Between the numerous online casino platforms available, there are obviously many differences to be found. The volume and selection of games that one casino hosts, for example, can be completely different to another. Everything from customer service hours to the range of live dealer games and loyalty club rewards can be extremely varied, which is a good thing, because it all helps people find just what they are looking for. Another difference between online casino sites that is often overlooked is whether it’s an independent or a sister site.
Definition
An independent online casino is a standalone operator that is a single entity. The best way to think about this is like having an independent chocolate shop, and not one that’s part of a big chain of chocolate makers.
In contrast, then, a casino that is a sister site means that it has the same parent company as other online casinos. Examples include PartyCasino sister sites or similar platforms run by a single operator, where different casinos exist side by side under the same corporate umbrella. This is not uncommon because a successful online casino business may see the validity in launching different brands of the same product, to try and appeal to different customers and cast their net wider.
What Makes the Difference
For the end user, it’s not likely going to be noticeable whether it is an independent online casino platform or one that is part of a wider network of sister sites. But behind the scenes, there are subtle differences.
Branding
More often than not, independent casinos have much more originality in branding and designs, and you can usually find more dedicated, higher levels of customer support at them. This is because a lot more thoughtful input about customer care and experiences, as after all, reputation is going to be an independent casino’s lifeline. Sister sites, on the other hand, tend to be far more generic, and ones from a particular company will likely follow the very same template and design, only changing in theme and colour.
Gaming Options
Another slight difference between the two formats is in the catalogue of games. Independent casinos may not have quite the large range as sites that are part of a much larger network. This is because they may not be as heavily linked up with different software providers to pack their service out.
That’s not to say you can’t find top-quality gaming at independent casinos, because that is certainly possible. It may be that you actually find a lot more slots from smaller game developers, or that they have even had exclusive proprietary games created.
The bigger difference here is that sister sites share the same pool of leading software providers like Microgaming and NetEnt, so they get a little more coverage and variety. It’s typically more profitable for a software provider to link up with a network of online casino sites because it’s more financially sound due to the bigger coverage and greater revenue they can command.
Payments
Casinos have to pay fees to link up with payment processors. A parent company is at an advantage of being able to share its payment resources across its many sister sites, which is far more cost-efficient. This again is all about casting as wide a net as possible for customer acquisition, and having a big range of payment options helps because no one will be left out.
For an independent casino, however, it may not be cost-efficient to partner with payment processors that they know very few of their customers would likely use. So instead, they are more likely to just stick to the common options and more well-known e-wallets, for example, to help minimise costs.
Bonuses and Promotions
Sister sites often feature identical or very similar bonus structures, including welcome offers, free spins, and loyalty programs, as these are centrally managed by the parent company. This leads to repetitive promotions across sister sites.
Independent casinos tend to offer unique, tailored bonuses and promotions that reflect their brand identity. They may provide more creative or niche offers, such as game-specific promotions or bespoke VIP programs. These casinos often have the flexibility to experiment with fresh ideas to attract and retain players, offering incentives that may not be found on sister sites.
What About Security?
Regardless of the online casino platform that you are on, as long as you are on a licensed site regulated by the local gambling authority, then it will be safe. Encryption, payment protections and the security protocols when signing up will be the same whether it’s an independent casino or a sister site. They will all follow the same regulations.
More of the Same
There’s not much difference between the two types of casinos at the end of the day. Independent ones may be a little more distinct with their branding and their theme, plus things like welcome bonus offers and loyalty programs. They are also great for checking out more unique, lesser-known games. Sister sites don’t quite give that same bespoke experience, but they typically have a bigger selection of games.
