Hugo Casino is one of those platforms that catches your eye with its simplicity and quite a choice for us, gamblers. It has operated since 2023 and for someone who enjoys online gaming, it seems like a promising option. But how well does it hold up when you dig deeper? Let’s explore its features, strengths, and weaknesses to see if it’s the right fit for players from New Zealand and Australia.
Design and Usability
I really like the color palette used on Hugo Casino’s main site. The dark brown background paired with orange-gold buttons is very easy on the eyes. This choice clearly ties into their logo and the main “character” of the casino — I’m guessing it’s a sparrow? Though I’m no bird expert, so don’t hold it against me if I’m wrong! The bird has a cool vibe, somewhere between a rocker, a punk, or just a mischievous rebel. Definitely bold but in a fun and charming way.
What’s even better is that they’ve dressed up this sparrow for the New Year holidays. It’s always nice to see casinos embracing seasonal themes. It adds a festive touch and puts you in a cheerful mood when you visit the site.
As for the menu, everything is pretty standard. On the left side, there’s a column with all the main sections: Live Casino, Promotions, Treasure Hunt, Shop, Tournaments, Achievements, and Loyalty Club. At the bottom of this column, you’ll find a search bar and a button to change languages. There’s also a separate search bar conveniently placed at the top of the homepage. Regarding languages, English is the main option, with regional versions for CA, IE, NZ, and AU. They also offer French for Canada and Switzerland, plus German, Polish, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, Danish, Hungarian, and Spanish.
One cool feature is the registration window, which is displayed right on the main page to the right. It saves us Kiwi players a click — much appreciated!
The top horizontal menu gives quick access to different game categories. If you scroll down, you’ll see the same ones, now with visuals so you can instantly pick something that catches your eye. They’ve also highlighted the casino’s main benefits, which I really like. Transparency is always legit.
At the very bottom, you’ll find links to their social media accounts. Although you’ll need to navigate to a separate page first, they’re active on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Telegram. I think it’s worth following them for exclusive offers — it’s not every day you see casinos this active on social platforms.
All in all, I really enjoyed exploring the official site. You know, UX/UI is very important to me — and I’m sure it matters to other players too. It’s the 21st century, and a poorly designed website just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Licensing and Security
Hugo Online Casino operates under a Curaçao Gaming license (OGL/2024/589/0556), which is fairly standard in the industry. While Curaçao isn’t the most stringent licensing authority, it does provide some level of assurance for safety and fairness. The official site is operated by GBL Solutions N.V., with a registered office in Curaçao, and payments are handled through a subsidiary in Cyprus.
The platform uses encryption to protect player data, which is essential for anyone sharing personal or financial information online. While the licensing isn’t top-tier, it meets basic security expectations.
Registration
As I mentioned earlier, the registration window pops up as soon as you land on the main page. The process is pretty straightforward, but there are a couple of noteworthy details. First, aside from your email, you get to create a unique username. Got a lucky nickname or favorite numbers? Here’s your chance to use them! Second, you can register via Google, which is super convenient.
If you register via Google, after this quick process, you’ll see a window where you can create your custom username, as well as select your country and currency.
If you go to the standard hugo casino sign up, you’ll need to enter this information during the initial registration.
In both cases, the next step is to fill in your personal details: first name, last name, when you were born, gender (what — only two options here!? :D), where you are located now and how you can be contacted.
I’m pretty sure you’ll nail this part and will get to the next window where you can make your first deposit. The UX of the casino is intuitive and well-designed — a big thumbs-up from me. As for deposit methods, everything’s pretty standard (which is a good thing): Visa/Mastercard, paysafecard, POLi, Skrill, Neosurf, CashtoCode, MiFINITY, Neteller, Flexepin, Payz, and even cryptocurrency.
Want to see your transaction history? You can do that at the same tab right there. However, if you just registered, what history are we talking about, aye?
Login
The login page is exactly what you’d expect from a platform. Most importantly, don’t forget to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Hugo Casino designers thought it through and provided a dedicated section in your account settings.
If you’re using a Google email, you can download Google Authenticator. For other email providers, the online casino suggests using Authy.
Also, don’t skip your account verification — do it straight away and be the only owner of your account. KYC verification at Hugo Online Casino keeps your identity safe, makes withdrawals quick and easy, and lets you enjoy everything Hugo has to offer.
Games Library
As I mentioned earlier, the homepage greets you with a vibrant selection of game thumbnails. Hugo Casino has brought together titles from 106 providers, including all the top names. If you’re not in the mood to search and just want to dive into what other kiwi players are loving, head over to the Popular or Hot sections.
Prefer to uncover hidden gems that haven’t hit the spotlight yet? The New section is where you’ll find fresh additions, regularly updated and carefully vetted to meet high standards.
Looking for something with a bigger prize pool? Check out the Drops & Wins section, a signature feature from Pragmatic Play. Here, you can win extra prizes in popular games or join tournaments with massive cash pools.
Of course, Hugo Online Casino also offers the classics — pokies, live casino, table games, roulette, and blackjack. Because what’s an online casino without the staples, right?
Another handy feature is the "liking" of the games and adding them to a special tab for quick access later. Wondering where to find your favorites? Search for a heart icon — bottom left corner will do, between the Search and Language buttons.
Speaking of search, Hugo Casino lets you filter games by title or provider — whichever works best for you. But honestly, the Favorites feature is a game-changer, especially if you, like me, tend to forget game names.
Customer Service
What about players who have questions or run into issues? First, you can head to the FAQ section, located at the very bottom of the page. It’s divided into three categories: account questions, payment-related questions, and security topics, with a total of 16 concise and helpful answers. If that doesn’t resolve your issue, you can reach out to Hugo Casino’s Client Service powered by Chat Hero — essentially a live chat.
Your name is automatically pulled from your account, and you can select the category of your inquiry, such as Account Status, Verification, Deposits & Withdrawals, Deposit Offers, Extra Bonuses, Other, or Technical Assistance.
The response time was quick according to New Zealand standards, but I did have to manually enter my email, which was a bit odd since my name was preloaded. Still, it worked. Though, I always find myself wondering — am I chatting with a bot or a real person? Technology keeps us guessing.
The support button is accessible from every page, which is a definite plus.
Pros and Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Many options where to gamble — your call | No sports betting feature |
| Stylish design and excellent UX/UI | Curaçao license may not inspire full confidence for some players |
| Google account registration and login option | Live chat may not actually be live |
| Demo modes, many of them |
Conclusion
To my fellow players from New Zealand and Australia: I give Hugo Casino my full approval! Go ahead, check it out, and enjoy the experience.
