Ocean Online Casino Review and Welcome Bonus

Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Casino opened for business on June 28th, 2018 and followed that up with the launch of Ocean Online Casino on July 11th. As a relatively new online casino, Ocean Resort Online debuted with a smaller-than-average number of games, but almost immediately began growing its game collection after launch.

Ocean Online Casino operates under an internet gaming license issued to the Atlantic City property and is powered by GAN gaming technology. A large welcome bonus and fresh collection of games may be tempting to players, but there are some concerns with the terms and conditions associated with Ocean Casino bonuses. We’ll cover all that and much more in today’s Ocean Casino review.

Snapshot: Ocean Resort Online Casino is one of New Jersey’s newest gambling sites. This casino comes with a small mix of games and a massive welcome bonus, but players should be sure to read the terms and conditions before claiming this bonus. Ocean Online Casino has some room for improvement but is a safe place to play online in NJ.

Pros:

  • Large welcome bonus
  • Combined VIP program for in-person and online play

Cons:

  • Bonuses are confusing and difficult to clear
  • Not much game variety

Ratings:

Overall: 3.1

  • Reputation and Licensing: 3.5
  • Game Variety: 2.5
  • Bonuses and Promotions: 2.5
  • Deposits and Withdrawals: 4.0
  • Software and Graphics: 3.0

Ocean Online Casino Bonuses

The people at Ocean Resort Casino online are well aware they have entered an already-competitive gaming market in New Jersey and they have understandably gone heavy on the welcome bonuses and promotions.

For new customers in particular, Ocean Online has a no-deposit bonus just for signing up as well as a massive first deposit bonus for when you’re ready to play with your own money. These are some of the most complicated bonuses we’ve seen out of New Jersey yet, but we’ll do our best to break it all down in plain English.

Players should take note that both welcome offers come with strict terms and conditions that significantly impact the value of each bonus. It would be wise to give the terms and conditions a thorough read before claiming either bonus.

$125 No-Deposit Bonus

The “Welcome Week Bonus” at Ocean Resort gives you a series of no-deposit bonuses spread across your first eight days after signing up for an account. It seems the goal here is to urge players to try a range of games at Ocean Online. Here’s what you get after signing up:

  • Day 1: $10 free slot play
  • Day 2: $10 free table games
  • Day 3: $10 free on all games
  • Day 4: $10 free on video poker
  • Day 5: $10 free on roulette
  • Day 6: $25 free on all games
  • Day 7: $25 free on all games
  • Day 8: $25 free play at Ocean Resort in Atlantic City

Terms and Conditions

The most important thing to know regarding the no-deposit bonus is that you need to play through each bonus one time on the day you get it in order to receive the follow day’s bonus. For example, you’ll get a $10 free slot play bonus immediately after signing up for an account. You will need to place at least $10 worth of slot wagers that same day to ensure you’ll get the $10 free table games bonus the following day.

Additionally, each bonus must be wagered 30 times in order to withdraw any winnings from that bonus. For instance, if you wager your $10 free slots bonus and end up with $50 in winnings, you’ll still need to wager $300 on slots to release the winnings for withdrawal.

Players should also note that only slots play counts 100% towards meeting the wagering requirements. Roulette counts 50% and all other table games count 10%. This means that if you play table games to clear any winnings obtained with your $10 slots bonus, you would need to wager $3,0000 instead of just the $300 that would have been required if you played slots to clear the winnings. What this all means is slots are going to be your best bet for meeting the wagering requirements.

On top of all that, Ocean Casino Online states that players “must not place any bets in excess of $5 while playing with the bonus.” If you do place wagers larger than $5, those wagers will not count towards your wagering requirements and any money won from those wagers will not be eligible for withdrawal.

$10,000 Deposit Bonus

Intent on making a splash in the competitive New Jersey online gambling market, Ocean Casino opened with the largest welcome bonus in New Jersey: up to $10,000 awarded across your first 10 deposits as a new customer.

For each of your first 10 deposits, Ocean Resort Casino will give you a 100% match bonus to effectively double each deposit. Here’s how it works:

  • First Deposit: 100% up to $100
  • Second Deposit: 100% up to $200
  • Third Deposit: 100% up to $350
  • Fourth Deposit: 100% up to $500
  • Fifth Deposit: 100% up to $750
  • Sixth Deposit: 100% up to $1,000
  • Seventh Deposit: 100% up to $1,250
  • Eighth Deposit: 100% up to $1,500
  • Ninth Deposit: 100% up to $1,850
  • Tenth Deposit: 100% up to $2,500

Naturally, any bonus offer as big as this one is bound to come with some significant terms and conditions. This one is no different. In fact, this bonus offer is wrapped up in so many confusing terms and conditions that it’s probably not worth the trouble unless you play slots exclusively. And even then, there are still a bunch of T&Cs you should keep in mind.

Terms and Conditions

First, each individual bonus comes with a 30x rollover. This means you must place a total sum of wagers equal to thirty times the bonus amount. For example, if you max out the first deposit bonus for $100 extra, you’ll need to wager $3,000 before making a withdrawal.

Second, you are required to claim each bonus within a certain number of days. The terms and conditions page for this bonus explains how each bonus is awarded X number of days after the previous bonus, leaving players with 24 hours to make a deposit to claim the next bonus. If at any point you miss the deadline to claim the next bonus, you will no longer be able to receive any of the remaining bonuses as a part of this promotion.

Third, only wagers placed playing slot machines count fully towards meeting the 30x rollover requirement. Roulette counts 50% towards meeting those requirements and all other table games only count 10%.

One other thing players should know is that all wagering requirements must be met before the original deposit, the bonus or any winnings may be withdrawn. If you change your mind halfway through clearing one of your bonuses, you can e-mail customer support and tell them to release your original deposit in return for forfeiting your bonus and any winnings associated with your bonus.

Overall, these bonuses are not nearly as generous as they look at first glance. The high clearing requirements combined with the confusing terms and conditions destroy much of the value in both bonuses.

High Seas VIP Club

A page on the Ocean Resort Casino describes the High Seas VIP Club as a loyalty program that is “coming soon.” There are few details regarding the yet-to-be-launched VIP club at this point, but a press release from GAN announcing the launch of Ocean Online describes a loyalty program which allow players to sign up online and link their in-person rewards card to their online account.

According to the press release, the program will allow customers to earn Ocean Casino rewards points online that can then be redeemed online or in-person at Ocean Resort in Atlantic City. Likewise, players can earn points by playing games in-person and then redeem those points at the online casino if they wish. Basically, players will be invited to an all-encompassing rewards program that covers their play online or in-person.

It is likely the High Seas VIP club will allow players to earn points by playing games and then redeem those points for online bonuses, in-person free plays at the Atlantic City property, access to special events and possibly room or meal comps. When the full rewards program goes live, we’ll update this page with all the details.

Ocean Casino Refer-a-Friend Program

Ocean Casino has wisely launched with a tempting refer-a-friend program as it sets to establish itself among the crowded NJ casino market. This is the first refer-a-friend program to offer not just a one-time bonus for getting other people to sign up, but also ongoing bonuses.

You can log in to your account and then visit the “refer-a-friend” page to enter the e-mail addresses of any friends who might be interested. If they follow the link in your invitation and sign up for an account, you’ll both get an instant $10 bonus. This bonus must be wagered one time before it is free for withdrawal and only slots count 100% towards meeting that requirement. Roulette counts 50% and table games count 10%.

Additionally, you’ll get ongoing monthly bonuses if your friend sticks around. The more your friend plays, the bigger your bonus each month. You can earn anywhere from $10 to $1,000 in bonus credits every month per referral depending on how much your referrals play each month.

The ongoing bonuses come with a 20x rollover requirement before you can withdraw. As with all Ocean Casino bonuses, only slots count 100% towards meeting the wagering requirements. Additionally, Ocean Casino states that you may not place wagers larger than $3 while playing with the bonus. Wagers larger than $3 will not count towards meeting the wagering requirements and any money won will not be eligible for withdrawal.

Difficult clearing requirements for bonuses seems to be a theme at Ocean Online Casino. Whether it’s the welcome bonus, any of the no-deposit bonuses or bonuses just for referring friends, players are constantly forced to wager significant sums of money by placing small bets only.

Game Variety

Game selection at Ocean Resort Casino is a work in progress with slots being the biggest category of games by far. There are 62 slots on offer, four table games and a handful of video poker variations. This is one of the smaller games libraries on the New Jersey market, but Ocean Casino is still a relatively new gambling site and the game variety should grow in short order.

That being said, the current version of Ocean Casino definitely lacks in game variety. While some other NJ casinos boast 400+ games, Ocean Online has but a few dozen. There are also no live dealer games or virtual sports on offer yet. Again, that is all probably coming down the road.

Currently, the games lineup consists of:

  • 62 slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • EZ Baccarat
  • Poker Bet
  • 6 video poker variations

Ocean Casino Software

The GAN software platform that powers Ocean Casino Online is capable of providing a wide range of games from a multitude of software providers. Already, Ocean Online features games from the likes of IGT, NYX, Gaming Realms, Slots Symphony, Ainsworth, Incredible Technologies and Konami. Some of the games here are difficult to find at New Jersey casinos, so Ocean Resort may be worth a look if you’re looking for something different.

One interesting thing you’ll notice is the casino lobby has a tab dedicated to “in casino” games. Visiting this tab will bring you to a collection of games that can also be found at the actual Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City. So, any past visitors to the AC property who might have a favorite game in the real-world can use that tab to find those same games online.

Blurring the line between online and real-world gambling is one of GAN’s unique focuses, and this is evident with the “in casino” tab as well as the loyalty program that combines online and in-person play. It will be interesting to see what else GAN comes up with along those lines.

The casino lobby could still use some work from a presentation standpoint. Visits to the main gaming lobby are almost disorienting because a whole bunch of games are presented with little rhyme or reason, often times with thumbnails of different sizes. It feels a little haphazard, especially when looking for certain types of games.

Desktop and mobile users can both visit OceanOnlineCasino.com to play online with no download necessary. Ocean Casino does not have any dedicated mobile apps at the moment for iOS or Android users. So far, the casino seems to function just fine as it is when accessed via smartphone.

Ocean Casino Online Slots

The vast majority of Ocean Casino’s game library consists of slots, of which there are just over five dozen at this time. This is not as great a variety as some of the more established NJ casinos, but it’s enough to give casual players a good run for their money.

It also helps that Ocean Online’s software platform integrates games from a variety of providers. Doing so provides a greater range of variety in gameplay, style, graphics and overall feel of the games. Every slots provider has a distinct style, which in turn adds to the overall sense of variety you get when playing here.

The slots library features a mixture of late-gen games such as Pay of the Dead by Gaming Realms alongside standby classics such as Wheel of Fortune by IGT. Ocean Online also already has a few “exclusive” games that can only be found at select NJ casinos. Roaming Reels, Big Prize Bubblegum, Winning Wolf, Dragon Lines, Grand Dragon, Money Heat, Safari Sprint, Eagle Bucks, Sheer Magic and Mustang Money are all listed as exclusive titles.

If you visit the “in casino” tab, the website will filter the list to show online versions of actual slot machines that can be found on the casino floor in Atlantic City. Safari Sprint, Carnival in Rio and Medusa are just a few examples of the real-world slots that you’ll find online at Ocean Casino.

Table Games and Video Poker

This is an area in which Ocean Online Casino still has some serious work to do. There are just four table games and six video poker variations to choose from. These games all look nice and offer a break from all the slots, but there just isn’t a whole lot of choice. If you’re more of a table games or video poker player, one of the other NJ casinos would be a better bet.

If you only occasionally play table games and video poker, the selection here should suffice as Ocean Casino covers the very basics with blackjack, roulette and baccarat. There’s also a game based loosely on Texas Holdem called Poker Bet.

Video poker is basically the same story. They have the basics such as Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, but nothing you probably haven’t already seen elsewhere. A couple of the video poker games have slick graphics, but most feature extremely simplicity graphics that look quite dated by modern standards.

The full list of table and video poker includes:

  • Blackjack
  • Baccarat
  • Roulette
  • Poker Bet
  • Jacks or Better video poker (2 variations)
  • Deuces Wild
  • Bonus Poker
  • Double Bonus Poker
  • Double Double Bonus Poker

Ocean Casino Deposit Methods

Ocean Online Casino accepts a standard range of deposit methods such as credit cards, debit cards, direct bank transfers and even cash. You may fund your account via any of the following methods:

  • Visa, MasterCard and Maestro: Ocean Online accepts most credit and debit cards.
  • eCheck: Connect your bank account to your online casino account to make deposits directly to your casino account and to receive payments directly to your bank account.
  • PayNearMe: If you want to play with cash, you can choose the PayNearMe option. Ocean will then give you a barcode that you can scan or save to your phone. Take the barcode to the nearest 7-Eleven and pay the cashier with cash to fund your account.
  • Cash at Cage: You may make deposits and receive withdrawals by choosing this option in your online account and then visiting the Ocean Resort Casino in person.
  • Bank Wire: Bank wires involve a little more work because you’ll have to talk to your bank to initiate the deposit, but wires are useful for transferring large amounts.

Will Ocean Casino Resort Expand to Other States?

Ocean Online is unlikely to enter other states as its brand name recognition is pretty much exclusive to New Jersey. Additionally, Ocean Casino’s parent company lacks the national reach that other major operators (think Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International) can leverage to enter new states.

There are no indications Ocean Casino has plans to extend beyond New Jersey and that will likely remain the case for the foreseeable future. While other major casino operators have been busy establishing online gambling in other states, Ocean Casino remains focused on its New Jersey efforts.

Final Thoughts

Some areas in which Ocean Resort Casino could improve would be overall game selection, putting the finishing touches on its VIP program and simplifying the welcome bonuses. None of these shortcomings are fatal flaws, but Ocean Resort will need to step up its game if it wants to compete with New Jersey’s established gambling sites.

The complex terms and conditions associated with the welcome and refer-a-friend bonuses will likely leave a bad taste in the mouth of many potential players. Advertising a $10,000 bonus to lure players in, but then significantly reducing the actual usefulness of the bonus by loading it with terms and conditions just isn’t a great way to market an online casino to a tech-savvy crowd.

Beyond that major complaint, the other minor issues should sort themselves out in time as Ocean Online matures. Hopefully, they’ll rethink the welcome bonus because the casino does look promising aside from that.