Yukon Gold Casino Review NZ

Expert Review

Yukon Gold is an online casino that is perfect for new and seasoned players looking for a premium gaming experience. From my experience playing at hundreds of online casinos, I have discovered that Yukon Gold is part of the Casino Rewards group which includes Zodiac Casino, Grand Mondial, Casino Classic, Captain Cooks and Luxury Casino, among others. In fact, all of their casinos are identical, they simply have different bonuses and branding. This means that if you enjoy playing at any of the Casino Rewards casinos, you will also like Yukon Gold.

Yukon Gold is hugely popular in New Zealand because of their enticing bonuses, incredible range of games, and many exciting features. I signed up instantly due to their irresistible welcome bonus that gives 150 chances to win a $1 million jackpot upon making your first deposit at the casino. Yukon Gold offered another bonus on my second deposit, as well as regular promos that I found in the loyalty section. 

Yukon Gold has more than 550 titles in their gaming catalogue, all sourced from one of the best game developers, Microgaming. New Zealanders can enjoy a great selection of slots, along with jackpot games, live dealer games, roulette, baccarat, card games, and others. Yukon Gold has a beginner-friendly interface enabling all types of players to navigate and enjoy their site. In this in-depth Yukon Gold Casino review for New Zealanders, I will explore their games, bonuses, banking options, limitations, and other crucial aspects to help you to decide if they are a good fit for you!

Games: 9.4/10

Yukon Gold Casino brings a premium collection of more than 550 casino games spread across different categories. They have 3-reel slots, 5-reel slots, and multiple line slots, as well as table and card games, jackpot games, roulette and live casino games. However, they need to expand their live dealer and jackpot games sections.

Yukon Gold offers premium-quality games, thanks to their sole game provider, Microgaming, which is known for their enjoyable games that are optimised for all devices. The interface of Yukon Gold is beginner-friendly (although it does look dated), and easy to navigate, filter out games, and search for a specific title. The separate sections for different game categories also helped me easily locate what I wanted to play. I also recommend checking their “For you” section if you don’t know what to play.

Using my laptop and home WiFi connection, I played around 50 titles over the past week. I had the same experience playing at Yukon Gold as with any other premium casino I have reviewed in the past. The games loaded at a blazing-fast speed, and the games never froze or stuttered during play, all working flawlessly without any lag. I spent hours playing the games without getting bored, thanks to the interesting themes of the games, immersive sounds, and smooth gameplay. In terms of graphics, the casino's interface looks very old, and is in desperate need of a refresh. If you prefer a casino with better aesthetics, check out my list of the top online casinos in NZ for 2024.

Even though there are not many live dealer games available at Yukon Gold, I tested them out to see how well they worked. First things first, ensure you have a stable internet connection before you attempt to play live casino games. A slow or poor internet connection will result in a laggy stream which will ruin your experience.

I had a stable connection, and joined the rooms at the live casino. I was always greeted by a lively dealer who catered to all the in-game wagers. There was the option to chat with other players and easily place bets on the gaming interface provided. It almost felt like I was in an actual casino, thanks to the HD stream and overall environment.

Yukon Gold takes fair play seriously and has employed an independent random number generator. They have a certification from eCOGRA, one of the most trusted security firms on the internet.

Bonuses: 9.2/10

When I signed up at Yukon Gold, I was treated with two offers. On my first deposit of $10 or more, I would get 150 free chances to win a $1 million jackpot! It was an attractive deal, so I deposited $10 and received the 150 free spins. Unfortunately I was not able to hit the million dollar jackpot, but maybe you'll be the lucky one!

On my second deposit, Yukon Gold offered me 100% match bonus up to $150. The minimum deposit amount to claim the bonus was $10, which is easily achievable.

When it comes to the wagering requirements of Yukon Gold, it can be challenging to meet, as it is set at 200x for the first two deposits. Most popular casinos that I have reviewed set the playthrough between 30x to 50x, which is much more reasonable. The good thing is that after the first two deposits, the wagering requirements for other bonuses is only 30x.

The wagering or playthrough requirements are a sneaky trick that casinos use to keep you playing longer, as they prevent you from withdrawing if you haven't placed enough bets. To learn how this works, and decide whether you want to claim a bonus or not, read my article on wagering requirements. If you decide you don't want the bonus, simply ask the casino support team to remove it before you start playing. However, most players prefer the bonus as it extends their gameplay significantly, increasing their chances to win.

Other terms and conditions are that you need to claim the welcome bonus within 7 days of registration, and that the free spins can only be played on the popular game Mega Money Wheel.

Yukon Gold caters to their regular players with the VIP loyalty program and regular bonuses. The loyalty program gives players a chance to win a jackpot every eight hours. The higher your loyalty rank is, the bigger the jackpot you will be entitled to. I also came across in-game promos as well as separate jackpots to participate in.

Deposits and Withdrawals: 9.8/10

Yukon Gold provides Kiwis a wide range of secure and readily available banking options for deposits and withdrawals. These include credit and debit cards, popular e-wallets, mobile wallets, and payment vouchers. Unfortunately, the option to pay with crypto is not yet available, but they might add it in the future, considering the demand and the efficiency of digital currencies.

I used my Visa debit card and deposited $10 on my first deposit. The transaction was approved instantly after I entered the details. Everything was done in a secure and smooth manner. No fee was charged, and no absurd limits were imposed. Below are the payment options that New Zealanders can use at Yukon Gold:

Deposit methods

• Visa (Min. $10)
• Mastercard (Min. $10)
• JCB (Min. $10)
• Google Pay (Min. $10)
• Paysafecard (Min. $10)
• Payz (Min. $10)
• Skrill (Min. $10)
• Neteller (Min. $10)
• Neosurf (Min. $10)
• MuchBetter (Min. $10)

The maximum limit for the deposit methods varies. All deposits are processed immediately.

Withdrawal methods

• Direct bank transfer
• MuchBetter
• Skrill
• Neteller
• Payz
• Neosurf

All players at Yukon Gold are required to verify their identity before they can request their first withdrawal. It sounds like a troublesome process, but it was completed within a few hours when I submitted my documents. While the indicated withdrawal processing time is five working days, I received mine within 48 hours. The withdrawal limits can vary for each method.

Mobile Gaming: 9.7/10  

Yukon Gold has no mobile apps, but they have a remarkably optimised and responsive mobile website that works well on both Android and iOS devices. All you need is an updated browser and a stable internet connection to avoid lagging. I signed in and found the mobile version of the site was as good as the desktop version. I could easily navigate and explore the casino, deposit, withdraw, and change account settings with ease. Mobile users can also contact support and check out available promotions at Yukon Gold without any limitations.

I was given access to the entire gaming library of Yukon Gold, including the pokies, jackpot games, card games, table games, live dealer games, and more. Some of the titles were excluded due to non-optimisation for phones, but the majority were available. I played a few and had a smooth gaming experience on my mobile. The games did not lag or stutter and they had amazing graphics and great sound quality. All the games I tried fit perfectly to the screen size, and I could play them in fullscreen mode.

Customer Support: 9.4/10  

Yukon Gold provides New Zealanders with fast and efficient customer support through 24/7 live chat, which is located in the help centre. Upon clicking the chat button, a small window appeared with a welcome message from a bot and the option to send a message. The AI bot gave short answers related to my question. Surprisingly, the bot was able to solve my query, but I still decided to request a live agent for help as I wanted to test their service. I was quickly connected with a support member who provided a prompt and professional answer. 

Kiwis can also check out the FAQs section of Yukon Gold or take a look at terms and conditions to know the basics regarding the casino. I was able to find answers to many common questions on those pages. Besides live chat, I would love to see additional support options like email or phone so players can easily contact staff as per their preferences.

Security and Licensing: 9.6/10  

Yukon Gold is a subsidiary of Fresh Horizons Limited, a company located in the British Virgin Islands and owns several online casinos there. They have a registered address and valid licence from Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Yukon Gold is certified by eCOGRA for fair play.

Yukon Gold uses SSL encryption to secure their platform against data leaks or unauthorised access. Players can further secure their accounts with strong passwords and email and SMS notifications. Secure banking options are also in place, and Yukon Gold verifies the identity of all of their users.

Is Yukon Gold Casino Legit?

Yes, Yukon Gold Casino is a legitimate casino owned by Fresh Horizons Limited, a company located in the British Virgin Islands. They hold a valid license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and is certified by eCOGRA to ensure fair play and payouts.

Is Yukon Gold Casino Safe?

Yes, Yukon Gold Casino is safe for NZ players, it is a licensed site that employs SSL encryption to ensure any player data and funds are protected against leaks. You can also use various methods to secure your account further, such as a strong password, and adding email and SMS notifications so you are notified if someone else accesses your account. Deposits and withdrawals are safe using Yukon Gold's secure banking methods.

Verdict

Yukon Gold is one of the most popular online casinos in New Zealand. There are some downsides, but these do not overshadow the positives. I loved their collection of premium casino games, although their live and jackpot games could do with more diversity. Yukon Gold games are accessible on computer, tablet and mobile which is extremely convenience.

Yukon Gold offers a generous welcome bonus. I got 150 free spins and a 100% bonus up to $150. However, their wagering requirements of 200x on the welcome offer are too steep. Regular players will enjoy the VIP program at Yukon Gold and bonuses with lower playthrough of only 30x. There are many secure banking options to make a deposit or withdrawal, and they have 24/7 live chat support and amazing security measures. You should definitely check them out!

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