Silversands Casino EURO is a Realtime Gaming online gambling site licensed by the Kahnawake Gambling Commission (KGC), a First Nations regulator in the Mohawk Territory of Canada.

The site is owned and operated by Paxson Marketing Ltd of Nicosia, Cyprus, and has been online since 2001 and focused on the European market since 2014.

The venue offers over 200 slots and games like blackjack, roulette, video poker, and Pai Gow. There's also a direct link to the company's poker room.

Play on mobile or desktop right in your browser or download the desktop client or stand-alone iOS app right from the website.

Most Realtime Gaming (RTG) gaming sites are licensed in the Caribbean where there is virtually no regulation beyond financial considerations. Their KGC license sets Silver Sands EURO apart from the pack with a level of accountability not found at the majority of RTG sites.

The software carries local and network-pooled progressive jackpot slots. Some of the Real Series Random Jackpots reach into the tens of thousands while several of the network progressives are currently well over a million EUR.

Realtime Gaming has been around since 1998 and the company does not police its operators for fair dealing with customers. Most of the sites operate from licensing jurisdictions that do not provide player protections.

For the above reasons, it's always been incumbent upon the player to choose a site with integrity. Throughout the years the vast majority of good operations have stayed good and the less-than-savory operators have made fits and starts at reliability but many have backslid more than once.

We've scoured the internet for any old or new complaints. Since Paxson has been operating in the EURO market with a KGC license the site has provided fair and reliable service with two possible exceptions.

One issue involved a player with impulse control problems who asked for self-exclusion, didn't get a follow-up and deposited again before filing a complaint.

The other is possibly more complicated but neither the player nor the operator followed up on the public board to complain further or announce the matter settled. This one too was for around 400.00 but there's simply not enough information to make a determination.

All other complaints we found were resolved. One had actually been paid two days before the player posted a complaint.

In addition to maintaining a valid license, the company opens its random number generator (RNG), games, and books to iTech Labs four times each year in order to audit and certify each game's actual return to player percentage (RTP) over the previous quarter.

Rather than simply listing the theoretical RTP, as determined by the odds and maths, the compliance company lists the actual RTP the games delivered. Because of this, visitors can see the certified payouts over a significant period of time.

Players can find a link to the iTech Labs Compliance Certificate on the site's license from the Gambling Commission. You can find the RNG Certificate via a link at the bottom of the casino homepage.

Software and Games

The site offers several ways to access the RTG library of games. The fastest and easiest way to be playing in minutes is to visit the casino on your mobile, tablet, laptop, or desktop device and play the games in your web browser.

The browser-based instant play lobby can be played on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android devices because the software runs on the HTML5 protocol with any of the following devices and web browsers.

Safari on any Apple device - Google Chrome on any Android, Windows Mobile, or Blackberry device.

PC users can download the free desktop client which also opens you up to the entire library of games - even those classics that haven't been converted for web play yet. If you've played RTG before, and wondered where some of your personal favorites have gone, the download lobby is where you will find them.

Apple fans are taken care of with browser-based play, but they'll also find an app crafted for iPhone, iPod, or iPad. Visit the site to find the QR code for iOS.

When you visit the site for the first time, there's no need to be put off by the "time-one" appearance of the page - clicking on the Instant Play tab will bring up a new and modern lobby. Navigation is essentially the same for desktop or mobile users.

Before going into the instant play lobby, we'll look at some of the features available on the web page prior to signing in. You can always return to the page after you've begun playing if you need to check or confirm terms and conditions or to locate some written help.

Tutorials

For those new to online gambling or gambling in general or simply those who may want to try a new type of game, the site offers tutorials on several games.

The feature currently misses the mark a bit because not all types of games with tutorials have been converted for instant play. Red Dog, War, and Let 'em Ride all have tutorials but no corresponding game in the instant play library - that is probably temporary.

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Pai Gow
• Slots
• Video Poker
• Roulette
• Red Dog
• War
• Craps
• Keno
• Let 'em ride

The blackjack tutorial goes into some depth on games like Face Up 21, Match Play 21, and Super 21 among others. There's also a primer for basic RTG blackjack as well including the rules.

Tutorials on games like Pai Gow and baccarat are probably more valuable as tools to learn the rules than they are on how to actually play the game as they don't go into much detail on the software mechanics (house way, or manual splits) and they don't offer tips and tricks or odds.

Why Silver Sands EURO?

European players will find all currency in EUR from their coins and chips to the value of the progressive jackpots.

The software pings your IP address and if you happen to be visiting from South Africa you will be redirected to the "LobbyZAR" from "LobbyEUR".

Players in the USA and some other restricted jurisdictions will be redirected to Google. The geolocation features aren't built into the instant play lobby, but if you are in an area that should not be visiting you shouldn't be able to register.

Navigation is intuitive with easy access to banking, customer support, and a variety of game categories.

These game categories include...

• Table Games
• Slots
• Video Poker
• Specialty
• Progressives

When choosing a game it pops up in the same window, rather than a new window or new tab. From there you can play the game (for fun or real money), close the game, resize the game, or activate the home icon to return to the home screen.

Table games

This category contains subsections of Caribbean and 21 games or you can choose to view them all.

Choosing "All" delivers Tri Card Poker and Vegas Three Card Rummy to the screen along with the Caribbean and 21 games.

The Caribbean games are both poker titles - one is Stud and the other is Hold'Em. They share a linked jackpot that is available to be won with a 1 EUR side bet.

There are eight blackjack variants including Suit'em Up and Perfect Pairs. Pontoon, Match Play, Face Up, and Super 21 add to the basic offering of classic blackjack and European blackjack.

You can choose to play a game or reveal more information about the title including the basic rules.

Slots

The lobby is populated with new slots at least once per month. Look for a special section featuring the latest six game releases.

If you click into the slots lobby you'll find that you can display game icons or a list. The list view includes the ability to sort by title or name, number of lines, or jackpot value.

If you hover over the slots tab you can select an option to see only 6-reel, - 5-reel, or 3-reel games. Further options include bonus rounds, progressives, and 'floating symbols'. The list displays only one game, a novelty slot with no lines, 8 floating symbols, five power-ups, free games, and a prize multiplier. Cubee is a highly volatile game, but you might not consider it a 'slot', per se.

The progressive category only contains networked games with 6-figure and 7-figure jackpots. Real Series Random Jackpot games are all found in the slots categories.

Simply clicking on the Slots tab brings up all games.

Exclusive slot

You can drill down the list or use the text search box to locate the site's signature slot. RTG created a game exclusively for players here that can't be found on any other online gaming site.

It's a medium-volatility game with a beach theme. The 25 pay lines are all staked on every bet. The logo is a scatter and the beach girl is a wild symbol. Scatters trigger free spins and the game uses RTG's Feature Guarantee mechanic.

It's part of the Real Series and as such, it hosts a random local progressive jackpot that can be won on any sized bet at the end of any spin.

Video Poker

Those who have played RTG VP in the past and liked the paytables but didn't like the graphics and mechanics will be happy to see that some of the games have been released with a fresh interface for HTML5 instant play.

Games nearer the top of the page should be in the new format while those nearer to the bottom might still be in Flash and use the legacy interface.

Unfortunately, as of today, Aces & Eights is available in the smooth new format while Jacks or Better 3-hand still uses the clunky older interface. With the old games, you have to reload the entire game to change the coin size.

Games with different hand counts from 1-52 hands per game might present differently but should all have the same paytables for the same title regardless of the hand count.

RTG operators are allowed to configure the video poker game odds via the paytables. Players shouldn't expect 9/6 Full Pay Jacks or Better everywhere they play. You'll find it here though. A quick glance at the paytable of basic games is all you'll need.

If you prefer the more volatile games you might want to consult an odds calculator and revise your strategy for the particular paytable if the RTP isn't immediately obvious.

Along with high-paying odds on most games, you'll have to overcome the handicap of knowing strategy as hold suggestions are not offered on some games.

Not counting variations in hand counts there are 14 different VP games from Sevens Wild to Aces & Eights. Hand count choices include 1, 3, 10, and 52 hands per game.

Specialty

Realtime Gaming has chosen to list classic floor games like roulette and craps as specialty games rather than tables. These are found along with keno, animated scratch/fixed odds (board games), and a fish shooting game in the specialty section.

The keno odds are all over the board, depending on how many numbers you pick. Judging by the RTP Certificate, most players do not use a keno calculator to choose the best bet with current returns listed as 79.96%. Keno doesn't have to be a sucker game, you can dramatically improve your chances by playing smart picks based on the paytables.

Fish Hunting

Since RTG doesn't release theoretical RTPs and this game is lumped in with others on the iTechLabs certificate, we have no way of knowing what the return to player is.

The game can be pure fun, so if you have never seen it at slap houses on the beach in California or at a kiosk in Hong Kong, we suggest starting out with 0.01 EUR bets - It's important not to raise your stake until you've completed at least one game round as 'points' don't necessarily translate one:one into cash.

One fun random element that makes the RTP so hard to determine, even within the ballpark, is "Mermaid's Luck". A wheel can appear at random intervals and increase the value of your lucky shots up to 250x.

Some fish only pay 1.08x your bet so it's hardly worth shooting for them in hopes of a profit, but it can be cheap entertainment if you don't get too carried away.

Progressives

In this section, you'll find the big network progressive jackpot slots as well as the Caribbean poker games with a one EUR side bet.

The most interesting slot, in my opinion, is Spirit of the Inca. It has 5 separate random jackpots and all of them must go off before their boiling point.

If history is to be believed looking at similar games on gaming floors, don't expect them to drop until they are very close to their must-pay-by value.

However, if you happen onto a jackpot that's nearing the boiling point, the game can be well worth playing because the volatility is high anyway and can generate big returns with free spins and expanding wilds on a lucky day.

Bonuses and Promotions

You can choose any of the bonuses listed at the top of this page or visit the casino for others such as a high rollers bonus up to €100,000.00 with 20x wagering and no max cashout except weekly limits of €100k for rated players

Most players are eligible for high match bonuses.

Please read the terms and keep in mind that although the T&C state that you can withdraw up to €100,000 per week and be paid within two working days - they also state that winnings from bonus play, as well as random jackpots, will be paid out at €1,000 per week.

The T&C states the following contrast to the specific promotion terms and the T&C always takes precedence: Wagering on [...], Black Jack, and Video Poker does not contribute to the fulfillment of wagering requirements.

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

There are several seemingly contradictory or comingled/miscategorized terms - when this occurs, always assume the one most favorable to the operator in case of a dispute.

Look for special incentives to deposit with Skrill - cashback offers for certain Monday deposits, weekly offers in your email on Fridays, and Crazy Wednesday offers.

Banking and Customer Service

In addition to Visa and Mastercard deposits, players can use e-Wallets like Neteller, UPayCards, or even bank wire transfers to get money into their accounts.

While there are fewer options for withdrawals, the options should be enough for just about anyone. Methods that work for deposits, as well as withdrawals, include bank wire, Skrill, Neteller, Visa, and ecoPayz.

Bank transfers are done as quickly as possible and you should the funds appear within 72 hours after the initial 48 hours pending time on all withdrawals. Log into your account to see specific times or limits.

Customer care

The site is available in French, Spanish, English, and German but there is no telephone support. Live chat and email are your best avenues to explore if the answers you need are not found in the tutorials or FAQ.

Pitfalls

• Potentially confusing terms and conditions between bonus offers
• No loyalty rewards scheme listed
• No phone support
• High minimum bank transfer withdrawal limit (€500)
• Low max payouts (€1000 per week) on random jackpots and bonus-derived winnings

The Final Word

Silver Sands Casino EURO is a viable choice for players who prefer RTG, are new to the games, have never tried them, or have not explored the catalog since game creation moved from Australia to Malaysia.

For those who demand a vast offering of games from dozens of providers, this place may not hold much interest in the long run, but might be worth visiting on a lark.

The original site was created in 1999, making it one of the oldest and longest-running operations on the internet. While the EURO designation might make it seem like a new operation it is still owned and operated by the Paxson company like every other currency version.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission license, RNG, and RTP certifications, along with an absence of viable unresolved complaints in the gambling fora make it seem like a safe enough bet.

One caveat should be mentioned. To us, some of the written terms seem ambiguous. We would suggest getting clarification if anything is not clear to you including wagering requirements and maximum weekly payouts.

Banking options are diverse enough for most if not all players, but we find cryptocurrencies to be missing from the official guides. Bitcoin may appear in your cashier depending on your location.

We like the 40% Monday cashback for depositing €100 or more on a Monday, but we don't like the fact that cashback is treated as no-deposit bonuses with relatively low max cashouts.

When the question comes down to whether I would play here or not I always have to compare any operation to the fastest-paying operators that accept Bitcoin and respond to every potentially viable complaint on all of the most popular player advocate pages. Then I look at the bonus and terms. 

The following term appears only in the welcome bonus passage: "Random jackpots and winnings from bonus credits are paid out at the rate of €1,000 per week."

If that term applied to all deposit bonuses I would personally take a pass here most days, just like I take a pass on most RTG bonuses with max cashout conditions.

Making a choice between €1000 per week for bonus play and random jackpots or max cashouts is not a position I want to find myself in so I will remain mostly bonus free and play where I know I can be paid in under an hour. If the welcome offer was ridiculous, like 300% with reasonable wagering and no max cashout, I might let them hold onto my money while they dole it out week by week hoping I play it back and lose it. Thankfully I'm not faced with that choice as the match is simply 100%.