In our Canada review of Drake Casino, we also found that mobile capabilities were present. For users, this can ensure access from tablets and smartphones powered by iOS, Windows or Android. The mobile casino is functional as a website rather than an app and, therefore, doesn't require installation.
Prospective players are free to test the mobile site with no deposit, though will have to transfer funds if they want to wager for real money. Comparatively, the mobile site looks better than the desktop one, with the game images and layout of the interface being especially impressive. On mobile devices, we advise review readers to maintain performance by routinely updating their software.
Drake Casino only hosted two software providers at the time of this review and we were interested to learn the site was still capable of providing live dealer tables. And featuring within the live casino options were hold'em, roulette, baccarat and blackjack. Curiously, the live casino tables can be practised with no deposit and aren't only accessible with real money, as is often the case with the sites we review.
Having several thousand dollars in bonus credit can help when there are quality slots to play. These can be found under five-reel 3D slots, five-reel slots and three-reel slots, for example. With each slot title, it should also be remembered that review readers can play with no deposit in fun mode.
Having cycled through the 200+ slot options, this Canada review can highlight eye-catching titles such as Gold Canyon, Time Bender, Gypsy Rose, Dragon's Cave, Charms & Clovers, Almighty Dollar, Take the Bank, Bluebeard's Gold, Tiger's Claw, Spinfinity Man, The Golden Owl of Athena, Viking Voyage and Ogre Empire.
After switching to the virtual casino, there are more than 20 tables to play, including Zoom Roulette, American Roulette, European Roulette, Blackjack Perfect Pairs, Blackjack Single Deck, Red Dog, Pai Gow Poker, Oasis Poker, Tri-Card Poker, Caribbean Poker and Three-Card Rummy.
While the video poker machines don't look as good as the virtual casino tables, the core performance remains strong across the likes of Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, All American Poker and Joker Poker. These can be played with a single hand or up to five hands per round.
Having conducted our Canada review, we unearthed several payout percentages worth reporting from Drake Casino:
In the Drake Casino blog, it's interesting to read the jackpot stories from past winners. As of this review, the top-three jackpots included a $67,000 win from January 2017, $76,200 in March 2017 and $143,862 during October 2017, which was claimed by user Lance M on Blue Beard's Gold.
At Casino Drake, there are pots that can be classified as Super Jackpot, Mystery Jackpot or Cash Grab. From these categories, review readers can find the likes of Dodge City Slots, Robin in the Woods, Godzilla vs King Kong, Alice in Dreamland, Shopping in the Hills, Fast Lane Freddie, Game of Kings and Blue Beard's Gold.
Previously in this Drake Casino review, we said that no deposit could be made from here in Canada. This is upheld during the registration phase and review readers can only play games in demo mode if they visit the casino site from Canada. To confirm, any players who register with Drake will conduct their banking in USD as the default currency.
No fees are charged for the majority of deposit methods. Starting from $25, the options include MasterCard, American Express, VISA and pre-paid gift cards. From $30 or more, the options then consist of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Ripple. QuickCash is free on deposits of $200 or more, though $10 is charged if $100 is the minimum transfer.
The Drake Group cashier charges a set fee of $40 on each withdrawal made by Bank Wire, which can be worth from $100 to $5,000. QuickCash, meanwhile, charges a higher fee of $50 or 8% on withdrawals of $300 to $700. As for Bitcoin, users can have one free withdrawal in 30 days, with 5% up to $60 charged on additional transactions in that time.
The banking information was extremely helpful during the review process, including the explanation of how know your consumer (KYC) documentation is required before a sixth deposit can be made. The explanations of bonus points and rewards can also be helpful, while the terms and conditions (T&Cs) and privacy policy are also made available for players to review.
Upon review, however, the contact options don't seem adequate for players. The casino speaks of having a support team who can help 24 hours a day and seven days a week. However, we couldn't see any telephone numbers or options to use live chat, with only email addresses provided.
At Drake Casino, no deposit and no registrations were allowed from Canada at the time of this review. The only current workaround is to play games in fun mode. Although some users might try using a virtual private network (VPN), account closure can be a risk. In terms of the on-site security, Drake Casino has a certified connection with RSA encryption.
Now that we discuss fairness, this is the first critical element of the review. After analysing Drake, we couldn't find any confirmation of a licence or licence number. Additionally, the casino hasn't shared any data to confirm the integrity of the gaming software. Following this review, both shortcomings need to be rectified.
The Drake Group has operated the Drake brand since 2012 and the lack of a licence has been highlighted by other review portals. Before Drake can ever be embraced in Canada, it needs to obtain a legitimate licence and open up access to our review readers. There could be potential for the brand, which has previously committed to resolving all 16 of the complaints shared on a well-known casino portal.
Unfortunately, no deposit could be processed from Canada during this review. As listed in the T&Cs, no deposit can also be accepted from the following locations: Antigua & Barbuda, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Israel, Italy, Libya, Myanmar, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, North Korea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Syria and the US states of DC, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
Admittedly, Drake Casino struggled when it came to the Canada aspects of this review. For starters, the casino site can't even process registrations from our review readers who want to join from here in Canada. Moreover, the online casino doesn't have the capacity to deliver multi-lingual support for French-speakers. Finally, the cashier isn't equipped to process deposits and provide bonus deals in CAD.
It's been a mixed performance for Drake Casino in our latest Canada review. Upon arrival, the early qualities would be the casino site's operation with an encryption certificate, the ease of accessibility on multiple devices and the option of creating an account with only several fields to complete. Also, having the choice of bonus deals is helpful for new players to find their preferred option.
Where the issues begin to emerge is from Drake Casino's lack of clarity on an operating licence and the high fees to withdraw winnings. Both have caused the brand to have a damaged reputation in the marketplace and this could be rectified if improvements are made. After all, the casino does host progressive jackpots and has BetSoft slots.