Big Fish Casino

Social casinos have been and still are very popular with Americans. That’s because online casinos were outlawed in the 2000s, making sites like Big Fish Casino the only viable alternative to play exciting slots and table games. After it found its way to the top among the numerous Facebook apps and games, Big Fish Casino created a top-notch standalone product. Powered by Big Fish Games, a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, it has all the know-how to make a lasting impression on players. This shows, since it remains popular despite US states slowly moving ahead with the legalization of online casinos in 2018. You should read the following review to learn more and decide whether Big Fish Casino is legit and worth your time.

Our Expert Findings on Big Fish Casino

✅The Good Stuff	❌The Bad Stuff
Several free casino-style games from top software companies	Does not support real cash prizes or redemptions
Additional gaming options	The lawsuit and victory against Big Fish Casino indicate flaws in its practices
One of the first social gaming sites	Several complaints about its customer support department
Regular offers and no deposit credits	Games allegedly crush often, and players are unable to verify accounts
Great value for money monthly subscription program	A handful of games at initial levels
Supports PayPal purchases	$9.99 to unlock a single slot seems expensive
Available in different formats, including online and native apps	Although not permitted based on ts and cs, several Big Fish Casino players exchange credits for cash
Invented the mission-casino style games, with new titles at each level	No live chat or phone support
Consistently producing new games

Big Fish Casino was considered top of the game until recently. The site has been operated by pioneers in the global iGaming and land-based casino industry, initially run by Churchill Downs and then by Aristocrat. Offering players with unique social games and casino titles, Big Fish Casino fills several gaps through a single product. The outstanding apps, promotions, and offers for game purchases are other unique selling points that keep players active. Further, Big Fish has been a genuine social casino by enabling interactions between players. However, its status took a blow when several players came forward in 2014 and launched an official lawsuit claiming they had lost $10,000+ to continue playing on the site. After three years, the Washington court ruled against Big Fish Casino, forcing them to pay over $150 million to the plaintiffs. Not only that, but it was this that changed laws in the state, forcing all other social casinos outside the state. Ever since, Big Fish Casino has implemented security and safety measures for players, but after seeing the amounts players spent to play there – would you consider playing at Big Fish Casino since it doesn’t support real cash prizes? We think not, which is why we instead suggest you try something similar, but with additional features:    

What is Big Fish Casino?

Big Fish is a social casino offering unique skill and casino games. The casino features titles from several categories, including puzzle, card and board, casino, adventure, strategy, brain teaser, and more. Some of the most popular games include New Yankee, Strange Investigations, Twin Mind, Living Legends Remastered, and more. Still, our focus here will be on the casino side of the platform since that’s what concerns most of our readers. Big Fish began popular as a free casino platform before online casinos were even popular. This helped the brand skyrocket in popularity, which led to the investment in a series of other games. Across the platform, there are over 4,000 Big Fish Games. The online social casino is much smaller, still offering a unique range of slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker, and other table games. The graphics, features, and mechanics vary per game and improve as you reach new levels. Fans will be pleased to hear that Big Fish Casino was bought out in 2018 by Aristocrat, the second largest casino developer globally after IGT. This adds to the catalog, with thousands of games to unlock as you progress on the social casino.

How to Play at Big Fish Casino

Unlike real money online casinos, Big Fish Casino is a social gaming platform. The main difference between the two is that you use virtual credits at casinos like Big Fish to play the games. Also, the titles are not instantly available, unlocked as you complete missions or jump to new levels. Similar to online casino deposits, purchases are available where you can buy specific games or boost your chips balance. This, however, won’t affect your winning potential since the chips cannot be cashed out and are only apparent for playing purposes. Understanding the above is crucial, so you don’t fall into the trap of buying the offers bombarded to you after signing up. You can play at Big Fish Casino as you see fit since there is a Facebook app, an online casino site, and native apps for Android and iOS. The overall experience is similar since casino games and slots at Big Fish are optimized with HTML5 technology. To get started, you must sign up by providing the following information:

1. Email address
2. Password
3. Retype password
4. Tick the boxes
5. Hit sign up

Then, you must verify your email through the sent link, and you will instantly receive 100,000 free chips. Some games are instantly available, while others will be as you purchase chips or use the bonuses to reach new levels. Gold bars are essential to access VIP games and levels, purchased through the shop or as you play.

Who can Play at Big Fish Casino?

Big Fish Games are available to anyone over 13 in the US or 16 in the EU. To access Big Fish Casino and its casino-style games, users must be 18+. There are no state or other restrictions, like with sweepstakes or real money casinos, since Big Fish Casino only offers games for entertainment purposes, without the potential to win real cash.

Is Big Fish Casino Legit?

Big Fish Casino
Website	www.bigfishgames.com www.bigfishgames.com/play/bigfishcasino
Accessibility	Online, Facebook, Desktop app, Mobile Browser, Android app, iOS app
️Operating Company	Big Fish Games, INC., Washington 98104, USA – owned by Aristocrat Gaming
‍Software	IGT, Aristocrat, Big Fish Games
Purchase & Redemption Methods	Debit and Credit Cards, PayPal

There is no doubt that Big Fish Casino is legit. Owned by Churchill Downs and then purchased by Aristocrat Leisure for almost a billion. The site develops many of its own games, with additional options from renowned companies like IGT. These are also sealed and tested for fairness by eCOGRA. Big Fish Casino has been live since 2009, while Big Fish Games date back to 2002. No other major brand can claim a similar lineage in this day and age. The terms and conditions, banking options, and virtual currency system are also clear and easy to understand. Players do not need to purchase credits to play, with several offers sustaining a free play experience. HOWEVER, the class action against Big Fish Casino in 2015 came with a ruling against the operator, showing that:

• There were no measures to protect players who spent considerable amounts to continue playing at Big Fish Casino

Although this might appear minor, it is a big thing when it comes to social gaming platforms. Still, actions have been taken since, and the online casino is slowly claiming its name and reputation back.

Big Fish Casino Welcome Bonus

Big Fish Casino Bonus
Big Fish Casino Promo Code	NEW299
✍️No Deposit Bonus	100,000 Free Chips
First Purchase Bonus	333% Sale Offer on First Purchase ($2.99 instead of $99)
Availability	All US states except Washington state, 18+ for the casino-style games
Other Promotions	Hourly bonuses, random prizes, sending gifts, Big Fish Points program and rewards, tournaments, reload offers/sales, watching ads

Big Fish Casino has several sales and bonuses, most of which do not require any purchase. Instead of money, you will be using chips to play games, which is the currency used to continue playing and jump to new levels in the free-to-play version. After registration, Big Fish Casino awards 100,000 free chips no deposit bonus. If you decide to buy any game, you can do so using the promo code for new players NEW299 and spend $2.99 instead of $9.99. My opinion is to avoid spending any money until you get used to the platform, especially since there are several ways to boost your balance without doing so.

Big Fish Casino Free Daily Rewards and Promotions

When playing at social casinos, the goal is to reach the next level and access more games and features. Big Fish Casino helps players manage that through regular promotions and bonus codes.

• Right after you use your free no deposit chips, you can spin a wheel to receive a random bonus. This is available every day.
• Big Fish Casino also hands out 2,000 chips every 31 minutes. Just check the promotions section regularly to unlock the prize.
• The bonuses become more regular as you jump to new levels, which is essential since the free chips required to bet also increase.
• Sales to purchase packages or games are very prevalent, like reload casino bonuses.
• The waiter mascot of Big Fish Casino can also randomly pop up and hand out a random free chip bonus as you play.
• Watch videos and earn free credits!
• The Rewards Center is where you can exchange tickets for free play, credits, or purchase games without spending real money at Big Fish Casino.
• VIP bonuses might also come by, where you receive discounted offers for the free chip purchase packages, free spins, and other rewards. You must progress via the Big Fish Points program to get to new VIP levels.

Big Fish Casino Mobile Site Layout & Features

One thing that Big Fish Casino has perfected over the years is its lobby. Newer social platforms try to match its appearance and usability, but few succeed. The first thing to highlight is that the format varies considerably based on which device or gameplay mode you use. The desktop site looks a bit empty, but everything is easy to navigate. On the other hand, the app looks a bit cramped but very exciting. Still, indifferently to how you decide to access Big Fish Casino, the features, menu options, and games are similar. Your username, or picture, if you decide to upload one, is displayed in the top left of the screen. Your VIP level, credits, gold bars, and offers are next to it. Below, the lobby, slots, and additional gaming options are one click away. Underneath the games is a unique option at Big Fish Casino, where you can see who of your friends are online or have sent you a message. Friend requests are also available to be sent from the bottom menu. This is a great feature since you can interact with other Big Fish Casino players, send daily gifts, and even share tips. The clubs are located next to the lobby, created by groups of players who want to interact and progress together in the app’s VIP levels. The shop and the collect areas are where you can get rewards or spend money and accumulated prizes. Despite the several features, Big Fish Casino lobby is fast, responsive, and easy to get around without more than a click.

Big Fish Casino Games Lobby

Big Fish Casino had a narrow games lobby until 2016, consisting only of Big Fish Games proprietary products. This changed in 2016 when Churchill Downs and IGT reached an agreement to allow for cross-platform integration. The purchase of BFG by Aristocrat in 2018 meant that the new company’s games would also be introduced, as it happened. This still leads to fewer casino games than what you would find at a real money online casino, but it was a big move by Big Fish Social Casino. At least it offered a package that could be worth the subscription fee. Check the following sections for more details on each category, keeping in mind that not all games are open to play right off the bat.

Slots

Slightly over 10 slot machines are available to play at level one at Big Fish Casino, with several more games opening after level 38. The games are separated into all slots and VIP slots, with the latter available to play after a $9.99 fee. Demo play is still available on the VIP slots without, however, helping you build up your level, etc. Still, this doesn’t affect potential winnings since the free credits carry zero value anyway. Big Fish Games are relatively standard, with fixed paylines ranging from 9 to 100, with a progressive jackpot connecting different titles and boosting their payout potential. There is also a tournament slots lobby, available 24/7. This is great since you can compete with your friends at Big Fish Casino for better rewards. Below is a table with some of the games from both categories of Big Fish Casino.

Big Fish Casino Slot Games
Alice & the Mad Scatter	Sweet Stacks	Sugar Dash	Riches of the Deep
Baywatch	Jackpot City	Road to Oz	Money Rain Deluxe
Panda Tea Party	Burning Love	Wicked Wins	Sherlock Manor
Ghost Mansion	Treasure Trove Grove	One Armed Bandito	Penny’s Patisserie
Mystic Treasures	Treat Outdoors	Myths of Persia	The Secret Grove
Espionage Express	Aztec Gold Expedition	Stars ‘N Sevens	Crazy Money Deluxe

As you can see, there are several themes across the titles, and as with real money slots, there are free spins, wilds, scatters, jackpots, etc. A downside here is you can view the RTP or volatility, with the only information being the paylines, bets size, and maximum win. Based on this, you could still make an educated guess.

Table Games

The casino games lobby works slightly differently at Big Fish. All games are open to play from level one, and there is a decent range of variants across each niche, but the stakes can differ by a longshot. Some tables start at 100 free chips, while others at 1 million. As such, playing table games is more about accessibility based on purchases and balance rather than on how much you have progressed in the app. A nice touch here is that some public table games of blackjack and poker play with more than a single player, adding to the social element. That’s not the case with all titles, and there isn’t a vast pool of options.

Big Fish Casino Blackjack Games
Atlantic City Blackjack	Monaco Mansion Blackjack	Las Vegas Strip
Dubai High Rise	Jacks or Better	Deuces Wild
Jokers Wild	Burn 3 Poker	Paris Lights
Caribbean Cruise	Texas Hold’em Poker	Classic Roulette
Classic Blackjack	Big Fish Fields	Video Poker

Compared to massive online casinos, Big Fish Casino does not impress. But as a standalone platform available for free everywhere, there is entertainment potential here; especially for those who cannot access the real thing.

Are Big Fish Casino Games Fair?

Big Fish Casino games are among the best to play across any online casino. The companies behind the app, Big Fish Games and Aristocrat, are pioneers in the gambling industry. Day in and day out, they produce new titles, implementing unique features to entertain players. As with any gambling game, Big Fish Casino slots always favor the house. However, they operate with a set and calculated RTP based on a random number generator. These features that make Big Fish Casino games legit and bulletproof are tested by eCOGRA at random times, ensuring players’ chips are in safe hands. This means that you shouldn’t worry about purchasing credits to throw away in a game set against you.

In-App Purchase Methods

The Shop is where players can buy free chips and gold bar packages for money, with the latter being required for certain VIP features. This is not essential, with Big Fish Casino being a social platform, but it kind of is if you cannot wait to progress to new levels and unlock the games naturally. The purchase process varies according to how you play at Big Fish Casino. Facebook credits can be used on that platform, or you can charge your iTunes or Google Play account when playing on the app. Alternatively, users can link Visa, American Express, or MasterCard credit and debit cards, gift and prepaid cards, or PayPal for non-trial members. Players can purchase chips, gold bars, or games using any of the above. Most games cost $9.99 each, while the following packages are also available at Big Fish Casino:

• 135,00 Chips – $4.99
• 371,500 Chips – $9.99
• 810,000 Chips – $19.99
• 16,875,000 Chips – $199.99

Users can also purchase a monthly subscription and enter the Big Fish Game Club, where they are monthly points to purchase standard game versions, collector’s editions, or buy any game with a 30% discount.

Redemptions at Big Fish Casino

As we covered above, Big Fish Casino has no withdrawals or redemptions. Players can spend money to play more games and for longer, but there is no chance of winning prizes or rewards. Users looking for social casinos with prizes or sweepstakes casinos with real money redemptions can check our complete list here. *Only players in the UK can play at Big Fish Casino using real money bets and therefore winning real cash, only since 2021. That came into effect after the platform landed a deal with Betable.

Customer Support & Contacts

There are several features at Big Fish Casino, many unique to the platform. Especially users looking to engage with others or make the most of the available promotions and bonuses might run into problems. Help and support are available through several gateways. Firstly, users can submit a request which will be reviewed by Zendesk, who manages this department of Big Fish Casino. These are usually addressed within three days, with a minimum of 24 hours waiting time. A better option is using the FAQ section, which is available through the contact customer support. Several topics are placed in categories, which users can tap to find additional inquiries with prepared answers. Big Fish Casino supported live chat and phone support in the past, but there is only an email option as a last alternative to resolve issues with Big Fish Casino at [email protected].

Areas for Improvement for Big Fish Casino

So far in our Big Fish Casino review, we have mentioned several positive areas but quite a few concerns. The company has already addressed some points, like the claims that its games lead players to excessive spending habits. Measures have been put in place to avoid similar claims and concerns in the future. However, looking at independent review sites that accept verified customer reviews, we spotted a variety of other weak spots for Big Fish Casino.

• 30+ customer reviews mentioned that games were crashing or did not download
• 80+ users suggested that the whole support department needs a revamp, offering little to no help
• A few players highlighted that the latest Big Fish Casino games are neither fun nor rewarding
• Worst even, there are reports of lost credits from players’ accounts

Personally, it took three days for my email verification to go through with Big Fish Casino, and I couldn’t do anything till then. Had to use the email link over 50 times to complete a simple registration step. Also, a few areas that I feel Big Fish Casino has neglected are:

• The customer service department has become poorer instead of better over time
• Games by Aristocrat are way dated at this time, with newer companies like Relax Gaming and Pragmatic Play giving them a run for their money
• Banking options are fewer today than 7 years ago, with other operators providing eWallets, prepaid cards, and other banking methods on top of the typical debit and credit cards
• $9.99 for a single game sounds ridiculous when sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz provide access to 300+ top-rated slots after a $0.99 purchase – while supporting real cash prizes

Verdict From Our Big Fish Casino Review

Big Fish Casino deserves a lot of praise for what it has done for the social casino gaming industry as a whole. More credit to its current parent company, Aristocrat, for bringing unique gameplay and bonus features to life! Big Fish Casino is a multi-faceted platform where users can play on the go or from a desktop, online or via apps, as they see fit. The range of games, currency system, bonuses, and mission-style features are impressive and still used as the blueprint for newer social gaming companies. The options that enable user interaction are unique here, without any other social casino managing something similar. This doesn’t mean that you should play there. During our review of Big Fish Casino, we noticed several areas that must be addressed until we change our view. Firstly, the site has a terrible support and banking department. When considering how much it costs to buy a game or free – non-redeemable – credits, we can’t recommend Big Fish Casino. The platform is also quite dated, especially regarding its slots library. And the above is without discussing how many people’s lives it appears to have destroyed due to its gameplay system, as confirmed by the Washington judge in 2018. If you are outside the legal gambling states, there is simply no reason to join a social casino like Big Fish Games. Instead, you can play for free at Pulsz or SweepSlots, and enjoy a better variety of games with real money prizes on the line.    

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