PlayFrank is a slot and casino site which has run on the Aspire platform since 2020. It has a great selection of slot games and an interesting approach to live casino that focuses on game shows.
PlayFrank was a successful and distinctive casino site for many years in the UK market, running on a customised white label platform created by EveryMatrix, the Malta-based iGaming technology company. Unfortunately, the UK Gambling Commission rather abruptly suspended EveryMatrix’s white label B2C licence in 2019, and the company took the decision to withdraw their casino platform from the UK market, though they retained their licences to supply games and other software.
To continue operating in the UK, PlayFrank had to be moved to another white label platform, so after a short hiatus, the site was relaunched in January 2020, this time on the Aspire Global platform. Sadly, Aspire did not offer the same degree of customisation that characterised the EveryMatrix set-up, so PlayFrank has lost much of its uniqueness in the process.
The site is licensed by both the UKGC and Malta Gaming Authority, and a glance at the foot of the PlayFrank home page also shows the logos of IBAS, iTechLabs and data protection organisation EDPO, adding to the list of credentials.
While PlayFrank may have lost a little in translation from EveryMatrix to Aspire, it still stands out from a lot of the generic casino sites out there, with a clean, cheerful design that feels modern and approachable.
That accessibility extends to the sign-up process, which is fast and straightforward. Clicking on the red Create Account button opens up a short two-page online form, compared to the three- or four-page registration that you see with some sites.
The site is also easy to navigate around. There are nine tabs at the top of the home page, offering links to relevant sections, including the Vendors tab, which enables you to see games from each provider. The developer’s name is also included on the game panel display which is helpful to players, although ideally we would also like to see other details such as RTP and volatility added.
There are only four options on the left-hand side of the home page, but the site is sufficiently well organised for this not to be frustrating, and the choice of Casino, Game Shows, Daily Challenges and Promotions is enough to help you find the area of the site you’re looking for, in conjunction with the array of help options that are clearly displayed at the foot of the home page.
The gaming options at PlayFrank are distinctive. The site is very much focused on slots and not a lot else; of the 3000+ games on the site, around 2800 are slot games, which is bad news if you’re looking for a simple roulette or video poker game.
There are 38 providers represented in the game library, with Games Global (formerly Microgaming) topping the list of titles, just ahead of Pragmatic Play, both of which supply over 300 games. PlayNGo, Spinomenal, Blueprint Gaming and Red Tiger are the other main suppliers here and the game library is heavy on the big-name franchises. So, alongside Gonzo’s Quest, Book of Dead, Gates of Olympus and other high profile games, you’ll find a variety of Sweet Bonanza-themed titles, a complement of Starburst variants and no fewer than 22 variations on the Big Bass theme, from Big Bass Bonanza Megaways to Big Bass Xmas Xtreme.
Within that slot collection, there are around 40 jackpots, although none of the really high-profile progressives make an appearance. Slingo fans have something to enjoy, with more than 40 of the bingo-slots hybrid games available, and in the only concession towards more traditional casino gaming, there are 14 live casino titles. Surprisingly, there are no roulette, blackjack or baccarat options. The live gaming section is labelled as ‘Game Shows’ and features five versions of poker, Super Sic Bo, Teen Patti Live and a handful of game show titles.
One way in which PlayFrank stands out from the standard Aspire sites is in the promotional offers that players can choose from.
The site hosts regular promotional deals with game providers, such as Wazdan and Spinomenal, and of course, there’s the ubiquitous Pragmatic Play Drops & Wins link up (these games even have their own section in the game lobby.
There are regular weekly promotions, such as Monday Spins, Frightening Friday and Sunday Catch of the Day, usually providing free spins on specific slots, with a playthrough figure of x35, which puts them at the lower end of the industry range.
Another aspect we were pleased to see retained at PlayFrank is the Daily Challenges feature. Players can check out the Daily Challenges pages to find out what the latest challenges are and can earn slot spins for completing them. This helps to create a player-friendly atmosphere and means that PlayFrank feels more welcoming than the typical Aspire site.
One strength of Aspire sites that PlayFrank has embraced is the range of deposit options, which is wider than normal for a UK site. You can deposit using most of the popular e-wallet options, along with ApplePay and Paysafecard and all deposit methods allow you to claim bonuses.
There’s no downloadable app with the PlayFrank platform, instead mobile players can access it through their mobile browsers. We were pleased to see that there’s a detailed Mobile Casino section on the home page providing information on the PlayFrank mobile platform, which confirms that mobile players have access to all of the desktop games and features.
The customer support service at PlayFrank is a little uneven. Opening up the live chat option eventually takes you to a customer support member, although via an online form and a pop up that points you to the FAQ section. The FAQs are also in need of a little work. There’s plenty of useful information there, but it is presented in a wall of text that is a chore to plough through.
Aspire Global casino sites are not always the most inspiring gaming platforms out there, but, perhaps because of its slightly unusual origins, PlayFrank stands out a little from the run of the mill Aspire offering. It is firmly aimed at slots fans, so if you’re also looking for a great range of live casino games, bingo, sports betting or even just a simple game of roulette, you’ll be disappointed.
What you will find, however, is a well-designed and easy to use site that delivers a diverse selection of slots games, with smooth mobile compatibility, intuitive site navigation and an array of promotions that goes beyond a big welcome bonus.
We’re not saying that the site wouldn’t improve for the addition of a few table games, as well as a better organised customer support system, but as it stands, this is an attractive site that has developed a distinctive product and continues to thrive on a new platform.
35 x bonus on non jackpot slot games only. Cash play does not contribute and there’s a list of slot games on site that can only be played with cash.
The Responsible Gaming policy is supplied by Aspire. As well as the usual safer gambling tools which are required by the regulator (deposit limits, reality check, time out and self exclusion) they also offer net deposit limits, wagering limits, loss limits and session limits but most of these can only be set with the help of a live chat operator rather than directly in account settings. The policy document also has a self assessment questionnaire and links to outside sources of help, advice and support.