The name, Ozwin Casino, let's you know right away that Aussies are welcome! This RTG site with a 'gamified' theme is also available to players in the USA, Canada, and elsewhere.

In addition to the full suite of Realtime Gaming instant-play pokies and card games for mobile and desktop, the site offers a journey to players who enjoy the additional rewards that come with unlocking new opportunities as they advance through levels of play.

Aussie players can trust the operators, they've been around for a long time. A sister-site also designed for the region but accepting others as well has seen website blocking orders by officials. The marketing company has a dozen properties, all with good reputations.

Licensing is unknown but most of the company's other operations are licensed in Curacao. This allows a level of separation and security for the owners.

Here's why...

There is nothing in the amended law stopping players from depositing, winning, and cashing out at offshore gaming sites. However, even though it allows territories to issue online gambling licenses, none of them have decided to do so. Providing real money games in Australia without a government-issued license could be very expensive and otherwise troubling for the owners.

Player protections

Players are pretty much on their own without consumer protection from the government, so it's important to choose a trustworthy operator. This operator has a proven track record.

In the current business and legal climate it becomes necessary to simply choose not to play, to deposit foolishly, or to rely on reputation.

We'll tell you everything you need to know about playing here as well as how to get the most enjoyment out of the experience if you do decide to sign up.

History

Going back about a year on message boards - where managers of their other properties have been available for player outreach for nearly a decade - we didn't find any valid complaints against the operators that were not easily resolved. They are still proactive and answer every question as it comes up, so nothing seems to have changed over the years.

Looking at advocacy sites we find one undated complaint where the player broke a max bet rule and the operators said that play from then on was on a no deposit bonus. That stinks a bit.

Another complaint about a year ago shows the player took a new bonus with a pending withdrawal in violation of terms. That stinks a bit.

We also find complaints that the self-exclusion policy of at least one of the properties is cumbersome as it requires a written request.

The most common complaints are from players who break max bet rules with a bonus. These are followed by occasional extra identity verification procedures (selfie holding ID card).

Throughout this review, we'll help you learn to avoid common online gaming pitfalls. We have already looked for any uncommon or obscure terms at this site and did not find any.

Pro tip: Be sure to read the terms and conditions wherever you play, especially bonus terms relating to a max bet per spin/hand.

Software and Games

The platform here is RTG's instant play HTML5 and Flash. All games are played in a web browser on devices like iOS/Android smartphones, tablets, laptops, or PCs, and Macs. Since it is browser-based software there's no need to install a desktop program or add an app to your mobile device.

The landing website and gaming lobby are laid out differently but use the same color scheme and "Journey" theme. Clicking on most action items on the landing page will bring up the lobby and the signup or sign-in options.

Top performing and newest games are prominently displayed in the lobby along with bonus offers. Registration is quick and easy.

Bonus redemption is available immediately but the offer (as of launch time) was misstated mathematically. Two 200% match bonuses do not equal a 400% bonus even when broken into two transactions. "Marketing math" must be different than gambling math - we'll cover bonuses in their own section later on.

Navigation is a breeze with all the necessary menu items on the left and a special abbreviated menu under a 3-line "hamburger" menu on the right.

New Games

RTG has been developing new pokies at a good clip for the last year or so. You'll still find all your favorite Aussie Slots like Achilles, Cleopatra's Gold, Aladdin's Wishes, and the like. However, the newer pokies offer more complicated bonus mechanics, fresh themes, and novel levels of gameplay.

It is still rare to see a new table game or card game release but the old standbys are still there.

Pokies and Slots

Most of the pokies have random jackpots activated, but many of the new games do not. Some people assume the game without Real Series Random Jackpots offer higher RTP as no money goes into the progressive, but we can't state that with any certainty.

While you won't be able to determine RTP, you can toggle from icon view to list view. In the list view, game volatility is shown along with other details.

List view also allows you to sort by name alphabetically, line count, or jackpot value. Aztec's Millions is currently sitting at over $4m. One reason it is so high is that it isn't a local progressive like most of the random jackpot games, but network-wide. This means players at all RTG sites feed the jackpot with each spin.

It is also a very high volatility game, so far more players 'leave money in it' than take it to the cleaners waiting to spin up the symbol driven jackpot.

Sorting by the reel or line count

Across the top of this section you'll see 5 reel, 3 reel, and 6 reel tabs. After clicking one of those you can sort further by line count. Under the 3 reel tab you'll find line counts from 1 to 27 (virtual all ways pay).

7s and Stripes is one of the only 3-reel, single payline games - the other 777 is more modern but make sure it is available to play with a bonus as the jackpot is more like a progressive.

Jumping Beans and Santastic! are two fast-action 3-reelers with lots of bells and whistles. Jumping Beans has random jackpots and Santastic! has a symbol-driven jackpot that rarely goes over $500 before being won.

If you rarely or never play 3-reel slots, you might want to check these two out!

The 6 reel games are innovative and fun. Lucky 6 has just 10 variable lines - five from the left and five from the right. The bonus rounds can be earth-shaking.

The others are "all ways pay" games with 729 virtual paylines. Ritchie Valen and The Big Bopper are, of course, old rock music themed. Super 6 is an Asian-themed game with very high volatility.

Most of the pokies are 5x3 games with line counts ranging from 10 to 3125 lines.

Look for some shared jackpots in this section, especially among the Jackie Chan games. Fantasy Mission Force, Fire Dragon, and Eagle Shadow Fist are all linked so the progressive random jackpot grows 3x as fast.

Progressives

This category holds the network progressive jackpot games including Aztec's Millions, Megasaur, and Spirit of the Inca. The latter has must-win 'boiling point' jackpots and at least one of them is getting close to popping right now. If it doesn't go off on a random trigger, whoever is spinning when it trips will have the best chance to win.

Let'em Ride, Caribbean Stud, and Caribbean Hold'em are also found here and in the table games section.

Pro Tip: Don't play with a bonus if you want to try your hand at the network progressives.

Table Games

In addition to the Caribbean poker games look for eight blackjack variants including at least three with side bets. Pontoon and 21 Blackjack offer good odds and allow super-fast gameplay.

Baccarat, Pai Gow, and Let'em Ride round out the tables.

Specialty Games - This is the category for RTG craps, roulette, keno, and animated scratch cards.

Video Poker

Great paytables and multiple hand-count options keep RTG VP a popular choice. The graphics and sounds leave a lot t ob e desired but the RTP is high and players can go for the grind with Jacks or Better or go for the gusto with volatile games like Double Double Jackpot Poker.

Bonuses and Promotions

Look for several welcome bonuses as well as daily, weekly, and seasonal/special occasion deposit incentives. The monthly bonus is really a daily bonus that changes once per month. The month's "Koality Game" promotion shows a countdown clock.

Many of the match bonuses also come with extra spins on specific games.

Unfortunately, specific bonus terms are not listed with the offer. You will need to log in, navigate to the "Coupons" section in the Cashier, and read the details. Generally, wagering requirements are found in the Terms and Conditions, which are available in the footer of the lobby whether logged in or not.

Following are some important items related to bonuses here:

• Max bet rule (Don't exceed $10 per spin)
• Bonus terms apply until $0 balance (Rules continue to apply after partial cashout)
• Game weighting and/or excluded games are shown after claiming coupon and prior to deposit
• No new bonus should be claimed with a withdrawal pending
• All deposit bonuses are cashable
• Most bonuses have no max cashout
• Your balance will be reduced to any max cashout amount when wagering has been met

Your Journey

Players will need to use a little imagination to buy into the gamification theme of the loyalty scheme. There are no leaderboards, accomplishments, etc., but there are "level-ups". They are simply attained by continued play.

Rather than using a traditional theme for loyalty tiers, players on each level are assigned a persona. You will begin as a Tourist. Perks at this level include 24/7 support, 25% cashback, and a low daily bonus.

After your playthrough meets a certain unpublished level you will advance to the next level. Each new level offers increased perks. Level 5, Absolute Legend, offers premium support, a personal VIP host, 50% cashback, and two "monster daily bonuses".

Banking and Customer Service

There are plenty of ways to get your deposit in to the cashier and to cash out when you win. As of launch time, credit and debit cards, POLi and Neosurf, as well as Bitcoin deposits are accepted.

Withdrawals are being processed via BTC and bank transfers (e-fund transfer) with a rather high minimum withdrawal threshold ($100). It can take up to two weeks for e-fund transfers to appear after being processed on the casino side.

You'll need to verify identity before the first withdrawal regardless of the deposit method. ID and proof of address are all that is needed for Bitcoin withdrawals if you haven't used a credit card.

Customer Care

Support is available 24/7. Telephone support is not found round the clock but a representative is available when the "Call Us" icon is lit up and a number is provided.

Email and live chat are often the best way to contact them for help.

There's a FAQ page that should answer most questions including bonus inquiries as well as information about deposits and withdrawals.

The operators recommend account verification early to avoid any delays when it comes time to cash out your winnings.

Pitfalls

• Sticklers for terms and conditions adherence
• Inadvertent(?) deceptive marketing practice - The "400% bonus" offer is really two 200% bonuses
• No clickable license verification
• Must print, sign, and return self-exclusion form
• 15% handling fee if a deposit is not played through at least 1x prior to cashout
• Jackpots paid at $7,500 per week

Potentially conflicting terms:
6 - A promotion is considered completed when a player meets the wagering requirements or when the balance reaches below $1.

15 - ...wagering requirements must be fulfilled for each and every deposit bonus used. This rule will only be annulled after the customer's balance has reached $0 again.

The Final Word

Ozwin Casino offers players in Australia, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere a fun journey toward the top tiers of loyalty rewards.

The game selection is from a single-software provider but offers nearly every type of gambling game you could want.

The bonus terms are common and fair but strictly enforced. One thing the literature doesn't tell you is that habitual winners are likely to see a reduction in bonuses rather than more offers.

We've never really understood that marketing/retention model but we also don't understand how two separate 200% bonuses are supposed to equal 400% either.

If you like RTG pokies as well as a fat and juicy welcome package, this may be the place for you as long as you read, understand, and play within the bonus rules. Of course, some players simply forgo the bonus so they can cash out whenever they want to.