New pokies site accepting Australian players

Grand Rush Casino has now gone LIVE with... 

Pokies offering progressive jackpots, bonus features, extra spins, and other ways to turn a regular pull into a grand rush of cash on a lucky day.

Pokies not your cup of tea? Try poker, blackjack, roulette, or specialty games like keno to boost the thrill factor - all from top software providers.

We don't know a lot about the management of this gaming site yet. There is no license listed or displayed, no About Us page, and no ownership or management details in the terms and conditions. We do know that they run a hybrid mix of games from Saucify (formerly known as Betonsoft) and Nucleus Gaming. We know they are focused on the Australian market and when we came upon them, the only currency accepted was AUD.

Our guess is that it may be a white label. These are usually run by the solution providers (Saucify) and marketed by the label owners. However, this is just a supposition based on a few factors such as a bog standard BOS help file, and some terms that we find at other operations not related to each other. As the venue has not established much of a reputation yet one way or the other, we'll stick to reviewing the website, games, banking and customer support options and bonuses. We'll also list any pitfalls we find including odd, unfair, or unclear terms.

Software and Games

The website is laid out for mobile and desktop users. The main lobby gives several navigational options to help players find the type of games they want to play. There is also a hamburger menu in the upper left corner.

• Login
• Register Account
• New Player Bonus
• Promotions
• Contact Us
• Live Chat

Saucify/Betonsoft

Like most Saucify sites, you'll find a promotions box in the lobby touting the latest offers. Visitors are unable to navigate through the featured promotions but the box cycles through quickly.

Most of the more long-established sites carry only Saucify games. The software and game provider was launched in 2006 as Betonsoft and rebranded to the current name in 2014. Soon after that, a new company called Genii appeared with European licenses (Malta Gaming Authority and the Gambling Commission in the U.K.) along with very similar games. However, we find another anomaly here, unrelated to Betonsoft...

Nucleus Gaming

Nucleus is like a twin of Betsoft, and supposedly a separate company altogether. But they've done a similar thing to Saucify/Genii. Their entire library of games is full of direct interpretations of Betsoft 3D slots. The imagery is different while keeping the same themes, the payables and presumably the game maths are identical, and the feature mechanics are interchangeable.

We can only assume this is done for licensing considerations and possibly in an attempt to allow one brand to be deployed into gray markets like Australia, Canada, and the US - while the other brand is only deployed in regulated jurisdictions. Again, this is all supposition and we'd be glad to hear your thoughts if you have other ideas.

The Games

Most of the Featured Games we saw were video slots. There was about a 50/50 mix of Saucify and Nucleus games. 

Look for older and newer Betonsoft/Saucify favorites like:

Big Game

Piña Nevada

Monkey Business

Alpha Squad

Age of Spartans

Along with 3D video slots with animated characters and some interactive bonus rounds from Nucleus Gaming:

The Family II 

Van Pelts Wild Adventure

Blades of the Abyss

Video Slots Category

We found a nice mix of games from both providers with Nucleus headlining the top positions. Saucify slots were all found on the lower part of the page and marked as "Retro". We like retro games!

Some of the nine-liners like Roll Up! Roll Up!, Reels of Rock, Frontside Spins, Cosmopolitan, and Double Trouble tend to spit out fairly big wins on occasion. However, it seems they are referring to the style of games from that provider as even the newest releases, with NEW banners on them were marked as Retro.

Table Games Category

This section was noticeably lacking in content with only about half a dozen games on tap. The good news for us was the actual selection of Saucify titles. 

• Atlantic City Blackjack
• European Blackjack
• Single Deck Blackjack
• Vegas Strip Blackjack
• European Roulette

The Video Poker suite was a little more filled out with about a dozen Saucify titles including full pay 9/6 Jacks or Better, along with a few more highly volatile games for niche players and those who have developed proper strategies for games like Deuces and Joker and Double Double Bonus Poker.

Other Games

All we find in this lonely category is the Keno suite. While they do offer a nuts and bolts game, most of the fun is to be found in their specialty Keno titles like Super Keno, Power Ball Keno, and Captain Keno. Look for multipliers, random awards, and more in these Hail Mary games to build a balance back up or start off the session with a potentially huge win.

Games Wrap-up

Players are going to find a great selection of slots, including old favorites and newer games. It can be a little disconcerting for an older player to spin the reels on a game that appears and even feels like another title, but players new to Betsoft or Nucleus title will only find bright and fresh games, rendered in cinematic 3D quality, with plenty of bonus rounds and entertainment in the bundle.

We'd like to see more diversity in the package to include a live dealer suite or at least a greater selection of card and table games. This could simply be a personal preference, as we know most players go straight to the slots and stay with them most of the time. For those who rarely or only briefly play other games, the selection may be just right.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bold welcome offers are waiting for first-time players! The incentives are easy to reach from anywhere on the site. At the very top of the page, under the three-line hamburger menu, and in a lobby-box in the main part of the site. 

Once you find an offer you want to explore further, simply click on "Read More" before checking out the General Bonus Terms - however, we always suggest reading the terms any place you play. We'll point out a few of the odd ones found here in a moment. For now, here is how to claim your welcome bonus:

1. Click "Visit Casino"
2. Register an account and login to the casino
3. Click on Cashier (from the home page drop down menu) and make a deposit
4. Click on the Bonus Tab
5. Enter the relevant bonus code (example: WELCOME200) and click claim

Banking and Customer Service

• Credit cards
• Prepaid Cards
• Gift Cards
• Bitcoin

Players in different locations may have different deposit and withdrawal options available. Please check the banking section to know which payment methods you can use.

Want to talk to a casino representative?

• Hosts available 24/7 on live chat
• Australia phone number
• Email

Pitfalls

There are a few bonus terms that players should be aware of in order to have the best experience possible. Match bonuses of 100% and less have no max cap on winnings and fairly reasonable playthrough requirements. Anything over 100% has another 50% tacked onto wagering and only allows a max cashout of $1,000... something to consider, depending on your playstyle and bankroll strategy!

No table games or video poker can be played with a bonus on your first three deposits. Breaching this rule can result in the loss of all winnings. New players can use a bonus to play slots and keno as well as scratch cards if and when they are added to the site.

There is an odd rule along with conflicting guidance on when you can accept a bonus. One part states that you must not touch your bankroll prior to claiming a bonus. Another section instructs players that they have 5 minutes or until they use 25% of their bankroll, whichever comes first, to claim a bonus.

The oddest term might relate to players who play their balance and then request a bonus (although the practice is banned in other terms). It states: 

Deposit Match Bonus claims on deposits that have been wagered in full (to a zero balance), will be subject to the sole discretion of the Casino and a maximum withdrawal rule of $100 will be applied.

When in doubt, shout out, and get it in writing.

The Final Word

It's always a struggle to review a newer operation, especially when our desk is not sure of the origins of the operators. As an independent reviewer, I'm tasked with finding out what I can and telling it like it is. I learned years ago that it's not worth the time to ask and when I do make inquiries I never let on that I am reviewing the property. All we can do in this situation is to keep an eye on the public spaces to see if complaints emerge.

With the finalized gambling law in Australia, it's understandable that certain operators would not want to be identified or even traceable through a posted license. We do not know if that is what is occurring here, but it's a reasonable assumption. The alternative may be that Grand Rush Casino is simply not a transparent operation in any way. Only time will tell.

As for the game selection, it is perhaps the first time we've seen the mix of Saucify and Nucleus Games. It's an interesting mix and they do complement each other nicely.