SpilleAutomater Review

The SpilleAutomater name might not mean anything to you unless you’re a Norwegian au fait with the world of online gambling. If you are just such a person (what are the odds?), the information that follows might well be known to you already. If you’re not, and you want to learn about the merits of a Norwegian online casino for the next five minutes, read on. You never know when a question about gambling in Scandinavia is going to appear in a pub quiz. This info might win you a magnum of champagne someday.

SpilleAutomater has been conceived and designed specifically for the burgeoning Norwegian market. While many casinos fling open their doors to customers from around the globe, this one instead elects to offer just one currency – Norwegian kroner – and its website is available in a solitary language – Norwegian, funnily enough.

All this sounds good for Norwegian gamers and not very useful for everyone else. But although the site is restricted to users from Canada, the US, the UK, France, Holland, Spain, Italy and Denmark, it’s not expressly prohibited in many other global territories. If you’re happy to trade in Norwegian kroner, and you speak the lingo, nothing’s stopping you from getting involved.

C is for Credible

SpilleAutomater is owned and operated by PlayCherry Ltd., the same Swedish firm that brought you portals like CherryCasino, EuroLotto and EuroSlots. The company has been going for decades and was named IGA Online Gaming Operator of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

The Norwegian casino is licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta, a statutory body responsible for licensing innumerable online gambling hubs. Have no hang-ups about this site’s repute – it’s unimpeachable.

Having said that, it’s somewhat difficult for gamers to get a handle on when exactly the casino came into being. Some reviews claim it launched in 2013, while others say 2006. After speaking with a SpilleAutomater customer support agent, this writer established that 2007 was, in fact, the year of the casino’s birth. Weird. Moving on…

The Website

Since I don’t speak Norwegian, I can’t say I know that the text on the website makes sense – but I think I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. What is obvious is that the website is well designed, with tidy adverts for video slots, an easily accessible registration menu and contact details on display. Many casino websites are an assault on the senses, a firestorm of bright colours and a whizz-bang of sound effects. SpilleAutomater, by comparison, is almost soothing in its design. One doesn’t feel under pressure to dive into the game when browsing the homepage, though the advertising does make the titles look intriguing.

Games by the Truckload

Some casinos throw their hat in with a single developer, but by contrast, SpilleAutomater is powered by an array of first-class gaming platforms. Sterling developers like Microgaming, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, OTTO, Quickspin, Amaya, SBTech and Yggdrasil are all in the mix. As such, you will find virtually every game known to man in the library, from Microgaming’s five-reel Jurassic Park video slot to NetEnt’s brilliant Gonzo’s Quest. The graphics in the former – which has 243 pay-lines – are especially crisp. The new Vikings Go Wild game, from Yggdrasil, is yet another fine option.

Aside from video slots, one must mention the vast tally of table games. As well as several variations of blackjack, there are derivations of roulette, baccarat and poker. The number of versions of the latter might boggle your mind, but they include favourites like Texas Hold ‘Em, Oasis poker, Caribbean poker and Cyberstud poker. Players can even have a go at video poker, which comes courtesy of both the NetEnt and Microgaming platforms.

The instant-play casino does not require bettors to download any clients; just log into the website, select your game and start reaping the rewards (or, y’know, bleeding chips). SpilleAutomater lets you try your luck at your favourite casino games or take a punt with interactive scratch cards like Treasure Hunt and Hall of Fame.

Many casinos live or die by the number of progressives they offer. Progressives have paid out almost half a billion euros, with the largest winner taking home a cheque for almost 18 million euros in 2015. Jonathan Heywood, from the UK, claimed the windfall after striking lucky on the 25 pay-line Mega Moolah game on the Betway platform.

Mega Moolah is among the 21 progressives offered by SpilleAutomater. Others include The Dark Knight, Major Millions and Arabian Nights. The Dark Knight – which is of course based on Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film – has a mega jackpot in excess of three million. Not quite Bruce Wayne money, but who couldn’t use an extra three million in their back pocket?

Bonuses and Banking

Welcome packages for new players won’t blow you away, but they sweeten the deal to a certain extent. The packages are divided into Low Roller, High Roller and Sports Roller packages. As a Low Roller you receive 200% up to 500 kroner (approximately $70 US) on your first deposit, plus 50 free spins. You receive the same deal on your second and third deposits, with the final one entailing an extra 50 free spins.

As a High Roller, you are given 100% up to 2,500 kroner for your first two deposits, before getting 50% up to 5,000 kroner on your final stake. The wagering requirements for both of these offers is 40x.

If you select the Sports Roller package, you receive 100% up to 2,000 kroner. The wagering requirement is 6x, with minimum odds of 1.50 per bet. All newly registered players are given 25 free spins on Vikings Go Wild.

Although the casino only transacts in Norwegian kroner, the deposit and withdrawal options are more extensive. Gamers can place bets using Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, Paysafecard, Skrill, Trustly and direct wire transfer. Below is a table outlining the particulars in full:

The Verdict

Given that the SpilleAutomater platform has been built by Norwegians, for Norwegians, it won’t be vying for world domination any time soon. That said, it is a very dynamic, user-friendly and trustworthy instant-play gaming site. It boasts an impressive array of games from some of the industry’s most cutting-edge developers; it has a round-the-clock Live Chat function, 256-bit SSL encryption by DigiCert and it’s regularly audited for fairness by independent agencies like eCOGRA and TST.

Improvements could still be made. There’s no refer-a-friend programme, the site doesn’t accept enough currencies (surely it’s not that difficult to transact in euros?) and it could do with being translated into English. These gripes aside, SpilleAutomater is well worth a look.