Challenge Review

Microgaming download - awesome slots and video poker

By Casinomeister, Last updated Apr 12, 2024

Casinomeister's Verdict

Challenge Casino has always had a low profile. They’re a Microgaming-powered casino, so that you won’t find casino games from other software providers. You can play games from Microgaming’s partner game studios.

In this Challenge Casino review, we will show you what to expect when playing at this casino. We’ll cover everything from our initial impressions, the welcome bonus available, the games, customer support options, slot machines, and more.

Solid licensing

7.5 Our Rating
7 Player Rating
challengecasino.com
2003
Payout speed
starstarempty starempty starempty star
Withdrawal limits
starstarempty starempty starempty star
Customer service
starstarstarstarstar
Software & Games
starstarstarstarstar
Licensing
starstarstarstarstar
Microgaming...

First Impression

Please note: Challenge Casino and all UKGC Casinos no longer accept credit cards.

 

Sign-up Bonus: Triple SUB up to $€£1000
Sign-up Bonus UK: Currently redirecting to Luxury Casino
Minimum Deposit: $€£20

or more Info take a look : Casino Rewards Group Reviews Article.

Challenge Casino is an online casino that’s served the gambling community since 2003. The casino offers a wide range of gaming options, secure payment methods, and robust customer support, and if you’re a fan of Microgaming games, it’s a site that is likely to appeal.

In terms of payment options, Challenge Casino offers an impressive array of 64 methods for both deposits and withdrawals, including Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, PaysafeCard, Neteller, Skrill, Bank Wire Transfer, ClickandBuy, Euteller, POLi, Neosurf, iDEAL, UseMyFunds, and Envoy. The minimum deposit is $10, and the minimum withdrawal is $50, with weekly withdrawal limits set at $4,000.

As a Microgaming-powered casino, you will not find games from other software providers here. While many players will see this as an out-of-date concept, Challenge Casino clearly understands its audience. Plus, you will find games from Microgaming partner studios, like Rabcat, Foxium, and All41Studios.

Challenge Casino’s bonuses and promotions, which we will cover in detail in the next section, are areas where we feel it lets itself down. While the main first deposit bonus is generous enough, the wagering requirements are incredibly high, making it unlikely you’ll be able to beat it. Still, they also offer a second and third deposit bonus, which may appeal to some.

The site does a decent job with customer support. However, it’s important to note that the Casino Rewards Group handles the customer support facilities, so you aren’t dealing directly with Challenge Casino.

We will look at the welcome bonus and promotions to kick off this Challenge Casino review. Later, we will look at payment methods, games, and site facilities.

Pros

  • Decent selection of Microgaming games

  • VIP program like all Casino Rewards casinos

  • Licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission

  • Downloadable version available

Cons

  • Not many poker games

  • The welcome bonus has very high wagering requirements

  • No video slots from other game developers

BONUSES AND PROMOTIONS

Bonuses and promotions are essential for many players, whether a new-player welcome bonus or ongoing regular deposit bonuses. In the following sections of this casino review, we will examine what Challenge Casino offers regarding bonuses.

Exclusive offers

 

Welcome Offer

Challenge Casino offers new players three welcome bonus offers – although, as we’ve seen at Casino Rewards Group sites, the terms and conditions of these bonuses can be pretty strict, with remarkably high wagering requirements.

The first is a sign-up bonus offering 25% of your initial deposit with a maximum bonus of $800. With a play-through wagering requirement of 200X, however, it’s unlikely that you’ll beat the bonus, making this more of a “show” deposit bonus.

On your second deposit, Challenge Casino provides a 50% bonus of up to $150. The play-through requirements remain identical to the first deposit bonus, again making it highly unlikely you will be able to beat the bonus and secure a cashout.

On your third deposit, Challenge Casino does a slightly better job. Players can claim a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $50. The wagering requirements for this bonus are just 30X, which means that unlike with the second and first deposit bonuses, you stand a chance of cashing out.

For all three bonuses, game weighting applies. Most slots contribute towards the wagering requirements 100%, while casino table games like Blackjack, video poker and Roulette contribute just 2%! The bonuses are completely unplayable if you plan to play casino table games.

No-Deposit & Free Spins Offers

Challenge Casino currently doesn’t offer any no-deposit bonuses. This might initially deter some players looking for no-deposit bonuses, but in our opinion, it’s not the end of the world. Generally, no-deposit bonuses are relatively small and come with strict terms and conditions, often making it difficult for you to win anything meaningful.

VIP and Loyalty Program - Part Of The Casino Rewards Group

When you join Challenge Casino, you will be automatically enrolled into the Casino Rewards VIP program – one of the best-known loyalty schemes in online gambling. This program offers a variety of benefits, including a VIP lucky jackpot drawn every eight hours.

The Casino Rewards Loyalty Program has six Status Levels. You earn Comp Points each time you place real money wagers, and the best thing is that your VIP status is shared across every online casino that is part of the network. Depending on how many points you earn, you will then move up or down the various VIP levels every month, and every tier offers a different selection of perks and bonuses.

Higher-level players enjoy random bonuses, priority support, birthday gifts, exclusive games, personal VIP hosts, and more entries into the Time Of Your Life Sweepstakes and VIP Lucky Jackpot.

The VIP Lucky Jackpot consists of five jackpots, one for each VIP Level. Depending on your VIP Level, you can receive more than one entry into the draw. Each VIP level has five draws, and three occur daily. Essentially, this means you have 15 chances to win each day simply by being active at the casino.

Cashback

 

Bonus Terms

 

Sign up process

 

Sign up screenshots

challenge registration

BANKING AND PAYMENT METHODS

One of the things Casino Rewards Group sites tend to do very well is payments; while writing this Challenge Casino review, we were happy to see a massive number of payment methods for you to choose from, although we should point out that the exact methods which will be available to you will vary depending on the country you’re playing from.

Naturally, you can make deposits using credit and debit cards, EWallets, and prepaid cards – but Challenge Casino goes way beyond these “basic” payment methods.

A complete list of the deposit methods you can use is Sofortuberwaisung, UseMyFunds, Skrill, POLi, GiroPay, Nordea, Envoy, Instant Banking, Visa Electron, Neosurf, iDebit, iDEAL, Neteller, Przelewy24, Maestro, Trustly, ClickandBuy, PaysafeCard, Entropay, PayPal, EcoPayz, MasterCard, Multibanco, Postepay, Visa, EPS, InstaDebit, Moneta, Euteller, Kalibra Card, Ukash, eKonto, Abaqoos, Swedbank, QIWI, eChecks, Ticket Premium, uNet, Direct Bank Transfer, and PugglePay.

The minimum deposit limit is set at $20, while the maximum daily limit is capped at $2,000. While the minimum deposit is slightly higher than some online casinos, it’s not too high and shouldn’t pose a problem for most players. The maximum deposit limit is a bit low, but we should point out that there isn’t a limit on the number of daily deposits you can make.

No additional fees are charged by Challenge Casino when you deposit. However, your bank or payment provider may apply charges, so we’d recommend checking with them before depositing to confirm. Most deposit methods at Challenge Casino are instant, meaning your funds will be credited immediately to your online casino account.

Withdrawal Speed

Regarding withdrawal methods, Challenge Casino has a decent range of options, although you won’t find as many options as deposit methods. Here’s a full breakdown of withdrawal methods: ClickandBuy, Direct Bank Transfer, Kalibra Card, Skrill, PayPal, VISA, and MasterCard.

Each of these comes with varying withdrawal times, which you should consider before making a deposit, as you will be required to withdraw to the same payment method used for your most recent deposit.

EWallets such as Skrill and PayPal can process withdrawals within a swift 24-48 hour period, which is pretty good for a Casino Rewards Group site. If you withdraw using VISA or Mastercard credit/debit cards, the withdrawal times get a bit worse, typically taking three to six days. Bank Transfers take longer, taking between six and ten working days. Typically take 6 to 10 days, while Checks can take up to 21 days to reach you.

There is a limit to the amount you can withdraw: $/£/€4000 a week if a player wins a sum five times or more significant than their total purchases across all Casino Rewards partner casinos. Progressive wins/payouts are an exception to this clause. It should be noted that the casino does not lock withdrawals, and weekend payouts are not available.

Responsible gaming

In line with its responsible gambling ethos, Challenge Casino offers various tools to promote a healthy gambling culture and prevent addiction. The casino’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling is evident in its easy-to-navigate responsible gambling page, readily accessible from the website footer. It provides comprehensive information about problem gambling, a helpful self-assessment questionnaire, and resourceful links to external charities and support organisations.

Furthermore, Challenge Casino extends several responsible gambling tools to help you maintain control over your gambling. These include setting cooling-off periods ranging from 24 hours to 6 weeks and allowing players a break to recalibrate and reassess their gambling habits. This is known as a time-out period.

For more extreme cases, self-exclusion is available for periods varying from 6 months to 5 years. Players can also set their deposit limits, mitigating the risk of overspending.

Although Challenge Casino may not have the most exhaustive assortment of responsible gambling tools compared to other casinos, it undeniably covers the essential aspects of managing problem gambling. The platform consistently ensures that gambling remains a form of leisure and entertainment, not a potential addiction.

Customer support

The CR group itself operates Challenge Casino’s customer support facilities. The customer support team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they’re on hand to answer questions, solve problems, and assist with technical issues.

Players can quickly contact customer support via multiple international telephone lines or by emailing support@crhelpdesk.com. With dedicated numbers for Canada, UK, and Denmark, CR casinos do their best to make getting in touch as easy as possible. You can find the phone numbers below:

International Number: 1 866 312 7466

Canada Number: +8088 4574

UK Number: 0800 917 1545

Denmark Number: +18-88942-7466

In addition to phone support, Challenge Casino also offers live chat support. This is our preferred way of contacting online casinos, as it connects you with trained operators in real time. This avoids you needing to wait around for your problems or questions to be answered.

 

KYC

Most online gambling regulators require KYC checks, including the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. When you play at Challenge Casino, you will be required to verify your account before you can make a withdrawal.

Thankfully, the process is straightforward; once you make a withdrawal request, you will be prompted to send copies of your identification documents to support@crhelpdesk.com. You generally need to send a copy of your Driving License, Passport, or ID Card, along with a utility bill as proof of residence; and a bank statement for payment method verification.

The financial department at Challenge Casino then reviews your documents, cross-referencing them with the information you provided during registration. Casino Rewards isn’t the fastest at verifying accounts, but you’ll rarely need to wait longer than 24 hours.

Website Experience and Features

Challenge Casino may not be winning any web design awards shortly, but its website is functional and relatively user-friendly. One of the most significant advantages of playing at Challenge Casino is its Microgaming Viper-powered software. This client allows you to download the old-school Microgaming into your computer or laptop – although in 2023, we’re not entirely sure how necessary this is.

In the past, the downloadable client offered improved performance and additional functionalities, providing players with a more personalised gaming experience. By playing through this downloadable client, you could “cache” the games on your computer, reducing loading speeds. However, now that most of Microgaming’s games have been ported over to HTML5, the need for a downloadable software client is redundant. Some players, however, like it for the novelty factor.

Unfortunately, Challenge Casino’s mobile platform is where it falls short. It remains uncertain whether their website is optimised for mobile devices, and as a result, playing casino table games and video slots from your mobile device isn’t something we’d probably recommend.

Brand games

Providers

Challenge Casino operates using Microgaming’s respected Viper software – and Microgaming is a great name to see. They won the Best Casino Software Award by Online Gaming Magazine in 2005, and many of their games have proven to be exponentially popular with players – in particular, their video slots.

The games offered by Microgaming at Challenge Casino are frequently updated, ensuring that players always have new and exciting options. As we mentioned earlier.

Slots

Challenge Casino provides various Microgaming slots, both in terms of themes and gameplay mechanics. There are hundreds of slots to choose from, including classic Microgaming releases and newer games from their partner studios.

5-reel video slots such as Thunderstruck, Avalon, Immortal Romance, and Ariana offer captivating themes. There are also sports-themed slots like Cricket Star, Basketball Star, and Rugby Star. The Untamed series of slots for wildlife fans, including Bengal Tiger, Giant Panda, Crowned Eagle, and Wolf Pack, promise stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. The casino also hosts a selection of 3-reel classics like Couch Potato, Zany Zebra, and Cosmic Cat.

Live Dealer Games

Unfortunately, we found no live games at Challenge Casino when writing this casino review. This is something we’ve used to seeing at Microgaming-powered casinos. While some brands have partnered with a third-party live casino provider like Evolution, many have chosen not to since Microgaming retired their live casino product. We hope to see this change in the future, as it’s clear that players are big fans of live dealer games – and a casino not offering them doesn’t look great in 2023.

Table Games and Video Poker

Challenge Casino offers a wide range of exciting casino table games and video poker games from Microgaming, ensuring players a high-quality and immersive gaming experience.

Challenge Casino offers a great selection of table games, Baccarat, Red Dog, European Roulette, French Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, Premier Roulette, American Roulette, and 3 Card Poker. Players can also enjoy Craps, Pai Gow Poker, Keno, Sic Bo, Crown and Anchor, and Cyberstud Poker.

Other variations of these games include Double Exposure, Poker Pursuit, and Spanish Blackjack. Additionally, Challenge Casino features exciting games like Spingo, Three Wheeler, Bubble Bonanza, Cashapillar, Electro Bingo, and Enchanted Woods.

Regarding video poker games, Challenge Casino does an excellent job; it’s one of the main highlights of playing at a Microgaming-powered casino. You’ll find a vast selection, including classic game versions like All American, Split Way Royale, Bonus Deluxe, Bonus Poker, and Tens or Better.

These games offer different pay tables and returns, providing various options for playing styles. For example, Split Way Royale boasts a remarkable return rate of 99.80%, making it an attractive choice for experienced players.

Other video poker titles include Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, and Double Joker Poker. Some of these games are also available in multi-hand variations letting you play up to 100 hands simultaneously.

Progressive jackpots

When it comes to progressive jackpot games, Microgaming casinos tend to do a pretty good job. Microgaming is known for developing some of the most popular progressive jackpots in the world – and most of these can be played at Challenge Casino. However, if you claim the first deposit promotion, you won’t be able to play jackpot slot machines, so keep this in mind. Here are a few of the most popular jackpot slot machines you’ll find at Challenge Casino:

Major Millions

Released in 2000, Major Millions is a 5-reel, 15-pay line progressive video slot game that quickly gained popularity for its simplicity and considerable win potential. The game has a military theme, and its symbols include cartoonish warships, bomber planes, cannons, ammunition, and the main character, Major Millions.

The game has a maximum bet of $3 and a payout percentage of 89.37%. Its unique selling point is the massive progressive jackpot, which grows as more players play it. However, players need to bet on all lines​to stand a chance at the jackpot, so keep this in mind if playing it yourself.

Mega Moolah

Known as the “Millionaire Maker”, Mega Moolah was released in 2006 and has since gained popularity for its massive progressive jackpot. It’s arguably the most popular and well-known progressive jackpot video slot ever made, and it’s responsible for creating more than 30 millionaires!

The game features a 5×3 layout with 25 paylines. The game has a minimum bet of 25 cents per line and a max bet of $6.25.

With an RTP of 88.12%, Mega Moolah is a medium to high-volatility game. The game features a wild animal theme with symbols such as lions, giraffes, and elephants depicted in bright, cartoonish graphics. The game includes features like wilds and a free spins bonus with special multipliers.

King Cashalot

One of Microgaming’s most popular progressive slots, King Cashalot features a mediaeval theme across its five reels and nine paylines. The game includes symbols such as a gold-armour prince, King Cashalot himself, a damsel, and a golden dragon.

The King Cashalot symbol acts as the wild, substituting for all other symbols except the scatter and golden dragon. The game does not offer free spins but includes a Treasure Bonus feature and a progressive jackpot that can be won by matching five King symbols on the 9th payline when playing the max bet. The game has a theoretical RTP of 91% and medium volatility, offering a different playing experience than some of the more volatile progressive jackpot games.

About the Team and History

Established in 1999, Challenge Casino officially opened its doors to players as part of the Casino Rewards group. Operated under the gaming licence issued by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, it falls under the ownership of the Casino Rewards company. This makes it a part of one of the industry’s most extensive online networks, boasting 28 other titles.

The casino is recognised for its commitment to fair and secure gaming. It is independently audited by eCOGRA, verifying that its games are just and safe for players. Furthermore, the casino has also been regulated in other jurisdictions, including Denmark and Malta.

For several years, operating out of the Canadian licensing jurisdiction of Kahnawake, Challenge Casino has steadily built a reputation for providing a quality gaming experience. The Microgaming-powered casino is one of the few to offer a downloadable software client still.

Players worldwide are welcome to join Challenge Casino, although many restricted countries exist. This list includes Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo – Brazzaville, Côted’Ivoire, Dominica, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kiribati, Kuala Lumpur, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritania, Mayotte, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Pitcairn Islands, Romania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, United States, Western Sahara, and Zimbabwe.

Complaints and Track Record

Here at Casinomeister, members generally have good experiences with Casino Rewards casinos. For example, one member mentioned that despite losing sessions, they enjoyed regular free chips and found the group to be generous. They said:

I’ve never cashed out from these guys, and I haven’t lost that much with their group. The total is probably somewhere around $700.

However, Casino Rewards have given me several free chips via email over the past four months. Usually, once or twice a month, I’ll get $10 or $20. This morning they gave me a $100 free chip. I ended up making wagering and am cashing out just over $200, but I would have to say, from what I see, they are the more generous group out there.

I will have to see how their cashout process is. I may end up playing with these guys a little more. I’m looking for an MG casino to move my play to anyways, as fortune lounge could be better with their loyal players. Probably the worst I’ve come across.”

In the same thread, another of our members – Jasmine Bed – provided a very balanced opinion on the CR group in general, stating: “I’ve played with them for years. Pending times are long, and if you get a free chip while you have wagering from the last match, it carries over.

Clear it down to zero if you take a match before taking another. Overall, a good group if you are okay with long pending times. I’ve played CR longer than I have been a Casinomeister member.

I’ve reversed winnings due to the more extended pending periods, though, so you require some discipline. But they have adhered to their timeframe, and I find support is pretty good overall, which I would not have said 5 or 6 years back.

You should concentrate your play on two or three of their sites regarding loyalty benefits. But most properties have good SUBs; just take only some of them in a short span if you enjoy bonus play.

Dedicated group for sure, as long as you adhere to rules. Bonus terms are not identical at every casino regarding max bet on every bonus, so click appropriate links. They tend to be pretty liberal though at mostly 25 – 33% of deposits.”

We echo these statements; the bonuses and promotions aren’t the best, but they’re a trustworthy group, and if you play at Challenge Casino, you will be in safe hands.

Casino Facts

Founded2003
Accredited at Casinomeister2016 - 2018
JurisdictionsKahnawake, Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC, Danish Gambling Authority
Casino representativeAffiliate Program Manager and CM Player Complaint Rep
Affiliate programRewards Affiliates
Is this casino certified at CasinomeisterNo
Payout time24 hrs
Reverse time24 hrs
Payout limits$/£/€4000 a week if a player wins a sum that is 5 times or more greater than their total purchases across all Casino Rewards partner casinos. All progressive wins/payouts are exempt from this clause.
Weekend payoutsNo
Locks withdrawalsNo
Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, European Portuguese, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Abaqoos, CLICK2PAY, Direct Bank Transfer, echeck, eKonto, Entropay, Envoy Euteller, Envoy iDEAL, Envoy Sofort, EPS, Euteller, ewire, EZIPay, GiroPay, iDEAL, instaDebit, Instant Banking, Kalibra, Maestro, MasterCard, Moneta.au, Multibanco, Neosurf, Neteller, Nordea, Paypal, paysafecard, POLi, Postepay, Przelewy24, QIWI, Skrill, Skrill 1-Tap, Sofort , Swedbank, Ticket Premium, Ukash, uNet, UseMyFunds, Visa, Visa Electron
click2pay, Direct Bank Transfer, echeck, Entropay, EZIPay, Kalibra, Maestro, MasterCard, Neteller, Paypal, Postepay, Skrill, Visa, Visa Electron
Casinomeister
ConnectConnectConnectConnect

The man with the plan here at Casinomeister. Bryan Bailey has been running Casinomeister since its launch in June of 1998. He has watched the industry grow from its primeval stage to what it is now. The Meister has attended nearly 100 conferences in the past 20 years and has either been a speaker or a panel moderator for at least 60 events. He has always been an advocate of fairness and reason and is known to like German beer, a good Scotch, and astrophotography.
bryan@casinomeister.com

Recent threads (1)

Avatar

Casino Rewards Casino reviews

Replies 17 Views 15433 Active 4 years ago