PlayFrank vs. Frank Casino. Two of the most popular online gaming sites around, and their similarity in name has occasionally caused some confusion.
But which one offers players the best betting experience? Here, we look at the ins and outs of both to help you decide. We’ll cover everything from bonuses to customers service, site design and games selection. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of which casino is right for you.
Play Frank
Launched in 2012, Play Frank established itself quickly. It offers more than 1,200 games including a great line-up of slots. It’s also known for the excellence of its customer service and a nice welcome bonus. It offers sophistication, fun and, above all, the chance for some seriously big winnings.
The website has a jazzy, bold design full of vibrant colours, with a palette of blue and white. More than one reviewer has commented on its user-friendliness, thanks to its clear structure, simple layout, ease of navigation, well-ordered games list and speed of loading. What’s more, there’s no software to download. It also has a responsive mobile design for on-the-go devices.
Indeed, feedback generally has been positive. Equally, the casino has won praise for listening to its customers and implementing changes including 24/7 live chat support in no fewer than five different languages – English, German, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish (Suomi).
Additionally, this casino seems to take honesty and transparency seriously. It’s been praised for the quality of its customer support, and the fairness of its terms and conditions. Equally, both the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority regulate it.
Its games are from heavy hitters in the software world, including NetEnt, Betsoft and Play’n GO among others. It operates on the Everymatrix platform,
Slots and slots of games!
There’s a decent line-up of five-reel video slots. These include some like Gonzo’s Quest which has incredible 3D graphics. But there are also some three-reelers on offer, such a Super Nudge 6000. Alternatively, for something a bit different take a punt on Play’nGO’s Ninja Fruits or The Emirate from Endorphina.
There also progressive jackpot offerings including Mega Fortune and Major Millions. Some may find the lack of categorisation tab for progressive jackpot slots off-putting since it means you need to know the name of the game you’re looking for.
Join the live casino
You’ll find a great variety of table games, including European, American and low-limit roulette variations, plus classic card thills with the likes of baccarat, pontoon and blackjack. One or two reviewers have mentioned they’d like to see an even greater range of table games, although that may well change in the future.
Safe, handy banking
Financial transactions with this casino are made in Euros, GB pounds and US dollars, with a couple of Scandinavian currencies also available. But there are many ways of getting money in and out of your account.
Popular payment options on offer include Visa, Skrill and Neteller, not to mention a standard bank transfer.
A welcome bonus
New players can enjoy some great bonus rewards worth up to €300. The casino also throws in 200 free spins, which you can use on NetEnt’s Starburst slot game.
Verdict
PlayFrank has earned a strong reputation and offers a solid range of video slots while looking after its customers well. It also prioritises mobile gamers, with an HTML5 interface.
There is a large number of restricted territories however, including the US but not the UK, so check you can play where you are before getting started.
Frank Casino
Established in 2014, Frank Casino is a smaller operator providing an impressive line-up of slots from the likes of NetEnt, Microgaming and Playson. It also offers numerous languages, including most major European ones, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Russian, Turkish and Kazakh. Meanwhile, its user-friendly site means you can save favourite games and choose from various bonus offers.
What’s more, it’s accessible via mobile devices on all major operating systems.
The company behind Frank Casino is Cyprus-based Darklace Ltd. Its licensing is managed by Curacao-based Pomodorro NV.
It’s true that some unhappy customers have made their views felt online. And there have apparently been issues with bonus policies, withdrawals and account closures. However, equally many players have been entirely happy with their experience.
And it seems that Frank Casino is keen to listen and respond to feedback and takes looking after its customers seriously. Live chat support is open 24/7, although there’s no phone support.
Slots on offer
With hundreds of slot machines from which to take your pick in the games lobby, there’s no shortage of choice. Access your faves from the ‘my Favourites’ area of the site.
The big-name software operators involved are known for their top-quality design and the variety of their themes and gameplay.
Want a three-reeler? Consider Couch Potato or Jurassic Jackpot. Meanwhile, there’s five-reel action in the form of games like Fruit Zen and Juice’n’Fruits.
Meanwhile, if you like the grand themes, try Pyramid: Quest for Immortality and explore ancient civilisations. Alternatively, sail the oceans with Luck Pirates or enjoy a fairytale adventure with Jack and the Beanstalk.
Finally, Mega Moolah, Treasure Nile and others give you some great progressive jackpots.
Traditional casino games
At Frank Casino, table games on offer include Three Card Rummy, American Roulette and European Blackjack. Fancy something different? Head for the ‘other games’ area of the site, where you’ll find a range of unique games including Castle Builder, Spingo and Hexaline.
Limited currencies
Some have found the fact that this casino only offers Euros and US dollars surprising. After all, Frank Casino purports to be open to the global gaming community.
But there are various payment methods available, including Visa and Maestro, plus online options including Neteller, Skrill and others. The minimum deposit limit is €3 for credit and debit cards. Maximum withdrawal for most payment types is €700.
One downside is that bank transfers are not available for withdrawals.
Bonuses aplenty
Some have described the bonus rules as confusing and said that it’s hard to know which ones form part of the welcome package. When we tried to probe further using online chat, we were told: “All available bonuses for your future account will be known after registration.”
When we pressed them further, saying we were researching ahead of signing up, they just replied “Bonuses may be different,” and then left the chat.
On further contact, they asked “What are ongoing promos?” before saying that new customers ‘usually’ get 100% bonuses on deposit, and free spins, before just saying that ‘bonuses are changing all the time.’ Not the most helpful response we’ve ever had!
But once you’re signed up, you can choose from gifts including free spins, free franks (these are VIP points) and extra refunds. Thereafter, there are juicier bonuses like a 100% deposit match bonus up to €200, or an additional 150 free whirls.
Meanwhile, there is also Bonus of the Day rewards to keep things interesting.
PlayFrank vs. Frank Casino, which is best? Verdict
Play Frank offers everything you'd want from an online casino and we love the operator's design and branding. However, it has an EveryMatrix feel to it because the site uses EveryMatrix white label software dressed with Play Frank's theme. This makes the casino feel a little boxed in and restricted with its offerings, plus overly reliant on third party software providers.
Frank Casino’s choice of games is impressive, with a great selection of top-of-the-range slots, from leading industry names, and numerous ongoing rewards and promos for new and existing players. While there have been customer complaints, that’s true of most operators at one time or another, this casino has worked to solve these professionally. Also, Frank Casino has more of a custom built feel to it as opposed to white label, which we think is a pro. What we don't like so much about Frank Casino is that they don't allow play from the UK which begs the question why not? The UK are leaders in regulating online gambling and work hard to protect the player, meaning more compliancy hoops for an operator to jump through before opening up to the UK market.
So pros and cons for both. It's best to give them both a whirl and let is know what you think.
