Merkur Slots Casino review

As is well known, I am rather critical of providers with a German licence, but in November 2022, right after my Tipwin online casino test, I decided to try the next provider with a licence from Germany. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by Tipwin. So this time it was Merkur Spiel's turn, a provider whose trademark is the sun and was founded in 1974 by entrepreneur Paul Gauselmann (born in the Steinfurt district).

Merkur - the sun shines with a German licence

Today, Merkur is the largest provider of local amusement arcades in the Federal Republic of Germany, with over 400 of its own. With the advent of slot machines on the internet, Merkur machines also found their way online. After successful years, politics became more and more of an issue in the area of online gambling, and Merkur unfortunately had to say goodbye for the time being. With final legalisation and the German licence behind them, the well-known MGA provider made an impressive comeback in 2021, working in the background on their own online gaming arcade, which I will report on in this article.

In addition to the return of Merkur spiel such as Jolly's Cap, players have also celebrated the return of payment providers such as PayPal. In addition to PayPal, you will also find Trustly and Klarna in the Merkur games online casino. You can find out how deposits and withdrawals work in detail in the "Deposits & Withdrawals" section.

Merkur Spiel is registered on the sunny island of Malta, just like many other operators, but as mentioned above, it operates under a licence from Germany. You can find out how this affects your gaming experience in my full online casino review. In addition to slots, you can also place sports bets at Merkur, but in this review I will limit myself to slots only.

I will be happy to tell you about my personal impressions of the Merkur Spiel. After JackpotPirates, BingBong and Tipwin, Merkur is the fourth online casino with a German licence that I have tested so far.

Personal experience

Merkur and Gauselmann are well known names in Germany. I had my first encounter with Merkur games in 2012, with Book of Ra, so the sun never really left my head.

A few days ago I stumbled across Merkur Spiel and quickly realised that the online casino deserved a personal test. Unlike Tipwin, I found a welcome bonus at Merkur. This is 100% up to 50 euros.

As the bonus terms seemed logical, I decided to claim the bonus on my first deposit. However, before I could claim the bonus, I had to register first. As you know, nothing works without this.

When I first registered, one of the things I had to do was choose a username. I also had to enter my date of birth and email address. You can find out exactly how registration works in the "Registering with Merkur Spiel" section.

After registering, I was given the opportunity to choose a limit. Of course I chose a monthly limit of 1000 Euros. Unfortunately, due to the German licence, a higher limit is not possible.

However, I didn't let the limit put me off testing Merkur's games. I simply wanted to find out how Merkur runs its own online casino. After confirming my email address, I was ready to go.

Using PayPal, I made my first deposit of €50 and at the same time selected my welcome bonus of 100% up to €50. With other operators, this bonus would have been less interesting, as I play with higher stakes, but for online casinos with a German licence, this is fine.

It all began with Eye of Horus

After looking around, I decided to play one of my favourite slots from the early days. My Merkur comeback was to begin with Eye of Horus.

Eye of Horus is another Egyptian themed slot and is played on 5 reels, 3 lines and 10 paylines. As the maximum bet is only 1 euro, I naturally played with the maximum bet. I played the machine with a total of 100 euro, 50 euro from bonus money and 50 euro from real money. As with other well-known online casinos, you play with real money first and then with bonus money. The bonus is like a second chance if the real money doesn't work out.

So I let the reels spin with the maximum stake of one euro. On the second spin, I was awarded the much-vaunted free spins! These are triggered when at least three goals appear. The special thing about the free spins in Eye of Horus is that you get 12 free spins immediately and the great Horus also gets upgraded and automatically pays out higher winnings. That's what happened in my review.

Thanks to Eye of Horus, I won over 92 euros on a single euro spin! That went straight, I thought to myself!

After a few more unsuccessful 1-euro spins, I said goodbye to the great Horus and went in search of my next adventure.

Fruitinator Multi

I got stuck with another classic! Fruitinator Multi! Fruitinator Multi is a well known fruit slot machine that is all about oranges, lemons and melons. Old school! Again, the game is played on 5 reels and 3 lines. The paylines are a little smaller than in Eye of Horus. There are only five different lines and the volatility is correspondingly high. Very high volatility also means that you get fewer wins, but the wins you do get are higher.

The 7 on fire pays the highest, followed by the bell and then all the fruit symbols. Of course, I also played on the highest level and tried my luck with a Euro. Unfortunately, it didn't go quite as well as the Eye of Horus and after about 30 spins I went back to the main menu with a minus of just over 20 euros.

Gold Cup at football time

Scrolling through the various Merkur slot machines, I got stuck on the Gold Cup slot, perhaps because the World Cup starts in a few days. But is the Gold Cup slot really World Cup?

Let me put it this way, for hardcore football fans this slot is a must! Although it does not offer any special promotions such as free spins, relatively high winnings are still possible with a small bet. You can double your winnings with the smallest symbol. A more modern feature is the expanding wild symbol, which comes in the form of a golden cup.

The highest payout is the footballer in blue and white. This slot is also particularly suitable for players who like things to be straightforward and simple. The payout rate of around 96% is also worth mentioning.

I also played my Gold Cup spins for one euro, an even smaller bet just doesn't appeal to me.

As with Eye of Horus, I got an attractive win after two spins. Luckily I hit the 4 combination with the ball and the goal! This paid out almost 40 Euros, which I was happy to accept. In the meantime, my balance had risen to around €180, of which €50 was bonus money.

After a moment's thought, I decided to cash out first and let the bonus expire. The session went really well with two relatively big hits and a couple of small wins. Besides, the winnings are perfect for testing the payout speed of Merkur Spiel. 128.40 should go to me.

There is nothing to complain about in terms of design. Merkur Spiel has a similar structure to other providers and is clearly laid out. Merkur does not have a special theme or even a mascot. The colours dark blue and white dominate, which I personally find very successful. At Merkur Games, you have the option to switch between sports betting and slot games in the top section right next to the logo. As soon as you open the main menu of the Merkur game, you get to the games. In the top section you will find large sliders that, in my opinion, move a little too quickly and unfortunately make you more nervous than they actually do. In the middle is the familiar layout of the slot machines, which is similar from one supplier to another, but still slightly different.

At Merkur it is divided as follows:

• All games
• New games
• Merkur
• Mega ways
• Free Spins
• Big wins
• Top

It is then divided into: Top Games, Gaming House Hits, New with us, Special Recommendations, Slot Games with Fruit, Off to Adventure, Fairytales & Magic and All Games. You can also use the magnifying glass to search for different games. I did that too. The games you can find at Merkur Spiel and other sites are described in more detail in the "Software & Games" section.

When it comes to languages, Merkur Spiel has a much wider range than other providers with a German licence. In addition to German, the online games library is translated into the following languages

• English
• Polish
• Italian and
• Spanish
• French
• Turkish
• Romanian
• Greek
• Danish

In my test I also read through the site in Spanish and English and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the level of both translations. A good job has been done here.

Merkur 24 Mobile App

In my big Merkur gaming review, I not only tested the laptop version, but also downloaded the Merkur 24 mobile app from the App Store. Both on the iPhone 11 and on my iPad Air, the mobile version more than convinced me. The games run smoothly, the menu seems clear and well coordinated. The developers have done a lot right here, too, as I have nothing to complain about.

Registration for Merkur Spiel

It is not possible to play at most sites without registering. This is why registration is essential at Merkur Spiel. I will be happy to explain to you how to register at Merkur Slots. First, go to the website and click on the yellow "Register" button in the top right hand corner. You will then be asked for the following personal details on the first screen:

• Your first name
• Your Surname
• Your e-mail
• Your password

In the second screen you will be asked for further information:

• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Your address
• Mobile phone number

Once you have created your account, you will be sent an email to confirm your account. Click on the yellow "Activate Now" button and you are ready to play.
You will be asked to set a monthly deposit limit, which you can freely choose up to €1000.

Please note the following when registering

This is a very important point for me personally, because people make mistakes when registering, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These mistakes can result in winnings not being paid out or being cancelled.

• You must be at least 18 years old to play! Please do not register until you have reached the age of 18. Even if you have not yet celebrated your 18th birthday, it is important that you are of legal age.
• Please do not use false information when registering. Register with your real name, correct address and date of birth. False information will be detected during the verification process and may result in your account being blocked.
• Create only one account with Merkur Spiel. It is always a popular phenomenon for players to create multiple accounts. This is a violation of our terms and conditions and will result in your winnings not being paid out or your account being deactivated.

Info: After registering you will be asked to verify your account. You can upload either a scan or photo of your passport or ID card.There is probably no other point where you notice so much that Merkur Spiel is just at the beginning of everything. Currently there are only 92 slot games from 4 different suppliers. However, the quality of the games is very good. If you can overlook the different rules of the German licence, you will have fun here!
Amongst others you will find the following games at Merkur Spiel:

• Eye of Horus
• Big Cat Rescue Megaways
• Crazy Fishin’
• Gong-Hei Gong-Hei
• Chili Bomba
• Knockout Wins
• Tizona
• Tri Piki
• Dragon‘s Maid
• 1942 Sky Warrior
• Ray of Thebes
• Jolly’s Cap

It is somewhat disappointing that classics such as Book of Ra are not yet available. In addition to Merkur games, Greentube and Red Tiger games are also available in the online gaming centre.
However, when I asked customer support, they confirmed that more providers and slot games will follow in the near future. This shows that Merkur Spiel is still at the very beginning of its journey. With the German licence things will really take off.

As already mentioned in my personal experience, Merkur Spiel also offers you bonus offers. In my review, I took advantage of the welcome bonus. I will be happy to explain how it works.

Pay 50 euros and play with 100 euros

The welcome bonus can be combined with your first deposit. All players from Germany are eligible to claim the bonus. A minimum deposit of 10 euros is required to activate the bonus. The bonus must then be wagered 35 times before it can be converted into real money. Here are the most important points:

• This promotion can be claimed up to a maximum of €50.
• All slot games contribute 100% towards the bonus wager.
• Play with real money first and then with bonus money.
• Only one bonus can be claimed per household.
• Terms and conditions always apply.
• Your bonus progress can be viewed under "Bonus Overview".

More bonus offers

In addition to the Welcome Bonus, Merkur Spiel offers you two other bonuses. I would like to briefly explain these.

• Midweek Spins: Every Wednesday you can receive 40 free spins in the Gold Frenzy game. You get the free spins by depositing at least 10 euros on a Wednesday. If you deposit 25 euros you will get 20 free spins and if you deposit 50 euros you will get 40 free spins.

The free spins will be credited to your account by Thursday 15:00 and you will be notified by email.

• Triple Triple Spins: Deposit 10 euros or more between Friday and Sunday and wager at least 50 euros to receive a total of 60 free spins on three Merkur slots.

Here you can wager on any Merkur slot game to qualify for these free spins. Again, you will be notified by email. The free spins can be played in the following slots: Eye of Horus, Zentaurus and Railroad.

What could be worse than needing help and not getting it? Hardly anything! Like any reputable company, Merkur Spiel is well positioned in the area of player support. You can access Live Chat by clicking on the Chat button at the bottom right of the screen. Live chat is available from 8am to 2am.

If you prefer to contact us by email, you can also email our friendly and helpful support staff. The email address for this is: support@merkur-sports.de. Don't be put off by the "sports", they will definitely answer questions about the slot games.

In my test, I waited almost 8 hours for an email reply, the chat replied after a few seconds. Unfortunately, I did not find an FAQ list as I know it from other providers.
As I said at the beginning, Merkur Spiel is licensed in Germany. Now you can find out what advantages and disadvantages this has.

Advantages and disadvantages of a German licence

Like many things in life, the German licence has its pros and cons. Since it is always better to start with something positive, I will start with the positive aspects of the Merkur Spiel.

• Player protection: With the German licence, players receive even greater protection than with other gambling licences. This is certainly good for the one or other gambler, but the vast majority is rather restricted.
• Very good customer service: For gaming and sports betting operators, it is a requirement of the licensor to provide good customer service. You can therefore rely on a good and trained customer service.
• Legal clarity: Because of the previous grey area, the State Treaty on Gambling has been amended. Gambling on the Internet is now legal. Under certain conditions.
• Very good payment methods: PayPal and Trustly, among others, have returned to online gambling.

Disadvantages of the new State Treaty on Gaming

Now to the negatives, which unfortunately outweigh the positives. Feel free to make up your own mind.

• Deposit limit over 1000 euros: No matter what your income is, no matter if you have made big winnings before, the maximum deposit limit per provider with a German licence is unfortunately 1000 Euros.
• 5-second spins: For providers with a German licence, it is not permitted for a single spin to last less than 5 seconds. This also means that the autostart and the quick play mode are no longer available.
• Data protection: With the introduction of the Limits and Blocking File (OASIS), your data is stored centrally and can be viewed by all bookmakers and slot game operators. This file has been criticised since its introduction.
• Fewer chances to win: Unfortunately, the machines in online arcades have a lower RTP (return to player) than those in MGA or Curacao casinos. This is partly due to the different tax rate.

At Merkur you can choose between different deposit and withdrawal methods. It is important that you always use the same method to withdraw as you used to deposit.

At Merkur Spiel you have the following deposit options:

• Sofortüberweisung
• Mastercard
• Visa
• Skrill
• Neteller
• Bank Transfer
• Bonus-Card & Bonuscode
• Trustly
• PayPal
• paylado

On the plus side, the minimum deposit and payout is both 10 euros.
Fortunately, my first payout from a Merkur game was more than 10 euros. I was able to withdraw 128.20 euros to my PayPal account. After 2 working days I was able to book the deposit. I was more than happy. Well done!

My verdict on Merkur Spiel is good, despite the circumstances of German regulation. Merkur is a provider with great slots, very good deposit methods and fantastic support. The bonus offers are also stable, so there is nothing to complain about. Furthermore, the bonus terms and conditions are clear and explained in a way that even newcomers can understand.

Hopefully, in the future, the providers will be given more leeway, for example, to vary the 5-second spins or the €1000 limit.

In conclusion, I wish you the odd nice win and a lot of fun with Merkur Spiel, because that's what it's all about. Having fun and enjoying life!