What we recommend instead
Buddy Slots Verdict
With bingo and slots sitting alongside each other, Buddy Slots may help to convince some online casino players to make the crossover to one of its better-stocked online bingo brands. But, as with the majority of Jumpman Gaming sites, Buddy isn’t quite so friendly when it comes to its customer service hours and wagering requirements.
Percentage score
Design & Usability
Man’s best friend is the theme of Buddy Slots, and the Buddy who’s referred to in the brand name happens to be an exceptionally cute pug whose face sits alongside the welcome offer on the site’s homepage. A paw print also forms the “U” in the Buddy Slots logo, and a cosy-looking dark blue rug provides the background.
The navy-and-yellow colour scheme is quite unusual for an online casino, and we imagine that it will help to attract more male players as a result.
The menu system is displayed across the top of the page, just underneath the members/registration area, and the homepage also lists some of the site’s featured slots, a section on playing via mobile devices, an invitation to follow the brand on Facebook, and a brief introduction to Buddy Slots.
Software & Gameplay
Buddy Slots runs on Jumpman Gaming’s Jumpman Slots software, which features a great suite of slots from leading software providers including NetEnt, Pariplay, and Eyecon.
The games lobby contains different tabs such as Jackpots, Newest, and Slots, and you can arrange the options by A-Z. An improvement that we’d like to see made is the addition of a search box so that you can track down specific titles more quickly.
Safety & Security
Buddy Slots is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gambling Commission. The random number generator software which is used to ensure fairness has been externally tested by SQS, and SSL encryption is used to keep your data secure and safe.
Payments & Withdrawals
The cashier covers only a modest range of payment options including credit card, debit card, Paysafecard, Pay by Mobile, and Paypal, and we’d like to think that other e-wallets such as Skrill might be added in future.
You can deposit £5+ and withdraw £30+ per transaction, and withdrawal requests are usually processed within three to five business days.
Customer Support
If you click the Help tab on the main menu, you’ll find links to the FAQ, an email address, and the live chat service. As the live chat opening hours are restricted to weekdays between 9.30 AM and 6 PM, it would be good if there were a telephone helpline that covered longer hours.
Bonuses & Promotions
The bonuses and promotions at Buddy Slots are, sadly, not unique, and can be located at all brands within the Jumpman Slots network. Furthermore, although the chance to win up to 500 free spins on NetEnt’s Starburst when you make your first qualifying deposit sounds alluring, the sky-high 65x wagering requirements that must be fulfilled before any bonus winnings can be converted to real cash could well come back to nip you in the backside.
Occasionally, the operator adds special promotions to the network. For example, in July 2018, a World Cup-themed special offer let members claim free spins by making qualifying deposits on different match days. But, most of the offers at Buddy Slots never change. Examples include Pizza Club (where VIPs can play for a pizza e-voucher, double cashback for new players, free spins on the Mega Reel or Turbo Reel for re-depositors, Happy Hours, and the 200 Club.
Device Compatibility
There’s a section on the homepage titled “Play Anywhere, Anytime” that explains how you can login to your Buddy Slots account from any mobile device without needing to download an app.
The mobile site looks like a smaller version of the desktop site, and you can move around the different areas using the dropdown menu at the top-left.
Variety & Originality
There are more than 350 games to enjoy in the lobby, and as the name Buddy Slots indicates, most of them are slots. There are plenty of new releases such as Rio Fever, Asgard, Robin of Sherwood, Platooners, Tut’s Twister, God of Wild Sea, and Fortunium, plus a nice little line-up of jackpot slots including Mega Moolah, Temple of Isis, Piggy Payout, Fluffy Favourites Fairground, Jurassic Juniors, Past the Post, and Happy Birthday.
If you look hard enough under the “All Games” tab, you’ll find a small collection of instant wins and table games such as American Roulette, European Roulette, Blackjack Pro, Spin Lotto, Keno, Jacks or Better, and Diamond Deal.
At the time of writing our review, the operator has just added a modest range of online bingo games to the network, which means that you can also benefit from free bingo games if you’re a VIP or funded player and cheap bingo games like Lucky Stars, as well as play for big-money prizes in the monthly £1k Pay Day Jackpot game.
Loyalty & Rewards
The Buddy Slots VIP scheme is the standard VIP club that’s offered by the Jumpman Slots network.
We believe it to be an averagely generous programme as it seems to offer several attractive benefits such as weekly cashback, free spins, and birthday bonuses. However, to start climbing through the various levels, you’ll need to hit high wagering targets each month. For example, to become Pro, you must wager £1,000 per month.