Nowadays, pretty much all reputable casino operators offer a mobile app. But which ones are any good and are worthy of your time and money? In this article, you will find out just that.
What Makes a Good Casino App?
There are certain criteria that a mobile casino needs to be assessed against in order to determine how good it is. Amongst these are a rich game selection, the ability to support a variety of devices and operating systems, as well as enticing and generous bonuses. Yet these are just the tip of the iceberg. In order to identify the best mobile casinos, we have thoroughly tested each casino app against a strict set of criteria. We never make any compromises when it comes to safety, so we only ever recommend casinos that hold a valid licence from the UK Gambling Commission. You can find out more about the important criteria for identifying top casino apps in the following section.
Compatibility – iOS, Android and Windows
One of the first considerations is whether the mobile casino is compatible with your device and operating system. As a general rule of thumb, most casinos are Android and iOS friendly, yet there are relatively few apps that have been developed for Windows Phone. So if you have an iPad, iPhone, Android Tablet or Phone, then it is more than likely that you will be able to play at your casino of choice. Yet if you use Windows Phone, then you cannot assume that you will be able to. However, there are some casinos that offer web based apps, that can be played in the browser, regardless of the operating system that is in use. This is good news for Windows Phone users, as the responsive web design makes the casino games accessible. However, this does not necessarily mean that you will get as good an overall playing experience as you would where the casino has developed an app for a specific operating system.
As for minimum requirements for playing at a mobile online casino, these tend to be relatively low. If you have a relatively new phone and are using a fairly recent version of the operating system, then you should have no problems using the app. Even if you use a fairly old device, you will probably still be able to play, you just may find the overall performance is lower than with a new device. During our research, we found the majority of mobile casino apps for iPad and iPhone performed well providing iOS 6 or later was used. Phones and tablets running on at least Android 2.3 also met the mark.
Native vs Web Based Apps
There are two types of mobile apps that will allow you to play real money casino games. One is web-based and accessed directly in your mobile browser, the other is a native app that you download. There are pros and cons to each type of app. Web-based applications are developed in HTML5, enabling them to work across numerous devices and operating systems. Whereas download ones are designed specifically to work with one particular operating system, such as iOS or Android. As they are developed for one specific operating system, they can provide better performance than the web-based versions.
Yet native applications are complex to develop, and as such, not all casinos will offer a download app. This is particularly true of Android. Given the wide variety of phones and tablets that use the Android operating system, it is difficult to develop a casino app which is optimised for all devices. What’s more, whereas iPhone and iPad users can download a casino native app, just like any other app, from the iTunes store, the situation is different for Android users. The Google Play store does not allow real money gambling apps to be offered. Therefore, where an Android native app is available, it will need to be downloaded directly from the casino website.
So if an operator provides both a download app and a web based version – which should you use? Well our advice would be to try out the casino in the browser to start off with. If you like what it has to offer, then you can download the native app, making it even quicker and easier to launch the games in future.
Mobile Game Selection and Software Providers
One of the most important factors in determining the best mobile casino is the game selection. It is worth noting that the number of games that are available on a casino app is smaller than that of the desktop version. Plus, there is a wide difference between different operators, with some apps providing less than 50 games, and others offering in excess of 300. Yet it is not simply the amount of games that is important, but also the variety, quality and distribution. The bulk of a mobile casino’s game collection usually consists of slots, with a varying assortment of other games such as roulette, blackjack and video poker. There are even many that provide live casino games.
The games are adapted and optimised for mobile play by the software developers that created them in the first place. In order to work on the considerably smaller screens of phones and tablets, the layout of games and the options and functions have been simplified. Only the essential game elements are included, such as the spin button on slots. The other options, such as the paytables and rules are usually included on different screens, which can be accessed with a tap or a swipe. The stand out software developers in the industry are Playtech, Microgaming and NetEnt. Here is an overview of each:
Playtech – One of the most popular software providers, Playtech supply the games for many well known online casinos. Their mobile hub, first developed back in 2012, is designed to integrate existing content and to provide a seamless experience to those playing on mobile devices. The mobile games are built in HTML5, and are compatible with web browsers and native applications, meaning they can be played on virtually any device. One of the highlights of the Playtech game portfolio is the exciting Marvel Progressive Jackpot Slots collection. Many of the hugely popular titles such as The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 3 and Spiderman have been adapted for mobile play.
Microgaming – As one of the oldest software providers, Microgaming has a wealth of experience in producing games that players love. Through their Quickfire platform, they are able to boast the largest mobile game portfolio in the industry. Yet this does not see them rest on their laurels, with new mobile games released every month. They provide a wide variety of games, including video and classic slots, progressive jackpots, tables games and video poker. Granted, some of their games look slightly outdated given their age, yet at the same time, their newer releases are visually stunning. Some of their most popular mobile games include the Game of Thrones and Mega Moolah slots.
NetEnt – With a dedicated mobile development division, entitled NetEnt Touch, the Swedish company are one of the most impressive suppliers of mobile games. Their first mobile game was launched in 2011, and whilst their collection is not the largest, their games break ground in terms of the cutting edge graphics and the innovative features. Some of the most popular games in the NetEnt collection have been expertly adapted for mobile play. Games such as Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, and the EGR Game of the Year 2015 – Spiñata Grande are all available to play on the go. The software developer regularly creates new games, and nowadays, practically all new releases are available for both desktop and mobile play simultaneously.
Bargain Bonuses with Fair Conditions
One of the highlights of playing at an online casino are the generous bonuses that are up for grabs. Every operator provides some kind of special offer to entice you to sign up with them. They boost your bank roll and give you the opportunity to play and win more using the casino’s money. You will usually find that the offers which are available for desktop users can also be claimed by mobile users. On the other hand, there are some bonuses that you can only claim on the desktop version of the casino. There are also some rare cases where there are bonuses available specifically for mobile users.
There are a few things to take into consideration before accepting a bonus. The first is the wagering requirement. All bonuses need to be played through a certain number of times before you can withdraw any winnings made with them. These can vary from between 20 – 50 times the bonus amount. Anything over this just does not represent good value. Next up is the minimum deposit required to claim the bonus. You will need to meet this requirement to benefit from the offer. You should also be aware that bonuses have a validity period attached to them. So you need to spend your bonus and meet the playthrough conditions within a certain time limit, before the bonus expires. Finally, you should check that the bonus allows you to play the games that you are interested in playing.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options
Of course, in order to benefit from a welcome bonus, you will need to make a deposit. All reputable mobile casinos will allow you to make deposits and withdrawals from your mobile device. What’s more, they will provide a wide selection of safe and popular payment options. You may find however, that some of the payment methods accepted on the desktop site may not be available on the mobile version. Generally, most mobile friendly casinos will accept payments using credit and debit cards, but you should also have various other options available to you, including e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, and prepaid methods, such as paysafecard.
Safety and Security Come First
When considering the best online mobile casinos, security is extremely important. Yet how can you ensure that your experience will be safe? Well for starters, you should only ever play at a mobile gambling site that is licenced by the UK Gambling Commission. All operators that provide online gambling services to players in the UK are legally required to possess a valid licence. In order to obtain this licence, an operator has to adhere to strict standards regarding player protection. For starters, they need to prove that their games are fair and the outcomes are not predetermined. There are various independent testing agencies, which are authorised by the commission to test and analyse the random number generators (RNG’s) to ensure the integrity of the games. Such agencies include the likes of eCOGRA, GLI and TST. Also, trustworthy mobile online casinos use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to ensure that your sensitive personal data is kept strictly protected. When a casino has an SSL certificate, you can be sure it is safe to deposit there. In short, you can only be certain that a mobile casino is reliable and trustworthy if it holds a licence from the UKGC.
Tips to Improve your Security
In addition to the security advice listed above, there are also certain measures you can take to make sure that your playing experience is as safe as possible when you use your phone or tablet.
Do not save your password – Whilst it may be tempting to keep your casino account logged in to allow quick and easy access to games, this can cause major problems. If your phone is lost or stolen, then this allows others to access your account and to spend your money.
Update your operating system – Older versions of operating systems can have weak spots which hackers try to manipulate and take advantage of. By regularly updating your device to the latest OS, you will be better protected if any vulnerabilities exist.
Wi-Fi Precautions – When you use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, it may not be completely secure. Therefore, if you use this type of connection to play casino games on your mobile, then make sure that the casino has an SSL certificate, to ensure that any personal data you submit will remain secure and protected.
Conclusion
To summarise, there are hundreds of mobile online casinos to choose from, and by using the criteria covered in this article, you can pick out the best ones for you. Whether the most important factor for you is a big game selection, or rewarding bonus offers, never forget that safety is the number one priority. Only ever play at casinos licenced by the UKCG to ensure that you will be completely protected. That way, you can enjoy the best of what gaming on the go has to offer, without any risk involved.