The Best Mobile Casino Apps on Review
The technological revolution has left us nothing but thirsty for more, faster, cooler gadgets that let us do pretty much anything we can think of. Online casinos have tirelessly kept pace with these consumer trends. With entertainment on the go being so easy to find these days, it’s really no wonder that online gambling operators have swooped in to join the battle of the casino apps and mobile casinos in UK’s gaming industry.
| Best Casinos | Rating | Awards | Highlights | Bonus Amount | Safe Link | Terms |
Best Mobile Operator 2011
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Loads of mobile games, Both native and web app, Mobile live suite from Playtech | Up to £100 First-Deposit Bonus | Claim Bonus | Full T&Cs apply. Minimum deposit of £10 , x45 wagering, Roulette & Blackjack 50% weighting. Bonus valid for 7 days. Not available to customers using Moneybookers/Skrill or Neteller as a payment method. |
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Innovation in Casino Award
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Clean look – perfect for mobile!, Lots of NetEnt touch games, Available for Windows phones, too | Up to £25 +20 Bonus Spins | Claim Bonus | Full T&Cs apply. *18+. New customers. Opt-in required. 20 Bonus Spins on "Sahara Riches Cash Collect" at 10p per spin and 100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 on first deposit (payment method and play restrictions apply). Min. deposit £10. 30x wagering for Bonus Spins and Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max. £5/spin or £0.50/line. 30 days expiry. Please gamble responsibly • BeGambleAware.org • T&Cs apply |
The online casinos above will ensure you’re in good hands with their mobile products. Frankly put, these are my favourites because they satisfy the key criteria for top mobile casino apps – which I’ll also address on this page. This introduction to the best mobile casino apps has got one goal in mind – to give you a better understanding of the ins and outs of handheld casino gaming. Not so sure if you’re cut out for mobile gaming altogether? Well, just stick around for a rundown of advantages and disadvantages and consider yourself informed and ready to make the right call.
What Makes a Best Mobile Casino?
Playing a round or two of slots or blackjack certainly won’t kill you if you happen to do that in a less-than-suitable mobile casino app. Nevertheless, it’s best practice to do a bit of research – or have someone like me do it for you – and just cut through to the nitty-gritty of the best casino apps out there. There’s plenty of excellent gaming spots out there, but it might not be fair and square to assume that a good desktop casino automatically has a mobile platform that is just as flawless. Different operators put different amount of effort into the development, maintenance and innovation of their mobile app platforms, so you’ll likely find wide variance within this field – and one that may not correspond to your preconceived notions. Here are some of the key elements to watch out for when you’re looking to pounce on the best real money gambling apps on the market.
- An app format that suits your device type and parameters
- Good optimisation of games – make the most of your screen space
- Easy navigation on the website and between games
- Good graphics and clear audio
- Big selection of mobile-playable games
- Good quality of live suite graphics and audio
You might find that some casinos and software providers are slightly ahead of the curve with smartly done website optimisation and mobile compatibility for many games. NetEnt, for instance, creates all its new games with the app format in the foreground. It’s a fantastic way to hit the market first and avoid any potential troubles stemming from optimising a game at a later point.
Native or Web – Get Best Casino Apps in Any Format!
Out of the two ways to get your hands on a top mobile casino experience, it comes down to personal preference and/or availability of app space on your device. Each method comes with its own set of pros and cons, so it’s really up to you and your priorities which one to reach for when given a choice.
Native Apps
The chase for best casino apps might as well start with the so-called native apps. These require download and are tailored for specific device types. The high level of customisation during development means this is not a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, these apps are tailor-made and therefore should fit your device to a T. In practice, this translates to shorter loading times, lower usage of mobile data, faster navigation to and from the games library, and no tedious online browsing. On the other hand, some downsides might make you reconsider – especially if you’re a stickler for hassle-free updates and like to see new games integrated frequently.
Getting these online casino apps onto your phone or tablet is typically a breeze: you can visit the App Store for downloads if you’re an iOS user or get the app directly from the casino website if you’ve got an Android device. This discrepancy in access happens thanks to Google’s stiffer restrictions on what can appear in the Play Store. Therefore, putting the app up on the website is a concession UK online gambling operators must make to get their app out there. It involves just one extra step, though: you must first enable downloads from unknown sources before you install as this is the only way to get a third party app onto your gadget. But don’t forget to switch it back to ‘disable’ when you’re done!
Browser-Based Gaming
Those in favour of saving their precious mobile memory space for more exciting things like betting apps, dank memes, or cat videos might want to turn to browser-based web apps with easy access and no downloads. It’s a blanket solution for various gadget types at a time, so, while you’re losing the tight customisation element, you’ll enjoy the benefits of this approach with a platform that’s easier to update and integrate new games into.
These apps are not “apps” in the true sense of the word. Nevertheless, this type of mobile optmisation effectively mimics that of an app, while avoiding any downloads onto a device. And playing on web apps is super easy – just open the browser and go to the casino website, same procedure! These apps are actually on the up and up due to this exact reason – with some operators starting off exclusively with web apps thanks to the ease of development. Another plus might crystalise for Windows phone users, who are rarely catered to with native apps. While not every casino web app will be supported by this somewhat niche device brand, it’ll be a decisively more frequent occurrence than with downloadable apps, and rising.
Popular Games in the Best Real Money Gambling Apps
Mobile-friendly formatting is the future, making it possible to play various game types on almost any mobile device or tablet of your choice (though, yes, exceptions do apply – hello, Blackberry users!). In any case, the number of games at a particular casino that gets prepped for mobile use varies wildly. You’ll find sites which are pretty much one-to-one between desktop and mobile, while some might have some development and formatting stumbling blocks when it comes to making their games mobile-playable – especially as concerns older titles. Slots comprise the biggest group of mobile-friendly games. This is no surprise with the overwhelming popularity of online reels at pretty much each and every online gambling site.
Nevertheless, classic card and table games are also readily available, with roulette and blackjack at the helm, as well as video poker or baccarat. If you want to take it further, there’s no way to make easy generalisations. Each casino does its own thing and thus might offer either more or less than the industry standard. So if you’re after a niche game, it’s wisest to browse our top casino lists and find what you might be looking for. Not to be forgotten, live casino games are also usually on the mobile roster too, so you can truly feel like you’re in a casino anywhere, anytime – in a shop, at the doctor’s, or on the bus.
Is Practice Play Available?
Part of the online gambling tips we have for our readers is to try the games for free first. It’s somewhat standard practice (though not everywhere) to offer demo versions of some games – typically slots and card and table games – to those who are not quite ready yet to take on a real money adventure. So there’s also a certain expectation that the best casino apps have the same option. Au contraire, however: there are many providers who forego demo play on mobile, figuring out that those who want to try games out have already done so on a desktop. So when they visit the mobile casino, they’re in it for real. That’s not to say there are absolutely no operators with mobile demo play – it’s, again, one of the facets where the casino makes the call. So I’d encourage you to check if free demos is what you’re after – you might turn up lucky!
Do Welcome Bonuses Apply?
Bonus hunters need not fear – there’s no cut corners when it comes to welcome packages. These don’t discriminate against mobile players! In principle, claiming a bonus through an online casino app goes down in the same way as in a traditional desktop view. Click on a banner prompt or check the appropriate box – whatever the case may be – and the first deposit bonus will be added to your balance along with your own money. You can also take advantage of other special offers and extras in case your casino offers them. Not sure what there is up for grabs? Check out our overview of the best casino offers UK!
How to Deposit Money on a Mobile App
To be able to claim a welcome offer, you first have to deposit money, of course. You don’t need only the best real money gambling apps to be able to deposit via mobile – it’s a standard feature these days, with even the shabbiest app vying for your pennies no matter the source (but let’s steer clear of those, shall we?). You won’t face any major restrictions just because you use a handheld device – quite the opposite, actually. Some operators go the extra mile with easy-fill features which let you store your card number for future use and avoid typing it each time or provide easy payments via PayPal. Mobile billing is sometimes also available, as it’s been gaining popularity recently. This nifty payment method lets you add whatever deposit charges to your mobile phone bill, up for payment at the end of the billing period as usual. Maybe more suited for small deposits rather than high roller sums, this payment type is nevertheless a clever way to deposit hassle-free.
Is Mobile Gaming Truly for Everyone?
Despite the numerous positives associated with playing on the best mobile casino apps, it’d be silly to say mobile gaming universally fits everyone. The beauty of having handheld device platforms is, in fact, that you can choose to use them or not use them – whatever you prefer. So let’s look at some general downsides, for an equal assessment.
First off, no matter how modern your phone or tablet, it will always be nice to enjoy a game of live baccarat on a ‘real’ screen rather than the 5-inch excuse for one on your phone. Imagine wanting to play multi-table at a live suite – you’ll go cross-eyed just trying to distinguish what’s what in each tiny table window, not to mention the risk of potentially pressing the wrong button and wagering a £100 instead of ten quid! And, risks aside, it will always be a more immersive experience to play live with a big screen! Navigating between games and casino sections, however, optimised, may still be a bit of a hit or miss with some operators – especially if you’re not tech-savvy or simply don’t want to be bothered figuring out shortcuts, etc. And don’t forget that your mobile data also takes a beating if you’re playing while on the move. So within the restrictions of not wanting to completely deplete your monthly gigabyte ration, you’ll end up playing at home on your WiFi – so then you might as well make it comfier and play on a proper computer.
Find the Best Casino App for You!
So whether you see yourself playing on your mobile or an iPad, or prefer to stick to traditional means of online gambling, there’s one thing for sure: it’s up to you as a player. If you do choose to go with mobile games, stick to my advice in picking out the top mobile casino – make sure your favourite games are offered, and test out the functionalities, use of screen space, and navigation. Even if you’re not able to play demos, you’ll still be allowed to take a look inside. I hope this intense prep session has served you well. Here’s my top tip for the best mobile casino if you’re keen to jump in and start playing!