Merkur Slots sister sites

Merkur Slots sister sites 2023

Eyas Gaming Limited is not a large casino network company. The Merkur brand is the only one that it operates, and the brand is far better known in real life than it is for its online casinos. There are plenty of Merkur Casino and Merkur Slots venues up and down the UK, with greater density in the north of the country. The Merkur Slots website is very much a secondary concern to the company’s in-person business. It’s also a far lonelier website than it used to be. Why do we say it’s lonely? For the plain and simple reason that there are no longer any Merkur Slots sister sites.

We know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering why we’re talking about there being no Merkur Slots sister sites directly underneath a logo for Merkur Casino. It’s because the closure of Merkur Casino happened as recently as early 2023, and we know there may still be people scouring the internet looking for it. The stated reason for the closure of the casino is that Eyas Gaming Limited has opted to consolidate everything that Merkur Casino offered into Merkur Slots and focus on that casino instead. That won’t have taken them very long. We’ve wondered for a long time what the point of Merkur Casino’s existence was when, in every way that mattered, it was a clone of Merkur Slots. It seems that Eyas Gaming eventually had the same thought and decided to do something about it.

There was a time when Merkur Casino wasn’t the only one of the Merkur Slots sister sites. There was another one called Jackpot Universe, but that, too, has gone the way of the dinosaurs and was closed several years ago. Despite the closure of these casinos, we don’t believe Merkur Slots is under threat. It’s a big enough brand name to stand on its own two feet, and the decision by its operator to focus on just the one casino site might even bring improvements.

Merkur Slots Information

Merkur Slots operator – Eyas Gaming Limited

Like a lot of casino network companies, Eyas Gaming Limited is based in Malta – specifically Zebbug. There are myriad reasons why iGaming companies that serve the UK choose to set up shop there, but the two big ones are the fact that tax arrangements for gambling firms are better there than they are in the UK. Being in Malta also means companies can apply for a Malta Gaming Authority licence, which pairs nicely with the UK Gambling Commission licence and means casinos can offer their services internationally. Eyas Gaming has a small but informative website, upon which it describes itself as a “new venture” from a team of iGaming industry veterans, including Adam Joseph, Michael Brady and Joe Saumarez Smith. We should note that the website appears to be quite badly out of date – it speaks of Eyas Gaming as an upcoming venture, but the company started trading in 2020.

Based on the content of the website, it seems that the plan for Eyas Gaming is (or perhaps was) to operate multiple iGaming brands. There’s a specific space on the website for “our brands,” but Merkur Slots is the only one listed. As noted there, Merkur is a brand with German roots, having been launched by the Gauselmann Group and starting life as a slots manufacturer rather than a casino. The stated ambition of Eyas Gaming Limited is to become the number one slots operator in the UK. That’s a lofty goal and sounds implausible at first, but then you remember that Merkur Slots exists offline as well as online. The Merkur Slots casino site is unlikely to ever become the UK’s number one, but the brand is more than capable of conquering the physical realm if it keeps opening venues at its current rate.

  Merkur Slots review

Merkur Slots Sister Sites Welcome Bonuses

The welcome promotion at Merkur Slots isn’t a big one, but there was a time when the casino didn’t have a welcome promotion at all, so the fact that one exists now has to be seen as an improvement by default. It’s a 150% deposit boost on first deposits only, subject to a maximum of £30 in bonus funds. The maximum conversion from the bonus is £500, and the associated wagering requirement is a decidedly unpleasant x50. You only have four days after registering an account with Merkur Slots to claim the bonus, so act fast if you like the sound of those terms.

Other Promotions

We wish we knew what the situation with further promotions at Merkur Slots is, but the casino is more than a little coy about the matter. There are no formal promotions listed on the “promotions” page of the casino website save for the welcome bonus, but there’s quite a lot of text hinting at the idea that other promotions may exist. Players (and potential players) are told they’ll receive “personalised offers,” allegedly tailored to the slots and games they enjoy playing the most. Free spins are specifically mentioned and are said to be wager-free (which begs the question of why the welcome promotion isn’t). There’s also mention of a cashback offer. However, no further details of either promotion are offered, and there’s no information about how players might become eligible for these promotions. We can only assume that if they exist, they’re sent to players directly – perhaps by email.

Top Games at Merkur Slots

Those of you who prefer new slots and games to the old classics are in luck at Merkur Slots, as new titles are added regularly, and they have their own dedicated space on the casino homepage. The top block of slots on the homepage, though, is reserved for the standout slots that have been designated as top games. It’s unlikely that any of them will require much of an introduction to you if you know your slots, but let’s look at the top three.

Eye of Horus: There are more versions of Eye of Horus out there than we can count, but the number one slots game at Merkur Slots is the original Egyptian-themed slot from Reel Time Gaming, which was released in 2016. It’s fairly traditional in its approach and design, with five reels, ten paylines, 96.31% RTP, and average volatility. Where the slot comes to life is in its bonus features, which include the ability to upgrade low-value symbols during the free spins feature. They pair nicely with the expanding wild symbols, which are also available in the base game. It looks dated, but then again, it looked dated even when it was new.

Fishin’ Frenzy: Again, there are plenty of versions of and sequels to Fishin’ Frenzy, but the most popular version of it at Merkur Slots is the original, which again comes from Reel Time Gaming. Plenty of other providers are represented in the Merkur Slots portfolio – it’s just that games from this provider are especially popular here. Fishin’ Frenzy made the fishing theme popular and started the process that led to Big Bass Bonanza, which is one of the most popular slots in the world. The “catch a cash fish” bonus feature is what makes Fishin’ Frenzy such a hit, but there are plenty of players who value it purely for its tranquil atmosphere. RTP in Fishin’ Frenzy is 96.12%, and volatility is a touch below average.

Cleopatra: We guess players at Merkur Slots love the Egyptian theme because there are two Egyptian-themed slots in the casino’s top three. This is Cleopatra, which is considered a stone-cold classic and was released by IGT way back in 2012. That was a whole different era of iGaming, and players who’ve come to the hobby more recently may find that Cleopatra just isn’t flashy enough for them. The slot’s free spins feature is the only bonus you’ll find in Cleopatra, but its fans say that the free spins feature is all that’s needed, given that it triples the value of all payouts for as long as it’s active. Cleopatra comes with an RTP of 95.7%, and has average volatility.

While slots are undoubtedly the most popular attractions at Merkur Slots (we guess the clue’s in the name), we should point out that there’s also a live casino lobby, including exclusive Merkur-branded versions of roulette and blackjack. The casino also offers plenty of Slingo games for those who enjoy them.

Customer Support and Licensing

This is the biggest weakness at Merkur Slots. There’s only one way to contact the customer support team at the casino, and that’s in writing by filling out a contact form or emailing care@merkurslots.com. There’s no telephone number to call nor any live chat assistance. Worse still, the casino doesn’t make any promises about how long it might take for players to receive a response. It could be a matter of minutes, but it could also be days – there’s no way of knowing. In terms of licencing, Merkur Slots sister sites are operated by Eyas Gaming Limited, which holds UK Gambling Commission licence 58160. To date, the operator has kept a clean record with the regulator and doesn’t have any fines or other black marks against its name.

Withdrawal Speed and Support

We have good news and bad news here. The good news is that in the right circumstances, withdrawals from Merkur Slots can be very fast. The bad news is that there isn’t a lot of choice when it comes to withdrawal methods. The casino only supports Mastercard or Visa Debit cards (there’s no support for Maestro) or the instant banking service provided by Trustly. E-wallets aren’t supported at all – not even PayPal. Merkur Slots claims 80% of all withdrawals are processed and paid within one minute of being requested. Some requests may be reviewed by the casino’s payments team, though, and if this happens, there may be a delay of up to 72 hours. Players who haven’t received their withdrawal after five days are asked to contact the customer care team.

Final Thoughts on Merkur Slots

Merkur Slots is a better casino than it used to be. It’s a shame there aren’t any Merkur Slots sister sites anymore, but the operator’s decision to shut those sites down and focus solely on Merkur Slots appears to have been to the casino’s benefit. It has far more games than it offered before 2023 and also now offers promotions. The fact that withdrawals are usually instant is even better. There’s still work to do, though – the casino needs to do a lot better with its customer care. Live chat assistance should be the bare minimum any player is entitled to expect in this day and age.

Merkur Slots Sister Sites Player Reviews

Here are the thoughts of your fellow players about Merkur Slots. The reviews are all real, but we’ve paraphrased them to keep them brief.

★★★★★
I tried to withdraw £2000 from Merkur Slots. It showed as “pending” for a while, then went to “unsuccessful,” however, the money hasn’t returned to my Merkur account. It’s disappeared. When I eventually get it, I’m never going to play here again. Oliver, April 9th 2023. Source – Trustpilot.

★★★★★
Merkur Slots offers great customer service. I had a small problem, but it was sorted out for me straight away. Glenn, April 8th 2023. Source – Trustpilot.

★★★★★
I can’t make deposits. I’m being asked to verify some very old cards that I registered on the site years ago, which I can’t do because the cards are long gone. I never even made a deposit with any of them. I’m just going to close my account instead. What a joke.Matt, April 1st 2023. Source – Trustpilot.

★★★★★
Merkur Slots is dead spins galore. It gives you the very occasional bite to keep you playing, but that’s it. Also, my spins are restricted to £1, and I don’t know why.Sunil, April 11th 2023. Source – Trustpilot.

★★★★★
This is an absolutely shocking casino. Don’t waste your money playing here.Deb, March 24th 2023. Source – Trustpilot.