Le Croupier Casino Review

Le Croupier Casino Gaming Area Pit view

Blackjack, roulette and slot machines are the primary games available in the 3D environment. Players may amuse themselves for free in “Fun” mode, or wager for real payouts in “Cash” mode. A new 2D Flash version has also been released so that customers can sign up, make deposits and play immediately, without downloading software. All of the facilities of the site are available in both modes, including real-time chat with other players and an easily accessible Help Centre.

Words that come quickly to mind when describing the action in “Casino de Deauville” are fun, lifelike, intuitive, and easy-to-use. Novice players and those experienced with video and online games form the core of Lecroupier.com’s players. Hard-core gamblers may find the moving avatars and shifting camera angles a bit distracting, but the game odds are true and play moves along quickly. Those who feel static 2D gaming is somewhat boring will certainly be amused and entertained by this virtual world.

Oddly enough, although LeCroupier.com is quintessentially French—operated under the ownership of Malta-based Barrière Interactive Gaming (BIG)—due to legal restrictions, French citizens are not currently allowed to play on the site. English is the primary language used, and the main currency is the British Pound Sterling, although play in Euros with French language is also possible.

Financial Service Options

Currency – The primary operating currency of LeCroupier.com is the British Pound Sterling (£). However, player accounts may also be denominated in Euros (€), and in some instances in U.S. Dollars ($), if so designated at the time of initial deposit. Players must use the same currency for both deposits and withdrawals.

Deposits – The minimum requirement for a single deposit is £15 (€15 or $15). Amounts less than £500 (€500 or $500) are available immediately for play upon confirmation of the transaction. Funds exceeding this limit are made available within 48 hours. For bank transfers in excess of one per month, charges may apply.

Withdrawals & Payouts – Initial funds may not be withdrawn within 72 hours of deposit. Unless closing an account, the minimum withdrawal is of £15 (€15 or $15). Verification procedures are enacted for payouts exceeding the equivalent of €2,000. Withdrawal of funds that have been deposited but not used for wagering may result in account closure. For bank transfers in excess of one per month, charges may apply.

Payment Methods – Each player is asked to select a single payment method from among those currently available. This automatically becomes the only payment method that will grant the player game access and allow fund withdrawals. Banking transactions are handled through the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS). As of this writing, options available include the following:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Electron
• Maestro Debit & Credit
• Bank wire transfer

Types of Wagers Accepted

• Roulette
• Slot Machine
• Blackjack
• Poker (coming soon)

Languages Supported

The site’s primary language is English; French is also supported.

Responsible Gaming – When setting up accounts, members are encouraged to set a ceiling on wagering for a fixed period. Exceeding the self-selected maximum will trigger automatic blockage of game access for the remainder of the chosen time period.

Mailing Address

Barriere Interactive Gaming

124/125 The Strand

Gzira, GZR1027

Malta

Site Owner Address

Lucien Barriere Hôtels et Casinos

35, boulevard des Capucines

75002 Paris, France

It’s Time to Get Inside Le Croupier.com

The novelty of moving your own avatar through the casino, placing bets and chatting with other players, puts Le Croupier’s “Casino de Deauville” in a class by itself. Those who have grown up with SONY Play Stations will find the RPG environment very familiar, while those who have experienced only bricks and mortar casinos will appreciate how realistic everything seems online.

Le Croupier Casino Gaming Area Pit View

Part of the fun is creating your own persona, an avatar that represents you in the casino. You select a body type, clothing and accessories in the “Dressing Room” area before venturing into the lobby. A broad range of fashion selections and combinations makes it unlikely you will ever encounter a “mirror image” of yourself on the gaming floor.

Those who do not want to leap immediately into the action are free to act as spectators. They can watch any of the games in play until ready to join in. While participating as spectators, guests are able to see other players’ bets, their cards, game timers, status, and actual plays in real time.

As an indication of how “realistic” being at the virtual tables is, spectators may access the game log and initiate side talk with friends through the “Buddies” chat channel. However, they may not intervene in games being played or send messages to players through the “Game” channel. Just like in real casinos, decorum is preserved.

For regular online casino goers, the 2D version provides the speed of play and flat formats they are used to. There are more than 300 slot machines to choose from, with themed multi-lines and progressives available in addition to the traditional three-reel versions. The only major drawback of Lecroupier.com is a limited variety of table games, blackjack and roulette being the only two currently supported by the programming.

Lucien Barrière Hotels & Casinos, who own the subsidiary that operates the web site, have considerable experience in gaming. They own 40 land-based casino properties in Europe, along with a string of hotels. Mindful of this solid foundation, players can rest assured that proper attention has been given to the security of all financial transactions, customer identities and system functions.

LeCroupier.com Bonuses & Promotions

In 2007, Lucien Barrière Hotels & Casinos rolled out a Casinopass card to simplify customer access to its chain of casinos in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Egypt and Malta. Casinopass rewards player loyalty with a number of benefits and exclusive special offers in all Barrière properties.

Although LeCroupier.com has not been integrated into the Casinopass system as of this writing, the web site is offering a number of bonuses and promotions to attract and retain players, including a very generous referral programme.

New Players 100% Signup Bonus

A 100% online cash bonus is being offered to each new player registered on the web site. That means the player’s initial deposit is doubled, if deposited within 30 days of registration.

To claim the 100% signup bonus, some conditions apply:

- The minimum first deposit required is £15 (€15 or $15).

- The maximum bonus paid is £100 (€100 or $100).

- Bonus cash must be bet and played within 30 days after the initial deposit.

- Bonus cash may not be withdrawn until a minimum of 30 times the initial deposit plus the bonus amount has been bet and played, up to a total of £3,000 (€3,000 or $3,000).

- Roulette bets are not taken into account as part of the required bets.

Refer-A-Friend Bonus

For each new player registered at the web site, the referring player will receive £20 (€20 or $20) up to a maximum of £200 (€200 or $200) per week. The new player will also receive £20 (€20 or $20) in bonus cash, paid separately from any signup bonus for which the player is eligible.

To claim the bonus on up to 10 referrals per week, some conditions apply:

- Both the new player and the referring player must have active accounts on LeCroupier.com.

- The new player’s initial deposit must be a minimum of £20 (€20 or $20) and made within 30 days of registering.

- Bonus cash may not be withdrawn by either player until the new player has placed a minimum of 10 bets.

- Bonus cash may not be withdrawn by either player until the new player has wagered a minimum of £200 (€200 or $200), within 30 days after the initial deposit.

- Roulette bets are not taken into account as part of the required bets

Loyalty Points (Fids)

Active “Cash” players also accumulate units called “Fidelities” (Fids), which can be redeemed for rewards such as special “accessories” to outfit avatars. They may also be used to obtain entry into tournaments or redeemed for discounts on items sold by the operating company, Barriere Interactive Gaming.

Bets placed on slots, roulette and blackjack automatically earn Fids, as do new player referrals made. Le Croupier.com also issues Fids as player loyalty bonuses on the anniversary of joining.

As players accumulate Fids, they are accorded different levels: Red for up to 20,000 Fids, Silver for 20,000 to 50,000 Fids, and Black for more than 50,000 Fids. Benefits accrue to these levels, amounting to virtual VIP treatment.

Create Your Own Avatar on LeCroupier.com

The LeCroupier.com online casino experience is best enjoyed in its 3D version. Once the “Casino de Deauville” application has been downloaded, an account registered, and a user name/password selected. It is time to create an avatar in the Dressing Room area.

Creating An Avatar At Le Croupier Casino

Simply stated, an “avatar” is an animated graphic character selected to represent the player before entering the games. The intention is to add some additional fun and a touch of virtual reality to the online casino experience.

In the 3D application, a single player may create and use up to seven avatars in a game at one time. The player may, however, choose only one nickname of 5~12 characters, which is assigned at the time of registration. This nickname is how each player is identified in the gaming areas.

In creating an avatar, the first choice to make is gender, male or female. A default character will appear depending upon the selection. Next, the player selects a basic “look” from among different categories: Aristocrats, Fashionistas, Charmers, and Street.

Again, there is a default character for each category, which can then be customised by choosing specific features and characteristics, such as personality, clothing, hair, facial features, dress, and accessories. There are even objects that can be carried for good fortune, a “Talisman,” such a rose, a harmonica, a toy robot, and other lucky charms.

The appearance of the selected avatar may be changed at any time by going to the lobby, clicking on the “avatar” link, and returning to the Dressing Room to change clothes, hair, etc. Some accessories require the redemption of Fid loyalty points—one way of identifying virtual VIPs and frequent players from newcomers.

One interesting note: According to press releases, the characters representing dealers and casino management in the “Casino de Deauville” are based upon real people. In fact, the site look it name in honor of a croupier who actually works in one of the Lucien Barrière casinos. Developers attempted to bring to this virtual world his real-life knowledge, experience and customer relation skills.

LeCroupier.com’s 3D “Casino de Deauville”

Thanks to the 3D technologies originally developed for video games, LeCroupier.com is able to offer the next generation in online casino play. The 3D version is easy to download and easy to play, with a graphics quality unmatched by other online gaming sites currently on the market.

The 3D “Casino de Deauville” is a free, stand-alone application that must be downloaded for installation on a Windows based computer. Once installed, the software automatically uplinks to Lecroupier.com and initiates the registration process. Only registered users may access the 3D games and play on the web site.

Once logged on, the player may use the default game settings or adjust them manually. The controls appear in the Game Settings under the “Options” tab at the very top, upper left side of the Game Screen.

The Display Tab can be used to set full-screen or reduced screen mode. It also allows changes in resolution, lighting, shading, and textures of the game. Under the Games Tab, it is possible to change the ambiance of the Casino from day to night, choose a design for cards, or switch the language of the game to French or English. With the Audio Tab, background music may be deactivated during play.

One interactive aspect of 3D roulette, blackjack and slots is the player’s ability to change camera angles. A camera tab at the upper left section of the screen offers four different perspectives: Director, First Person, Overview, and Third Person.

Another interactive aspect is the “Chat” log in the “Game Tool Box” status window, which allows conversations with other players as the game progresses. Players may easily “talk” to the entire group at the table, including the croupier, or initiate private dialogs. Muting and ignoring chat is also possible.

Players need not worry about upgrades once the software has been installed. LeCroupier.com provides progressive updates on a regular basis, adding fresh 3D props and other advanced features as they become available.

3D Roulette

Roulette is the most popular game at Lucien Barriere’s live casinos and in the 3D version as well. The list of tables available can be accessed by clicking on the “Roulette” tab at the top left of the opening “Game Manager” page. Choose from among ten tables, accommodating up to seven players each, by highlighting the appropriate menu line and clicking “Join” at the bottom of the lobby page.

Le Croupier Casino 3D Roulette

Le Croupier Casino 3D Roulette

Le Croupier Casino 3D Roulette

Minimum bets range from just 1p (or €0.01) up to £10 (or €10). Maximum stakes are pegged at between 20 times the minimum and £360 (or €360), depending on the table selected. Buy-ins are capped at £10,000 (or €10,000). It is also possible to play for “Fun,” should a player prefer not to wager cash.

All tables feature the European layout, with 37 numbers and a single zero on the wheel. This is decidedly to the player’s advantage over the typical 38-number, double-zero American layout common in most online casinos.

Play begins by selecting an empty seat at the roulette table. A pop-up menu is used to input the amount of initial buy-in. Additional funds may be added at any time by clicking on the “LB” (pounds) icon that appears in the “Game Tool Box” status window at the lower left corner of the screen.

Bets may be placed on a flat floating table layout at the top of the screen above the viewing area or directly on the 3D table surface. At an empty table, clicking on the “Ready” button below the layout will initiate the next spin, otherwise spins occur automatically every 30 seconds based upon a “countdown” timer at the left side of the screen.

Controls for placing repeat bets (“Same Bet”) and starting anew (“Clear All”) are also found under the table layout. A list of the previous five spin results appears at the upper right side of the screen.

The virtual croupier calls out the winning number, which also displays on the wheel, the table layout and the 3D surface. Winnings, if any, are displayed in a red circle that appears and replaces the roulette wheel at the top right side of the screen.

Each player is allowed only one avatar per Roulette game session. However, it is possible to open games as “thumbnails,” rather than full screen, to enable placement of avatars at other tables simultaneously. To leave the table at any time, all it takes is a click on the “Quit” button at the very top right corner of the screen.

3D Blackjack

Le Croupier Casino 3D Blackjack

Le Croupier Casino 3D Blackjack

LeCroupier.com’s tables are categorized by Game ID, minimum / maximum buy-in, number of players, minimum bet, and maximum bet. It is possible to filter the tables to hide full or empty ones by using the “Filter” menu located to the right of the “Game Manager.”

Minimum bets start at 1p (or €0.01) and run up to £5 (or €5). Maximums are set between £100 (or €100) and £10,000 (or €10,000), depending upon the table chosen. Buy-ins may not exceed £10,000 (or €10,000). Playing in the “For Fun” mode is also possible for those who do not wish to wager cash.

Highlighting a table will cause the players at that table to be listed by their “Nicknames” under “Current Players.” Clicking on the “Join” button will take the player’s avatar to the 3D pit area where the requested table is located.

The player may select an empty seat at the Blackjack table simply by clicking on it. A “Buy-In” window pops up automatically, where the initial amount to play with can be specified. Selecting the “Chip” value is accomplished by using the “Bet” bar. Clicking on the “Bet” button will confirm the bet; the default bet is the table minimum.

Once the cards a have been dealt, the values of the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand are clearly displayed at the top center of the screen. Below the card values display, the player is presented with options to Hit, Stand, Double Down, Take Insurance, Split, or Surrender, according to the cards received.

A “countdown” timer at the left side of the screen gives the player no more than 10 seconds to come to a decision and make a play. Otherwise, the game automatically passes to the next player, forcing the tardy play to “Stand” on the dealt cards.

Table rules here may be a bit different from those seen at other online casinos, reflective of how blackjack is played at the real casino in Deauville, France. For example, the dealer must draw to 16 and stand on ALL 17s, not just hard 17. Natural blackjacks pay the standard 3-to-2. Doubling down is allowed on any two cards, as is doubling after a split.

3D Slot MachinesJudging from the number of 3D machines available, slot play is favored over table play by the developers of “Casino de Deauville.” There are 324 units from which to choose, including multi-line and progressive machines, as well as traditional three-reel, single-line slots.

Le Croupier Casino Slots

Le Croupier Casino Slots

From the opening page “Game Manager,” players wishing to wager select the “For Cash” mode, and then click on “Roulette” at the top middle of the screen. A scrollable list of all slots available will display. For those who do not wish to play for cash, the “For Fun” mode is also available.

The characteristics of Le Croupier.com’s machines are shown in columns: Game ID, Slot Theme, Coin Value, Number of Reels, Number of Lines, and Jackpot Amount (if progressive play is available). Highlighting the line of the desired machine and clicking on the “Join” button will sit the player’s avatar in the chosen seat with the casino’s 3D slot area.

Minimum bets begin at 1p (or €0.01) and go up to £5 (or €5). Maximums are dependent upon each individual machine. Progressive jackpots are only available on designated progressive slots, where several machines have been linked together to create the “Jackpot” pool. Amounts paid for the Progressive Jackpots are usually far greater than any single slot machine pays put.

The more players who use the progressives, and the longer it takes for the Jackpot to hit, the bigger the prize becomes. Players must note, however, that the only way to win the maximum Jackpot is to play the maximum number of coins required by the machine.

Immediately after being seated, the player will see a pop-up “Buy-In” menu display. It is used to input the amount of initial credit to be used in play. To add more funds at any time, the player simply clicks on the “LB” (pounds) icon appearing in the “Game Tool Box” status window at the lower left corner of the screen.

To begin slot play, the player places a bet at the selected machine using the “Bet” button in the control window at the upper left of the screen, or directly on the face of the 3D slot. The minimum bet is the default wager. Greater amounts can be played by repeatedly pressing the “Bet” button or by clicking on “Bet Max” to place the maximum wager.

When the “SPIN” button is clicked, spinning of the machine’s reels is initiated. When they stop spinning, the combination of symbols is displayed in the session window, as well as on the face of the 3D machine.

Slots pay the monetary value indicated in the pay table, or in the form of extra games. It is advisable to read the pay table carefully before playing so that there is no mistaking winning combinations and payouts.

Among the many themes offered are many familiar ones, such as Pole Position, King Pin and Sparkling 7. There are also several provocative ones, such as French Touch, Exploitation and World Conquest, just to keep things interesting.

3D Poker

Although the software is not available as of this writing, the Le Croupier.com Team has announced it will soon be introducing a 3D Poker Room on the web site. Continuous virtual tables and regularly scheduled online tournaments are planned. Featured will be the following:

Players will be allowed to compete in up to four games simultaneously, with a broad range of cash game stakes on offer. Guaranteed tournaments. freerolls with cash awards, and additional loyalty programme benefits for poker players are soon to be announced.

For the most recent updates on the status of the 3D Poker Room, be sure to visit LeCroupier.com or the casino’s official blog site at insidelecroupier.com. 

LeCroupier.com Instant Play “Flash Version”

For those who would like to play without taking the time to download the full “Casino de Deauville,” LeCroupier.com offers a 2D Flash version. It features exactly the same games as the 3D version, but with “instant play.”

Le Croupier Casino 2D Flash Blackjack

The 2D application is actually targeted at professional players who prefer a simple casino game setup with instant play, less installation software and fewer graphic distractions. It runs on browsers on any current platform, including Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and more.

To begin using the 2D version, registered players can simply click the “Flash Version – Instant Play without Download” box on the LeCroupier.com home page and log in using their user IDs and passwords. This includes anyone who has registered with the 3D version, too.

Those new to LeCroupier.com will have to complete the registration process and obtain a user ID and password before entering. This is true of “For Fun” gaming as well as “For Cash.”

LeCroupier.com Rules for Wagering

The specific Terms & Conditions of wagering on the LeCroupier.com web site are provided in detail at https://www.lecroupier.com/index/pages/termsofuse.do. They should be read carefully before joining to avoid any misunderstandings subsequent to play.

For those seeking a quick summary of the key points, the following checklist may serve as a guide:

• Only those persons who have registered at Lecroupier.com are eligible to play the casino’s games.
• Players must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to register.
• Those who wish to play without a financial interest in the outcome should register for a “Fun” account.
• Those willing to accept financial risk for play may register for a “Cash” account and also enjoy access to play for “Fun.”
• “Fun” account players must upgrade to a “Cash” account in order to play for real money.
• No one may open more than one player account.
• The transfer of funds between players is strictly forbidden.
• Bonuses awarded have qualifying conditions attached; all conditions must be met, else the bonus offer will be withdrawn.
• No interest is paid on any sums left on deposit in accounts.
• Players are responsible for reporting and accounting for any applicable taxes.
• Accounts with no deposits, no withdrawals or no play for more than six months will be declared inactive and funds frozen; players must contact customer services to reactivate such accounts.
• Players are free to close their accounts at any time by contacting customer services; the account balance should be zero.
• Once an account has been closed, access is prohibited to any funds remaining in the account.
• Players are encouraged to be courteous to each other and avoid obscene or rude comments; repeated violations may result in deactivation of the offending player’s account.
• Residents of the United States and persons using a US-based ISP are currently barred from play.

Technical Specifications & Tools

LeCroupier offers three ways to access its casino games: the downloadable application (3D), the non-downloadable application (2D), and the mobile telephone application (mobile).

All of the software used on LeCroupier.com has been developed by MKO Games, a production company specializing in video games.

MKO Games is a business collaboration between Marin Karmitz of MK2, a French enterprise, and MN&O, a production company involved in cinema (Onyx Films), animated series (Method Films), and cutting-edge 3D graphics.

The downloadable version of “Casino de Deauville” is currently available for the following operating systems: WinME, WinXP, Windows Vista, Windows Vista x64, and Windows CE. Macintosh operating systems are not supported in 3D.

The latest generation of the application, Version 0.13, is offered as freeware directly from the homepage of LeCroupier.com. It weighs in at a trim 24.17 megabytes compressed, so downloading is rapid. However, the fully operational application requires a hefty 481 MB of disc space when expanded, along with DirectX 9.0c compatibility, a CPU rated at 2GhZ P4 or higher, and at least 1 GB of RAM on XP or 2 GB on Vista.

For the 2D Flash version, a screen resolution of 1152×864 dpi is recommended. It runs with IE-7 or compatible browsers, including Firefox 3 and Safari 4, and Macintosh operating systems are supported.

LeCroupier.com has most recently entered into negotiations to bring its 3D casino application to video game consoles. An application for either the Xbox 360 or the PS3 is expected soon, which would effectively bring online gaming directly to home living rooms. A mobile version is also being readied for release to bring the casino to cell phones and portable digital apparatus.

Barriere Interactive Gaming does its best effort to ensure that the casino platform and gaming services are running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To ensure fairness, the site’s random number generators are periodically inspected and evaluated by Technical Systems Testing Inc.

Financial transactions are conducted with banking software provided by Business SAP Partnerships. Lecroupier.com’s security procedures are in compliance with ISO 27001, the replacement standard for Bs7799-2.

LeCroupier.com Customer Services

Several tutorials are offered through the LeCroupier.com home page, narrated in English with a delightful French accent by a spokeswoman named Barbara. The video clips cover how to play roulette, blackjack and slots, as well as how to create an avatar. Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) are also posted, along with a site map and a listing of all terms and conditions of play.

LeCroupier.com provides an online Help Centre, available 24/7, to further assist players and new registrants. Customer services may be accessed quickly in any of three ways, as follows:

• By email, through the webform at https://support.lecroupier.com/
• By chat, through the links provided on the LeCroupier.com home page
• By phone, calling toll-free from the U.K. on 0808-120-5353, or dialing in from all other locations on +356-2065-1651.

The web site Help Centre guarantees responses to requests made through live chat in two minutes or less. A maximum 10-minute respond time applies to the majority of general inquiries.

It is also possible to contact LeCroupier.com through YouTube, Twitter and FaceBook, where pages have been set up by the LeCroupier.com Team. A blog located at www.insidelecroupier.com also has an online contact form that anyone can fill out.

For those wishing to contact customer support by post, a letter may be sent directly to the web site operator, Barriere Interactive Gaming Ltd, 124/125 The Strand, Gzira, GZR1027, Malta.

Should any irresolvable disputes arise, players also have recourse to arbitration through an unbiased intermediary, the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority. They may be reached via e-mail at complaints@lga.org.mt.

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