by the next lucky player.
Instant win games are where Karamba comes into their own, and presents one of the key USPs for Karamba over the competition. With one of the biggest selections of virtual scratch cards and instant win games anywhere online, that’s yet another reason to set up and deposit here. X&O and Bubble Bingo are particular highlights from the selection, giving a unique twist to the tried and tested scratch format that feels fresh and exciting.
Karamba isn’t really big on table games, so you won’t find the usual raft of games in multiple variants and table limits. However, there are still a few roulette and blackjack games available for more traditional players, so you’ll not find yourself left high and dry without any options. That said, if you’re looking for a casino primarily to play table games, you might want to think about going somewhere else instead. In terms of the playing experience, the Karamba website is easy to navigate for in-browser play, albeit not the most attractive of designs and the software is quick and responsive.
Mobile App
Karamba is optimised for in-browser play on any device, and so long as you’re playing on a smartphone or tablet, you’ll be able to enjoy a native experience on your device, thanks to the responsive design of the Karamba site. There are also apps available for Android and iOS users, available to download for free from the respective app stores. Download and install in seconds, and you can be up and running with your Karamba account in your pocket – ideal for playing on the go.
Promotions
The promotions don’t stop at the welcome bonus, and loyal players can take advantage of a number of incentives every week. You’ll find these set out in the ‘Promotions’ tab of the expanding menu, with rewards including the chance to win gadgets like the new iPhone, monthly cashback, and free spins on a Sunday. These offers change throughout the year, and each has its own terms and conditions, but it’s good to know these promotions exist and that you can take advantage of them, even beyond your initial welcome bonus.
There’s also the Exclusive Club for VIP players, with various different promotional elements, including fresh deposit bonuses, free spins and other rewards. Players earn loyalty points the longer they play, which can be redeemed for prizes – another sweetener to encourage you to stick around.
Support
Review Summary
Karamba has solidified its place recent years, thanks to extensive marketing campaigns and a very recognisable casino mascot. This has led to a big influx of new players to the casino, enjoying a wide selection of games on desktop and mobile devices. The welcome bonus is arguably doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of attracting new players, though it feels a bit middle-of-the-road, compared to some other bonuses.
One limitation is the wagering contribution restrictions, which makes it difficult for players to meet their wagering requirements at 35x – for most slots with a 50% contribution, wagering is actually more like 70x, which is incredibly difficult to satisfy . The games selection is great for slots fans, and fans of instant-win games will be in heaven. If you’re a table fanatic, you’ll find a much more limited run of games, but then, Karamba isn’t aiming to serve these players in the same way as other casinos.
Ultimately, Karamba is a name that can be trusted, as both secure and fair for players. It has its limitations, but lining up against other casinos, Karamba earns a very respectable 7 out of 10, a positive recommendation for new players.
New Customers Only. 18+. Wagering requirements and T&C’s Apply