888 Casino Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

888 casino has been around for some years now. It was founded in 1997 and is based in Gibraltar. This is an overseas British territory however, it has it's own government and legislature so the laws that apply to gambling companies in the UK do not apply to 888.com. It is one of the oldest casinos on the internet and that means it has the experience and the history behind it to justify it's design, games and approach to gambling. It became the first ever exclusively online casino to be licensed in the United States. This should tell you something about it's legitimacy, it's cybersecurity and ease of use. Not to mention it's terms and conditions are clearly written and this allows for anyone to understand what they are getting into and what are their rights under this document. But let’s do a deep dive into what is good about 888.com and what is bad. As well as the downright ugly.

What happened in 2013

In around 2006 online gambling companies were told to clear out as the then President Bush signed into law, a bill that was pushed by Congress to outlaw online gambling sites across the Atlantic. This meant that companies that were based outside of the United States were forced to pick up and leave. There were attempts to sell assets as quickly as possible. Many companies such as Sportingbet were forced to sell their operations in the United States for as little as $1. This was unseen before and made it seem like the country was not open for international business, at least in terms of gambling sites. Sportingbet were bought by Antigua-based Jazette Enterprises but they also took on the $13.2 million worth of debt. 

Then in 2013, in March, the Nevada Gaming Commission gave 888 Casino a licence to operate within the United States. This was a sign that the dust had settled but there were new laws and standards to be met by offshore or foreign gambling companies. The license explicitly said that it was an interactive gaming service provider. This does not mention gambling, so it seems like the law of needing to have a real-world brick and mortar retail gambling store, does not apply. In fact, they may not even be allowed to have this even if they wanted to. There is of course a catch. You generally have to be 21 years old to be able to gamble online using their platform. This is something that applies in New Jersey but the way that America is designed in terms of a political system, each jurisdiction will have its own laws regarding gambling and especially online gambling.

The Good

The variety offered by 888.com

There are some gambling sites that are niche and only specialize in some games. This is not the case with 888 Casino. They are as the name suggests, a full online casino, with just about every single game you can play in a real world casino. Here is a list of the games they offer.

Roulette
There is standard roulette where you can apply as many chips as the set limits allow for. There are beginner tables ranging from $1 to $100 or more, then there are the advanced tables ranging into the thousands. There are also larger tables with tens of thousands of dollars as the limits. 
Blackjack
You can play in beginner tables with low limits but the seat at the tables might be limited. You may only have 3-5 players or less. The advanced tables will have 4-6 players while the larger seasoned better tables will be 6-8 players. 
Slots
There are lot of different slots with something for everyone. You don’t need to be told what slots are and how they work as they are probably the oldest gambling game in the world.
Live casino
This is a game with a live dealer. This could be for any game and it is for those that want a human face, maybe they don’t trust the algorithm of machines or they just want to enjoy the atmosphere of a live casino without being there. 
Video poker
This is played on a machine without necessarily a live table of players. This is for those that want a quick game of poker, without sitting down at a table and waiting for players. 
Progressive slots
This is when you start off small and then go up and up, with a potential for a huge jackpot. There are some slots that have payouts ranging in the tens of thousands of dollars. 
European roulette
This is a roulette wheel with a double zero. This may be a small change but it can have an effect on your chances of winning in the long term.
American roulette
American roulette has the double zero which is generally seen as a worse table than the European. If you make five-digit bets, you have more freedom to spread your bet around however.

All of these games do have tutorials and they show you how you can play them effectively. Some of them will require you to go through the tutorials before you can play them. You may learn something new but generally speaking, they are just there to show you what will happen in the game, when it will be your turn, your options and how to pace yourself. Gambling safety and mental health awareness is a big topic these days and so, each game will remind you to take your time and be responsible with your gambling.
In total 888.com has about 57 different games. So there is something for everyone.

Live casino

888.com has a live dealer which is not something every online gambling website has. But why is a live dealer such a great option? For some people, having a real dealer who is shuffling the cards in front of you, giving them out to players and giving commentary of what is going on in the game, gives them comfort. It may just be superstition as well, as some people only feel lucky when a real dealer is dealing cards for them.

There is no shortage of games with a live dealer. It's not like you can only get a live dealer for poker, or roulette. Every single game you play that needs a dealer, will have a dealer for any live dealer option.
One of the most popular choices for a live dealer is infinite blackjack. This is because some players want to play on for hours and hours, without the need for a table to be filled with another player, which some other virtual tables need. Live dealers also switch when their shift is up, so you can get a different personality over the time you are playing.
For the elite lounge of 888 Casino, this is where you will find the high roller games. In terms of casino poker, this is where all the bases are covered for the live dealer function. You can also play lighting dice, football studio and also monopoly live, with a real dealer.

Desktop and mobile gambling experience

Some online casino sites are really old fashioned. You can tell they don’t really want to upgrade and update their platform, as long as it works. But, this is not the old age of online gambling, where a good connection is the only important thing. People want to have an experience and therefore, graphics and the design of the casino has to be top notch. The theme and design has to capture the imagination of the players and make it seem like they’re in a professional set up.

For 888.com, the design is dark, sleek and the color scheme is in line with the brand. It's usually a lime green, which is symbolic of money. The text and the images are 3D, popping out of the screen and making you really feel like you’re on a fun professional online gambling website. 
The menu system when you first approach it, will be simple and clear. The loading time sof the pages is very good. This is a good sign from the outset as you can speed and bandwidth is really good. So if you are in the middle of a game, chances are it will be your connection that drops, not the 888 casino. 
The mobile experience is pretty good for both iOS and Android users. You can get the app on the iOS app store no problem, but for the Android platform, you have to get it from the website of 888 Casino. This might be because Android is the main platform in Europe and to save the hassle of changing their set up, they have just made websites only downloading for Android. 
The app is okay for smaller devices, as the buttons and options are able to be used with just one hand. You will find that for the desktop, you may need to download things as you go, so if you start a new game in blackjack for the first time, you may need to put up with the game slowing down from time to time. 
The login process is simple. You have an option to save your username and or email but your password may need to be typed in every single time. This is a benefit rather than a hindrance. So if your computer gets hacked you won’t be at risk of losing money if the 888 casino website is loaded up. It's also good if your phone gets stolen, and someone tries to log in using your account details.

Responsible gambling

As new gambling control laws have come in, casinos of all types have been forced to implement responsible gambling within their features. 888.com is no different and has been quite reasonable at doing this. When you first sign up for an account, you will be asked to set a deposit limit. This will be something you will be asked to do from time to time. This helps players to self-regulate, allowing them to set a limit before they start playing. You will want to go over your limit when you begin to lose as everyone wants to make back what they lost. But this is when it all comes crashing down and you begin to lose more and more. With a self-set deposit limit, you can protect yourself from losing too much. This is also helpful when you want to set daily limits if you are a frequent gambler.

888 casino will also set some spending limits. So even if you don’t take out a lot from your deposit, you may have limits for how much you can spend on your winnings. Maybe this is why they have a delayed withdrawal scheme for the average player, so they don’t get high off their winnings and keep coming back for more. They will also have game time reminders. So if you have been stuck playing for hours and hours, you will be reminded to take a break. 
You can also join a self-exclusion list. So if you set a limit for 1 hour, and a self-exclusion limit for 30. You can play for 1 hour and you will automatically be logged out or sit in the lobby without access to any of the games and tables, for half an hour. This can help people to take control of themselves and take time to let their emotions return to the level.

Website design

The sign up process is very simple, easy to follow and everything is up front. Nothing is ever hidden from you, the terms and conditions are easy to access. You may need a legal degree to understand everything, but there are some key terms you can search in Google and understand. Gambling is usually very simple when it comes to laws and regulations. A lot of work has been done to get rid of grey areas and businesses know they can't hide behind technicalities and circumstances. 

The website design is great and it has a good theme. Green is everything but there are little bits of light edges and different accents around the categories, buttons and various images. As you would expect, like any casino everything is shiny, glossy and sparkles a lot. The pages are not cluttered. So many casinos think bombarding you with lots of coins, cash and other details will entice you. But this is just a letter to the eyes and they don’t seem to realize we don’t want that at all. Just like any other website, it should be clean, have a good UX design so we can navigate around to where we want to go. 

The bad

So we have to cover the bad things to be fair and give players an honest perspective of what you may experience if they were to play on 888.com

The payout rate

The return to player percentage is reasonably good. You will get about 98% of your winnings on average. So if you were to make a $200 bet and win, you will get back $196. This does not occur for some games. Obviously, some games are easy, require less skill and the betting is smaller. For example, the slots will only give you around 96% of your winnings. This is something that is bad for slot players and can force you to bet higher once you have done the math of how much you will be paying 888 casino for the privilege. 

Not to mention, the payouts are not instant. So if you think you will make a bet on Friday and then take your winnings out on the town on the weekend, you are going to be disappointed. On average, it can take anywhere from 2-3 days for your winnings to come through to your bank account. This should not turn away seasoned gamblers but for someone who wants a quick game, win a couple hundred dollars and go to the game on the weekend, it can be a turn off. And, it's an online casino. It's supposed to be as good or better than the real world version right? Well in a real casino, you can take out your winnings on the same night. It might take a couple hours to get everything ready if it's a lot, such as six or seven digits. However, for 888.com, you may need to wait for 2-3 days. That’s kind of a joke.

The loyalty program

888 casino has a VIP program, just like most casinos in the real world. However, it's not like your wealth matters here, like it would in a real casino. You have to be invited by someone else, who is a VIP customer or you need to contact someone from the VIP customer support. Usually, your account balance in the casino should give you VIP status. If you put $500,000 in your account, you should immediately have VIP status and be allowed to play in the VIP games. However, it may take 7-days or more to be vetted and then allowed to get into the VIP games, which is far too long for an online casino. You already need to provide documents of your age and bank account when you sign up, so why do you need to jump through more hoops again?

And what it takes to be a VIP customer, isn’t made clear. It should just be your bank balance but they may need to know what job you have, where you got your wealth from and if you are able to pay if things go south. 
When you do finally get access, you will notice there are three tiers. The perks and allowances for the tiers will not be the same. Once again, you need to jump through hoops. Apparently, there are some players that are more VIPs than others…
The perks you get as a VIP player is a dedicated account manager. You will also have access to faster withdrawals and you will regularly get bonuses for playing. You may also have access to exclusive events. Why normal players can’t get quicker withdrawals and bonuses for continuously playing, is a little disappointing but that is what VIP is for we suppose.

The Ugly

Even though 888.com is allowed in the United States, it is not regulated by any jurisdiction or regulator. The company is regulated by the UK gambling commission. It's also listed in London, but based in Gibraltar. So it meets the listed requirements for gambling companies in the UK, is regulated by the UK, but it's legal field is in Gibraltar. So here you have a system of benefits and protections that exclude the United States from the real detail of how the company operates. So if you are based in the United States and you have an issue with the company, chances are that you will have to take your case to Gibraltar or the UK gambling commission. No one in the US can help you.

The cap

There is a withdrawal cap that can prohibit high roller players, forcing them to sign up for the more expensive VIP account. This may not be a big issue for normal players who only need to withdraw a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars. But if you are a high roller and you want to withdraw your own money, whenever you feel like it, and you want to withdraw a hundred thousand or more, then you will be prohibited from doing so. 

This forces some wealthier players to either set up a newbie account and play for a smaller amount each day, or sign up for the more expensive VIP account. Or just go elsewhere. So there seems to be a false elitism, whereby those with a higher balance are penalized while being given ‘perks’.

Bonuses good but low frequency

The deposit bonus is low in comparison with other casinos. Why is this? Well, it's kind of strange. You would think that a maximum bonus of $500 would help but this is only for the upper limit of the deposit. If you put the minimum deposit of $10, then you probably won’t get anything unless you are setting up your account for the first time. Then you might get $50 or $100. However, even if you do put in the upper limit, the frequency of getting the bonus is few and far between. This can mean that you put in a lot of money into your account but you may only get one mediocre bonus one a month or less.

This is for those who are VIP and non-VIP players. However, for the non-VIP players the deposit limits are not stringent. You can place a small amount every month to keep your account active and you can get small bonuses more often. This is just to get you playing. If you show that your account is not using that bonus to play, it will not be withdrawable and it can cease to be given to you. So this shows, account monitoring is done, albeit most likely by bots on the website.
Oh and by the way, the reload bonuses are only for those that are citizens of the UK, or the Virgin Islands, as well as other UK overseas territories. So this is quite bad for players in Europe and those in the United States. But what is a reload bonus? This is when you have depleted your account and are reloading with a fresh account balance or during a game when you have been wiped and would like to reload to the full or minimum amount at a table. Since you’re playing more and gambling more, you should get some kind of bonus, but this is only for British players and those who reside on British overseas territories. Quite a bad point that we thought we should mention.

No live chat

One of the reasons we go to casinos is for the atmosphere. So you would expect the online casino of your choice to give you some kind of replication of that atmosphere. The only thing they can give you is live chat. So you can speak with the other players, make little bluffs, talk about your day or a great hand you played earlier on with someone at the table. However, there is no live chat at all.

That’s right, in an online casino, you cannot text chat with the other people at the table. There is no conversation and it feels quiet, slow and with a total lack of atmosphere. For some people, without this function they won’t want to play. And the thing is, why isn’t 888.com providing this feature? Do they not want to regulate chat for racist or other harmful remarks? Do they not have a good in-chat system? Do they not trust players to not spam links in the chat? We don’t know.

Phone support is inconvenient

If you have an issue with your account and you want to call 888.com, you should expect a decent wait on the line. They don’t really have superb phone support, in fact it's not something you should rely on much. The problem is, it's an international line, so any call you make will incur high costs. It's based in Gibraltar which is at the southern tip of Spain, but they have offices in the UK as well. If you are in the US you will find that it takes them several minutes to get into contact with who you want to talk to.

Time limit on bonuses

If you plan on going away for a week, don’t top up your balance on 888.com. The bonuses that you get, have to be claimed within 48 hours. After this amount of time, they vanish. This is something that makes no sense. If the bonus was for you specifically, such as for a deposit bonus, then why should it not be there when you are ready to claim it? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for the bonuses being time limited. It's not something that you would expect, if you deposit a thousand dollars or more, and they can’t even seem to hold a $100 bonus for no reason. 

Our Verdict

888.com is generally a great gambling website with lots of different games. It's the only online-only gambling website in America and that is great for someone who is used to using this website, outside of the country. So if you plan on going to America and continuing to play on 888.com, you won’t be hindered as it's not banned in the country. 

There is a great variety of games as mentioned, so there is something for everyone. You can of course see that the website is designed properly, it's easy to use and the sign up process is simple.
You can also see that there are some downsides. Aside from the usual stuff, the chat feature that is lacking is simply pathetic. Not being able to chat with other players using text is quite a step backward. If you don’t like the chat, just turn it off, but why penalize everyone?