Betting is a popular pastime around the world, but it actually takes on a life of its own in the UK. With a betting shop on just about every street corner, gambling is woven into the fabric of the country. When online gambling started to become popular in the late 1990s, it wouldn’t be long before the powerhouse brands behind the betting shops in England would get into the action. Today, we are reviewing one of these brands with our review of Gala Casino.
Does having ties to a land-based gambling operation help or hurt this casino in the eyes of our readers? I will be doing a deep dive into the history of this site, including their entire product offering, and at the end of this review, you will get an honest decision on whether or not you should choose them as a place to make a deposit and play.
About Gala Casino
Gala Casino is one of the many brands owned and operated by the Gala Coral Group out of the UK. Along with Ladbrokes and William Hill, Coral is recognized as the industry leaders in the land-based betting arena so you can expect that expertise to be fully utilized in their online offerings. To comply with regulations, the actual organization listed as the operator of this site and Gala Bingo is Gala Interactive Limited from Gibraltar.
The company obviously has licenses which govern their land-based betting businesses; for the online gaming portion of their empire, the sites are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Gibraltar Gaming Authority. These licenses are among the toughest for any group to receive, so this should give you a great sense of safety when it comes to playing and depositing at this casino.
Who Can Play at Gala Casino?
To comply with the regulatory boards who issued their gaming licenses, Gala Casino has a short list of countries who are allowed to register and play for real money. This is a real bummer for those of us who do not live in those jurisdictions; as you will read as we go into detail about the casino offering, these guys have gone above and beyond to deliver the best suite of games to their players (at least the ones who can access the games).
Here are the only countries that ARE allowed to play at Gala Casino:
- Argentina
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Georgia
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Russia
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- New Zealand
Software Suppliers
Well, this section of the review could take up an entire page. Let me be perfectly clear here: Gala have used their prominent stature in the gambling community to secure partnership arrangements with all of the best software platforms on the planet. We’ll go into detail on what types of games you can play with some of these software companies (not all of them have their full suite of games listed at Gala). Let’s look at the list of vendors who have a relationship with Gala for this site.
- Electracade
- Evolution Gaming
- Ash Gaming
- IGT
- Playtech
- NextGen
- Blueprint Gaming
- Microgaming
- Net Entertainment
- WMS
- Inspired Gaming
- Realistic Games
- Bally Technologies
- Geco Gaming
- Push Gaming
- Quickspin
- Cryptologic Software
- Endemol Games
- CORE Gaming
- Random Logic Software
- Barcrest
This is the longest list of suppliers I have ever seen in any of my casino reviews; I will say that it made checking out the games a lot of fun!
The Good Stuff
Land-Based Facilities
While the two companies sit at arm’s length, it is still very comforting to know that if you have a real issue that you can’t seem to deal with online, you can walk into a betting shop and try to deal with it that way. If I know these guys, they will not want to have any issues come to light in a public facility being frequented by other patrons. I am hopeful that you don’t need to resort to these tactics, but it is always good to know there is a face to speak with live.
Be an Instant Millionaire
When you have partnerships with all the biggest casino software companies in the world, you get access to all of their best progressive jackpot games. This is definitely the case at Gala Casino, where you will find a tab dedicated to all the ways you can hit it big with one spin of the reels. The largest of these is definitely Jackpot Giant, which currently has a jackpot that stands at well over GBP 7 Million! That is some life-changing money, and these jackpots do burst, so now is the time to jump in and give them a shot.
The Bad Stuff
Bonus Terms and Conditions
I will give the team at Gala credit here; they don’t shy away from the fact that they have some detailed, intense Terms and Conditions for their bonuses, especially their Welcome Bonus. Regardless, I have seen mortgages that have fewer rules and regulations written for them. Considering how small the maximum bonus amounts are, I am surprised to see the company be this stingy when it comes to allowing players actually to earn them.
No Deposit or Withdrawal in Betting Shops
I am not sure how I feel about this; I know that the land-based business and online sites are kept separate corporately, but they all roll up into the same publicly-traded entity, so it seems only fitting that you should be able to access your account and make financial transactions at the live betting shops. Not being able to walk into the shop and access your winning seems like they have missed something here. I have contacted the casino to find out why this is the case; I will update this review when I receive the answer.
Casino Game Selection
Now we are into the meat of this review and trust me, I won’t be able to cover it all on this page. I am going to do my best to explain how this casino is set up and the best games for you to try. At the end of it, you will probably want to check it all out for yourself.
Table Games
Normally, I would start my review with the slot catalog, but to be honest, with this many choices for Table Games, I feel it deserves the top billing. Typically, when a casino uses multiple software vendors, it is mainly to gain more slots content. At Gala, however, they also give you the option to play Table Games from different suppliers. I know that this means a lot to the seasoned gambler; sometimes it can seem that just a change of look and feel can alter a session. With Gala, you don’t have to leave the casino to get the change of scenery.
Here are the Table Games that are available at Gala, broken down by each software supplier:
Playtech
- Baccarat
- Casino War
- Red Dog
- Roulette
- Craps
- Pai Gow Poker
- Keno
- Single Deck Blackjack
- Caribbean Poker
- Sic Bo
- Pontoon
- Around the World
- Blackjack Switch
- Bonus Bowling
- Casino Hold ‘Em
- Derby Day Horse Racing
- Dice Twister
- Heads or Tails
- Jackpot Darts
- Let Them Ride
- Mahjong
- Mega Ball
- Pachinko
- Penalty Shootout
- Poker Three
- Rock Paper Scissors
- Roller Coaster Dice
- Tequila Poker
- Wild Viking
- Bingo
- Blackjack Surrender
- Blackjack/American Blackjack/Perfect Blackjack
- Blackjack Pro
- Double Attack Blackjack
- Lucky Blackjack
- Casino Reels
- Final Score
- Genie’s Hi Lo
- Knockout
- Wheel of Light
Microgaming
- Baccarat
- Red Dog
- Roulette
- 3 Card Poker
- Craps
- Pai Gow Poker
- Keno
- Sic Bo
- Crown and Anchor
- Cyberstud Poker
- Double Exposure
- Poker Pursuit
- Spanish Blackjack
- Spingo
- Three Wheeler
Cryptologic
- Baccarat
- Casino War
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Let it Ride
- Red Dog
- Roulette
- Texas Hold ‘Em Bonus
- Triple Action Hold ‘Em
- Craps
- Pai Gow Poker
- Vegas Three Card Rummy
- Sic Bo
- Over Poker
- Pontoon
- Scratch Cards
- Solitaire
- Super Fun 21
- Three Card Poker
Random Logic
- Baccarat
- Roulette
- Craps
- Pai Gow Poker
- Keno
- Caribbean Poker
Net Entertainment
- Baccarat
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Red Dog
- Roulette
- Scratch Cards
- Casino Hold ‘Em
- Bingo
- Golden Derby
- Bonus Keno
- Oasis Poker
- TXS Hold ’em
Live Dealer Games
But wait, there’s more! If the traditional digital versions of some table games aren’t enough for you, now you have the option of playing against a real dealer! You can stream some Table Games live from a studio somewhere in Eastern Europe which is run by Evolution Gaming, the industry leader in Live Dealer games. Using wacky looking extra large cards, you can get the feeling of playing Blackjack that you might get from sitting in a land-based casino. These games are a ton of fun to play; here are the choices you will find in the Live Casino lobby:
- Baccarat
- Roulette
- Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em
- Three Card Poker
- Casino Hold ‘Em
Slots
Ok, we can all take a deep breath now; as you can see, there are a ton of great Table Games options at Gala. However, the slots area also features a vast array of amazing titles for you to choose from. Most of the larger software suppliers have created content licensing deals with major entertainment brands, meaning you will not only find all of their great in-house developed brands, but you can see titles featuring your favorite movies, TV shows and personalities. All of this adds up to one of the largest slots catalogs I have ever seen in one online casino lobby. Here are some of the great options in front of you:
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
- Action Bank
- Adventures in Wonderland
- Age of the Gods
- Age of the Gods: Furious 4
- Age of the Gods: Goddess of Wisdom
- Age of the Gods: King of Olympus
- An Evening with Holly Madison
- A Night Out
- Apollo Rising
- Around the World in 80 Plays
- A While on the Nile
- Bank Buster
- Batman & Catwoman Cash
- Batman & The Joker Jewels
- Batman & The Riddler Riches
- Battleship
- Bruce Lee
- Bubble Craze
- Buffalo Blitz
- Cake Off
- Candy Bars
- Captain’s Treasure 9 line
- Captain Cannon’s Circus of Cash
- Cats
- Catwalk
- Centurion: Free Spins
- Centurion: Maximus Winnus
- Chests of Plenty
- Chippendales
- Cinerama
- Cleopatra
- Cleopatra’s Chest
- Cleopatra Plus
- Clover Rollover
- Easter Surprise
- Elvis: The King Lives
- Emmerdale Country Capers
- Emperor’s Garden
- Fire Opals
- Firestar
- Fireworks
- Fireworkz Blitz
- Flame of Fortune
- Football Fans
- Football Rules!
- Fortune Dragons
- Fortune Dragons Fun Drop
- Fountain of Youth
- Ghostbusters
- Ghosts of Christmas
- Gladiator Jackpot
- Goblin’s Cave
- Goddess of Life
- Goddess of the Amazon
- Golden Games
- Golden Goddess
- Golden Tour
- Hexbreaker 2
- Highway Kings
- Highway Kings PRO
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Hot Cross Bunnies
- Hot Cross Bunnies: Loadsabunny
- Jackpot Jewels
- Jekyll & Hyde
- Jewel Dolphins
- Jewel in the Crown
- Jewel Strike
- Kingdom of Fortune
- King Kong Cash
- Kitty Glitter
- Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World
- Kronos
- Legend of Triton
- Legends of Racing: Flat Season
- Legends of Racing: Jump Season
- Leprechaun’s Luck
- Little Britain
- MegaJackpots Isle O’ Plenty
- MegaJackpots Siberian Storm
- MegaJackpots Wolf Run
- Miss White
- Money Multiplier
- Monopoly Bring The House Down
- Montezuma
- Monty’s Millions
- Monty Python’s Life of Brian
- Monty Python’s Spamalot!
- Pet Luck
- Pharaoh’s Fortune
- Pharaoh’s Treasure
- Pink Panther
- Rapunzel’s Tower
- Red Hot Wild
- Reel Gems
- Rise of Anubis
- Rock ‘n’ Roller
- Silent Samurai
- Silver Bullet
- Si Xiang
- Slots O’ Gold
- Super Gold 7s
- Super Graphics Super Lucky
- Supernova
- Texas Tea
- Thai Flower
- Thai Paradise
- The 100000 Pyramid
- The Gold Mine
- The Great Pyramid
- The Guardians
- The Jazz Club
- The X-Factor Jackpot
- Thrill Seekers
- Thundercats
- Titan Storm
- Tokidoki Lucky Town
- Triple Diamond
- Triple Red Hot 7s Free Games
- Ugga Bugga
- Vegas Baby!
- Wheel of Fortune On Tour
- Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme! Spin
- White King – Bai Shi
- White Knight
- White Orchid
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire
- Wild Antics
- Wishing You Fortune
- Wu Long
- Xcalibur
- Zeus
- Zeus 1000
- Zeus God of Thunder
Video Poker
When you are done with the Table games and Slots, or if you just prefer to play Video Poker, you are going to love what you see at Gala Casino. Again, you will be able to select from different suppliers, but most of the standard games are covered by the Playtech offering. Here is a sample of the games you will find:
- Aces and Faces
- Jacks or Better
- Pick ‘Em Poker
- Deuces Wild
- Jokers Poker (kings or better)
- Tens or Better
- Mega Jacks — Progressive
Promotions
As I mentioned in the Bad Stuff part of this review, I was not at all thrilled to see the long list of T&C for the deposit promotions. That being said, I am still going to highlight a couple of the promotions so you can see what the site has to offer:
Welcome Bonus
I will say this about the site: they did something smart when it comes to their Welcome Bonus. Casino players are typically split into two camps; Table Games players and Slots players. Unfortunately, bonuses are not usually designed with both sets of players in mind. Gala takes their Welcome Bonus one step further by giving players three different options for your first bonus. Here is how it all works:
- 100% Slots Bonus to $400
- 50% Roulette Bonus to $200
- 50% Blackjack Bonus to $200
Now, you must choose only one of these bonuses, and you only have 14 days to meet the wagering requirement or else the remaining bonus cash is removed from your account. However, I do like that they are separating the three games as they require a different type of play to be able to convert the bonus into cash.
The site also has bonuses for your second and third deposits; the full details of these can be found on their promotions page.
Golden Card Promotion
This is a promo that is specific to an individual variant of blackjack, but it really doesn’t require much in the way of execution, which I like. Here are the details of the promo:
Play Exclusive Blackjack in the Live Casino, and if you’re dealt a Golden Card you could win a bonus up to £100!
Here’s how:
- DEPOSIT: £20 or more during the current week
- PLAY: on our Exclusive Blackjack table on Live Casino
- EARN: a bonus up to £100 if you’re dealt a Golden Card!
If the dealer is dealt a Golden Card, every player seated at the table will win an instant £20 bonus!
As for the rest of the ongoing promotions, you will find a great selection at the casino website. I must say that I am impressed with the overall breadth of the promotions – a lot of casinos stick to just the standard reload bonuses, but not Gala! Check out their page regularly for new promotions as they look to be adding new ones on a monthly basis.
Banking
With the majority of their players coming from European countries, it is not shocking to note that the payment solutions they use at Gala Casino are tailored to that market. I am certain that they have negotiated the best rates with each supplier, which means they probably don’t care which one you use. If it were me, I would use an e-wallet solution as those are typically the fastest from a payment perspective.
Deposit Methods
- EcoPayz
- Maestro
- MasterCard
- Neteller
- PayPal
- Paysafecard
- Visa Debit
- Visa
- Skrill
- Skrill 1-Tap
Withdrawal Methods
- Bank Wire
- ECO Card
- Maestro
- MasterCard
- Neteller
- PayPal
- Visa Debit
- Visa
- Instant Banking
- Skrill
Comp Program
Gala offers its players a Comp program which is similar in nature to the majority of programs you will find at an online casino. The program is straightforward. You are rewarded with one comp point for every $10 you wager in a real money game at their casino. You can redeem points for cash at a rate or $1 for every 100 points. I always recommend that players keep an eye on their points balance and convert them as quickly as possible; not only do you want to get that cash into your account, but the points do expire, so you don’t want to get caught realizing that all hard work is for nothing.
VIP Program
I am very impressed with the VIP Program at Gala Casino. First, it gets great reviews from players who have spoken about it on casino forums sites. Second, the amount of information they give you on the website is staggering. Those of you who have read my reviews in the past know how much it aggravates me that sites hold back on both the qualification criteria as well as the rewards for each level in a VIP program. Here is a small sample of how Gala explains their program:
How to Qualify For VIP:
Level | Deposits (per month) | Comp Points (per month) |
---|---|---|
Bronze | £500 | 250 |
Silver | £2,000 | 1000 |
Gold | £4,000 | 2000 |
Platinum | Invitation only |
Bronze
- 24 Hour VIPA Team Support
- Up to £50 Welcome Bonus
- Weekly Cashback 5% in cash up to £2,000
- Comp Point Conversion Rate 95:1
- Wednesday Recharge up to £100
- Priority Withdrawals
- VIP Table Limits
- Exclusive VIP Promotions & Events
Silver
- 24 Hour VIPA Team Support
- Up to £100 Welcome Bonus
- Weekly Cashback 5% in cash up to £3,000
- Comp Point Conversion Rate 90:1
- Wednesday Recharge up to £250
- Exclusive Silver VIP monthly Prize Draw
- Priority Withdrawals
- VIP Table Limits
- Exclusive VIP Promotions & Events
Gold
- 24 Hour VIPA Team Support
- Dedicated Personal Account Manager
- Up to £250 Welcome Bonus
- Weekly Cashback 10% in cash up to £5,000
- Comp Point Conversion Rate 85:1
- Wednesday Recharge up to £500
- Exclusive Gold VIP Monthly Prize Draw
- Priority Withdrawals
- VIP Table Limits
- Exclusive VIP Promotions & Events
Platinum
- 24 Hour VIPA Team Support
- Dedicated Personal Account Manager
- Bespoke Offers & Bonuses
- Weekly Cashback 20% in cash unlimited
- Comp Point Conversion Rate 80:1
- Wednesday Recharge up to £1,000
- Exclusive Platinum VIP monthly Prize Draw
Right away, you can see the benefits of moving up levels within the program, and with ease, you can determine how much effort you need to put in to move to the next stage. There are even more details about the special events and such that are put on for VIP members. To me, this is one of the best-developed programs I have ever come across.
Customer Service
I already talked about the nuclear option of just walking into a Coral location to have someone deal with your issues at Gala; let’s assume you won’t need to get to that point, but you may have concerns regardless.
If you need to have an issue resolved, the first thing I would do is head to their FAQ section. This is very well laid out, and you can search by your question (hopefully the right answer will come up for you!). If you can’t find what you are looking for, then you can reach them by Live Chat or by email. I did not see a telephone number for them on their site, which leads me to believe that they probably want you to use the other methods.
Would I Play at Gala Casino?
Well, let’s put it this way: it’s almost worth moving to one of the non-restricted countries to access everything that Gala has to offer. From an extensive list of games from multiple software providers to an incredibly detailed VIP program, there is a lot to love here. Yes, there is some red tape when it comes to clearing bonuses, but if you can look past that, then you are definitely going to find one of the best online casino experiences around. I highly recommend Gala Casino to any of my readers.