River Belle Online Casino NZ Review
One of the oldest online casinos in New Zealand and the world, River Belle has been active since 1997. Taking the old riverboat gambling culture and making it suitable for the modern era, this site is packed with games, bonuses and handy features.
In fact, thanks to its offshore status and MGA licence, River Belle’s parent company Bayton has been able to tailor its package for Kiwis. Although there are some shortcomings in terms of NZD deposit options, this is a legit NZ online casino that’s worth a look.
So, if you’re ready to climb aboard, come sail with us through our River Belle Online Casino Review.
River Belle Online Casino Welcome Bonus
River Belle Online Casino might take its cues from yesteryear but there’s nothing outdated about its welcome bonus. Embracing the recent trend of creating multistage offers, this operator has put together a three-step package that’s worth up to NZ$800:
- First Deposit: 100% match up to NZ$200
- Second Deposit: 100% match up to NZ$300
- Third Deposit: 100% match up to NZ$300
First off, NZ$800 is a fantastic amount of bonus potential. Compared to the other top NZ online casinos we recommend, this offer is right up there with the biggest welcome rewards. In fact, only a handful of picks, such as JackpotCity and Royal Vegas, have bigger maximum payouts. So, in this respect, River Belle Online Casino is doing something right.
However, the area where this operator goes beyond the norm is its multipliers. When you scour New Zealand’s online casino scene, you’ll see that multistage bonuses often have a fluctuating multiplier. For example, a site might offer the following:
- First Deposit: 50% match up to NZ$XXX
- Second Deposit: 100% match up to NZ$XXX
- Third Deposit: 75% match up to NZ$XXX
In the above scenario, the incentive is to make at least two deposits because that’s when the bigger multipliers kick in. That’s a fairly common dynamic but it’s not one that River Belle Online Casino uses. As you can see, you’ll receive a 100% multiplier on each deposit. That’s not only unusual but highly impressive. In our opinion, the system gives you greater flexibility and freedom because you aren’t pressured into making additional deposits in order to unlock the best deal.
Beyond that, it’s clearly a more lucrative system. In our hypothetical scenario, the total multiplier is 225%. At River Belle Online Casino, the total is 300%. Therefore, when you use our secure sign-up link and make three deposits, you’ll get more value here than you will with other similar deals.
Now, before we move on, it’s worth noting the playthrough is 50X. This means you have to bet 50 times whatever bonus you receive before making a withdrawal. That’s slightly high. However, for us, that’s not enough to diminish the allure of this welcome offer.
River Belle Online Casino Games and Software
River Belle Online Casino is a Microgaming-backed site. This means the software is secure, certified as fair and honed to perfect thanks to many years’ worth of experience in the industry. For you as a player, this means you’ll get instant access to 300+ HTML5 games via your desktop. In practice, this means you can enjoy the following free-play or real money games from as little as NZ$0.01:
Pokies: Being a Microgaming partner, River Belle has hundreds of big-name pokies. From video hits such as Agent Jane Blonde to progressives like Mega Moolah, you won’t be short of high-octane, big-money games action.
Blackjack: From classic formats such as Vegas and Atlantic City to bonus games like Big Five, River Belle Online Casino has plenty of entertaining blackjack tables.
Roulette: A casino classic, River Belle has traditional and innovative options, including multi-wheel roulette and Spingo.
Craps: Not often seen online, River Belle Online Casino stands out, in part, because of its craps tables. Similar to roulette in the sense you can bet on multiple outcomes, this game is great for all types of player.
Video Poker: Just like pokies, you can race through hundreds of hands when you play video poker. However, the difference here is that an understanding of mathematics can help guide your tactics.
Baccarat: A favourite of high stakes players, baccarat allows you to back the dealer or the player hand in a race to a total of nine. This game is popular at River Belle Online Casino because the house edge is fairly low.
Keno: A bingo-style game, keno is high variance but also high octane. This means you’ve got the chance to win big if you can match your numbers to those randomly selected by the machine.
River Belle Casino Mobile App
When it comes to flexibility, River Belle Casino is a master in the mobile arena. As well as native iOS and Android apps, this operator has an optimised website. That’s perfect because, as it states, you can play 150+ casino games via “any mobile device”.
In practice, this means you’ll be able to play roulette, online pokies, blackjack, live dealer games and more via your iPhone, Android, Windows Phone and, importantly, Blackberry. We’ve stressed that Blackberry owners can access River Belle Mobile Casino because this device is often left out in the cold. Therefore, in this instance, we’re more than happy to recommend this operator to Blackberry users.
Alongside a solid selection of games, River Belle Mobile Casino also gives you access to a full selection of promotions, secure payment options and 24/7 customer support. Put simply, anything you can do via your desktop, you can do it via River Belle’s mobile platforms. That, in essence, is all you can really ask for from an online gaming operator.
River Belle Online Casino Banking
River Belle Online Casino does have a specific platform for Kiwis but that doesn’t mean you can deposit and play in NZD. Naturally, this disappointing. The one saving grace is that it does accept AUD deposits. Although it’s not the same, it’s close enough that you shouldn’t run into too many currency conversion charges.
In terms of specifics, the minimum deposit is $5. That’s extremely low and a definite positive if you’re a low stakes player. On the way out, $50 is the least you can cashout. Finally, when it comes to processing times, eWallets such as Neteller will see you receive your winnings within 24 to 48 hours. Visa can take up to six working days while other methods should complete within seven.
There are clearly some shortcomings when it comes to River Belle Online Casino’s banking options. However, overall the dynamics are such that you shouldn’t have too many issues when it comes to depositing and withdrawing.
River Belle Online Casino Promotions
All new River Belle Online Casino players are enrolled in the loyalty scheme and given 2,500 points to kickstart their journey through the ranks. In total, the VIP system has six tiers starting at Bronze and working all the way up to Prive. As with many of the best loyalty schemes, bets equal points and the more you accrue, the higher you climb (bet NZ$10 to earn one point).
What’s the incentive for moving up the ranks? Simple: extra bonuses. The better your ranking, the more monthly rewards you can unlock which, in turn, means more bonus cash. For example, if you reach the second tier (silver), there’s NZ$1,000 in monthly bonuses up for grabs. Climb to the top-level (Prive) and you’ll be able to play for NZ$10,000 in free credits every month. Additionally, each new tier opens up a new points bonus. For example, if you can make it to Prive, your monthly points total will receive a 60% boost.
Alongside bonuses, the River Belle Online Casino loyalty scheme allows you to turn points into bonus cash. The minimum conversion is 1,000 points for NZ$10. That’s not a bad exchange rate, but it’s not one that blows New Zealand’s other online casinos out of the water. However, things get better when you exchange more points. For example, exchange 10,000 points and instead of NZ$100, you’ll receive NZ$120. So, if you’ able to be more active, there’s some decent value in this loyalty program.
The Bottom Line
River Belle Online Casino is hot in some areas and slightly warm in others. The selection of games is solid, although we’d like to see a few more added to the mix. Moreover, the wagering conditions on bonuses could be improved. However, when it comes to added value, it’s hard to fault this site. From the moment you make your first deposit, there’s a ton of free credits available.
Yes, you may have to be slightly more active than usual to unlock them. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, the rewards are there. Of course, the only way you’ll know if you agree with our assessment is to try it for yourself. By following our secure sign-up link, you’ll be able to create your first account and really see if River Belle Online Casino is the one for you.