Platinum Play Casino review

URL: www.platinumplay.com
Software: Microgaming
Software Type: PC download and install. Flash version available.
Accepted Deposit Methods: credit card, Neteller, Firepay, PrePaidATM, EcoCard, PaySpark, Citadel
Customer Service: Live Support / Email / Toll Free Numbers / Call Back
Auditor: PriceWaterhouse Coopers.
Payout %: 97.37%

The Bonus

Bonus Amount: Deposit $50 and get $110 free.
Bonus Wager Requirements: must wager deposit and bonus 15x = $2400. Roulette, Wild Card Video Poker and Craps do not qualify.

I had a bad feeling when I deposited $50 using Neteller via the cashier and got an error message. Still, these things happen so I decide to try again. But first, I checked my Neteller account and noticed that the $50 had already been deducted, so I decided to log onto Live Help and ask what was going on.

The operator came on and told me that there was a problem with some of the Neteller accounts and that I had to send the transaction number to the cashier for it to be credited. Slightly annoying but not a huge deal. But the problem is that it would take up to 10 hours for it to be credited. This, is not good. After a few hours of waiting, I turn in for the night. The next morning, I woke up to find the $50 in my account. However, no bonus is there. I once again log onto Live Help and they tell me that the bonus would be credited within 3 hours of my first bet. No problem. It's better than having to play through your entire deposit before you get your bonus credited, which is what some other casinos do.

I play some blackjack and my bonus was credited within the hour.

The Games

With my bankroll now at $160, I decided to play some Jacks or Better multi-hand poker. Platinum Play Casino uses the Microgaming software and I've always liked their video poker. The first hand I'm dealt is 4 Kings! Well, this certainly makes up for the problems with the deposit. I play for a while, actually, about 1500 hands worth. One of the best features of this software is that it shows you your play stats as well as your 1st, 2nd and 3rd biggest wins. After the 4 Kings, I've done no better but my bankroll is up to about $350.

The next stop is Major Millions. Ok, the chances of hitting the jackpot (~$500,000) is slim to none but like Jim Carrey told Lauren Holly in Dumb and Dumber, "so you're telling me there's a chance!" After losing $60 with nary a Major in sight, I decide perhaps I should get out of this game while I still have some money. Another progressive jackpot slot is Fruit Fiesta and at 75 cents a spin and a jackpot worth $20,000, I try my luck at it. Didn't win the jackpot, but what do you expect? It's worth a shot. You never know.

Over the next few hours, I play a lot of Poker Pursuit, Thuderstruck (a really cool 9 line video slot), and European Roulette. This really doesn't have to do with the casino but I had a thought on Poker Pursuit. It's a game where you put up a bet and they deal you 3 cards. You can raise your bet by the same amount if the cards appeal to you. Then they deal you another card and you can raise it one more time. You win if your hand is 10s or better. The payouts are very good but your odds are pretty bad. In any case, what I was thinking is that this game is exactly the same as Let It Ride poker, but Ride is so much more satisfying. The difference? Let It Ride requires you to put up 3 bets and then remove them if you don't like your cards. Psychologically, this is a tremendous difference from having to add money. Just some food for thought. Now back to the casino review.

The Withdrawal

Now down to $200, I decide to cash in my bankroll. Platinum Play Casino (and most of the Microgaming casinos I've played,) lets your cash-in sit in a holding bin for 24 hours in case you decide you want to reverse it. So a day later, I get an email saying that I had not fulfilled my wagering requirements and that my bonus was forfeit! I keep pretty good track of my betting and I thought that I met the $2400 number but it turns out that I was about $150 shy. This happens and it's completely my fault. However, in most cases, casinos will just reverse your cash in until you satisfy the requirement. Platinum Play has a new policy, effective, I find out, one day before I signed up, that forfeits the bonus. What a stupid policy! I am $150 in wagering shy and I lose $100 because of it. The customer service person I talked to said "regretfully, your bonus is forfeit." Yeah, thanks, buddy, I'm sure you're full of regret about this one. The lesson here is make sure you've fulfilled your wagering requirement before you cash out. Call up customer service and make them tell you. Better yet, email them because one person told me the wagering requirement was $3000 and another told me it was $2400. It's good to have a record.

Still, I only forfeited my bonus of $100 so I still had $100 pending. It was deposited into my Neteller account within 48 hours of the cash-in. This is very good.

Customer Service

Live Help response times are all over the place depending on what time you initiate the chat. Seems these guys haven't figured out that you staff more during your peak periods. I request Live Help 3 times. The first took 10 seconds to answer. The second took 45 seconds. The third time took 17 minutes. The reps were fairly friendly even if they didn't really try to help me with being $150 shy on the wagering requirement. Sure, there are policies, but then there's goodwill.

I subsequently sent an email to support asking about the bonus requirements and have yet to hear back from them. This has been 3 days now.

If you want fast help, use Live Chat or call their toll free number.

Final Thoughts

Platinum Play Casino's policy of forfeiting your bonus if you try to withdraw before you've met your wagering requirement is ridiculous but at least their payouts are timely and their games are good. I'm a little disappointed in what is one of my favorite casino groups (Fortune Lounge) but as long as you keep on top of your amounts wagered, you should be fine.