Whether you have a penchant for real money slots or you want to spin the roulette wheel on the move, mobile online casino sites offer something for everyone. From optimized mobile platforms to dedicated gaming apps, mobile casino gaming has gone crazy on smartphones and tablets over the last decade. Here we shortlist the best options and break down everything Samsung Android and Apple iOS users need to know about gaming on the go.
Although modern smartphones and tablets all operate in virtually the same way, there are some subtle differences you need to be aware of before you ante-up. So, to ensure you know what you can and can’t do with your Samsung or Apple device when you’re surveying the mobile online casino landscape, here’s an overview of the top tech players on the market:
Online Casino Apps
If you want to play casino games for real cash there are two main ways: mobile sites and mobile apps. Five years ago the best option for players was optimized mobile websites simply because operators were able to offer a larger selection of games through this medium.
However, as iPhone, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry devices have become more advanced, operators are now able to cram more games into the apps. Indeed, thanks to increased memory, better processing speeds and enhanced graphics, mobile devices are well equipped enough to handle even the most demanding casino games.
All online mobile casino apps are great, but there’s no denying that iOS and Android devices lead the way. Because these devices dominate the global market in terms of usage (Android = 79% market share, iOS = 16% market share), software developers and operators have naturally spent more time focusing on them. Because of this, you’ll find that every major site now has app options for iOS and Android users.
In contrast, Windows Phone and Blackberry users may find their options slightly limited when it comes to downloadable apps. However, if you’re a Windows Phone user you do have one advantage over the field: you’re basically carrying around a mobile PC.
Because Windows Phones use the same Microsoft software as your home PC, it means you can literally access an online casino as if you were using your desktop. While that might mean you have to type in a web address instead of touching an app, the experience is, in some ways, better than the one you can have on an iOS or Android device because you’ll have access to a full suite of games.
Real Money Mobile Casino
Following the release of the first iPhone in 2007 and then Android smartphone in 2008, software developers such as Microgaming, NetEnt and Playtech were able to expand their gaming horizons. With devices now capable of storing apps and, therefore, more data, developers could design games specifically for mobile use.
By 2010, the term “mobile casino apps” started to be talked about more and more as players gained access to an ever-growing suite of play money and real money casino games. Like online casinos, the top mobile casino apps allow players to enter practice tables and learn the nuances of a game before they ante-up for real. Once players are comfortable with a game in a mobile setting, it’s then possible for them to make a deposit. It used to be the case players had to make a deposit to their account online and then switch to their mobile app. However, thanks to the development of secure mobile payment options and Omni-channel technology, players can do everything via their smartphone or tablet.
Indeed, Omni-channel software essentially bridged the gap between a player’s online account and their mobile app, which not only helped everything safer and more efficient, but increased the appeal of the medium. In fact, as is the case in the online casino world, mobile apps now have real money games with betting limits starting as low as $0.01 as well as an array of real money bonuses and player rewards. Check out the options below for some of the best real money mobile platforms.
Online Casino Games
OK, so now you know where mobile casino apps have come from, the next question is: how do they work? Quite simply, every major online casino site will offer a mobile app. While some sites still offer an optimized mobile site, the trend is to now offer a dedicated app that contains specially crafted games.
Every tablet and smartphone casino app offers a click-and-play service. This basically means that once you download the software (which is usually free), you can simply log into your account and start playing. Indeed, because the top operators use Omni-channel software, everything you do via your desktop is transmitted to your mobile app and everything you do on your cellphone is transmitted to your desktop account.
In the past it used to be the case that players would have to make deposits using their computer and then transfer it to a mobile account. However, those days have gone and you can now simply install, log-in and play.