Casino bonuses and promotions are a huge part of how casinos differentiate themselves and attract new users. In particular, any original or unique offers go a long way – and PlayStar has some fun innovations up its sleeve.
You can check out all the different offers by clicking on the “Promotions” tab on the PlayStar platform. I’ll be covering everything I found on offer while reviewing PlayStar below.
PlayStar Casino Bonus
Casino bonuses and promotions are a huge part of how casinos differentiate themselves and attract new users. In particular, any original or unique offers go a long way – and PlayStar has some fun innovations up its sleeve.
You can check out all the different offers by clicking on the “Promotions” tab on the PlayStar platform. I’ll be covering everything I found on offer while reviewing PlayStar below.
Welcome Bonus $500 + 500 Free Spins
The welcome bonus is every casino’s first big pitch so it needs to be eye-catching – and it’s clear that PlayStar got the memo.
All new players qualify for a 100% deposit bonus which maxes out a possible $500. That means if you deposit $500 up front, you’ll start off with a $1,000 bankroll. A $100 deposit means a $200 bankroll, and so on.
But that’s not all. You’ll also get 100 free spins, regardless of how much you deposit. And on your second and third deposits, you’ll get another 200 free spins each – meaning there’s a total of 500 free spins up for grabs, all as part of your welcome bonus.
I love these multi-part bonuses, and 500 is definitely at the upper end of the usual free spin offers.
As always, there are some terms and conditions to be aware of. You’ll need to deposit a minimum of $20 to trigger the bonus. Your initial free spins only get unlocked once you’ve wagered your deposit, so it’s not actually a no-deposit bonus.
And of course, the most important condition of all is the wagering requirements. PlayStar requires you to gamble with your bonus cash 30x before its eligible for withdrawal, which is right around average for the industry.
All in all, there is a lot to like about this bonus.
PlayStar Bonus Code
No bonus code or promo code is required to unlock the PlayStar welcome bonus. In fact, unlike many welcome bonuses you don’t even need to claim it during registration.
All you need to do is sign up and then head to the cashier to make your first deposit. When doing so, choose the Welcome Bonus option from the drop-down menu and continue with your deposit. The bonus will trigger automatically once your payment is processed.
PlayStar Daily Prize Wheel
On-running promotions might not attract the same headlines as welcome bonuses, but they are certainly very important from a customer perspective. The best casinos continue to provide special offers long after players have signed up, to keep them happy and invested in the site.
At PlayStar, that means the Daily Prize Wheel, which you get to spin every single day providing you gamble $50 on slots. The Prize Wheel offers guaranteed prizes – which is always great to hear – of either free spins or cash.
Our only criticism here is that if you’re not into slots, you won’t get the chance to spin the wheel. I’d like to see the offer expanded a little, so that everyone gets an opportunity.
Free Daily Lotto Game
This is a nice little perk available to anyone who has deposited $20 in the last seven days. Every day, you get to enter a unique Lotto Deluxe game, totally free. Pick 5 numbers and see if you’re lucky enough to win a prize – either free spins or cash.
I’m a big fan of little promotional touches like this – it’s not exactly a game changer but it’s fun, simple, and really adds to the experience overall.
PlayStar Club
PlayStar Club is the PlayStar NJ loyalty program. It functions pretty much like the classic rewards program, with 5 different levels which you progress through the more you play.
Every real money bet you place earns you reward points, which count towards your level and can also be cashed in for different prizes. As always, the prizes get more interesting the higher you climb.
I particularly like some of the real-world prizes, like restaurant vouchers, sporting event tickets, and gift cards.
Overall I like the PlayStar Club, even though the best prizes are contingent on you earning a lot of points first – which means spending a lot of money gambling
Development of PlayStar
PlayStar was founded back in 2021 to take advantage of the flourishing online casino market in New Jersey, with designs expanding around the US. The platform went live in NJ in 2022 thanks to a partnership with Oceans Casino Resort, which you’ll find at 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401.
Tentative foundations have been laid for a launch in Pennsylvania too, which is expected in 2023.
In the meantime, you can check out other online casinos currently operating in Pennsylvania.
Zooming further out, the site is under the global umbrella of Global Innovation Group (GIG), the iGaming platform behind some of the top casinos and sportsbooks in the UK, Europe, the US and further afield.
Unlike many of the top sites in NJ, which launched after success in Europe, PlayStar is a brand-new platform.
Games at PlayStar Casino
PlayStar has a fun and varied selection of games, albeit smaller than average for New Jersey casinos. In total, there were around 250 games on the menu during my PlayStar review.
For lots of people, this is more than enough and, as I’m going to cover next, the variety and general standard of games is good.
Still, some people love to have as deep a selection as possible and there’s no denying there are sites in NJ that have considerably more games on offer.
The games on the menu are powered by a select variety of some of the top software providers out there, including NetEnt, Red Tiger, and IGT.
Slots
Slots are the bulk of the menu, with around 150 different games from multiple software providers. Although a smaller menu in absolute terms, the depth of variety is good with lots of different types of games and formats covered.
There are all time classics like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest, video slots like Narcos, Megaways games, progressive jackpots, and much more.
You can spin the reels at a variety of different limits too, including from just $0.01 a spin for all you micro stakes players.
Table Games
It’s a pretty similar story with the rest of the gaming menu: small but interesting.
There were 25 table games on the books during the review, with a good variety of games covered. Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, video poker, and more are all available.
That said, if you like to really get into the weeds – like having 10 different variations of blackjack covering different rules and side bets – you won’t find them here.
Slingo Games
Maybe a little surprising given the rest of the menu, but PlayStar really nails the Slingo options. There were 25 different games on the menu during review, including some brand-new releases. It’s clear that the casino is making sure that the latest Slingo developments are being covered – which is great news for all those fans of bingo-style slots!
Live Casino
The live casino set up at PlayStar is good. All the games are provided by Evolution, which is probably the top live software provider in the game right now. Around half of the 25 tables on offer are open 24 hours, while the others follow set times – usually around 11am – 3am.
Live Blackjack
Blackjack is the focus at PlayStar, with 13 different tables running at any one time. Most of them are regular blackjack tables with a limited number of seats, but the large number of them means you’ll normally have no trouble finding an open seat.
Then there are the variations: Lightning Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack. All of these games feature novel rules that play around with the classic format, and make for an interesting alternative.
Overall, if live blackjack is a priority for you, PlayStar is clearly a great place to play.
Live Roulette
While not as numerous as the blackjack tables, there are also some great roulette options at PlayStar. There are a couple of classic tables and some Evolution-exclusive creations too. Lightning Roulette – which introduces random bonuses attached to certain numbers on every spin – has become a real favorite.
Other Live Games
PlayStar also includes live versions of baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, three-card poker, and craps.
Finally, the menu is rounded out by a couple of less traditional options. Dream Catcher is another hugely popular Evolution creation, which puts you at the center of a Wheel of Fortune-style game. Football Studio is a niche lottery-style game, but essential for any big NFL fans.
Sportsbook
For the moment, PlayStar does not have an integrated sportsbook. Instead, the platform is solely focused on casino games.
As you’re probably aware, New Jersey has some truly excellent online sports betting options and lots of people choose to use accounts at different sites for their sports betting and their online casino gaming.
If you want everything under one roof, you won’t find it at PlayStar
PlayStar Casino Mobile App
PlayStar is fully optimized for playing on your mobile, which you can do in one of two ways.
First, you can simply log into your account via your device’s browser. You’ll get all the same options you find on the desktop version of the site, adapted to the smaller screen.
Alternatively, and the option I would recommend, you can download the PlayStar app. The app feels like the most complete version of the platform. It’s modern and well-designed, and flipping from different sections of the site is easy and intuitive.
I often feel that the flipside of a smaller gaming menu means the platform seems to fit more nicely on handheld devices, and that’s the case here.
You can download the PlayStar app for both iOS and Android on the App Store and Google Play Store respectively. It’s been making waves too: it’s currently rated at 4.8/5 on the Google Play Store after around five thousand downloads, comfortably ahead of almost all of its New Jersey competitors.
You can check out other mobile casinos and apps and see for yourself.
About PlayStar
New Jersey is absolutely not short of options for online casino games, and I totally appreciate that it can feel hard to even know where to begin when choosing a site for you. If you’d like to see more options for online casinos in NJ, have a look at WSN’s collection of the best NJ online casinos.
To help you choose, check out the table below. I’ve lined up PlayStar beside some of its closest competitors to see exactly how they stack up in a number of categories.
| Casino | PlayStar | Resorts | Harrah’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Bonus | $500 match bonus + 500 free spins | $1,000 welcome bonus | $10 free on sign up + 100% first deposit bonus |
| Top Features | – Daily free games for cash prizes – Multi-part welcome bonus worth $500 and 500 free spins – Top quality mobile app | – Daily bonuses and free games – Win benefits at Resorts Atlantic City – Fast withdrawal speed | – Top-rated mobile app – Real-life benefits with Caesars Rewards – $10 free just for signing up |
| States Licenced In | New Jersey | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Payment Methods | – VIP Preferred / ACH Transfer – PayPal – Play+ Card – Credit Cards (Visa / MasterCard) – Cash at Casino Cage | – VIP Preferred / ACH Transfer – PayPal – Resorts Card – PayNearMe – Credit Cards (Visa / MasterCard) – Cash at Casino Cage | – ACH Transfer – Credit cards /Debit cards (Visa / MasterCard / Discover) – Online Banking Transfer – PayNearMe – PayPal – Caesars Online Play+ Card – Cash at Casino Cage |
| Support | – Live chat – Phone | – Live chat – Phone | |
| Withdrawals | 80/100 | 85/100 | 75/100 |
Payment Methods Available at PlayStar
Moving away from the actual gaming experience, it’s time to check out the nuts and bolts of PlayStar – starting with the banking options.
A smooth banking experience is a cornerstone of all the top casinos. I always look for the same things: lots of methods supported, minimal processing times and no unnecessary service charges. Overall, I’m happy with what I found at PlayStar.
You can deposit money into your account in a solid number of ways.
Bank cards, bank transfers, and PayPal are all supported – which covers the vast majority of people in my experience. You can also sign up for a Play+ Card, or deposit or withdraw in cash at Oceans Casino Resort.
There are no fees from PlayStar for either deposits or withdrawals, which I love to see. The standard minimum deposit is $20.
If you’d like to see more casinos that take PayPal, have a look at WSN’s list of the best online casinos that accept PayPal.
Withdrawal Speed
In general, the withdrawal speed at PlayStar is good, although it varies depending on which method you choose. Obviously, if heading to the casino to get your money in cash is convenient, this is the fastest option.
Apart from that, Play+ withdrawals are the fastest and your money should arrive in a day or two. VIP Preferred can take a couple of days more to be fully processed.
PlayStar is also legally required to verify the identity of every player who makes a withdrawal, and this is something that can take a little time the first time you make a request. You’ll need to send the customer support team a copy of your ID for verification, which can take an extra day or two.
But don’t worry, this is a one-time-only requirement.
Full Payment Details
Here is the full list of banking methods available:
Deposits:
- Credit Cards / Debit Cards
- PayPal
- Play+ Card
- VIP Preferred / Bank Transfer
- Cash at Casino Cage (Ocean Casino Resort)
Withdrawals:
- VIP Preferred / Bank Transfer
- Play+ Card
- Cash at Casino Cage (Ocean Casino Resort)
PlayStar Customer Support
I’m giving PlayStar a great score for their customer support options. They basically have every avenue covered, and I found the support staff to be very friendly and helpful. Here are your options:
You can send the team an email at support@playstar.com.
You can call them at (973) 756-3773 between the hours of 9 am and 1:30 am.
Or – the best and fastest option in my opinion – you can jump on the live chat which runs daily from 9 am and 1:30 am. The fact that it’s not 24-hour is a minor black mark, but overall I’m satisfied.
Is PlayStar Legit?
PlayStar is getting a thumbs-up from me in this section too.
All online casinos are required by law to have a brick-and-mortar partner, and PlayStar is one of a handful of sites associated with Oceans Casino Resort in Atlantic City. It means you can deposit and withdraw in person there.
The games at PlayStar are all tested and monitored for fairness by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Furthermore, the software providers who created the games hosted on the site (NetEnt, IGT, etc) have agreements with independent testing bodies like eCogra labs. I’m totally satisfied that the games at PlayStar are fair.
PlayStar is a brand-new platform, which means its software is as modern as it gets. All of your private information is protected by SSL encryption, and not shared with random third-party sites.
Like I said, more than satisfied.
PlayStar License
The platform is fully licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, as part of an agreement with Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. Everything the site does – from the games to deposits and withdrawals – is regulated for fairness by this body.
PlayStar Cons
There is no denying that the gaming menu at PlayStar is smaller than the industry average, which ultimately means it’s lacking in certain games.
PlayStar currently does not offer a no-deposit bonus. It’s certainly not a deal breaker by any means, but it’s worth calling out purely because many sites in NJ – like Borgata for instance – do.
There’s no sports betting on the platform. Again, this won’t bother lots of players, but for some, it’s a drawback.
Final Thoughts on PlayStar Casino
Overall, PlayStar is a great online casino.
You can tell it’s only just been launched: the software across the board, on both the desktop and mobile platforms, is great. It’s easy to read, easy to navigate around, and easy to play – which ticks all the boxes.
Although the gaming menu is small, it’s still a diverse selection of games. In some categories – like Slingo games and live-dealer games – PlayStar even feels like an industry leader.
I also love the creativity that’s gone into the bonuses. Both the daily Prize Wheel and the daily Lotto Game are great additions to the overall experience: fun, simple, and accessible.
The $500 match bonus is at least on par with PlayStar’s NJ competitor sites, and the addition of up to 500 free spins elevated the offer even more.
The banking process is smooth and simple, although I’d be happy to see a few more payment methods added too.
All in all, I’m happy to recommend checking out PlayStar for yourself.
