Golden Star Casino: A Straightforward Look at a Long-Time Player
Are you fed up of casinos which vanish as fast as the Toronto Maple Leafs do every playoffs? Golden Star has been around a while, since 2012; it has been part of the industry for quite some time and is well known. There are only two ways for a casino like this to go – they are either going to grow and become dominant or they are going to slowly disappear.
Golden Star has been licensed and operated by Dama N.V., which operates several other casinos; so it's not a new kid on the block. The casino is licensed to operate under licence number OGL/2023/174/0082 from Curaçao from 23.08.2024, but does not have a licence to operate in Malta; however, that does not mean it is a shady operation. The casino has a neon-style design with glowing buttons, dark background colours and overall, the site is very straightforward to navigate, even your uncle who only plays VLTs, could manage. There are several different languages available: German, English, French, Arabic etc.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland are all welcome to play. However, players from the UK, the US and France will have difficulty joining the casino. The currencies used at Golden Star are generally euros, dollars, Swiss francs, Bitcoin, Ether and Tether. The site for mobile works smoothly on both iOS and Android. There is also the option to "add to home screen" so you can feel like you own a mini-casino on your phone.
Signing Up: Easier Than Buying a GO Train Ticket
Tim Hortons has pretty simple steps to signing up for an account at Golden Star. You'll need to provide your email and password, select a currency (BTC, EUR, CAD) and confirm that information, and then fill out your name, address, birthday, and phone number before being registered. That's all you have to do; however, Golden Star does have a zero-tolerance policy for people with more than one account. So, if you want to avoid getting banned, you shouldn't create multiple accounts.
In order to cash out for the first time, you will have to verify a few things:
- Your passport or identification card
- Proof of your address, like a utility bill or rental agreement
- Possibly a picture of your card depending on how you paid
The verification process generally takes just a few hours.
Curaçao Gaming License: Not as Serious as Other Gaming Licenses, but Not a Total Joke Either
Curaçao is not exactly a tough love authority, but they are pretty good at keeping you safe as a player. They have the minimum requirements for keeping your data secure and for fairness. Additionally, their use of SSL encryption with 256-bit keys through Cloudflare is impressive (last updated 02/25/2022).
Bonuses: Tempting, But Watch the Fine Print
Look beyond the surface of these bonuses for details:
Welcome Package
- First Deposit = 100% up to €1000 or 100mBTC + 100 Free Spins divided evenly at a max of (20) per day for (5) days. Minimum deposit = €30. Bonus Code = GS100.
- Second Deposit = 75% up to €100. Minimum deposit = €20. Bonus Code = GS75.
- Third Deposit = 50% up to €100. Minimum deposit = €20. Bonus Code = GS50.
Additional Bonuses
- Friday/Sunday Reload - 50% up to €1000 + (60) free spins Bonus Code = LUCKY50. Minimum deposit = €40. Wagering Requirement = 40x.
- Wednesday Free Spins: Make a deposit of (€20) or more to receive a varying number of free spins (see promo page for details).
- Lottery: The more you deposit, the more entries you earn. Prizes for entry can be cash or spins (Wagering = 3x).
- Occasionally No Deposit Bonus available (e.g., 20 free spins after signing up). Keep an eye out for these!
Wagering Requirements of 40x in a 14 day period makes it very difficult to clear. If you receive a €100 bonus, you will have to wager (4000) total before you can withdraw any funds from that bonus after meeting, if applicable, the time frame. Additionally, not every game counts toward clearing or gaining credits for clearing the wagering requirement. For example, playing high RTP games will provide little benefit to you towards clearing your wagering requirement. Winnings capped at €10000, may lose your winnings if they exceed your original deposit amount, or if you fail to meet the wagering requirements.
Loyalty Program: Like Air Miles, But for Slot Fans
Overall, this program does have its merits. For each €70 slot wagered (or €140 in other games), members will receive 1 CP (complimentary point). Members can redeem points based on their level of loyalty – the higher one's level, the more valuable your point to use in exchange for rewards will be.
The highest-tier, Black Pearl Level, will yield excellent rewards, but it will take commitment from a member to reach that level.
The Game Selection: A Zurich Christmas Market/Jackpot Combination
Golden Star provides an expansive library of games. There are more than 9300 games from 89 different game providers. This is more than Netflix can provide during the holiday season.
Here's A Breakdown Of What You Will Find:
- Slots (approximately 6476): From classic games like Starburst to newer video slots using Megaways and offering bonus buy options. Also, there are a few of the more significant jackpot video slots such as Mega Moolah, where the jackpot will exceed 1 million in winnings.
- Table Games (roughly 100): Traditional table games are offered here as well. They include blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, and craps.
- Crypto & Digital Games: Games that can use and are crypto-friendly include Plinko, crypto slots, crypto roulette, and even some versions of Mines; a definite YES if you are a fan of bitcoin.
- Miscellaneous: Scratch cards, instant win games, and video poker; all of which are similar to those of the ticket machine at any train station in Switzerland, except these are all digital.
Live Casino
Golden Star has over 200 live tables featuring the latest technology from developers such as Evolution Gaming and Ezugi.
- Roulette includes classic games and Lightning Roulette (with betting ranges from €0.20 to €5000) and maybe up to x500 multipliers.
- Blackjack fans can enjoy Classic Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, or Power Blackjack, all with betting options from €1 – €10000 (high rollers can use VIP rooms).
- Baccarat players have Speed, No Commission, or Punto Banco to choose from.
- Poker players have Three Card, Casino Hold'em, or Caribbean Stud.
- Game shows feature Dream Catcher, Crazy Time, and Monopoly Live – think Family Feud but for grown-ups who have money to spend.
- Unique games include Sic Bo, Andar Bahar and Dragon Tiger.
The professional dealers, the HD streams, and user-friendly interface will create that feeling of being at an actual casino in Baden-Baden. It is like going out without having to change out of your sweatpants.
Golden Star has created a real casino experience for their customers. Their live dealer site provides a variety of games that appeal to those located in the DACH region.
Key Features:
- Multilingual Dealers: Players can opt for tables in a different language (i.e., English, German, Russian or Arabic), allowing them to completely focus on their strategy and the gameplay as opposed to language.
- Diverse Studio Environments: Choose from either classic-style, sophisticated retail-type casino halls that feel like Baden or energy-drenched, themed-style "Dragon Tiger suite" of all Asian influences.
- High Rollers: They have personally monitored VIP tables with minimum bets starting at €500.
- Spectator Mode: Even though there is no demo version for live games, you can watch live action from actual gaming without having to place any bets; this will give you a greater understanding of how all of the various tables interact with one another.
Room for Improvement: Although the quality level is very high, number of live tables available to play (200) compared to over 9,300 different slots is limited; players who enjoy playing roulette will find plenty of options at all tables, however; whereas players who want to play niche table games will have limited options. Your internet connection will dictate the performance of the live streaming; if you're using an unreliable high-speed connection, you will experience streaming latency. Lastly, expectations of how interactive dealers will be will depend on the specific providers. An Evolution Gaming dealer is often regarded as being one of the more interactive dealers whereas others are generally regarded as being much less so.
A superior alternative to playing conventional card games can be found in the current gaming favourite; a popular game show called crazy time which is a high-production alternative that incorporates elements from the wheel and creates high-value multipliers giving the player additional excitement for a normal casino gambling experience.
Payment Transactions
The speed and clarity of payment transactions at Golden Star are above standard and completed quickly while adhering to standard security procedures;
Transaction Limits:
- Minimum Deposit of €10.00
- Minimum Withdrawal of €20.00
- Monthly Withdrawal Limit - 15k Euros in total for ALL players. A VIP player may have custom limits that are higher than those posted above.
Supported Payment Methods:
- Credit/Debit Cards - Visa, Mastercard and Maestro; Deposits made by Credit/Debit card will be immediately credited; while withdrawals made viaCrab are usually received in 1-3 business days (the preferred payment method for traditional bank users in Germany).
- E-Wallets - (Skrill, Neteller, ecopayz, and MuchBetter) for withdrawal processing speed is 5-24 hour approximately.
- Cryptocurrency - players will be allowed to receive payments using coinspaid.com as an alternative to traditional banking methods. The payment methods allowed for the cryptocurrency category are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether and Dogecoin. Players in tech-savvy countries such as Austria and Switzerland have a preference for receiving their payments almost instantaneously with cryptocurrency.
- Prepaid & Bank Transfers - paysafecard & astropay are two popular alternatives for prepaid banking products. Additionally, bank transfer options are available but may take up to 3 business days for completion as stated above.
Note: Most deposits are free and most transactions through Skrill & Neteller assess a processing fee of 2.5% for all withdrawals.
KYC (Verify ID):
As part of the requirement under anti-money laundering, you must verify your ID before your first withdrawal by providing a valid form of identification, proof of residence, and confirmation that you have sufficient funds to make the withdrawal in your payment method or other accessible ways. Approval of documentation usually happens within hours but may take up to 24 hours on busy days.
Customer Support
Live Human Interaction: A significant strength of Golden Star is their commitment to providing real-time interaction with their customers. All the members of staff are highly trained agents, and there are no automated reply systems.
- Chat: Live chat is available 24/7 for registered users or guests. Response times are amazing, averaging less than 2 minutes even when there is high traffic.
- Email Support: Email support is available for more complex inquiries (support@goldenstar-casino.com). They typically respond in under an hour.
- Phone Support: You may also contact their customer support team via the telephone for direct assistance with any questions.
Although the support staff strives to provide excellent customer service, they will not waive any of the referenced Terms and Conditions related to multi-accounting, bonus abuse, etc.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
- Huge Selection of Games: 9,300 games powered by 89 high-quality suppliers
- Fantastic Welcome Offer: €1,000 and 100 Free Spins
- Fast Payments: E-Wallets and cryptocurrencies are processed as fast as 8 hours
- Dual Currency Capabilities: Supports fiat (Euros) and a variety of crypto
- Regional Support: 24/7 customer support team available in multiple languages including German
Disadvantages
- High Wagering Playthrough: Completing the 40x playthrough on bonuses is difficult
- Lack of Licensing: As only licensed to operate under the Curaçao licensing authority, players are less protected in legal disputes than they would be under the laws of MGA or UKGC
- Size of Live Casino: The number of live dealer games is smaller than that of the slots.
- Withdrawal Fees for Specific E-wallet: Users are charged fees using certain E-wallets e.g. Skrill and Neteller.
Security & Player Welfare
Golden Star has implemented generally accepted industry security standards for protecting player data and ensuring fair game play.
- Data Protection: 256-bit SSL encryption by Cloudflare.
- Fair Game Play: All games have been iTechLabs-certified to ensure random number generators work properly.
- Responsible Gaming: Players may set limits on deposits, losses, and session times, as well as selecting self-exclusion.
While the Golden Star platform provides a secure environment for recreational players, it should be noted that a Curaçao gaming licence provides limited options for mediation of disputes arising from serious regulatory matters.
FAQ
How much money can I withdraw from any no deposit and/or free spins bonus?
The maximum amount of money that can be withdrawn at once when using a no deposit or free spins bonus or similar promotional offers during sign-up will be in amounts not greater than €50 or the equivalent of any other currency. You will not be able to withdraw this amount of money after you have completed the turnover requirements.
Will I be able to withdraw my winnings from a no deposit bonus without having made a deposit?
No, you will be required to make a deposit to be able to withdraw any winnings from no deposit or registration bonuses, regardless of how many times you've played. You will not be able to withdraw your winnings until a deposit has been made.
Are there limits on bonus winnings in general?
Yes, all bonus-related activities have a limit on total bonuses and winnings including deposit bonuses, tournament prizes and tournament VIP prizes to no more than €10,000 or equivalent in any currency. If a person wins more than this amount of money while participating in any bonus-related activity, the amount won will be cancelled and will not be paid out.
At Golden Star, what is considered as bonus abuse?
Any action that qualifies as creating multiple accounts, using an opposite betting strategy, delaying a bonus game until after the required wagering has been completed counts as bonus abuse. Depending on each case, confirmed instances of abuse may result in account suspension or the disqualification of winnings.
What does the casino do regarding multiple accounts created from one home?
Players can use a bonus only once per player, per IP address, per device and per household. Therefore, if the casino finds that there are multiple accounts for any one of these criteria, the player will forfeit all winnings earned from their bonuses.
Does a maximum bet apply when wagering for bonuses?
Yes. The maximum allowable bet while wagering for a bonus is €5 or its equivalent. This includes times when wagers were made at the end of a game round and the bonus was redeemed using the bonus buy feature. If the maximum allowable bet limit is exceeded in any manner, the bonus will become invalid.
What can I do if I want to cancel a bonus after claiming it?
You will be able to cancel the bonus without impacting your cash balance; however, after placing a bet using your bonus funds, you will be unable to cancel the bonus, and if you do, you will lose any winnings.
Are there any games that will not contribute to my bonus play?
There are many slot machines that are excluded from contributing to your bonus wagering; therefore, those games are considered blocked until you fulfil the requirements of the bonus or cancel the bonus.
If I do not complete the wagering before the bonus period is over, what will happen?
All bonuses expire after 14 days unless otherwise specified; if you do not complete the wagering on or before the 14-day deadline, you will lose the bonus and the related winnings.
Is it possible to use more than one bonus at a time?
No, you are only able to use one active bonus at a time. You cannot combine these bonuses together, and the new bonus will cancel the previous bonus.
Player Reviews and Complaints
I like their promotions and and bonuses. It's fair and share. Games are really cool to play with and I think I have my favorite game already. l will try to win next time so I can see if claiming my money is as fast as taking my deposits.
Brief reliable casino without any risk
And I usually loose in a minute, but here I can play for hours and withdraw some money to play more.
First withdrawal was super fast and so was second and third. Maybe once you're approved withdrawal could be immediate but okay.
I still love this casino.
No negative experience so far.
It has higher withdrawal limits than other casinos which makes if very appealing!
Overall great casino good layout and user friendly, providing great VIP perks. I really don't have any negative things ti say about the Goldenstar casino. The only thing which can be improved are the VIP program perks. Some casinos have free alias bonus and cash bonus for hitting different VIP levels which would be great to see on Goldenstar. Other than that, I am very happy with the casino.