Pinnacle

Pinnacle Review

Pinnacle launched as early as 1998 as a sportsbook and went online in 2004 when iGaming was still in its early stages. Since then, this operator has spread its wings to over 100 countries, including Canada more recently. Join me on my journey as I look at all the fantastic features the site offers in its casino component!

What is Pinnacle Casino, offering?

Pinnacle Casino licensing, safety and trustworthiness

There are two licences at play for this operator, but only one of them is relevant for this Pinnacle Casino review.

You see, the Malta Gaming Authority permit is strictly for the sportsbook, while the Curaçao Gaming License caters to the casino games. You can enjoy playing any of its games as long as you live in a country that doesn’t hold gambling restrictions.

If you’re like me, you’ll want to know whether your funds will be secure. Fortunately, the site has 256-bit SSL data encryption to protect your account and personal information from hackers. I also found an eCogra certificate verifying that all games are fair and players do receive payouts.

There’s a bit of a run-around when looking for detailed legal information. You might be new to the iGaming industry and not know where to find it. For quick access, you can always look at a gambling site’s footer to find the permit content.

I decided to dig a little deeper, though. By clicking on the ‘Corporate’ link in the footer, I found the full licence details.

The bonus terms and game rules were easier to locate. While the ‘Betting Rules’ link leads you to the sportsbook info, you can click on ‘Terms and Conditions’ for all the content on bonus wagering and playing in the casino.

All security and safety measures are in place

I’m satisfied that Pinnacle Casino has the right processes in place to keep your account safe. Paris Smith, the company’s CEO, goes to great lengths on the Corporate page explaining why security is so crucial to them. While I’m sure many operators present that statement, you’ll find enough evidence on the site to substantiate it.

My only issue with the permit is that the Curaçao licence is too easy to obtain. We’re seeing many fledgling casinos opening up and grabbing these authorizations as if they’re picking apples off a tree. For my Pinnacle Casino review, though, I feel that the operator’s years of experience speaks for itself.

While your account and details will be secure, holding a licence from more gambling authorities would have been better. The UK Gambling Commission might have stricter regulations, but they’re imposed for a better betting experience. However, there’s enough measures in place for fair and safe wagering. 

How I tested Pinnacle Casino

You may be wondering how I evaluated the operator for this Pinnacle Casino review. Well, there are a few aspects I looked at, which include the following:

• Bonus and offers analysis
• How easy it is to open a new account
• Things you need to know about its deposit methods
• What its game selection looks like
• The play experience
• How withdrawing works
• What do you do if you run into issues?

As a new gambler looking to sign up, I’m sure grabbing a generous Pinnacle Casino welcome offer is essential to you. I also studied which promotions are available once you’re a member and if you’ll receive any VIP treatment.

When you’re happy with the bonus selection, you’ll want to know how to sign up. For this purpose, I investigated how easy it was to register for a new account. The last thing you want is to jump through hoops for something that should be a breeze.

Nothing is more frustrating than signing up for a new casino account and not finding payment methods that suit you. Not only do I explain which ones are available in this Pinnacle Casino review, but I present to you how it differs based on your location.

Of course, the fun begins and ends with the games. You’ll read about how many games and types are available for you to enjoy, as well as which popular software providers you’ll find.

Besides telling you about how much game variety there is, I took a few spins at the slots and tried out a few tables. It allows me to tell you what the playing experience is like and if you’ll find it entertaining.

Would you eventually like to withdraw your winnings? Well, I’ll explain how the payouts work, how long you’ll wait, and what fees the operator imposes.

Finally, I had a look at the customer support section of the site. I wanted to see how quickly the agents respond and which methods are available to contact them.

Welcome Offers and Promos – Grab a Bonus at Pinnacle Casino!

There aren’t many Pinnacle Casino bonuses to choose from when you register. The casino welcome package gives you 20 free spins on the Book of Dead slot when you deposit and bet C$20. If you’re looking for a matched or no deposit bonus, you won’t find it here.

You’ll spot the bonus terms and conditions on the Promotions page by clicking on the ‘Read More’ link.  Your first deposit must equate to $20 or more, which has a 35x wagering requirement. That means you’ll need to stake $700 to withdraw your rewards.

If you choose to deposit more than the required amount, the operator only locks the $20 amount for the wagering terms. So, if you pay $200 into your account, you can withdraw the additional $180 at any time. However, the winnings from your 20 free spins will only pay out once you bet at least $700.

Once you’ve met these stipulations, you can claim your rewards. The withdrawal of Pinnacle Casino bonuses from the free spins is capped at $500. All you need to do is head to your bonus account and select the withdraw option, which will transfer the funds to your cash bankroll.

Promotions and Tournaments

For this Pinnacle Casino review, I discovered that the operator holds various promotions that run for special events during different times of the year. For example, October 2020 saw the Rocktoberfest take place every Sunday. If you had bet $30 on Guns N Roses, Motorhead, Jimi Hendrix, and Ozzy Osbourne slots, you were rewarded with ten free spins on Vikings.

Similar promotions are held throughout the year, so my advice is to check the promotions page regularly so as not to miss out on any offers.

VIP program

I’ve seen several sites touting a VIP code for the Pinnacle Casino bonuses. Despite that, there’s no loyalty program or VIP rewards for gambling on any of the games.

Pinnacle Casino offers a welcome bonus and promotional events, but no VIP treatment

I get the feeling that this operator relies more on its reputation to draw in clients than through any promotions. It has a small welcome bonus, and there’s only one member promotion at the time of this Pinnacle Casino review. At least the company makes an effort to change with the times and remain relevant.

Most players enjoy having a loyalty program in place that gives them points for their gambling activity. I love obtaining achievements and rising in the ranks for higher rewards. Sadly, you’ll miss out on this experience with Pinnacle Casino.

While there are few Pinnacle Casino bonuses, the wagering requirements are low, and there are timed events for special occasions.

Register a new account with Pinnacle Casino

There are four easy steps to signing up for an account. The first involved providing your residential country, email address, and password. In the next step, you’ll need to insert your full name and date of birth.

Go onto step three, and it’s time to insert your residential address as well as the currency you’ll use on the site. Finally, you’ll indicate security options and marketing preferences. The system will send you a verification email. If you don’t verify your account, you won’t be able to bet on the site.

You’re ready to gamble in a few short steps

I couldn’t test any of the games or bonuses without an account. Even with all the information presented, I had to verify my email before I could proceed. This feature shows, once again, how secure the site is to use, preventing fraudulent activity.

I’ve encountered casinos where there’s only one step to signing up, asking for an account username and password. While these are certainly quicker, I like the fact that Pinnacle Casino wants all my details first before I can play any games. It shows me how much I can rely on them in exchange for trusting me.

Yes, the registration process has four steps, but it’s easy to complete, and you’ll be done in no time. Get the verification out of the way, and your account is ready. I’m rating this element highly more for security reasons than efficiency.

Pinnacle Casino Payment methods

Before I indicate the payment methods available in my Pinnacle Casino review, I want to state that it differs from country to country. While there are 29 options available overall, the range changed when I indicated that my currency is Canadian dollars. Therefore, I’m presenting the facts below based on that selection.

A few reliable options for Canadian gamblers

I love that Pinnacle Casino lets you select your currency to see which options you have to deposit and withdraw. If you’re a fan of bank transfers, the operator has Instadebit and iDebit accounts in Canada for instant transactions. As someone who loves the anonymity of crypto payments, I’m glad that the method is available.

Of course, I recommend any of the instant payout methods to receive my winnings immediately. There are only a few e-wallets for Canadian gamblers, surprisingly missing some of the more popular ones. Still, the range is decent enough.

Games you can play at Pinnacle Casino

If you enjoy a casino with a massive library of games, you’ve come to the right place. There are over a thousand available, the site providing an alphabetical filter. You can also click on different categories that include jackpots, special events, and Drops & Wins.

The casino features all manner of online slot, spanning hundreds of different themes, volatility and complexity. You will find a whole range of popular games like Starburst, Book of Dead, Gonzo’s Quest, Reactoonz, Sweet Alchemy and many others. New slots are added weekly, providing you with a fresh supply of games to try out.

In the main casino menu, you’ll see separate pages for roulette and blackjack. Select ‘Table Games’, and you’ll see further tabs for video poker, baccarat, and specialty titles. You find variations on these selections that also rank high in quantity.

You can head to the live casino to play against the house with live dealers. At the time of my Pinnacle Casino review, there were 13 Baccarat tables, 19 Blackjack games, and 8 Roulette tables. You’ll also spot other types of card rooms, such as Teen Patti and Andar Bahar.

Finally, feel free to try out the live game shows. You’ll find popular titles like Monopoly Live, Crazy Time, and Side Bet City, to name a few. In total, there are only about seven available.

Game Providers

By far and large, the slot section has the most software providers. I found about 26, featuring top names such as Microgaming, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. They deliver outstanding performance in terms of graphics, gameplay, and sound.

Pinnacle Casino relies on Evolution Gaming when it comes to the live casino tables. I’m not surprised, as the developer is well known for its superior quality in live games. However, I couldn’t find any scratch cards or lottery games in the extensive portfolio.

The slot selection is one of the largest available to Canadian players

I was supremely impressed by the slot catalogue. Going through the titles and spinning a few reels was enjoyable, but I would have loved to try my hand at some poker tournaments. Albeit, I spent way too much time at the blackjack tables.

The one aspect I would like to see in the future is a search filter by software providers. I’ve encountered this function in other online casinos, and I must say, it should be a standard feature among all operators. I tend to like a few developers’ titles, thanks to their inability to disappoint me.

Time to collect your winnings? Here’s what you need to know

You’ve won money on a few slots and want to withdraw the funds to your bank account or e-wallet. It should be as easy as heading to your bankroll or the cashier and clicking on the withdraw button. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Before the withdrawal is approved, the first time you make the request, the operator will request identity verification. What I found interesting for my Pinnacle Casino review is that support agents might ask you for these documents several times during your account’s existence. If I haven’t said this enough, this feature again shows the security measures in place.

The minimal withdrawal will depend on the payment type you selected when you created the account, but you need to keep two very significant aspects in mind.

Firstly, you can only withdraw in your account’s currency. If you opted for Canadian dollars, you wouldn’t be able to cashout in USD. Secondly, your withdrawal method must be the same as how you deposited.

You can read the full withdrawal rules in the site’s Terms and Conditions.

Choose your payment type carefully

As you can tell, selecting the right payment method after you create your account is essential. I found it incredibly impressive that the operator indicates how much each withdrawal-type will cost you in terms of fees. You can also see what the minimum payout amount is for each one.

I believe the rules in place aren’t too stringent. For example, you can request changing your payment type, as long as it doesn’t become a habit. I also don’t mind waiting for my first payout if the operator wants to do some checks first, as it means it’s protecting my account.

Customer Support

English isn’t the only language you’ll find on the site. Other ones include French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Swedish, Czech, Finnish, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Chinese, and Hebrew.

The Help Centre has a wealth of categories for you to choose from, which expands to blocks with related queries and solutions. As if that isn’t enough, a small pop-up appears at the bottom, asking you how useful the page is to you.

The FAQ section is also in the Help Centre and works as a search engine. A few topics will appear, which you can explore at your leisure. At the bottom of each FAQ page, there’s a ‘Related Articles’ area in case you need further assistance.

Lightning-fast response times

I’m sure every online casino claims that its live chat has fast response times and is available 24/7. I decided to test it, and the friendly Maria Fernanda replied within a minute. It’s a fabulous example of a system that works like it’s meant to in the ideal world.

The site mentions that the emails and support tickets are also monitored 24/7. If the live chat is anything to go by, I believe them. It’s just a pity the support section doesn’t have phone numbers for locations worldwide as I’ve seen with other operators.

Even without a landline, the support agents are super fast and willing to help you. Although I had indicated that I was only chatting to test response times, the agent wanted to make 100% sure I didn’t need any assistance.

Responsible gambling

I found several tools on the responsible gambling page that’ll be useful to you if you need it. The drop-down menus are similar to the FAQ section, and you can choose what you’d like to read about for further info. Options include self-assessment, underage restrictions, risk and loss limits, and account deactivation.

Manage your gaming experience with an assortment of tools

The amount of detail Pinnacle puts into its responsible gambling section is outstanding. There are several questions and answers, helping you decide if you need to self-exclude or just take some time out. I particularly feel that the self-assessment function is perfect if you want to test yourself for addiction.

Of course, many of the tools indicated redirect you to other sites, such as GamCare and Netnanny. That doesn’t matter, though, as the content reflects the operator’s commitment to the cause.

Awards and Recognitions

With more than twenty years in the gaming industry, Pinnacle was bound to win some awards. Here’s a look at some of them, predominantly feature its esports component:

• 2017: Gaming Intelligence eSports Operator of the Year
• 2016: EGR eSports Operator of the Year
• 2016: SBC eSports Bookmaker of the Year

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed this extensive Pinnacle Casino review. I’m giving the operator a general rating of 4/5. For the most part, I believe it has loads to offer Canadian gamblers, specifically regarding its game collection and marvellous support response.

While some extra gambling licences won’t hurt, and the promotions could do with some work, Pinnacle Casino is worth signing up for if you’re looking for a new gambling experience.