So which is better between casino apps or desktop casino sites? It may boil down to personal preference, but each option has its distinct advantages and disadvantages.
What Are The Advantages of Casino Mobile Apps Over Desktop?
The first obvious advantage of mobile casino apps is their convenience. Handheld devices like smartphones and tablets go everywhere with you. This mobility gives you access to your favorite games wherever you may be.
You can play a quick game of blackjack or your favorite slot from anywhere with an internet connection.
On average, casino apps offer a faster, smoother, and more responsive gameplay experience than desktop. By downloading the casino app on your device, you also store software and much of the data the app needs to run on your device (locally).
Playing Casino Games On Desktop
On a desktop, the casino website retrieves all of its data from servers. Casino apps are more responsive since they recover data quicker than their desktop counterparts.
Traditionally, the desktop has dominated the online gambling market worldwide. The landscape is very different today, with experts projecting that mobile will be the fastest-growing device type (for online casino gaming) over the next five years.
This new reality is forcing casinos to adopt a mobile-first approach. In turn, casino apps are getting better at a faster rate than their desktop counterparts.
Lastly, mobile devices may provide more flexibility as you can connect to alternative internet sources such as cellular data connections, which can be just as fast as WiFi.
What Are The Disadvantages of Casino Mobile Apps Over Desktop?
The convenience, performance, and flexibility of mobile apps are undeniable, but there are a few disadvantages of choosing mobile apps over desktop casinos.
The first obvious downside of mobile apps is the screen size. While you can get around this problem using a tablet or larger device, it would still be hard to replicate the size of a desktop or laptop screen.
Most smartphones have a small screen, increasing the chances of miss-clicking. You can easily navigate out of an ongoing game because you tapped the wrong part of the screen.
The smaller screen size can also compromise your overall gaming experience. Casinos, especially Live Dealer games and table games, have a distinct ambiance. The smaller mobile screen doesn’t quite capture the authentic Vegas experience that desktop gaming offers.
Additionally, mobile devices may have space limitations. This downside is especially true for older devices or if you don’t have a memory card. Some casino apps can also be resource-intensive, slowing down your phone or lagging, crashing, and disconnecting during gameplay.
Modern casino apps seem to favor newer and more powerful devices and operating systems. You may not appreciate the full mobile gaming experience when using older devices or outdated software.
You are also limited to your device’s battery life when playing on mobile. You may have to find a charging port, which can be inconvenient if you are on the go. Casino apps may quickly drain your phone battery, leaving you unreachable until you charge your phone.
Playing Casino Games On Desktop
Desktop casinos let you play for as long as you want without worrying about charges.
Lastly, some online casinos migrate 50-80% of their desktop games to mobile. So you could be missing out on a chunk of games if you choose to play on mobile casino apps. Casino operators are working hard to create casino app game libraries that rival their desktop sites.
There are still severe limitations to this end since some games just aren’t meant to be played on mobile. Current mobile technology may not handle some game’s graphics, processing requirements, or screen size.
Best Casino Games To Play On Mobile Apps
Having reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of mobile vs. desktop, the best option boils down to personal choice. There are a few instances where playing casino games on mobile apps make sense.
Slots
Slots dominate desktop casinos, and, naturally, the same applies to casino apps. Slots are easy to play, have a higher return to player (RTP) rate than other casino games, and don’t require any special skills.
Mobile apps offer the perfect platform to play slots during your downtime. You can play from anywhere with an internet connection and rival the desktop experience with a larger smartphone screen or tablet.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a simple game with only a few options per round. The most common options you can exercise are to hit, stand, double down, or split. And because you are playing digital blackjack, it can be just you against the dealer so there is plenty of screen real estate.
Also, blackjack is a fast-paced game, which really allows mobile app gaming to shine.
Baccarat
Much like blackjack, baccarat is a fairly straightforward game with limited options per round. In fact, the dealer does most of the work in baccarat, so you don’t have to do much but place your bet on the Player or the Banker.
Another fast-action game that is you against the dealer, baccarat takes full advantage of your mobile device.
Fast Gaming
If you’re planning to play a quick hand of video poker or a few rounds of slots, it makes sense to go mobile. You don’t have to start up your computer, log in, and wait for the desktop website to load. The whole process is much easier on mobile. Simply launch your app, and you’ll be deeply immersed in your favorite casino games in a few seconds.
Casino Games with Mobile-Specific Bonuses
Some casinos offer mobile-specific bonuses that are perfect for boosting your bankroll. At times, we have found that some promotions must be activated through the mobile app. This is simply another reason to download the casino app to take advantage of when these promotions occur.
Best Casino Games To Play On Desktop
We have to credit online casinos for creating a seamless mobile app experience that rivals desktop gaming any day of the week. All the same, some types of casino games just work better on desktops.
Live Dealer Games
Some of the more immersive Live Dealer games work better on desktops. From the dealer calling the shots, to in-game live chats, to high-definition live streaming, it can all be too much to take on mobile.
Desktop gives you a wide-eyed view of every aspect of the Live Dealer games and makes the whole experience that much more realistic to being at an actual casino. Additionally, almost every single online casino has more Live Dealer games on desktop compared to casino apps. If you primarily play Live Dealer games with your casino account, the desktop may be the way to go.
Roulette
This comes down to screen real estate. Many players enjoy placing bets on several numbers, if not much more, and that can get difficult on a mobile device. Most casino apps will ask for you to play in landscape mode. Even with this feature, it can still be difficult to not incorrectly touch a number or place an incorrect bet.
Long-term Play
Text neck, a modern spine ailment, comes from damage to the neck caused by looking down at your cell phone (and other mobile devices) for too long.
If you plan to play casino games for a few hours, it’s better to be comfortable. The desktop offers a much better long-term gaming experience compared to mobile apps.
If you do decide to play on your mobile device, make sure you are comfortable and change viewing positions.