We’re checking out all that this brand has to offer in our in-depth 2023 Merkur Casino review.
Take a look at the new player bonus on offer at this up-and-coming online casino, as well as other casino bonuses. We also delve into their online slots and game providers, live games, payment method options and customer support.
These are the main features of the casino, as uncovered by our 2023 Merkur Casino review:
| Merkur Casino Review | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| New Player Bonus | Up to $1100 (split bonus) – 3/5 |
| Games Selection | Pokies, casino games and live games all included – 4/5 |
| Extra Features | No sports, bingo or dedicated app. Mobile and live games included – 2/5 |
| Payment Options | Only basic payment methods offered only – 2/5 |
| Customer Service | No live support, only FAQ and email – 2/5 |
| Average Merkur Rating | 2.6/5 |
| Register |
Signing Up with Merkur Casino
Naturally, the first step in our Merkur Casino review was to sign up for an online casino account. We found that while often for players this is the most bothersome part of online gambling, this one was a piece of cake.
To start getting your welcome bonus and other benefits, just follow our easy step-by-step guide to signing up with Merkur Casino in New Zealand.
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Head to the main Merkur online casino site. Click the blue ‘join’ tab.
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Enter an email address and choose a password, then click ‘next’.
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Enter your full name and DOB. Also enter your phone number, hit ‘next’.
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Opt in or out of marketing. Email, post, phone and text options are given. You may want to keep these, as casino bonuses will be sent to you.
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Click to confirm the terms and conditions, then tap ‘register’ to finish.
That is pretty much all there is to it. Remember to opt into your welcome bonus and other casino bonuses. During out Merkur Casino review, when we logged in, we could then choose from a small bunch of payment method options. We found the sign-up fast, easy and convenient.
Merkur Casino Welcome Bonus
It’s always good to find a welcome bonus on offer with any online gambling joint. The Merkur bonus is simple to get and it comes in a few parts. The ‘Your Welcome Bonus’ at Merkur can get you up to $1,100 and 50 free spins. Here’s how the bonus breaks down:
- The offer is for new players only.
- Bonus to be claimed within 10 days of signing up.
- A real money deposit of $10 or more is needed.
- 100% match up to $500 on first deposit.
- 50% match up to $300 on second deposit.
- 25% match up to $300 on third deposit.
- Opt in is required when depositing. Bonus is forfeited otherwise.
- 50 free spins offered on first deposit. Free spins are divided across five days. Not all online slots count.
- Bonus expires after seven days.
- Full wagering requirements plus general terms and conditions apply.
The Merkur Casino review uncovered some pros and cons with this bonus. There is enough time given to get the welcome bonus. Then there are the free online slots spins. Another positive is the 100% match component. Getting out of an online casino what you put in is always fair.
This is a split bonus however which doesn’t offer 100% matching all the way through. The second and third deposits offer 50% and 25% respectively. To claim the full $1,100, you would need to put in $2,300 in total.
Please do not forget to opt in to the bonus too. We found during our Merkur Casino review that it would be easy to miss that part and lose out on casino bonuses.
Receiving the Bonus
You may not be able to use your free spins on all online slots. The casino often nominates a specific game or games on which you can use up your spins. There is also a wagering requirement (see below).
In order to claim the new customer offer, follow these easy steps:
- Sign up with Merkur on their main site or via mobile.
- Make a qualifying deposit with a real money payment method.
- Opt in and claim your bonus.
Wagering Requirements
When you read the terms of your bonus, you’ll see ‘wagering requirements’, ‘play through’ or ‘playthrough’. These all mean the same thing. In this case, the requirement is 70 times the bonus.
That’s a big amount and what it means is that, say you were able to claim the full $1,100, you would then need to wager a total of $77,000 on poker games, online slots, the live casino or other games before you can withdraw any winnings as cash.
You would have to have deposited $2,300 to get that bonus money too. Remember to square up value for money with the bonus amount.
Other Bonuses at Merkur
At the time of our Merkur Casino review we found no unique extra bonuses.
On the casino site, a $500 bonus is listed. In fact, this is simply part of the overall $1,100 welcome offer. We hope Merkur offers more for existing players in the future.
Merkur’s Games Selection
When completing the Merkur Casino review we didn’t see a massive selection of games. That is to say, not a huge amount compared with the very biggest online gambling brands. Games here can mostly be found in either Slots and Games or Casino subsections.
The biggest choice comes in the Slots and Games menu. From here, you can whittle down the titles by tapping on New, Jackpots or Featured. All games, including live games, are designed by the best game providers in the world.
Our NZ Merkur Casino review uncovered these games as the most popular:
- Jackpot King
- Congo Cash
- Deal or no deal
- Diamond Blitz
- Big Top Bonanza Megaways
Within the casino there is a section for Poker, Baccarat and Dice. Poker games are always popular, especially for the bigger online casino players. Among the poker games offered are hold’em and three card.
You can also play live blackjack, roulette and game shows. Casino bonuses can be used on all of these games. One thing our Merkur Casino review did uncover was that all of the titles are entertaining, largely due to the game providers used.
Games Providers
Whether you’re betting live blackjack, poker games, game shows or slots, we cannot stress enough how important it is for the titles to be supplied by solid game providers.
Our Merkur Casino review did find that it was the case here. Evolution Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger and Pragmatic Play are just some of the game providers involved.
Live Dealer Games
There is a quick way to go straight to the live games. Head to the search box and then type “live”. There, you will see live games galore including Power Blackjack, Roulette Live, Mega Ball, Dead or Alive Saloon Live, Monopoly Live and Immersive Roulette.
The live games offer a much more realistic casino feel. The live casino isn’t the biggest we’ve seen in our online gambling reviews but it’s still pretty impressive.
We’d like to see some big poker games and perhaps even more live blackjack in the live casino. Other than that, it was a solid part of our Merkur Casino review.
Extra Features
To stand out in the competitive online gambling market you have to offer more than basic games.
Unfortunately, none of the things we’d normally look for are here. Bingo games, a sportsbook, a loyalty scheme and a dedicated app are all winners but our Merkur Casino review found none of these. The live casino is one saving grace, while you can also bet using mobile.
Mobile Betting
You won’t need to download an app to play the pokies or the live casino at Merkur.
There is no dedicated app, but the mobile site is comprehensive. It can be used on all good smartphones and tablets too. Simply head to Merkur via any modern iOS or Android device.
Live blackjack, pokies, and other games are available as well as a full suite of other services.
Payment Options
It’s fine if not every payment method in the world is offered at a live casino. Our Merkur Casino review didn’t uncover a ton of options, but the major ones are still included. The current payment method choices are Merkur are:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
Depending on where you are betting there are varying minimum and maximum amounts when banking with Merkur Casino. To find out more, head to the cashier once you’ve joined. Alternatively, ask the customer support team (see below for details).
Depositing and withdrawing is free.
Once more, information is vague about cash-out times unless you’re ready to do it. Before you accept a bonus, you should ask the support team about this.
Customer Service at Merkur
Customer support is readily available here, at least, it’s easy to find anyway. In the menu there is a Contact Us link which takes you to the basic help centre. You can find selected sections offering basic help, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions part.
Basic answers are found there, or even by Googling them.
There is no live support offered by phone or a chat system or bot. With that in mind, it’s hard to say how long you will wait for an answer to a specific question or problem.
You can email the team at care.nz@merkurslots.com. Replies to this service may take a day or so. We would have much preferred a quick solution, ideally via a live chat system but our Merkur Casino review did not uncover one.
Merkur Casino: Our Verdict
Overall, this isn’t the worst Merkur Casino review we could have expected as this is an up and coming brand.
On the plus side; there is a solid choice of games here including poker, slots and live blackjack. The pokies are a main focus and they are quality and valuable. Big jackpots can be found and the table games are well put together and entertaining.
You can play Merkur via mobile. This is one of the casino’s strengths as the mobile site works even better than the desktop site.
While we like the potential value in the bonus, set at $1,100, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s hard to get and comes with a big play through of 70 times. Some casinos offer half that and for a 100% bonus which, with all three parts taken into consideration, this is not.
We appreciated all the while during our Merkur Casino review that there is work to do and the brand will know that too. Even just a couple of improvements will see this site challenging some of the big boys in no time whatsoever.
FAQ
Our 2023 Merkur Casino review answers your top questions about the brand.
Yes. All new players making a qualifying deposit and opting in can receive a new player bonus. Check when you sign up and read all T&Cs.
Absolutely, it is legitimate. A number of online casinos available to New Zealand customers are licensed by places such as the MGA or the UK Gambling Commission. In Merkur’s case, they are legitimately licensed in Gibraltar. The brand is free to offer all games to NZ customers.
Merkur Casino is owned by the Gauselmann family. Along with its business partners, the online casino entity is run by MERKUR Spielbanken Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH & Co.
Unfortunately, no. Crypto is the one payment method type you cannot use. There are other banking options available, namely Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill and Paysafecard. All are free to deposit or withdraw with, though your financial provider may make a charge.
