Cider Casino is sweet when it comes to sweepstakes casino entertainment, gaming and virtual currency promotions, and it doesn’t leave gamers worse for wear with a hangover like its namesake drink!
There’s more to the site though, which is explained in the below Cider Casino review. Customers can read on to find out exactly what epic games are available, the different ways they can get Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC) to play them, and other less interesting, but necessary features like licensing and security.
Is Cider Casino legit? Should customers trust this brand?
It’s a great idea to start with the boring stuff - it’s not exactly thrilling talking about licensing and security, BUT without features like this, sweepstakes casino sites can put customers at risk. From testing and experience, Cider Casino doesn’t do this - instead, it’s got all the bells and whistles, and is built on a solid foundation.
It’s tip-top with regulatory compliance
No license, no worries! As a sweepstakes site, Cider Casino doesn’t need a gambling license, BUT, it has to follow US regulations for the states it operates in. There’s loads of evidence to show they do, including the fact that players can’t make real money deposits here, there’s only virtual currency gameplay, and they follow the no purchase necessary requirement.
On top of that, Cider Casino doesn’t try to hide its parent company info - they are owned and operated by Mystic Mirror Studio Limited which is a registered company based in Fremont, California.
Customers can also feel safe
There’s no point explaining the different security features here like the SSL encryption or geoblocking - customers just need to know that their personal data is protected, and that they can game in peace at CiderCasino. IF anyone is so inclined and likes a little reading, there is a range of documentation too, explaining things like the terms and conditions, privacy policy, sweeps rules, and responsible social gameplay tools.
It is worth noting about the verification processes - gamers will have to verify their email and/or SMS at some point during the registration process, and then do a full KYC check before they can request prize redemptions.
Cider Casino
The virtual currency setup is nothing out of the ordinary
Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins - these are the ONLY two things gamers will be using at Cider Casino! Gold Coins are NOT redeemable, but there are optional GC packages that can be purchased. It’s not a REQUIREMENT to play though - Cider Casino has to give GC out via promos to comply with the no purchase necessary requirement. Purchase methods may depend on location, but they should include debit and credit cards, Online Banking, and PayPal.
Sweeps Coins have the chance of being redeemed for cash prizes. The following eligibility requirements must be met:
- 1x bonus SC playthrough requirement.
- 100 minimum SC balance.
- Have a fully verified ID.
Customer is done via live chat and email
The Cider Casino site is incredibly easy, and customers really shouldn’t get stuck here. If anyone does have a mental blowout though, there’s a decent email and live chat support setup. It’s probably best leaving the emails - responses are not amazingly fast, and it’s usual to be waiting a few hours for a reply, if not longer, whereas it’s possible to get through to someone at the live chat in 5-10 mins.
There is of course an AI chatbot (why would there not be in today's AI-driven world?!?!?), but customers can ignore this and request a message with actual humans - the reps seem to be helpful and polite, and generally knowledgeable about the site.
Gaming at Cider Casino - things could be a little more varied
New Sweeps Cash casinos, and any existing site is ONLY as good as the GAMES it offers. For Cider Casino, it’s OK, but there’s a lot of room for improvement. Right now, gamers have enough to be going at, but the more experienced players, and those who crave the live gaming experience may be left wanting more.
A small number of developers provide the games
Cider Casino doesn’t make its own games. Instead, it works with a relatively small list of software producers:
- 3 Oaks Gaming.
- EnjoyGame.
- Kendoo.
- Penguin King.
- Playson.
- Ruby Play.
- Jili.
3 Oaks Gaming, Playson, Ruby Play, and TaDa Gaming, and Penguin King are the top providers here. JILI specialize in arcade games, and they do have their Mines and Plinko titles here, but EnjoyGame and Kendoo are two brands who aren’t as popular at sweepstakes casinos - their games are pretty forgettable.
There’s A LOT of producers missing here, and this ultimately means that the Cider Casino game library is lacking depth. For example, the main modern slot developers like Hacksaw Gaming, NoLimit City, and Shady Lady are missing, and these would make a BIG difference to the quality and variety of the slots.
They offer MOST of the main game categories
The lack of developers also means that there’s slime glaring omissions in terms of the game genres. At the time of creating these Cider Casino ratings, gamers can enjoy the following categories:
- Slots.
- Arcade games.
- Single play table games.
- Fishing arcade games.
The main missing category here is obviously live dealer games. Everyone is raving over these games from developers like ICONIC21 and Evolution, so not having any is a big blow. There are plenty of slots though, and there’s the Hold and Win bonus mechanic which always makes for good entertainment and some potential mental prizes.
The fishing arcade games from TaDa Gaming are pretty nuts
Anyone wanting a completely different and intense gaming experience should try the fishing arcade shooter games from TaDa Gaming at Cider Casino. The aim of these games is simple - use the different weapons at their disposal and try to blast away at the animated moving target.
It's no exaggeration to say that these games are chaos and carnage - there’s so much going on and so many cool features that they can even be overwhelming at the start. TaDa Gaming provides a pretty good selection of these games here, but some are generally more popular, including these top 5 picks:
Cider Casino nails the usability with a quality site and apps
There’s nothing worse than trying to navigate a poorly-designed social casino that is slow and where everything is unorganized! Fortunately, while Cider Casino ain’t the prettiest, it at least offers superb usability and allows gamers to enjoy the entertainment without getting a headache. This is done via the plain but usable website, and the TWO downloadable mobile apps!
The desktop website has a simple and retro feel
Cider Casino has an OK desktop website, but it does feel a little basic compared to the modern, sleek design of other new sweepstakes casinos. It’s kinda reminiscent of an early 2000s website and it does use some cheesy graphics and animations too. BUT, this can be overlooked as the usability is spot on. Everything is where players would expect, it’s technically sound, and the game library is easy to search through too.
There an Android and iOS app for smartphone addicts
Things get a lot better with the mobile apps, as Cider Casino has two of them! This is a big turn up for the books as hardly any US social casinos have bothered to create apps. At the time of writing this Cider Casino review, the ratings for the apps were as follows:
- App Store App - 4.7 star rating from over 26,000 reviews.
- Google Play Store Rating - 3.7 star rating from 640+ reviews.
The iOS version has glowing reviews and ratings, BUT, after reading some of them, there COULD be the possibility of AI-generated reviews - there’s a few that sound a little TOO good to be true, stating that the app is like the best thing in the world. The Play Store reviews are probably more realistic - they are mainly positive, but not afraid to point out the limitations either.
Actually using the apps IS fun though - they are well designed, offer all the features of the desktop website, and give customers a smooth mobile sweepstakes casino experience. What makes it even better is that most of the games are optimized for mobile use too.
The GC and SC promos at Cider Casino are middle of the road
As discussed in the separate Cider Casino promo code review, this site has an OK selection of GC and SC promos. Similar to its games though, IT CAN DO BETTER. It’s a good start, but if it wants to compete with the big boys and girls, it’s gonna have to ramp things up and part with a few more Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
New customers can get an OK signup bonus
As always with new sweepstakes casinos, the first potential bonus customers can get at Cider Casino is the welcome bonus. This has the classic double-pronged feature of a no purchase bonus of virtual currencies, and a completely optional discounted Gold Coin package to purchase:
- 20,000 GC and 0.30 SC.
- $2.99 for 27,000 GC, and after the GC purchase, get 4.50 bonus SC for free.
So, is this signup bonus any good? It’s FINE, but certainly not the best. Some sites give as much as 100,000 GC and 2 SC, and the minimum expected benchmark amount is usually 7,500 GC and 2 SC. Meaning, Cider Casino gives a pretty good amount of GC, but it’s a little bit tight with the Sweeps Coins.
In terms of gameplay and entertainment, it’s not that much different really though. It’s basically 3x 0.10 SC spins for the 0.30 SC Cider Casino gives, or 20x 0.10 SC spins for the expected benchmark - neither is exactly enough for an immense gaming session.
On the other hand, the bonus Gold Coin package is fantastic. It’s great that they’ve gone with a cheap package at $2.99, as this can appeal to both casual gamers and high rollers. It’s effectively a 100%+ bonus which is in-line with the other similar packages at contending sweepstakes casinos.
The site is packed with other promotional features
Cider Casino continues to hand out virtual currencies to existing players with the following promotions:
- Progressive daily login bonus.
- Alternative Method Of Entry (Mail-in) bonus.
- Referral bonus of up to 200,000 GC and 60 SC.
- Daily missions.
The progressive daily bonus is pretty damn good - in total, customers can get around 100,000 GC and 1.95 SC per week which is above average compared to what other sites dish out. They just have to login for all 7 days of the week though to get the maximum streak.
The referral bonus is an interesting one too - it has two tiers of prizes, with the first bonus only requiring that the referee verify their ID fully. The full 200,000 GC and 60 SC can only be obtained if the referee makes a minimum GC purchase.
At this point in time, there doesn’t seem to be a Cider Casino VIP program that could be found, and this is another minor area for improvement - it’s nice to give loyal customers some extra perks, and most of the top sites do something like this.
Conclusion - Cider Casino gives a pretty sweet gaming experience
This Cider Casino review has shown that this site just needs a few minor tweaks, and it has the potential to be one of the top US sweepstakes casinos already. Add more games from top developers. Up the welcome bonus a little, and add a few more promos and features for existing customers and things will be cooking on gas.
Even right now though, without those things, there’s some serious potential for entertainment here with the crazy fishing arcade games from TaDa gaming, the epic referral bonus, and the high-quality mobile apps. If anyone wants to sign up right now using the banners on this page, it’s definitely worth it, and it’s expected that the site will only improve going forward.
Cider Casino FAQs
Currently, anyone living in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Washington cannot legally sign up at Cider Casino. Additionally, this sweepstakes casino is only available to US residents who are over 21. Don’t try and fool them either - there’s geoblocking, plus a full KYC check requirement.
NOPE. Why do people still ask this question? Sweepstakes casinos DO NOT payout real money, and Cider Casino is no different. The games are played using Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins which are the virtual currencies, and this gives the potential chance to get GC or SC prizes back. The only thing possible is SC cash prize redemptions, which need specific requirements that are discussed above.
It’s difficult to pick ONE game as everyone has their own preferences. BUT, for slots, it would be the legendary Coin Strike 2 Hold and Win 3x4 from Playson. This slot has an RTP of 96.65% which is OK, but it’s the retro and simplistic gameplay, the epic soundtrack, and the amazing animations that make it such a banger. Also, who doesn’t love the classic Hold and Win bonus round?
Not from experience. Customers have to remember that RTP percentages are theoretical - not guaranteed, and they are more likely to be upheld when playing a game for a prolonged period. On top of that, Cider Casino only uses games from developers who are licensed and regulated, and have their Random Number Generator systems tested for fairness by independent labs.
Yup! It’s got all the classic boring security features like SSL encryption, HTTPS connectivity, geoblocking, and state restrictions. Additionally, customers cannot make SC cash prize redemptions until they have completed the full ID check which involved uploading ID documents and taking a selfie.