- $1,400 welcome package
- 80 free spins with zero wagering
- On-going promotions
- Instant-play for mobile or desktop
- Operates on encrypted connection
- 1,000+ games from multiple providers
- No dropdown menu to change language
- Minimal on-site discussion of licence
- Doesn't provide info on software testing.
- Higher 50x wagering for signup offer
- No live tables
- Software Microgaming, iSoftbet, Quickspin, Playson, Habanero, Relax Gaming, Apricot,
- Payment Methods
- Established 2011
- Licence Curacao
Welcome Bonus and Promotions
Four deposits can be made to claim the full $1,400 Mate Casino bonus package. An initial transfer of $20 or more is needed to receive the 100% match bonus, which can be worth up to $200. Following on will be a 50% reload offer of up to $300 on your third deposit. Two more 50% bonuses are then provided, worth $400 and $500 in succession.
For each deposit, you're also entitled to receive 20 free spins. And these are some of the best free spins in Canada, given that they come with zero wagering requirements. For this review, the spins were given out for use on the Second Strike slot.
In the terms and conditions (T&Cs), we were a little disappointed to see that the standard 40x wagering requirements are bumped up to 50x for the welcome offer. This increases the difficulty of playing through your bonus funds within the 30-day timeframe permitted by Casino Mate.
Elsewhere in the promotions is Mon(ey)days, arriving on a Monday with the option to deposit $20 or more and receive a 40% reload up to $200. The Weekender is another weekly event, but this time the options are to gain bonuses of 30% and 40% along with up to 80 free spins.
Other bonuses are then up for grabs in The Perfect Match and Surging Bonus Booster. Beyond those, Mate Casino also specialises in cash tournaments and has made some big winners over the years. Meanwhile, another useful event is Mate's Rewards, which will enable you to deposit in select windows to receive extra reward points.
All reward points can be earned with the aim of furthering your progress in the Club Mate initiative. With time and points, you can soon begin to unlock exclusive promotions, access to larger withdrawals, the facilitation of quicker withdrawals, the receiving of gifts and the services of a dedicated VIP host.
Mate Casino Bonus and Promotions for Canada
Casino Mate goes so far as to provide the signup offer and all subsequent promotions in CAD, which is greatly appreciated. If that sounds good, then check out these top 10 Canadian online casinos as well. You can find many more sites with CAD-friendly cashiers and other useful features.
Microgaming at Mate Casino
As a platform, Casino Mate runs entirely from web browsers. Depending on your operating system, whether it's Windows or MacOS, you can try playing the content by using browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Safari. No download or installation will have to be undertaken, aside from any necessary updates to your browser or plugins.
Software updates can be quite disruptive, especially with how many apps we all have in our lives. Thankfully, online casino sites can function very effectively in browsers now that streaming has advanced to a rapid level. We found only smooth performance when testing out the platform.
Microgaming has provided a significant portion of the software, having brought video slots, progressive jackpots, blackjack tables and roulette wheels to Mate Casino. We're happy to say that Microgaming is further backed by the presence of software from iSoftBet, Play'n GO, Habanero, Booming and BetSoft.
Popular Games at Casino Mate
Mobile Gaming/Live Casino for Canada
Mate Casino is completely committed to providing an instant-play platform and has opted against developing any dedicated mobile apps. On the site, it's mentioned that Android, iPhone and iPad devices are all compatible. As a blast from the past, Casino Mate also states that some content is accessible on BlackBerry.
Functionally, the casino site did run better on desktop, with the table games benefitting most from the greater screen size. If playing on mobile here, then it's best to play mobile slots at Canadian casinos and to only wager if you're connected to a fast and secure network capable of operating the software smoothly.
More often than not, online casinos have limitations and must make sacrifices when allotting their budgets. In this case, Mate Casino has forgone the inclusion of a live casino suite. For the moment, any registered players will have to use the virtual tables instead. Please see here for live online casinos that are playable in Canada.
Games and Payout Percentages
At Mate Casino, the virtual tables can never completely make up for the lack of live dealers, but they certainly come close. Whether enjoying blackjack, poker, or roulette, the tables incorporate key audio and visuals to make them feel as close to reality as possible.
However, if your preference is to play these table games with live dealers, you will have to opt for another online casino. One of this kind with an impressive selection of live dealer games is GoldenTiger casino.
Leading off with blackjack, you can try different rule sets from as far afield as Europe, France, Spain, Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Reno. Then there are tables that run with special formats like Double Exposure Gold Series, Big 5 Blackjack, Super Fun 21, Perfect Pairs, Lucky Lucky, single deck and multi-hand.
To further diversify the table selection, Mate Casino has outfitted the related categories with American Roulette, European Roulette, Double Ball Roulette, Zoom Roulette, Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, Punto Banco, Pontoon, Caribbean Hold'em, Oasis Poker, Three-Card Rummy, Super Wheel, War and Vegas Craps.
Alternatively, there are video slots for players who prefer reel-based action and bonus rounds instead. Featuring here are big-time releases in the form of Sticky Bandits, Big Bad Wolf, Tower Tumble, Aztec Gold Megaways, Heroes' Gathering, Take the Bank, Egyptian King, Fruit Zen, Wild Blood 2, Attack on Retro and Playboy Gold Slots.
Casino Mate has plenty of games that soar above the site-wide payout percentage:
- All Games - 95.94%
- Slots games - 96.58% for Eastern Emeralds
- Table games - 99.69% for Vegas Single Deck Blackjack
- Poker games - 96.43% for Poker Pursuit
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Progressive Jackpots - Winners
Mate Casino has a blog that's generally underutilised for reporting on winners. Away from the site, however, we were able to read about a March 2017 winner from Australia. The player in question, a user known as "S.S.", snagged the equivalent of $263,000 while enjoying Microgaming's Playboy slot.
Some other Microgaming jackpot slots worth playing are Mega Moolah, Mega Moolah Isis, Major Millions and Fruit Fiesta. They appear alongside the likes of Diamond Wild, Legend of the Nile, Leprechaun Goes to Hell, Good Girl Bad Girl, Mr Vegas and A Night in Paris, which are all developed by alternative providers.
Banking Options for Canada
Having chosen CAD as your currency, you can use one of several payment methods to quickly transfer funds. Standing out as the pick of them are iDebit, Instadebit and Interac Online, which can be combined with domestic bank accounts and payment methods for supremely convenient transactions.
Instant transaction times are available for almost all deposit methods, which also feature VISA, MasterCard, paysafecard, Neteller, ecoPayz and Neosurf. Of those payment methods, it won't be possible to request a withdrawal by MasterCard, paysafecard, Neosurf or Interac Online. Furthermore, you can expect three to five business days to withdraw by VISA or Instadebit, while Neteller is instant.
After uncovering that information, we then delved deeper into the FAQs to see if account verification is required. As its stands, Mate Casino will make a case-by-case decision as to whether or not proof of ID or address will be required. Therefore, you should monitor your email inbox for possible communication following the request of your first withdrawal.
Online Casinos Payment Methods
Our main focus in this review has been on Mate Casino, but we will now List three other highly-rated online casinos and their corresponding payment methods. These casinos are recognized for their diverse banking options and the unique deposit and withdrawal methods that distinguish them from one another.
- Cruise - This Casino offers a wide variety of payment methods for Canadian players. These include debit cards, credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. Canadian players can also use prepaid cards, such as Paysafecard and Neosurf. Debit card payments are one of the most popular payment methods for Canadian players, as they are fast and convenient. All major banks in Canada accept debit card payments, and they are processed instantly. Credit cards are also accepted, although the processing time may take a little longer. E-wallets are becoming increasingly popular for Canadian players, as they are fast and secure. Neteller and Skrill are both accepted at the casino, and they offer instant transactions. Bank transfers are also available, although the processing times are much longer. Prepaid cards are also accepted at Crusie Casino as well as Paysafecard and Neosurf.
- Arlekin - This Casino offers Canadian players a variety of safe and secure payment methods. All major credit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, are accepted and players can also use Interac as a payment option. Players can also deposit using e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, as well as prepaid cards like Paysafecard. All payments are processed quickly and securely, with funds being available for wagering in no time. The casino also offers a variety of withdrawal options, allowing players to receive their winnings quickly and efficiently. Bank wires and checks are available, as well as e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill.
- Raging Bull - This Casino offers Canadian players a wide selection of payment methods to make deposits and withdrawals. Canadian players can choose from major credit and debit cards such as Visa and MasterCard, as well as e-wallet solutions like Skrill and Neteller. Canadian players also have the option to use ecoPayz, a secure online payment processor that is widely accepted by Canadian banks. In addition to these payment methods, Canadian players can also use direct bank transfers or Bank Wire Transfers. All of these payment methods are secure and offer quick, hassle-free transactions. Raging Bull Casino also offers players the option to make deposits using Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. Bitcoin is a secure digital currency that allows players to make anonymous payments quickly and with low fees. Bitcoin payments are processed instantly and withdrawals are typically processed within 24 hours. Raging Bull Casino also provides Canadian players with the ability to make withdrawals using a variety of methods including Bank Wire Transfers, Bitcoin and Bank Cheques. All withdrawal methods are subject to a $50 minimum withdrawal and a $2,500 maximum withdrawal limit.
Customer Support
With Mate Casino, you can personally try and resolve issues by scanning the frequently asked questions (FAQs) for possible solutions. Several FAQs are answered under each topic that's provided for accounts, deposits and withdrawals, bonuses, casino, security and responsible gaming. You can find your way to the FAQs by using the collapsible menu on the home menu.
Shown in clear view, however, is a link to the contact page. Please note that this page displays links to the FAQs and also a password reset feature. To speak to a member of staff, you can try using live chat, email or telephone. The telephone line is a 1-800 number, so you will be able to call toll-free.
Security and Fairness at Mate Casino
In the interest of player security, Mate Casino operates a policy of holding deposited funds in a completely separate account. A further integral security measure is the online casino's use of 128-bit encryption. After seeing this mentioned on the homepage, we were able to confirm it with a browser-based security check.
Following on from our routine security check, it was much tougher for this Mate Casino review to find any worthwhile information on fairness. All we found was a single mention of a Curacao licence on the lengthy page of T&Cs. Following on, there was no effort made by Casino Mate to discuss fairness or testing of software.
Casino History/Complaints
Mate Casino doesn't make it easy to trace its ownership. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, the operator responsible for the brand is Jacked Affiliates Ltd. Casino Mate was opened in 2011 and so it's very likely that the brand could have changed ownership and/or management since then.
As part of our research, we evaluated the brand on other online casino portals and found conflicting information on the licence. One portal believed this was held in Malta, another listed Curacao and a third believes the brand is operating without a valid remote gaming licence. As for complaints, one of the portals reported just 10 overall with an 80% clearance rate.
Player Location Restrictions
These are the locations from where real money wagering isn't permitted by Casino Mate: Asia, Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France (including overseas territories), Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, New South Wales (Australia), Philippines, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK (including overseas territories) and US (including overseas territories.
Unique Casino Features for Canada
Mate Casino generally takes good care of Canadian players, beginning with the fact that CAD is one of only three permitted currencies. On the banking page, you can even view all of the accepted Canadian payment methods from a dropdown menu. What could be improved, however, is the on-site inclusion of a language menu with the ability to select French.
Summary/Personal Recommendation
With Mate Casino, you can advance quickly through the signup process. Be prepared to select a username and password before submitting contact information, name, age, date of birth, gender and address. In the final step, this is your only chance to ensure that CAD is elected as the default currency for your account.
Considering the uncertainty surrounding the licence, it's perfectly reasonable to stake lower than you would normally and take it slow. Please just ensure that you respond swiftly to any information requests relating to account verification. Casino Mate does have a superb range of games and promotions, so it's still very appealing to play here, especially with the CAD-friendly cashier.