An Explorer’s Guide to Captain Cook’s Casino

Captain Cook is notable for his exploration in the 18th century, pioneering ventures to the New World. An apt name then for this casino, navigating the high seas of the online gambling industry.

Both this casino and its namesake share a common historical theme. While Captain Cook was born centuries ago in 1728, Captain Cook’s Casino has a similarly long pedigree. While 1999 was a lot more recent, it’s still generations in the online gambling market, and testament alone to the service this casino has provided over the years.

OK, so enough of the Captain Cook stuff. Behind this quirky theme, this is a high quality Microgaming casino, packed with over 500 different games. The partnership with Microgaming means these games are some of the best in the industry, both in terms of the graphics, the game engine and of course, the prizes available.

This is a legal and trustworthy casino – it wouldn’t have been in business for so long if this wasn’t the case. It’s regulated in Kahnawake, so it’s subject to the oversight of the regulatory authorities in the Kahnawake territory. While this means it’s safe to play here, it does cause problems or USA and some European players.

According to the terms of their license, USA players aren’t permitted – check out Bovada instead if you’re still looking for a great place to play. Similarly, some European players are excluded, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain – you guys should check out Betway instead.

I’ve played here several times over the years, and I’ve always found it to be one of my favourites – and take it from me, I play a lot of different casinos. So let’s delve into the detail, and see just why Captain Cook’s Casino remains a firm favourite for me and so many other casino players.

User Experience

When you land on the Captain Cook’s Casino website for the first time, the first thing you notice is the layout. They serve a mobile version of their website by default, which makes it all the easier to sign-up and start playing if you’re on a smartphone or tablet device. Of course, the graphics could probably do with a little refresh – they’re looking a little dated. But don’t let that put you off – this is a good, solid casino, with plenty more to offer.

The customer support team have been towards the better end of average. I can think of 3 or 4 different occasions I’ve spoken with them over the years, and I can’t say I’ve ever had reason to complain. Live Chat is especially convenient, and that’s usually how I initiate conversations with support. Or if you’re more old school, you can pick up the phone or send them an email, and I’m sure you’ll agree their responses are helpful and efficient.

When it comes to banking, things are similarly straightforward. I usually deposit through Paypal when I play here, just because you can both deposit and withdraw through this method. There are also several others available – the entire list for deposits and withdrawals includes Bank Transfers, eCheck, ecoPayz, EntroPay, InstaDebit, Kalibra Card, Maestro, MasterCard, NETELLER, PayPal, Postepay, and Visa.

If that selection doesn’t do it for you, you can deposit, but not withdraw, through a number of other methods, including Citadel Instant Banking, eps, Euteller, GiroPay, iDeal, iDebit, MB Multibanco, Neosurf, paysafecard, Poli, Przelewy24, Qiwi Wallet, Sofortuberweisung, Trustly, and Zimpler. And especially for larger withdrawals, it’s possible to take payments through Bank Wire Transfer, or Check by Mail or Courier.

One thing that’s worth noting is the 2 day hold on payments, and that’s two working days, rather than just 48 hours. This isn’t too bad, all things considered, but it’s worth remembering.

It’s a simple security measure from the casino and there’s no way around it, so as long as you plan for the 2 day hold when withdrawing your money, this won’t cause you any problems.

Game Types & Selection

Whenever I come across a Microgaming casino with over 500 games, I know I’m going to enjoy myself. Even if you get bored with your usual game of choice, chances are there are plenty of variations. There are even speciality games here you don’t find everywhere else, which can make Captain Cook’s Casino a great place to play for those who enjoy the thrill of actually playing casino games.

The games are available in both real play and free play modes, ideal for trying out new games or strategies before putting your money where your mouth is. While the selection of games is different through different methods of playing here, it’s also possible to enjoy the games on mobile, or through the download platform, depending on your technical setup.

Captain Cook’s Casino has a wider game selection that most other casinos you’ll find, and this is spread evenly between slots, table games and other casino favourites. On the slots side, you’ll find highly playable titles like Thunderstruck II and Beach Life, as well as plenty of progressives to sink your teeth into. There are also the AWP-style slots, based on the old pub fruit machines, if that’s more your thing.

In terms of table games, there are dozens of games and individual variations, with side bets, unique rules and other features making them all suitably different to hold their value. And the same goes for video poker, where you’ll find plenty of titles including Deuces Wild and the much rarer Louisiana Bonus video poker.

Whatever you play, Captain Cook’s Casino certainly won’t let you down in terms of games.

Deposit Bonuses

Perhaps the main criticism I’ve seen about Captain Cook’s Casino is the bonus structure, particularly for the welcome bonus. I do see where they are coming from, but for me, a bonus is a bonus. When you’re looking at a fantastic casino, I would usually be happy to accept a slightly less generous bonus, if it means I’m guaranteed a great experience.

On the face of it, Captain Cook’s Casino offers new players a bonus of up to £475 across their first five deposits, starting with a 100% bonus of up to £100 on the very first deposit. They also chuck in chances to win their jackpot, which currently stands at over £3.5 million. When you deposit just £5, you pick up 100 chances to win this prize.

That doesn’t look like too bad a deal. But the playthrough requirements are something to factor in when working out how you’re going to play these bonuses. There is a 60x playthrough on the first deposit, and this also applied to the chances to win, which must be played through like any other bonus before withdrawal.

For the second and subsequent deposits, the playthrough is set at a much lower 30x. This is more my kind of range, and more in line with what I recommend players look for in a casino bonus. While 60x is kind of high, the 30x acts as a balancing force that makes this altogether a more reasonable bonus.

When you consider there are also loyalty and VIP structures in place, plus ongoing promotions as you play through, I think this still represents good value for a new player.

Supported Devices

Like other casinos in the Casino Rewards Group, Captain Cook’s Casino is more than ready to meet the needs of mobile players. There are no apps to install once you’ve setup your account, and you can enjoy a range of Flash games in your browser through the mobile casino. This applies whether you’re on an Android, iOS or some other device – it’s simply a case of heading to the site in your browser to get started.

For desktop players, you can choose to download the software if you wish, which is fast to load and provides a good all-round gaming experience. Or you can play instantly in your browser, accessing your favourite games without the need to download or install anything locally.

Our Verdict

Captain Cook’s Casino is based on the life and times of the British explorer of the same name, though it carries its theme pretty loosely. Behind the veneer, this is a casino that is packed with some of the best games I’ve seen. But it’s also somewhere that treats players well, and gives a good all-round gaming experience that keeps you coming back for more.

Some players have reportedly found it difficult to get setup, and some moan about the bonus offers – particularly that stinging 60x playthrough on the first bonus. But if you can look past these minor bumps in the road, this is a casino that is fair, safe to play and above all good fun – especially when it’s in a paying mood.

Especially if you’re a fan of other Casino Rewards Groups casinos, Captain Cook’s is somewhere you should definitely check out sooner rather than later.