What we recommend instead
Sparkling Bingo Verdict
Sparkling Bingo scores well, largely thanks to its high scores for safety and security, device compatibility, and customer support. It also allows non-funded roomies to play free-of-charge, and runs regular jackpot games. However, it doesn’t really offer any more benefits than its Dragonfish sister sites, and because Sparkling’s owner, 8 Ball Games, has influenced the promotions that are available, you don’t get the benefit of some of the biggest highlights in the monthly calendar such as Sure Win, WOW, and The Big £10k.
Percentage score
Design & Usability
In 2012, the website underwent a redesign which changed the theme from a hot pink cocktail party to a less in-your-face 1950s retro affair with animated characters. In our opinion, the sludge-green stripy backdrop and dark brown menu bars gives the site a rather dull appearance, and the computer-generated woman who appears in the welcome bonus banner looks like a spooky shop mannequin. The only remaining element of the site’s original theme is the bright pink Sparkling Bingo logo at the top-left of the page, next to which you’ll see a bespectacled man furiously pointing at the “Join Now” icon.
The website uses the standard Dragonfish layout and is fairly easy to find your way around. There’s even a prominent button that takes you straight to the Sparkling Bingo mobile app in the Apple Store. Sparkling is big on social media, and advertises both its Facebook and Twitter accounts on every page, although the box that displays the brand’s most recent tweets was failing to load last time we visited.
Software & Gameplay
If there’s one benefit of playing at a Dragonfish site, it’s that you can easily play games on mobile devices as well as desktops, and the software is easy to use, quick, and reliable. The rooms are usually busy, and are constantly manned by chat moderators, and even non-funded roomies can play for free in specific rooms. Sadly, the game variants only extend to 90-ball, 75-ball, and High 5 Bingo, and there are no exclusive games available.
Safety & Security
Sparkling uses 128-bit SSL encryption to provide privacy and security when your data is transmitted to and from Sparkling’s servers. A Random Number Generator is always used to ensure random results in every game. Sparkling is also deemed a safe and fair operator by eCOGRA, and is licensed and regulated by the Great Britain Gambling Commission.
Payments & Withdrawals
You can choose from several banking methods including Neteller, Paysafecard, Paypal, Entropay, Visa, MasterCard, Wire Transfer, and Maestro. You can deposit between £5 and £1,000 per day, and withdraw £20 to £1,000 per day. Withdrawal requests take 48 hours to be processed.
Customer Support
Customer support is available via email, telephone, and the Help Room. The Help Room is accessed via the chat window drop-down menu, and is manned by agents 24/7.
Bonuses & Promotions
Unlike some Cassava sites, Sparkling Bingo doesn’t offer a no-deposit bonus, but it does provide a 150% welcome bonus when you deposit £10 or more. The maximum bonus you can claim is £100, and the wagering requirements are slightly higher than most Dragonfish sites at 6x rather than 4x.
There are usually at least ten promotions running at the site, although some of these are time-limited seasonal offers for Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc. We’ve seen most of the regular promotions before at Dragonfish sites like Bingo Cove, including The 2 Million Race (win a share of two million loyalty points) and the Late Night Show (win up to £100). Others are only available at operators that are run by 8 Ball Games like Saturday Night Fever, Retro Nights, and Saucy Sundays which give you a chance to enjoy free and cheap games, free spins, vouchers, and more.
Device Compatibility
If you own an iPad or iPhone, you can download the Sparkling Bingo app directly from Apple’s App Store. For other devices, you can play by visiting the site in your mobile web browser. You’ll find the full range of bingo games on offer, as well as several mobile-friendly slots and table games.
Variety & Originality
There are multiple rooms to play in at Sparkling Bingo, although more are dedicated to 90-ball games than 75-ball and High 5 games. You can also play Dragonfish, IGT, and NetEnt slots, scratch cards, and table games. There are free, daily, no-deposit bingo games, as well as free rooms for funded players but no more than your average Dragonfish bingo site. Plus, while there aren’t any exclusive game variants, the Saturday Night Fever room is only available at 8 Ball Games sites, and it offers free games, bonuses, free spins, vouchers, mystery jackpots, and community jackpots.
Loyalty & Rewards
Sparkling Bingo uses 8 Ball Games’ xCite rewards programme, which is slightly different to the loyalty scheme at most Dragonfish sites. It still uses the same four loyalty levels, and requires you to spend considerable amounts of money before you can reach the upper tiers. But, it does provide some additional perks including cashback, free spins, free game cards, activity bonuses, and birthday bonuses, and if you’re invited to become a VIP, you’ll also benefit from VIP-only event invites and seasonal gifts.
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