Golden Riviera Review
They used to offer a large selection of video slots
By Casinomeister, Last updated Mar 24, 2024
Casinomeister's Verdict
This casino has a long history at Casinomeister going back to 2001 – when they were sold to the Vegas Partner group, we took them on as an Accredited casino. Unfortunately, their casino reps fell off the face of the earth, and the casino lost interest in being listed as an Accredited Casino at Casinomeister. So here they are in the Grey Zone.
A now-closed casino that used to be OK
First Impression
Note: Golden Riviera Casino appears to have permanently shut down. While their website is live, it is no longer a playable casino. Instead, they appear to be running as an affiliate website, linking to other casinos owned by different online gambling operators. This Golden Riviera Casino review contains information from when the site was operational.
Established in 2001, Golden Riviera Casino was one of the oldest online casinos. They were licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and were owned by the Vegas Group, and, it appears, MT SecureTrade Limited. Their affiliate program was Star Partners. They were Accredited here at Casinomeister between 2005 and 2017. Unfortunately, they started slacking and lost their accreditation status. We will cover this later in our review. They were also affiliated with the Vegas Partner Lounge Group.
While Golden Riviera Casino began as a Microgaming site, they later added games from other software providers like Evolution Gaming, Netent, NYX, and Play’n Go. They offered various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, EWallets, and bank transfers. To kick off this historic casino review, we will begin by looking at the site’s old bonuses and promotions.
Pros
They used to offer a large selection of video slots
Evolution Gaming powered their live dealer casino
They offered a three-part welcome bonus
Cons
The online casino is now shut
Their weekly withdrawal limit was low
Placed in the Grey Zone here at Casinomeister
Top 5 casinos 
BONUSES AND PROMOTIONS
Golden Riviera offered a wide variety of bonuses and promotions to players, regardless of whether you were a new customer or an existing player. They offered a decent welcome bonus, albeit with high wagering requirements, and their ongoing bonuses and promotions were pretty generous, too. In the following sections of this Golden Riviera review, we will examine the bonuses and promotions that used to be available at the online casino.
Exclusive offers
Welcome Offer
Golden Riviera Casino welcomed new players with open arms and offered quite a generous welcome bonus. However, the high wagering requirements could be one of the reasons why this casino failed to continue attracting new sign-ups. Let’s examine what their welcome bonus used to look like. Firstly, we should point out that a three-part welcome bonus allowed players to claim up to $1,400 in bonus funds.
On your first deposit, you could claim a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $150. On your second deposit, you could claim a 25% matched deposit bonus of up to $500; on your third deposit, you could claim a 50% matched deposit bonus of up to $750. If you deposited the maximum amount of money on each deposit, you could have claimed the total of $1,400.
Now, regarding the terms and conditions. All three deposit bonuses came with wagering requirements of 50x, which, by today’s standards, is far too high. Back then, however, it wasn’t considered the worst in the world. There was also a pretty low minimum deposit limit of just $10. However, there were also some strange terms and conditions.
For example, to be able to make a withdrawal, players needed to place at least 100 bets. While we assume this measure was introduced to minimize the risk of bonus abusers joining the casino, claiming the bonus, and cashing out, it’s still a strange term.
No-Deposit & Free Spins Offers
Given that the site is now shut, we could not view any information about their no-deposit bonuses.
VIP and Loyalty Programs
Golden Riviera Casino used to offer a VIP program known as the Golden Circle. They said, “Once you’re in this circle, your gaming life will become one of sophistication and style, luxury and grandeur.”
As a VIP member, you used to be assigned your dedicated host to cater to your every need and ensure your experience lives up to expectations of “grandeur.”
Some of the perks for Golden Circle members included:
- Withdrawals handled first before other players
- Withdrawal limits were increased, although specific limits weren’t given
- Exclusive promotions and bonuses just for VIPs
- Increased comp points on play and higher cashback rates
- Personalized gifts, invitations to events, and other surprises
On paper, it looked like a pretty good VIP program. How, however, did you get to become a part of the VIP program? Well, Golden Riviera Casino looked at several criteria. They looked at the frequency at which players logged in – and how long their playing sessions were. Naturally, they looked at the bet sizes – and they also looked for game variety.
According to the online casino, they preferred to see players playing more than just one or two games. Finally, it goes without saying that the online casino also looked at the amount of money played.
Essentially, they wanted to see players actively playing and betting higher amounts across various games. It’s worth noting that Golden Circle membership wasn’t necessarily permanent, either. You needed to keep up those VIP levels of play to retain your elite status.
Cashback
Bonus Terms
Sign up process
BANKING AND PAYMENT METHODS
Regarding deposit methods, Golden Riviera Casino offered a pretty impressive selection. They offered more deposit and payment methods than some of the current casinos! They accepted all credit and debit cards, including VISA and MasterCard. Maestra cards were also accepted. All credit and debit card deposits had a $10 minimum deposit limit and no upper limit. Card deposits were processed instantly.
Other instant deposit methods included ClickandBuy, Click2Pay, ecoPayz, Skrill, Netent, Paysafecard, and WebMoney. These deposit methods had a minimum deposit limit of $10 and no upper limit. The only non-instant deposit method was a Direct Bank Transfer. Deposits via a bank transfer took one to five working days to process, although the minimum deposit was still set at $10.
The casino offered a variety of currencies, including Swiss Francs, Indian Rupees, Canadian Dollars, US Dollars, British Pounds, and others. However, once you had set a currency, any deposit required you to use the same currency; changing was not possible.
Withdrawal Speed Options & Speed
Golden Riviera Casino did a pretty good job in the withdrawals department. They offered a wide variety of withdrawal methods, matching, primarily, the same deposit methods they accepted. One of the biggest benefits to the casino was that withdrawals were generally processed within 0-5 hours. This was great, especially for the time – and there was also no reverse period, so you were unable to reverse a withdrawal.
However, there were withdrawal limits in place. For example, the most a player could withdraw each week was $4,000. While this may not have been an issue for low-rollers, players wanting to play at higher stakes would need to become VIPs to increase these limits.
Responsible gaming
While the Golden Riviera online casino doesn’t have a version of its old casino website live, we found information about its responsible gambling policies from archived versions of its site. As an online casino licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK’s Gambling Commission, the online casino was held to pretty high standards regarding responsible gambling.
The casino had a dedicated, responsible gambling page, which offered various resources, including links to professional help and advice for those struggling with gambling addiction. This page served as a “hub” where players could find information about responsible gambling tools.
The deposit limit function was the first and most commonly used responsible gambling tool. A deposit limit allows players to set a maximum amount that they can deposit into their casino account within a specific time frame, usually daily, weekly, or monthly. By putting a cap on deposits, players can better control their spending and reduce the risk of overextending themselves financially.
Golden Riviera Casino also provided reality checks and session time reminders. These features were designed to inform players about their time on the site during a single session, encouraging them to take regular breaks. Both of these features were required under UKGC regulations.
Another tool in the responsible gambling toolkit Golden Riviera offered was the self-exclusion feature. Players who felt they needed a break from gambling could choose to suspend their account for a longer time than what a cooling-off exclusion offered. Self-exclusion closes a player’s account for at least six months and a maximum of five years.
Customer support
The casino had a customer support team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether players had questions about the first deposit bonus, wanted to know which slot machines the second deposit bonus could be used on, wanted to check whether specific games, like Immortal Romance or Joker Poker, could be used with bonus funds, or even if players wanted to check which withdrawal methods were available to them, many Casinomeister members said that Golden Riviera offers some of the best customer support around.
The easiest way of contacting the customer support team was via live chat. Live chat allows you to speak with online casino staff directly from your internet browser, and it’s the fastest and most convenient way of getting in touch. We always recommend players use live chat, as it saves you from waiting around.
However, the online casino also offered customer support via email if the situation called for it. It’s unclear what their response times were, but we’d imagine it could take up to 48 hours.
KYC
Like any reputable online gaming platform, Golden Riviera Casino had a comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure to ensure a safe and legal gaming environment. This process was designed to verify the identity of its players and prevent fraudulent activities. When players registered for an account, they were required to provide basic personal information, including name, address, and date of birth.
In addition to these registration details, Golden Riviera Casino typically requested additional documentation to complete a full KYC check. This meant players had to submit copies of government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license, and proof of residence, like a recent utility bill or bank statement. The casino’s security team would review these documents and either ‘accept’ them – meaning a player could withdraw and play – or, sometimes, require additional documentation.
As we could not access a cached version of the online casino’s terms and conditions page, it’s unclear what the exact procedure was for dealing with KYC documents. However, their customer care service wasn’t the best in the world, and it’s likely that the process would have taken a few days to complete.
Website Experience and Features
Like most Microgaming casinos, Golden Riviera offered a solid selection of slot machines, live game titles, and even branded slots, like Jurassic Park. However, like many good casino sites running on the Microgaming software, instant play gaming took longer than many players expected. The casino offered all the games through a downloadable software client for many years. It wasn’t until HTML5 took over that all the games were available on an instant-play version of the site.
With the advent of HTML5 technology, Golden Riviera transitioned to a website-based platform, phasing out the need for downloadable software. This shift represented a significant step forward in terms of accessibility and convenience, as players could now access their favorite games directly through their web browsers on both desktop and laptop computers. This also saw new titles from software providers like Evolution Gaming becoming available, and like any good casino, players could find their favorite games far easier than before.
This shift also allowed players to enjoy the Microgaming software from their mobile devices. Previously, the Flash-based instant play site didn’t run well on mobile devices. However, it should be said, there was no dedicated mobile casino app, and compared to today’s standards, the mobile casino was pretty dated.
Brand games
Providers & Live Game Developers
When it was operational, Golden Riviera Casino offered casino games, video slots, live dealer games, and video poker from some of the world’s top game developers and software providers. The casino’s game library was powered by giants like Microgaming, known for their innovative and graphically impressive games. Microgaming’s contribution to Golden Riviera Casino’s portfolio was significant, as they were responsible for powering the casino. (Originally, the casino was Microgaming-only.)
Another key player was Evolution Gaming, a leader in the live casino space. Their live dealer games, such as blackjack and roulette, were a staple at Golden Riviera. However, unfortunately, their recent hits like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live never had the chance to be played at Golden Riviera!
In addition, Golden Riviera Casino also featured games from NYX Interactive and SG Digital, both known for their diverse and engaging slots. NetEnt and Play’n Go were also available, although not all their video slots were available at the casino.
Slots: Many Microgaming Games
While we can’t access a complete list of video slots the online casino offered, we can see some of the popular slot games they featured. Let’s look at a few. Firstly, Microgaming’s Thunderstruck II – listed on the ‘featured games’ tab. This Norse mythology-themed slot offers 243 ways to win and is renowned for its immersive graphics and engaging gameplay, featuring gods like Thor and Odin.
It’s a sequel to the highly successful original “Thunderstruck” and is very similar in mechanics and math to Immortal Romance. The main appeal of Thunderstruck II is the free spins bonus round, which allows players to choose one of four bonus features. Other popular Microgaming slot machines included Pay Spark, Hell Boy, and Avalon II.
NYX Interactive’s Foxin’ Wins was another very popular video slot. This quirky and fun slot centers around an aristocratic fox and his mischievous pups. Its vibrant graphics, playful theme, and features like random bonuses and a ‘Superbet’ option make it a hit among players looking for an entertaining and potentially lucrative gaming experience.
SG Digital’s contribution was no less impressive, with games like Raging Rhino, Montezuma, and Monopoly: The Big Event all offering high-variance gameplay with big win potential. Raging Rhino, for example, offers a maximum win potential worth thousands of times your bet! In addition to these games, you had other popular classics like Play’n Go’s Book of Dead, NetEnt’s Starburst, and Divine Fortune.
Live Online Casinos: No Microgaming Games Here!
Golden Riviera Casino’s live game section, powered by Evolution Gaming, was a solid live casino for players seeking an authentic and interactive gaming experience. Evolution Gaming, the clear market leader in the live dealer arena, provided a range of games that mirrored a physical casino’s excitement and ambiance.
The live casino offered classics like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, all streamed in high-definition from professional studios. Evolution Gaming offers a service that few other game developers can compete with, and their use of multiple HD cameras and highly skilled dealers makes their games stand out vividly from those of competitors.
The variety of the live casino games at Golden Riviera Casino was pretty good. Players had the choice of various versions of blackjack and roulette, catering to different preferences and betting limits. For example, roulette enthusiasts could enjoy variations like Immersive Roulette, which offers multiple camera angles and slow-motion replays, enhancing the immersive aspect of the game.
Blackjack players enjoyed options like Blackjack Party, which featured a more casual, party-like atmosphere with music and entertaining conversation. The online casino offered various table limits, catering to players on both small and larger budgets.
Table Games and Video Poker
Turning our focus to the casino table games and video poker at Golden Riviera Casino, there was an impressive selection that catered to all types of players. The table games section blended traditional and modern games, including multiple blackjack, roulette, and poker variants. Golden Riviera Casino offered casino table games from all major game developers, including Netent and Microgaming, most notably perhaps, Vegas Strip Blackjack.
Poker games were another highlight in the table games section. Golden Riviera Casino offered several poker variants, including Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and 3 Card Poker. These games were popular for their crisp graphics, and the casino also featured less common games like Red Dog and Pai Gow Poker, which were perfect for players looking to try something different.
Video poker was an integral part of Golden Riviera Casino’s game offerings, and despite branching out to become a multi-game developer site, they continued to offer Microgaming’s core video poker products until they stopped operating. Some titles they offered included Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, Deuces Wild Deluxe, Joker Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, and Jacks or Better.
Progressive jackpots
Progressive Slots
Golden Riviera Casino offered a good selection of progressive jackpot slots, ideal for players chasing the thrill of big wins. Most of their progressive jackpot offering comprised Microgaming’s jackpot slots. Microgaming, a leader in the jackpot games industry, is renowned for its network of progressive jackpot games, which pool together bets from different online casinos to allow the jackpot values to be worth a lot of money.
Mega Moolah was arguably the star of the show at Golden Riviera Casino, and this video slot is often referred to as the ‘Millionaire Maker.’ It features an African safari theme and is famous for its consistently massive jackpots, some of which have broken world records! The game’s old yet calming graphics, featuring wild African animals, and the exciting bonus round where the jackpot wheel could be triggered at any moment made it the popular game it is today. Mega Moolah has four progressive jackpots – Mini, Minor, Major, and the Mega – with the latter often climbing into the multi-million-dollar range.
Another popular game was Major Millions, a military-themed progressive slot known for its straightforward yet engaging gameplay. This game came in both 3-reel and 5-reel versions, appealing to old-school and modern players. Major Millions was unique because the progressive jackpot could be won by landing a specific combination; this is unusual for Microgaming, which usually awards its progressive jackpots through bonus rounds.
King Cashalot was another popular progressive jackpot slot at Golden Riviera Casino, themed around a medieval castle. It combines humorous characters with jackpots, and the game – still playable today – is built around a 5-reel, 3-row format with nine paylines. It’s famed for its bonus features, including wilds, scatters, and a fun bonus game. The key attraction, however, is the progressive jackpot, which can be won by landing five King symbols on the ninth payline.
About the Team and History
Golden Riviera Casino was launched in 2001. They appear to have operated as two separate sites, with the UK business owned and operated by MT SecureTrade Limited. The non-UK-facing brand appears to have been operated by Vegas Partner Lounge Group. Unfortunately, Vegas Partner Lounge announced all of their online casinos would cease operations as of the 26th of April 2018. One of our forum members, Bebo67, posted an explanation in the Casinomeister forum:
“July 25th, Vegas Partner Lounge is launching their ” new” casino. They will be getting rid of their downloadable casino and adding new providers. NetEnt, Quickspin, PlayNGo etc. Anyone playing on Maple will have their account migrated to Crazy Vegas using existing login credentials. Casino Mate and Golden Riviera will have a stand-alone with the same games added. I’m excited about this! I haven’t deposited in eons with these guys, but have kept in touch over the months via e-mail. They are a great bunch of people.”
The site accepted players from various countries but excluded those from Switzerland, Puerto Rico, South Africa, North Korea, Asia, China, Canada, South Korea, French Guiana, Hong Kong, Denmark, Turkey, French Southern Territories, Cyprus, Belgium, French Polynesia, Estonia, Italy, Australia, Iran, Russia, Vatican City, Ireland, Greece, Latvia, Syria, Netherlands, Afghanistan, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, United States, Sweden, France, Cuba, and Singapore.
While the site initially offered Microgaming’s casino games, they eventually teamed up with other software providers like NetEnt and Play’n Go. This substantially broadened their offering, and allowed them to appeal to many more players than before.
Complaints and Track Record
As you would expect from a casino operating for as long as Golden Riviera was, the Casinomeister forum has numerous threads, with players giving their good and bad comments. Here’s a couple of comments, starting with Arismac, who said here:
“I had hardly finished creating an account when my Mobile rang, and a very charming young lady from somewhere 3 hours east of GMT welcomed me to the Casino. Well done. Makes me warm and fuzzy and gives the casino an immediate handle on who is joining. A nice touch. Real money now deposited and bonus accepted, and I am now off to the BJ table.”
Unfortunately, as we mentioned earlier, Golden Riviera had to have their Casinomeister accreditation stripped, as Casinomeister himself explains here:
“They let both of their forum accounts lapse – inactive for months. Failure to maintain the accred standards = no longer Accredited – now in the Grey Zone.”
Still, on the whole, the online gambling site has a pretty good reputation, and in the past, issues were generally taken care of quickly.
Casino Facts
| Founded | 2001 |
| Accredited at Casinomeister | June 2005 - July 2017 |
| Jurisdictions | Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC |
| Affiliate program | Star Partners |
| Is this casino certified at Casinomeister | No |
| Payout time | 24 hrs |
| Reverse time | 24 hrs |
| Payout limits | 4k per week |
| Weekend payouts | No |
| Locks withdrawals | No |
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
