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 Casino Download > Ex-Download Casinos > SIA
SIA Casino Download (Sports Interaction)
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If you ain't in Canada, keep walking. Your name's not on the list. SIA Casino (Sports Interaction) is a legally licensed Canadian online casino, accepting ONLY Canadian residents.
Note - unlike most online casinos accepting 18+ players, if you've just turned eighteen and can't wait to get gaming online at Sports Interaction - well, sorry but you're gonna have to wait another year. SIA Casino is happy to open their doors with a friendly smile and welcome you as a new client, if you reside in Canada and are aged 19+. If that includes you, read on to discover what Sports Interaction and in particular their online casino has to offer you.
How do I download SIA's Playtech casino?
SIA NO LONGER offer a Playtech download-to-computer casino (ie. PC/laptop/Mac/Book) version (which was Mac-workable, extremely rare for a download casino without PC-emulation!), deciding to remove this premium edition of their casino in April 2020, significantly reducing the quality of the overall product for members.
Players are now restricted to only accessing Playtech games and titles from game designers 1x2 Gaming, iSoftbet and Leap Gaming via SIA's less impressive browser/mobile-playable edition. The mobile casino is unavoidably, whilst undoubtedly handy on-the-move, the weakest version of all SIA's casinos.
Can I get my download benefits & missing games back?
Yes - but to retain the benefits of the download casino you'll be shifting play to a similar download-supported online casino such as Everygame, High Country, Slots Capital, Spinfinity, UK Casino Club (not just for Brits and a good choice!), Villento, Yukon Gold and Zodiac (those links lead to our reviews of each brand) containing roughly a thousand games from Microgaming and loads of third-party providers and currently a DOWNLOAD OPTION via Casino-Download.com.
    
The above brands we recommend switching to come from the same mentioned reputable online casino stables, still offering players download-to-PC/laptop premium casino software (all free to download).
Once signed-up, it's likely you'll become a regular. These brands often get exclusive casino games not available at SIA Casino plus access to new game releases before SIA's members get their hands on them - usually a good, full month ahead of the rest.
Losing the software download really hurt SIA Casino
In the past, we always recommended players use the SIA download casino software for accessing the Playtech action and hit the non-download casino for times when you want to play games from one of SIA's other suppliers. However, as SIA have in their 'wisdom' removed the best product in their collection (the download casino), members are no longer given this option.
It was always going to be inevitable, to anyone with insight into how lots of online casino players (especially the big spenders) prefer to control their own gaming environment and these predictions which turned out to be accurate. Many of SIA Casino's most loyal players and high rollers have simply jumped ship, moving onto one of SIA's competitors. It's not like Canadians are short of options when it comes to playing casinos and the best of them offer multiple formats for their players including everything provided by SIA and more, including a premium download casino option for the best in realism, security and zippy-fast navigation around the virtual casino floor.
Sign-up bonus (and T&C)
 Even when SIA Casino did offer a download product, we often moaned about this casino's difficult to navigate website and SIA got a slap on the wrist for falling into this category of offenders. It's clear that SIA Casino always wanted players to use their different software providers which means Sports Interaction was not relying solely on their download casino, but still - downloading SIA Casino should always have been 'one-click-away' from every page of the casino's website. Instead, members (and potential new members) we're forced to navigate unnecessarily to find SIA's casino frontpage and download from there.
Considering that SIA's welcome bonus could only be used via the Sports Interaction downloaded Playtech casino (or mobile casino), hiding the download facility from players did not make sense. It was particularly frustrating because it appeared to be a deliberate act to 'swerve' players to the non-download casino. Making the download casino difficult to find via the site's standard navigation did not seem to be an accidental move. We believed this because of the near-perfect job SIA has done creating easy-to-use navigation for the rest of their website, for which we will fairly award Sports Interaction credit and praise later in this review. Bottom line - they can do it when they want/choose to.
So can I download SIA Casino?
No! You can no longer download SIA Casino software from our site or from the casino's own website. Downloading was VERY fast in our experience when it was eventually located. Even when we downloaded SIA Casino and installed the software onto a nearly-ten-years-old Windows XP laptop, the entire process took about thirty seconds. It was just as fast to uninstall the casino by removing the software and all personal settings at any time - literally just seconds to do so. You could also redownload Sports Interaction's casino software again if you change your mind (again). Of course, all this is irrelevant now that SIA Casino has dumped its entire membership into the hands of browser and mobile play.
Playing games at SIA Casino
SIA's now defunct download casino was Playtech-only. The browser version has games from 1x2 Gaming, iSoftbet and Leap Gaming. The SIA mobile casino contains a smaller selection of Playtech games.
Sports Interaction have got some famous big-name branded games in their slots collection including 24, 90210, Basic Instinct, Pink Panther, Platoon, Rambo, Superman and The Love Guru. Again, we're talking about Playtech releases here which consistently performed and played better and smoother in the SIA download casino.
 SIA's online casino contains hundreds of games (they quote '200+ games' but that figure is rising all the time) including exclusive branded games ONLY playable at SIA Casino, progressive jackpots with prizes paying out millions of dollars and all the table games you would hope to find in any good online casino, ie. baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, casino wars, cribbage, roulette, Texas hold'em and some extra treats not always available to play with some online casinos. SIA's casino players can also try their luck with sharp shooter, sic bo, odd one in and three card poker. If that's not enough, SIA has got optional 3D versions of some of these games for a different feel to your gaming.
Even the most hardcore online casino gambler is sometimes in the mood for something lighter, less serious, to continue the action but have a change of scenery with a fun approach and less stress. This is where SIA's so-called 'soft games' come in very useful. They're a welcome break from the norm and LOADS of fun to play, especially when luck is on your side. Despite the 'soft games' heading used by the industry, there's nothing soft about the money won on these games by players. We ourselves have frequently hit our biggest wins playing exactly these sort of games. When you fancy a break from the slots, video poker and tables, wander over to the lighter (appearance-wise) side and play hi-go games, keno and lotto. There's literally hours of fun (well, we played for hours) to be had with SIA's virtual sports games that include Darts 180, American Football, Cycling, Football/Soccer, Greyhounds, Horse Racing, Instant Speedway and Rugby. Have a go - you're almost certain to enjoy it.
If you demand the ultimate in casino realism then you'll have to head straight for SIA Casino's live dealer games, which we are pleased to report is one of the widest range of live dealer games we have ever come across at an online casino. We'll try to ignore the niggle that is SIA's irrelevant/dated mention of 'beautiful' live dealers (we're sure that is massively important to all players - male and female) and concentrate on the positive. SIA's live dealer collection includes all the games you'll find at other casinos with live table games but SIA Casino go several steps further in terms of what they offer to their client-base. Play live baccarat, blackjack, casino hold'em, dragon jackpot, hi-lo, Japanese soiree, stud poker, roulette, spin a win, three card brag and more with plenty of variations on these games such as Age Of Gods Roulette, Prestige Roulette, Sia Blackjack and Soiree Roulette.
Sign-up bonus (and T&C)
The welcome bonus at Sport's Interaction casino is optional and so can be accepted or declined by all new clients. Welcome bonuses can be used to boost your starting balance but they always come with terms and conditions that could make you think twice about accepting the offer.
New sign-ups at SIA Casino start with a 100% bonus up to CA$200 bonus on the first deposit made. The minimum qualifying deposit is just CA$20 so it's not out-of-reach for most members. The terms and restrictions start as ever with wagering requirements where you'll need to have placed a minimum total amount of bets (win or lose - doesn't matter, it's the stake amount that is being counted) before you can cash out any money. At SIA, the casino wager requirement is bonus x30 which, as anyone who knows their way around casino sign-up bonuses will confirm, is a very fair deal. You can check your wagering progress at any time to see how close (or far) you are to reaching the magic 'can now withdraw' moment. It can take some time, will require luck to be on your side at times and a lot of new members will run out of funds before ever getting there - that's the gamble!
The next vital rule when using bonus money at SIA Casino is that you are restricted on the casino games you can play with bonus money. Fortunately, once again, SIA Casino perform really well here with a very wide variety of games to play, whereas lots of casinos limit their bonus players to just slot games and not much else. Some games contribute higher and lower percentages of the stake towards the bonus wagering target which we will list below. Please note that any play on live dealer, mini games and mobile games do not count towards betting requirements so keep clear of these games (and low contributing games listed below) until you've finished your wagering requirement betting.
SIA Casino (Sports Interaction) casino games - bonus wagering contributions: 100%: Arcades (excluding Spin a Win and Lucky Wheel), Scratch Cards, Slots, Video Poker. 25%: Roulette (all variations). 20%: Baccarat, Blackjack Surrender, Blackjack Switch, Casino War, Casino Hold Em, Craps, Pontoon, Progressive Blackjack, Red Dog, Sic Bo, Spin a Win/Lucky Wheel, Stravaganza and Wild Vikings. 10%: Card games (excluding Casino Hold 'em, Casino War, Pai Gow, Red Dog and Wild Viking).
Don't you DARE try to cash-out early... or else!
Unfortunately (and hopefully needlessly), we'll end the sign-up bonus review with a particularly unpleasant gem (or should we say turd) in the casino's T&C. Take a look at this beauty: "If a player attempts to withdraw prior to meeting the betting requirements the bonus and winnings will be removed from the players balance."
We're not sure where to start with just how wrong and immoral the above term reads to us and should to you. If a player accidentally attempts to cashout too early then they lose everything? Well, if that IS the case, the fault is ENTIRELY 100% due to the casino not implementing a blocking facility on premature cashouts. Especially if it'll lead to stolen funds.
This term could and should be worded a LOT friendlier for SIA valued cliente and we certainly hope the casino would NOT follow through on this rather ugly threat if a player accidentally 'tried' to cashout before being allowed to - especially as the player wouldn't be paid anyway!
If we ever read about a case such as this leading to stolen due funds as a result of SIA not properly limiting cashouts at the point of the software/casino then they can expect to be blacklisted. Not something they want so we recommend SIA Casino either prevent premature cashouts or remove/edit their horribly aggressive T&C. It does not look good to potential new members.
What are the banking options at Sports Interaction Casino?
For most players, receiving one withdrawal/cashout a month will be more than enough (and lovely!) but for extra-regular gamblers and those who prefer to cashout their winnings on a more frequent basis, SIA have got arrangements set up for everyone. Sports Interaction will allow one fee-free withdrawal each calendar month, regardless of the method used to receive your money. Subsequent withdrawals generally cost a small fee under CA$10 - which might seem a little annoying for some people but if you've got enough in the bank to make a cashout worthwhile then paying a few dollars for the 'privilege' will probably only sting a little until you receive your cash.
So if you're lucky enough to be making more than your first withdrawal in any month, the fees are as follows: Bank wire: CAD $7. eCheck or InstaDebit: CAD $2. ecoPayz/EcoCard and Instant Banking: CAD $3.
There is generally a $50 minimum withdrawal amount but SIA members can cash out a smaller balance in exchange for paying a CAD $10 processing fee. Note that to be able to cashout via eCheck or InstaDebit you will need to make a minimum deposit using the same method (you can of course add this deposit to your withdrawal). Most online casinos wouldn't offer this option so we think it's a good, fair additional option for SIA's members.
SIA Casino/Sports Interaction review summary
Overall, if we temporarily disregard SIA's idiotic decision to remove the download casino, we offer genuine congratulations to SIA's design team for a job well done with the site's other navigation and content. SIA is a really excellent website with loads of helpful information and if you're anything like us then you could easily get lost for an hour or more reading all about SIA and its various products, games, services, features and facilities and just generally feeling impressed with the ease of navigating the casino's website and finding everything that's crucial to know. It's not often pulled off brilliantly by casinos online and we regularly have to struggle through some truly bewildering pathways to find our way around some casino sites but there's nothing of the sort here.
Credit where it's due - well done, SIA. If only they'd taken the same care when it comes to maintaining the availability to download Sports Interaction's casino itself.
As well as being an online casino, SIA (Sports Interaction) offers its members access to loads more betting opportunities including a live sportsbook (including US Thoroughbred racing) and online poker tables. Customer support is at hand for players 24/7 as and when required.
Recommended?
SIA Casino is no longer strongly recommended by Casino-Download.com for Canadians. It's an 'okay' browser/mobile-only casino that lost much of its charm by removing the downloadable casino. We'll keep an eye on those pesky T&C but if you read the rules and are happy to play within the limits of a browser or mobile and don't bet without thinking then you will probably be happy enough at SIA.
SIA Casino screenshots
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SIA Casino website
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Easter Surprise slot
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Cribbage
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