Casino Joy entered the ever-expanding of betting sites in Ireland in 2024, bringing with it a bright, user-friendly aesthetic and a mission to establish a foothold in the industry.
Launched by Curacao-licensed online casino specialists, Fortuna Games N.V, Casino Joy claim to provide an “unforgettable gambling experience” where bettors are “guaranteed to be entertained to the max.”
But do those claims have any substance? I did my best to find out.
Casino Joy are currently dangling a 100% deposit match of up to €300 in front of new customers, which offers potential signups a decent incentive to get on board.
The minimum qualifying deposit value when opening a new account is €20, though the wagering requirements make this promo an awkward one to navigate especially when compared to new customer betting offers that feature free bets or bonuses that don't carry wagering.
Interested punters will need to wager their deposit and bonus amount ten times on single sports bets (min odds 2.00) or multi-bets (min odds 1.50 per selection) before they can withdraw anything themselves.
The above was the only sign-up offer for the Casino Joy sportsbook I could find, though the online casino had 6+ introductory offers in comparison, which is a decent indicator of where their priorities lie.
Casino Joy have tried to roll out the red carpet for new sportsbook customers, however, they haven’t made as much of an effort to keep their existing and loyal bettors quite as happy.
Football takes centre stage with Casino Joy, however, from a promotion angle, there is little to write home about and if you’re a bettor who is used to football betting sites providing various boosts, offers and betting specials, you might feel a little short-changed here.
While Casino Joy have ComboBoosts – which act as your standard acca boost additions – I found little else to spice things up in terms of free bet offers or other incentives, though there is a Weekly Cashback promotion to avail of that can be applied to football and other sports on site.
Here, you can claim certain cashback amounts ranging from 5% to 25% based on your level of activity over the preceding week. But again, wagering requirements are stiff and as a newbie, you’ll need to turnover your bonus amount 20x times before you can pocket anything.
For fans of multiple sports, Casino Joy have the aforementioned ComboBoosts. Here, punters can stack selections from different sports into one accumulator, and the more legs you add, the bigger the boost on offer becomes.
To qualify, each selection you make must have minimum odds of 1.50 and there is a neat little progress bar tracker that shows you the value of your current boost, as well as the number of extra selections you would need to include to take the boost value up another notch.
Casino Joy also run occasional cashback promotions and betting offers tied to major events like Wimbledon or the Six Nations, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their promotions page.
Casino Joy’s in-play betting platform has the bones of something promising, however, it is missing a few key elements, leaving it short of the complete package.
The live betting section is easy to access from the main navigation menu and once inside, you’ll find live events with dynamic, constantly updating odds for all your favourite sports like football, tennis, basketball and beyond.
Clicking into a fixture displays all the standard markets you’d expect with any solid in-play betting product, while graphics-based live updates allow punters to track the action as it unfolds from a statistical sense. You’ll need to hit the “tracker” button to display the graphics, as they are hidden by default for some reason.
Unfortunately, Casino Joy don’t currently offer any live streaming for sports which could be a turn-off for seasoned live betting aficionados.
Casino Joy have included a bet builder tool for football and a good chunk of the other 30+ sports they cover and while it works well enough for the basics, it falls short of the standards set by the best bet builder sites elsewhere.
The interface is relatively clean and the mechanics are smooth, though the depth of available options could definitely be improved.
I put their bet builder service through its paces for a couple of high-profile Champions League fixtures and was frustrated to discover that the player prop markets (shots, fouls, shots on target etc) were located under a different tab.
Even if you’re happy switching from tab to tab while you craft your custom bet, you’ll quickly find that many of the markets can’t be used in combination, giving the whole experience a restricted feel.
Casino Joy haven’t joined the ranks of bookmakers with betting apps as of yet, but their mobile-optimised website does an admirable job of filling the gap in the meantime.
The bright colours and playful design translate pretty well to smaller screens and navigating between casino games and the sportsbook is a frictionless experience. Page loading times are good, odds refresh dynamically, and the bet slip is easy to manage while punting on the move.
Given how good the mobile site is, there’s no urgent need for Casino Joy to build and release a betting app for the time being, though it’s probably something they’ll want to investigate down the line to cater to their heavier mobile users.
Any punters who run into issues while betting with Casino Joy have a selection of reliable customer support channels available to them.
At the foot of every page on the site, you’ll find links to the Contact Us and FAQ pages, both of which have the tools and services to get you out of a jam.
In the FAQ section, a library with answers to 30+ common queries is available to pick through, though if you need further assistance, you can reach out via the various options on the Contact Us page.
In there, you’ll have access to a 24/7 live chat feature that is well-staffed by polite agents who are quick to respond and you can expect a reply within a few minutes, even during busier periods.
Elsewhere, separate email addresses exist for general customer service queries and for problems of a financial nature. This is a very useful way to split things and ultimately gets your issue in front of the right people more quickly.
Casino Joy takes responsible gambling very seriously and they provide a range of tools to help players stay in control, all of which can be accessed at the bottom of every page.
Their dedicated, responsible gambling page contains advice on recognising problem gambling behaviours and you’ll also find links to a self-test you can take at Begambleaware.com if you feel the need.
The page also includes tips to help bettors to maintain a healthy approach to gambling with information on self-exclusion, deposit limits, internet filters and more.
The addition of direct links to problem gambling organisations like GamCare, Gambling Therapy, and Gamblers Anonymous would be worthwhile additions, however.
If you’re a recreational bettor looking for a fun, straightforward sports betting platform that can get you from selection to bet slip with speed, then Casino Joy could be a decent match.
Casino Joy’s vibrant branding, strong customer service, attractive 100% deposit bonus for new customers and ease of use should combine well enough to keep casual bettors entertained, however, Irish punters looking for greater depth and options will find it easy to pick holes in the product.
The limited promotions for existing customers, absence of major sports like horse racing, greyhound racing and GAA as well as the shallow bet builder markets are clear drawbacks. However, there's always room for improvement with new betting sites and with some key improvements in those areas, Casino Joy could have wider appeal.
We found no sign of any free bets on the Casino Joy sportsbook. The sign up offer is a deposit match scheme and there permanent promotions for existing customers don't feature free bet offers. Those seeking a bookmaker that's guaranteed to provide things like Cheltenham free bets may want to go elsewhere.
Casino Joys provides odds on over 30 different sports, but strangely doesn't cover some of the most popular events in Ireland. GAA betting is non-existent and those looking for new horse racing betting sites will be disappointed to learn Casino Joy doesn't cover horse or greyhound racing.
There's currently no mobile betting app available on either iOS or Android for CasinoJoy at the moment. However, the mobile version of the site is perfectly serviceable and can be used by punters looking to have a bet on the go.
Casino Joy have a well-designed betting site, offering easy navigation, quick loading times, and intuitive bet placement. Features like in-play betting, live streaming, and fast cash-outs enhance user-friendliness, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable betting experience across devices.