Golden Nugget online casino review
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The million-dollar question: What do you get if you buy a 74,252 sq ft casino off a future president? Apparently… a foundation for a Golden Nugget.
More than 800 games, 25 software providers, and $1,000 in potential bonuses along with native apps are offered to gamblers from the States.
Is it all sunshine and rainbows though? Absolutely not. We’ll discuss everything the casino gets right and wrong in this Golden Nugget online casino review.
Pros and cons
- Rewarding welcome bonus
- Packed games library
- Proper search and filtering
- Missing no deposit bonus
- Slower email replies
- Payment policy transparency
General ratings
General info
| Launch date | 2013 |
| Company behind | Fertitta Entertainment |
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Editor’s note
This review is based on the operator’s current offer. Data and analysis are accurate at the time of publishing, but may be subject to change as the operator’s offer expands.
The Golden Nugget expert verdict
Golden Nugget casino is at the absolute top of the US casino market and can be recommended for almost all players.
The promotions just miss a no deposit offer, but are otherwise appealing, especially the $1,000 for new players. The game library is one of the best around with 851 titles from 25 top providers. This is the case on both desktop and mobile where just 24 titles are missing in their full fledged iOS and Android apps.
The amount of payment options are adequate and no fees are charged from Golden Nugget. Plus it’s safe to pay and gamble here, although it’s frustrating that the official auditor is not public knowledge.
Customer support is top notch, with just the email response time lagging a bit behind. The usability impresses with especially complex game filtering helping those of us with specific preferences.
Differences in each Golden Nugget state
The Golden Nugget online casino was one of the first to launch as the US gambling market opened in New Jersey. This was all the way back in November 2013.
Since then, Golden Nugget casinohas expanded into three states: Michigan, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Many more state openings are on the way according to Golden Nugget – but it’s not public which and by when.
If you happen to live in a state where Golden Nugget doesn’t operate, we suggest checking out our top sweeps cash casinos, which are available across the US.
| Licensed states | Games | Slots | Software providers | Compatible devices | Customer support | Licence provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 1312 | 1240 | 25 | iOS, Android, Web browsers | FAQs and Help Center, email, phone, live chat | NJDGE |
| Michigan | 700 | 620 | 18 | iOS, Android, Web browsers | FAQs and Help Center, email, phone, live chat | MGCB |
| Pennsylvania | 681 | 632 | 17 | iOS, Android, Web browsers (desktop only) | FAQs and Help Center, email, phone | PGCB |
| West Virginia | 218 | 201 | 6 | iOS, Android, Web browsers | FAQs and Help Center, email, phone, live chat | WVL |
Golden Nugget bonuses: $1,000 and more
New gamblers are welcomed by a $1,000 Golden Nugget casino bonus – with an additional 200 free spins on 88 Fortunes Megaways. It’s a 100% match deposit bonus with a 10x wagering requirement to get it cashed out.
Slots count 100% to the wagering requirements, while roulette, blackjack, video poker, and table games sit at 25%. For comparison, online casinos usually offer 10% or less for other games than slots.
Any Golden Nugget online casino bonus codes? Not offered – not needed. You receive all promos without any additional hassle.
Bonus facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 100% up to $1,000 and 200 Free Spins |
| Wagering requirement | 10x deposit |
| Bonus code | N/A |
| Deposit bonus | Yes |
| Free spins | 200 on 88 Fortunes Megaways |
| VIP rewards | Yes |
| Other bonuses | Weekly (deposit) campaigns |
Outside of the Golden Nugget casino welcome bonus, a variety of weekly, monthly, and VIP promotions are offered. These will depend on the time of year, but usually include:
- A smaller deposit bonus (example: Get $20 if you deposit $20)
- A monthly race with grand prizes (Grand prizes up to $30K and beyond)
- A minor cashback on first deposit ($10)
- A minor free spins deposit bonus (20-200 free spins offered on a variety of slots)
- A refer a friend bonus ($500)
- At least 1 VIP campaign where at least double comp points can be rewarded
Please remember the common 30-day eligibility for most of the offers – starting from your successful deposit – to ensure that you don’t miss out.
Bonus rating
- Top welcome offer
- Amazing loyalty bonuses
- Missing no deposit promotion
Listen, it’s not without reason that the Golden Nugget online casino has the reputation it has.
When an otherwise very solid provider like Tropicana ($100 offer) completely pales in comparison… we’re in a good spot.
Let me run through my checklist:
– Deposit bonus above $500 incl. free spins with a minor additional deposit in addition? YEP.
– Offers more than 3+ bonuses for existing players on average? YEP. – Has a detailed and rewarding comp point VIP system? YEP. Completely transparent and accessible promotion terms? YEP.
Why not offer the full 100 score in my Golden Nugget online casino review then? Well, unlike for instance BetMGM, there is no free bonus on the house available. It’s all with a deposit. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it detracts.
The minimum deposit amount is $30, whilst the general market often offers around the $20 mark. Borgata even offers as low as $10.
I’m not aware of any exclusive bonuses being offered – and Golden Nugget casino bonus codes are also non-existing.
All in all, the promotions will fit most US gamblers – but if you care about those specific aspects, look elsewhere.
Games: 1,312 with some exclusives
Golden Nugget casino enables US gamblers to play 1312 different games, more than the average online offering (between 300-500 titles).
1239 slot games, 25 blackjacks, 14 roulettes, 16 video poker games, and 20 live ones await.
Diving further in, amongst the titles are 50 jackpots, 81 steppers, 25 slingos, 13 scratchers, and 27 bingos.
Games facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Expert’s pick | Golden Nugget Stepper |
| Slots | 1240 |
| Popular slot | Bonanza Megaways |
| Jackpots | 50 |
| Top jackpot | Imperial Riches Slot |
| Table games | 55 |
| Popular table game | 777 Blazing Blackjack |
| Live games | 20 |
| Popular live game | Live High Limit Blackjack |
| Average RTP | 95.29% |
| Demo-play availability | Yes |
Heavily promoted by Golden Nugget casino themselves are the 15 exclusive games not found at any other US-based platform, including names such as Congo King and the Ultra Stack series.
You can also test the games by playing demos for free. All Golden Nugget casino games have this option available – except the live ones.
Game types
-
Video Poker
-
Baccarat
-
Bingo
-
Scratch Cards
Games rating
- Market-leading game library
- Top of the class jackpots
- Limited high stakes options
- No craps
The best of the US market offer more than 700 games. The Golden Nugget casino games number nearly double that.
It’s generally free of trash games too. Top titles like Divine Fortune, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and much more are available.
More to love?
– The filtering system is among the best in business.
– The 15 bespoke games, including the savage Golden Nugget Stepper title.
– The 14 jackpots with several times per month paid out prices, often in the range of $20-$50k.
– All popular game types are covered.The Golden Nugget casino game offering does also have flaws though.
Do you enjoy online craps? If so, you should visit casinos like Party casino, who actually offer it.
Do you live life in the fast lane, playing mostly high stakes? The 2 high limit blackjack titles in the Golden Nugget catalog are also bettered by the likes of Tropicana with 4.
All in all: It’s a major GO from me for the Golden Nugget games. No casino is perfect, but for most gamblers this is as close as it gets currently in the US.
Secret tip: Try the game king video poker game. The game king video poker game is a favorite of many gamblers!
Additional games details:
Golden Nugget slot games
Here are a few of the top titles we’d recommend from the Golden Nugget slot games:
| Slot | Game studio | Theoretical RTP | Volatility | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 Fortunes | SHFL | 96.00% | Medium | $200,000 |
| Starburst | NetEnt | 96.10% | Low | $100,000 |
| Da Vinci Diamonds | IGT | 94.94% | Low-medium | $51,100 |
| Invaders from the Planet Molana | WMS | 96.00% | Medium | $200,000 |
| Siberian Storm | IGT | 95.00% | Medium | $231,000 |
All the titles offer good payouts with reasonable risk and an entertaining game design. More importantly, they all appear on the list of highest-rated slots by Golden Nugget’s own users. You’ll see it when you log in.
Golden Nugget table games
These are the table game titles we’d recommend to try out. All offer nice gameplay, great layout, and slight innovations on otherwise classical games.
| Title | Game studio | Theoretical RTP | Min. Bet | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat Professional Series | NetEnt | 98.94% | $1.00 | $9,000 |
| Ultimate Texas Hold’em | SG Digital | 99.27% | $0.20 | $50,000 |
| Casino War | SG Digital | 97.83% | $0.10 | $4,000 |
| Blackjack Blazing 7S | SG Digital | 99.33% | $0.10 | $77,700 |
| Roulette Advanced | NetEnt | 97.29% | $0.10 | $41,200 |
Software: 25 providers, 28 brands
With 25 game studios and 28 different software brands, Golden Nugget casino goes beyond the 10-20 providers usually in place at the standard casinos.
At the time of writing, you will find H5G games, IGT games, NetEnt games, and NextGen titles.
Software facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Most popular slot software | NetEnt |
| Number of software providers | 25 |
| Live providers | 1 |
| Most popular live software | Evolution |
| Bespoke software | Yes |
| Download required? | No |
Otherwise known and popular providers amongst US gamblers include Ainsworth, Bally, Barcrest, Evolution Gaming, Konami, Slingo, and WMS.
Less known, but still recommendable: AGS, Aruze, Bet Digital, BTG, Everi, Incredible Technologies, Inspired, Lightning Box, Red 7, Reelplay, SHFL, Side City Games, Spin, and Wild Streak.
Worth noting is otherwise the average number of live casino providers with just Evolution Gaming available. The live stream, however, is from 2 different land-based casinos and available 24/7.
You do have the option to download games, but there is no bespoke software available.
Available software
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SG Digital
-
Ainsworth
-
Barcrest
-
High 5 Games
-
Lightning Box
-
NextGen
-
Slingo
-
Wild Streak
-
WMS
-
Ezugi
-
Aruze
-
Incredible Technologies
-
ReelPlay
-
SHFL Entertainment
-
Spin Games
Software rating
- Big number of software providers
- General great quality
- No exclusive software
- Several big names missing
For anyone not needing a specific missing provider or being turned on by having an exclusive software only available here: Golden Nugget is on a high level.
The variety is at the top of the market. They have more than 50% of what I would define as the top game studios – 8 out of 14 to be exact.
The software actually offered from those studios is also not the cheap, old stuff. Golden Nugget paid premium buck here to provide the newest and highest quality software. Divine Fortune, for instance, is offered in the makeover edition with the reel-modifying Megaways mechanic.
Further plus: It’s great with the download option, although I play instant myself. And even though there’s only one live casino software, it happens to be from the best provider in the business.
In conclusion: A (software) thumbs up from this Golden Nugget online casino review.
Payments: 11 ways to deposit and withdraw
The number of Golden Nugget casino payment methods are in line with the general casino payment provider market (6-15 options).
The Golden Nugget casino payment options include: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Play+, AMEX, VIP Preferred, PayPal, PayNearMe, Online Bank Transfer, cash at the land-based Golden Nugget Atlantic City casino, safekeeping and wire transfer for depositing.
For withdrawing, it’s the same except you can’t use AMEX or PayNearMe. What you get instead is the option to request an actual check.
Payment facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of payment methods | 11 |
| Popular payment | Wire Transfer |
| Minimum deposit | $10 |
| Maximum deposit | $100 |
| Average deposit time | Instant |
| Minimum withdrawal | $10 |
| Maximum withdrawal | $40,000 |
| Average withdrawal time | 48 – 72 hours |
| Deposit fees | N/A |
| Withdrawal fees | N/A |
All deposits show up instantly on your account except PayNearMe (within 30 min) and wire transfer (5-7 business days).
Withdrawing is instant on just Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Play+, and at the actual land-based casino. This makes Golden Nugget one of the best online casinos for fast payouts. For VIP Preferred and PayPal you’re looking at a 2 business day wait. For wire transfer we’re talking 5-7 business days. For a check it might take as long as 3 weeks.
Payments rating
- All important types offered
- No fees from casino
- Jackpot withdrawal limits
- Payment policy transparency
So, we all pay for everything. The trick is, of course, to not pay too much of anything for anything.
That’s why not having any fees from the casino is a huge plus in the book when reviewing the Golden Nugget payment methods. Not that it’s common in the US market, but a few bad eggs do charge you just to put money in your online casino account.
Another big plus is the range offered here. As mentioned, all important types are covered.
Missing from the most popular payment methods are only Skrill, paysafecard, and Neteller. This does detract, but I’ve yet to run into the platform that offers all methods out there.
If you care about Skrill or Neteller, I can recommend Virgin. If paysafecard is your jam, Mohegan would be where I’d go.
Also negative:
The Golden Nugget online casino is quite intransparent with some terms. Why do I have to go to customer service to understand that jackpots are excluded from the withdrawal limits? Why do I have to actually withdraw money to see that the casino doesn’t deduct a fee?
Still it’s a small complaint in this almost completely happy Golden Nugget payment review.
Safety: all standard features available
The Golden Nugget online casino is safe to use – as all real money licensed casinos are.
Safety facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RNG auditing seals | N/A |
| Responsible gambling seals | 800GAMBLER, Gamblers Anonymous |
| Licenses | New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
| SSL encryption | 256-bit |
| Two-factor authentication | Available |
| Ever blacklisted? | No |
| Deposit, wager, time, and loss limits | All available |
| Self-exclusion | Available |
| Cooling-off period | Available |
An interesting fact: The Golden Nugget online casino is part of a reputable group also present in land-based establishments – most prominently in Atlantic City. As such, they have a real reputation to protect.
It’s possible to monitor where your account has been logged in from when you go to your account section. This helps make sure no one else has access. This is clearly laid out in their terms of use.
Licensed by
-
Michigan Gaming Control Board
-
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
Trusted by
-
800GAMBLER
Safety rating
- No important safety feature missing
- No unique safety measures in place
All the official requirements are followed with features such as cool off and self exclusion.
The Golden Nugget online gaming platform is secure and basically unhackable unless you mess up yourself by accessing from an unsecure device. Just turn that 2 step authentication on, will ya?
To be honest, there are really only minor initiatives a casino can make to “compete” on safety though.
Donating to responsible gambling orgs like William Hill would be one way – Golden Nugget hasn’t.
Having a proper full responsible gambling section like Borgata would be another – Golden Nugget doesn’t.
Otherwise, no reason for concern. They have licenses in several states, generally positive online reviews, and the reputation of their land-based operation as well that they wouldn’t want to risk by slacking on internet security.
Customer support: live, phone, and email
We ran 10 tests on each support channel.
For live chat, the response time at the Golden Nugget casino was usually within 1-3 minutes. Questions often needed follow-ups to be answered in full. This is in the range you can expect from the top casinos of the market.
Support facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Customer support availability | 24/7 |
| Live chat | Yes |
| [email protected] | |
| Contact number | 1 (855) 582-5117 |
| On-page support | FAQs and Help section |
For the phone, we were waiting upwards of 15 minutes in peak periods (usually evenings from 18-21). Questions were easily answered with no need for follow-ups. This is much better than the average, where we often have to wait 30 minutes or more in peak periods.
The same was the case on email, although the response time here sometimes reached around the 24 hour mark. This is in line with the average of what you find at online casinos.
Support rating
- Important channels easily accessible
- Live chat available for non-registered users
- Email response time is slow
Honestly, I HATE having to deal with customer support. More often than not, they forget the customer part of the support. This one has been quite satisfying though.
The customer support is way above average in both quality (accurate responses most of the time) and responsiveness (as listed above).
Use email if you want the highest quality, but are willing to risk waiting half a day longer than you would with for instance Unibet.
Use live chat if you want a response within 3 minutes – but prepare that you might need to follow up on the response to get the full picture.
Usability: filters and easy registrations
Let’s be very concrete to illustrate the Golden Nugget online casino usability:
- It takes you 5 clicks and 12 fill in fields to register – without grabbing the welcome bonus (≈ 3 minutes).
- It adds 2 clicks and maybe 30 seconds to do it with the new player offer.
- Most other bonuses are automatic or require 3-5 clicks.
- All important sections are linked at the top of the screen, always easy to access
- Complex filtering (category, game studio, game type, game theme, recommended, rating, max payout) and search supports navigation through the game sections.
Usability facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Mobile app | iOS, Android |
| Mobile game availability | Full suite |
| Ease of navigation | Very intuitive |
| Game filters | Yes |
| Search function | Yes |
| Loading speed | 0.3 sec |
| UX and UI rating | Excellent |
| Other products | Sports |
In addition, the live chat is sticky on most screens, enabling you to always be a press away from customer service help.
The Golden Nugget online casino app is available on both iOS and Android, and it provides you with an identical offer to the desktop version. Even the live casino is fully available with 15 Evolution Gaming titles. This put it at the top of the USA mobile casino market.
Usability rating
- Best filtering in the US market
- Sublime navigation on mobile and desktop
- Annoying bug in the filters
From what I can objectively judge, Golden Nugget casino functionality is my personal favorite in the entire US.
The navigation is very intuitive, following patterns most of us know from big apps like Facebook, Amazon, etc. In fairness, most casinos out there do solve that quite well.
What seriously sets the Golden Nugget online casino apart from its competitors is the complex game filtering and search. There is nothing I can’t find easily in the game library with the GN filters.
Very cool also: You can click on each game card and find info directly about volatility, RTP, and more. In most other casinos, you only get that info when you actually load the game and then find the info section.
The mobile-specific interface is intuitive and easy to understand. All the functionality from the desktop version is there, with a full suite of games available.
My only minor problem – and the reason why I can’t give Golden Nugget the full 100 points – is that the search breaks from time to time. Solution other than maybe some anger management classes? Reload the page and start from scratch.
Also not perfect: The sidebar feed is not as intuitive as it could be to close (click on the arrow at the top left corner to do it).
To close on a (minor) cool point — sports betting is offered on another part of the Golden Nugget website. Doesn’t make a huge difference to those only interested in casino games, but it reassures me to know I’m playing at a firm that’s trusted and is proven to have broader gambling expertise in different verticals.
Golden Nugget casino user reviews
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