Overview
Launched in October 2018, RockstarReels is a new online casino operated by software specialists ProgressPlay. It has, of course, entered the market at a time when there are many casino operators out there, but luckily Rockstar Reels has some elements that will help it stand out from the crowd. As you might have guessed by the name, there is a big emphasis on slot games, which come from a huge number of developers. Don’t worry if you are a fan of the classics though, there is a live casino and plenty of table and card games too. Read our Rockstarreels review to find out more.
Safety and Trustworthiness
Rockstar Reels parent company, ProgressPlay, is a well-known developer of solutions for online casino and sports betting, often partnering with some of the biggest names in the industry. ProgressPlay is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and, for those outside of the UK, Malta Gaming Authority.
Rockstar Reels carries a number of other security credentials, including scrutiny by the PCI Security Standards Council (to monitor card payments) and the use of Comodo for SSL security certification. Payments are managed by Olorra Management Limited, regarded as experts in online financial transactions. In short, every effort is made to make sure your details and transactions are secure.
On the bottom of the homepage you will find a link for game payouts, providing RTP (Return to Player) percentages for every game on the site. This payout information is publicly audited.
While player testimonials are a bit thin on the ground for such a new casino, most responses from reviewers have been positive. Indeed, there has been little evidence of any poor reviews, with most keen to point out that Rockstar Reels is a welcome addition to the current online casino landscape.
Deposits & Withdrawals
A decent enough selection of deposit and withdrawal options are available at Rockstar Reels, although the absence of PayPal might irk some players. Withdrawal pending times can be up to three days and a £2.50 fee is applied.
Bonuses
Across the industry at the moment, the trend among online casinos is to offer new players either a matched deposit bonus or a batch of wager slots bonus spins. RockstarReels casino has opted for both, offering you a 100% matched deposit up to £250 (50x wagering requirement) and 50 free spins (without wagering requirements). Wagering requirements are applied to your real money balance before the bonus funds. As is now standard with nearly all online casinos, slots (with a few exceptions) count 100% towards wagering, with table games and live casino counting 10%.
At first glance, this seems like a very respectable casino welcome offer. However, there are a couple of things to be aware of here. For a start, while the free spins have no wagering requirements, they are capped at a maximum win amount of £20. In addition, the total amount of bonus winnings that can be converted to withdrawable cash is capped at five times the bonus amount. For example, if you deposited £100 and received a £100 bonus, you could turn the bonus cash into £500 of real money. Progressive jackpot awards are excluded from this condition.
On balance, most players will be happy enough with this welcome offer. While the gains from the free spins are limited, it is still an almost guaranteed extra bit of cash added to your account without needing to worry about wagering requirements. Most would like to see a lower wagering demand than the 50x required though.
Game Selection
Rockstar Reels offers games from a huge range of casino games developers, 35 in total. Only Videoslots.com from the casinos we review currently offering more, and it means you will find games from all the well-known developers, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Quickspin and Nextgen, but also up-and-coming developers, including Tom Horn, Wazdan and Magnet.
In terms of specific game types, you will find: 408 slots, 22 jackpot games, 33 card and tables games (roulette, blackjack etc.), and 17 live dealer tables. 18 arcade-style games, including bingo-themed titles, are also included under the Casual Games tab. So, it comes in at just under 500 games in total, certainly an indication that the newly minted Rockstar Reels means business.
Of course, slots are front and centre of the site. The majority of the usual suspects are present, with the likes of Game of Thrones, Starburst, Jack Hammer, Foxin’ Wins, Gorilla Go Wild and Ariana all present. Some less well-known games for you to try out include: Free Spin City (Bet Digital), Wild Girls (Wazdan) and Shaolin’s Tiger (Tom Horn).
The live casino is powered by NetEnt and Extreme Live Gaming. From both providers you will find a nice selection of blackjack and roulette, including high-limit games. If you would like to try something different, there is live Great Rhino Roulette, which is based on the popular slot by Pragmatic Play, and NetEnt Live’s Sports Betting, which is an innovative live casino widget that allows you to bet on selected sports at the same time as playing casino games.
Rockstar Reel’s game choice, especially slots, is pretty diverse and the site seems to be adding games on a daily basis since the launch. However, a lack of live poker and baccarat might be an area that should be addressed next. Still, the virtual casino games cover most tastes in that department.
A quick word on site navigation: Rockstar Reels has gone for a simple, yet effective approach. Games are listed under the usual tabs – Slots, Casino, Live, Jackpot etc. – and you can also search by provider. It might be a good idea going forward, though, for ProgressPlay to employ some extra search functions, such as those that let you find games by theme or feature (free spins, stacked wilds etc.). This is particularly important on a site like Rockstar Reels that has several software developers that most players will never have heard of before.
Mobile App
As of yet, there is no mobile gambling app for Rockstar Reels. However, the site is mobile responsive, meaning you can play with ease providing you have a reasonably modern phone or tablet that uses iOS or Android platforms. A total of 317 slots can be played on mobile, with most of the big-name titles mentioned above available for mobile play. Twelve of the virtual casino games are on mobile, as are 15 of the live dealer games.
A mobile app is always preferable, and it’s not quite clear whether Rockstar Reels will launch one in the future. But the mobile site does have a nice feel to it and there are plenty of interesting titles to keep players occupied. As far as we can see, there are no bonuses or promotions specifically tailored for mobile players.
Promotions
The best thing about Rockstar Reels might just be the range of casino promos on offer. Notably, the site offers a selection of regular bonuses that can be applied according to players individual tastes. For example, there is a current Halloween Trick or Treat promotion, where a player can opt for either a matched deposit bonus or free spins on their deposits (up to three times a month). Players can also opt in for guaranteed Weekly Treats, including free spins and reload bonuses. Furthermore, Rockstar Reels has not neglected live casino fans, with live dealer cashback offers and roulette promos. Across the board, the wagering requirements for winnings from these promotions sits at 50x, which might feel a little high to some players.
The VIP and loyalty program, Reel Points, is still a bit sketchy on the details. The promise from Rockstar Reels is that you will earn Reel Points as you play, which can later be converted into cash. Once you move up a level, the rates of exchange improve. It might benefit both Rockstar Reels and any prospective high rollers if the benefits for reaching the VIP level were spelled out in detail on the site. For the moment, we will give Rockstar Reels the benefit of the doubt and put it down as a work in progress.
Support
Rockstar Reels offers live chat and email as support options. Both are theoretically open 24/7.
Review Summary
In essence, Rockstar Reels feels like a site that has hit the ground running, with most of the basics covered and some welcome features, like a two-pronged welcome bonus and plenty of games you will find nowhere else.
However, there are several wrinkles that need to be ironed out before this site joins the ranks of excellent online casinos. Most notably, the bonus terms could be a little more flexible, a mobile app needs to be added and a bit more variety offered in the live dealer suite. For that reason, we have settled on a score of 7/10. However, the potential is definitely there for Rockstar Reels to reach a higher score with a few minor adjustments. We will keep you up do date as to whether Rockstar Reels has made any of those adjustments, but, for the moment, it’s not a bad effort by any means from the new kid on the block.