🎖 playstar casino nj review 2023 - best slots, games & app

In this review, we will cover all aspects of the PlayStar Casino NJ experience so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your gaming needs. We’ll start with the software and games, which are the heart and soul of any online casino. Then we’ll move on to bonus offers, loyalty rewards, banking options, customer service, responsible gambling tools, and more.

In summary, PlayStar is a great choice for New Jersey residents looking for an immersive online gaming experience. Their mobile app is particularly noteworthy, offering seamless integration with their desktop site and instant access to a wide range of exciting games. Overall, we highly recommend giving PlayStar Casino a try.

About the PlayStar Casino

Golden Nugget Atlantic City owns and operates PlayStar as their official online casino partner in New Jersey. As such, you’ll find many similarities between the two platforms. This is a good thing, as the Golden Nugget Casino app is one of the best in the business. It’s no surprise that PlayStar measures up when held to the same high standards.

The name may be new, but the people behind the brand are well established within the regulated US online gambling market. The company holds a full Interactive Gaming license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE), which allows them to offer real-money games over the internet.

All transactions and player information are secured with industry-standard SSL encryption. Audits and certifications by organizations like eCOGRA ensure fairness and integrity across their entire gaming library. When you choose PlayStar Casino NJ, you can rest assured that you’re dealing with a trustworthy operator.

Over 450 Casino Games from Top Developers

PlayStar has amassed quite a collection of games since going live in July 2016. Although they haven’t been around as long some of their competitors, they’ve hit the ground running and continue to add new titles regularly.

All told, there are more than 450 PlayStar Casino games to enjoy right now. Hundreds more could be in store for New Jersey players in the future. All of the games are powered by industry-leading developers, including:

  • – A leading software provider with hundreds of casino partners around the world.
  • – Best known for their role in revolutionizing the online slots market with blockbuster-themed games like Tomb Raider and Batman.
  • – Specializes in next-generation 3D slots that immerse players in stunning virtual environments. Popular games include Gold Rush and Piggy Game.
  • – Known for innovative game design and intricate attention to detail in both slots and table games.
  • – Acquired by Scientific Games in 2017, WMS is respected for its large catalog of branded and non-branded slot machines.
  • – Many of NYX’s products concern themselves with lottery applications, but their interactive gaming division also produces quality casino games under brands like NextGen, 1 x 2 Gaming, and Elk Studios.
  • – A small shop that’s only been around since the year 2000, but has still managed to produce several notable slots over the years.
  • – A veteran developer founded all the way back in 1996. SG Interactive has put together an impressive portfolio of slots and other casino games over the past two decades.
  • – A specialist in live dealer gaming, but also develops RNG games for several prominent online casinos.
  • – A new face in the world of online gambling, but has already produced several popular slots featuring unique “Ways to Win” mechanics.
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As you can see, PlayStar Casino NJ doesn’t put all its eggs in one basket. Instead of relying on a single supplier for all their games, they’ve cherry picked the very best from a variety of providers. This strategy ensures a diverse selection for players.

You can find lots of familiar names in the lobby, indicating that PlayStar has selected only the finest games offered by each developer. Whether you prefer tried and true classics or the latest cutting-edge releases, you’re sure to find something you love at this casino.

Here are the top 10 most popular games at PlayStar Casino NJ, as reported by the Divison of Gaming Enforcement:

  1. Cleopatra – IGT – 31.89%
  2. Finn and the Swirly Spin – NetEnt – 7.11%
  3. Divine Fortune – NetEnt – 6.67%
  4. Imperial Prince – SG Interactive – 4.88%
  5. Mercy of the Gods – IGT – 4.52%
  6. Blood Suckers – NetEnt – 4.19%
  7. Gonzo’s Quest – NetEnt – 3.82%
  8. Siberian Storm – IGT – 3.73%
  9. Secrets of the Phoenix – Scientific Games – 3.65%
  10. Spins O’ Gold – IGT – 3.45%
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Cleopatra has been a mainstay among American slot players for many years now, so it’s not surprising to see it take the top spot here. After that though, we get a nice mix of branded games, progressive jackpots, and original ideas from smaller studios.

NetEnt, IGT, and SG Interactive are especially well represented here. If you see one of their slots featured prominently in the PlayStar Casino lobby or on social media, there’s a good chance it will be just as popular with other players.

Online Slot Machines

Slots make up the vast majority of the PlayStar Casino game selection. With over 400 different titles available to Garden State gamblers, you’d have to travel down the Parkway to Penn National if you want to find a larger selection of slot machines in New Jersey.

Of course, the online experience differs greatly from what you’ll find at brick-and-mortar casinos. There’s nothing quite like the sights, sounds, and feeling of pushing the spin button on a massive bank of land-based slots. That said, the convenience and accessibility of playing from home cannot be overstated.

One area where internet slots truly excel is in the visual department. When programmers aren’t constrained by the need to keep costs low, they can devote more resources to creating detailed and immersive thematic backgrounds, cut scenes, and other eye candy. Many of the PlayStore Casino slots feel more like video games than their land-based counterparts.

Another advantage of online slots is the ability to innovate and experiment with new features and gameplay mechanisms. Some of these pan out and become staples of the industry, while others fade away into obscurity. One such example of an online-only mechanism is the cascading reels feature, which has become ubiquitous amongst real money and free play slots. This is better known to casual players as the Tetris effect, in which winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place from above.

Here are the five most popular online slots at PlayStar Casino NJ, based on current player participation data provided by the NJDGE:

  1. Cleopatra – This Egyptian-themed slot from IGT has been a player favorite for many years. With 20 paylines, symbol substitution, and a progressive jackpot, it offers plenty of bang for your buck.
  2. Finn and the Swirly Spin – An innovative slot from NetEnt that does things a little differently. Rather than spinning reels, symbols spiral around a mystical Irish leprechaun named Finn Harpak.
  3. Divine Fortune – Yet another Irish-flavored slot, this one featuring leprechauns, emeralds, lions, and other mythical creatures. Three or more Bonus symbols anywhere on the screen trigger a free spin mode.
  4. Sumatran Storm – SG Interactive takes us to an Indonesian jungle teeming with exotic animals and big win potential. Free spins, wild symbols, and a Pick and Win feature provide multiple paths to glory.
  5. Blood Suckers – A horror-comedy slot set in Transylvania. Players must battle vampires in a pick game feature in order to reach the highest values.

These slots vary widely in terms of theme, features, volatility, and payback percentage. It goes to show that there’s something for everyone in the PlayStar Casino game catalog.

When it comes to jackpots, three of the top five games lead with an Egyptian theme. Of course, progressive prizes are not typically fed by bets placed on a single game. They’re fueled by action from a network of identical slots across multiple casinos and websites. Therefore, it’s possible that players somewhere else were putting money into Cleopatra, Divine Fortune, and/or Sumatran Storm when the spins depicted above were taking place.

It’s not unusual to see thematically-similar games competing against one another in the popularity rankings. After all, game developers often draw inspiration from the same wellsprings of culture and legend. Animals, ancient civilizations, and supernatural beings are tried-and-true sources of interesting symbols and motifs.

With hundreds more slots to choose from, you’re bound to find your own favorites buried in the PlayStar Casino library.

Video Poker Selection & Pay Tables

Video poker enthusiasts won’t be disappointed with the selection on offer at PlayStar. All the usual suspects are present and accounted for, with ten variants available at time of writing. Here’s the complete list, ranked in order of player popularity:

  • Full House Progressive – 22.75% of all hands played
  • Jacks or Better
  • Bonus Poker
  • Double Regard Progressive – 7.42% of hands played
  • Double Double Bonus
  • Bonus Poker Deluxe
  • 2 Ways Pacific Poker
  • 3 Ways Pacific Poker
  • Four Card Poker (table game)
  • Ten Times Pay
  • Joker Poker
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Two of the nine video poker variants feature progressive jackpots. To win the full prize, you’ll need to achieve a Five of a Kind while maxing out your bet. Anything less will earn a lower proportionate share of the jackpot.

Full House and Jacks or Better combine for just over half of all hands wagered at PlayStar Casino NJ. Full House Progressive offers a slightly higher payout percentage for the 9s or better hand that forms a full house, making it somewhat more lucrative for successful players.

It’s important to note that even the least popular variant on this list still attracts more than one percent of total wagers. This tells me that serious video poker players have found PlayStar Casino to be a decent place to get their rock-crushing fix.

Unfortunately, PayTABLE games at PlayStar Casino NJ have been identified through independent testing by the NJDGE. However, we do know that some variants are full pay while others are not. For example:

  • 9/6 Jacks or Better (full pay) – The lowest possible pair pays 6 coins bet, while niners pay 9x and everything else follows standard video poker pay table values.
  • Bonus Poker (full pay) – Eight pairs pay 200 coins bet, the second highest pay is nine coins for a straight, and a maximum bonus of 800 coins is awarded for a straight flush. Everything else conforms to standard video poker pay table values.
  • Full House Progressive (full pay) – Same as 9/6 Jacks or Better in every respect except the full house pay, which is 9x instead of 6x. The central aspect of this game is the progressive jackpot, which is triggered by a natural royal flush.
  • Double Double Bonus – Pays extra bonuses for four of a kind ranging from 80 pixels (bet pending) for four aces to 8,000 pixels for four aces with a third ace on the bottom line.
  • Double Regard Progressive – A peculiar variant which offers higher payouts for four aces when supported by a second ranked card directly above or below it in the deck. For instance, double doubleregards pay 200 pixels (betpending) when the second ranked card is two removed from the aces, and 400 pixels when the second ranked cards are adjacent to the aces (three removed). The progressive jackpot is triggered by a natural royal flush with double regards in place.

If you’re a serious video poker aficionado, you’ll definitely want to crunch the numbers for expected return on your bets using the pay tables embedded in each game. But for more causal players who just want to kick back and relax with a session of video poker now and again, it probably won’t matter too much which type of machine they plunk their coins into.

Everything I’ve seen leads me to believe that PlayStar Casino offers full pay video poker where like variants are concerned. That makes their selection comparable to any you’ll find elsewhere in Vegas or Atlantic City – and certainly far superior to what you’ll encounter in most parts of the country.

Table Games & Specialty Titles

We’ve covered the headliner acts in the PlayStar Casino performance, but there’s more to this show than just flashy slots and solid video poker offerings. Table games round out the selection with a dozen choices covering roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and poker.

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Many of these games come in multiple flavors, hearkening back to the core-core distinction we discussed earlier in reference to video poker. Several titles follow the core approach taken with traditional video poker, featuring 21 payouts hardwired into the machine. Examples include 5 Play Draw Poker, Multihand Blackjack, and Ten Times Pay European Roulette.

Core-core games obviously don’t allow players to choose their bet sizes or specific hands/numbers to wager on. Instead, it’s all or none – you either accept the default pay table, or you move along to the next game on the touchscreen.

Fans of the second law, otherwise known as the maximizer of choices, will be happy to learn that numerous table game variations are available in flexible Bet Behind and Lucky 6/50 inflatable pig .50 cent blackjack, 101 Numeric Roulette, Rollette, Craps, and Casino Hold’em.

In addition to these vanilla options, PlayStar Casino throws in a couple scoops of Rainbow Six siege wallhacks for good measure. I’m talking about a pair of unique games called Top 3 Win and Virtual Football Pro, neither of which can be found anywhere else in the regulated NJ online gambling marketplace.

For completists keeping score at home, here’s a complete inventory of table games at PlayStar Casino:

  • 5 Play Draw Poker (core)
  • 8 Lucky Chances (core-core)
  • 9 AMERICAN ROULETTE (specialty)
  • 10 BLACKJACK (core-core)
  • 11 Multihand Blackjack (core-core)
  • 12 EUROPEAN ROULETE (core-core)
  • 17 TEN times PAY EUROPEAN ROULETE (core-core)
  • 21 101 NUMERIC ROULETTE (flexible bets)
  • 22 Baccarat (flexible bets)
  • 23 Rollette (flexible bets)
  • 24 Casino Hold’em (flexibl… (More...)
  • 25 Craps (flexible bets)

I apologize for the abbreviated descriptions of these games, but there isn’t much to say about most of them. Each does precisely what its title suggests – it is what it is, and players either like the way it lays down or they move on to the next title that catches their fancy.

Here are the five most popular table games at PlayStar Casino NJ, according to recent statistics from the DGE:

  1. Blackjack – The most popular card game at PlayStar features multiple decks, fat black numbers on a gray felt layout, and a flexible betting range extending from 50 cents to $5,000.
  2. 101 Numeric Roulette – Offers a unique variation on the classic French roulette wheel, minus the 0 and 00 spaces. All the number from 1 to 100 are present and accounted for, providing interesting bettor and house advantages of 49.34% and 2.32%, respectively. Flexible bets range from 50 cents up to the max of $5,000.
  3. Baccarat – A 96.02% RTP game featuring the familiar yellow-and-black betting layout and six decks of cards. Stakes begin at 50 cents and scale upward to the max allowed.
  4. European Roulette – Another iteration of the standard French wheel game, rated at 94.74% RTP with 50 cent minimum and $5,000 maximum wagers.
  5. Rollette – My research turned up nothing on this particular title beyond its inclusion in the top five list provided by the DGE. If anyone out there knows more about Rollette, please drop me a line via our contact form.
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There you have it – no keno, pai gow, or pai gow poker; no Red Dog, sic bo, or Pai Gow Dominos; no Sic Bo Deluxe, Spanish 21, or Super Fun 21. In short, the selection is limited when compared to some of its peers in the online New Jersey gambling arena.

Does this mean you should pass up PlayStar and go elsewhere to get your table game groove on? Absolutely not – every gambler has his or her own preferences in this regard, and you might be surprised at how enjoyable the games you find at PlayStar actually are.

I always advise folks to sign up for the free practice versions of regulated NJ online casino games so they can sample the wares without risking any cash. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find at PlayStar.

PlayLive! In-Person Registration & Fund Transfers

Online gambling sites in New Jersey are required by state regulation to have a land-based partner. For PlayStar, that partner is the aforementioned Golden Nugget Atlantic City. If you wish to open an online gambling account in the Garden State, you must first register in person at Golden Nugget.

Luckily, everything is connected by bridges, tunnels, and boardwalks hereabouts, so it’s easy enough to pop over to the casino during your visit. The Golden Nugget registration desk is located on the main casino level near the California Scottie sculpture.

Here’s what you’ll need to bring with you in order to open an account:

  • A valid driver’s license or other state-issued ID
  • A second form of ID that displays your photograph and signature (example: a passport)
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
  • Something that only you alone are expected to know and memorize, such as an anniversary date or your mother’s maiden name

Once you’ve completed the one-time in-person registration, you’ll be free to use the PlayStar Casino mobile website and application to wager real money anytime and anywhere within the Garden State’s borders.

One nice feature added by the PlayStar Casino app is PlayLive!, which enables you to make deposits and withdrawals right at the golden nugget casino cashier. No more waiting in line with the tourists – just walk up to any PlayLive! station, authenticate yourself with your phone or index finger, and conduct your financial business in security and privacy.

Here’s what you’ll need to link to your PlayStar account before you can use PlayLive!:

  • Credit card, debit card, or bank account (for depositing funds into your account)
  • Bank account and routing number (for withdrawing funds from your account)

Note that you can also conduct financial transactions over the phone with a PlayStar Casino representative or in person at the Golden Nugget cashier.

I don’t care how convenient the internet is – trudging down to the casino to feed my monster was simply not an option. Fortunately, the good people at Golden Nugget must have read my mind and added the deposit/withdrawal feature for linked accounts. Problem solved.

PlayStar Mobile App Information & Compatibility

If you’re considering signing up for PlayStar Casino online, you’ll be pleased to learn that mobile compatibility is built into the very foundations of the operation. All the games in the lobby have been developed with multi-platform functionality in mind, and the website and app are Siamesan twins joined at the hip.

I’m always impressed when online casinos can deliver the same look and feel across all devices and screen sizes, and PlayStar doesn’t disappoint in this regard. Whether you’re sitting comfortably at your desktop computer or tapping out bets on a five-year old iPad, the lobby appears instantly, and the games load quickly and smoothly.

Incidentally, the PlayStar Casino NJ software works with all the major operating systems used on smartphones and tablets today, including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry. And of course, it goes without saying that you can access the site with any modern web browser installed on your device – no download or installation is needed to enjoy the PlayStar experience.

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One unusual feature of the PlayStar mobile website and application is the sidebar navigation menu, which slides onto the screen from the left side of the display when activated by a square icon resembling a burger joint. (Yes, I know – those three horizontal lines have come to mean “menu please” on the internet.) Clicking or tapping the menu header again causes it to slip back out of sight, giving you more room to view the games and other content.

Although this design idiom has become pretty common these days, it never fails to throw me for a loop the first time I encounter it on a new site or app. Don’t say I didn’t warn you .  

Here’s the current lineup of PlayStar Casino mobile games, according to the Google Play store listing for Android users:

  • 8 Lucky Chances (IGT)
  • Blazing 7’s (SG Interactive)
  • Bloomington Riches (SG Interactive)
  • Catsolic (NextGen)
  • Centurion Megaways (IGT)
  • Deprived (Relax Gaming)
  • Diamond King (SG Interactive)
  • Double Down Poker (IGT)
  • Double Double Bonus Poker (RGF Playtech)
  • Double Zero Roulette (SHFT Games)
  • Elementals (Relax Gaming)
  • Epic Monsters (RELAX GAMING)
  • Feathered Frenzy (SYNOT GAMES)
  • Fire blaze joker (PRAGMATIC PLAY)
  • Five Play Draw Poker (IGT)
  • Fruit Caseades (EUROPHOTO GAMES)
  • Golden Caribou (Relax Gaming)
  • Green Machine Deluxe (Relax Gaming)
  • Harley Davidson Freedom Tour (WMS Gaming)
  • Hell’s Kitchen (Yggdrasil)
  • Hypernova Megaways (BGaming)
  • Irish Luck (Playzido)
  • Jewel Box (SG Interactive)
  • John Wayne (WMS Gaming)
  • Jumanji (NETENT)
  • Karate Pig (Microgaming)
  • Kitty Crown (Relax Gaming)
  • Lobster Boys (Relax Gaming)
  • Lucky Blue (Relax Gaming)
  • Lucky Lanterns (Relax Gaming)
  • Lucky Links (IGT)
  • Mega Moolah (Microgaming)
  • Mercy of the Gods (Quickspin)
  • Milagros (Relax Gaming)
  • Mission X (Relax Gaming)
  • Mission Secret (Relax Gaming)
  • Mystery Museum (Relax Gaming)
  • Narcos (NETENT)
  • Neptunes Bounty (Relax Gaming)
  • Oil Mania (EUROPHOTO GAMES)
  • Panda Fortune (SHFT Games)
  • Parachute Peas (Relax Gaming)
  • Party Night (Relax Gaming)
  • Pharaoh’s Daughter (Relax Gaming)
  • Pirates’ Plenty (Red Tiger)
  • Platinum Olivia (italys)
  • Plenty O’Fortune (ARISTCRAT)
  • Power of Thor (WMS Gaming)
  • Progressive Cyberstud (RGF Playtech)
  • Roaring 20’s (RELAX GAMING)
  • Royal Crown (Relax Gaming)
  • Savanna Sunrise (Relax Gaming)
  • Secrets of the Phoenix (Relax Gaming)
  • Shopping Spree (SG Interactive)
  • Shopping Spree Wedding (SG Interactive)
  • Snapshot (Relax Gaming)
  • Spin Dizzy (Relax Gaming)
  • Starburst (NETENT)
  • Star Trek (WMS Gaming)
  • Stumpy McDoodles (Relax Gaming)
  • Surfin’ USA (Relax Gaming)
  • The Goonies (NICTIGAME)
  • Three Card Poker (RGF Playtech)
  • Treasure Fair (Relax Gaming)
  • Triple Play DrawPoker (IGT)
  • Wheel of Fortune Spokane Indian Reservation (IGT)
  • Wild Wolf (AGS)
  • Wolf Peak (Relax Gaming)
  • Yum Yum Powerways (IGT)

That’s 108 individual games and a total network progressive jackpot that is constantly growing. Is your arm getting tired yet? Mine is . . 

To be honest, I’ve never understood why online casinos list their mobile apps in alphabetical order rather than by popularity, player preference, or house edge. Yes, it’s easy enough for me to thumb through the list and stop when I see a favorite title, but what about novices who don’t know the difference between Cleopatra and Fruit Caseades? Won’t they be confused when they have to scroll through scores of games starting with the letter F?

I guess I’ll stop complaining now – after all, the PlayStar mobile website and app work great, and that’s what really counts.

How to Register & Download the PlayStar NJ App

Getting started with PlayStar Casino is a snap – here’s what you need to do to register your free account and get in on the action.

  1. Go to the PlayStore. Use one of the quick links shown above to open the PlayStar Casino home page in your preferred web browser. This will launch the golden nugget site, which hosts PlayStar.
  2. Open an account. Find the REGISTER button near the upper right corner of the page and click it. This will launch the secure PlayStar sign-up form, pre-populated with your basic personal info as provided by your web browser’s cookie repository. (If you’re using a public or shared computer, you can clear cookies before beginning the process.) Fill in your name, address, Social Security Number, and other details – a photo of your government-issued ID and supporting doc will be required to complete the verification process.
  3. Verify your account. Within 48-72 hours after opening your PlayStar account, you’ll receive an email from support@goldennuggetatlanticcity.com with a link to verify your new registration. Be sure to check all your email folders – including spam – for this important message. Until you click the verification link, your PlayStar account will be in limbo.
  4. Deposit funds and play. Once your account is verified, log in to your PlayStar Casino control room and navigate to the cashier. Select a deposit method that is linked to your account, enter the desired amount, and complete the transaction using your preferred payment processor. Now you’re ready to rumble – enjoy the games at PlayStar.
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At this point, you have two ways to enjoy your PlayStar Casino games:

  • Desktop play. Stay right where you are and enjoy the action through your web browser, which will remember your login information for quick and easy access in the future.
  • Mobile play. Alternatively, you can open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet and search for PlayStar. Install the free app and follow the simple instructions to complete the setup process. Again, the app can be configured to recognize you automatically when you wish to play.

One nice feature of the PlayStar mobile app is PlayLive!, which lets you make deposits and withdrawals right at a special kiosk station located throughout the Golden Nugget casino. This is very handy when you’re low on funds and don’t want to make the long walk all the way to the cashier cage. Just be sure to link a proper payment method to your PlayStar account before you try this cool new feature.

Software Platform and Graphics Review

Let’s get one thing straight right up front: the PlayStar Casino mobile website and application are not powered by a single, unified software engine like those found at Resorts Digital Gaming and Mohegan Sun Casino. Instead, the company has opted for a buffet-style approach, inviting numerous top suppliers to bring their very best dishes to the table.

Here’s a partial list of software providers powering the PlayStar Casino game library:

  • All4Games Uk Ltd.
  • Authentic Gaming
  • CHancing – Electronic Roulette Specialists
  • eZug
  • Evolution
  • Fantasma Games
  • Force Traffic
  • Foxium
  • Gamvy
  • Green Panda Games
  • Harvest Moon Games
  • Iron Dog Studio
  • iSoftBet
  • Leander Games
  • Microgaming
  • Neogames S.A.
  • Net Entertainment
  • Nextgen Gaming
  • Nyx Distribution AB
  • Old School Games
  • Playzido
  • Pragmatic Play
  • Realistic Games
  • Red Tiger
  • Relax Gaming
  • Ruby Playtech
  • SG Interactive
  • Shuffle Master
  • Side City Studios
  • Spinomenal
  • Stake Logic
  • SYNOT Games
  • Yggdrasil
  • Random Logic
  • WMS Gaming
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Whew – that’s quite a list, and it goes on for quite a ways on the PlayStar Casino site. I counted 39 different designers and distributors of online gambling software, not counting payment processors, legal and regulatory firms, and other miscellaneous vendors listed on the footer of every page.

This smorgasbord approach gives PlayStar a huge advantage in supplying tasty treats for discerning players, but it presents certain challenges regarding consistency and coherence across the product line. Indeed, I did notice certain differences between games inside of and outside of the Golden Nugget loyalty program.

First off, let me say that all the games in the PlayStar library load and run very nicely on my Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone. The 6-inch Super AMOLED display is big and sharp, and the device runs Android 8.0.0 OREO with plenty of RAM for multitasking.

My wireless signal was strong and steady, courtesy of Samsung’s dual-band WiFi chipset, and I made use of the one-touch authentication feature to speed up the login procedure. As you can see from the screen capture, the PlayStar app features a slide-out navigation panel on the left side when summoned by the hamburger icon in the upper left corner.

Clicking any game category header takes you to a sub-page showing individual icons for all the games contained therein. Tapping any game icon loads it immediately – no further selections or delays are necessary.

I timed the load time for various games over a period of several days and found that most of them popped up on the screen within 12 seconds of my tap, give or take a second. Two exceptions took longer: Mercenary 7’s from SG Interactive came in at 16 seconds, and Bloody Riches from Inspired Gaming needed 19 seconds to get rolling.

Once the games are loaded, the PlayStar mobile website and application perform very smoothly indeed. I encountered no false moves, stuck pixels, or other glitches that might bother the typical player. The games feature sparkling graphics, crisp digital sound effects, and intuitive touch controls.

Each game displays its own custom pay table and rules screen, which can be accessed from the menu icon (usually a triple-lined horizontaal) in the lower right corner of the screen. From this central hub, players can also activate turbo play, choose various betting and payline denominations, adjust sound levels, and activate autoplay.

Some games also feature a settings menu of their own, containing additional options and parameters.

Overall, I’d say the PlayStar mobile website and application are top-notch in terms of appearance, functionality, and ease of use. I do miss the unified lobby found at other NJ online casinos, but the category pages serve the purpose just as well.

PlayStar Casino Promotions & Welcome Bonus

As a licensed child of Golden Nugget, PlayStar benefits from the deep promotional expertise of that venerable establishment. Indeed, the PlayStar Casino site features a lengthy scrolling banner displaying all the current bonuses and deals available to registered players, ranging from free bets and deposit matches to drawings and tournaments.

Since the situation is in a state of constant flux, I won’t waste your time repeating the details here. Instead, I urge you to visit PlayStar right now and see what’s cooking today.

New players at PlayStar Casino are welcomed with a generous matched-deposit bonus worth up to $1,000 – but in classic Golden Nugget style, the deal is complicated by numerous conditions and caveats. Let’s go down the list, shall we?

  • The welcome bonus is officially titled “PLAYSTAR RISE,” which makes me giggle every time I think about it.
  • The bonus is tied to the Golden Nugget loyalty program, which I’ll discuss in