Casino Site Expert Review: William Hill Casino

History

William Hill is one of the largest bookmakers in the UK and one of the most recognised brands in gambling, having been founded way back in 1934. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and had a market capitalisation of almost £2 billion in 2012. They have many years experience in online gaming but the genesis of their casino was in their 2008 partnership with Playtech, after which they formed William Hill Online. Their casino is operated from Gibraltar and since its inception has gone on to become one of the leading and most reputable online casinos. Their ever-expanding base of loyal followers are attracted to the security of dealing with one of the most respected names in the industry as well as the great games on offer, the incredible variety of which is second-to-none.

Casino Website

The William Hill trademark blue background is familiar throughout the UK so obviously their website has it too. It might seem a little cluttered at first but when you realise how much they have to offer it’s easy to see why! Really, the website has so many games on so many different platforms it would be doing their customers a disservice to hide them away. Your account details and a link to the help section occupy the very top portion of the website, exactly where you want them. But beneath this is where the fun begins - there is a menu bar offering access to the casino itself, but also all the other sections where many more games await your discovery, the headings being Sports, Casino, Poker, Games, Vegas, Live Casino, Skill, Bingo, Virtual, Financials and Mobile. Simple click on the Casino tab and all the games on offer appear beneath, divided into easily understood categories – Most Popular, New Games, Table Games, Card Games, Slots, Video Poker, Live Casino, Casual Games, Scratch Cards and Casual Games. Beneath this again, if you ever get that far, is information on all the payment methods, privacy policy and company information that give you the reassurance that you’re dealing with a reputable company. Overall, the website is clear, easy to navigate, and even though it contains a lot of information you’ll soon understand why – William Hill casino just has that much to give you!

Software

The casino uses Playtech software, probably the leading software provider in the industry with a vast variety of casino and live dealer games. The casino itself has well over 150 games to choose from but there are also many more games available from the main casino homepage, by other leading software companies such as IGT and GameAccount Network. These further games are available under the headings of Poker, Games, Vegas, Skill and Bingo, and there are also links to sports and financial betting if you fancy giving them a go. Overall, between the casino and the other games sections William Hill has one of the largest variety of games to choose from – you’ll always have something new to try!

Live Casino

The live casino options are quite extensive with the casino itself offering Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and Hold’em. You have a choice of different tables with different versions of the games on offer, different limits and, of course, different dealers to choose from. The only slight drawback is that there isn’t much information available on the dealers themselves. But you can also access more live dealer tables from the homepage so, really, you should always find what you’re looking for!

Customer Support

Customer support is excellent. The FAQ section is particularly comprehensive and should answer most queries, with a very handy search feature to find the answer you need. If that doesn’t work then the 24/7 live support is really good, with live-chat, freephone and email facilities all available. The live-chat is particularly good and is definitely the easiest way to contact them – it is clearly linked to from most pages and you will generally be talking to a customer service representative very quickly, with any slight delay clearly indicated so you know how long you might have to wait.

Payment Methods

A very wide range of deposit methods are accepted, including debit/credit cards, Paypal, Neteller, Moneybookers/Skrill, Ukash, Bank Transfer, Cheque, and you can even buy a voucher directly in your local William Hill betting shop. Most of these deposit methods can be used to withdraw too, with many withdrawals being processed within one day though this does depend on the method chosen. You also have the very handy possibility of getting a cash withdrawal from one of their betting shops. There are currently no fees attached to any banking methods.

Safety and Security

William Hill is committed to the complete security and privacy of your personal information. The sites uses SSL encryption technology to ensure the safe transmission of data, and has a security issued by Thawte which is an internationally recognised certificate authority.

Licence

William Hill’s casino has a license issued in the jurisdiction of Gibraltar, one of the world’s most stringent regulatory environments for online gaming. Gibraltar is on the UK government’s prestigious White List of overseas gambling authorities that adheres to its high standards.

Reliability & Fairness

The casino is regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner who ensures that all operations in the jurisdiction adhere to stringent requirements relating to fairness in play and the safety of financial transactions. The site is tested regularly by TST (Technical Systems Testing), one of the leading testing agencies in the world, which guarantees fairness in payouts and the use of the random number generator.

Social Engagement

William Hill, as a large and reputable international organisation, takes its social responsibilities very seriously. You will find information on responsible gaming clearly displayed on the website, with links to different gambling support organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous and GamCare. The company also actively engages with the communities in which it works. In 2011 they made charitable donations of nearly £1 million, with a large proportion of that going to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust. They also actively sponsor sports and other activities. In 2009 they became the shirt sponsor of Malaga CF, a team in the Spanish Football League, and in 2010 they sponsored the Official Monster Raving Loony Party in the UK general election.

Mobile / Tablets

William Hill has a really great mobile casino. The casino games feature the usual Roulette and Blackjack and a good variety of slots, but you also have access to their Bingo mobile site and many other slots in the Games section. With over 30 mobile casino games in total, more being added very regularly, and the ability to try their sports betting or even financials, you have probably the widest choice of games available on a mobile platform. To begin playing you simply need to visit their mobile site, download their app, or they will send you a text with all the details you need if you enter your number on their website. Most mobile platforms are compatible, including iPhone and Android.

Free Demo Play

One of the few negatives of this casino site is that practice play is only available on a limited number of games. On the casino site itself you can generally only use their demo play feature for new games. Many of the games in the other sections, such as the Games section, have demo play options though, so it should usually be possible to experiment with a good variety of games even if not the exact one you want.

Promotions and bonuses

There is a good £150 welcome bonus on your first deposit. You get 100% of your deposit between £35-150, but deposits less than £35 only get a 25% bonus. The wagering requirements are quite low at 20x the bonus plus deposit. High rollers can claim up to £300 bonus but need to deposit a minimum of £1000. As with most casinos different games contribute different amounts to the wagering requirements with, for example, slots and scratch cards getting you 100% of the requirement but roulette only giving 25%. But that’s not all – every deposit up to £3500 per month attracts a 20% deposit bonus as long as the deposit is between £35 and $175, and is restricted to being claimed once per day and five times per week. The wagering requirements on these deposits are even lower again at 15x the deposit plus bonus. There is also a £50 refer-a-friend bonus.

Loyalty Scheme

William Hill has a loyalty scheme based on comp points. Every £10 wagered gives you one comp point, and regularly there are featured games which give you double comp points. 100 comp points is worth £1 which can be redeemed for a wide range of bonuses and promotions, or just straight cash if you prefer.

VIP Scheme

As you earn more and more comp points you will move up the levels of William Hill’s VIP scheme, from Bronze to Silver and Gold, with the pinnacle being the Platinum Club. Each level entitles you to further bonuses and promotions and a better exchange rate for your comp points. The benefits on offer include faster withdrawal times, higher table limits, improved bonuses and promotions, exclusive VIP games and tournaments, and eventually even the services of a dedicated account manager. If you like VIP treatment then maybe it’s something to aim for!

Pros

• Probably the greatest variety of games available from an online casino
• Run by one of the UK’s biggest and most trusted gaming companies
• Excellent promotions that aren’t just for new customers

Cons

• Practice play not available on all games
• Limited biographical info on the live dealers
• Website has so many options it’s hard to choose (maybe not that negative!)

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