One of the first areas that punters are keen to explore is the bonuses that are available at a sportsbook. Let’s take a look at what the Golden Star betting site has to offer:

The Golden Star welcome bonus

When new customers sign up at Golden Star, they can claim a free bet up to a maximum of €100. The minimum deposit to be eligible for this is just €20. This works by matching your deposit. If you put in €100 or more, you get a 50% match. Depositing €20 - €99 sees a 25% match. Bonus funds must be used within 3 days.

Be sure to head over to the bonus terms and conditions before you claim. It’s important to note anything that may impact how you can use any bonus funds.

Additional promotions

After your first deposit bonus at Golden Star, you can also benefit when you make your second deposit. This allows you to claim a free bet up to €50. Again, this is based on your deposit amount, and this is what it looks like:

• 20% for depositing €250+
• 15% for €150 - €249
• 12% for €100 to €149
• 10% for €20 - €99

While we couldn’t find details of a VIP program at Golden Star, we were pleased to see that there were still plenty of rewards and promotions for existing punters. These include:

• 5% weekly cashback against losses up to €100
• Combo boost up to 100% when betting on 2 or more selections
• 100% tennis combo boost
• Sport jackpot - this is a progressive jackpot and, as of September 2024, is worth more than 2 million Euros

The Golden Star sportsbook is has a license from the Curacao government, meaning that regulations are followed to keep you safe. The license number is 8048/JAZ2020. As well as a license, we also noted the SSL encryption that’s in place. This means that your details are kept safe from any potential hackers.

We enjoyed our time at the Golden Star bookie and this is, in part, down to the fact that the site is so easy to use. No matter what we tried to do, from creating an account to withdrawing winnings, everything just flowed. Signing up took seconds. It was just a case of filling in our details and clicking a link in an email to verify our account.

The only slight issue we had was when we first landed on the homepage. We found ourselves in the casino, and it took a moment or so to figure out how to get to the sportsbook. Just so you know, you just need to press a button saying sports on the lefthand side.

Navigation

There’s nothing we can fault when it comes to navigating the Golden Star site. The sports are clearly laid out on the lefthand side, and it’s easy to select the one that appeals. Buttons in the top banner make it simple to flick between sports, in-play, esports, and promotion details. We also liked how easy it was to see the available markets. As soon as you click on an event, all markets are displayed in an instant.

Design

With a sleek black background, we have to say that the site looks amazing. The white text display events and odds is clear to see, and the overall impression is one of class. As we moved around the site, were pleased to see that some sports were live streamed. What we did feel let down by, however, was the fact that there was no cashout option.

When we first visited Golden Star with our smartphone, we opted to use our mobile browser. We found that everything looked good on a smaller screen, and that it was still easy to navigate and find what we wanted.

We then took a look to see if there was an app. It turns out that there is one for Android devices but, as yet, there is nothing for iOS. The app works well and the push notifications were useful for keeping us up to date with our bets.

• Android app: Yes
• iOS app: No

We like to see sportsbooks that have a range of trusted payment methods. Here’s a look at what Golden Star has to offer:

Deposit methods

There are 17 choices when it comes to selecting a deposit method. It was good to see such variation. We like the fact that there are plenty of e-wallets to choose from, such as Neteller and Skrill. There are also of crypto options like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Doge. Regardless of the option that you go for, you’ll find that your deposits are instant and free from fees.

• Minimum deposit: €20
• Maximum deposit: €5,000

Withdrawal methods

Withdrawal options are slightly more limited, but with 11 to choose from there are still more than enough. You can use Neteller and Skrill, as well as all of the cryptos that are available. While bank transfer isn’t there for deposits, it can be used for withdrawals. All of the methods on offer allow for instant withdrawals, with the exception of bank transfer. This option takes 3-10 days.

• Minimum withdrawal: €20
• Maximum withdrawal: €5,000

The first port of call when looking for any help is the FAQ section. We spent time exploring this and found that it covered a wide range of topics. There are sections covering account issues, problems with transactions, bonus information, and more. We were impressed by just how much information was here.

If you can’t find the answers you need, we’d recommend using the live chat feature. This is available 24/7. When putting this to the test, we were connected to an agent in less than a minute. As the conversation continued, we found that responses were pretty much instant. The agent came across as knowledgeable and was polite.

A further option is to complete an online form. Here, you enter your email address and then type your query before pressing submit. This leads to an email response but this can take up to 24 hours. You can also send an email directly and bypass the form.

Customer support can be accessed using these languages:

• English
• German
• Italian
• French
• Arabic

Live chat: Available 24/7

Email: [email protected]

Now we’re going to share all that you need to know about the betting opportunities at Golden Star. We’ll be looking at the number sports, the odds, live streaming, and more.

Sports to bet on

It was good to see that there were more than 30 sports to wager on. We saw all of the most popular ones, such as football, rugby, and basketball were covered. We also found slightly more niche sports like squash, futsal, and water polo. We liked the fact that we could also bet on non-sport events including TV shows and politics.

When exploring how well each sport was covered, we found that major and minor leagues had decent showings. However, things were different when we looked at basketball. There were plenty to bet on including the Philippines UAAP, Europe FIBA, and Singapore NBL, but what we couldn’t see were any NBA matches. While September is only about pre-season matches, we’d have like to have had the opportunity to bet on these.

Golden Star odds

To get the best return from your wagers, you need a sportsbook that has competitive odds. Across the board, Golden Star does well here, but it is a slightly mixed bag. The average margins come in at 6.9%. Some of the most attractive were football (5.9%) and tennis (6.5%). However, we were not impressed with what we saw with American football (8.4%) and basketball (8.2%).

To get the most out of the odds here, it’s worth exploring the combo boosts that are on offer. The more selections you add, the bigger the boost and it’s possible to see your odds double.

In-play betting

Being fully transparent, the live betting section at Golden Star isn’t the most active. As we visited, there were 95 events to wager on. While this offers some variety, we have seen other sportsbooks that have thousands of events at any one time. The range of sports where you can place in-play bets also felt a little limited. The options are:

• Football
• Ice hockey
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Cricket

We were pleased to see that there is a live stream feature. The downside here is that it is limited to coverage of just tennis and basketball.

Betting limits

We couldn’t find any information about minimum and maximum bets at Golden Star. We reached out to customer service to try and find an answer. They told us that the limits vary depending on the sport, the event, and the market.

The good news is that the agent confirmed that there is no cap on the amount that can be won. Some bookies limit this. The only restrictions are on the amount you can withdraw at anyone time.

Range of markets

This is an area where Golden Star does well. As we checked out the events, we found that there were plenty of markets to get involved with. Across the board, there were the likes of moneylines, over/under and outrights. What we really liked though were the many prop bet opportunities. These included the likes of number of yellow cards, both teams to score, and number of corners in football.

Deposit limits

When looking at the amounts that can be deposited, you need to consider the payment method that is being used. When it comes to minimum amounts, the majority of options start at €20. The exceptions here are Rapid Transfer (€25) and cryptocurrencies. Cryptos all have their own levels so it’s worth looking at these individually. The maximum that can be withdrawn is €5,000. However, some methods have lower levels, such as Neteller (€1,000) and Skrill (€4,000).

Bear in mind that there are regional differences. The best thing to do is head over to the cashier section and check exactly what applies to your location.

Esports have exploded in popularity in recent years. Let’s see how Golden Star caters for this:

Range of esports to bet on

Checking out the esports section, we came across a total of 10 of these to bet on. These are:

• Arena of Valour
• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• Kings of Glory
• League of Legends
• Rainbow 6
• Valorant
• Starcraft 1
• Mobile Legends
• Warcraft 3

Alongside these, there is also the opportunity to bet on e-versions of traditional sports. These are:

• Basketball
• Football
• Cricket

Odds and margins for esports

When looking at the potential returns on esports at Golden Star, we found that the average margins came in at 8%. There was some variation as we looked across the different offerings. Here’s a look at just some of these:

• League of Legends: 8.6%
• Counter-Strike 2: 7.4%
• Rainbow 6: 8.6%
• Dota 2: 8%

Overall, we’d say that these are pretty much standard. While they don’t stand out as being exceptional, there are still more than reasonable.

Live betting experience

There was plenty going on when it came to the live esports section. At the time that we logged in, there were more than 100 events taking place. These included the European Pro League for League of Legends, the RES Regional series for Dota 2, and a host of events for Counter-Strike 2.

Something really good here is the fact that the majority of the events are live streamed. This really adds to the experience and makes it more immersive.

Esports markets

It’s good news for those who like to bet on esports: there are almost limitless markets to enjoy. There are those such as winner, map winner, handicap, overtime, and total rounds. These options mean that there’s plenty to keep esports enthusiasts entertained. The only slight downside was the fact that markets seemed limited for Dota 2.

Many sportsbooks also include an online casino, and we’re pleased to say that this is the case at Golden Star. Here’s what we found as we explored this:

Game providers

What makes a great online casino is the names behind the games. At Golden Star, the selection of games come from the very best in the business. These include the likes of NetEnt, Microgaming Yggdrasil, and Wazdan. These providers mean that your playing experience will be exceptional.

Range of casino games

There’s certainly enough to keep even the most ardent casino player entertained. We found that there were thousands of slots to choose from. Just some of the titles that we came across were:

• Wolf Thunder
• 3 Buzzing Wilds
• Most Wanted
• Book of Truth

We liked the fact that you can search by provider and that jackpot slots have their own section.

Table games were slightly limited with just a couple of roulette and blackjack titles to choose from. However, as we shall see, this is made up for in the live dealer section.

Live dealer section

The number of tables to play at in the live section seemed limitless. There were literally hundreds to choose from. There were plenty of blackjack variants, as well as roulette and baccarat. We particularly enjoyed Speed Blackjack and Lightning Roulette. It was also good to see gameshow type titles such as Crazy Time and Deal or No Deal.

These games come from Evolution and Pragmatic Play. Both are known as industry leaders.

Deposit limits

Whether you’re looking for a table where you can place a conservative bet or seeking the thrill of being a high roller, Golden Star has you covered. There are titles where you can get in on the action with wagers as low as €1. On the other hand, there are also VIP tables where you can place bets of €25,000 at a time.

If you’re now at the point where you want to enjoy all that Golden Star has to offer, you’ll need to create an account. The good news is that this is easy to do:

1. Visit the Golden Star site
2. Click the ‘Sign Up’ button that’s in the top right corner
3. Enter your email and create a password
4. Enter a phone number and then select the currency you’ll be using
5. Accept the terms and conditions
6. Mark the box to opt in to promotions
7. Click submit and that’s it

We were taken straight to the sportsbook after these steps without even the need to verify our email.

Overall, our time at Golden Star has been positive. With more than 30 sports to bet on, there was plenty to keep us entertained. We also enjoyed the esports section and were impressed with the range of games in the casino.

We’re big fans of the fact that there are no caps on winnings and we were pleased to see that withdrawals can be actioned in an instant. Another plus point here has to be the odds offered on football and tennis.

What we’d like to see improve is the in-play section. While there is a degree of variety, we’d like to see more. We’d also like the live streaming feature to cover more sports.

While this sportsbook has plenty to offer experienced bettors, we feel that it has a lot to offer newcomers. The layout and ease of use make it easy to explore. The smaller number of live events also mean that there’s less chance of becoming overwhelmed.