Navigating the world of online casinos can be an adventure, and sometimes it comes with a few surprises—especially when you're dealing with unlicensed platforms like Lucky Hippo Casino. We recently put this US-friendly, RTG-powered site to the test, focusing on what it’s like to withdraw funds.
Our tester, Juggaloroscoe, went through all the steps and then requested a withdrawal. The process turned out to be a bit more of a waiting game than expected. While the money did arrive, it took some persistence and a bit of patience. In this report, we’ll walk you through the whole experience, sharing what went smoothly and where things got a little tricky. Whether you’re curious about Lucky Hippo Casino or just want to learn more about online casino withdrawals, this overview will give you the inside scoop, so you know what to expect if you decide to give it a try.
Before we move on to the details of our tester’s investigation of US-friendly Lucky Hippo Casino, let’s take a look at the highlights:
Let’s take a closer look at the entire investigation and find out what caused the delay!
Teamed up with Realtime Gaming, Lucky Hippo Casino is a US-friendly online casino that offers a variety of games. Slot adventures aside, this crypto-friendly platform is equipped with table games, video poker, and specialty games.
In terms of promotional packages, players can expect a variety of incentives such as initial deposit bonuses, reload offers, and so on. The multi-level loyalty scheme is included as well, adorned with perks such as customized accounts, special comp points, exclusive bonuses, and so on.
While most of the things do seem quite attractive, at least on the surface, once the first layer is removed, flaws emerge. The first one that captures the attention is the absence of a license, which, as mentioned in the intro, is why this brand ended up on our “must-investigate” list.
To get things started, our tester needed to create the account. As in a vast majority of online casinos. As soon as he entered the e-mail address, a code provided via an e-mail, username, and password, and selected the “no bonus” option, the tester officially signed up with Lucky Hippo Casino.
Regarding inactivity, the rules state that:
“16. If a player is not active in the Casino for over 180, the Casino has the right to collect any balances at that time. Inactive accounts that are more than six months old will be closed by the Casino.”
Also, the operator has the right to close an account at any point in time and for any reason, without being obliged to provide notice of such actions.
Before actually funding the account, the tester went on to complete the profile. This was a necessary step to complete, to avoid any potential obstacles when the withdrawal time approaches.
As soon as he finished supplying the basic info, the tester went on to deposit USD 200 via Crypto Pay.
The transaction which amounted to 0.00305308 BTC/ USD 200 was credited a couple of minutes later.
In the meantime, a notification appeared in the cashier, letting the tester know that any international or foreign exchange fees added to the original deposit amount will be reimbursed. As seen in the previous screenshot, the network cost amounting to 0.00000382 BTC wasn’t removed from our tester’s deposit amount.
To replenish the account, consumers are given quite a solid selection of cryptocurrencies to choose from, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether alongside Interac e-Transfer and cards. The minimum deposit amount is USD 20/ USD 25.
As soon as his casino balance was replenished, the tester went on to explore some adventures. The first one he launched was Achilles Deluxe, followed by Pulsar during which he scored multiple wins.
Following these, he launched 777, a vintage-themed game with 3 reels and a single payline, but shortly after he switched to Fantasy Mission Force and Ceasar’s Empire. Crystal Waters was the next adventure he selected, after which he tied luck with Enchanted Garden and Plentiful Treasure.
A day later, the tester ventured into Escape the North, Achilles Deluxe, and Cash Bandits Museum Heist.
The next day gaming session was opened with 5 Wishes, which turned out to be quite a wise choice, as he triggered a big win of USD 174.80.
A bit later, he played Big Cat Links and Dragon Feast.
As soon as he finished playing a variety of RTG’s hits, the tester went on to cash out. He made a request to withdraw USD 200 via Bitcoin.
As the Banking page notes that BTC requests are processed within 3-4 days, our tester waited a bit, and then decided to reach out to customer support team. However, after inquiring about the transaction on August 5, 2024, he encountered a wall of silence.
Two days later, on August 7, 2024, he tried luck with live chat support time once again, but this time he had luck. The agent told him that his request is being reviewed by the finance team, adding that the outcome will be known within 5-7 business days.
On August 13, 2024, the tester received an e-mail which stated that a fee of USD 6 was removed from his requested cashout amount as the deposit wasn’t wagered 5x.
Strangely, when analyzing the Terms, players can encounter the contradictory information.
“27. There are no withdrawal processing fees with one exception. If a player decides not to make a wager a minimum of one time before withdrawing. The Casino has the right to clear processing charges.”
A day later, an e-mail arrived informing him that the BTC payment of USD 194/ 0.00319518 BTC was confirmed.
On the same day, August 14, 2024, the tester received USD 195.28/ 0.00319518 BTC.
Available withdrawal methods include check via regular mail, check via courier, bank transfer, and a variety of cryptocurrencies. Depending on the method selected, the minimum cashout amount ranges between $150 and $400, which is notably above the industry’s average, and definitely not something low-rollers would be thrilled with.
Just below the contradictory rule on mandatory wagering on deposit, another one says:
“28. If a player believes they have not been given satisfactory service, they can email to discuss a possible refund.”
Even though the tester eventually got his money, he encountered unresponsive customer support, delays with transactions and the absence of license.
As you have noticed, the timeframes listed in the Terms do not match the ones provided by the customer support agent. Additionally, during testing, we found that the wagering requirements were quite high for some game categories, reaching up to 90x for players at the lowest loyalty tier.
Stay tuned for more insightful test reports to be added and gamble responsibly!