Sunmaker has become one of the most prominent names in the Irish casino industry, owing to its presence in the online gambling market since 2007. From its early days, this online casino has established itself as a premier destination for fans of Merkur's slot games, fostering a close partnership with the developer. Sunmaker stands out as one of the finest online casinos for slot enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive collection of popular Merkur games. By seamlessly adapting and providing access to these beloved Merkur titles, Sunmaker has rightfully earned its place among the top online casinos for slot games.
Irish players have numerous options available on the internet. In fact, the Irish online market offers a larger selection than any other non-English-speaking market. To stand out, Irish casinos must offer exceptional quality. Therefore, we are dealing with some of the finest casinos in this market.
Originally, Sunmaker was specifically designed for fans of Merkur. In this way, the online casino grew alongside the developer on the Internet. Many players may even think that the online casino is managed by Merkur and owned by the developer. Despite all the rumors, this is not true, as behind the casino with the iconic sun is the company PlayCherry. This network is one of the largest casino groups in Europe and includes, among others, the well-known brands Norgesspill, Svea Casino, Euro Slots, and Suomiautomaatti. The main focus of the casino group is to create local solutions for specific markets, thus serving each individual European country with a casino tailored perfectly to that market. With this network and its experience behind it, Sunmaker was able to reach the top in Ireland.
If a casino focuses exclusively on one developer, then all other features must be simply perfect to ensure that players keep coming back here – after all, there are online casinos that offer Merkur slot games as well as titles from many other developers. So, in our casino review, there will be plenty of highlights that Sunmaker has in store for us. Here, we will demonstrate to our readers why Sunmaker is appreciated by so many customers and has managed to stay in the market with only Merkur titles.
Sunmaker website
Design, customer friendliness, and user-friendliness
Sunmaker's website looks like online casinos of 2007 used to look. There have been no major re-designs or adjustments to the layout since its inception. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as many casinos in 2007 already looked good. However, Sunmaker visually lacks a bit of freshness and modernity that we can increasingly find in new and young casinos.
The main page doesn't provide much information, so most players will choose between the sports betting section and the online casino right here. Naturally, our focus is on the casino, and once we've selected it, we can also find the information we're usually looking for. The latest titles and the most popular games are prominently advertised and with the search function, we can navigate through the entire selection.
The default filters provide us with the opportunity to search for all types of games, including slot games, games made in Ireland, jackpot games, table games, and live casino games. We can also filter the individual titles by name and game developer. We have the option to sort our search results alphabetically or by popularity. Meanwhile, the bonus offers and customer service are just one click away. The user-friendly interface plays a significant role in earning the appreciation of many players for Sunmaker.
Sunmaker bonus offers
Promotions and, in particular, casino bonuses are always warmly welcomed by us players. Sunmaker presents us with some generous offers, which, as always, start with the welcome bonus. A truly special feature is the trial offer. Here, we receive fifteen euros without the need to deposit a significant amount of money and can use the funds to test the offer at the casino. Immediately after creating the player account, we simply need to deposit one euro, and we will already receive the bonus, which can be used for the entire range of online casino offerings and even for sports betting.
The aforementioned bonus, however, is not the actual welcome bonus; there's more to it. On top of that, there is a 100% bonus credit on the initial deposit, up to a maximum of 200 euros.
When it comes to the bonus, there are a few details we need to consider: Firstly, Sunmaker has limited the bonus activation to the Irish and Swiss markets only. Players outside these countries will not receive a welcome bonus. Secondly, Skrill and Neteller are also criteria for the bonus exclusion, so we should definitely use a different provider for our initial deposit. Thirdly, at Sunmaker, there is a required bonus turnover that must be fulfilled in order for us to withdraw our bonus. We must have wagered the bonus at least 40 times before a withdrawal becomes possible. Alternatively, we can wager the total sum of the deposit and bonus 4 times in the sports betting section, with a minimum odds of 1.8.
In addition, Sunmaker has a special calendar that announces all upcoming promotions and bonus offers. Here, every day we discover free spins, deposit bonuses, and much more - the bonuses usually have the same terms and conditions as the deposit bonus. For a so-called referral, we receive an additional 20 euros, allowing us to rejoice in having over 20 euros in our account for each recommended new customer.
Sunmaker ultimately also has its own loyalty program - as is now customary for any major online casino. A sun ("Sun") is credited for every 10 Euros wagered, and those who have collected enough suns can exchange them for bonuses and VIP prizes. The current exchange rate is 100 suns for one Euro. By the way, there are no additional provisions or wagering requirements to consider in the loyalty program.
Live-Casino
Sunmaker presents a live casino experience managed by NetEnt. We have witnessed more seamlessly integrated live casinos before – there is only an image on the Sunmaker website directing to the live casino action in the NetEnt lobby.
Sunmaker has limited its selection of games in this category to mainly popular ones. Currently, available games include Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. The entire gaming environment seems to have been added to the offering just because every other online casino does so. Sunmaker itself doesn't seem to really care about the design or features of this offering. Nevertheless, the online casino does offer an extra feature with its live casino, which we would rather see implemented better than not at all. All games in this category are available in multiple languages and for desktop PCs and mobile devices.
Sports betting
Sunmaker originally started as a casino platform, but eventually expanded its offerings, including live casino games. When you first visit the main page, it may not be immediately apparent that Sunmaker's sports betting section is provided by a third-party provider. However, within the main menu, the sports betting option is prominently placed alongside the casino offerings. Once you click on it, you will be redirected to the third-party provider, who handles the bets and odds, without providing any specific Sunmaker design or exclusive offers.
The sports betting section is definitely a nice addition for regular casino-goers at Sunmaker. After all, here you can easily place a few bets using the same account you've already created for the online casino. Unfortunately, for experts in this field, the range of sports betting options and functionality offered is quite limited. Nevertheless, it is a pleasant extra to have.
Customer service
The first option to contact customer service at Sunmaker is through their live chat. However, when it comes to verifying your identity during registration, it is best to clarify this via email, as it allows for easier attachment of documents. Interestingly, the live chat is always active on the website, conveniently located as a small window that remains pinned to the page. Unfortunately, the live chat is only available during official business hours, unlike their competitors who now offer a 24-hour service.
If you ever find yourself in need of urgent assistance, it's highly recommended to check out the FAQ section beforehand. It's a highly informative and comprehensive resource that addresses a multitude of questions, often rendering the live chat unnecessary. The FAQ categories cover a wide range of topics, including general information, bonus payments, deposits/withdrawals, and technical inquiries.
The purpose of our email support is to complement our live chat feature. It allows us to send documents and additional information to a support representative after contacting them through live chat. However, outside of business hours, our only option for communication is via email. While this method generally ensures a prompt response, it is important to note that immediate replies may not be expected outside of business hours.
Prizes and awards
Sunmaker is an incredibly impressive online casino, especially for enthusiasts of Merkur slot games. Similar to numerous providers who focus on the games of a specific developer, Sunmaker has been largely overlooked in most award ceremonies. On an international scale, it faces stiff competition from establishments that have a broader array of offerings, thereby garnering greater attention during award shows. Sunmaker, being a niche casino catering to a specific target audience, it comes as no surprise that the major accolades have been awarded to other casinos thus far.
Online reputation, praise and criticism.
Sunmaker is a highly regarded casino, although it does not belong to the international big players. The reviews on the internet are good but not exceptional. Sunmaker has received a rating of 7.78 out of 10 on AskGamblers, which is considered a good rating. The majority of reviews on the site highlight the game selection, the Merkur slot games - which are popular not only in Ireland - and the excellent service provided by the casino. Some criticism is directed towards the fact that although the casino is available in multiple languages, its bonus payments are only offered in the Irish-speaking region. Players from other European countries should be aware of this limitation.
Sunmaker has only had three complaint cases so far, all of which have been processed and resolved within the maximum required time of three days. These outstanding figures speak volumes about a casino that has been operating online for years. Sunmaker scores an impressive 4.3 out of 5 stars on LatestCasinoBonuses. There are already 31 comments and 175 reviews, placing this online casino in an excellent 55th position out of a total of 1,563 evaluated casinos on LCB. This is truly a remarkable achievement for a niche casino! According to the fans on LCB, the casino's special connection to the Irish market is one of its highlights. Even the TV and advertising campaigns of the online casino are well-received.
Sunmaker, unlike other online casinos, has a distinct mission of catering exclusively to the Irish market, providing Irish players with a unique offering. Our assessment of the casino's quality during testing has left us thoroughly convinced. Despite the ongoing issue surrounding the prohibition of Merkur's slot games in Irish online casinos, we believe that Sunmaker excels in its endeavors.
While there are certainly online casinos with a wider selection of games, Sunmaker delivers an excellent overall gaming experience that we highly recommend and encourage our readers to try. The integration of the live casino and sports betting section into the online casino site may not be perfect, but it still provides a top-notch gameplay. We believe that Sunmaker's offering is worth trying and shouldn't be overlooked.
Social media
Most online casinos focus on Facebook or Twitter for their social media presence. However, Sunmaker is no different. Specifically, Twitter has become the go-to platform for fans seeking interesting updates from Sunmaker. On the other hand, Facebook has been completely ignored by Sunmaker thus far. As we write this review, there isn't even an official Facebook account for the online casino.
However, the Sunmaker Twitter account alone is sufficient to surpass the entire social media presence of many other casinos. Here, news and bonus offers related to the online casino and sports betting sectors are published. As a result, players who are exclusively interested in the casino may overlook a few tweets as they solely focus on sports betting. Those who are willing to do so will receive information on newly available titles in Sunmaker's portfolio, regular and special promotions, and become part of a social media community that appears to be quite active for an online casino.
There is also an official Sunmaker YouTube channel, which is more active compared to channels on the video platform of other online casinos. The content there is quite diverse and varied. You can find TV commercials, videos showcasing big wins and casino winners, as well as plenty of promotional material. While the channel is not necessarily essential for us casino enthusiasts, those who frequently visit YouTube might want to take a closer look to determine if subscribing is worthwhile.