Löwen Play Casino review

At the end of December last year, the time had come: Löwen Play digital GmbH received the long-awaited German licence for online gambling. Shortly afterwards, the website went live and the gaming fun could begin.

With Löwen Play I tested the next big online gaming provider in April 2023. The name Löwen Play alone makes the German gambling industry sit up and take notice. Founded in 1949, the company operates more than 370 casinos in Germany alone. Together with Gauselmann and the Schmidt Group, Löwen Play is the largest gambling operator in Germany. In total, the company currently employs more than 2800 people in over 400 locations. Unlike many of its competitors, the business is 100% run from Germany, which means that all tax payments go into the coffers of the Federal Republic of Germany. The head office is located in 55411 Bingen, in the Tiergarten. Thanks to the new licence from the Federal Republic of Germany, Löwen Play is able to offer classics such as Book of Ra, Eye of Horus and Jolly's Cap. In addition to the comeback of the games, all the payment providers such as Klarna or PayPal are also returning to the online gaming arcade. In the following lines, I will tell you about my personal experience with Löwen Play Online Casino and go a little deeper into the issue of the licence from Germany, online gambling in general and game manufacturers. I wish you good luck!

For the most part, I conducted the full Löwen Play review on my MacBook Air M2, but for the sake of completeness, I also tested the online casino on my iPhone 11 to report on my mobile experience.

>h2>Personal experience

Unlike most online gambling sites, the people behind Löwen Play only run their own casino, which means they can focus on what they do best. This focus pays off with fast deposits and a perfectly designed website.

When you sign up you are offered a 100% bonus, which sounds tempting at first, but turns out to be a little problematic on closer inspection. The wagering requirement of 35 led me to decline the welcome bonus. Personally, I find such a high turnover factor inappropriate, as it adds 0.0 to the fun of the game and tends to limit rather than encourage you to play. Fortunately, Löwen Play's other bonuses are more attractive and fit better into my overall positive picture.

More detailed information on the bonus offers can be found in the 'Bonus & Promotions' section further down in my full arcade review. In order to try my luck and get my own impression of Löwen Play, I first had to register with the provider and provide some information about myself, such as my address, name and date of birth. It is important that you give the correct information as incorrect details will cause problems during the verification process. To complete the registration process, Löwen Play will send you a registration link to the email address you provide. Once you have clicked on this link, you are a Lion and therefore a part of Lion Play. After registering, Löwen Play asked me for immediate verification, which is not uncommon for providers with a German licence. You can choose between two options, one is "Verification via bank account" and the other is "Verification via Auto-Ident". You can find out how these two verification methods work in detail in the "Registration and verification" section.I decided to verify through my bank account. After successful verification, I clicked through the payment methods again and was thrilled. PayPal, Klarna, Visa, Mastercard and many more were available. I chose to deposit 100 Euros via online banking with no hidden fees. Once the deposit was made, I was ready to start playing.

Jolly's Cap - a classic with a difference

Merkur celebrated its comeback on the internet with the launch of the German licence. Finally, the famous Merkur sun is smiling on the screens again. Many years ago, the iconic slot machine was released under the name "Joker's Cap" and is still available in arcades across the republic. As this slot was my first experience of gambling, I am particularly pleased to see Jolly the Jester back on the screens. The aim of this slot machine is to capture and track down little Jolly's cap. When the cap appears, it counts as a scatter symbol and can lead to attractive wins. In general, the slot is beautifully designed and has almost all the symbols we would like to see in a medieval slot. The highest payouts lurk with the King, the Princess and the White Horse.

Since the maximum bet for operators with the new German licence is just one euro, I decided to play my rounds with exactly that amount. Unfortunately, my bankroll quickly dwindled. After about 30 spins, I was down to about 70 euros. With only small winning combinations appearing on the screen, I decided to take my first break. No Marlboros today, but new e-cigarettes in different flavours!

Sizzling Hot Deluxe - finally improvement

Alongside Merkur, Novomatic celebrated its comeback on the internet. The idea of playing Sizzling Hot Deluxe came to me while I was smoking a delicious Watermelon Ice E-cigaratte and it is watermelons that provide the biggest winnings in Sizzling Hot Deluxe. Sizzling Hot Deluxe is a slot that I liked in my StarGames review, especially the mix of classic and modern. So I tried my luck again. I didn't find any features like free spins or variable paylines, but I did find a doubling feature and a machine that was perfectly designed down to the smallest detail. With my credit running low, I decided to play for 60 cents a spin. After the reels had spun a few times, the aforementioned watermelons appeared and a prize of around €100 went into my pocket! Reason enough to take a sip of my Coke. After a few more rounds, my balance was around 150 euros. I decided to try my luck on the next machine.

Info: Sizzling Hot Deluxe is a slot with three rows and five reels. The game is played with five paylines.

Book of Ra - finally online again 

Book of Ra is also produced by Novomatic and is set in ancient Egypt. Due to the new German licence, Book of Ra has only been available online for a few months. Although there are several Book of Ra variants available at Löwen Play online gaming centre, I decided to play the Classic variant as I prefer classic games. Apart from the multipliers and different graphics, all the Book of Ra machines are very similar and the RTP (return to player) of just over 90% is also quite consistent. Due to my win on Sizzling Hot Deluxe, I decided to play for one euro. The rounds can be triggered by either pressing the space bar or clicking on the spin button. As well as the world famous Golden Books, the Explorer, Pharaoh, Bird and Spider are the biggest wins. The books even bring 10 free spins on top of the win, so players will be happy to see them on their device as often as possible. The five reels were spinning and I was eagerly watching my screen, it was now 2.23am and I had a lot of work to do tonight. Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as well this time as in previous casino tests. Success or failure at certified casinos is never down to the casino itself, but simply down to bad luck. The operator has no control over the outcome of the games.
I then considered whether to change the machine or cash out the remaining €100 or so. You guessed it, there was a little pause and I thought about it.

Book of Moorhuhn - back to the nineties
You either love grouse or you hate them! About 20 years ago, the little grouse conquered the world in record time, only to disappear just as quickly. Years later, the staff at Gamomat (Bally Wulff) remembered these iconic little animals and decided to dedicate a slot machine to them. Book of Moorhuhn was developed with 5 reels and 10 paylines and a payout rate of around 94%. There are no special features and no fancy animations. Just like other slot machines, the aim here is to get as many identical symbols on a payline as possible. Nevertheless, the machine is nicely designed and apart from the chickens, I particularly like the fact that the popular books from Book of Ra are also featured in Book of Moorhuhn. In general, the way the Book of Moorhuhn machine works is similar to the Book of Ra machine, Bally Wulff seems to have copied something from it.

The following symbols pay the best:

• Grouse with a yellow background
• Grouse with a black background
• Scarab
• Vase

I played a few rounds with 50 cents, and after a few successful rounds, I decided to increase my stake and play with a euro again. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the wrong decision this time. With an account balance of 62.50 Euros, I pulled the brakes and decided to initiate a payout.

When it comes to design, the Löwen Play online arcade goes for a classic look. Simple structures, clean colours and a clear arrangement of icons and banners are appealing. The design and product teams have done a really good job. Both new and experienced players will find their way around quickly. Like many other casinos, Löwen Play has placed its logo in the top left corner. Right next to it is the toolbar. In the toolbar you will find the following items:

• Search game
• Home page
• Online Games
• Bonus
• Player protection
• FAQ
• Chat
• Locations
• Career

A little further to the right is the option to register or log in. Below the top bar are the familiar banners announcing new promotions or general news. How the area below is displayed depends on which icon you click on at the top. The most likely option is the 'Games' icon, as this is an online arcade and games are the icing on the cake. Here you can filter by various criteria and browse to your heart's content. For example, you can filter by category or game publisher, and you will also find the familiar 'Find a game' function. The other icons give you text or information about the category. Scrolling down further in the main menu will take you to sections such as News, Service, Partners and Security. Scrolling further down again will take you to the Löwen Play payment methods. The main page ends with an introductory text and a reference to the gaming licence from Germany.

No dedicated app, but still a good mobile casino

As mentioned in the introduction, I played and tested the site on both my iPhone 11 and MacBook. As there is currently no Löwen Play app available for download in the Appstore or on the homepage, I tested Löwen Play using the Safari browser. Although the mobile version does take a little getting used to, you generally get the hang of it pretty quickly. As usual, the games run smoothly and quickly. However, a stable internet connection is important.

Registration and verification

You cannot play in any online casino without registering. Registration is a quick process at most sites. The following items must be entered correctly:

• E-mail address
• Name
• Date of birth
• Password
• Address

Before you make your first deposit, verification is absolutely essential. This has become even more important with the introduction of the new licence. It is a way for operators to protect themselves from criminal activity and underage players. Verification can be done either with the bank account or with Auto-Ident verification. Auto-Ident verification requires the submission of both IDs (front and back) and a selfie. The information is then checked and the account verified. To fully verify your account, you will also need to verify your payment method and address. The payment method can usually be verified with a bank statement or a screenshot of the menu of your chosen payment method (PayPal). It is important that all the required information is visible. Sensitive amounts can of course be made invisible. The easiest way to verify the address is to use a utility bill, such as a utility bill or phone bill. It is important that the document is not older than 3 months.

Things to consider when registering

Here we come to a point that is very important to me, and which I explicitly mention in every test. It is very important that the information you provide is true and has not been falsified or altered.

• Internet gambling is also over 18. If you register an account and are still underage, that account will not be unblocked and you will never be able to create a new on
• Please register with only one account. Double registrations violate the terms and conditions and will result in all accounts being deactivated and you will no longer be able to play at Löwen Play.

As of April 2023, the selection of games at Löwen Play is still quite small. However, the 157 games are provided by top-notch manufacturers. In addition to Merkur and Bally Wulff (Gamomat) you will find games from the following suppliers:

• Amatic
• Blueprint Gaming
• Novoline
• Hölle Games
• Lionline
• Pragmatic Play

We have heard from reliable sources that the number of games will increase in the coming weeks and months.
The following top games are already playable:

• Eye of Horus
• El Torero
• Lord of the Ocean
• Wolf Gold
• Hexen Kessel
• Hoff Meister
• Book of Maya
• Knockout Wins
• Fruit King!
• Temple of Secrets
• Gorilla
• Shooting Stars
• Wild Ranger
• Chicago
• Big Bass Bonanza

In addition to the range of games available, online gambling providers stand out from the crowd when it comes to bonuses. I am pleased to present to you the Löwen Play bonus offers in more detail. I will also discuss the bonus terms and conditions, which are often the deciding factor.

Welcome bonus

To welcome you, the makers of Löwen Play offer you a 100% bonus up to 100 euros. A standard bonus that will cause neither euphoria nor disillusionment. You can claim the welcome bonus from a deposit of 10 euros. Due to the rather high wagering requirement of 35x bonus + deposit, I refrained from claiming it, but if you can overlook this, the bonus is recommended.

Bonus for your birthday

Löwen Play celebrates your birthday with you! You will receive a birthday surprise from the provider 14 days after your birthday. You can redeem the surprise (no deposit bonus) by clicking on the red dot. The maximum payout amount is €100 and is subject to a wagering requirement of 75x. As the bonus does not require a deposit, there is nothing to stop you claiming it (apart from the very high wagering requirements).

Friday Free spins

Celebrate the start of the weekend with Lion Play Free Spins Friday! Every Friday until 23:59 you can get 25 free spins for a deposit of at least €25. Again, the maximum payout is €100 and is subject to a wagering requirement of 75x.
 

Weekend Bonus up to 50 % Bonus

Every weekend you can receive a 50% deposit bonus with a minimum deposit of €25 and a maximum of €50. Please note that the bonus is tied to the deposit, so the deposit and bonus must be wagered 35 times.
 

The following bonus terms and conditions apply

Bonus terms are important and it is recommended that you read them before claiming a bonus. I would like to summarise the most important points of the bonus terms and conditions for you:

• If you have both Real Money and Bonus Money active, your Real Money balance will always be used first. Bonus money is like a second chance when your real money is used up.
• The maximum amount you can wager with bonus money is €1.
• For bonuses without a deposit, cashback or free spins, the maximum payout is €100.
• Bonuses without a deposit or cashback with free spins must normally be wagered 75 times.
• Bonuses are valid for a maximum of 30 days from the date of claim.
• Terms and conditions always apply.

As soon as you have a question, our trained support team is ready to help. Whether you have questions about your account, an upcoming bonus or a payment, the support team is here to help. The quickest way to reach the support team is through Live Chat. Live Chat is available 7 days a week from 09:00 to 23:00, with a typical response time of 1-2 minutes. Only in exceptional cases should the waiting time exceed this limit.

Another way to contact support is via the contact form, where you can expect a response in approximately one business day. Phone support is not available and is considered obsolete by the industry.

Tip: If you are looking for extra quick help and live chat is not available, you can open the FAQ and look for help there. The most frequently asked questions are listed and answered there.

Changes due to the new license

The amendment of the State Treaty on Gambling has brought about many changes for both players and operators in Germany. In contrast to MGA or Curacao licensed operators, a lot has changed for Löwen Play. The main changes are as follows

• No spin can last less than 5 seconds: As no spin may last less than 5 seconds, auto-spins are no longer available to players from Germany.

• No live games: Live Blackjack and Live Roulette can no longer be offered.

• Maximum 1 Euro per spin: The maximum bet per spin is one euro and the days of bonus buys are also a thing of the past.

• Monthly deposit limit over 1000 Euros: A player can deposit a maximum of 1000 Euros per month at a German online casino. This amount cannot be changed even after big wins.
• Popular games are now available on the Internet: Thanks to the new licence, games from Novomatic, Bally Wulff and Merkur are back on the screens of German players.
• Lower chances of winning: As the operators now have to pay higher taxes and generally higher costs, the payout ratios of the slot machines are lower than in MGA or Curacao casinos. For most games, the RTP is currently around 90%.
• Change in bonus offers: Individual or VIP bonuses are no longer available at this time.
• The OASIS file: With the advent of the German licence, the controversial OASIS file was created. The OASIS file is a blocking file to which all German operators have access. Every player is entered into the file, which records and documents their gambling behaviour.

Due to privacy concerns, there have been repeated discussions about changing the file. For example, if a player excludes himself from a German-licensed operator, this exclusion applies to all operators with a German gaming licence.

• PayPal and other payment providers are available:
  This is definitely one of the best news besides the return of the popular Merkur games. PayPal, Visa, Mastercard & Co. are back in Germany's online casinos. This is also the case at Löwen Play.

Since the publication of the new licence from Germany, there has been a real change in payment methods. The following payment methods are currently available for deposits and withdrawals at Löwen Play:

• PayPal
• Klarna
• Visa
• Mastercard
• paysafecard
• Trustly

The minimum deposit for all payment methods is 10.00 Euros, while the maximum deposit for all payment methods is 1000.00 Euros. You can also request withdrawals using the same payment methods and the processing time is around 24 hours, which is very good for an online casino. Of course, there are no hidden fees associated with either deposits or withdrawals. Thumbs up for that!

It is quite possible that other major payment providers will join forces with Löwen Play in the coming months.

My withdrawal of 62.50 Euro

In the past, I have often been lucky enough to have more money paid out than I put in, but this time luck was not on my side. A loss of almost 40 Euros is still bearable and I still enjoyed playing. Gambling is entertainment that doesn't necessarily depend on winning or losing. I was able to withdraw the €62.50 quite easily from my bank account, which I had checked beforehand. I received the money after only one day. Very good!

Löwen Play is a site where you can play with a clear conscience, and it shines with the return of Merkur and Bally Wulff, as well as some payment methods. However, I would like to see a quick improvement in the game selection, as with only 157 slots, they are one of the sites with the fewest games on offer. The adjustment of the bonus conditions (with a lower wagering requirement) would also make me feel even more positive. On the other hand, I particularly like the many Novoline games, the excellent customer support and the offer of PayPal and credit card payment methods.

Finally, I wish you good luck and a lot of fun at Löwen Play!