What we recommend instead
Astro Bingo Verdict
Astro Bingo is a fun site, but really falls down regarding a strong theme and game selection. The fun, free Bazingo game is fantastic but it might not be enough to keep you hanging around. Still, it’s worth grabbing the requirement-free deposit bonus to give the site a whirl.
Percentage score
Design & Usability
Astro Bingo has a purple and blue theme which is bright but doesn’t overpower the eyes. There isn’t all that much branding here, with no site mascots for example, but nevertheless it looks good.
Navigation is a little unusual here, as they’ve opted for a side navigation bar. This actually works very well as you can see all the main site sections at a glance. Note that the Promotions and Support buttons don’t seem to work, but this appears to be because you’re meant to click the sub-options beneath them. Registering was very straightforward, but the site does have a tendency to annoy you with pop-ups.
Software & Gameplay
Astro Bingo has an on-page lobby and displays their games on simple tabs. You can’t go far wrong here, there’s only a couple of rooms to see! The software is quick to load and though it looks a little basic, it has nicely drawn backgrounds which change seasonally and buying tickets is very easy.
Chat here has a large window and it’s very easy to read… but we struggled to find hosts and players. The site appeared to be dead, despite only having a couple of rooms for people to be in.
Safety & Security
You have the assurance of GeoTrust security on your payments here, though the site’s actual security certificate needs an update. The site is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
You’ll also find a responsible gaming section with some advice on dealing with problem gambling, plus links to helpful organisations.
Payments & Withdrawals
Astro Bingo has a simple on-page cashier which you can access at the top of any page on the main site. The process is only a few clicks long, though you will need to reconfirm your address for some reason.
However, the minimum withdrawal for Astro Bingo is a hefty £50. This is likely to protect the site (seeing as there are no wagering requirements in place), but it’s hard to recommend a site that makes withdrawing money this difficult.
The payment methods accepted here are Skrill, Neteller, PaySafeCard, plus all the major credit and debit cards and even Visa iCheque. Though PayPal is missing, this is a broad selection.
Customer Support
The site has a thorough How to Play section for newcomers, which is always a plus point, but frustratingly they don’t make it easy to get in touch regarding support issues.
The site offers a helpdesk ticket system which is fine for submitting most problems, or you can use email (which you need to ferret out from the FAQ section). However, there’s no live chat or phone for discussing problems directly, so response times will suffer as a result.
Bonuses & Promotions
There is a whopping welcome bonus at Astro Bingo, which starts with £10 before you even deposit. Then you have three initial deposit bonuses, at 100%, 200% and 300% respectively, plus there’s a 50% rebate on each one. What really stands out here is that there’s no wagering requirement! This is a huge advantage over other sites.
Additionally, you get a great set of promotions here. You’ll find seasonal games, interactive offers, special jackpot events and things like the daily spin wheel where you can grab a bonus each time you log in.
Device Compatibility
Astro Bingo does not have a mobile page, so you’re limited to laptop and desktop. This also means that there’s no app. The site could do with a mention of this somewhere.
Variety & Originality
There’s very little variety here at Astro Bingo; we only found two 90 ball rooms! One of these was ‘Freebie’ at 1p a card and Money Tree at 25p. Others may open at other times, but they could do with a full list if that is the case. This is a serious downside.
On the plus side, you have access to Parlay Games’ Bazingo, which is a fascinating free bingo tournament. This game has some fun twists, as the aim is to gain the most coins, which you collect as you play. There are also power-ups to help along the way. It’s like an arcade game of bingo and really good fun.
Loyalty & Rewards
Astro Bingo has a loyalty programme, letting you earn points as you play and exchange them for credit. You have to root out this information from the FAQ section, where you’ll see seven tiers (with the first being a default new member). You rise through the tiers by gaining points, then with each tier you gain a better deposit bonus.
The system could use more rewards for climbing the ranks, but it is very transparent. Some more enticing prospects for high rollers would help to give this programme a touch of VIP style.