Drake Casino

Drake Casino Review

By Zena Grantham | Updated 31 March 2022

Launched in late 2012, Drake Casino swiftly made a name for itself by offering BetSoft titles to American online casino players who were until that time somewhat limited, essentially to Realtime Gaming software and very little else. This made Drake an instant hit with players in the US, and this popularity quickly spread.

However, the world of online casinos has changed almost beyond recognition in the past four or so years since Drake’s launch, and competition is stiffer now that it ever has been before. With new sites popping up almost daily, there are more and more sites offering the gaming options that once meant Drake Casino stand out.

Historically, when such a thing occurs, sites react in one of two ways. Either they dig their heels in and carry on as they were, hoping that the years of reputation will do the job, or they work to provide more and more unique options for players, to ensure that there is never any direct competition from rival sites, no matter how many there may be.

So, which way has Drake chosen to go? Is this a site that is moving with the times, or standing stoically in the past hoping for its success to continue?

Design and theme

If you’re looking for signs within the aesthetics at Drake to suggest that there will be something original and unique here, you are unlikely to find it.

That is not to say for a second that Drake Casino looks unattractive, because it certainly doesn’t. There is a reason that black, red, and silver is a colour scheme that has been used at a variety of casinos over the years, and that reason is simply because it works. The site looks classy and elegant, just not overly original.

Navigation is pretty simple here, with all sections clearly marked and separated, and that’s certainly a good thing. However, if you are looking for signs that this is a site that has evolved with the times over recent years, there is one glaring exception that suggests maybe it has not.

The use of thumbnails on the homepage that can get you to the most popular titles on the site in one click has become so popular that very few sites do not now offer this addition, and almost no new site is launched without it.

Unfortunately, Drake Casino does not have this, suggesting that perhaps it is lagging a few paces behind the pack.

Games

Once, it was enough for Drake Casino to offer BetSoft games as they were new to most American players, and BetSoft is certainly an excellent developer to work with. But in the current market players are used to more in way of choice, a host of different software providers is a must.

Unfortunately, this is not the case, and games here still come from two providers, Arrow's Edge and BetSoft. As providers that are not the most common at other sites, it is certainly a plus to have them on offer here, but there really needs to be a few extra providers supplying titles here in order for Drake to look competitive on the current market.

And that is pretty much the running theme with Drake Casino, it was an excellent casino in 2012, but in 2016, it just looks like a site that was really excellent in 2012.

It is necessary for some study to be undertaken of other sites that are now popular, add a few more developers, sort out the design a bit, and Drake Casino could be back on top, but it’s going to take some work. 

Zena Grantham

News Editor at Slotfruit

Zena Grantham has been part of the Slotfruit team since the very beginning, making her one of the site's longest-serving contributors. As news editor, she is responsible for the majority of Slotfruit's industry news coverage — from UKGC enforcement actions and regulatory developments to major slot releases and record-breaking jackpot wins.

With well over 15 years of experience in the UK gambling sector, Zena has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry. She tracks everything from licensing changes and operator consolidations to emerging trends in game design, and her reporting keeps Slotfruit readers ahead of the curve on the stories that matter.

Zena's writing is grounded in accuracy and a genuine understanding of how the industry works — both for operators and players. Whether it's a £3.6 million jackpot win or a major policy shift from the Gambling Commission, she makes sure the facts are straight and the context is clear.

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