Rival Gaming Casinos

Overview:
Rival Powered casinos started appearing online around 2006. Since that time they have continued with steady growth, both in the number of casinos operating their software, and also the number of new unique games being released (approx 1 new per month).

Best things about them:
Nearly ALL Rival casinos will give you a totally free, no deposit, ZERO RISK, free-chip to try them out; If you complete the Wagering Requirements you will be able to withdraw real cash!
On many of the older slots the bonus features hit far more frequently than most other softwares making the slots more exciting to play and re-triggers more common. But be aware that on some of the newer high-variance slots features can be quite rare!
Unlike most other softwares, picking bonuses hit during free-spins ARE subject to the free-spin multiplier! (= big wins!)
All Rival casinos offer frequent repeat bonuses, often more than once a month.
The T&C's for each bonus are clearly displayed on the cashier screen within the casino, so you always know exactly what the terms are for every single bonus you claim.

Things to watch out for:
There have been quite a few 'bugs' with their software. Most of these are just annoying - like a game freezing for no reason.
A few Rival casinos have Phantom Bonuses with very big WR's - honestly these are not really worth taking.
Cash-out times at many Rivals is up to 5 business days; this means sometimes you may have to wait more than a week to get your money from some of them, but they do ALWAYS pay if you have not broken any T&Cs.

Banking:
Getting money into & out of online casinos is still somewhat problematical for American players. Always research your deposit and particularly your withdrawal options BEFORE you start playing at any casino.   Typically, for the Rivlas listed here:
Deposits; QuickTender/UseMyWallet, eWalletXpress/900Pay, Pre-Paid cards, Bank Wire, eCheck
Cashouts; QuickTender/UseMyWallet, Bank Wire, Check

Bonuses:
Always read & fully understand any bonus T&C's before you claim the bonus!  Watch out in particular for games which don't count towards your Wagering Requirement, and more importantly, prohibited games which you MUST NOT play while using a bonus.

Player Support:
All Rival casinos can be contacted by E-mail, Phone or 24/7 Live Chat from links on their websites.
Live Chat is normally the best way for simple enquitries, but please note that nearly ALL the Rival casinos share just one central chat support system and sometimes they can not answer casino specific "management level" questions.
 

Recommended Rival Gaming Casinos  
The first figure under the banner is the FREE, no deposit, NO RISK bonus you can get,
and under that is the maximum FIRST deposit match bonus available.
(Correct at time of publication, and in no particular order)
      
Brand New Rival Casino - June 21st, 2010:

The Newest Rivals - Opened since Feb 2010:
   
  
   

    
    
$543 Free-Play - Keep winings up to $100
100% to $777
             

   New Rival casinos - launched since October 2009:-

               
$15 Free                     $24 Free                             -                            $15 Free
      100% to $100               200% to $200               100% to $750              100% to $800      

      Older Rival Casinos:
     
                
$7 Free                     $10 Free                     $22 Free                     $10 Free                           -     
100% to $100              100% to $500              200% to $200             300% to $300            100% to $750
       

                  
$14 Free                     $15 Free                    $20 Free                     $20 Free                     $15 Free
100% to $75               100% to $777       200% to $1,000       100% to $100             100% to $200
^ ^ ^
Superior Casino EXCLUSIVE welcome bonus: 200% up to $1,000 with wagering only (D+B)x15
This is the BEST VALUE welcome bonus at ANY Rival casino!
  (Only for new players and ONLY if you click on the banner above) 

           
$15 Free                     $38 Free                    $12 Free                     $21 Free
100% to $100             100% to $100             300% to $300             200% to $500
          

                          
    -                            $10 Free                     $11 Free                            -                                    -
      100% to $750              100% to $100              100% to $500             100% up to $500          100% up to $500
                                                                                 (Download version)     

  
    To visit the websites of any of these casinos, just click on the banner!

If you'd like to see the Bonus Terms and Conditions from ALL the casinos on this page in a simple at-a-glace format, and sorted in order from best value bonuses to worst, please visit our partner site here: Best Rival Bonuses. 

   

FAQ about Free Bonuses

Q. Why do these casinos give away free money? 
A. To attract new players and show them the great games they have to offer.

Q. Is there a catch?
A. You do have to play the games to "turn-over" your bonus to reach a certain amount of wagering.
But once you have done that you can cash-out any winnings. (Note: Most have maximum cash-out amounts)

Q. Can I take these bonuses at ALL the casinos listed on this site?
A. Yes. But make sure you wait at least 1 hour between claiming any two.

Q. Which games can I play?
A. Most of these bonuses are for Slot games only, but some allow other casino games.

Q. How do I get started?
A. Click on any of the banners to visit the casino's website, click on "download " to get the free software.
You will need to register an account - but do not have to give any credit card or banking details to get the bonus.
For Rival casinos, go to the "Cashier" screen to claim the bonus which will be added to your casino account instantly!

Q. With those high wagering requirements, is it really possible to meet them and cash-out winnings?
A. Yes, I have done it myself several times!

Q. Is there a strategy I can use to guarantee success?
A. No, not guaranteed, but there are ways we think you can improve your chances - see below.

Suggested Slots Strategies

Slots by their very nature are all high variance compared to many other casino games, but even then individual ones vary in variance from very low to extremely high.

High Variance = Wins are not very frequent but the wins are quite big.
Low Variance = You get loads of wins, but they are mostly quite small.

But these are only generalizations, because what influences the variance most on the most popular 5-reel bonus video slots is the bonus itself. On most slots probably 30 - 40% of the return comes from the bonus rounds; hit loads & you'll be quids in, but dry spells can decimate your bankroll.
Also of course, some bonus features have high return potential, and some are quite low which also effects variance.

So one way to play these free bonuses where you are only starting with $7 - $20 is start with small bets (1c or 2c/line max) on lower variance slots and hope for a good run, or one big bonus feature.  Aim to just make just $3 or more from the slot, then switch to a different one.  If you can do this and stay patient you will be surprised just how quickly your bankroll can rise and your wagering requirements be met. (If possible, you should always count and record how much you have bet as you go along so you know where you are in WR. e.g. 50 spins at 20c/spin = $10 wagered)
An alternative method is to jump right in with bigger bets on a high variance game and hope to hit a big win very quickly, then reduce to very small bets on a low variance slot and just 'grind out' the remaining wagering.  The trouble with this is your bonus could be gone in 60 seconds!
 

Guide to Slots at all Rival Gaming Casinos: