Full Drake Casino Review
Drake is a multi-software made-for-browser/mobile casino launched in 2012. Drake Casino has a good reputation with players and within the online gambling industry in general.
Drake Casino accepts players from selected countries. Whilst the minimum age to be accepted at Drake is 18, it's 21 for credit card usage at the casino. If accepted, regardless of location, you'll be playing and banking in US$.
Okay for active players. Note and beware of this term - 'Accounts that are inactive for six months or longer will have their balance removed.' - this doesn't really endear Drake Casino to occasional players.
If you consider yourself a reasonably active player then Drake Casino's loyalty program, 'Drake Club', will reward you through ten levels of membership. You'll start at Ivory level and move through Onyx during your first three deposits and automatically graduate to Platinum on your fourth deposit at Drake. In addition to increased loyalty 'comp points' as you play, higher Drake Club membership offers larger reload bonuses and other benefits.
Drake's casino games
While not having the thousands of games offered by similar alternatives such as Ripper Casino, Drake's gaming floor is extensive enough to keep most players satisfied and entertained.
Drake's casino games are provided by different suppliers - namely, Arrow's Edge, Betsoft, Dragon Gaming, Nucleus and Rival. Although not the widest selection of games designers, they do include some of the internet's most prolific gambling software giants. There's always a new game to try.
When visiting Drake Casino's website, games are initially separated into 'Featured Games', 'All Slots', 'Table Games' and 'Live Casino' (live dealer table games). Hit the 'GAMES' link in the site's navigation menu to get a drilled-down menu for Tournaments (including daily freeroll slots tourneys with real cash prizes), New Games, Mega/Major/Mini Jackpot Slots, 3/5 Reel Slots, Video Poker and Specialty Games.
Handily, visitors to Drake's website can play most of the casino's games for free (in 'fun mode') with no account login or software download required (live dealer games require real money play). Just click and play to enjoy the bulk of the collection - it's ideal for trying out new games or a risk-free, no pressure spell at the casino.
Welcome bonuses at Drake Casino
For players who like to start their new casino membership with welcome bonuses, Drake offers two different sign-up promo's to your first three real money deposits. The first option is a cash bonus and the alternative welcome deal gives you 'free spins' (which are not really free). And then there are special offers for crypto depositors, Twitter/X users, newsletter subscribers, etc.
Starting with Drake's cash bonus option, all three deposit bonuses are identical - a 300% bonus up to $2000 - so up to $6000 in total.
Drake Casino is keen to point out, 'With more funds in your account, you'll be able to play for longer, giving you more chances of winning big.', which is kinda true but but there are also downsides to accepting bonuses, so remember they're optional.
Restricted gameplay whilst playing with bonus money and wagering requirements are the biggest drawbacks. Drake's bonus T&C are standard, for the most part, for online casinos but still worth highlighting.
The main 'restricted gameplay' to be aware of at Drake is 'the use of bonus credits to place wagers on Baccarat, Craps and European Roulette is not allowed', so avoid those until your wagering is completed.
Drake's bonus wagering requirement is a bit on the steep side at deposit + bonus x40. For example, deposit the minimum qualifying $25 to receive a $75 bonus (play with $100) and your wager target prior to cashout will be $4000. It's beatable but it ain't gonna be easy.
Looking now at the alternative 'free' (grr!) spins welcome bonuses, they're again available on your first three deposits (so not free then). The exact deal you'll be getting will depend on the amount of your deposit. Here's the spiel from Drake:
Deposit $25 for 150 'free' (omg) spins at $0.40 per spin, deposit $50 for 60 'super' spins at $1.60 per spin or deposit $100/$150 for 120/180 spins at $1.60.
If you're taking the $25 spins welcome promo instead of the cash offering, you'll be playing selected slots which include Arcade Fortunes, Big Salmon Run, Chase the Cheddar, Fruit Blitz and Medusa's Millions. Deposit $50 or more and you get to choose from Bigfoot Mountain, Explosive Wins, Hot 7's Win, Jackpot Jam and Time Bender.
Crypto-currency depositors get access to an enhanced 333% cash bonus on each of the first three deposits of just $15 or more. Per deposit, the maximum bonus claimable is $500 so $1500 in total. Again, the wager requirement is deposit + bonus x40. You can claim this offer when depositing using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or Ripple.
Any no deposit bonuses at Drake?
Drake doesn't offer a no deposit bonus by default and you won't see a free bonus mentioned on the casino's website. Still, don't go anywhere just yet.
Coming to the rescue like a knight on a white steed, Casino-Download.com has the low-down on a super-secret no deposit bonus code that'll credit you with 60 free spins on Arrow's Edge's slot Time Bender at the very acceptable stake of $1.60 per spin.
To access your 60 free spins on Time Bender, use promo code FREECOINS. You can win and cash out up to $100 from this no deposit bonus after wagering x60 your free spins winnings total.
Banking at Drake Casino - how to deposit & cash out
Drake's banking options will be suitable for most players but there are some obvious omissions. You can use credit/debit cards and various crypto-currencies to deposit but there's no sign of eZeeWallet or any prepaid vouchers such as Neosurf. Cashouts are limited to only Bitcoin and bank wire. Withdrawing via wire will mean a nasty sting of a $40 cashout fee.
Drake Casino wisely advise players to avoid delayed cashouts by getting accounts verified ASAP: 'All depositing clients must provide KYC (Know Your Customer) documentation prior to receiving a withdrawal. Documentation for KYC verification includes a valid photo ID (e.g. Passport/Driver's License), a copy of your credit card, and a copy of a recent utility bill.'
Drake reckons 'Your payment is processed 48 hours after submitting a withdrawal request.'
Drake Club - rewarding your loyalty
The ten levels of Drake Club are not enormously detailed on the casino's website and maybe the rewards are more exciting than just the listed reload bonuses. Starting at Ivory level and progressing through Onyx, Platinum, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz and Red Diamond, your reload bonus (on all deposits) will increase from 20% to 88%.
And that's all the benefits mentioned! Loyal players are rewarded for activity a bit more than just reload bonuses. For example, Topaz and Red Diamond level members get the best cashout limits - $3500 per week instead of $2500.
As with most online casinos, Drake offer a comp points-based rewards system. It isn't massively shouted about on the casino's website but click 'VIP Rewards Plan' in the bottom-of-page small print and details shall be revealed. Essentially, it's every $100 wagered gets you comp points which you'll redeem for instant cash rewards. The amount of comp points earned depends on the game played with blackjack paying the lowest 30 and slots paying the best at 135 points.
Recommended?
Yeah, Drake Casino shouldn't see you go far wrong and you'll have a good experience playing here. But it's far from the most comprehensive online casino you'll ever see.
Drake's performance as an online casino could be described as competent and safe but not outstandingly special in any area. Payouts can be received faster at other Betsoft/Rival multi-software casinos such as Vegas2Web. Banking options are more extensive at Ripper where you'll still play Betsoft and Rival games but access loads more besides.
Drake's bonus wagering requirements could use a tweak to make them more player-friendly but this casino doesn't do anything spectacularly wrong. It's just that other casinos are doing it better and bigger.
