Thunderbolt Casino Review

If you are a bettor based in South Africa, then you might know just how difficult it is to find a top quality online casino which is specifically tailored to your needs. Luckily, Thunderbolt Casino is one of a select handful of gambling services which caters to the South African Rand market, offering a range of slot machines, casino games, video pokers and more.

The casino lobby is powered by Realtime Gaming software and it can be played with a downloadable software package or instantly using your desktop or mobile browser. Plus, players can get started at the casino with a welcome bonus that is worth up to ZAR 10,000 over the first three deposits.

Company History is a Mystery

Established in 2014, Thunderbolt Casino is still a relative newcomer the online casino business and truth be told, there isn't much of a reputation to boost the brand's cause. The reason for this is perhaps down to the fact that the casino provides no concrete information on its website about important information such as ownership and licensing – two things which are often easily found on any good and respectable online casino website.

There does seem to be some indication from other sources that the casino is licensed in Curacao but there is emblem or link to certification to back this up on the casino's website. There isn't even a mention of the company's license in the terms and conditions, which will hardly inspire new players with confidence that this is a fair and legitimate betting service. Players will find a link to the Central Dispute System (CDS) page, which is used by many RTG casinos, but the link is currently defunct.

As far as customer reviews go, Thunderbolt casino has received a mixed bag of praise and criticism. Some players have been satisfied with the range of games and promotions. However, some players have come away from the service feeling as if they had been taken for a ride with wrongly advertised bonuses and bad customer service.

Open to Everyone over 21 Years of Age

One thing that arouses even more suspicion about the legitimacy of Thunderbolt Casino's service is the fact that it doesn't mention any restricted country in the terms and conditions. What's more, players can set their country of residence as the United States, Spain, and North Korea despite these countries often being listed as ineligible countries at most licensed casinos. That said, the casino does state that all patrons must be over the age of 21 before they can play any of the games for real money.

Customer Support

When it comes to customer support, things look promising for Thunderbolt Casino, especially since they claim to operate an immediately reachable support network that runs all day, every day of the year. This ostensibly includes a toll free telephone number, an email support address and a live chat portal. However, players might find it difficult to open the live chat service since there is no link available on the website.

The casino does link visitors to an “FAQ section”, but, in reality, this link will take them to the casino's “Privacy Policy” page which only answers a brief cross-section of all the potential questions a prospective player might have.

Realtime Gaming Slot Machine

Thunderbolt casino hosts more than 200 slot machines games, including a range of 3-reel classics, 5-reel video slots and even a couple of big spinning 6-reel games. These games are all delivered courtesy of Realtime Gaming (RTG), meaning that you won't find any of the usual popular games from other software companies like Microgaming, NetEnt or BetSoft. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing really depends on how familiar you are with those game-studios, and how desperately you need a change.

You'll certainly get a change with the video slots on offer thanks to a wide range of uniquely conceived game themes such as Triple Twister, Builder Beaver and Lucha Libre. However, there are plenty of generic 5-reel slot machine themes with tried and tested genres in Cleopatra's Gold, Enchanted Garden and Mermaid Queen. So, even if you aren't looking for anything particularly out of he ordinary, you should still find something to tickle your spinning fancies.

If players just want to win some big bucks, then they can enjoy a couple of progressive jackpot games such as Megasaur and Spirit of the Inca.

Plenty of Different Games to Try Your Luck At

Bettors can find all sorts of different games in the instant play and downloadable games lobby at Thunderbolt Casino. This includes a range of video pokers, a couple of roulette tables and a spread of classic casino card games. There is even a scratch card title called Treasure Tree. Unfortunately there are no live casino games for that truly authentic gambling atmosphere.

Banking in South African Rand

Even though patrons of this website do appear to get the run-around when it comes to customer support and information about licensing, the casino does outline its payment methods in a clear and simple manner. The main thing that you need to know is that all transaction must be made in South African Rand (ZAR). As for the methods and their respective limits and time frames, you can consult the table below:

Welcome Bonus

Thunderbolt Casino advertises a wide range of limited edition and on going promotions on its website, including Weekend Specials with deposit bonuses and free spins, 25% Cashback rewards and Comp Points which can be redeemed for extra money in the kitty.

The main attraction of the bonuses, however, is a welcome package that awards ZAR 10,000 to new players. This bonus works over the first three deposits, as such:

And on top of that, players will receive a fourth and final bonus of ZAR 2,500 without having to make a deposit.

There are some important terms and conditions involved with this welcome bonus. Most notably, only new players who are resident in the following countries are eligible to claim the offer: South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique. Also, players must wager the sum of the bonuses and their triggering deposits by 30x.

Mobile Casino Action

If you are a fan of the Realtime Gaming slots that Thunderbolt Casino has to offer, then you can easily take them with you wherever you go. That is because this South African-friendly casino is also mobile-friendly, meaning that it can be accessed from iOS an Android devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Some Worrying Issues

On the face of it, Thunderbolt Casino is a perfectly good option for South African based bettors who are looking to play in an online gambling environment that specifically caters for their needs. The banking is tailored to South African players and the bonuses are dished out in ZAR.

However, there are a few worrying issues surrounding the overall service. For a start, the casino makes no effort to reassure players that it is legitimately licensed and safe to play. Plus, players appear to get the run around with a shambolic customer support system that doesn't deliver on its promise of a 24/7 live chat and comprehensive FAQ section.