If you’re after a new online casino that actually feels built with Aussie and Kiwi players in mind, Merlin Casino is one to put on your radar. Launched in 2024 and operated by Mersoft Kft, it stands out early with a massive game library, a genuinely wager-free welcome bonus, and support for both cryptocurrencies and fiat banking methods. It runs under a Curacao licence and aims to give users a straightforward, flexible place to play, especially if you enjoy pokies and live dealer tables.
In this review, I’ll take you through my full experience, from creating an account to withdrawing real money. You’ll get the pros, the drawbacks, and a clear sense of how everything actually works in practice. By the end, you’ll know whether Merlin Casino is a good match for the way you like to play.
| 🌐 website | |
| 💬 Live Chat | Available |
| support@merlincasino.com | |
| 🎲 Number of Games | 13,000+ |
| 💲 currencies | EUR, PLN, USD, NOK, BRL, AUD, TRY, CAD, Bitcoin, Tether USD-ERC20, Tether TRC20, Tron, Litecoin, Binance Coin, Ripple, Monero, Dogecoin |
| 🗣️ Languages | English, German, French, Turkish, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish |
| 🏦 Minimum Deposit: | €20.00 |
| 💳 Payout % | 96 |
| ⌛ times | Up to 3 days per banking type |
| 💶 limits | Min: €20; Per month: €40,000 |
Pop in the code FREE50 and you’ll receive 50 free spins on Thunderhawk (Peter & Sons). The offer is valid for EUR, USD, CAD, AUD, BRL, PLN, and NOK, and it doesn’t require a deposit, allowing you to test the site without using your own balance. Winnings are capped at €50, which keeps things simple and gives you a low-risk way to see how the casino performs before you decide to deposit.
Merlin Casino opens strong with a fully wager-free 450% welcome bonus package, up to €800 plus 300 free spins across your first four deposits. It’s a generous introduction, and everything is laid out clearly from the start.
Here’s how the bonus is structured:
Every stage requires a minimum deposit of € 20, carries no wagering requirements, and includes a maximum cashout of 5x. The free spins are tied to specific featured games, and you’ll unlock each part in order as you progress through the package.
If you want a welcome offer that’s easy to understand, quick to use, and designed to give you real value from your first deposit onward, Merlin Casino’s approach fits the bill.
Getting your account up and running is quick and straightforward:
Full KYC isn’t required when you sign up, but you’ll need to complete it before your first withdrawal. To avoid delays later, it’s worth verifying early. You’ll need a standard ID (passport or driver’s licence) plus a recent utility bill. Uploading everything was straightforward, and my own verification came through within a couple of hours.
Merlin Casino delivers sheer volume, offering over 13,000 titles across pokies, live tables, instant-win games, and sports betting. It’s one of the largest selections I’ve seen, especially for players in Australia and New Zealand. During testing, the site’s layout made it easy to toggle between sections, and browsing by category or provider worked without hiccups.
The pokies range is enormous, featuring well-known developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, and Big Time Gaming. Table games and live casino options are solid too, while the built-in sportsbook gives you even more ways to play without switching sites.
If you mainly play pokies, there’s plenty here to sink into. The variety spans everything from classic three-reel titles to feature-packed Megaways, cluster games, and progressive jackpots. I gravitated toward favourites like Big Bass Bonanza, Starburst, and Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, but there are thousands more, including niche releases you rarely see elsewhere.
Most games come with free spins, bonus features, cascading reels, or wild expansions. Everything I tested ran smoothly on both desktop and mobile, and new releases arrive regularly.
Merlin’s live section brings together Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live, Playtech Live, Ezugi, SkyWind Live, and LiveG24. There’s no shortage of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, or game-show titles, all streamed in sharp HD. Limits are broad enough to suit both casual players and those who enjoy higher-value sessions.
If you prefer RNG versions of table games, Merlin carries a strong lineup of roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and video poker variants. Titles like Atlantic City Blackjack and European Blackjack load quickly and play smoothly, offering familiar rules with clean visuals.
When you want something lighter, the crash games and instant-win section give you fast rounds with minimal waiting. Providers like Spribe, Smartsoft, and Popok offer everything from scratch cards to popular crash-style formats. These work well as short breaks between longer sessions.
Frequent tournaments keep things lively, often tied to big-name developers such as Yggdrasil, Spinomenal, and Pragmatic Play. Prize pools can climb into the thousands, and entry is usually automatic once you play qualifying slots. Leaderboards update in real time, making it easy to track your standing.
In addition to the casino games, Merlin features a comprehensive sportsbook with over 40 real sports and numerous virtual league options. Football, cricket, tennis, basketball, and hockey are all covered, along with rapid-fire virtual matches from Kiron, nSoft, Leap, and Golden Race.
Live betting is responsive, with real-time odds updates and an interface that doesn’t force you to leave the match screen.
You’ll also find multibet cashback, occasional free bets, express generators, bet builders, and detailed match trackers.
I then checked out Merlin’s mobile experience, and it’s spot on, no app needed, just access via your browser. I tested it on both my Android and iPhone, and all the pokies, live casino tables, and payments worked flawlessly. The layout adjusts nicely for smaller screens, and I didn’t notice any lag or missing features. Whether you’re spinning the reels or cashing out winnings, everything is just as slick on mobile as it is on desktop. You get the full suite of games and the same account management tools, no matter which device you use.
Merlin Casino keeps things interesting with ongoing promos. You’ll find weekly reload bonuses, regular free spin drops, cashback deals, and tournaments with big prize pools. I liked that some of these offers are also wager-free, which is still pretty rare in the market. The terms are clearly displayed, and claiming each bonus is a simple process via the promotions tab.
If you’re a regular, the daily and weekly offers add real value, especially if you enjoy chasing leaderboard spots or stacking up extra spins. Just keep an eye on the promo calendar, as some deals are time-limited or require opt-in.
Merlin Casino operates a multi-level VIP program, although it’s invite-only and not all details are published upfront. From what I could gather (and after chatting to support), the perks include higher cashback rates, faster withdrawals, custom bonuses, and access to a VIP manager. If you’re a high roller or regular player, it’s worth enquiring about, but I’d prefer more transparency on the exact criteria and rewards. There’s also a points-based loyalty scheme where every bet earns you points, which you can swap for bonuses or free spins.
✅ Tap here to check out the latest Merlin Casino bonus codes and current offers.
When it comes to payments, Merlin Casino gives you loads of choice, whether you’re after crypto or traditional banking. I deposited using AUD via Mastercard, but you can also use Bitcoin, Tether, Litecoin, Ripple, Dogecoin, and more. E-wallets like MiFinity, Skrill, Neteller, and Jeton are also available, along with Apple Pay and Google Pay. The minimum deposit and withdrawal are both €20 (about $33 AUD/NZD), which is fair and in line with most competitors. There are no hidden fees on deposits or withdrawals, which is always a welcome sight.
Withdrawals were easily requested from the cashier. The casino says payouts are processed within 3 days, but my crypto withdrawal landed in under an hour, while a bank transfer took just over two days. There’s a monthly cashout cap of €40,000, which should suit most players, but high rollers may wish for more flexibility.
If you want your winnings in a hurry, crypto is the way to go. My Bitcoin and Litecoin test withdrawals arrived within an hour, which is about as fast as it gets. E-wallets like Skrill or Neteller are also quick, usually same-day or next-day. Traditional bank transfers are the slowest, taking up to three days.
Verification (KYC) at Merlin Casino is quick and straightforward. After uploading my ID and address proof, I was fully verified within two hours. The documents needed are standard: a passport or a driver’s licence plus a recent bill or bank statement. The process is built into your account dashboard, so you can check your status any time. I found the team to be responsive if you have any issues or questions during the verification process.
I put Merlin Casino’s support team to the test via live chat and email. Live chat is available 24/7 and is definitely the quickest way to get help. Most of my queries were answered within a couple of minutes, and the staff were friendly and knew their stuff. Email support is also available, but replies took a few hours, which is about average. There’s no phone support, which is a bit of a letdown, and the FAQ section is there, but could be more detailed for common Aussie questions. Still, overall, I found support accessible and genuinely helpful whenever I needed it.
Safety is always a concern, and Merlin Casino operates under a Curacao licence, pretty standard for crypto casinos these days. While not as stringent as a UKGC or MGA licence, it still requires the casino to meet certain operational and security standards. My data was protected by SSL encryption throughout, and I never felt my transactions or personal info were at risk. Merlin Casino’s parent company, Mersoft Kft., operates other reputable sites, lending a bit more credibility. All games use certified RNGs for fair play, and you can check each provider’s audit status if you want extra peace of mind.
Before recommending Merlin Casino, I checked out what other players are saying on Trustpilot, Reddit, and review forums. The overall feedback from 2024 so far has been mostly positive—players like the huge game selection, wager-free bonuses, and quick crypto payouts. There were a few complaints about bank withdrawal delays and some confusion over the 5x max bonus cashout rule, but most issues were resolved by support within a reasonable timeframe. It’s worth noting that the casino appears to respond to negative reviews and offers to resolve issues, which is a positive sign.
Responsible gambling tools are easily accessible in your Merlin Casino account. You can set deposit, loss, and wager limits, request time-outs, or self-exclude entirely in just a couple of clicks. I tested the process and found it straightforward—limits were applied instantly. The casino also links to international support organisations, but I’d like to see more local Aussie and NZ helpline options for full coverage.
Feature | Merlin Casino | PlayAmo | King Johnnie |
|---|---|---|---|
Welcome Bonus | Wager-free, up to 4 deposits + spins | Matched bonus + spins, 50x wagering | Matched bonus + spins, 50x wagering |
Pokies | 13,000+ (NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, more) | 3,500+ (SoftSwiss, BGaming, more) | 2,000+ (Microgaming, Quickspin, more) |
Crypto Payments | Yes (BTC, LTC, DOGE, more) | Yes (BTC, BCH, ETH, more) | No |
Withdrawal Speed | Crypto: 1 hour, Bank: up to 3 days | Crypto: minutes to hours, Bank: 1–3 days | Bank: 1–3 days |
Licence | Curacao | Curacao | Curacao |
After digging into every corner of Merlin Casino, I can say it’s a top pick for Aussies and Kiwis who value variety, fast crypto payments, and transparent, wager-free bonuses. The game library is enormous, mobile play is seamless, and the support team is quick to help. There are a few things to note: the Curacao license isn’t the strictest, the VIP program could be more transparent, and traditional bank withdrawals can be slower than cryptocurrency transactions. But for bonus hunters, pokies fans, and anyone after a smooth, safe experience with the flexibility of crypto, Merlin Casino is easy to recommend. I’d happily return for the games and the fair bonus structure alone.
Our Summary
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ConsMain information
Start your Merlin Casino journey with a generous four-part welcome bonus package designed for new players, featuring both wager-free cash rewards and free spins on top slot games.
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